[Series Quest (Part One): The Sisters' Bond]
[Quest Objective: Help Hinata Sakuramiya and Saya Sakuramiya understand their feelings for each other.]
[Quest Reward: 1000 Nurturing Points.]
[NTR Assistant's Friendly Tip: Completing all Quest lines in this Series will yield a mysterious grand prize!]
A mysterious grand prize!
This was precisely why Kaede agreed to Hinata's request. A mysterious grand prize! What could be so important that the System would label it as such? Kaede was very curious!
Kaede trusted Hinata; she said she wouldn't cross any lines, and she wouldn't... even if she did, it wasn't a big deal.
Besides... Hinata probably liked Saya, right?
A photo of them kissing on the cheek didn't necessarily mean anything. Kaede had kissed Suzu on the cheek, and Suzu had kissed Kaede. A quick kiss between sisters when they were excited or happy wasn't unusual.
But Kaede had a gut feeling: the Sakuramiya sisters were different from her and Suzu!
However... what did this Quest imply?
This Reverse-NTR version of the System usually only issues Quests related to Reverse-NTR. But if the sisters liked each other, how could that cuckold her? It didn't make sense.
System, come explain this to me.
[The System does not explain. The Host will know once all Series Quests are completed.]
"...."
The System's arrangement must have its intentions!
"Tomorrow, I'll take leave from Archery Club activity. Rin-Senior can pick me up after school. It won't take up too much of Rin-Senior's time."
Hinata's voice brought Kaede back to reality. Hinata and Rin Ito had already discussed the plan for tomorrow. As for why Hinata called Rin Ito "Senior"... it was simple: Rin Ito was an alumnus of their school.
This way, the story of how they met and started dating was easily fabricated: Rin Ito, as an alumnus, met Hinata while visiting a teacher, and they started dating. Perfectly logical.
In essence, Hinata's plan was simple. Rin Ito would pick her up after school tomorrow, and they would display a bit of public affection near the school gate when traffic was heaviest. They would repeat this for a few days. After that, it wouldn't matter. If the sea urchin head from the Photography Club ever published the photos, classmates who had seen Hinata and Rin Ito together would naturally refute him. If anyone asked later, Hinata could simply say they had broken up.
Of course, this was the plan Hinata told Rin Ito. In reality... Hinata's main goal was to probe her sister's feelings!
After settling the plan with Rin Ito, Hinata returned home, greeted by her sister Saya's gentle smile.
"Welcome back~"
Saya Sakuramiya gave off a completely different vibe than Hinata. Hinata had an outgoing personality and could make friends with anyone, while her sister had a quiet, gentle demeanor, giving off a reliable aura. Hinata had left club activities early today, citing illness, to meet with the sea urchin head. She had then spent quite a bit of time chatting with Rin Ito and Kaede, so she returned home late.
"Hinata, you left early today, so why are you home so late?" Saya asked.
Hinata had used illness as an excuse to leave early but was now home later than Saya.
"N-nothing..." Hinata lowered her head, feigning shyness and nervousness. "I ran into a friend I hadn't seen in a long time."
"Who is it?" Saya asked curiously.
"Sister Saya wouldn't know, anyway. I... I'm going to take a shower first." Hinata fled to the bathroom as if escaping.
Saya was left watching Hinata's back, confused. Ever since their parents married, the two had been practically inseparable since middle school. They were closer than biological sisters and shared no secrets. Saya knew all of Hinata's friends... When did Hinata make a friend that she didn't know?
Thinking this, a strange feeling of irritation and anxiety welled up in Saya's heart. It was like... like... like something important was being snatched away!
The next day.
Saya and Hinata went to school together as usual. They went to the restroom during the break and ate lunch together at noon. Everything was the same as always, making Saya suspect she was being overly sensitive.
Until school ended that afternoon.
As the President of the Girls' Archery Club, Saya was packing her schoolbag, preparing to go to club activities with Hinata as usual. Hinata, too, packed her bag and ran lightly to Saya's side.
Just as Saya was about to discuss what drills and instructions they should give the Archery Club newcomers, Hinata spoke first.
"Sister Saya, I'd like to ask for leave from club activities today~"
"Eh? Leave?"
"Mhm~" Hinata's lips curved upward, her eyes full of uncontrollable joy. "I made plans to go out with a friend today. I'll have to ask you to take on the burden of instructing the juniors, Sister Saya. Bye-bye~ See you tonight, Sister Saya~"
Seeing Hinata's happy appearance, Saya's mood grew complicated. A strange, sour feeling surged from Saya's heart.
Saya fiercely shook her head, forcing the strange thoughts out of her mind. Strange... what is wrong with me? Hinata is just going out with a friend.
Saya took a deep breath. Don't think about it. I have juniors to instruct at the club today! Hinata is just going out with a friend. Hinata... is just going out with a friend.
Saya forced herself to cheer up and went alone to the small dojo used by the Girls' Archery Club.
Saya was the first to arrive. The juniors hadn't arrived yet. The dojo was so quiet and cold that Saya felt she could hear her own heartbeat.
She usually arrived first with Hinata. After changing into their Kyudo uniforms, they would chat while waiting for the juniors. But today... it was only Saya in the quiet dojo. This made Saya feel very uncomfortable. For the first time, she desperately wished the juniors would hurry up and arrive.
Soon after, Saya heard the distant, noisy voices of the juniors, which reassured her somewhat. However, that strange feeling still lingered.
"Good afternoon, Senior Saya."
"Good afternoon."
The Archery Club juniors arrived at the dojo in small groups. They greeted Saya and then went to the changing room to put on their Kyudo uniforms. Everything was normal, but even with the juniors present, Saya still felt something was off.
"Senior Saya, is Senior Hinata not coming today?" The juniors, having changed into their uniforms, gathered around Saya and asked curiously.
"Uh... Hinata, she... she has something to attend to. She can't come today." After stammering out the words, Saya stood before the target, drawing her bow and nocking an arrow. Usually, when drawing her bow, Saya felt an unusual calmness in her heart; releasing the arrow and hitting the target was a seamless action.
But today, Saya couldn't manage to calm her heart down, no matter what.
In her distraction, her grip on the arrow loosened. After a brief whistle through the air, the arrow missed the target. However, Saya had no mind to focus on this right now.
What... what is Hinata doing?