The two sisters spoke in unison.
Speaking of which, if Aiden were wearing a coat right now, Chizuru would probably act like a typical Japanese housewife and go over to help him take it off.
Once Aiden sat down, Maki ordered her personal maid Yumiko to bring over some snacks, while she herself poured Aiden a cup of tea.
Not long after, Yumiko came in with the snacks. She glanced at Aiden with clear irritation, after all, in her eyes, he was nothing but a scumbag. It was already bad enough that he tangled himself up with both of her young mistresses, but now he was even getting involved with other women.
"Peh! Scumbag."
After quietly placing the snacks and tea on the table, Yumiko muttered under her breath before leaving the room.
When the door closed, Aiden blinked helplessly. "Yumiko never seems to like me very much."
Chizuru rolled her eyes. "That's because you're too much of a flirt. Otherwise, she wouldn't say that."
Maki, however, spoke up for Aiden. "Chizuru, how could you say that about Aiden?"
Yumiko's voice had been quiet, but both sisters had heard it clearly.
Still, their different personalities meant they treated Aiden differently. The younger sister scolded him; the older sister defended him.
"Big Sister, seriously? You're still standing up for this guy? He is a flirt! Don't forget, today he brought along a woman with an indecently huge chest to meet us. And that woman even had the nerve to provoke us!" Chizuru said, her tone sharp again as she referred to Aiden as "this guy."
Then she added, "That woman is even worse than Mai Shiranui, more disgusting and shameless."
Although Maki actually agreed with her sister's words deep down, she was more concerned with something else. She wanted to know why Aiden was with one of the Four Heavenly Kings of Orochi, Shermie, and why the two of them seemed so close.
After all, even though this was her first time interacting with a member of the Orochi Four Heavenly Kings, she had read plenty about them in the family's ancient records.
According to those texts, every single member of the Four Heavenly Kings, or rather, the Eight Hakkesshu, was ruthless, emotionless, and prone to sudden fits of madness.
Thinking of that, Maki decided to give Aiden a little warning. She worried that if Shermie ever went berserk, Aiden might be the one to suffer.
After a moment's thought, Maki asked softly, "Aiden, do you know Shermie's real identity?"
Aiden immediately understood what Maki was hinting at, but right now, he could only pretend to be clueless. The legend of the Hakkesshu was known only among the Three Sacred Families and certain powerful factions. A "normal" person like him shouldn't know a thing about it.
So he acted curious and replied, "Shermie's real identity? Isn't she just a normal woman who likes music and fashion design? That's what she told me herself."
Chizuru also grew curious. "So that shameless woman was hiding her true identity?"
Maki nodded, then looked at her sister and asked, "Didn't you notice anything unusual about her aura?"
Chizuru blinked and shook her head. "Nope."
She wasn't like her sister. Maki was a shrine maiden and spent much of her time studying their family's old texts. As for Chizuru, her main role was simply to continue the family line, so she spent most of her energy on playing around and sleeping.
Sure, she occasionally helped manage the family company, but it was Maki who did most of the work.
"So, Big Sister, that woman's real identity is something special?" Chizuru asked, full of trust.
Maki nodded. "Her real identity is one of the Four Heavenly Kings of Orochi, Shermie."
"Wha... what?" Chizuru's eyes went wide. She might not handle business matters, but she wasn't clueless either.
"The Four Heavenly Kings of Orochi… don't tell me, they've awakened again?"
"I'm afraid they've been awake for quite some time," Maki nodded again. "It's been over a century since our ancestors sealed them away. If you count the years, it's about time they woke up."
"But, Big Sister, how did you recognize her? And why didn't you just take her out? You always carry the Yata Mirror, right?" Chizuru asked, confused.
Maki didn't answer immediately. Instead, she looked over at Aiden and said helplessly, "The other party didn't seem to have any intention of attacking… and besides, Aiden was right there."
"Oh, so you were worried about accidentally hurting Aiden," Chizuru nodded in understanding, but then frowned. "But I heard that members of the Hakkesshu are all cold-blooded and cruel. Why would she be so close to Aiden?"
"That," Maki said, glancing curiously at Aiden, "is something you'll have to ask him. Aiden, how exactly did you meet her?"
"At King's bar…" Aiden thought for a moment, then briefly described how he and Shermie met. Of course, he left out the parts about Goenitz showing up, and about how he and Shermie had slept together almost right after meeting.
But even if he didn't say it, the sisters could tell. Chizuru sensed he was hiding something and snapped, "That sounds way too simple. If that's the case, then what did that woman mean when she said she'd 'reward' you?"
How am I supposed to answer that?
Seeing Aiden hesitate, both sisters seemed to think of the same possibility.
"Don't tell me… you two already slept together!?" Chizuru shouted.
"Cough… we were both drunk at the time," Aiden said awkwardly. But he knew full well it had nothing to do with being drunk, it was entirely his lust that did it.
Sure, Shermie had seduced him, and Helena hadn't stopped it, but the real problem was still him. He wasn't about to pin the blame on anyone else.
Hearing him admit it, Chizuru's face crumpled. "So being drunk makes it okay? How could you? How could you do this to Big Sister and me?"
"And just the day after you left," she went on tearfully, "Big Sister took me to look at wedding outfits! We bought so many styles of shiromuku and hanayome! We were planning to ask which one you liked when you got back, but now…"
As she spoke, tears streamed down her cheeks. She wiped them hard, then suddenly bolted from the room barefoot.
"You horrible flirt! You heartless jerk! I hate you!"
Her tearful voice echoed from outside the house.
Aiden froze, he hadn't expected Chizuru to react so strongly.
Scratching his head, he looked at Maki, who sat quietly holding her teacup, watching him calmly. He said softly, "Maki… I…"
"It's fine, Aiden," she said, her expression composed. "Go comfort Chizuru first."
"What about you?" Aiden asked, worried. Her sister had burst into tears, but she didn't seem moved at all, that was strange.
"So you think I should do the same? Cry, shout, blame you for everything, and then let you comfort me too?" Maki asked softly.
Aiden hesitated, then nodded a little.
Maki smiled faintly, though the hand holding her cup had gone pale. "But Aiden, you're only one person. If you stay to comfort me, what about my sister?"
'What a noble older sister.'
'But from the way you said that… it sounds like you want comfort too!'
Since she said that, though, all Aiden could do was sigh. "I'll be right back."
"No rush. Settle Chizuru first," Maki said, looking at him with unreadable eyes. "I… will be waiting for you in your room."
"Alright," Aiden nodded, then got up and left, taking Chizuru's high heels with him.
But after just a few steps, he froze.
Wait, did she just say… she'd be waiting for him in his room?
Honestly, when Aiden heard Maki say she'd be waiting in his room, he didn't think too much of it, not in that way, at least.
What he was actually thinking was, He'd been gone for several days already. If his timing was right, the Nyotengu should be coming back soon. What if Maki ran into her…?
He immediately turned around, wanting to go back to his room, but after taking one step, he stopped again.
How was he supposed to explain that?
Tell her, "By the way, there might still be a woman in my room, one with an even better body than Shermie, and she also happens to be the legendary mountain spirit haunting your family shrine"?
After some hesitation, Aiden decided to take his chances. The Nyotengu had said she was going out to visit friends; maybe she wouldn't be back so soon.
The goddess of luck would surely smile on him again, she'd even flipped her skirt for him once already. Maybe this time, she'd let him see her underwear.
'Yeah… hopefully it's lace.'
Distracting himself with nonsense thoughts, Aiden asked the maid Yumiko, who was stationed by the door, which way Chizuru had gone. When he learned she'd headed toward the main shrine, he said, "Thanks, Yumiko. I'll bring you a gift when I get back."
But Yumiko clutched her chest and backed away several steps. "I'm warning you, don't even think about trying anything with me!"
"Uh… maybe when your chest gets a little bigger," Aiden muttered as he ran off toward the main shrine, leaving Yumiko fuming behind him.
Not long after he left, Maki's voice floated from the room, "Yumiko, prepare some hot water for me… I need to change clothes."
———
"Bastard!"
"Damn it!"
"Flirtatious big radish!"