Thinking about all these things,
Complex emotions and tangled thoughts twisted together, leaving the girl tossing and turning in bed, unable to sleep.
The moment she closed her eyes, faint, ambiguous murmurs seemed to echo in her ears, shifting from heart-wrenching sorrow, to restless frustration, until finally burning into a scorching, all-consuming fire.
She didn't know if she had truly slept or not.
She wasn't even sure what she had done.
All she knew was that when she woke again, her body was drenched in sweat, the seductive nightgown she had picked for her idiot brother now clinging to her skin, soaked through.
Through the gap in the curtains, the dim light of dawn barely illuminated the room.
Groggy and inexplicably irritated, Tachibana Yuka pushed herself upright.
Peeling off the damp fabric, she tossed it into the laundry basket before pulling on a simple T-shirt and shuffling toward the bathroom at the end of the hallway.
After dumping her clothes into the washing machine, she was about to turn around and wash her face—only to freeze at the sound of a wet, squelching noise coming from the adjacent toilet stall.
At first, she assumed it was just the plumbing acting up again.
So, she didn't care and just started splashing water onto her exhausted face, rubbing at the lingering fatigue.
At the same time, desperately trying to forget about the nightmarish sounds she heard last night.
She couldn't believe it, she didn't want to believe it, but she knew it was real..and she hated it.
However, as she was dealing with the conflicted thoughts swirling in her mind, Tachibana Yuuka heard a choked, watery cough amidst the silence, making the girl realise that someone was in there.
After being stunned for a moment, she couldn't help but call out,
"...Is someone in the bathroom?"
"Ahem~"
After coughing twice, soft, gentle voice responded from inside.
"Someone's here~ It's me, Koharu. Do you need to use the bathroom, Yuka?"
Koharu's voice.
She had already guessed it was her, but, why did her voice sound a little... muffled?
It was as if there was something stuck in her throat... Was she sick? Had she caught a cold?
And that strange splashing sound just now...
After being stimulated last night, the girl became a little sensitive to this matter, and responded aloud.
"No, I don't need the bathroom."
She paused, then deliberately asked,
"Koharu... did you eat something bad?"
"Mmm, I had too much ice cream yesterday."
Although she nodded slowly, Yuka's eyes narrowed.
"..Really?"
"I see. Do you have enough toilet paper in there? I can go grab some from my room."
If Koharu was really alone in there... given her airheaded nature, it was quite unlikely that she would refuse.
But if she wasn't alone...
Silence.
No immediate reply came from the other side of the door.
Yuka's pulse quickened.
At the same time, in the depths of her heart, the dying embers of rage—still warm, began to flicker back to life.
...They all get to have him?
'And I'm the only one left out?'
'Why them—and not me?!'
Sure, she might have some shortcomings compared to them, but that didn't mean she deserved to be left out like this!
Was she really that unworthy?
Her chest rose and fell rapidly, her grip tightening on the door handle.
Just as Yuka was thinking about whether she should open the bathroom door and ask that ungrateful person why he didn't choose her, Koharu, who was using the bathroom next door, gave the answer.
"Huh? Oh... I think I'm out of paper... Could you grab some, Yuka?"
The airheaded, oblivious tone doused the flames of Yuka's jealousy in an instant.
Realizing she might have overreacted, the girl forced a laugh.
"Sure, no problem."
She hurried back to her room for a fresh roll, then returned and tapped lightly on the door. "Koharu, open the door a crack. I'll pass it to you."
The door swung open halfway without warning.
Startled, Yuka instinctively turned her face away, but then hesitated.
After all, this was her chance.
Her proof.
Steeling herself, she peeked inside.
The bathroom was small.
So, there was not enough space for anyone to hide.
Just Koharu.
No sign of that idiot.
After getting the confirmation, relief washed over her, and she handed over the roll with a grin.
"Don't just swing the door open like that! You scared me~"
"Hehe~"
With her hair slightly messy, Koharu accepted the paper with a dopey smile.
"Did I startle you? Sorry~"
That simple, guileless laugh melted the tension coiled in Yuka's chest all night.
Koharu really is the best.
She'd never betray her.
She'd never use her own things to seduce the guy she wanted.
Unlike someone downstairs...
Shaking her head, not thinking about that anymore, she turned sideways, waved her hand and said:
"It's fine. I'm gonna shower—I'm all sticky from sweating last night. So gross."
"Ohh~"
The door closed.
But the moment Yuka walked away,
A hushed conversation whispered from inside.
"Fuyumi~ Get down slowly..."
"Shh. Not yet."
"...Okay~"
---
Fresh from her shower, Yuka headed downstairs for breakfast.
Monday meant work for the adults and school for the rest, so the table was full.
She greeted everyone normally, though her nose couldn't help but twitch as she sat down.
Logically, after a whole night, and with how thoroughly they must've cleaned this morning, there shouldn't be any lingering traces.
But maybe it was just her imagination...
She could still smell a faint, indescribable scent.
It was damp, greasy, a little pungent, a little intoxicating, and there was the scent of the stupid brother and that person mixed together.
It was strange, but it sent a slow, creeping heat through her chest, dizzying her just like last night.
Unaware of Yuka's stare fixed on that exact spot from yesterday, Kyoka nervously glanced at the troublemaker beside her before asking softly,
"Yuka... did you not sleep well? You seem out of it."
Not sleep well?
Out of it?
Yuka's fingers clenched around her chopsticks.
If only you knew.
Raising her head, glancing at Kyoka, who seemed to glow with an almost airbrushed radiance, looking exceptionally beautiful. The corners of Yuka's lips twitched as she fought the urge to make a sharp remark.
But then, remembering everything Kyoka had been through over the years, her nose tingled with suppressed emotion, and she shook her head nonchalantly.
"It's nothing. Just woke up a little groggy. I'll be fine in a bit."
"I see..."