Outside the door, having overheard the "live performance," Mizuki Morisato wanted to bury her head in her chest. The shameful memories of the night before resurfaced—all those strange and erotic positions...
"Morisato, do you want to go in?"
"No, no, no!" To be honest, for a split second, her heart had wavered, but she quickly shook her head once she regained her senses. "I'm definitely not going in. That kind of thing..."
"Regardless, you and Master are linked by fate now," Tsubaki said calmly, leading her away. "You can come find me anytime. Don't be a stranger."
"..."
The maid's attitude left Mizuki feeling complicated. What does she mean? She's acting like I'm Alex's woman. We did do some things... and I did get proactive at the end.
But... I have a boy I like.
Mizuki was torn.
"As for that perverted teacher—"
The pervert? Thinking of Mr. Iijima, the advisor who drugged her, Mizuki gritted her teeth in anger, though a trace of fear remained. But remembering how Alex had dealt with him, she felt a sense of relief.
"He's been taken care of. You don't have to worry; he won't be able to molest you or anyone else ever again."
"I see."
The fear faded. Mizuki patted her chest and stammered, "Thank you."
"Don't thank me. This is all Master's grace toward you."
"..."
Mizuki's cheeks flushed. Hearing the beautiful maid say that made it even harder for her to forget the boy she had shared her body with.
...
"Eh? Alex went to the mountains with Yuri and the others?" Makoto Himemiya stared with wide eyes at the exhausted, resting twins, Kaede and Suzu. "Yui and Saki went too? Dammit! Why didn't they take me!"
It didn't take a genius to know they were having a wild, erotic party in the mountains. Makoto didn't mind an outdoor orgy; she was just annoyed that Alex hadn't invited her.
The busty beauty stormed out of the hotel, intending to head for the mountains, only to run into someone unexpected at the entrance.
"Makoto..."
Kaoru Furuta looked at his childhood friend, trying to squeeze out a steady smile. However, the short-haired girl just frowned and looked around. "What are you doing here?"
"I came here to find you."
"Why? Is there something you want?" Makoto's attitude had changed visibly. She remembered their time playing together, but that felt like a lifetime ago. She felt no nostalgia, only a sense of distance.
"Nothing special... but we're childhood friends. I missed you and wanted to see you. Is that not allowed?" Kaoru had been trying to find her at school, but since the incident, Makoto had been actively avoiding him.
It was clear she didn't want to see him. It broke Kaoru's heart; the girl who was once his closest friend—the girl he'd even confessed to—was now treating him like a plague.
What was worse, Kaoru had often seen his childhood friend being intimate and kissy with that boy, Alex. Every time he saw her in another guy's arms, he felt like a knife was twisting in his heart.
But even so, he didn't want to give up. He wouldn't have chased her all the way here if he had.
He had no idea how annoyed Makoto was. First, Alex had been snatched away by Yuri and Yui, and now Kaoru was here to bother her. So annoying!
I just want to be with Alex. You people are so annoying!
"Furuta, we're just ordinary childhood friends. Please don't say things that sound so ambiguous," Makoto shook her head. "I don't want people to get the wrong idea. I have a lover, and I don't want Alex to misunderstand."
Kaoru's face went pale.
"That's all. I have urgent business. We can talk some other time."
Makoto began to run toward the mountain. The "loser" Kaoru clenched his fists and chased after her, determined to show his resolve.
Unfortunately, his persistence only made Makoto more irritated.
"How long are you going to follow me?!"
"Makoto, I... I won't give up—"
"Stop it! There is no 'us.' I might have had some feelings for you before, but then I met Alex. Kaoru Furuta, now that I have him, he is the only one I will ever love! Not in this life, not in the next! I have no room for anyone else but Alex! Give up!"
Hearing her blunt rejection, Kaoru felt like he was about to collapse. He roared in desperation, "I don't believe it! We've been together for so long; how can these few months compare to our history? We were so close..."
"I'll prove my feelings to you, Makoto! My loyalty is something that a philandering scumbag could never match—"
Slap—!!!
The force of the slap was massive, the sound echoing over the chirping of the cicadas. Having been "nourished" by Alex for so long, Makoto's strength was on another level. Kaoru fell to the ground, blood leaking from the corner of his mouth.
Hiss—
Kaoru stared with wide eyes, unable to believe his childhood friend had struck him.
"SHUT UP!!"
Makoto was truly angry. She hissed, "Alex is not a scumbag! Someone like you has no right to speak about him!!"
"..."
"Makoto? What are you doing here?"
Alex appeared from the woods. His presence made the pathetic Kaoru feel even more humiliated. To be slapped by the girl he loved in front of his rival was the ultimate cruelty.
The pain in his heart far outweighed the pain on his face.
"Alex?" Makoto rushed into his arms. Before leaving, she glanced at the broken Kaoru on the ground. "Kaoru, don't come looking for me again. I will never love anyone but Alex."
With those final words, Makoto threw herself into her boyfriend's embrace like a bird returning to its nest.
Alex looked at the petrified Kaoru. "Do I know him? An acquaintance?"
"Nngh, you idiot, you've seen him before. He's the childhood friend. But he's a thing of the past now. I won't see him again."
"Why? I'm not that petty, am I?"
"Hmph, who knows. I just don't want to be near any guy but you. Having you is enough... Mmm, give me a kiss~"
Watching the two of them kiss as if no one else existed, Kaoru lost all his spirit. He looked like a hollow shell of a man.
He knew he had lost her forever. They were now strangers.
He stood up shakily, turned around, and walked away, his pathetic back disappearing down the path.