Makoto returned to the living room, balancing a tray that wobbled dangerously with each step. Three sandwiches and tall glasses of soda threatened to slide off at any moment.
The room felt different now. The charged tension from before had softened into something almost cozy.
"Here." His voice came out louder than intended, breaking the quiet. "Your favorite, egg mayo sandwiches." He set the plate in front of Yuna along with black coffee.
"And for you, Mika, I wasn't sure what you'd like, so I made fried prawn and egg sandwiches." He placed the more elaborate sandwich before her. "Plus your ramune soda."
Mika's face brightened instantly. A real smile, nothing forced about it. "Oh, you remembered my favorite drink too."
She reached for the sandwich, and her fingers lingered against his for just a moment longer than necessary. "Thank you. It looks delicious."
Meanwhile, Yuna stared at her sandwich like it had personally betrayed her. "Egg mayo?" Her voice dropped to a growl. "Again?"
But she grabbed it anyway, her movements sharp and agitated.
They ate quietly for a while. Just the sounds of chewing and the occasional satisfied sigh filled the room.
Then, as if they'd planned it, both women started speaking at once.
"So, about the makeup..." Yuna's voice cut through the silence.
"I was thinking..." Mika began softly.
They stopped and stared at each other. Something new sparked in the air between them. Mika's lips curved into a knowing smile.
"You can go first." Her tone was just a touch too sweet.
Yuna's eyes narrowed to slits. "Fine."
She turned to Makoto with a wicked gleam in her eyes. "I was thinking that you should be our test dummy."
Makoto actually stuttered. "Me?"
He started backing away like he'd spotted two beautiful but dangerous predators circling him. Which wasn't far from the truth.
"But I'm not doing any cosplay, and I'm a man!"
Desperation crept into his voice as he looked at Yuna. "Right, Yuna? You wouldn't want my face and lips to dirty your expensive lipsticks or brushes, either, right?"
Yuna's smile became lethal in its sweetness. "Oh, but that's the best part."
She advanced on him slowly, savoring his nervousness. "It's a challenge. To see if I can make even a lumpy, disgusting pig like you look presentable."
Mika flanked him from the other side, moving with the same predatory grace.
"I think it's a wonderful idea. It would be good practice for us." Her eyes sparkled with dangerous delight.
"They're working together," Makoto realized with growing horror.
They'd formed some silent pact and were backing him into a corner with perfectly synchronized movements.
"Don't worry about the lipstick." Yuna pulled a tube of blood-red lipstick from her makeup bag. The click of the cap echoed through the sunny room. "I have plenty."
"And besides," Mika added hopefully, producing a fluffy pink powder brush, "we can just wipe it off when we're done."
She reached out and traced the brush along his jaw, soft and teasing. "With our tongues."
Makoto whimpered. "Don't come any closer!! I will really scream, you know!?"
"Scream?" Yuna repeated with amusement.
She leaned in close enough that her breath warmed his ear. "Go ahead. I'm sure the neighbors will just think we're having a very enthusiastic... study session."
Mika's giggle sent shivers down his spine. She pressed against his other side, warm and close.
Her hand found his, and their fingers laced together. The gesture felt both comforting and oddly possessive.
Yuna became a whirlwind of brushes and powders and pigments. She worked with intense focus, the tip of her tongue peeking out as she concentrated.
Starting with his eyes, she applied shimmery eyeshadow with surprisingly gentle touches. The brush tickled against his eyelids and made him squirm.
"Hold still," she commanded, though there was no real heat behind it. Just that focused, almost obsessive need to make him perfect.
She moved to his lips next, tracing their outline with practiced ease. Using a small brush, she painted them a vibrant red that stood out starkly against his skin.
When she finished, she pulled back with a satisfied smirk.
"There. Not bad, for a pig."
But Mika was watching him with something else entirely in her expression. "He's beautiful," she whispered, her voice raw and honest.
Then, before he could react, she leaned in and kissed him.
Makoto found himself responding instantly. His hands came up to cradle her head as his tongue slid into her mouth, not letting her pull away.
"Guh... what... why?" The words came out muffled and desperate against her lips.
Mika melted into him completely.
A soft, contented sigh escaped her as her hand slid up his arm, fingers exploring the curve of his bicep.
She kissed back with surprising desperation. Her lips were soft and warm, tasting of ramune and something else, something uniquely her that made his head spin.
Yuna stood watching with her arms crossed. Pure fury radiated from every line of her body, but she didn't move. Didn't speak. Just watched as the air grew thick with tension and unspoken words.
When Mika finally pulled back, her lips were swollen and she was breathing hard. "Because I wanted to."
She glanced at Yuna with a small, triumphant smile. "And because," her voice rose slightly, turning cheerful, "I wanted to see what he tasted like."
She turned back to Yuna with mischief dancing in her eyes. "And for the record, he tastes even better than the cookies."
Something snapped in Makoto.
He pushed Mika down onto the floor with a slow, predatory grin spreading across his face.
Positioning himself above her, he said, "You should have asked first! In this house, bad girls must be punished, Mika!"
He looked over at Yuna with wicked triumph in his eyes. "You'll help me hold her down, won't you, Yuna?"
A matching grin spread across Yuna's face. The fury in her eyes transformed into something darker and more triumphant.
"Oh, I'd be happy to," she purred.