Very soon after the misunderstanding, Nanami Aoyama found herself drowning in embarrassment.
She had stormed off righteously, fueled by indignation—but then, after asking around for the truth, she ended up in front of Chihiro-Sensei, the enigmatic teacher of Sakurasou. And Chihiro, being as candid as ever, didn't sugarcoat anything.
"Mashiro's family deliberately raised her to be completely isolated from the outside world," Chihiro said nonchalantly, cigarette in hand, her gaze lazy yet sharp. "All so she could dedicate every fiber of her being to art."
Nanami's jaw practically hit the tatami.
"Eh?! Are there really parents like that?! How's Shiina-san supposed to live in society? In the real world?!"
Chihiro shrugged, taking a slow drag. "That's why it's better for her to stay here in Sakurasou. Little Mashiro doesn't lack money. Taking care of her isn't a burden."
She wasn't exaggerating. Even though Shiina Mashiro had stopped producing the awe-inspiring paintings the art world once worshipped, her name alone was still gold. If she ever picked up a brush again—even just for a week—she could sell the result for hundreds of millions.
Nanami slumped back against the hallway wall, her expression dim.
Geniuses really do exist.
While she worked multiple part-time jobs and scrounged for yen just to chase a voice acting dream, Mashiro could live in effortless luxury, simply by being... Mashiro.
But that luxury came with a price. A soul so focused on the canvas had no grasp on basic survival.
"Still," Nanami grumbled, snapping out of her spiral, "it doesn't have to be Nozomi-kun taking care of her! There are other girls here! What about you, sensei? You're her cousin, right? Shouldn't you be the one—"
Chihiro cut her off with a knowing smirk.
"Mashiro likes Nozomi. She only listens to him. She even insists on wearing only the clothes he picks out."
"W-What?!"
"If you have a problem with that," Chihiro leaned in conspiratorially, "then why not become her owner yourself?"
Nanami puffed up, fire blazing in her eyes.
"Fine! If I'm her so-called owner, I'll make sure she learns to dress herself and clean her room like a normal person!"
She crossed her arms, heart pounding. There was no way a girl like Mashiro—so elegant, so refined—couldn't handle simple chores! This had to be some elaborate joke!
Chihiro chuckled quietly to herself.
Nozomi, that sly dog. He was obviously dragging Nanami into the whirlpool of Sakurasou antics. Maybe this was Mitaka Jin's influence? She regretted letting that playboy move in now. Even though Jin had left, his chaotic aura still lingered like the scent of cheap cologne.
At this rate, if she ever wanted to catch Nozomi and drag him to the altar, she might have to call in reinforcements... like Shirayama Koharu, or even the ever-unlucky Hiratsuka Shizuka.
...…
The chaos resumed during breakfast.
Nanami slammed her chopsticks on the table, determination blazing in her gaze. "From now on, I'll be the one taking care of Shiina-san!"
Everyone turned to look. Mahiru, who had been sipping miso soup, froze with the spoon halfway to her lips. A weird expression crossed her face.
"Aoyama-san… are you sure about that?"
Mahiru had taken care of Mashiro before. She knew the battlefield Nanami was about to enter.
Mashiro only listened to Nozomi. If he asked her to get dressed or clean up, she'd do it without protest. But when it came to anyone else... chaos.
One time, Mahiru spent twenty minutes just convincing Mashiro to wear underwear.
Still, to Mashiro's credit, she'd warmed up to Mahiru now, and they had a quiet camaraderie. But Nanami? That would be a new challenge.
Mashiro, who had been quietly eating her tamagoyaki, glanced at Nozomi.
Their eyes met.
Nozomi gave her the faintest nod.
Mashiro blinked slowly, then gave an almost imperceptible nod in return.
She understood. This was part of Nozomi's plan. Whatever it was, she would go along with it.
After all, she was Nozomi's exclusive... something.
Nanami, meanwhile, was still in lecture mode.
"Also! Just so we're clear—Nozomi-kun has a girlfriend! So he shouldn't be getting any funny ideas about Mashiro! Got it?!"
She crossed her arms like an anime disciplinary committee president.
But then…
The room grew quiet.
The other girls looked at each other, eyebrows raised.
Girlfriend?
It became painfully obvious.
Nanami… didn't know.
She didn't know that every single girl here was Nozomi's girlfriend.
Still, nobody said a word. They all exchanged silent glances and kept chewing their breakfast as if nothing had happened.
Let her find out herself.
She'll understand soon enough.The longer the illusion lasted, the more entertaining it would be. Classic Sakurasou mischief.
"Oh, right! Yusa-san," Nanami turned to Emi, who had just walked in, brushing crumbs off her sweater. "I have a part-time job this afternoon. I'll ask the manager if there's an opening for you too. I'll let you know, okay?"
Yusa Emi beamed. "Really? Thank you, Aoyama-san! That would help a lot."
"It's nothing," Nanami said, waving it off like a noble heroine. "Working with someone you know makes it easier anyway."
.......
After breakfast, Nanami officially took on the mission of escorting Shiina Mashiro to school.
They both attended Suimei High, which was a short walk from Sakurasou. Nanami belonged to the regular curriculum, while Mashiro, naturally, was in the prestigious art department.
Expecting Misaki Kamiigusa to fill this role was… foolish. That chaotic senpai had recently been consumed with creating her own magical girl anime and game project. These days, she'd show up just long enough to clock in before dashing home to dive back into production.
So Nanami stepped in, grabbing Mashiro's hand like an older sister assuming full responsibility.
As they walked down the sunlit street, hand in hand, Mashiro glanced at their clasped fingers. Her expression remained placid as always, but in her heart, a faint warmth bloomed.
Nanami, for her part, began lecturing in her usual stern-yet-gentle tone.
"Shiina-san, listen carefully. You're a high school girl. You need to know how to take care of yourself. Dressing properly, bathing regularly—those are things you need to handle on your own, got it?"
She rattled off the essentials with confidence, the kind of advice any normal girl would need. When she finally paused and turned to look at Mashiro's face—
The girl still had that blank, innocent gaze.
"Wait… were you even listening?" Nanami asked, eyes narrowing.
Mashiro tilted her head slightly. "Mashiro was listening."
"Then—"
"But… with Nozomi around, there's no need to do those things alone."
Nanami nearly stumbled on the sidewalk.
"Nozomi has a girlfriend!" she sputtered. "Shiina, you can't just let a boy see you or touch you like that! It's not okay!"
Mashiro blinked. "Understood."
Nanami exhaled in relief.
That was, until—
"I understand… Nanami also wants to be Nozomi's pet."
"HUH?!"
Mashiro looked contemplative. "But Mashiro is already the pet. Nozomi won't give you the delicious food."
Nanami's headache exploded.
"Wha—what's wrong with you?! Are you being serious right now?! And what do you mean by delicious food?! Why are you acting like this is normal?! What did Nozomi do to you?!"
"Mmm… Nozomi taught Mashiro many happy things."
"Happy things…?" Nanami froze. "...WAIT, WHAT KIND OF HAPPY THINGS?!"
Images she didn't want danced through her imagination. Her face flushed crimson.
"Nozomi… I misjudged you. You're a total pervert! You beast in human form!"
Mashiro blinked again, confused.
"Nanami, are you angry?"
"No! I mean—ugh—I'm not mad at you!"
"Then call me Mashiro."
"Huh?"
"There's more than one Shiina in Sakurasou," Mashiro said with uncharacteristic firmness.
It wasn't often that she asserted herself. But Mashiro wanted to feel close to Nanami too.
Even if— Even if Nanami was kind and gentle and capable— Even if she took good care of her—
She still couldn't give up being Nozomi's only pet.
No one else could have that role. Only Mashiro. Forever Nozomi's exclusive pet.