"Though I hate to interrupt your… reunion, I must remind you that the meeting time with Kazuko is 5:30, right? It's already 5:00."
Kasumigaoka Utaha, who had changed and now stood in the doorway of Kasumigaoka Touji's bedroom, folded her arms beneath her ample chest. One alluring leg, sheathed in chocolate-gloss black stockings, was bent at the knee as she leaned gracefully against the doorframe, her posture the epitome of calm elegance.
How should she put it?It was… expected.
If she and Kasumigaoka Touji had been separated for several days and then reunited, the scene would likely be similar. Kasumigaoka Utaha wasn't displeased by it.
"Temporary truce. We'll continue later," Kasumigaoka Touji declared, releasing Kani Nayuta and raising the proverbial white flag.
He turned and walked to the wardrobe, opening it to casually pull out a set of comfortable, season-appropriate casual wear.
"When is 'later'? After dinner?" Kani Nayuta asked, straightening her slightly rumpled clothes, her gaze fixed on Kasumigaoka Touji with a lingering, dewy look.
Watching him turn his back to her, bend to step into his pants, and present a rather enticing view, a mischievous grin spread across her face.
"Winter-sensei's butt is so sexy~ it makes people want to give it a little kick! Ehehe~."
True to her words, Kani Nayuta stepped forward and delivered a gentle, teasing nudge to Kasumigaoka Touji's backside with her foot, which was clad in a soft white cotton sock, causing him to stumble slightly.
Kasumigaoka Touji yanked his pants up the rest of the way, turning to give her an utterly speechless look. "You're the sexy one. Touch me again, and I won't hold back."
"I used my foot just now…" she pointed out, undeterred. "Winter-sensei, please don't hold back! Show me your wild side!"
Touji-kun zipped up his pants. Hearing her provocation, he stepped forward, placed his hands on Kani Nayuta's shoulders, spun her around to face the bed, and then gave her a gentle push. As she tumbled onto the mattress, he whipped the belt from his newly donned pants and gave her perky, upturned rear a crisp snap.
"Uwaaah…! I-It hurts! But I won't yield!"
The next moment—
She suddenly began to act as if undergoing some severe, dramatic torture. She clutched the bedsheets tightly in both fists, raised her head, and spoke in a voice filled with exaggerated, breathy resilience, a performance dripping with theatrical weakness and defiance…
Kasumigaoka Touji couldn't help but stare, his expression turning peculiar.
Kasumigaoka Utaha's mouth twitched, and she averted her gaze entirely.
I can't watch this!Too flirtatious!
Of course, she was one to talk, so she wisely kept any further commentary to herself.
...
"Stop your acting already!" Kasumigaoka Touji fastened his belt properly and quickly changed the subject. "Kazuko, after dinner tonight, do you want to go look at swimsuits? The weather's getting hot. Let's find a time to go play in the water together."
After all, he had a dinner appointment with that person later; being late wouldn't be good.
"…Okay," Kani Nayuta agreed, pushing herself up off the bed. She looked at Kasumigaoka Touji with mild surprise before readily accepting.
In her grand romance strategy, trips to the beach, swimming pools, and water parks were naturally essential milestones. But…
"Does Winter-sensei know how to swim?" she asked, subconsciously rubbing her stinging backside as she tilted her head in curiosity.
"Yep, I'm a pretty decent swimmer," Kasumigaoka Touji replied, heading for the door. He glanced back over his shoulder. "What about Kani Nayuta?"
"I don't."
"Eh?"
Both Kasumigaoka Touji and Kasumigaoka Utaha, who had just stepped out into the hallway, turned back in surprise. It was Utaha-san who voiced the question. "Didn't you have swimming lessons in school before?"
In Japan, swimming is treated as a fairly important part of the curriculum. It's generally taught in elementary school, junior high, high school, and even many kindergartens. So, it was rather surprising to encounter a member of the younger generation who couldn't swim.
"I did, but… I was the type who always sat in the corner during those classes," Kani Nayuta admitted, spreading her hands with an air of innocent resignation.
There it is!The one who slipped through the cracks of six—no, seven—years of compulsory aquatic education!
"Well, that's fine. I'll teach you then," Kasumigaoka Touji said after a moment of surprise, waving a hand dismissively as he took full responsibility. The idea of teaching Kani Nayuta to swim sounded rather appealing; it should be a fun experience…
The trio made their way downstairs together. Kasumigaoka Touji glanced at his sister and remarked casually, "Speaking of which, Utaha, Toyosaki's swimming lessons are about to start, aren't they?"
"It's still early. At the earliest, not until June," she replied.
"That's only about a month away then."
He found himself looking forward to the school swimming sessions as well. He could already picture the deadpan expressions on Kani Nayuta's, Kumin Tsuyuri's, and Gotou Hitori's faces…
Hmm, I should probably look forward to Eriri Spencer Sawamura's reaction too, otherwise she'd seem too pitiful.Come to think of it, would Gotou Hitori wear her signature tracksuit to swimming lessons?Kasumigaoka Touji felt it was entirely possible…
...
Lost in such speculations, they arrived downstairs.
Kasumigaoka Touji summoned a ride-share car via an app on his phone. Then, he walked over to the coffee table, rummaged through the pile of souvenirs, and selected a beautifully wrapped gift bag, presenting it to Kani Nayuta.
"Here, your souvenir."
"This one's from me."
Kasumigaoka Utaha also handed her a separate, distinct bag.
"Eh…? Wait, why are you each giving me one? Is that… okay?"
Receiving two souvenirs left Kani Nayuta momentarily flustered. She looked between the two of them in surprise, then down at the bags in her hands—Kasumigaoka Touji's and Kasumigaoka Utaha's gifts were different. Touji-kun's bag was larger, its contents a mystery. Kasumigaoka Utaha's contained a set of skincare products.
Two souvenirs meant double the happiness. An irrepressibly brilliant smile spread across Kani Nayuta's face, its infectious warmth even touching Kasumigaoka Touji and Kasumigaoka Utaha.
Outwardly, however, Kasumigaoka Utaha maintained her usual composure, stating calmly, "Isn't it perfectly normal for the two of us to give you two souvenirs?"
...
"Hmm… Arigato gozaimasu!"
Kani Nayuta stared at her for a full two seconds, her eyes shining, before suddenly launching herself at Utaha-san in an excited, impulsive hug.
"Wah—!"
Caught off guard, Kasumigaoka Utaha took an involuntary step backward. She was nearly bowled over. A very subtle, complicated expression flickered across her face. After a brief moment of hesitation, she slowly raised her own arms and returned the embrace, albeit a bit stiffly.
Kasumigaoka Touji watched the scene from the sidelines, a soft smile tugging at his lips. Seeing them separate, he promptly opened his own arms wide in an exaggerated gesture toward Kani Nayuta.
"Alright! Now it's my turn… Come on! Hit me with the ball… I mean, a hug!"
Kani Nayuta, who had just released Kasumigaoka Utaha, couldn't help but roll her eyes dramatically at his antics. She let out a light hmph.
"My butt still hurts. I don't feel like hugging you right now."
With that, she promptly skipped over to the sofa, eager to start unwrapping her treasures.
"Being so uncooperative? Seems like I haven't disciplined you enough yet!" Kasumigaoka Touji teased, playfully lifting the hem of his shirt to flash his belt buckle.
"Nii-san, men who rely solely on violence are the worst," Kasumigaoka Utaha chimed in, siding with Kani Nayuta and taking a light jab at her brother. She then stepped aside to call their parents and report their safe return.
"Tch, I'll deal with you later too," Touji-kun muttered under his breath before also picking up the phone to say a few words to his folks.
During this exchange, Kani Nayuta wisely stayed quiet and didn't make a sound.
By the time the calls ended, their ride-share car had arrived. After making sure all doors and windows were securely locked, the three of them finally headed out into the warm Tokyo evening…