Rin admitted it freely. Even if Elf hadn't sent the actual sex photos, the implications were clear.
"Oh?" Elf's mother looked at him. "You're not even going to try and hide it? You seem quite proud."
"Well, shouldn't I be proud of attracting a daughter you raised so carefully?"
Elf's mother's lip curled into a tiny, subconscious smile before she flattened her expression. "Hmph... silver-tongued. Look at you," she said, glancing at Elf's distended belly. "After this party, pack your bags. You're coming home. You've clearly let your self-discipline slip. I'll find a suitable husband for you. A man who cheats on his girlfriend with other girls is not fit for you."
The mother couldn't accept her daughter being a "side-piece." But Elf, who had been hiding in shame, suddenly stepped forward.
"If he weren't a cheater—if he were 'dedicated' like Papa—I wouldn't like him!"
"What?" The mother was baffled. Did her daughter have a kink for "stolen" men?
Elf took a deep breath. "If he were dedicated to his girlfriend, I would never have a chance! It's because he's a skirt-chaser that a door was open for me!"
"I..." The mother was at a loss for words. It was twisted logic, but it made a weird kind of sense.
"And I'm not doing it behind his girlfriend's back. She knows!"
"???" Are girls today really like this? the mother wondered.
"She just doesn't think I can actually steal him away!" Elf continued, pressing her advantage. "She's basically insulting the 'bridal training' you gave me since I was a kid!"
Elf's mother had raised her children strictly to fulfill her late husband's wish of them being "excellent and happy." Elf had never complained about the endless lessons in cooking, art, and etiquette because she wanted to make her mom happy.
"I've fulfilled the 'excellent' part," Elf said. "Now I need to grasp my own happiness. I have to fight for it!"
The mother looked at Rin, her gaze sharp and frustrated.
"Ahem," Rin cleared his throat. "Ma'am, I can't say what the future holds, but I promise I won't hurt her."
"Hmph..." The mother didn't say anything else. She turned and walked out, followed by Chris.
"See? She totally approves," Elf cheered.
"Approve? She looked like she wanted to skin me alive," Rin sighed, sinking into the sofa.
"That's just her personality! She's a tsundere!" Elf hopped into Rin's lap. "She's my mom. She can't just say, 'I'm okay with my daughter being with a serial cheater.' Her not saying 'no' is a 'yes' in her language."
"Fine... just warn me next time." Rin checked his phone. "It's time. You need to get to the stage."
"Right! Go check on Sagiri~" Elf winked and hurried out.
Rin went to the neighboring breakroom. He opened the door to see Sagiri Hissing like a threatened kitten at the girl in the Melulu mask.
"You... are you Eimi?" Rin asked.
"That's right!" The girl ripped off her mask, revealing vibrant red hair and fierce blue eyes. She had twin-tails and a cute little snaggletooth. She looked like a feisty little tiger. "You're the one who stole my 'wife', aren't you!?"
She turned her glare back to Sagiri. "And you! You're the fake who stole my Master's name! I'm taking my wife and the title of 'Eromanga Sensei' back from both of you!"
She stomped out. Sagiri didn't stop bristling until the door slammed shut.
"What was that about?" Rin asked.
"She was my mother's apprentice..." Sagiri explained. Apparently, Eimi was a student of the original Eromanga Sensei (Sagiri's mom) and was furious that Sagiri was using the name. "We made a bet. We're going to settle this through an art battle!"
Rin smiled. Survival of the lewdest, huh?