As expected, she had been waiting for him to take the initiative.
However, just as Aiden leaned in, ready to taste for himself what difference there was between the older and younger twin sisters, a cold, mocking laugh suddenly sounded in his ear.
Aiden froze for a moment, because that wasn't either of their voices. Having formed the contract so long ago, he'd already heard their voices countless times.
And just when he thought it was an auditory hallucination, the ceiling suddenly exploded open, then… Nyotengu fell straight through the hole, looking completely dumbfounded.
Aiden and Maki were both startled by the scene. The two of them stayed in their near-kissing pose, glancing sideways at Nyotengu, who first gave them an awkward smile, then calmly got up as if nothing had happened.
"Ahem! The Kagura family really needs to improve the maintenance of their shrine buildings," Nyotengu said after patting off the dust and wood chips on her clothes and clearing her throat lightly.
But when she saw their pose, the awkwardness on her face deepened. Then she slightly bowed toward them and said softly, "It seems this lady's sudden appearance has interrupted your good moment. My deepest apologies. Please, continue, I'll leave right away."
Saying that, Nyotengu turned to walk out of the room.
"Senior, please wait a moment," Maki suddenly called out.
"Head of the Kagura family's current generation, do you still have something to say?" Nyotengu turned back nervously to look at Maki.
Before Aiden came, the two of them had already talked for a bit, and the shrine maiden had even told her to just call her "Maki." But now, feeling she had ruined their moment, Nyotengu instinctively used a more formal address.
Maki sighed. "Let me go with you. Besides, there's something I'd like to discuss with you, Senior."
Nyotengu looked at her in confusion, then pointed at Aiden. "What about him?"
"I think Aiden probably doesn't have the mood anymore," Maki said with some disappointment.
'Actually, I don't really mind...'
Aiden wanted to say that, but the atmosphere did feel a little off.
"Sorry!" Nyotengu apologized again, even lowering her head, not daring to look Aiden in the eye.
Maki shook her head. "Senior, no need to apologize. Perhaps the shrine really does need another round of maintenance."
Saying that, she looked up at the ceiling. Though it was a wooden structure, the last maintenance was just last year, there's no way it would collapse that easily.
Thinking of that, she looked back at Nyotengu, her eyes landing on the half-covered chest. 'Hmm… in that case, the damage suddenly made sense.'
Sighing inwardly at Nyotengu's "robust strength," Maki then said to Aiden, "Aiden… how about you stay in the administrative quarters tonight? There are still plenty of empty rooms there."
"But I really like it here," Aiden shrugged.
The quiet little courtyard made him feel relaxed. Other than the Kagura sisters and the maid Yumiko, almost no one ever disturbed him.
So this kind of courtyard was perfect for a romantic rendezvous... uh, no, he meant for self-cultivation.
Maki obviously didn't know what he was thinking, though she had her own plans. She said, "Once this courtyard is repaired, you can come back and stay again."
But in her heart, she was thinking, this courtyard wouldn't be repaired anytime this year.
She had wanted to move Aiden to the administrative quarters for a while, but hadn't figured out how to bring it up. Now, the opportunity had finally arrived.
However, Aiden then asked suspiciously, "But aren't there several courtyards like this around the shrine?"
Maki froze for a second, then frowned slightly. Soon she came up with a countermeasure, shook her head gently, and said softly, "I plan to have all the courtyards undergo a full renovation and maintenance. Hmm, it'll probably take quite some time."
"All right then!" Since the shrine maiden herself said so, Aiden could only nod in agreement.
Maki immediately smiled. "Then Aiden, please go ahead to the administrative quarters. You can go directly to Chizuru, after I speak with Senior for a bit, I'll be back."
Saying that, Maki got up and walked toward Nyotengu. "Senior, let's go."
"Mm-hmm!" Nyotengu nodded quickly, then followed Maki out of the room.
However, before leaving, she turned her head to glance at Aiden. In her eyes… there wasn't the slightest hint of apology.
———
Without bothering the maid on night duty, Aiden went alone toward the Kagura sisters' bedroom area, then, not standing on ceremony at all, pushed open the door and stepped in after removing his shoes.
"Chizuru…"
As he entered, Aiden called out, and then saw something unexpected.
Chizuru was changing into her sleepwear.
And she was in the middle of changing, meaning, she hadn't put it on yet.
And upon seeing this scene, the first thing Aiden thought was…
'Eighty-five really isn't that small after all.'
Then he turned to leave.
But by then, Chizuru had already reacted. She didn't scream, though, she just regretted not catching the look in Aiden's eyes. She really wanted to know if that look had been a pervy one.
She quickly put on her sleepwear. Of course, she wasn't bold enough to deliberately not wear anything and call him in, so after dressing, she called out, "Aiden, you can come in now."
"I actually didn't see anything just now," was the first thing Aiden said when he entered.
Chizuru didn't believe that one bit, but she didn't argue it either. Instead, she asked curiously, "Aiden, what brings you here?"
"My room's ceiling collapsed," Aiden shrugged. "Maki told me to come find you, to have you arrange a room for me in the administrative quarters."
"Then just stay next door to us," Chizuru said right away, without even asking why the ceiling collapsed.
'That quick of a response?'
Aiden looked at Chizuru suspiciously, then said, "Then I'll call Yumiko to help me tidy up."
Chizuru shook her head and walked toward him. "No need to bother her."
"Hm?"
"Just come with me, you'll see." Chizuru took Aiden's hand and led him toward the next room.
She opened the door and stepped inside after taking off her shoes. When she turned on the light, she said, "This room has been ready for a while. We've just been waiting for you to move in."
"What…" Aiden froze. "Since when?"
"About ten days ago," Chizuru said casually, though her face had a faint blush.
Sure enough, after hearing that, Aiden stared at her face intensely, thinking, 'Ten days ago? That means not long after I moved into the shrine, you two were already planning to make me your neighbor? Good god, you've been plotting this from the start, huh?'
So they had planned this all along.
Facing Aiden's strange gaze, Chizuru didn't dare meet his eyes. Instead, she ran to the storage cabinet, pulled out a futon, and spread it on the floor, not very skillfully. Then, in a quiet voice, she said, "Aiden, if you're not used to sleeping on the floor, we can bring in a bed."
"Whatever, I'm not picky," Aiden said. He'd slept in far worse conditions, back in the NieR world, he'd spent nights on a stone bed without complaint, though that was mostly because A2 was beside him.
Then, watching Chizuru finish laying out the futon, Aiden thanked her.
"This is something we should do, no need to thank us," Chizuru said with a small shake of her head. Then she softly added, "Aiden, now that we're neighbors, you can feel free to visit anytime."
"That might not be very convenient."
"There's nothing inconvenient about it…"
Aiden blinked.
'So, was that a hint?'
After making the bed, Chizuru stayed and chatted with Aiden for a while before leaving. Maybe she was afraid Maki would come back suddenly, so the two of them didn't do anything too intimate, no kissing, no touching, not even sneaking glances at each other's legs.
When Chizuru left, Aiden, exhausted from the day's events, could finally lie down and rest. His body wasn't tired, but his mind truly was.
Yawning, Aiden turned off the lights, took off his clothes, and got into the futon. The room didn't have an air conditioner, but since the shrine was in the mountains, the nights were a bit chilly.
It didn't take long for him to drift off to sleep.
But not long after he did, the door to his room opened softly, and a cool, graceful figure quietly entered.
The woman dressed in a white shrine maiden's outfit just knelt quietly by Aiden's side, gazed at him for a moment, then gently kissed his forehead before leaving, without any intention of staying.
When the door closed again, Aiden opened his eyes. Smelling the faint lingering fragrance at the tip of his nose, he smiled.
———
[A few Days Later]
As usual, after breakfast, Aiden left the shrine.
Although he already knew Goenitz would soon come to Japan to trouble Maki, the daytime was still relatively safe, after all, both Kagura sisters went to work at their family's corporation during the day, where there were plenty of people around.
And according to Aiden's guess, with Goenitz's personality, before he had absolute certainty of reviving Orochi, he wouldn't show himself so openly.
So these days, Aiden spent his days accompanying Saiki outside, and his nights keeping watch over the Kagura sisters.
And the first place Aiden went to each morning, of course, was the apartment where Shermie lived.
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