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"Something up?"
Shiho Miyano blinked at Eriri, watching her carefully.
Eriri's cheeks flushed pink. She fidgeted with her words, stammering, "Um… Shiho-sis, could I… maybe ask you for a favor tonight…?"
Shiho's expression shifted, complicated. "Eriri… you too? Are you falling into it as well?"
She had known this day would come sooner or later, but she hadn't expected it to happen so quickly.
"But honestly, this isn't something I need to help you with. You could just go straight to the Master."
Eriri crossed her arms, twisting uncomfortably. "It's just… there are too many people around."
Ah.
That was true.
Shiho fell silent for a moment. Thinking about it, yeah—if it were your first time, with a whole crowd watching… anyone would crack under that pressure.
She thought a moment longer, then smiled. "Alright, leave it to me. I'll cover you."
As one of the very first to become his follower, she had at least that much authority.
"Shiho-sis, thank you so much."
"I'll never forget this favor for as long as I live."
Eriri bowed deeply, clenching her small fists tight.
"It's not as dramatic as all that," Shiho replied with a laugh, though curiosity flickered in her eyes.
Quite the fighting spirit.
I wonder what she's planning?
Back in her own room, Eriri flung open her closet doors.
She stared for a long while.
Then made her choice.
You. It'll be you. The school swimsuit.
Sexy? She couldn't compare to others that way.
But she could take a different route entirely.
Picking up a pair of scissors, Eriri hesitated… then began to make her adjustments.
Night settled in, quiet and clear.
Under the glow of the lam Edgar leafed through a freshly written grimoire.
With a heart tied to magic itself, he had always approached the study of spells with unwavering dedication.
"Though tonight is unusually peaceful…"
He glanced at the clock, murmuring to himself, "Could it be… the aftereffects from last time were too much? Maybe they haven't fully recovered yet."
It felt strange, having such a calm night. He wasn't used to it.
Knock, knock!
Suddenly, a knock at the door.
"Come in," Edgar said, amusement already in his gaze.
The door slid open.
The instant he saw who it was, his eyes flickered.
Eriri stepped inside slowly, dressed in a light blue school swimsuit.
Her petite frame, highlighted by the youthful cut, made her look strikingly fresh and innocent.
But what drew his eyes most—
His pupils narrowed slightly.
Her legs shifted nervously.
As if sensing his gaze, Eriri's whole body tensed.
Ugh. Still too embarrassing.
If she'd known it would feel this humiliating, she wouldn't have customized it like that.
Edgar drew a deep breath to steady the heat rising in him, then chuckled. "Well now… I didn't expect you to have such tailoring skills."
"I, um… I actually joined the crafting club once. I'm… pretty confident when it comes to cutting fabric," Eriri whispered, her face burning so hot it looked ready to ignite.
At the time, she'd just acted on impulse, determined to go all the way.
Now that she thought about it, regret started to creep in.
"In any case, you've come at the perfect time."
Edgar waved the grimoire in his hand and beckoned her closer.
"There's a spell in here that suits you perfectly. Let's take a look together."
He wasn't lying.
Eriri's ability, fueled by imagination, could adapt to almost any kind of battle.
But sometimes… a special spell could serve as the perfect trump card.
Eriri blinked, puzzled.
Wait, what?
This wasn't the mood she'd prepared herself for at all.
Still, she took a few hesitant steps forward, craning her neck to peek at the book.
"Sorry, like that you won't see."
Edgar smiled gently, extending his arm and drawing her into his embrace.
"M-Master—"
Eriri froze, her whole face exploding red.
She glanced down, realizing he had already flipped open a page and was pointing to a passage.
Her mind went blank, her body stiff as a board, unable to react at all.
"Mm… Master, this magic…"
Eriri felt the flow of her mana shifting. With Edgar guiding her, the shape of the spell began to change rapidly.
As the magic coursed through her, Eriri's strength started to drain away. She could only stare up at Edgar with wide, helpless eyes.
"Eriri, you're really giving it your all," he said warmly.
Their gazes met.
At the same time, Edgar tapped his finger to mark the spell's crucial step, pushing deeper into the mysteries of sorcery himself.
"Master, you're so mean," she murmured. "Why do you keep teasing me?"
Her pale skin flushed pink at his compliment.
"Haha… because you're just too cute today," Edgar replied with a playful smile. Then he leaned in and stole a light kiss from her lips.
Even as he distracted her, the spell under his control twisted through several new layers of transformation.
"Hmph… you really are a bully, Master," Eriri pouted shyly, glancing downward. She bit her lip, shifted slightly, but didn't pull away.
——
Meanwhile, Hitagi Senjougahara, who had just fallen asleep, suddenly snapped her eyes wide open.
As the newest member of the household, she had been caught off guard by her seniors'… antics.
"That voice… whose is it…?" she whispered, face burning.
With a sigh, she pulled the blanket over her head, trying to block it out. But the loud, high-pitched sounds echoed in her mind no matter what she did.
There was no way she could sleep like this.
It was only her first night here—was this really necessary?
——
The next morning.
Yawning, Senjougahara dragged herself into the dining room.
When Akemi Miyano saw her panda eyes, she couldn't hold back a laugh.
Somehow, watching someone else suffer felt oddly satisfying.
Flustered, Senjougahara's face went scarlet, and she nearly bolted out of the room.
"…S-sis, what's so funny?" she demanded.
Shiho Miyano grinned. "Oh, I just remembered—there was a time you looked exactly like that too."
"…." Akemi fell silent.
The others burst into laughter.
Turns out smiles don't disappear… they just get redirected.
——
"Oh, by the way," Vermouth said, tilting her head and listening intently. She licked her lips. "Has the noise stopped?"
The moment she spoke, everyone's eyes lit up.
Senjougahara froze.
What the hell was with this atmosphere? Why did all the older members suddenly seem so scary?
"I… I think it really did stop," she admitted hesitantly.
No sooner had the words left her mouth than heavy footsteps pounded down the stairs.
In the blink of an eye, the huge living room was deserted, leaving only Itsuki Shima and Senjougahara behind.
"…Interesting."
"My, my," Itsuki chuckled. "Looks like our household is livelier than I thought. Miss Senjougahara, would you like to come along with me?"
"Eh?" Her brain short-circuited.
Go where? Do what?
Smiling, Itsuki shook her head and gently took Senjougahara's hand.
They had joined the family on the same day, after all. If she could help, she would.
Senjougahara followed like a puppet on strings, letting herself be led upstairs.
The moment they stepped inside, a wave of thick, hazy air hit them in the face.
Just one whiff was enough to stir strange emotions in her chest.
And then—
Her eyes widened.
Before her stood a tangled heap of bodies.
Itsuki froze, stunned into silence.
The sight was overwhelming.
Even though she had braced herself, the scene before them was far beyond what she'd imagined.
"..."
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