"Of course, leave it to me." Kagura clasped her fingertips, nodding affirmatively.
Eriri, grudgingly, placed her hand atop Kato's, saying, "Hmph, fine. If jerk-bro insists on you as second heroine, I'll put in some effort. But you'd better cooperate fully—obey my every word, no looking west when I say east!"
"I'd like to confirm one last time: you're recruiting a heroine, not some… mosaic-required slave, right…?"
"Pfft!" Eriri leaned back, clutching her nose, panting excitedly, "S-slave… JK slave… bondage, torment, massive creampies, egg-laying, aphrodisiacs, sleep assault… Oh, little Hui-hui, ending with a pregnant watermelon-belly play…"
"Um…" Kato, alarmed, pressed a half-clenched fist to her chest, timidly asking Kagura, "Is your sister… okay?"
"Ugh…" Kagura rubbed his forehead, grimacing. "Ignore her. She's probably just hit with a creator's burst of inspiration."
"So… Eriri-san's currently imagining me as some pitiful girl?"
"Exactly!" Eriri snapped out of it, pointing at Kato. "But don't worry, I won't draw you in my doujins!"
"Doujins…?" Kato blinked rapidly.
Kagura pulled out his phone, searched Eriri's pen name "Kashiwagi Eri," and showed Kato the results. "Here's Eriri's true face!"
"What… what's this?" Kato covered her lips, eyes darting, yet glued to the screen, following Kagura's scrolling. Shocked and shy, she whispered, "I'm not mistaken, right? Why's that girl naked? And that thing down there…?"
"Big dick, aka cock, willy, or biologically, penis," Eriri said shamelessly, propping her cheek and gazing out the window. "You'll be with us, so you'd find out eventually."
"N-no… I don't need the terminology explained. But… why are you showing me this, Sawamura-kun? Is this harassment?"
"No," Kagura pointed at Eriri, who huffed nonchalantly. "She drew it. That's her real self."
"Eh… huh?" Kato froze, staring at Eriri, who tapped the table impatiently, baring her fangs. "What?"
"Those things… aren't they 18+ restricted…?"
Kato glanced at Kagura's phone, her face flushing deeper, then quickly looked away.
"It's restricted for viewing under 18, not drawing!" Eriri puffed her cheeks, brandishing her legal shield. "No legal issues whatsoever!"
"Isn't that… exploiting a loophole…?"
"No worries, Kato," Kagura patted her shoulder, startling her slightly, though she calmed quickly. "If the law doesn't forbid it, it's fair game. Loopholes are normal—exploiting them is skill. No problem at all!"
"I saw words like 'merchandise' and 'purchase'… Even if drawing's fine, selling…?"
"No issue!" Eriri cut her off, arms crossed smugly. "My parents handle sales, not me."
"Uh…" Kato fell silent, sneaking another glance at the phone. The trio sat quietly until Kato, easing the tension, looked out casually. "Well… people's interests vary widely. Some girls, like Eriri-san, are deeply into this…"
"I love drawing 18+ doujins. Got a problem?"
"N-no…"
"So, Kato, since we're here, let's dig deeper. What do you do for fun on days off?"
"Hm…" Relieved by the topic shift, Kato leaned back, touching her hair thoughtfully. "Eating tasty food out, shopping for clothes or trinkets, watching movies with friends, studying, or doing homework… That's about it. But some things I can't do now."
"Pretty standard," Eriri said, swinging her crossed legs. "Can't do them? They're not hard."
"I recently fell out with friends, so shopping or movies alone don't appeal much. It's no fun solo."
"Fell out?" Eriri tilted her head, catching a keyword, glaring at Kagura. "With him too?"
"No… I only became friends with Sawamura-kun recently. I meant some girls in my class."
"I see—" Eriri crossed her arms, interrogating them like suspects. "So, you'll spend days off shopping, watching movies, and dining together, huh? As friends?"
"Well…" Kato glanced at Kagura, smiling naturally. "If Sawamura-kun doesn't think it's a waste of time, I'd be happy to join."
"Time…" Kagura pondered, but Eriri slammed the table, exhaling sharply. "No free days off! Focus on the gal game!"
"Right…" Kato replied absently.
"Let's gather members for a meeting during Golden Week," Kagura leaned back, nodding.
"Since we're clubmates, call me Eriri. I'll call you Hui. Deal?"
"You calling me that is one thing, but me addressing a noble lady like you by name… is that okay?"
"I didn't curse my name like You-Know-Who. Call me what you want. 'Sawamura Eriri' is long and tedious, and 'Sawamura' overlaps with jerk-bro." Eriri's rapid, shrill speech gave Kagura a headache.
Her "You-Know-Who" referred to Harry Potter's Voldemort, whose cursed name alerted Death Eaters, so wizards used "You-Know-Who" or "He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named." "Alright, Eriri, pleased to meet you." Kato, unfazed by Eriri's tirade, nodded calmly.
"Oh… you're pretty docile," Eriri nodded back. "Pleased to meet you."
"One last question…"
"Go ahead, Kato."
"Won't 'Golden Apple Club' get us sued by Apple Inc.?"
"It's a bit early to worry about that…"
"True… it's just an unregistered private group."
"To avoid such a pathetic state, Hui!" Eriri pointed commandingly. "Don't miss the fifth day's meeting!"
"Got it. I'll be back from Hokkaido." Kato extended her right pinky to Kagura, smiling. "Promise?"
"Deal." Kagura hooked his left pinky with hers. Eriri, watching, propped her cheek, clicking her tongue in disdain.
At noon, Kagura invited Hikigaya and Kato to dine.
"Good afternoon. I'm Yuriko, Master Kagura's temporary butler. Has your workplace visit gone smoothly?" Sayuri, in butler attire, clasped her hands at her abdomen, nodding to Kato and Hikigaya.
"Sawamura-kun's been very kind. Everything's been delightful," Kato said, setting down her lemon-water aperitif, seated beside Qiong.
"I feel the same. Learned a lot," Hikigaya said, avoiding Sayuri's curious gaze, turning aside.
He noticed an empty seat between him and Kagura, but before he could question it, Sayuri pulled it out, saying "Pardon" and sat.
Sayuri's presence made Kagura fidget. He glanced at the usually vacant right seat, coughing awkwardly, recalling his dream of hiding under the table, parting his mother's legs, and fervently licking her.
"Yuriko, you seem to be hiding something good?" Kagura asked, noticing her subtle smiles.
"Oh, please, everyone, dine. Don't mind formalities. If you prefer chopsticks, just say so." Kagura gestured, urging the hesitant Hikigaya and Kato to use their cutlery.
Sayuri pressed Kagura's shoulder, leaning close, whispering ambiguously, "Mommy's going to a nice place tonight, but sadly, you can't come~"
"Hm? Where?"
"A Mommy Party, with Eriri."
"Her too…"
Kagura lost interest, recognizing it as a high-society women's banquet.
"It's a no-men party. Everyone brings daughters to show off. You don't want Mommy embarrassed, right?"
"Fine, take her."
"Mm!" Sayuri beamed, then whispered, "If you have a class gathering, take me. Pretend we're a couple to shock them."
"They'd die of fright."
Kagura and Sayuri's whispering was normal to Eriri and Qiong, but to Kato and Hikigaya, it seemed "problematic."
Kato: Looks like Sawamura-kun and Hasaka aren't a thing… but he's suspiciously close with this Yuriko.
Hikigaya: Pretty-boy butler and older-sister butler? Tsk, so intimate, whispering. I can't compete. Hayama's nothing compared to this…
Lunch lasted over an hour. Afternoon, Hikigaya continued training with Tina, while Kagura, with an uninterested Kato, played billiards in the second-floor lounge with Eriri and Qiong. Soon, Eriri dragged Kato to "crash-course" her on gal games, leaving Kagura and Qiong.
Kagura leaned on a cue stick by the table's edge. Qiong tossed hers onto the table, hopped up, boots dangling, staring at Eriri and Kato's backs. The billiard and game rooms weren't fully separated.
"By the way, Qiong."
"Hm…?"
"Eriri and Mom are attending the Mommy Party tonight. You going?"
"Why…?" Qiong straightened, tilting her head expressionlessly. "Think I belong there?"
"Well… fair point."
"Pointless question. You already know."
"Not really."
"Whatever…" Qiong gripped the table's edge, gazing at the ornate ceiling, swinging her feet. "Golden Week starts tomorrow. Any plans?"
"Plans…" Kagura snapped his fingers. "Meeting on the fifth day?"
"Besides that?"
"Well…" Nothing firm, but he wanted to ask Yukino out.
He'd promised to treat Yukino to a meal, but she planned to pay, only for Hayama to cover it, making Kagura's gesture secondhand. He'd sent her an invite this morning, but her LINE stayed "unread." Was she ignoring it or hadn't seen it? "Nothing else?"
"Probably… things might pop up," Kagura shrugged, asking, "You? Golden Week plans?"
"With Eriri."
"Right…"
"Obvious, isn't it?"
"But she's free besides the meeting, right?"
"So I'll stay home, waiting for orders…"
"Sorry about that," Kagura coughed, meeting her gaze. "Anywhere you want to go or anything you want?"
"Places…" Qiong looked up thoughtfully, feet curling upward. "Wanna swim…"
"Then have them clean the pool and fill it. Swim as long as you want—it's home."
"Swimming alone's boring…" Qiong swung her feet impatiently.
"Then—" Kagura started to say "we'll all join," but his phone buzzed. Apologizing, he checked it: Yukino.
[Sorry for missing your message. Just finished my visit, heading home. I've considered your morning invite but must decline. I'm busy during Golden Week. See you in a week.] A polite, lengthy message.
Kagura sighed, replying, [Tough day. See you in a week.] He turned to Qiong. "About the pool, we'll all—"
His screen flashed with a call from "Sakurajima Mai." He glanced at Qiong, who wasn't looking, staring upward, flicking her left hand. "Answer… or want me to?"
"Alright," Kagura answered openly. "Hey, Mai-senpai, what's up?"
"Been a while. As your senior, I'm checking if my junior's been charming the bees and butterflies." Mai's voice carried a playful mischief, yet was soothing.
Qiong had glimpsed the caller ID, sparking irritation but also helplessness. Irritated for obvious reasons, helpless because she was secretly Mai's superfan, rewatching her dramas and movies to tears.
Maybe… I should take initiative? Clinging to imaginary time's joy isn't enough.
"Charming? That's just normal socializing," Kagura tapped the floor with his cue, chuckling.
"Say 'we're just friends' or 'she's my cousin,' and it'll sound even truer."
"That's not true! It's obviously an excuse!"
"Oh? You know it sounds like one," Mai teased over the line. "Free the day after tomorrow, second day of Golden Week? Your senpai wants to hire you for a day."
"Hire? Teaching piano?"
"Who'm I teaching piano? No," Mai's tone turned serious. "I haven't done a two-person scene in ages and need to get the feel back. I don't want directors or actors saying 'that Sakurajima Mai's off her game.' So, I thought of you, junior."
"Alright… what do I do?"
"Spend a day helping me rehearse. My agent can sign a contract—500,000 yen. If that's not right, we can negotiate."
"Not right," Kagura laughed wryly.
"Your offer?" Mai's tone grew businesslike.
"Zero. I was planning to hang out anyway. Why pay? Think about it, Mai-senpai."
"Got it. I'll LINE you the time and place. Don't be late." Mai exhaled, relieved.
"Wait, hold on!" Kagura stopped her. "'Set' means… you're making a comeback?"
"Exactly. Not as dense as I thought, Spencer."
"That's huge news."
"Keep it secret," Mai said, pacing her room, pressing a finger to her lips for silence. "I've got an exclusive with a journalist."
"Understood, mum's the word."
"See you."
"See you." Mai hung up, and Kagura turned—Eriri, Kato, and Qiong had dropped everything, crowding him.
"Jerk-bro, were you just talking to Sakurajima Mai-senpai?" Eriri pounced.
"Third-year Sakurajima Mai's coming back?" Kato's eyes widened, thrilled.
Qiong just stared silently.
"Uh…" Kagura shushed them. "Exclusive news. Don't leak it."
"Really? Actually real?" Eriri and Qiong locked eyes, incredulous.
"Probably…" Qiong nodded softly.
She and Eriri watched Mai's dramas together, becoming fans. Mai's star power was undeniable.
Kagura, immersed in music back then, rarely watched films or TV, so he only found Mai familiar initially.
"Sakurajima Mai-senpai's really returning…" Kato mused, tilting her head curiously. "But what's your relationship with her, Sawamura-kun? Why'd she tell you such big news first?"
"Relationship…" Kagura rubbed his chin, noticing all three girls staring intensely.
"Last time we went to Okura Hotel to deal with Kawasaki, you were meeting Mai and Yukino, right?" Eriri dug up old accounts.
"Maybe I'm prying, but I'm curious. I never heard you knew Sakurajima Mai-senpai. Is this a celebrity friend circle effect?" Kato added.
"And calling her by her first name," Qiong pinpointed sharply. Kagura had said "Mai-senpai."
"No misunderstanding. I just helped Mai-senpai and Yui with a small issue. A collaboration," Kagura waved off.
"Yui?" Qiong tilted her head. "Who?"
"Yuihama Yui… Class C, second year…"
"Another unknown girl," Eriri exploded, yanking Kagura's collar. "How many have you tangled with?!"
"I'm innocent!" Kagura turned to Hasaka entering the room. "Hasaka, clear this up!" I only accidentally licked her pussy…
"Always at your service. Clear what?" Nao sighed, hurrying over. Creating a shura field with your sister, a new classmate, and Qiong? Impressive, Master Kagura.
Eriri and Qiong, knowing "Hasaka" was Nao, scoffed. Nao was Kagura's loyal ally—her words were worthless. "Forget it, Hasaka's credibility for you is zero," Eriri said dryly, releasing his collar.
"Agreed," Qiong nodded deeply.
Kato, clueless, was all question marks.
"Oh, Hasaka, what's up? Where's Hachiman?" Kagura checked his watch—nearly 4 PM.
His watch, picked by Sayuri during an outing with Yukino and Miura, matched Qiong's, hidden under her sleeve. The "future Kagura" from forty years hence wore the same, its "broken" version locked in Kagura's safe.
"Lord Hikigaya said he learned much and wishes to take his leave," Nao said, nodding to Kato.
Hikigaya wanted to avoid staying for dinner, despite knowing it'd be lavish, feeling too awkward. "Yeah, it's about that time," Kato nodded, checking her phone.
"And Miss Eriri has a schedule tonight. Don't forget, lest it causes trouble."
"Got it!" Eriri turned away, ignoring Nao.
"Leaving already? No dinner? It's delicious," Kagura urged Kato.
Nao's timing's perfect. Fuck, being grilled by girls about other girls is terrifying. If they were my lovers, it'd be a mega shura field.
"No, thanks. I need to pack for tomorrow's early flight," Kato said.
"Yeah, let Hui go. You've got people packing for you, she doesn't!" Eriri elbowed Kagura.
"Alright, then. Sorry for any poor hospitality," Kagura said.
"Not at all, I'm overwhelmed," Kato bowed gratefully.
Kagura arranged for the maid who often drove Nao to school to take Hikigaya and Kato home. From Eriri's third-floor room, he watched the car fade, pondering.
The system said some girls could trigger points for Golden Apples, possibly awakening abilities. What about Mai? Her ability to be ignored by all but herself—where'd it come from? Back then, they were clueless, but now… Kagura felt a clue emerging. And Yorita Miko, seeing ghosts—her ability's source? Could they trigger points? But even if they could, awakened girls yielded only 100 points—one Golden Apple. He needed double-point girls for more.
"I'm changing, jerk-bro, get out!" Eriri slid open her massive white wardrobe, sifting through gowns.
"Where're you going?"
"Okura Hotel. Mom's hosting, so I have to go, or I wouldn't."
Eriri pulled out a backless emerald gown, holding it to her chest, posing in the mirror. Kagura found it revealing but, for a women-only event, let it slide.
Seeing Eriri change evoked memories of her with a vibrator at Okura, pulling a love-juice-soaked egg from her. Too thrilling. "Change slowly. I'm practicing piano." Kagura headed out, but Eriri ignored him, yelling, "Qiong! Help me dress!"
As he opened the door, Eriri called, "Where're you going the day after tomorrow?"
"Out with Mai-senpai. Why?"
"Oh… nothing. Scram."
Eriri waved dismissively, zipping her dress to mid-back with surprising flexibility.
Qiong took over. Closing the door, Kagura glimpsed Eriri's smooth, pale back in the door's gap, catching her sticking out her tongue in the mirror, as if saying, Get lost!
After forty minutes of piano, Sayuri and Eriri burst into his music room. Women's preparations were indeed laborious.
Sayuri wore a grand furisode kimono, exuding elegance, while Eriri donned a Western gown, both sporting twin-tails, looking like twins, not mother and daughter.
"We're off, darling. Back by ten. Be good~" Sayuri, in geta clogs, clacked over, hugging Kagura with her handbag.
Eriri, arms crossed, stood to his left, huffing, "No worries. If sis gets drunk, big Nao's there."
"Oh… good." With Nao, all was fine.
"So, dear Kagura, a goodbye kiss?" Without waiting, Sayuri grabbed his face, planting loud "amu-amu" kisses on both cheeks, leaving Kagura flustered and Eriri blushing.
"Traditional Japanese attire, yet Western farewells…" Kagura rubbed lipstick off, muttering.
"Hm, but Eriri's in a Western dress. Give your brother a farewell too," Sayuri teased.
"Why kiss that stinky bro? No way!"
"Where'm I stinky?"
"Hmph!"
"We're off to a banquet, while Kagura stays home~" Sayuri hugged his shoulders, winking at Eriri. "Come on, make it up to him."
"Ugh… fine…" Eriri, arms crossed, hesitated, then leaned in, blushing, brushing his left cheek fleetingly before pulling back. "There! Goodbye kiss! Stay put!"
"You call that a kiss? I felt nothing! That's not a farewell—it's a self-soothing scam!"
"Shut up! It's symbolic! Know how precious a girl's lips are?" Eriri recalled their intense cling-film kiss, blushing harder, itching to slap him.
"Hahaha!" Sayuri laughed, egging her on. "One more, he didn't feel it~"
"Never!" Eriri huffed, pulling her eyelids at Kagura. "Bleh!" Mom and I are leaving. Kiss your doll girl! With Eriri unwilling, Sayuri led her out.
The piano lost its charm. Kagura covered the keys, stretched, and yawned by the window.
Saki was to come this afternoon, but with Golden Week, he gave her a break—a wise choice, as plans could arise. "A drink, then… Nothing else to do." Kagura tidied the piano, returned to his room, and grabbed a red wine. Alone, it felt dull, so he called Nao.
Nao rejected it, texting: [Don't try loopholes.] Kagura muttered "motherfucker," tossed his phone, and opened the bottle. An '89 Burgundy—his favorite.
As he popped the cork, ready to pour without decanting, the door opened. "Nao…" he almost said, but it was Qiong, holding her black rabbit plush.
"Oh, looking for Nao? Bye." Qiong's face darkened, shutting the door.
"Wait, wait!" Kagura dropped the bottle, chasing her down. "What?"
Qiong shook off his grip, but he held her left wrist. Struggling, she winced, then stopped, glaring. "Don't leave. I didn't even say anything."
"You don't want me here. I'll sleep, save energy." Qiong's eyes were cold, her good mood ruined.
"Who said I don't? I just didn't react in time." Kagura grinned, winking.
"…" Qiong ignored him, glancing at her gripped wrist. "What're you doing alone?"
"Uh, relaxing."
"Then I won't disturb. Goodbye."
"No, no, you're welcome!" Kagura turned her by the shoulders, nudging her to his room. "Let's talk inside."
"Hey… wait! Don't push!" Qiong swung her plush, nearly hitting his face. He let go, and she flicked her twin-tails, glaring. "I can walk."
Grumpily, Qiong was "dragged" in. Only Qiong entered his room without knocking, thanks to her master key and disregard for courtesy.
"What…?" Qiong leaned against the door, clutching her plush, staring at the frame, avoiding his eyes. I came kindly, and you say "Nao"? Mood-killer.
"Uh… sorry, thought it was her. What's up?"
"Nothing now." Qiong shook sulkily.
"No, you clearly have something."
"Hmph…" Qiong softened but didn't spill, instead eyeing the wine bottle and glass. "Madam's out, so you drink? No one to stop you?"
"Just a sip."
Qiong met his gaze, slightly defiant. "The projector… I can't set it up. Help me."
"Projector? In the lounge?"
"Yeah…" Qiong hugged her plush, muttering, "Wanna watch a movie."
Kagura noticed her shoes—maid boots swapped for heels he'd bought: black, pointed, 7cm heels with ankle ribbon tied in a bow, adorable. Her stockings, also his gift, were black with spiral ribbon patterns on the calves.