A black business car rolled through the city, fatigue etched into every face inside.
"Ugh… Today was brutal…" Uzuki slumped in the passenger seat, posture forgotten, limbs limp as noodles.
"Uzuki, sit up straight," her mother chided, eyes on the road. "How many times have I told you? If you don't sit properly, your skirt rides up—people can see everything. Pay attention."
"Geez, but there's no one else in the car…" Uzuki Hirokawa pouted, tossing a glance at the blonde girl in the back seat.
Nodoka Toyohama—Mai Sakurajima's little sister—sat quietly behind them, her idol group's uniform still crisp despite the late hour.
Uzuki was one of Nodoka's teammates in Sweet Bullet. Tonight had been a major rehearsal for an upcoming show; they'd danced until their legs gave out, and now Uzuki's mom was driving everyone home.
"Nodoka, how much longer do we have to keep this up…?"
"We practice until the show's over, even if we've nailed the routine," Nodoka replied, voice tired but resolute.
"Waaah… I'm dying here… My legs are killing me. My thighs, my calves—everything hurts…" Uzuki whined, sounding every bit the spoiled child.
Nodoka just smiled and reached out to ruffle Uzuki's hair. Uzuki nuzzled into her touch like a cat, prompting Nodoka to muss her hair even more.
"Look at you," Uzuki's mom teased from the driver's seat. "See Nodoka? See the others? No one else complains like you do."
"Hehe, I get it, I get it. Always lecturing your own daughter. Other people's kids are always better, right?"
"Of course. If only Nodoka were my daughter," her mom shot back without missing a beat.
Nodoka kept her smile, but a trace of sadness flickered in her eyes. …Honestly, she envied Uzuki—a mother like that was a rare gift.
They pulled up to Nodoka's apartment. She climbed out, waved goodbye, and let herself inside.
"I'm home," she called softly, but the house was silent. It was late—her sister must be asleep.
Too tired to notice the unfamiliar pair of men's shoes by the door, Nodoka tossed her bag on the couch, grabbed some pajamas, and headed for the bathroom.
Only once she sank into the hot bath did she finally exhale.
So tough… So, so tough…
But she couldn't give up, no matter how tired she felt.
Uzuki could whine to her mom, the other girls all had their families cheering them on. Nodoka's own mother had never understood her—always comparing her to "that person's daughter."
That person's daughter: Mai Sakurajima.
To outsiders, Nodoka was the model child—quiet, diligent. Uzuki's mom was always telling Uzuki to be more like her. But at home, Nodoka's own mother constantly held Mai up as the gold standard.
Wasn't Nodoka just trying to catch up to Mai herself?
She'd joined the idol group at her mother's insistence. If Mai could become a household name, then so should her own daughter—or so her mother believed.
Curled up in the bathtub, arms wrapped around her knees, Nodoka felt small and lost.
Thankfully, she genuinely liked the idol world—her sister's influence had sparked that love. That was something, at least.
But… her sister was Mai Sakurajima.
How could she ever measure up?
No matter how hard she tried, Mai was always out of reach.
So exhausting… Really, truly exhausting…
Her mother would never understand—how could Nodoka ever be as perfect as Mai?
She dragged herself to bed, buried her face in the pillow, and curled up tight, tears threatening. If only… If only she could be like her sister…
…
Golden sunlight sliced through the curtains, laying a bright line across the sheets.
Draconis stirred, fingers tingling. His arms and legs felt numb—like he'd been electrocuted.
He grimaced, remembering how Mai had pinned him down all night. Painful, but worth it.
Yesterday, he'd spent the whole day with Mai—cooking together, savoring rare hours of privacy. They'd lost themselves in each other, again and again, until Mai was exhausted and begging for mercy. Only then did they fall asleep, tangled together.
For once, Draconis had skipped training. After the recent battle, he figured he deserved a break. Sometimes, you had to let the tension go before it snapped.
And nothing beat relaxing with his girlfriend.
Mai's soft, fragrant body pressed against him. She shifted, half-awake, and hugged his head closer.
Breathing in her scent, Draconis couldn't help but think—paradise was real, and it smelled like her.
He grinned, planting another kiss on her neck—a fresh "strawberry" to add to his collection from last night.
By now, Mai's skin bore a map of his handiwork. Their rhythm had grown more skilled with every encounter—her swordplay in dreams, his gentle touch in reality. They fit together perfectly.
He felt her grip tighten around his arm. Clearly, she was awake.
"Stop it, that tickles," Mai murmured, voice sweet and sleepy, fingers threading through his hair.
But something was off.
Wait… Last night, wasn't there a little mole on her left breast?
He blinked, puzzled. Gently, he slipped out of her embrace and lifted the covers, surveying their tangled bodies.
The next moment, his eyes widened in shock.
The woman beside him… wasn't…
…
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