Mrs. Yukinoshita gently stroked her second daughter's beautiful hair, her expression softening as she watched Yukino's surprised reaction. "Yukino, your mother would like to move in with you here. Is that acceptable?"
Yukino's eyes widened. "Mother, you want to move here?"
Mrs. Yukinoshita's expression shifted to one of gentle sadness. "You don't want me to?"
"Of course not! Mother, please move in today!"
How could Yukino possibly resist that pitiful gaze?
The matter was settled in an instant. Mrs. Yukinoshita would leave the family home and take up residence in the guest room of Yukino's apartment.
.....
By afternoon, Yukino Yukinoshita arrived at Sakura Dormitory. After exchanging greetings with Mahiru and the others, she went straight to a certain someone's room.
She found him flirting with Suigintou—and getting his outfit shredded into a lacework of holes for his trouble.
Hozuki Nozomi offered an awkward smile. "Yukino! You're here. Come, have a seat."
Yukino raised an elegant eyebrow, smoothed her skirt, and seated herself on his bed with natural grace. Arms crossed, she fixed him with a cold stare.
"Scumbag. Don't you have anything to say?"
"I'm sorry!"
His apology came instantly, without hesitation. He reached for her hand with a pitiful expression. "Yesterday was too much. Please forgive me, Lady Yukino Yukinoshita!"
"Hmph!" She shook off his hand. "You know it was too much? Then why did you do it?"
Her cheeks flushed as she spoke through gritted teeth. "What if Mother had woken up? How could I face her?"
Seeing the mist gathering in her eyes, Hozuki Nozomi quickly pulled her into an embrace. "I'm sorry. I was wrong. I'm reflecting deeply."
He wanted to point out that she'd seemed to find it exciting too, but decided his fiancée's pride was more important than honesty. Besides, he genuinely treasured Yukino and their relationship—he didn't want her scared or worried.
Last night had been too much, even by his standards.
Yukino sniffled, struggling symbolically before pouting unhappily. "No sincerity. Every time you bully someone, you say the same thing. And then you do something bad again next time."
"Uh... Yukino, trust me. Next time I'll ask your opinion first." He tightened his embrace. "For now... since you're here, you're not allowed to leave tonight."
"Mm... Idiot... Don't... Mmph mmph mmph!"
By the time Yukino processed what was happening, she was already tangled up with him on the bed again.
.....
In the nearby box, Suigintou quietly cracked open the lid, watching the scene with flushed cheeks. She gritted her teeth and snorted softly.
"Lewd man. I won't like you!"
She decided to accelerate her plans—awaken her sleeping sisters, start the Alice Game in earnest. Once she became stronger, she'd teach this philandering medium a proper lesson!
That was what she told herself.
But her eyes, peeking through the crack, remained fixed on the scene. Almost unblinking.
Oh! Oh!
That lewd human male could do that?
She'd learned something new.
...
Not far from Sakura Dormitory, on a rooftop across town, Rozen Maiden Kanaria watched through binoculars, her face burning.
Like Suigintou, her eyes were wide, unblinking. Her small mouth hung open.
"Oh my god!! A man like this actually made a contract with Suigintou! It's over, it's over! If Suigintou teams up with him, won't the sisters be in terrible danger?"
The thought of ending up like Suigintou—being kissed by him constantly—made Kanaria's heart race and her face flush even deeper.
....
Time passed.
Eventually, Yukino Yukinoshita was thoroughly appeased.
Now completely drained of strength, she leaned quietly in Hozuki Nozomi's arms, her small hands wrapped loosely around his neck. She pouted up at him.
"I'll forgive you for now. But if there's a next time... one month. No touching me for one entire month."
Hozuki Nozomi immediately thumped his chest in solemn oath. "Understood! I'll obey Yukino!"
Such a terrifying threat could not be ignored. Even one week without touching her would be excruciating—a month was unthinkable.
Yukino gave him a flat look. "When you make promises, can you pat your own chest?"
He chuckled. "I'm doing this to help you, Yukino. Don't you envy Haruno-nee's figure?"
"I don't envy her at all." Yukino sniffed haughtily. "Mahiru and Sumireko both say oversized chests interfere with movement."
But her pout gave her away. Miss Yukinoshita was being stubborn again.
"One more thing." She fixed him with a serious look. "Mother has moved out of the family home. She'll be staying with me and my sister in the apartment. When you visit... remember to greet her properly. No sneak attacks. Understood?"
"No problem. I'll listen to Yukino."
Seeing sincerity in his eyes, she nodded contentedly. "Alright. I've rested enough."
Her cheeks flushed as she spoke.
Hozuki Nozomi's eyes lit up.
....
Kanaria covered her eyes.
It was starting again. Were human males always this... enduring?
She felt her soul had been seared by what she'd witnessed. And yet... a small part of her felt envious.
As a Rozen Maiden, she and her sisters could eat and drink like humans, but they were ultimately dolls. Without becoming "Alice," they could never experience the love that ordinary girls took for granted.
But becoming Alice meant claiming the other sisters' rosen—achieving her goal at the cost of their lives and souls. How could Kanaria bear such cruelty?
Presumably, the other sisters felt the same. That was why, after all these years, the Alice Game had never produced a victor.
Like Kanaria, Suigintou felt that same envy watching the scene. How she longed to be close to someone she cared about, like an ordinary girl.
But a doll was still a doll.
Dejected, Suigintou closed her box, her mood sinking.
...
When she opened it again, night had fallen.
The lovely girl named Yukino Yukinoshita slept soundly in the covers, nestled against that scumbag's chest.
Suigintou bit her lip, snorted softly, and moved toward the large mirror. She needed to clear her head in the dream space.
A hand waved.
Suigintou gasped as an invisible force drew her into his embrace.
He kissed her cheek.
"Sleep, Suigintou. You will become Alice. I promise."
Her delicate frame trembled. The struggle died before it began.
She stared at him blankly, her small face flushing involuntarily.
After a long moment, she turned away haughtily. "Hmph. I don't believe you."
But she stayed in his arms.
Hozuki Nozomi's lips curved into a satisfied smile as he drifted to sleep.