Honestly, I had to hand it to Yukino—just talking to her made my mood lift instantly.
Eriri slipped her phone back into her pocket, nodding. Yukinon had a point.
There was no need to feel overly concerned. After all, if someone was Minamoto Senya's friend, then that person could be considered her friend too.
And having more friends was always a good thing!
Eriri made up her mind. If she ever got the chance to meet that upperclassman named Busujima Saeko, she'd make sure to show her some kindness.
Meanwhile, Rikka was happily snapping selfies of herself wielding her wooden practice sword, striking pose after pose. Only after capturing a few "heroic shots" did she finally put the bokken away with a satisfied grin.
When Senya came out of the bath, it was already getting late.
Prompted by her older sister Tōka, Rikka dragged Eriri with her into the bathroom next.
Drying his hair with a towel, Senya glanced around."Huh. Didn't see Auntie around."
Tōka plugged in the hairdryer and handed it over to him."Mom went out to meet Dad."
"Oh."
Senya wasn't surprised.
The Takanashi couple were extremely close—practically inseparable. Since Takanashi Sanada often worked late, it wasn't unusual for Junko to go find him at the shop so they could come home together.
Tōka stretched into a perfect split on her yoga mat while flipping through TV channels with the remote."Eriri's staying over tonight. Where's everyone going to sleep?"
Senya told her to stop on the news channel and answered casually,"Just have her sleep with Rikka."
"Possible, sure. But two girls crammed onto one small single bed, pressed up against each other all night… that doesn't sound comfortable." Tōka thought for a moment. "Better to spread a futon on the floor and let Rikka sleep there."
Senya shook his head."Nah. I'll just swap the bedding and let them both use my room. My bed's bigger. As for me…" He gave a small laugh. "Same as always, I'll pull out a blanket and crash on the sofa in the living room."
"You could just use Rikka's bed. Why bother with the sofa?"
Senya smiled as he switched on the hairdryer."It's fine. The couch is big and soft. I like it."
The steady whir of the dryer covered the soft mutter Tōka let slip under her breath: "For such a kid, he thinks too much like an adult."
She could tell Senya was being considerate about something. But in her mind, there was no need for that kind of distance between siblings.
Still, since he insisted, she decided not to push the matter further. Otherwise, it might make her seem like she had… certain thoughts herself.
When Rikka and Eriri came out of the bath, both of their faces were flushed pink, radiating youthful energy.
Tōka went in next, leaving Senya to explain the sleeping arrangements.
"Eh?! Rikka and I are going to stay in your room tonight, Senya?!"
For some reason, Eriri's heart began pounding wildly.
"Yeah. My bed's a bit bigger than Rikka's, so the two of you won't feel cramped. I'll go change out the sheets and pillowcases now."
He was already standing up to do it.
Ah! That wasn't necessary at all!
"No need to trouble yourself—didn't you just change them a couple of days ago?" Rikka interjected quickly.
Nice save, Rikka!
"I just thought you girls might mind."
"You're not like the other smelly boys. You're super clean. I don't mind." Rikka turned to Eriri. "Right, Eriri?"
Senya's eyes flicked over, and Eriri felt her face heat up. She couldn't bring herself to bluntly say she didn't mind, so she went for a more reserved response."I… I also think it's not necessary."
Since they both agreed, Senya gladly spared himself the extra work.
By a little past nine, everyone said their goodnights.
Wearing Rikka's dinosaur-pattern pajamas, Eriri walked into Senya's room—only for her body to betray her, drawing in a deep, shuddering breath like some instinctive reflex!
It wasn't her first time entering his room, but tonight was different. Tonight, she would be spending the entire night here. On his bed.
If she was lucky, she might even catch the faint scent of Senya lingering on the sheets—
No no no!
Eriri shook her head furiously.
You're a proper young lady, not some kind of pervert! How could you think like that?!
"Eriri, what's wrong? Come over here already."
Rikka, already perched on the bed, patted the spot beside her, puzzled by Eriri's hesitation.
"Ah—coming!"
Sitting on Senya's mattress, Rikka bounced slightly, her feet pressing against the floor to make the springs give a playful squeak.
"Let me tell you, Eriri—this mattress is way comfier than mine. Mom's totally biased. She bought him the best one."
"R-Really?"
"Yup. Sleeping here feels amazing."
"It is… pretty soft."
"It's only nine, though. Feels too early to go to bed."
Normally, Rikka slept around ten. Tonight, with a friend staying over, her excitement only multiplied.
"Let's do something fun first!"
"Something fun? If Tōka finds out we're not asleep, she'll be mad."
"No worries, no worries! Mom's not here, so I'm the boss tonight!"
Unlike the cautious Eriri, Rikka was on home turf and full of mischief. Her eyes gleamed as they fell on Senya's schoolbag hanging by the desk. With a conspiratorial grin, she elbowed Eriri lightly.
"Hey. Do you think Senya got a love letter today?"
"Eh?!"
"Let's check. Maybe he really did." Rikka didn't wait for an answer—she dragged the bag onto the desk and started rummaging.
Eriri was curious too, but she still tried to protest weakly."Isn't it kind of bad to go through Senya's stuff without asking?"
"I'm his family. And you've been his friend since forever. It's fine!"
Her enthusiasm was unstoppable. And sure enough, her eyes lit up as she pulled something from the very bottom of the bag: a package wrapped in brown paper.
It was too bulky to be a love letter.
But at that moment, what it actually was didn't matter. Curiosity burned brighter.
Rikka tore the wrapping open in one swift motion—
And both girls froze.
The bold cover of an adult magazine and the glaring title on a CD case practically screamed at them.
Their faces went scarlet as they stumbled back. Eriri even knocked over a chair in her panic.
"Hey! You two brats—do you even know what time it is? Get to bed alrea—"
Hm?
Tōka had opened the door to scold them, but her sharp eyes immediately locked on to the items on the desk.
She stepped in, picked up the book, and calmly read the cover: "Ultimate Explosive Sister Blossom!!!" Then her gaze shifted to the CD titled "Revenge Hypnosis XXX".
Expression unreadable, she fell silent for a beat.
"Ah, good. You're still awake. I just came to grab my charger."
That was when Senya walked into the room. He froze mid-step.
Tōka didn't blush like the younger girls. Instead, she glanced down at her own body thoughtfully, then lifted her eyes to meet his.
"So… this is your type? I'll have to be careful around you from now on."
…