CH. 28: The discussion

While Asahi enjoyed the time with Shizuka, one pink-haired girl was peeking her head from the wall. Her eyes fixed on the corridor where Asahi passed by.

"Why am I hiding from him…?"

"Takagi-san, you didn't bathe yet?"

The voice almost stopped Saya's heart. She turned around and glared at Rei.

"Stupid Rei, what do you want now?"

"Nothing. Just checking up if the bath is empty for others." A soft smile formed on her face as she continued, "Also, are you two still fighting?"

Saya growled. "That's none of your business."

Unfazed by her rude reply, Rei spoke, "Don't make the same mistake as me… I wanted him to… confess but you know, ugh! Just don't let him get away because of your pride."

Saying so, Rei scooted off to her room, leaving Saya contemplating with a pouty face.

"I know, dammit! But I can't change myself on a whim… even if I want to… fuck this, I will go relax in the water..."

She decided to not think about her feelings for now. However, the image of Asahi and Aimi making out in the bathroom kept plaguing her mind. The more she denied it, the wilder the image became.

"Perverts…"

Mumbling, she entered the bath and saw Busujima sisters wearing a nightdress which wasn't here before. With her hair down and no specs, it was hard to tell the twins apart.

Saeko noticed her confusion, and with a soft smile, she asked, "Takagi-san, are you doing okay?"

The gentle smile on Saeko's face took Saya by surprise.

"I-I am fine."

"Don't be hasty in these types of decisions."

"Okay…"

"Saeko, go ahead and start the cooking. I'll join you later."

"Sure."

Shiori watched Saeko's back until she exited the bath, while Saya moaned from the icy water.

"Heaven…"

Her injuries somehow healed before she knew, and the water felt so damn good!

"Takagi-san, are you going to follow Asahi-kun or not?"

She turned around to face Shiori's sharp gaze.

"What—"

"Cause I am certainly going to follow him."

Saya never thought Shiori-senpai she respected would try to butt heads over Asahi. Shiori's tone made it clear she wanted a fight, but she won't be backing down.

"And why are you telling me this?"

"I can see you are hesitating over your feelings." Shiori chuckled lightly. "He might be a huge pervert who gropes his own sister with no shame, but he is indisputably a guy I can trust wholeheartedly. Tell me, were you confident about leaving the academy without Asahi's help?"

Saya silently glared, finding words to rebuke. Despite her supernatural powers, she was certain about her death after the fight with the undead.

"I take it as you agree with my statement. Even we would be hard-pressed to escape the academy grounds."

Saya gave a nod in agreement, albeit her reluctance.

"Then did you notice the way Miku Yuuki looked at Asahi?"

Another nod.

"Asahi-kun isn't someone who lusts after a girl's beauty. Most men his age might have fallen to her charm, but you know her personality is something a traditional woman like me can never agree with."

"I know."

"You know a human's heart can be fragile especially women. At times of crisis they tend to rely on the strong; be it man, woman, or a weapon, they will cling on anything that brings a sense of security."

"Yeah," Saya whispered, remembering her mother's state after her father divorced her.

Shiori smiled and folded her arms on her chest. "And someone strong and good-looking like Asahi-kun is bound to gather a lot of attention from the opposite gender. Many men and women will stick to him just to survive. There might be some who are far better than the two of us. Are you confident you won't regret your decision then?"

Saya shook her head. Be it her beauty, her wits, or her power, there might be many who surpass her in these.

"All I mean is please do not make any decision which might hurt you or Asahi-kun."

Saya raised her head to meet Shiori's playful gaze. The competitive fire inside her burned brighter than ever.

"I will follow my guts," Saya whispered. "Also, does Saeko-senpai too?"

"Saeko… She likes him but finds it unable to accept those feelings." She shook her head. "I will entrust this decision to Asahi-kun. Saeko will listen to him..."

"How can you trust him so much?" Saya grumbled.

"I do what my heart says and that never let me down… except once." Shiori drew in a long breath and gazed at Saya with a serious expression. "Every major decision in life comes at a risk and I think I'm prepared to face it."

Saya nodded, admiring her inside. "I… will try again…"

"Now that's the well-known 'genius' of Fujimi academy~"

Normally, she would be happy to hear such praise. But this time it only made her blush. She looked away and wore fresh clothes. A pale blue tank barely hiding her navel and black sports shorts.

"Well, then please call Asahi-kun for dinner or he might get busy with Marikawa-sensei."

"A-Aren't they siblings? Is that even allowed?"

Shiori shook her head. "It is up to them. We women should support him till the end, no~?"

"You sound like you already became his lover?"

"Call it a women's intuition or whatnot, but I am sure that Asahi-kun won't deny me~"

"I'll go call that pervert," She grumbled and ignoring the giggle coming from behind, she darted toward the door.

Now, standing in the room reserved for girls, Saya frowned.

"They are so close."

Asahi and Shizuka looked like a couple snuggling together rather than siblings.

"Sis-con perv." She whispered before noticing the white nightdress lying on the bedside. It completely matched Shizuka.

'Should I?'

Her current outfit was rather revealing. She might not have cared before, but now…

Tapping Asahi's cheeks, she sighed in relief, and threw off her current outfit and put on the nightdress.

"It's comfortable…"

She sat beside Asahi and poked his cheeks.

"Wow, this perv looks cute."

After ten minutes of teasing Asahi in sleep, her head became fuzzy. She rolled over and laid down beside him.

'I don't care anymore.'

She thought as her consciousness slipped by.