"Momo, what are you doing?"
Nana stepped out of the tent as well.
She'd been watching Momo the whole time; once she saw her walk out, of course she followed.
"Brother-in-law left…" Momo's tone was full of obvious disappointment.
"Left? Left where?" Nana didn't get it.
"Brother-in-law isn't on the island anymore."
"What? He abandoned us and left by himself?" Nana yelped.
"How is that even possible?" Momo rolled her eyes at her.
"He just left with Yui-nee."
"He took Yui-nee and left? To do what?"
"Gee, I wonder? A man and a woman alone, at night… what do you think they're doing?"
"Eh?" Nana froze, then suddenly understood, her cheeks blazing red.
"D-don't tell me—?!"
"What else?"
"That's way too…" Nana didn't even know how to describe it. It sounded reasonable, and somehow not.
He was her brother-in-law, but Yui-nee's relationship with him was clearly unusual, and her sister didn't mind or pretend not to know.
Still…
He'd confessed to her in the daytime, and at night he was off doing that with another girl already?
Is that okay?
"Too what?" Momo gave her a puzzled look.
"Nothing…" Nana shook her head quickly.
"Momo, you look really down. You definitely like him, don't you!"
"I am a little down, but not because of that."
"Not because of that?" Nana blinked.
"I wanted to get closer to Brother-in-law before Yui-nee and the others did. There's nothing to be jealous about now," Momo said casually.
"…You really are something else," Nana stared at her oddly.
It felt like she was getting to know her twin sister all over again.
Not only did she like Brother-in-law and have designs on him, she even had the guts to act on it openly. And on top of that, she was this generous, with almost no possessiveness at all.
It was worlds away from the scheming, vengeful girl she remembered.
"What's wrong with that?" Momo shot back.
"No…" Nana shook her head.
Of course there was a problem—one huge problem after another—but with who they were and their situation, you could also say… there wasn't.
"Then why are you upset?" Nana pressed.
"Because I can't see anything now." Momo pouted, lips pushing out.
"C-can't see?" Nana didn't follow for a moment.
"Yeah! Not being able to watch Brother-in-law bully Yui-nee is such a waste!" Momo stamped her foot in frustration.
"…" Nana's mouth twitched.
Momo kept ranting indignantly: "Yui-nee's obviously still a pure maiden, she hasn't been bullied all the way yet. I really wanted to see how Brother-in-law bullies her… so I'd be mentally prepared."
"H-ha—?!" Nana's jaw dropped.
"What?"
"What do you mean 'mentally prepared'? Don't tell me you want him to do that to you too…?"
"Isn't that completely normal? I'm planning to have Brother-in-law's baby."
"Has your brain short-circuited?" Nana stepped up, put a hand on her forehead to check.
"What are you even talking about?"
"You're the one not making sense! Why shouldn't I have his baby? If I'm going to be with him in the future, why can't I?"
"That…" Nana ran out of words.
"Brother-in-law's and my child would be super adorable. If it's a boy, he'll grow up to be insanely popular; if it's a girl, she'll be a total heart-breaker." Momo cupped her face and beamed, lost in her fantasy.
"You're just a kid yourself… how are you already thinking about this stuff?"
"It's only a matter of time."
"You have gone crazy. What happened to you after we came to this planet?"
"That's because I hadn't met Brother-in-law before. I hadn't let my true self out yet."
Nana: "…"
"Sigh, such a shame I didn't get to see anything, can't prepare at all. Still, maybe that's fine. The unknown is even more exciting~" Momo said breezily, mood miraculously restored.
"Have you thought about the fact that Mom hates playboys? And if that playboy happens to be her son-in-law…" Nana reminded her.
"Uh…" Momo's smile froze.
…
The sun rose in the east, morning light spilling across the island and laying a pale sheet of brilliance over the sand.
A dark speck floated in from offshore, getting closer and closer until its shape became clear.
Someone was flying in, cradling someone else princess-style.
Shichen landed on the beach holding a half-asleep Kotegawa Yui, and walked slowly toward the tent.
"Shichen…" Yui rasped, her voice hoarse.
"What is it?"
"My swimsuit…"
"Almost forgot."
Shichen gave a flick of his wrist; the swimsuit lying by the loungers flew over on its own and dressed itself onto Yui's body, fitting her perfectly.
Only then did Yui completely relax and sink back into sleep.
She was utterly exhausted—her throat raw from "singing," limbs completely limp. Shichen was way too intense.
He had no idea what her final thought before sleep was; even if he did, he'd probably just agree with her.
At the tent entrance, he didn't bother to hide his return, just walked straight in.
The central "living room" area was empty. Shichen listened carefully and caught the familiar rhythm of sleeping breaths.
Plus two breathing patterns that didn't sound entirely natural.
He ignored them for the moment, carrying Yui to the room he'd prepared for her, laying her down and healing her body before stepping back out into the main area.
"Brother-in-law?"
Momo's sleepy voice drifted out; Shichen followed the sound and saw her rubbing her eyes, shuffling out of a room half-awake.
"Momo, did I wake you?" he asked, pretending not to know anything.
"Mm… I just woke up," Momo nodded.
"Is that so? Up this early, huh."
"I don't like sleeping in… Brother-in-law, what were you just doing?"
"Taking Yui back to her room," Shichen answered matter-of-factly.
"Brother-in-law and Yui-nee… you were gone all night, weren't you?" Momo asked straight out.
"Caught me, huh."
"So you and Yui-nee were…?" Momo couldn't help asking.
"That's not something you need to know," Shichen said, ruffling her hair.
"Brother-in-law, I'm not a kid," Momo puffed her cheeks in protest.
"You're saying that like you don't already know."
"I want to hear Brother-in-law say it himself."
"What's there to say?"
"Anything Brother-in-law says, I like hearing. Anything Brother-in-law does, I want to see."
"You want to see?"
"Hmph~ why did you have to take Yui-nee away, Brother-in-law?" Momo shot the question right at him.
"What? You wanted to watch?" Shichen gave her a meaningful look.
"Ah~ Brother-in-law did notice after all," Momo stuck out her tongue playfully.
"Why do you want to see everything?" Shichen flicked her forehead, exasperated.
"Mm~ I'm just curious."
"Curious or not, there are things you don't get to see. Besides, Yui would die of embarrassment."
"Really?"
"What, would you want people watching if it was you?" he countered.
"Good point~"
"Anyway, enough of that. Are you hungry? I'll make some breakfast. How about seafood congee?"
Crab meat porridge, maybe congee with those little lobsters—they sounded delicious in his head. And with their constitution, he didn't have to worry about heaviness. He could grill a few more prawns and crabs on the side.
When circumstances allowed, breakfast should be lavish.
"Okay, I love anything Brother-in-law makes!"
"In that case, let's just eat a little first, then when everyone else wakes up I'll make a proper breakfast."
"Is this a special treat just for me?"
"Do you like that?"
"I love it, Brother-in-law is the best!" Momo hugged his arm right away.
She was still in her swimsuit, the skin of her chest pressed directly against his arm—delicate and warm.
"Keep your voice down, don't wake everyone."
"Got it~"
Once they left the tent, Shichen started on breakfast for the two of them.
Momo stuck at his side, carefully watching every step, like she was trying to memorize it.
They weren't making much, and with his powers it didn't take long. Soon enough he and Momo were sitting together, enjoying their private breakfast.
"Brother-in-law, say 'ahhh', I'll feed you~" Momo scooped up a spoonful of congee and held it up to his lips.
"I've got my own bowl—"
"Eeh~ but I want to feed you."
"Fine, fine." He opened his mouth helplessly and let her put the spoon in.
"Heehee~ how is it?"
"I made it myself; how could it be bad?" Shichen shot back.
"Then I'll try some too." Momo took another spoonful and slipped it into her own mouth.
"Mmm! It's so good! Brother-in-law's cooking is amazing!" she hummed, swinging her legs in satisfaction.
"As long as it suits you."
"Brother-in-law, your turn to feed me now~" Momo leaned close, tilting her head up, rosy lips parted, pink tongue just barely visible.
"So that's what you were aiming for."
"Heehee~ ahhh~"
"Here."
Shichen chuckled, scooped up another spoonful, and brought it to her lips.
She took it in one bite and closed her eyes, bliss written all over her face.
Breakfast was the sweetest thing in the world.
~~~
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