Behind the castle stretched a vast private lawn.
The lush green grounds had already been illuminated with brilliant lights, and tables laden with exquisite food had been set up. Guests dressed in formal attire mingled with one another, raising glasses and chatting cheerfully.
This was in the heart of Chiba City. Owning an estate of this size in such a prime location made it abundantly clear just how unimaginably wealthy Eriri's family was.
"Eriri."
Sato's calm voice suddenly broke the silence in the room.
"Mhm."
Without even looking up, Eriri answered absentmindedly, her stylus continuing to race across the drawing tablet.
"Did you invite Utaha?"
"That woman came?"
Eriri's pen stopped instantly. She looked up sharply at Sato, who was standing by the window.
"Yeah."
Sato nodded gently, his gaze fixed on the figure below.
She was dressed in crimson, blazing like a blooming lotus.
Standing upon the emerald lawn, the young woman in a fiery red evening gown became the most eye-catching blossom in the crowd.
Her exquisite face was elegant yet alluring. Beneath it stretched a slender, snow-white neck adorned with a gleaming silver necklace. The delicate silver chain complemented her smooth skin, while the hem of her dress flared like dancing flames, revealing two fair, slender calves.
"Then I'll call her up."
Still seated, Eriri lowered her head and sent Kasumigaoka Utaha a message.
A moment later, Sato saw Kasumigaoka Utaha take out her phone and glance at the screen.
The old butler who had brought him upstairs also walked over and quietly said a few words to her. It was presumably another of Eriri's arrangements.
Utaha gave the butler a slight nod before lifting her eyes toward the castle.
Her bright eyes sparkled beneath the lights.
The moment she spotted Sato, a beautiful smile bloomed across her lovely face.
Sato's emotions suddenly became complicated.
He raised a hand and gave her a small wave.
Once the old butler led Kasumigaoka Utaha toward the castle, Sato quietly let out a long breath and turned back into the room.
As time slowly passed, the room gradually fell silent.
Bang!
Without warning, the door was shoved open.
Kasumigaoka Utaha appeared in the doorway.
All that filled his vision was white, crimson, and those eyes that shone like stars.
At that moment, she looked like a blazing flame burning atop a solitary snow-covered peak.
Her gaze was locked firmly onto Sato.
Passionate flames seemed to flicker within those eyes, carrying an indescribable intensity.
The sudden noise startled Eriri.
Her stylus slipped, dragging a long line across the drawing tablet.
A thick black streak appeared across the manga page on the computer screen.
Frantically, Eriri hurriedly hit Undo before baring her teeth at Kasumigaoka Utaha.
"Kasumigaoka! Don't you know you're supposed to knock before coming in?!"
"Oh?"
Kasumigaoka Utaha drew out the word. Only then did her gaze leave Sato and shift to Eriri, gradually becoming teasing and provocative.
"Could it be that Lady Eriri is only this brave?"
The moment she heard that, Eriri exploded.
Grinding her teeth, she glared at Kasumigaoka Utaha.
"Who wouldn't get startled by something like that all of a sudden?!"
Kasumigaoka Utaha looked ready to respond, but Sato interrupted first.
"Alright. It's Eriri's birthday today. Just give her this one."
Sato rubbed his forehead with a headache.
Why did these two always end up arguing the instant they met?
If they truly hated each other, Eriri probably wouldn't have invited Kasumigaoka Utaha in the first place.
So was this one of those love-hate relationships?
Did hatred turn into affection?
Or affection into hatred?
Kasumigaoka Utaha stared at Sato for a long while.
Her quiet gaze sent chills down his spine.
Only after what felt like an eternity did she speak in a calm, slightly cold voice.
"So you're taking her side?"
That tone...
She wasn't jealous... was she?!
Sato tried to reason with her.
After organizing his thoughts, he spoke in the gentlest voice he could manage.
"This isn't about taking anyone's side. But today is Eriri's birthday. At the very least, don't make her end up crying..."
"W... Who would end up crying?!"
"So you really are taking her side!"
Eriri suddenly sprang to her feet, glaring at him in embarrassment and indignation.
Kasumigaoka Utaha, meanwhile, wore a cold smile.
An icy chill almost seemed to radiate from her eyes.
"..."
Sato admitted it.
He'd been wrong.
He never should have tried to argue with women.
But!
He suddenly turned to Eriri and stared straight at her.
I was trying to help you just now!
Eriri looked a little guilty under his gaze.
Her eyes darted away for a moment before she seemed to find some justification. She immediately straightened her back and regained her confidence.
"W... Who said I'd cry?!"
At that moment, Kasumigaoka Utaha also shifted her attention from Sato to Eriri.
A slight smile curved her lips as she raised an eyebrow.
"Whether someone cried or not, don't they know that better than anyone else? You blonde losing heroine."
"I would never cry!"
"And what do you mean, 'blonde losing heroine'?! You Fat Utaha!"
Eriri's teeth ground together as she roared furiously at Kasumigaoka Utaha.
The two confronted each other without giving an inch.
Watching from the side, Sato could only sigh.
You're the one who invited her.
I wonder if you ever expected things to end up like this.
"What do I mean?"
Kasumigaoka Utaha's tone suddenly changed as she smiled brightly at Eriri.
Unlike before, hearing the nickname "Fat Utaha" no longer made her angry.
Instead, she looked positively radiant.
"Y... You're acting strange..."
Eriri swallowed nervously as she looked at her.
Why did this woman feel completely different from before?
A bad feeling suddenly welled up in Sato's heart.
He looked at Kasumigaoka Utaha warily.
What are you trying to do?!
Don't do anything reckless!
Sure enough, she was smiling sweetly at him.
The next second, without any warning, Kasumigaoka Utaha took two quick steps forward and grabbed Sato before he could dodge.
The smile curving her lips was especially enchanting.
"Mmph!"
Sato was just about to speak when she suddenly leaned in.
The words he had yet to say were swallowed by her soft lips.
A faint fragrance of cherry blossoms drifted between them.
This was...
The scent of spring.
Only a few steps away, the blonde girl slowly opened her mouth in stunned disbelief as she watched everything unfold.