Finished the feeding play.
Tatsuki turned his attention to Sayuri. "Time to talk business."
After tidying up her jumble of thoughts, Sayuri listened seriously.
"You've probably noticed, the clothes they wear aren't from this era."
With that reminder from Tatsuki, Sayuri finally paid it heed. Indeed, the outfits were clearly not modern—they looked more like old-style garments.
"They're not demons from our time?"
"Exactly," Tatsuki nodded. Then he promptly stated his request: "I'd like to have them stay in the third-floor apartment, but they'll need some basic living supplies."
"You want me to go shopping for them?" Sayuri understood immediately.
"Mmh, after all, it's easier for women to figure out what other women need, right? I wouldn't know about that stuff."
By "that stuff," he was mostly referring to female necessities. For instance, he wasn't sure if Kie and the others, now that they were demons, still experienced menstruation. But these items still had to be bought.
As for modern information and various knowledge, Tatsuki intended to replicate how he'd taught Mitsuri—using the "Dominion" method. By subjugating his own knowledge, he could transmit it to them. In all honesty, he'd grown to like this kind of "educational approach."
"All right, no problem," Sayuri replied. She thought about how she had nothing else to do these days, after moving away from her house, leaving behind any neighbors. Now with new neighbors, it might not be bad. Among them, two seemed like they were wives.
'Wives, huh?!'
A flash of insight made her glance at Kie and Tamayo.
'They are wives?' An incredulous wave rippled through her mind.
They're also demon contracts with Tatsuki, brimming with grace yet are married ladies?
Thinking of her own identity, an indescribable feeling seeped into Sayuri. Deep down, she noticed a faint trace of anticipation. Still wearing a calm face, she agreed to Tatsuki's request.
Tatsuki thanked her. "Thank you, Aunt Sayuri."
"Come on, don't you think calling me 'Auntie' makes me sound old?" Sayuri brushed a stray lock behind her ear. She herself wasn't sure why she'd even said that; it just popped out.
"Huh?"
Tatsuki blinked. He'd always called her that. But looking at her carefully, indeed, Sayuri was still quite young. After a moment's thought, he revised his words: "Then… thanks, Sayuri."
"Mmph… all right."
She let out a subtle trembling response. Just changing how he addressed her, from "Auntie" to "Sayuri," felt like a hammer blow on her heart, as though Tatsuki was fundamentally seeing her differently.
Afterward, at Tatsuki's request, Sayuri helped them freshen up, at least changing outfits for the time being. While the women changed clothes, they chatted and got to know one another—since they all had easygoing dispositions, it went smoothly. Particularly Kie and Tamayo gave off a "madam" aura, confirming Sayuri's guess. Kie was mother to Nezuko, Tamayo was also an older figure, though they didn't share their full backstories. On purpose. Because they wanted to rope Sayuri in?
Meanwhile, due to some deliberate maneuvering from Kie and Tamayo, at one point Sayuri discovered they weren't wearing any undergarments. Kie's face turned red as she claimed she'd washed them that morning. Having read too many certain "books," Sayuri instantly deduced Tatsuki had definitely done something with them!
That knowledge stirred plenty of complicated thoughts in her. To keep any taboo ideas from flooding her mind, she forced herself to remain outwardly calm.
Once everyone had tidied up, they emerged looking fresh and lively. To help Kanae get past her shyness, Tatsuki ordered her to dress up and come along as well. Their plan: heading out so the ladies could buy what they needed for daily life. Enlisting Sayuri was evidently the right choice—she knew women's things best, while Tatsuki would simply provide muscle power if needed.
…
At the mall.
A group of chirping girls flocked around Tatsuki, who kept Nezuko, still not used to the modern environment, close at hand. The crowds of onlookers could only lament with envy.
During this excursion, two messages arrived: one from Megumi and one from Yukino.
Megumi: "Tatsuki-kun, you're not coming today?"
Tatsuki: "I took the day off. Gotta help some people at home."
Megumi: "Oh, okay. Good luck."
Tatsuki: "Sure."
Yukino: "Why didn't you come to school today?"
Tatsuki: "Something came up."
Yukino: "Is it a supernatural thing?"
Tatsuki (glancing at Tamayo, Kanae, etc.): "Yes, basically."
Yukino: "Anything I can do?"
Tatsuki: "Mainly things at my place. I can handle it, though. You just focus on class."
Yukino: "All right. About moving house… are you free this Sunday?"
Sunday? He was free. He recalled that on Saturday, he might have a trip to some cosplay event with Marin Kitagawa, though they weren't super close. Not sure if she remembered.
Tatsuki: "Yeah, I'm free. Need help?"
Yukino: "Yes, if possible, I'd appreciate it."
Tatsuki: "Haha, but you'll be my maid eventually, so what's with the gratitude?"
Yukino: "…"
He pictured Yukino sinking in exasperation. Tatsuki chuckled to himself.
Kie, Tamayo, Kanae, and Sayuri chatted happily, while Nezuko shyly clung to Tatsuki's hand. Spotting his smile, she asked, "Something good happened, Tatsuki-nii?"
"I'm happy just holding your hand, Nezuko," Tatsuki quipped like a seasoned flirt, openly expressing his affection for her.
He'd become a lot more direct—the apocalyptic future might come any day, so why not enjoy life thoroughly?
"Mmph… I'm happy too," Nezuko replied, face pink as a ripened apple. Casting a sideways glance at the others up ahead, Tatsuki stooped a bit, pecking softly at that enticing little "apple."
"Mgh!"
Nezuko tensed, gripping his hand more tightly. Unexpectedly, she then ducked her head, muttering, "Tatsuki-nii, I want to have a happy life with you… and Mom, too."
"…"
That sweet girl… indeed, she had something more on her mind!
Tatsuki teased quietly in her ear: "So, you heard me last night?"
"Mmph… I… heard…"
Her head lowered further, voice going softer.
He was surprised. Nezuko had acted so normal in the morning he hadn't noticed! But he felt amused, at least she wasn't against that kind of relationship.
Feeling emboldened, Tatsuki gave her a promise. "Of course, we'll definitely enjoy happy times."
The pure, naive Nezuko didn't catch the double meaning in his pun. "Mm!" she said, eyes shining.
..
"Argh, it's such a drag getting an IV."
Yui Yuigahama trudged out of the hospital with a groan, having come down with a fever severe enough that she needed intravenous treatment. Right beside her was a woman who resembled Yui a great deal—yet carried a more mature air. She gently flicked Yui's forehead with her fingertips:
A mature woman's voice scolded her. "That's what happens when you go to bed right after a bath without drying your hair."
"Hehe..." Yui giggled guiltily, pressing a hand to her forehead.
Today, she had a fever and hadn't gone to school. Accompanied by her mother, she'd just finished getting an IV and was preparing to head home.
"...Tatsuki-kun?" Lowering her hand, Yui suddenly spotted a familiar figure.
"..."
In her line of sight, Tatsuki was holding the hand of an extremely beautiful girl, surrounded by four other equally gorgeous women. They all seemed to be chatting happily.
'Why is Tatsuki-kun being so close with girls I've never seen?' Yui's feverish head swirled dizzily.
"What's the matter, Yui?"
Following Yui's dazed gaze, Ms. Yuigahama—eyes bright and lovely—looked over as well. She didn't really see anything special, just a handsome young man out shopping with several youthful, attractive girls. But from Yui's perspective, there was a tumult of emotion.
"N-nothing, Mom."
Yui answered in a small voice, retracting her gaze and forcing a smile at Mrs. Yuigahama.
Yui was once again forcing herself.
As her daughter's mother, how could she not know Yui's personality from childhood—how Yui always read the room and tried to go along with others?
Judging by the circumstances, it must have something to do with that boy… But her daughter was growing up, and she couldn't meddle in everything. She only hoped that if Yui truly reached her limit, she would come ask for help.
Yui walked on in silence, her mind full of thoughts of Tatsuki.
From childhood, she'd always been timid and anxious about others' opinions—trying her best to maintain harmony in a small circle. At school, not belonging to any circle could lead to exclusion or even bullying. Yui had learned that very early on.
But the "friendships" she fought so hard to preserve were ultimately fragile. In her first year of high school, she had a few supposed friends who liked dressing in a gaudy, gyaru-ish style. Yui followed them. They wanted to try smoking, acting like delinquents, doing bad things. Yui followed them there, too…
Until she got scared. She felt as though she was heading down a point of no return, yet she didn't dare tell her mother. Then one day, those friends called, saying they had a private room in a bar and wanted her to join—no chance to refuse before they hung up. She didn't want to lose that circle, didn't want to be excluded. Ultimately, Yui gave in and went.
It was her first time stepping into a bar's private lounge. That was where she witnessed a horrifying hell: the friends who had "invited" her were mixing with men covered in elaborate tattoos. They wanted Yui to join them, to do the same.
She tried to escape but was seized by the arm—she couldn't get free. That was when she realized she truly stood at the brink of doom.
At her most desperate moment, a hand grabbed hers from the edge of the cliff.
Tatsuki—he pulled her away from hell.
That day, she recalled how Tatsuki's gaze wasn't gentle like it was now. He seemed irritated, pent-up. Like a beast on the verge of collapse, even more intimidating than those delinquents—but that was the "villain" who saved her.
He had brusquely tossed her out of that private room, shut the door behind him. Inside, she heard shrieks and the sound of bottles shattering. Then he forced her away from the bar, and she drifted dazedly home.
Afterward, she never learned how that incident was resolved, only that Tatsuki returned to school unscathed, and those "friends" transferred away. From that day on, Yui changed. She still tended to read others' faces, but she grew more cautious in choosing who to trust. Now she genuinely had a caring friend, Miura Yumiko. And her current life—she owed it all to being saved.
She wanted to repay Tatsuki. By intentionally drawing closer, they'd become good friends. Yui saw him shift from cold to warm, though she never knew why. She was simply happy for him.
They'd continued on in that comfortable closeness until now, and deep down, Yui recognized her feelings for Tatsuki. But she didn't know how to show it. After joining the Paranormal Research Club, seeing Yukino so close to him left her uneasy. Then, when Tatsuki said she was also one of his "favorite beauties," she was instantly relieved and happy.
She understood her own heart—she liked Tatsuki.
Clutching her phone, hesitating for a moment, Yui bit her lip and decided to send a message to him…
…
"Huh, another message?" Tatsuki paused. He'd only missed one day of school. Checking the screen, he saw it was from "Silly Pup Yui."
Silly Pup Yui: "Hehe, Tatsuki-kun, I just saw you."
Tatsuki: "Didn't go to school?"
Silly Pup Yui: "I've got a fever. I was at the hospital and just finished my IV."
Tatsuki: "A fever? You didn't dry your hair after bathing again?"
Silly Pup Yui: "Yah! How'd you guess that!"
Tatsuki: "Cuz you've always been this silly."
Silly Pup Yui: "I'm not silly!"
Tatsuki: "You feeling better now?"
Silly Pup Yui: "Yeah, the fever's down."
Tatsuki: "Hmph, so you saw me but didn't come say hi. Let me guess, you got jealous, seeing me surrounded by pretty girls?"
Tatsuki wasn't dense. He was well aware of Yui's feelings. He'd always been quite straightforward about liking beauties in the Paranormal Research Club, after all. Absolutely sincere!
Silly Pup Yui: "I-I wasn't jealous! Just curious…they're your friends?"
Tatsuki: "Yep. Next time come to my place. I'll introduce you."
Silly Pup Yui: "Uh… d-do you have a girlfriend among them?"
Tatsuki: "That's a tricky question, Yui. Are you saying you like me?"
…
"Kyaah!"
Yui cried out loud. Startled, Mrs. Yuigahama jumped. Seeing her daughter's face so red it was like a steam engine, she wondered if the fever had spiked again.
Yui stared at her phone in disbelief. 'Tatsuki's so direct!' She felt even more muddled, about to burn up from confusion. 'Wh-what do I do, how do I answer?'
Recalling the light novels, anime, drama series she'd seen, if she denied liking him here…maybe it'd spiral into the typical "misunderstanding -> parted ways" fiasco. She didn't want such an outcome before anything had even begun.
Her shaking fingers typed a few words.
"I… like you, Tatsuki-kun!"
Gathering all her courage, she clenched her teeth and pressed "send."
"...failure."
Right after tapping send, Yui fell into a daze. 'It's over… everything's over…'
She was drowning in regret. 'I must be insane…'
Ding-dong.
Just then, as she wallowed, her phone chimed…