"Well? Did he reply?"
It was past midnight. Busujima Sakurako sat curled up on the living room sofa with a dark expression, her fingertips drumming frantically on the table. The terrifying dark aura radiating from her forced Xuena and Akiko to huddle close to Rin, shivering.
Notably, for her sister's sake, Yukiko Hayashi had also chosen to "run away" from home, unable to face the bombardment from her scholarly parents.
Wearing pajamas that were clearly a bit too loose around the chest—borrowed from Sakurako—Yukiko rested her head on a sofa cushion while reading. Her eyes, magnified by thick lenses, remained glued to Sakurako's anxious face.
"Not yet. I didn't expect the 'Queen of Qinghai University' to care so much about that guy. Truly surprising..."
"Hmph! It's just an accidental discovery that he's a rich... ahem, a Man of Destiny!"
The word "Richie" almost slipped out. Sakurako coughed to maintain her facade, but the three little ones across from her clearly saw through everything.
"I'm telling you, Rin, my sister is a bad woman. She only likes pretty faces and rich guys. You have to tell Onii-chan to be careful! Don't let her trap him!"
"Richie, huh... it's fine."
After a moment of pensive silence, Miyazawa Rin nodded and gave a thumbs-up. To preserve Onii-chan's chastity, she decided she wouldn't give him any more pocket money!
Even though he was currently earning his own living, she actually supported him every month through "SILVERMAN GYM" membership fees and other excuses!
Anyway, Grand Blue was practically family property now. Onii-chan could just rely on Nanaka-san's pocket money and be self-sufficient!
"My brother is broke right now. He shouldn't be a target, right?"
"Hard to say!"
Knowing her sister's true nature, Busujima Akiko shook her head violently with a serious expression, vividly illustrating the danger.
"Sister is a long-term planner. Right now, she's probably furious because her planned 'night raid' failed because Onii-chan didn't come home..."
"Imouto?"
"Eek—! Yes!"
A cold shiver ran down Akiko's spine at the sound of the teeth-gritting, whispered call from behind. She turned her head in terror, only to meet her sister's "you know too much" gaze.
"It seems you have a bit too much to say today~"
"Hontouni sumimasen! Please forgive my wild speculations!"
Akiko performed a perfectly rigid dogeza to apologize. This was the resolve of an imouto!
Sakurako was fuming internally as her secrets were laid bare. Even though a deep crimson flush had taken over her cheeks, if she dared to strike in front of everyone, wouldn't it just prove her guilt?
So, even though her palms were itching to practice some karate on something, she could only force a smile and retreat.
However, as she sat back down, she inconspicuously pulled her nightgown down a bit, lest someone discover her "victory lingerie."
That's right! She really had intended a night raid today. After all, if she didn't do something while they were alone, her plan to "subdue" him would be nothing but scrap paper. That was the power of execution!
Unfortunately, that idiot had no luck, missing a meal that was served straight to his mouth!
"Honestly, a waste of an outfit..."
"...How bold!"
A flash of admiration crossed Yukiko Hayashi's eyes as she caught a glimpse of something exquisite. Due to her reclining position, she could see quite a few things the three little ones couldn't.
It proved that fixing a wedgie is best done when no one is looking; otherwise, people might not have noticed, but your reckless movement makes all efforts go to waste!
But more than admiration, a question rose in her mind: Why are we all waiting here?
Yu had already said he was having a drinking party with new friends. Logically, nothing should go wrong.
Yet everyone seemed uneasy, waiting in the living room together. It made her—the only one who actually wanted to go upstairs and sleep—feel like the odd one out.
That guy's popularity with women was so high that four people, young and old, were worrying about him at once. Was this some kind of PaB Club "Incubus" ability? Could Chisa really control such a person with her charm?
Ding!
Finally! Amidst the girls' individual thoughts and the three little ones' whispered exchanges, Sakurako's phone on the coffee table made a sound.
Given that she had turned off all other notifications, the sender couldn't be anyone but that bastard Miyazawa Yuu! With that conviction, she lunged for the phone before anyone else could react.
She grabbed it tightly, not even realizing how many eyes were staring at her. She just wanted to get Yu back and proceed with the raid!
[Ugh... Busujima... I feel so bad...]
"???"
She froze. Her brain, which had already planned how to turn her pretty lingerie into combat power, stalled. This was the first time she had seen this guy send such a message.
Thinking back to the last time they drank together, she had almost blacked out, yet the "Three Scumbags of PaB," led by Yu, were still clashing with each other with savage grins as if nothing had happened.
To make him say "I feel so bad," how tragic must this drinking session be!
"What is it, Busujima? What did Yu send?"
Her train of thought about Who is the true master of the PaB Club? was interrupted. Yukiko Hayashi saw Sakurako's expression shift from expectation to anxiety. Thinking something major had happened, she asked immediately.
"..."
She was met with a brief silence as fingers flew across the screen. Five minutes later, after receiving another reply, Sakurako looked at the others with a horrified expression.
"This is bad! Yu said... he thinks he's drunk!"
"Huh?"
Completely failing to see where the terror was, Yukiko Hayashi's tense shoulders relaxed. She waved her hand dismissively. "It's a drinking party. It's normal to have a few too many when you meet like-minded people~"
"No, no, no! This is absolutely NOT normal!"
"Correct! It is indeed very abnormal!"
The first sentence was Sakurako's answer; the second was the serious conclusion issued by Miyazawa Rin's expressionless face!
She knew what kind of man her brother was. He was a ruthless character who could chug "Spirytus" straight from the bottle and drink Oolong Tea until the world ended without even staining his sleeve (since he'd already taken his shirt off)!
The only ones who could make him drunk were the "Alcohol Beasts" of the PaB Club. The only way an outsider could floor him was...
"I'm afraid..."
A hint of sternness entered Rin's voice. She looked up at Sakurako, their thoughts successfully syncing across age gaps!
"He's been drugged! For his body and his looks!" x2
"How on earth did you two reach that conclusion..."
Cold sweat slid down Yukiko Hayashi's forehead. She suspected the two girls were suffering from collective hysteria. Yu wasn't a girl; surely he wouldn't be "devoured whole"...
However, halfway through her sentence, her gaze was drawn to the massive "evils" on Sakurako's chest, which were heaving due to over-excitement.
The lace edge peeking out slightly seemed to be frantically giving her the middle finger, condemning her backward thinking!
"...You have a point! Did that guy give an address?"
"I have it here! It's not far from Shinjuku!"
...
Meanwhile, in Shimokitazawa, a blonde girl lay on a table, half-asleep and half-awake.
A "black-long-straight" older sister was squinting at a game, playing the role of a night owl, until they both received a message from the person they were thinking about.
After a flurry of activity, two figures rushed out of the room, scaring a stray cat at the intersection into its "Spinosaurus" form.
...
A bit further away, in Kawasaki—across the river from Tokyo—a girl sat at a table in a "duck sit" position, propping up her head. Her drool had already reached the textbook on the low table.
Suddenly, a phone vibration knocked over her supporting arm, and her head hit the table with a thud.
"Ow!"
Her soul was instantly yanked back into her body. With murderous intent, she snatched up the phone to see which bastard had disturbed her sleep. A high-pitched explosion of noise then echoed through the entire apartment.
"Aaaahhh! Momoka-chan!!!"
"Hey! Don't shout and disturb the neighbors!"
"Sumimasen!!!!"
Fortunately, since she had planned to study all night, she was already dressed. With a trail of screams, she vanished into the night without even turning off the lights. The windows of the small apartment, standing out like a crane among chickens, were gradually submerged by lights as other neighbors woke up to check the noise.
...
Beep beep!
"Hmm?"
In Shinjuku, Iwashita Shima rubbed her eyes and looked at the SOS message sent by a certain drunkard. She let out a cold snort, turned over, pulled up her covers, and went straight back to sleep!
As for Kikuri? Who cares about her!