Breakfast

After finalizing the visit time with Tsubaki Miyajima,

Sasaki hadn't put down his phone when Otome, who had already prepared breakfast, brought it in front of him:

"Do you have anything planned for today, Fuyumi?"

Seeing that he had been on his phone since coming downstairs, so Otome couldn't help but ask out of curiosity,

After tasting the rice porridge, Sasaki shook his head, "It's not something for today."

"It's for Saturday."

"I went to a classmate's house yesterday, right? Their elder saw that I looked familiar and asked about my family. It turns out my grandfather and their family were close friends, so they've invited me over this Sunday."

Not telling Otome anything about sword skills or identifying his identity, and other complicated things, Sasaki changed his words and explained the situation concisely.

Afterall she was just asking out of cautiously and wasn't too interested, and sure enough, hearing his words, she didn't dwell on it.

She was more concerned about Rinka's situation than this.

After setting the breakfast on the table and waiting for Rinka to come down, Otome looked t the young man and asked, "Hasn't Rinka woken up yet?"

Pretending not to see her questioning gaze, Sasaki sipped his rice porridge slowly.

Because Rinka accidentally discovered something about him,

This resulted in a wonderful misunderstanding between them.

As someone privy to the truth, Sasaki did not intend to clarify everything.

He just needed to follow the script Rinka had set for him.

Although he felt somewhat sorry for Rinka, who else would be blamed for secretly taking photos of him?

If she hadn't discovered his affair, there would be no such misunderstanding, and Sasaki was merely not disclosing everything, so it was obvious who was responsible.

And according to her script,

At this moment, Sasagi couldn't be expected to understand Otome's concerned look.

But because he understood everything and had indeed attacked Rinka, it was easier just to pretend not to see.

Watching Fuyumi 'guiltily' bow his head to eat porridge,

Sakuragi Otome, who was standing beside him, felt a little excited in her heart.

Because he had a guilty conscience, it meant he still cared about her own feelings.

He didn't joke around or tease her

despite pushing Rinka towards him.

Although she didn't care too much, the feeling of having her thoughts taken into consideration still warmed her heart.

After all, no girl would want to be generous in this kind of thing.

If Sakuragi Otome really heard similar compliments from Fuyumi, even though she wouldn't say it, she would still feel a little disappointed in her heart.

Because for her, that wasn't much of a compliment...

Due to bowing his head, Sasaki did not see Otome's face, rippling with a soft smile.

It wasn't until he noticed her gaze shift away that he uncertainly said, "She's probably still washing up."

Just as his words fell, footsteps tapped rapidly from the stairs.

Before Sasaki could look up,

The figure clad in a white blouse and a red plaid pleated skirt, her slender legs sheathed in black thigh-high stockings, rushed behind Sasaki, joining Otome, who was dressed similarly but in white stockings.

"You've started eating already? You didn't wait for me~"

Glancing at Sasaki, who was sipping porridge, Rinka stood behind him, gently shaking Otome's arm.

Seeing her energetic smile and not finding any signs of fatigue on her face, and recalling her lively arrival, Otome realized she hadn't experienced the pain of her first time.

Otherwise, with her physique, it wouldn't be too much for her to stay in bed all day.

Thinking about this, she pulled Rinka to a chair, placing the prepared breakfast in front of her and said, "I was waiting for you."

Though she was curious about what had transpired between them the previous night,

Otome, with her thin-skinned nature, couldn't bring herself to inquire directly in front of them both.

Even privately, she might not dare to ask Rinka directly.

Afterall if she were to bring up the topic herself,

Given Rinka's outgoing and unrestrained personality, it wouldn't be long before she turned the questions on Otome herself.

A little coquetry from her, and Otome suspected she might be quizzed about what kind of position she used while having sex with Fuyumi.

Rather than drawing fire onto herself, it was better to watch and wait.

After all, the day would come eventually.

"Sister Otome is the best to me~"

With a playful laugh, Rinka then bowed her head to eat her breakfast.

Because it was awkward to bring up the previous night's events, and Otome herself was not a talkative or exuberant person,

She remained quiet during the meal.

As the one aware of everything, Sasali naturally wouldn't do anything superfluous to draw their attention.

But Rinka was not one to stay calm and composed.

Though she felt guilty towards Otome sister,

As Sasaki had felt, she would find all sorts of excuses to mitigate this guilt, no matter how far-fetched or absurd, as long as there were excuses, it wouldn't impede her actions.

And isn't an excuse just that—something you have as much of as you need?

As her fair, delicate hands held the porcelain bowl, Rinka drank her rice porridge with a slightly boisterous demeanor.

Her head slightly raised, her gaze subtly shifted, seemingly inadvertently glancing at Otome across from her.

Seeing her focused and graceful way of eating, and thinking that Otome hadn't noticed her, the girl couldn't help but have the idea of practicing some yoga moves,

As she slowly slid her stockinged feet out of her pink floral slippers.

Her toes aligned with the deep black seams of her stockings, stretched like blossoming cat feet.

Then like a gracefully slender black snake, they stealthily reached towards Sasaki.

Because Sasaki was wearing socks, all he felt besides the soft touch against his ankle was nothing more out of the ordinary.

Thus, aside from the momentary jolt of nervousness in his heart, he did not have any flirtatious thoughts.

Partly because there wasn't much he could do right then, and partly because Otome was right across from Rinka.

After his own extensive teaching and advice, Sasaki, knowing that Otome had strengthened her senses, naturally did not want to commit any faux pas in her presence.

So the moment he noticed her movement, he tried to step on her foot to stop her, lest she do something that caught Otome's attention.

But since he was wearing slippers and Rinka's foot was right against his ankle,

The moment Sasaki moved, the girl, sensing danger like a dog seeing someone pick up a stick, quickly retracted her foot.

Just when he thought his warning had made her behave for a while,

That ticklish, coaxing sensation returned to his ankle.

Knowing that moving himself might scare her off again, Sasaki casually continued eating his porridge and cold tofu, letting that restless foot explore inside his slipper.

Aware that too much movement might attract Otome's attention,

The girl simply placed her foot on top of Sasaki's and stopped moving.

However, just as Sasaki thought that was all,

That silky-stockinged little foot began to fidget restlessly.

By the time his sock was pulled down to his heel,

He finally realized she was trying to pull his sock off.