Otoha finished cleaning up the "battlefield" in Itsuki's room, one hand pressed to her aching rear as she gingerly descended the stairs. The living room was empty. Not a soul.
"Huh? Where did everyone go?"
Same exact confusion Shisa had felt moments ago.
Then she noticed the kitchen light was on, accompanied by the rhythmic sound of chopping.
Normally her top priority would be sneaking off for a shower before the girls saw the evidence. But she changed her mind.
Shisa only cooked like this when she was in a bad mood.
The three of them had relied on each other for years; their bond was ironclad. Shisa, especially, was so mature it broke Otoha's heart.
She quietly pushed open the kitchen door.
Shisa stood at the counter, silver hair swaying as she brought the gleaming chef's knife down again and again on a pile of cilantro—fast, vicious, mechanical.
"Shisa?" Otoha's chest tightened with worry.
Shisa turned, face blooming into a perfect gentle smile. "I'm making ramen. Let's all eat together later, okay? It feels like forever since we had ramen."
She desperately wanted to ask: Mom, where were you? Why didn't you watch Kaede?
But what was the point now?
Besides, protecting her little sister had always been her job. How could she blame Mom?
"…Yeah, it really has been a while," Otoha answered hesitantly, then forced a bright laugh. "Shisa, are you dating someone? You look like you have something on your mind."
Shisa blinked, then shook her head. "No, Mom."
The flat reply only worried Otoha more. She decided to poke at the heart of the matter. "Where's Kaede?"
The moment the name left her lips, the smile on Shisa's face nearly cracked.
"No idea. Maybe she went out to play. Anyway, Mom, watch the pot for me while I make the broth." Shisa kept smiling, but inside she was screaming.
She had to keep Mom here.
If Mom saw Suze and Kaede emerging from the bathroom together, she would die of heartbreak.
While they cooked, Shisa kept stealing glances toward the living room.
Finally, the figures she'd been waiting for appeared.
Suze strolled out first, bathrobe loosely tied. Kaede scampered upstairs behind him, cheeks glowing.
"Ramen's ready~" Otoha called cheerfully, carrying bowls out. Her eyes lit up when she spotted Suze. "Oh, Suze, finished your bath?"
The path to a woman's heart truly is through her lower half.
After two rounds with him, Otoha couldn't help feeling he was… special.
"Heh, yeah. The tub's still full if you want it, madam," Suze teased.
"I prefer showers," Otoha laughed, then caught herself being too eager. She pushed a bowl toward him. "Here, try Shisa's ramen."
Shisa watched the scene and went numb.
You just screwed my little sister, and I'm supposed to feed you so you can recover stamina?
"Mom, Ze-kun isn't hungry—"
"Don't mind if I do." Suze picked up the chopsticks and loudly slurped a huge mouthful.
Shisa's composure shattered. The bowl in her hands nearly slipped.
[+666 Despair from Watarase Shisa] [+324 Hatred from Watarase Shisa] [+244 Rage from Watarase Shisa]
One slurp = over a thousand desire points in profit!
Suze was ecstatic. Ever since he'd taken Kaede, Shisa's points had been pouring in non-stop. It felt like double-dipping with one thrust.
Double gold card activated!
"Shisa-san, your cooking is amazing," he said, looking straight at her with a smile that dripped honey.
[+111 Rage from Watarase Shisa]
No wonder she was furious.
In simple terms, her current emotional state was: Devastated father watching his precious cabbage get ravaged + NTR victim + forced to cover for the bull.
She was the one who had to hide the evidence of her own sister's deflowering!
Shisa's silver hair was practically turning red from anger, yet she maintained perfect ladylike poise as she set down the bowls. "As long as you're happy."
Otoha suddenly gasped. "Suze, aren't you burning your tongue?!"
He was shoveling piping-hot noodles into his mouth without flinching.
"Of course it's hot," Suze said with a sunny grin, "but knowing Shisa-san made it makes me happy enough that it doesn't hurt."
He didn't actually want to drive her to murder; she was still on his conquest list.
At those words, Shisa fell silent, then glared at him, cheeks puffed in frustration.
You just did that to my sister, and now you're saying pretty things?
You think I'll thank you?
…But what if Suze and Kaede are actually dating properly?
What if they've known each other for a long time?
Someone with such a bright smile couldn't possibly be a bad person, right?
The gentle maiden began grasping at straws.
After all, she was a sheltered girl who only knew the safety of her own home. And if even Otoha, the elite career woman, was half-falling under Suze's spell, what chance did Shisa have?
"Mom, are you going to shower?" Shisa suddenly asked.
Otoha had been staring dreamily at Suze. She startled, cheeks flushing. "Oh! Right, I'll go shower."
She hurried off.
For some reason, being near Suze made her hormones riot, like a rusted lock inside her had been picked and something long sealed was clawing to get out.
It scared her a little.
The moment the bathroom door closed behind Otoha, Shisa turned to Suze, expression grave.
"Suze-san, please answer me honestly—are you Kaede's boyfriend?"
Suze shook his head. "No."
[+37 Rage from Watarase Otoha (overhearing from the hallway)]
Shisa's brows shot up in fury. "Then why did you do that to her?!"
"For revenge, of course."
Otoha froze outside the door.
Shisa stared blankly. "What do you mean?"
When had the Watarase family ever offended him? They'd never even met before!
Suze set down his chopsticks, leaned forward on his elbows, and delivered his ice-cold accusation.
"Watarase Itsuki tried to frame me for murder…"
He dumped bucket after bucket of dirt on the dead boy without a shred of guilt; if anything, he wished he could drag Itsuki's soul back just to kill him again.
When he finished, Shisa's rose eyes were wide with disbelief.
But… every piece fit perfectly.
That explained why Mom had brought Suze home and was acting so strange.
The only hope of finding Itsuki lay with Suze; and Suze wanted payback.
"How could Itsuki do something like that?!" Shisa clenched her fists, genuinely angry.
At the same time, guilt toward Suze bloomed in her heart.
No wonder Suze-san did what he did.
If someone tried to frame me for murder, I'd be furious too.
[+88 Guilt from Watarase Shisa]
Suze's mouth twitched uncontrollably.
What kind of inner-world saint was this?!
She forgave him just like that???
If he shed a few tears, would she spread her legs on the spot?!
With a personality like hers, if anyone was going to get NTR'd, of course it was her!
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