Damian hung up the phone and left it on the table without paying much attention to it.
But when he looked up, he found Marin with her cheeks puffed out, like a squirrel storing nuts, and her lips slightly pursed in a gesture impossible to take seriously.
A low, contained laugh escaped Damian's throat.
"Hum!" Marin immediately caught the laugh and turned her face away sharply.
"The young lady of the Shinomiya family is coming to pick you up, huh?" she said in a sweet but poisoned tone, without looking at him directly. "How enthusiastic she turns out to be, boyfriend-kun."
Damian just shrugged.
"Since she's coming, let her come. Free ride, at least we won't have to fight the subway."
Marin wrinkled her nose at hearing that and let out two little "hum" sounds while stabbing her chopsticks into her bowl dramatically.
Damian, used to her outbursts, didn't bother to argue. Instead, he reached into his pocket and, after a brief search, pulled out the black card Gojo had given him the day before.
He set it on the table, sliding it until it was right in front of Marin.
With the tip of his finger, he gave it a light tap and, without changing his calm expression, said, "Marin."
The sound was enough to catch her attention. She turned her head slightly, though still acting annoyed.
Her red eyes unintentionally drifted toward the shiny card, and her ears twitched, betraying her curiosity.
"Today after class," Damian continued with total ease, "shall we go buy a car?"
It was as if someone had pressed a secret button.
Marin's puffed cheeks instantly deflated, and she whipped her head around, her eyes shining brighter than when she had sniffed breakfast earlier.
"REALLY!?" she exclaimed, completely forgetting she had been upset.
But just a second later, a thought crossed her mind and her excitement dimmed a little.
"We can… but," she murmured, looking up with a hint of doubt, "shouldn't we tell Sister Shinozuka?"
"Sister Shinozuka," Yayoi Shinozuka, was her agent, always keeping an eye on everything she did.
Damian took a spoonful of porridge and waited until he swallowed before answering, "Actually, there's no need. Buying a car is our business. But if you want to tell her, you can."
Marin lowered her gaze to the black card and touched it with one finger. She thought about the idea of going out to buy their own car and, without realizing it, all the discomfort she had felt earlier because of Kaguya's call evaporated like smoke.
Her eyes lit up again, and a big smile returned to her face.
"Okay! I'll message her in a bit. What car do we buy? A sports car? Though they say they're not that comfortable… or something more practical? Ah, I'm so excited!"
Damian looked at her patiently. It was impressive how she could go from jealous to happy in less than a minute. He didn't make any comment, just quietly returned to his breakfast.
The sunlight came in softly through the window, lighting up the black card on the table and also the radiant smile that had returned to Marin's face.
In a good mood, she hummed an anime song while finishing her breakfast at full speed. As soon as she took the last sip, she jumped up like a spring and ran off to get her phone to text Yayoi.
Looking at her, Damian smiled while shaking his head, and without wasting time, he gathered the bowls and utensils from both of them. Soon, the sound of running water filled the kitchen as he washed everything and left it spotless.
Just as he was drying his hands, his phone rang again on the table. "The Young Lady."
"Did you arrive?"
"Yes, Damian-kun," Kaguya replied in her sweet tone. "The driver and I are already in front of the garden. There's no rush."
"Mm."
The brief call ended, and Damian turned his head toward the living room.
Marin was sitting cross-legged on the sofa, her fingers flying across the screen as she smiled excitedly. It was clear she was chatting with Yayoi, probably sharing plans and details about the car they were planning to buy.
"Marin, it's time to go," Damian reminded her.
"Ah! Coming!" she exclaimed without taking her eyes off the phone. She typed a few last words, pressed send with a victorious gesture, and jumped to her feet.
She grabbed two uniform jackets hanging from the coat rack and ran to the entrance, where Damian was already waiting with his shoes on. She handed him one of the jackets and, with small hops, slipped on her own shoes while adjusting the garment over her shoulders.
Together they crossed the garden gate and, as soon as they stepped out, Kaguya's figure appeared before them.
The petite young woman wore an elegant dark dress perfectly tailored, highlighted by a striking red bow on her chest. Her hands were gracefully crossed in front, and her smile was so flawless it seemed rehearsed.
Every detail screamed refinement and control.
Marin looked at her and muttered under her breath, "Doesn't she get tired of always being so uptight…?"
Damian didn't comment, simply took her hand and guided her toward Kaguya.
The eyes of the Shinomiya heiress stopped for an instant on those intertwined hands before returning to her perfect smile, though something in it seemed to tighten for an imperceptible second.
"Good morning, Damian-kun. It's been a while since we last saw each other," Kaguya greeted, bowing slightly.
"Mm, long time no see." Damian nodded naturally. "Thanks for the trouble today."
At that moment, Marin took half a step forward and firmly positioned herself at Damian's side, her smile bright.
"Well, well, good morning, Miss Kaguya!" she said with a lilting tone. "How embarrassing, making someone so distinguished come personally to pick up two simple people like us. Such an unnecessary detail, really!"
She said "simple" with fake sweetness, but the poison was evident.
Kaguya's smile didn't falter; she merely shifted her gaze toward Marin and gave a brief nod.
"Miss Marin exaggerates. Being able to pick up and accompany Damian-kun is an honor for me."
She said "pick up and accompany Damian-kun" with clear intention: to emphasize she was there for him and only him.
Then, turning back to look at him warmly, she added, "Damian-kun, get in the car, yes? I had the chef prepare the soy milk you like. It's still warm."
For an instant, Marin's smile froze, and her eyes flashed with annoyance before she could hide it.
Without saying anything, she tightened her grip on Damian's arm, staking her claim.
Damian seemed unaware of the silent clash of gazes between the two girls and simply nodded. "Mm."
Without adding anything, he gently pulled Marin's hand, who looked ready to puff her cheeks to retort, and guided her toward the back seat of the car. The driver quickly opened the door with a respectful bow.
Damian got in first, slightly lowering his head so he wouldn't hit the frame, and then helped Marin inside. She, with a triumphant air, plopped down next to him like a little peacock convinced of her victory for securing the spot at his side.
But the triumph barely lasted a couple of seconds.
On the other side, the rear door opened without warning and Kaguya slipped in with fluid, confident movements, taking the empty space on Damian's other side.
The pride on Marin's face froze instantly.
Kaguya, on the other hand, settled in with elegance, back straight, hands together on her knees and an impeccable smile, as if her sudden entrance were nothing extraordinary.
She even slightly inclined her head toward Marin, politely. "There's enough space. Sitting apart, we'll be more comfortable."
She said it reasonably, though every syllable carried an edge.
Marin blinked in disbelief.
Now Damian was trapped between them, her on one side and Kaguya on the other. Her small hand clung tighter to his arm, squeezing with intent, while furious thoughts ran through her head: This woman is way too cunning!
Damian felt the pressure and noticed the sudden wave of heat beside him, but his face remained calm; he only gave the faintest smile. It was definitely a mistake letting Kaguya come pick us up, he thought without showing it.
Kaguya, flawless, acted as though the tension didn't exist.
With a delicate movement, she opened a small thermos waiting on the front seat and poured steaming liquid into a fine porcelain cup.
The sweet aroma spread in the car's closed air.
"Damian-kun, your soy milk."
But just as the cup reached him, a hand quick as lightning intercepted it.
Marin snatched it away with a decisive move, so fast that both Damian and Kaguya were caught off guard. Without thinking, she brought the cup to her lips and took a huge sip.
"Pff—!" A second later, she stuck out her tongue with an exaggerated grimace. "Ah, so sweet! Too much! Damian-kun doesn't drink things this cloying anymore, you know?"
She spoke casually, but the gleam of triumph in her eyes couldn't have been more obvious. Then she handed the cup back with a fake innocent smile.
Kaguya's fingers tensed as she received it, though her face remained perfect. Only, behind that calm, her gaze lost some of its warmth.
"Is that so?" she answered with an almost imperceptible spark. "Though I clearly remember that before, when I used to have breakfast with Damian-kun, he loved exactly this level of sweetness."
She put deliberate emphasis on the words "before" and "used to have breakfast with Damian-kun."
Marin's eyes went wide, scandalized, and she shot back almost bouncing in her seat, "That was before! Sister Shinozuka said Damian-kun has to watch his uric acid levels! Now he drinks regular milk, right, Damian-kun?"
As she spoke, she shook Damian's arm for confirmation, her eyes pleading for support but also brimming with a spark of defiance toward the other girl.
Kaguya seemed ready for that response. With a delicate motion, she brought a silk handkerchief to her lips, hiding a small smile, and took on an air both regretful and condescending — the classic "poor thing, you don't understand."
"Oh? What a shame. I remember Damian-kun always liked starting the day with hot soy milk, freshly fried youtiao and steaming meat buns…"
She paused briefly and turned her gaze to Damian. "That's why today I specifically asked the house chef to prepare something fresh for lunch and have it delivered to the school for Damian-kun."
With those words, the satisfaction Marin had built up froze on the spot, as if someone had turned off a light inside her.
Her eyes sparked with a furious glint, and her hand, the one wrapped around Damian's arm, clung even tighter.
But in the middle of her anger, something mischievous flickered quickly through her mind. Wait… she remembered what she had seen in the mirror that morning and, unable to hold back a sly smile, decided to use it.
Her grip on Damian's arm suddenly loosened, and with a distracted motion she brought one hand to her neck, as if feeling warm. "Wow… isn't it a bit hot in here?"
As she spoke, she gently fanned herself with her hand and, naturally, undid the first button of her blouse.
The fabric opened just enough to reveal her pale neck… and the two reddish marks still fresh, standing out against her fair skin.
She moved deliberately slow, her goal clear, and without fail they entered Kaguya's line of sight.
Marin felt the exact moment Kaguya's gaze stopped on her neck and then, with the same agility with which she had set the trap, she pretended to realize what she had done and let out a small gasp.
"Ah!"
She quickly buttoned it back up, as if it had been a slip. A perfectly timed blush colored her cheeks as she turned to Damian with an adorably pouty face, "Sorry… I was careless. But it's boyfriend-kun's fault, he's too intense and makes me keep my blouse tightly closed."
The words "intense" and "tightly closed" came out with deliberate weight, but behind that sweet voice there was a sharpness impossible to ignore.
The air inside the car instantly turned heavy.
For the first time, Kaguya's flawless smile cracked. The warmth that usually accompanied her gaze vanished in an instant, replaced by coldness and a dark, restrained storm.
Her hands, which had rested elegantly on her knees, curled into fists until they went pale.
She drew in a deep, controlled breath, like someone taming a sudden rage to avoid losing composure.
When she finally tore her eyes away from Marin's neck and looked back at Damian, she did it with a calm so perfect it was unsettling.
"Damian-kun, it seems your tastes… have changed a lot."
"But it doesn't matter. The chefs of the Shinomiya family are experts at adapting to any change."
"..."
Trapped between the two, Damian felt the cutting cold coming from his right and the victorious heat burning on his left. He closed his eyes for a moment and clenched his jaw; in the end, he only let out a resigned sigh:
"…Mm."
He didn't need to say more — to him, this silent fight was more exhausting than any battle.
Marin, on the other hand, was ecstatic. Though she kept an innocent expression as she rested her head on Damian's shoulder, inside she was celebrating her victory.
She nestled even closer to him and, without anyone noticing except the faint reflection in the glass, stuck her tongue out in Kaguya's direction.
In the window's reflection, two opposite worlds appeared: Marin radiant, and Kaguya rigid and contained, her smile barely holding together and her eyes carrying an icy fire threatening to break free.
________
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