"Who are you…?"
Upon opening the door, Hayasaka found a woman standing before her, wearing a wide-brimmed hat, a medical mask, and large dark sunglasses, concealing nearly her entire face.
"It's been a while, Hayasaka-san. The last time we met was in Greenwich, wasn't it? How have you been?"
As she spoke, the mysterious woman slowly removed her disguise. First, she took off her sunglasses, revealing a pair of clear blue eyes. Then, the mask and hat followed, unveiling a face so familiar, so perfect, that it was unmistakable to anyone living in Japan.
If anyone else saw this woman, they would recognize her instantly. After all, her face frequently graced TV screens, movies, magazines, the internet, and electronic billboards in every corner of the city.
The rising star of recent years, Nakano Ichika!
"So it's Ichika-sama."
Hayasaka bowed deeply, a formal gesture.
"My apologies for mistaking you for a perverted stalker following Ren-sama."
Clearly, she recognized Ichika. They had met and been introduced in England when Hayasaka accompanied Ren on a business trip (which involved summoning and slaying a Heretic God).
Even if Hayasaka had never met Ichika before, there was no way she wouldn't recognize Japan's top actress. Moreover, Ichika's face bore a striking resemblance to Itsuki—the main wife of the Rokuhara Residence.
After all, Itsuki was one of five identical quintuplets, and Ichika was one of her sisters.
"I came to check on Itsuki. Is she home? I brought some British specialty snacks!"
Ichika flashed a bright smile as she stepped into the house. She accepted a pair of guest slippers from Hayasaka and promptly explained the purpose of her visit.
"Itsuki-sama is home. Please follow me." Hayasaka replied curtly, her hands deftly taking the bag of souvenirs from Ichika.
"By the way, Hayasaka-san, did you just take a bath?" Ichika asked curiously, her eyes fixed on the white bathrobe Hayasaka was wearing.
"Not quite. Ren-sama wanted everyone to play at the private pool today." Hayasaka explained briefly.
"Hmm… I see…" Ichika murmured, tapping her lips with her index finger.
A faint smile curved her lips, though it was unclear what she was thinking.
After escorting Ichika to the pool area, Hayasaka turned toward the kitchen to prepare the snacks Ichika had brought.
"My goodness, you sure know how to live, don't you, Ren-kun?" Ichika commented, the corner of her eye twitching slightly as her gaze swept over the revealing swimsuits of the girls in the pool.
She was accustomed to a free-spirited lifestyle, but the scene before her felt… excessive.
"Ichika? You're here!"
Itsuki, who had been floating leisurely, froze for a moment upon hearing her sister's voice. Her face immediately showed surprise.
"You've changed a lot, Itsuki." Ichika said, shaking her head slightly with a faint smile. "Back then, you'd never have worn a swimsuit like that. It seems the saying that love lowers your IQ isn't entirely baseless, huh?"
It should be noted that Itsuki was the most conservative among the five sisters. Yet now, nine months pregnant, she was wearing a halter-neck bikini that barely covered anything…
(So shameless!) Ichika thought, though there was a hint of admiration for her sister's boldness.
"Wait, Ichika! It's not what you think!"
Itsuki immediately realized how inappropriate her appearance must seem to her sister. Her face flushed red with embarrassment, and she hurriedly crossed her arms over her chest, trying to cover the minimal bikini top.
"I'm wearing this not because I wanted to, but because hubby forced me!"
"Yeah, yeah, I know, no need to explain—it just makes you sound guilty." Ichika said dismissively, waving her hand and ignoring Itsuki's defense.
Her gaze then shifted to the other three girls in the pool. This was her first time seeing the other women in Ren's harem in person.
(They're all beautiful, and they seem a few years younger than Itsuki. High school girls? Well, that's the kind of relationship Ren-kun should have with girls his age. A teacher-student relationship is completely unconventional. Still, I have to support my little sister!)
A small complaint surfaced in her mind. Ren had good taste and a knack for charming beautiful girls. Ichika couldn't deny a twinge of jealousy in her heart.
"Has your overseas film shoot wrapped up, Ichika-san?"
Ren, who had been silent and merely observing the twin sisters' interaction, finally spoke.
"Yeah… The movie will hit theaters by the end of this summer." Ichika replied, pulling out a few tickets from her bag. "I came to give you all some tickets. If you have free time, please come watch."
After saying that, she looked at Ren with a flirtatious gaze, a sweet smile playing on her lips.
"Hey, Ren-kun, mind if I join your pool party? It's kind of hot outside, and I'm sweaty. I'd love to swim too~"
Ren nodded casually, agreeing without hesitation. "Sure. Find Ai, she'll get you a swimsuit."
"Thanks, brother-in-law~ Get ready to see a national actress in a swimsuit~"
With a playful tone, Ichika giggled and turned, heading into the house to find Hayasaka.
Meeting Hayasaka in the kitchen, Ichika explained her intention to join the swim. Hayasaka nodded and led her to a room.
"The swimsuits are in this closet, Ichika-sama." Hayasaka said, opening a sliding wardrobe door.
Ichika looked inside and was instantly speechless.
"Isn't there a normal swimsuit?"
The closet displayed a collection of utterly provocative swimsuits. These weren't ordinary bikinis or swimsuits but a series of designs so revealing they left almost nothing to the imagination.
There were string bikinis with nearly invisible ties, monokinis with ultra-high-cut hips, and some extreme cut-out models that barely covered vital areas with minimal fabric. The colors varied from flashy neon to animal prints.
These were the kind of swimsuits only bold Western women might confidently wear on a beach, not something typical for Japan.
"These are all Ren-sama's choices." Hayasaka said resignedly, as if accustomed to her master's depraved taste.
"Fine. It's not like there are outsiders here. No need to feel embarrassed." Ichika said, trying to convince herself.
Hesitantly, she grabbed a swimsuit at random. As Ichika began undressing, Hayasaka left the room to give her privacy.
Ichika pulled her dress over her head, revealing her slender, well-proportioned body. Before putting on the swimsuit, she slipped off her underwear and unhooked her bra, placing both on the vanity table.
Then, she took the white slingshot swimsuit she had chosen. Ichika stepped into the elastic loops, pulling the minimal white fabric up to cover her private area, leaving only a thin string at the back that split between her buttocks.
She then tied the straps around her neck, adjusting them to fit her body, sighing as she realized how little the fabric covered.
"This is more embarrassing than I imagined. If I took a selfie in this swimsuit, it'd go viral, wouldn't it?"
Ichika looked at her reflection in the mirror, a blush creeping across her cheeks.
The white slingshot swimsuit exposed most of her smooth, beautiful skin, showcasing her mature curves.
To make matters worse, the strap is designed so skimpily that it doesn't completely cover her breasts; a small portion of the pink areola is clearly visible. Between her legs, a thick, manicured black forest is faintly visible, adding to the wild yet seductive vibe.
"Now I understand how Itsuki felt when I teased her earlier. Truly, only those who've experienced it can understand what others go through."
Recalling her sister's equally revealing swimsuit—and those of the other girls, perhaps even more so—Ichika's embarrassment began to fade.
"I'm not alone in this, so why should I feel overly shy? Besides, this is a private residence, and everyone here is in the same boat."
Herd mentality, a psychological tendency where individuals feel more comfortable and secure when acting or thinking in line with the majority of the group.
That was Ichika's mindset now.
She no longer felt like the only one dressed scantily. The presence of others in similar attire gave her courage.
With newfound confidence born from the realization that she wasn't different from the others, Ichika stepped out of the room and headed to the pool with much bolder and more assured strides.