Once Mrs. Kasumino left, the forced smile on Shiho's face immediately vanished, leaving the room saturated with an awkward, tense atmosphere.
The three of them shared a complicated relationship, far too intricate to be explained in just a few words.
Minamoto Senya, aware of the delicate situation, felt troubled. Seeking Shiho's forgiveness and helping her accept Saeko again required careful timing. Saeko, being directly involved, certainly needed to be part of it—but not now.
At the very least, some time should pass until Shiho's resentment cooled, and only then, under Senya's guidance, could they attempt reconciliation safely.
Coming now, while Shiho was still in the heat of her anger, wasn't exactly wrong—but it was reckless. There was no room for retreat. If Shiho reacted harshly, the situation could easily become awkward, and any follow-up would be even trickier.
But… they were already here.
So there was no choice but to press on.
Senya hadn't forgotten his main goal for today. Since Shiho was the angrier party, he naturally leaned toward her side. Saeko's emotions were less pressing; he could explain privately later, and she would understand.
Just as he was pondering how to break the almost frozen tension, Saeko spoke first.
"Senya, I'd like to talk to Shiho alone."
Despite not being in her own home and having just arrived, she carried an assertive aura that made it clear she wasn't to be ignored. Elegant and quiet on the surface, Saeko had a style all her own: when she made a decision, she acted decisively.
"Understood," Senya replied immediately, without hesitation.
Right now, he and Saeko were effectively a team. The worst thing would be to appear divided. He didn't fully understand her plan yet, but for now, following her lead was enough. He'd already made preparations for any fallout.
Senya glanced toward the window.
Shiho's room had a balcony and floor-to-ceiling windows. Closing them might prevent their conversation from being overheard, but even with the barrier, they were close enough that their voices could carry. Besides, being seen might make them self-conscious.
So leaving the room was the better option. Shiho had mentioned her mother was making dessert, and though he didn't know exactly what, he could assist—a convenient excuse to step out without seeming abrupt.
Decision made, he started toward the door.
"You two go ahead," he said.
Saeko called after him, though.
"You misunderstood, Senya. I don't mean for you to leave. I just want a private conversation with Shiho. Just don't interrupt, that's all."
"Oh… is that okay?"
"Yes. There are things I want to say to Shiho, but also things I want you to know."
Throughout their exchange, Shiho's face remained cold and expressionless, as though their discussion had nothing to do with her.
Senya paused, then stayed in the room. He moved a couple of steps toward the desk, leaning lightly against its edge, keeping some distance.
Saeko, meanwhile, sat on the bed near Shiho, easing closer after a moment's thought.
"Shiho, how are you feeling physically?" Saeko asked softly.
"…Fine," Shiho responded after a brief inhale, simple and clipped.
"That's good," Saeko said, a little relieved. "…Are you still angry with me?"
As expected, her initial concern was little more than a polite opening, designed to ease the conversation.
Shiho tilted her head, smirking faintly. "So, you came all this way just to ask that obvious question?"
Her words were dripping with sarcasm, a subtle sting underlined her resentment.
Saeko, seemingly oblivious, nodded gently in agreement. "I thought about it a lot after that afternoon. I even tried to put myself in your shoes. If it were me, I'd feel upset too."
Upset… only a little?
Shiho's mind instantly rebelled. Saeko's tone was calm and neutral, yet to Shiho, it felt deliberately antagonistic.
"Is that all you came to say?" Shiho's voice chilled further.
She had already resolved that if Saeko continued with such meaningless remarks, she wouldn't hesitate to send them both away.
She disliked how her own emotions were being manipulated, yet she couldn't help it—she was just that kind of emotional person.
Saeko seemed to sense her nearing threshold and cut straight to the point.
"Of course not. I'm here to try to calm you down in my way and repair our relationship."
"We have no relationship, Saeko," Shiho replied sharply.
"Don't say that, Shiho. People make mistakes—it's wrong—but they should be given a chance to make amends. Criminals get reformed and reintegrated into society. My mistake hardly qualifies for prison, right?"
"Here, the rules are absolute. Some things are a death sentence. You don't just get to touch them, not even once."
"So… you really want to sentence our relationship to death? Pretend we don't know each other at school, never cross paths again?"
Shiho remained silent.
Saeko revealed an unexpectedly persuasive side.
Senya turned his gaze out the window, minimizing his presence, letting their dialogue continue without interference.
Saeko edged closer to Shiho. She tried to leave, but Saeko anticipated the move and grabbed her arm, closing the distance.
Shiho couldn't break free and finally relented, though she made her displeasure clear by turning her face away.
"I just want to know what I can do to make up for my mistake," Saeko said.
Shiho stayed silent.
"Since you won't answer, I'll share my thoughts," Saeko continued.
Shiho scoffed, unconvinced that Saeko's words could move her.
"I've thought about this a lot. Essentially, you're angry for two reasons. First, I hid my relationship with Senya from you, even though I'm your friend. Second, I acted like I didn't know you liked Senya and encouraged you to pursue him, making you feel played and humiliated. But I want to stress—I had no such intention."
Saeko paused, letting the gravity of her sincerity sink in. Shiho slowly turned her gaze back toward her.
"If you make a mistake, you should face consequences. That's true in society and among friends. I think if I can experience the same kind of hurt you felt, it might balance things out."
"What exactly are you saying?" Shiho demanded.
"For a while, I'll step back. You and Senya can be together."
Shiho froze.
The sharp scraping sound was Senya's slipper against the wooden floor as he shifted, startled by the sudden statement.
Saeko's words were simple, yet Shiho's mind went blank, unsure how to interpret them.
"Wait, Saeko!" Senya called, regaining his footing. "What do you mean by step back?"
"Literally what I said."
"Even so… I still don't get it."
Saeko frowned. "I thought I was clear."
"You just blurted it out! How could anyone understand?" Shiho couldn't help but complain.
"All right, let me explain. If you accept my proposal, I'll distance myself from Senya. After that, you two can be together."
Senya and Shiho understood… or at least they thought they did.
Senya chuckled, bewildered. "Saeko, why would you think this way?"
Shiho had briefly felt a stir of something, but Senya's reaction brought her back. She composed herself, hiding any sign of emotion.
"I'm not joking. I'm serious. Senya already likes you, and you like him. It's mutual—perfectly natural. Nothing wrong with letting things happen."
"How could anything be wrong!" Shiho retorted, though her lips betrayed the tiniest hint of a smile.
"You didn't deny your feelings for him," Saeko noted.
"I…" Shiho started, then stopped.
"Enough, Saeko. I get your point. But I'm not breaking up with him," Senya interjected, showing his resolve.
"I never said break up," Saeko replied, surprised. "I'll always stay by his side. This isn't about leaving him forever."
"So the distance you mean…"
"I'll simply be less intimate, giving you two space to be together."
Senya was at a loss for words.
"Don't worry, Senya. Leave it all to me."
No—Senya thought inwardly, you can't make me fully trust this.
Saeko oscillated between divine and devilish unpredictability; he couldn't tell how this would play out.
Shiho's mind was a mess. After a moment, she concluded:
"So, without breaking up with Senya, you'll step back, letting us… develop a relationship. You have no complaints and even encourage it, as a way to atone and to calm me down?"
"Exactly," Saeko confirmed, smiling.
"Hah!" Shiho laughed angrily. "What kind of atonement is that? You're his girlfriend—you don't leave him, and yet you expect me to approach him? What am I supposed to be, a mistress?"
Senya struggled not to laugh internally.
Saeko blinked, confused by Shiho's reaction. But realizing the examples Shiho used, she calmly continued:
"Try looking at it differently, Shiho. Imagine your boyfriend becomes someone else's, you know it, you're hurt and powerless… put yourself in that feeling. Does it feel different?"
"… …"
Silence fell again, longer this time.
Shiho couldn't deny it: Saeko's ideas were strange, but her proposal struck a chord.
The question: when is Senya most captivating, most fulfilling to be with?
The answer: when he belongs to someone else.
Twisted, dark, but undeniably exciting.
Senya made a mental note: maybe remind Saeko to ease up on Eriri's doujinshi. Eriri's content was much more provocative than her everyday personality suggested.
"Knock knock knock."
The door opened, and Mrs. Kasumino appeared, beaming.
"Senya, Saeko, I made pudding! Come try it together."