"I'm sorry."
In the living room Kurumi Tokisaki sat on the sofa with her arms folded, the delicate features of her face tinged with both shame and anger. In front of her, Sawa Yamauchi knelt on the floor, bowing her head and apologizing in a faint voice.
The mess in Kurumi's room was entirely Sawa's doing.
Sawa had gone to pick Kurumi up—and had already planned to drop by Shichen's place and, if possible, invite him home.
"What's the deal with that … underwear set? I don't own anything like that!" Kurumi asked in mortified anger, shooting a side‑glance at Shichen to make sure he understood.
"It isn't yours?" Shichen looked genuinely surprised.
"Of course not! I don't keep anything that risqué. All I have are whit— No, that's not what I meant!"
Realizing what she had almost blurted out, Kurumi glared at Shichen. "See what you made me say!"
"…Weren't you the one who said it?"
"I did not!"
"Really? How come you're shy now? You showed me without hesitation before, you know." Shichen grinned teasingly.
"That was because I hadn't seen you for ages and got carried away!"
"What? Kurumi already flashed her panties at Shichen? So bold! When did that happen?" Sawa cried in amazement.
"It was when she transferred—"
"Don't you dare say it! And you, Sawa, who told you to butt in?" Kurumi shot Sawa another withering glare.
"Oh…"
"Out with it—why did you do something like that?" Kurumi demanded.
"It was just a tiny favor, hehe." Sawa smiled ingratiatingly.
"Who wanted your help? What if people get the wrong idea? I'm not that kind of lewd girl!" Kurumi pouted.
"Eh? You wore black stockings on the very first day—doesn't that count as lewd?"
"What's lewd about black stockings?" Kurumi turned to Shichen for support.
"They're pretty sexy—especially when the hem gets lifted." Shichen nodded, reminiscing.
"Why are you still talking!" Kurumi's cheeks turned scarlet.
"Hard thing to forget, you know."
"Shichen, you really are a pervert!"
"…Weren't you the one who showed me in the first place?" Shichen retorted, twitching at the corner of his mouth.
"Ugh…" Kurumi was momentarily lost for words.
"Come on, Shichen, tell me what happened back then—I want all the details!" Sawa tugged excitedly at Shichen's trouser leg.
"Don't you dare!" Kurumi interjected.
"By the way, what exactly did you two invite me over for?" Shichen asked helplessly.
"Ah!" Sawa finally remembered and shot a look at Kurumi.
"Why are you looking at me? You're the one who invited him."
"So you didn't want to invite Shichen after all? Everything I did was for you."
"No need."
"Tch—remember, that's your decision."
Sawa pouted, stood up, and wrapped herself around Shichen's arm.
"Since I brought Shichen here, you are not allowed to have any funny ideas about him."
"And why not?"
"You said so yourself! Shichen is my guest right now."
"No way!" Kurumi also stood, seized Shichen's other arm, and hugged it tight.
"What do you think you're doing? Let go of Shichen!"
"No! Shichen is mine!" Kurumi clutched his arm harder and pulled one way.
"He's not yours!" Sawa clung just as tightly and pulled the other way.
Shichen instantly felt himself being tugged from both sides—exasperated but also amused.
"He's mine!"
"He's not!"
"Mine!"
"Not!"
"You two…" Shichen sighed, flexed both arms, and dragged the two girls toward him so that one rested at each side.
"Why can't you both be mine?"
"E‑eh!" Sawa squeaked, cheeks flushing bright red.
"Shichen, you're even making a move on Sawa now?" Kurumi complained.
"Ha—come on, did you really believe that? I'm kidding. Stop squabbling, you two; I didn't come to watch your friendship skit."
Although they bickered, it was obvious they were very close; Shichen could feel the bond between them.
With Sawa around, he was completely at ease—Kurumi would never do anything extreme.
"W‑was that a joke?" Sawa puffed out her cheeks, looking aggrieved.
"Uh…" Shichen wasn't sure how to respond. He hardly knew Sawa; though he could sense her goodwill, it still felt unreal.
"Hey! What's the big idea? Do you actually have designs on Shichen? Weren't you supposed to be backing me up?" Kurumi huffed.
"So what? Aren't best friends supposed to share?"
"Not everything can be shared…" Kurumi scowled.
"Do you really want to watch me grow old alone, never knowing what a man feels like?" Sawa put on a pitiful act.
"Then go find someone."
"At my age? How? And with Shichen here, everyone else pales in comparison."
That's…
"Kurumi, you can share Shichen with the others—why not with me?" Sawa pressed.
"That's different!" Kurumi turned her head away.
"How is it different? Just because Yatogami and the others are Spirits like you? For the record, I used to be a Spirit too, y'know."
"You nearly died!" Kurumi snapped.
"But Shichen saved me, didn't he?" Sawa rested her head on Shichen's shoulder, rubbing against him with a smile.
"Hey!"
"How did I save you, exactly?" Shichen interrupted, curious.
He knew Sawa's circumstances; from their conversation it sounded as if he had saved her when Kurumi almost killed her by mistake.
"Hehe—Shichen, a warm power flowed into my body and I recovered, just like that," Sawa answered sweetly.
"That phrasing…"
"It's true~"
"Kurumi, if I'm here, I can help you compete for Shichen's attention," Sawa coaxed again.
"Compete for attention… we don't need that!" Kurumi blushed and stole a peek at Shichen.
"Are you sure? I think Shichen's quite fond of Princess—and of Hermit too. Can you deal with both of them alone?"
"Er—"
"Kurumi, do you really want me to stay a lonely maiden forever?"
"…Do whatever you want."
Kurumi gave up. "Ask Shichen yourself—it's not my decision. If he agrees, fine!"
"Shichen~" Sawa looked up at him, blinking adorably.
"Eh—don't you like me, Shichen? I'm really cute, you know…" Sawa drooped when Shichen stayed silent.
"A‑hem. It's not about liking or not liking—we barely know each other…" Shichen tried to explain.
"What if we got to know each other?" Sawa asked immediately.
"Well… let's just let things take their course, okay?"
"You said it!"
"Isn't your way of thinking a little off?" Shichen muttered.
"Shouldn't you be happy, Shichen? We're two besties, after all~"
"We're not sisters!" Kurumi retorted.
"Aren't we best friends?" Sawa countered.
"'Sister flowers' means real sisters, okay!"
"Kurumi, you sure know a lot."
"Anyway, it's almost the same—we've lived so long, seen so much, even life and death. Some things just aren't that important anymore," Sawa explained to Shichen.
"I see… then let me ask, how old are you?"
"Meanie—how can you ask a lady's age?" Sawa gave Shichen a playful slap on the arm.
"Exactly!" Kurumi chimed in.
They still looked gorgeous, but were clearly sensitive about their ages.
"No, I was just curious. You don't seem to have Spirit powers, so why are you still so young and pretty?" Shichen asked, puzzled.
"Young and pretty… Shichen, you really know how to flatter." Sawa covered her face shyly.
"What about me?" Kurumi asked.
"Do I still need to say it? Haven't you seen how the students at school react?" Shichen smiled.
"I want to hear it from you."
"…You're very beautiful—really cute, too." Shichen answered honestly.
"Really…?" Kurumi blushed and cupped her cheeks.
"Sawa, what exactly happened?" Shichen pressed.
"Mm…" Sawa paused. "It probably has to do with that partial Spirit‑transformation—though incomplete, it still had an effect."
"I see," Shichen nodded.
"So…" Sawa looked at him gently. "Before I grow old, I have to raise Shichen's affection for me and have a proper romance!"
Kurumi fell silent, unconsciously squeezing Shichen's arm tighter.
Shichen also realized the difference: unlike Kurumi, Sawa was an ordinary human—she would age, she would die.
One day Kurumi and Sawa would inevitably part ways.
~~~
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