Tuesday, Saikai University ran as usual, as if yesterday's terrorist incident hadn't happened.
Shichen had class today—conveniently with Avrora's section.
Kanon showed up as well.
With nothing he needed to teach, Shichen told everyone to do free activity.
"Shichen, come play badminton with us," Avrora came over with a racket.
"Nope. You three play," he refused without hesitation.
"Eh? Why?"
"Too hot. Don't feel like moving."
"Sensei, maybe act a little more like a teacher?" Himeragi Yukina walked up and sighed.
"I am a teacher. Why would I keep running around like a tireless student? You all play—I'm going back to the office for the A/C."
"Sensei, you…" Yukina was at a loss.
"Hehe~ You know what he's like. We'll play on our own," Akatsuki Nagisa said.
"Guess we have to."
"Kanon, want in?"
"Sure."
"Kaguya, where are you going?"
"Restroom." Kaguya didn't look back, heading toward the hall—then veered for the faculty office and quickly caught up with Shichen.
"Kaguya, you too?"
"I'm keeping you company."
"What's there to—oh. The office isn't empty," he realized what she meant.
"Really?" Kaguya paused, brow furrowing.
"How about we go home?"
"Can we?" Kaguya blinked.
"Of course. No one's there anyway."
Shichen took Kaguya straight home. The apartment was quiet; Nina was in her room doomscrolling.
"Shichen~" Kaguya licked her lips, eyes shining as she looked him over.
"…You're awfully eager," he said, half amused—felt like he was the prey.
"I don't have time not to be. There are more and more women around you."
She pushed him down near the sofa and leaned in from the other side.
"Forty minutes. Do your best," he said, ruffling her hair.
…
Forty minutes later, Kaguya conceded defeat.
"Kaguya, remember what I promised you?"
"Wh—You mean…?" Her face lit up.
"Your course load's fine?"
"Absolutely!" She nodded hard.
"Then I should keep my end of the bargain. Let's go to my room."
Natsuki had been busy the last few days—perfect timing.
"Mm!" Kaguya's eyes sparkled with expectation. She'd waited so long; today she could finally be his, fully and clearly, as consenting adults.
"Mm?"
Nina was mid–keyboard-war in her room when a… familiar sound reached her ears. She floated to Shichen's door, nudged it open a crack, confirmed her hunch, nodded, and drifted back to resume her flame war—though a bit distracted.
Kaguya's radiant face lingered in her head. Long life or not, she'd never seen this up close; even palm-sized now, she wasn't immune to curiosity.
Master's finally making a move.
She'd always known the housemates couldn't dodge Shichen's "taste"—sooner or later, they'd take that step. One becomes two; before long, twelve girls would be twelve women.
Kaguya didn't return to campus that day, but since Shichen was faculty, getting her an excused absence was easy.
He carried the pleasantly exhausted Kaguya back to her room, then returned to campus to meet Avrora and the others after classes.
"Shichen, where's Kaguya?" Avrora asked the moment she arrived, looking around.
"Wasn't she with you?" he asked, puzzled.
"No. She vanished after P.E. and never came back."
"Really? I'll check… odd she's at home."
"Huh? She went home? What for?"
"Ask her when we get back."
"True. Let's go."
"Sensei, I have a question." Yukina walked up.
"Academic?"
"As if! Where did you go this afternoon? Why weren't you on campus?"
"Oh? How'd you know?"
"I'm your monitor. Of course I keep tabs on you!"
"So you used familiars on me, huh?"
"I… have to know your whereabouts!" She looked a little embarrassed.
"You weren't watching me in the shower, were you?"
"Of course not!" she shot back, face flushing.
"Good," he said, relieved. In truth, he knew she'd sent a familiar after him and hadn't minded; if he'd wanted, he could've fed it a fake scene.
"So where did you go?" Yukina stepped close, face stern. "Be honest."
"Why don't you guess. If you get it right, I'll tell you."
"If I guessed right I wouldn't need you to tell me," she glared.
"Hehe~ Don't rush. Come sit a bit." He took her hand, trying to guide her onto his lap.
"Eh? Wait—!" She yanked free and backed away, cheeks blazing.
"Yukina, you'll hurt my feelings."
"What are you doing, Sensei! So sudden… and Nagisa's right there!"
"So what?"
"It matters!"
He just chuckled.
Bantering like that, time slipped to upper division's dismissal. Shichen gathered Avrora's group and Asagi and headed home together.
Yaze Motoki was there too—sporting bruises.
"Motoki, did someone beat you up?" Shichen asked.
"As if! And what's with that happy tone, Sensei?!"
"So it wasn't a beating? Thought maybe you got handsy and someone clocked you."
"Don't make me sound like that!"
"I'm kidding. What happened?"
"The Duke of Ardeal."
"Vatler? Why?"
"I was tracking Asagi yesterday. He stopped me."
"Ah. No wonder you were MIA… Don't worry, I'll get you some payback," Shichen said, clapping his shoulder.
"Seriously?" Motoki wasn't sure he meant it.
"Seriously. He and I have our own grudge."
"That so…"
Back home, Avrora pressed Kaguya for details; "not feeling well" convinced her well enough. Avrora noticed nothing off.
That night, Natsuki didn't notice either—Kaguya skipped dinner.
The next day Shichen "borrowed" Tritos and Tetartos from classes; that evening, neither came to dinner; again, Natsuki didn't clock it.
After that came Prote and the others—Enatos, not to be outdone.
In a few days, only Avrora remained blissfully unaware. The rest of the housemates had no hang-ups about each other and didn't mind sharing a partner as consenting adults.
Natsuki still didn't catch on; she didn't scrutinize their daily rhythms, and Shichen had handed her the tedious mop-up of the Black Death Emperor Front remnants. Gardos had located an ancient ruin; higher-ups had confiscated it, very interested. Natsuki worried they might try to use it against Shichen, but he didn't care. It had no effect on him.
By Friday, Natsuki finally finished her workload. Early that morning, seeing Tritos and the others bustling in the kitchen, she frowned.
Face dark, she headed straight to Shichen's room and planted a bare foot on his face.
"Natsuki?"
"While I've been cleaning up the mess, you had the nerve to start on Tritos and the others!"
~~~
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