FFD 23

"Aunty, can I ask you something? I was wondering why Eriri didn't go to England, even though Uncle had already started the transfer procedures," Hayama said, setting his teacup down.

"I'm not sure either. It's all being handled by Eriri's father," Sayuri replied, her expression flawless but with a subtle undertone of withheld information in her voice.

"Did Uncle lose his influence in the family conflict?" he asked in a hushed tone.

"If you've already figured it out, why bother asking me?"

He smiled, "Don't worry aunty, the Spencer family is going through a tough time right now. By staying in Japan, they distance themselves from power, but it also keeps them away from conflicts."

"Hayama, you've become so mature! Are you aspiring to be a shameless politician in the future?"

"We already have a representative for that in our family, so there's no need for me to do that!"

They lapsed into a brief silence before she spoke again. "So, you said those harsh words to Eriri because you believed she was going to England?"

"It would be difficult for her to return if she went to England, especially considering the ongoing conflicts between the Spencer family and the British royal family," He explained, taking another sip of his tea.

"Hayama, you really do have the qualities of a shameless politician."

"I didn't give it enough thought back then..."

"Do you have any idea how devastated Eriri was when you left?"

Hayama blinked, a sense of uncertainty washing over him. Maybe this reunion wasn't such a good thing after all.

As he ascended the stairs and opened the door, Hayama was greeted by the sight of two girls struggling to maintain their expression.

Eriri was seated on the bed, and there was a noticeable bulge beneath the blanket. Meanwhile, Sanae perched on top of a sizable box.

He approached Sanae, lightly tapping her on the head and scolding her. "Didn't I tell you to keep an eye on Eriri? What are you doing?"

"Ouch, ouch, ouch! Why are you hitting me instead of Eriri? Why pick on me, death?" she complained with a tinge of grievance.

"She's a lost cause when it comes to procrastination, but you, despite being an idiot, might actually be able to salvage the situation!"

"Hey, what do you mean I'm a lost cause!" Eriri protested, leaping off the bed with the intention of making a graceful move against him. However, her actions lacked elegance, and she ended up simply yanking the blanket down, exposing a multitude of... books concealed within. Among them was one with the intriguing title, "Double Humiliation."

A bead of sweat formed on Hayama's forehead as he realized he had stumbled upon something he shouldn't have seen. Hopefully, he wouldn't be silenced by a gruesome fate.

"Ah! Hayama, you idiot! Close your eyes right away! Looking at these things will give you pinkeye!" Eriri exclaimed, lunging towards him in an attempt to cover his eyes. However, her nervousness got the better of her, and she accidentally knocked him off balance, causing both of them to tumble heavily to the ground.

"Eriri, nicely done! You've brought the mighty Demon King to a fallen state. The Thunder God's War Hammer shall forever remember your sacrifice, death!" Sanae exclaimed, leaping up and pressing down on Eriri's body. However, Hayama reacted swiftly, quickly raising his hand and evading the attack, leaving poor Eriri to serve as an unintended cushion on the ground.

The situation between the two of them escalated further as they continued to fight, but Hayama couldn't dare intervene. After all, during his earlier escape from the attack, he had accidentaly touched something he shouldn't have.

He glanced at Eriri, who seemed completely oblivious to what had happened, and thought, 'Well, since Eriri didn't seem to notice anything, let's just pretend it never happened.'

After five minutes of rough play, they were finally separated by Sayuri, who had arrived upstairs. However, both of them still wore sullen expressions, refusing to back down.

"So, the poster still hasn't been started?" Hayama felt like his patience was about to burst.

"It's all Eriri's fault! Eriri, apologize to Hayama-dono, death!"

"What does it have to do with me? It's all because of this meddling Chibiko!" Eriri retorted.

[Note: Chibiko: This combines "chibi" (small) with the word "ko" (child).]

"What did you just say? The Death Binger, Sanae, shall grant you eternal sleep, death!"

"Shorty! Chibiko! Chibiko!"

Anticipating another bout of fighting, he swiftly grabbed both of Sanae's pigtails. "That's enough! Remember the task you have to do today!"

"But, but!" Sanae protested, her voice filled with reluctance.

"No 'buts,'" he firmly stated as he untangled Sanae's headlock and slipped the candy into his pocket. He then proceeded to remove her headband. "Death Bringer, be sealed!"

"My, my powers! They're gone, death!" Sanae's pigtails unraveled, allowing her flowing golden hair to cascade down. As he gently smoothed out her disheveled bangs, she appeared to undergo a remarkable transformation, almost becoming an entirely different person.

Even Eriri was taken aback by the sudden transformation.

"It seems long hair suits you better. I never understood why you insisted on that stupid hairstyle," He remarked, popping a candy into his mouth.

"Mm... well, it's because that's how my powers work, death,"

"Alright, you keep an eye on Eriri's poster. And if she starts slacking off, feel free to dispose of those things on her bed!"

"Hayama, you're taking it too far!" Eriri immediately leapt onto the bed, guarding her notebooks beneath her like a mother hen protecting her chicks.

"Get started on the poster already. If you don't finish before the competition, I can be even more ruthless than you can imagine."

He made his way towards the door, intending to leave. However, Eriri swiftly darted from the bed and blocked the doorway, speaking in a hushed voice. "You... you actually prefer long hair over twin tails, don't you?"

"I don't have a specific preference, but Sanae definitely looks great with long hair," Hayama replied.

"Then, do you want to see me with long hair?" Eriri's voice grew softer, her fingers twirling her pigtails.

"Eriri, your hair isn't thick enough."

"Go to hell, Hayama!"

...

As Hayama descended the stairs, he found Sayuri waiting at the staircase, wearing a smile.

"Hayama, you're still quite popular," Sayuri remarked.

"Is that so? I don't really feel that way," Hayama responded, his mind drifting back to the various girls who had left a lasting impression on him. Utaha seemed like she wanted to kill him, and his relationships with Eriri, Ginko, Haruno, and Sanae were somewhat complicated. Only his relationship with Kato seemed relatively normal.

"Eriri was just feeling a bit jealous of Sanae-chan earlier. Is Hayama trying to cosplay as a dense male lead?"

Hayama's lips twitched, but he chose not to respond. He couldn't help but admire Sayuri's vivid imagination. She must be a veteran player in galgames.

"I'm heading out for grocery shopping. Care to join me, Hayama?" she asked, raising the delicate grocery basket in her hand.

"No, I'll pass. Have a good trip, Aunt Sayuri," He sat on the couch and started playing with his phone.

"Hey, in moments like these, guys are supposed to play the role of protectors to showcase their masculinity, you know!"

...

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