"Winter-sensei, did relatives come to your house?"
The moment Kani Nayuta spotted Machida Sonoko sitting casually on the sofa, her pure blue eyes blinked with curiosity. Subconsciously, she assumed the older woman was a relative. After all, the Kasumigaoka household only had the siblings, Touji and Utaha, so who else could she be? Because Sonoko looked a little older, Nayuta became slightly more reserved, her tone polite but soft.
"Not a relative. She's Utaha's editor," Touji explained lightly.
"Editor?" Nayuta tilted her head, relief immediately loosening her shoulders. So she wasn't a mysterious family member but someone from Utaha-senpai's work. Her curiosity now shifted from suspicion to simple interest. She glanced at Sonoko, then at Utaha, noticing her senpai's faint, lingering gaze. For a moment, Nayuta felt her throat tighten—should she greet her? Or would it just make things awkward?
Touji noticed the hesitation written all over her face. Without giving her the chance to freeze up, he gently took charge. "They're in the middle of discussing novel stuff right now. Let's head upstairs."
"Mm, okay!" Nayuta quickly agreed, almost too quickly. Still, she turned to give Utaha a polite nod, like a junior greeting her upperclassman, before obediently following Touji up the stairs.
"..."
Downstairs, Machida Sonoko's eyes widened in disbelief. She leaned forward on the sofa, whispering under her breath, "He seriously just brought her home? Hey, hey—doesn't he feel any shame?!"
Her gaze wandered toward Utaha, full of indignation on her behalf. Sonoko had once envied her friend, thinking Utaha had it all: beauty, talent, and a dependable younger brother who seemed almost too good to be true. But this scene? This was like a slap in the face.
She could only sigh inwardly. So this is the real Kasumigaoka Touji… I thought I knew him, but apparently, I didn't know a thing. Her impression of him dropped like a rock.
Poor Utaha-san, really!
"…Machida-editor, please go back. I'm not really in the mood to discuss novel content right now." Utaha's eyes flicked toward the staircase, clearly distracted, her voice cool and distant.
Sonoko hesitated. She had cut into her precious rest day for work, sacrificing her downtime to discuss Utaha's third volume. Yet before they could even finish, she was being dismissed. Still, looking at Utaha's expression, she couldn't blame her. She could only blame a certain scumbag.
Her inner complaints piled up like a storm: Two-timing brat. Fickle. Too easily swayed. Barely grown up and already acting like a playboy. This kid is doomed to break hearts when he gets older!
Suppressing her frustration, she picked up her LV bag and stood up. But before walking out the door, curiosity gnawed at her, and she glanced back with a teasing smirk. "By the way… is that girl upstairs the model for the love rival you mentioned just now?"
Utaha's gaze immediately sharpened like a blade. "Machida-editor, you talk too much."
"Eek. Alright, alright! I won't say another word." Sonoko raised her hands in mock surrender. Fine, you're in a bad mood, you win. I won't provoke you, Utaha-chan. With a final shrug and a twist of her elegant hips, she left the Kasumigaoka residence.
"..."
Upstairs, in Touji's bedroom—
The moment Nayuta stepped in, her eyes sparkled with excitement. She eagerly scanned the room, touching this and peering at that like a child at a festival. Though she'd glimpsed parts of the room during Touji's livestreams, being here in person was a whole different experience. Her cheeks flushed faintly as if she'd just stepped into sacred territory.
Touji, scratching his cheek, watched her enthusiasm with mixed feelings. Is it really that fun to explore my bedroom?
He decided to play host. "Hmm, I've got oolong tea, Calpis, cola, and café au lait. Which one do you want to drink?"
"Root beer!" Nayuta exclaimed, raising her hand like an eager student answering in class.
"There's no such thing here… Are you just messing with me? Baka." Touji pretended to scold, waving his hand. "If you keep being cheeky, I'll spank you!"
A boy and a girl, alone in a room, with budding feelings—just those words were enough to set the mood ablaze.
Kani Nayuta's cheeks pinkened. She quickly covered her rear with both hands, her blue eyes glistening with mock tears. "Winter-sensei, if you do that, I'll fight back~!"
"Oh? Really? Then I'd love to see how you plan to fight back." Touji's eyes narrowed playfully as he stepped closer.
With an almost reckless courage, Kani Nayuta sprang forward instead of retreating. She bent her knees, leaned in, and threw herself at him, her small frame full of determination. Her arms hooked around his neck, one hand clutched his wrist, and her leg tried to sweep behind his knee as if she'd rehearsed some dramatic wrestling move from TV.
But reality was cruel. Touji didn't even sway. Instead, with one firm motion, his hand came down on her bottom with a sharp slap.
"Eep—!"
Kani Nayuta froze like a statue. Her whole body trembled, cheeks burning crimson as if she'd been struck by lightning. A mix of stiffness, weakness, and unbearable embarrassment coursed through her.
"..."
And right at that very moment—
The door opened.
Kasumigaoka Utaha stood at the entrance to the room, her expression twitching, eyes narrowing dangerously at the sight before her. Touji holding Nayuta close, Nayuta blushing furiously, and the atmosphere practically crackling with forbidden tension.
"…Did I come at the wrong time? Am I… interrupting something?" Her voice was deceptively calm, but the sharp edge in her tone betrayed her irritation.
Because of her rapid breathing, Utaha's chest rose and fell, betraying her effort to keep composure.
"Utaha-senpai!" Kani Nayuta squeaked, instinctively wanting to jump away. But Touji, instead of letting go, tightened his hold around her slender waist as if provoking Utaha on purpose.
"You came at the perfect time!" Touji announced with mock grandeur, waving his free hand. "Today, this great lord will embrace both of you!"
"Embrace both, huh? And you say it so righteously…" Utaha's lips curved in a chilling smile. "Kasumigaoka Touji… you've got guts."
Grinding her teeth, she stormed in like a general charging into battle. Within seconds, the room turned into a chaotic struggle of limbs, yelps, and complaints. After a dozen breathless seconds, Touji somehow managed to subdue Utaha as well, his arm now wrapped around her while still holding Nayuta.
"…You shameless idiot," Utaha muttered, half-fuming, half-flustered, as if she herself couldn't explain why she didn't break free.
Touji grinned triumphantly, inhaling the faint fragrances of both girls. "By the way… has Machida-editor gone back yet?"
The name instantly darkened Utaha's expression. Her manicured nail traced a deliberate line down his chest, stopping at his stomach, cold and precise. "She went to buy me a hatchet. When it arrives, dear little brother… would you like to test how sharp it is?"
Touji stiffened. "…Oi, oi, don't use people to test blades! That's dangerous, Utaha!"
He swallowed hard, then turned to Nayuta with mock seriousness. "For our safety… let's tie her up first!"
To his surprise, Nayuta actually nodded eagerly. "Okay! Since this is your house, you find the rope, Touji-sensei. I'll help hold her down!"
Utaha twitched, glaring at both of them with an incredulous smile. "…The two of you really want to die, don't you?"