"…"
"Hey, why have you been looking half-dead ever since you got back?"
After Hayasaka left, Rinji returned to his apartnt, but his whole deanor remained listless and spiritless.
Having been suddenly kissed by Hayasaka, Rinji's mind was running at full speed, trying to process a whirlwind of emotions.
Shock, confusion, nervousness, and guilt toward Karura—these feelings surged in at once, pushing Rinji's brain to the brink of collapse, and then it just… froze.
Hearing the sound of water from the bathroom, Rinji knew Karura was in the shower. He glanced expressionlessly at Fusui and let out a sigh.
"I'm just lanting how unpredictable life is."
"What happened?"
"Just now, soone kissed ."
"…That's it?"
"What do you an, 'that's it'!? Do any of you Kure Clan people even have normal ethics!?" Rinji shouted, holding his head. "I already have Karura, and I got kissed by another woman!"
"You, who spends your days killing, setting fires, and blowing stuff up, really have the nerve to ask others about morals?"
Fusui replied nonchalantly in front of Rinji.
"Anyway, the one who kissed you was that girl just now, right? Hayasaka Ai or sothing. With your reflexes, couldn't you stop it?"
"Bad habit from a few years ago. I can't seem to be on guard against Ai," Rinji said, covering his face.
He also found it strange. Back then, he didn't have even a shred of popularity with girls. Now, after just one trip, all these situations had popped up.
First Shirogane Kei, then Fusui, and now Ai—things were developing too fast. He was starting to doubt himself.
"I'm done for… being kissed ans I'm…"
"ans what?"
"Impure." Rinji lowered his head.
Fusui: "…I always thought sothing was off about you. When it cos to emotions, you think exactly like a girl. Don't you always call yourself a macho man? Then start doing what a macho man should."
"Like what?"
"Like, when that girl kissed you, you should've grabbed her back, then called and booked a hotel room. The rest… you figure out."
"I feel like you're setting up."
While the two were talking, the sound of water from the bathroom stopped.
Karura walked out wrapped in a towel, her hair still wet.
She looked curiously at Rinji, who seed deep in self-doubt, and asked, "Rinji, what's wrong?"
"I…"
"Rinji just got kissed by soone and is now having a ltdown."
"Hey! You traitor!"
Karura tilted her head.
"A kiss… from who?"
"That girl you saw earlier—Hayasaka Ai," Fusui said with a grin.
"Oh~"
Just hearing the na, Karura instantly knew who it was.
"Um, Karura… about that, I…"
"Looks like I can't fall behind either."
Just as Rinji was about to apologize, Karura suddenly smiled and stepped forward.
She cupped Rinji's cheeks with both hands, and the towel around her body fell to the floor.
In Rinji's wide-eyed stare, Karura pressed her lips firmly against his.
A long mont passed. Their lips finally parted.
"Mm, now it's fair~" Karura said with a smile.
Rinji: "…"
———————————————————————————
"Hayasaka, why do you seem so unusually cheerful today after coming back?"
"Mm, I'm very happy."
"…"
Shinomiya Kaguya looked at her a little puzzled. Ever since Hayasaka returned, she'd been smiling nonstop.
Normally, this maid was always expressionless and cold at ho, but today she was smiling the entire ti—a rare sight.
Actually, that smile was sothing Hayasaka was forcing herself to maintain.
When she got back to the Shinomiya residence, she first returned to her room, buried her face into her pillow and let out so unintelligible noises while kicking her legs back and forth.
After her emotions settled, she finally changed into her maid outfit and resud working.
"Did… sothing good happen?"
"I kissed Rinji."
"…Kissed?" Kaguya's eyes widened. "As in, mouth-to-mouth, exchanging saliva and all that?"
"It wasn't that intense, but yes, it was mouth-to-mouth."
"…"
Kaguya could hardly believe her ears.
When did the always-elegant Hayasaka Ai start doing sothing that bold?
"…Who made the first move?"
"Of course I did."
"Wait… you actually used the things I teased you about before?"
"Yup."
"…"
Kaguya had nothing to say.
But regardless, if Hayasaka had made progress, she should be happy for her.
Though on second thought, Hayasaka was making progress… and she herself had none.
Thinking about her relationship with Miyuki Shirogane—not only had they never kissed, they hadn't even held hands. And it's already been over half a year since they t.
Sure, the sumr fireworks festival counted as a step forward, but after that…
"Have I… seriously done nothing since then!?"
Kaguya collapsed onto her bed in self-denial.
"Right, Kaguya-sama. About President Shirogane's part-ti job, I've already asked Rinji about it."
"Well done!"
Kaguya imdiately lifted her head, asking eagerly, "Where is the President working now?"
"Oh? Isn't Kaguya-sama supposed to just admire him from afar? Why are you so desperate to know where he works?"
"…Hayasaka, stop ssing with and just tell where."
"Sure."
Hayasaka was in a great mood today. After teasing her nominal master a bit, she said, "According to Rinji, President Shirogane is currently working at Dainippon Bank."
"…Dainippon Bank?"
Kaguya's excited expression suddenly turned serious.
"I've heard of that place. It's a very well-known bank in Japan, and it doesn't exactly have the best relationship with the Shinomiya family. Back when so of our industries were struggling, they swooped in and took over parts of it… And the President's working there?"
"Yes."
"Forget the family history. The important thing is eting the President… but how? Open a savings account? Apply for a loan?"
"I don't think those reasons will get you a eting with him."
"Huh? Why not?"
"Take a look at this first."
Hayasaka handed her phone to Kaguya. The screen showed a news article:
[High Schooler Becos Acting Branch Manager of Dainippon Bank – What's Behind This Unprecedented Appointnt?]
At the bottom was a photo of Miyuki Shirogane in a suit.
"He really does look handso in a suit, especially that look in his eyes… wait!!"
Kaguya snatched the phone and shouted.
"Why is the President the acting branch manager!?"
"Exactly, Kaguya-sama," Hayasaka said calmly. "If you want to et him, you'll have to make an appointnt. Trying to stage a 'coincidental encounter' would require you to be managing a multi-billion yen project. Otherwise, how would you get in?"
"…"
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