Just as Eriri was still struggling with her emotions, trying to sort out the chaos left behind by Nozomi's unexpected visit, the door creaked open with a soft knock.
Sawamura Sayuri strolled in with a cheerful smile and sat gracefully beside Eriri's bed, like a mom straight out of a slice-of-life anime.
"Eriri, what's wrong? You look all mopey and sulky. Did something happen?" she asked, her tone teasing but warm.
"Wha—! N-No! Don't say weird stuff, Mom!" Eriri flailed in protest, her twin-tails bouncing with indignation. "It's not like I'm sad that Nozomi's leaving or anything! And quit teasing me! He has a girlfriend, you know!"
Sawamura Sayuri's expression instantly darkened like a dramatic filter drop in a shoujo manga.
"Tch. That damn timing!"
Eriri blinked. Was her mom actually serious?! She was just about to act all gracious and forgive her for being nosy... but what came next completely blindsided her.
Sawamura Sayuri clenched her fists with fire in her eyes, almost radiating a battle aura.
"Eriri, you were too slow! That boy is total husband material! If I were your age, I would've already made him mine! What were you thinking, letting him go just like that?!"
"MOM?! ARE YOU EVEN LISTENING?!" Eriri practically screamed, her face now as red as a blushing anime heroine. "He has a girlfriend! What happened earlier was just an accident! He startled me and I tripped... a-and landed on him by mistake!"
She looked away, steam practically rising from her head.
Sawamura Sayuri giggled behind her hand. "Accident or not, that boy clearly has a thing for you, Eriri."
"H-He does not! Don't say crazy things!"
Her mom simply smiled, then pulled Eriri into a gentle embrace. "Sweetie, the eyes never lie. That boy was looking at you like you were the main heroine in his life."
Eriri stiffened. "W-What?! No way... he's just... I mean... maybe he was caught off guard because I'm cute. That's all! Besides, he has a girlfriend and—"
"—And what?" her mom pressed with that knowing glint.
Eriri puffed up her cheeks, unable to hold back. "He flirted with me even though he has a girlfriend! He even... even pinned me against the wall earlier! That jerk! Don't ever let him back in this house again!"
But Sawamura Sayuri just ruffled her daughter's golden hair fondly. "So he flirts with you—doesn't that mean he's into you?"
"That's not how logic works, Mom! Besides, his girlfriend's my senpai in the club! Kamiigusa-senpai!"
Her mom suddenly wore the face of a general preparing for war. "What's this Kamiigusa-senpai like? Give me the details—we need a strategy. You're gonna beat her, hands down!"
"Why would I even compete with her?! I don't like Nozomi!"
"Are you sure you don't?" her mom grinned like a fox.
"Y-YES!" Eriri yelped. "I mean... maybe he's nice. And smart. And really, really good at writing scripts... And even Kasumigaoka Utaha says he's inspirational!"
She paused. Crap. That came out way too fast.
Sayuri pounced on the opening. "See? You admire him! And he's an otaku, too, right? Isn't that your type?"
Eriri mumbled. "He's a creative otaku... like me..."
It was true. Since working with him, her artwork had leveled up fast. She wasn't just "that erotic artist" anymore. She had started growing.
And Nozomi had been part of that.
Sawamura Sayuri crossed her arms, victorious. "Then he's basically your ideal match. Come on, Eriri, don't lose out to anyone!"
"Ugh, you're being way too excited about this!" she groaned, turning away and pulling a pillow over her head.
After her mom finally left, Eriri flopped back onto the bed. But her peace was short-lived.
Buzz! Her phone lit up.
Utaha.
That black-stockinged, smug-faced, silver-tongued menace.
Eriri answered, annoyed. "Hey, you lacy-fatale author! What do you want now?!"
"Ara, what's with the hostility, Sawamura? Did something lewd happen between you and Nozomi-kun?"
Eriri froze. "Y-You—! Wait, what do you mean?!"
"I just thought I should ask. After all, I've decided to seriously consider dating him. I need real-life experience for my writing, and he's full of inspiration."
"He has a girlfriend! Do you want to be a homewrecker?!"
Utaha's voice remained calm and devilishly smug. "Why so negative? Who says I'd be the third wheel? Maybe I'm the one he'll choose."
"You're hopeless! I should've known you'd try to poach him! For the record, he's a pervert! He threw me down in my room!"
Kasumigaoka Utaha raised an eyebrow, her tone oozing sly amusement.
"Sawamura-kun, you're not being honest, are you? Why was Nozomi in your room? And he made a move on you? Be honest—didn't you seduce him?"
Eri's temple twitched.
Wha... What did this vixen just say?
I treat her like a close friend, even call her for advice in a moment of emotional crisis, and here she is—teasing me and trying to steal my interview subject!
Her voice rose in indignation. "Wh-What do you mean seduce him?! I just accidentally threw myself onto him! And that pervert... he reacted! It was scary, okay?!"
"Oh? How scary are we talking about?" Utaha's voice dripped with curiosity.
Eri: "..."
The silence stretched. Her cheeks flushed like boiling tea.
"Why do I even have to explain how scary it was to you?! Kasumigaoka Utaha, you better think twice before you keep messing around!"
Utaha chuckled with that signature elegance of hers. "If Nozomi can make Sawamura-kouhai this flustered, I must admit—my interest is now piqued more than ever."
Eri trembled with frustration.
This fatally alluring woman in black stockings...
How can she not get it?! She's making this worse!
Even after that confession of emotional chaos, this shameless senpai is still thinking about diving headfirst into the Nozomi zone!
Just what kind of spell has that guy cast?!
With a resolute pout, Eri puffed out her cheeks and crossed her arms. "Anyway! I won't be tempted by that guy, no matter what!"
Of course, she had no idea...
Many girls had declared the exact same thing. And each of them was later absolutely, utterly, and completely smitten.
The most classic example: the usually ice-cold second daughter of the Yukinoshita family, Yukino.
--
Meanwhile, back at Sakurasou, Nozomi had already returned.
Yukinoshita Yukino, still staying over for the night like the day before, was reading quietly in the guest room.
Late at night, like a silent shadow, Nozomi tiptoed into the guest room, gently picked up Yukino like a princess, and carried her back into his room.
Her heartbeat jumped.
"You... You bad guy! Are you planning to do what you did yesterday again?" she asked, pushing against his chest with trembling hands.
Nozomi gave a sheepish laugh. "If you don't want to, I won't do anything."
He smiled gently. "Let's just talk tonight, okay?"
Yukino, still blushing, nodded softly. "Alright. But... what's going on with that Sawamura girl?"
"Eriri? She's the official illustrator for our Meow Star Club."
Yukino pouted, her sharp gaze cutting into him. "You're not... interested in her, are you?"
Nozomi chuckled and wrapped an arm around her waist, his voice low and full of charm.
"If I said no, would you believe me?"
"No."
"Then I'll be honest... I do have some interest."
Yukino's face darkened slightly, but he added with a softer tone:
"But right now, what I want most... is you, Yukino."
As his breath tickled her ear, her heart thudded violently against her chest.
Shiina Mahiru's teasing words echoed in her mind—words about how dangerous it was to get too close to Nozomi.
Still, they talked. Then he leaned in and whispered that he wanted to kiss her.
She hesitated, but then—
Their lips met.
Yukino's mind went blank.
She was swept into his rhythm. Her hands trembled as his fingertips glided along her thighs, sparking waves of electricity with every movement.
When she dared to look into his eyes, she saw it clearly—the blazing emotion, the burning desire.
Yukinoshita Yukino, ever the dignified ice queen... was now completely melting.
And for tonight, her pride could only make room for one thing—shyness.