[Capitalist With a Conscience: Sakiko is my maid now. What do you think I could do to her?]
He didn't give a direct answer, but the phrasing left a massive, provocative space for the imagination to run wild.
[Soyo: Stop right now! What on earth are you planning to do to Sakiko?!]
Soyo had completely "overheated" by this point. She desperately wanted to descend upon Mutsuki's location like a bolt of divine justice.
[Capitalist With a Conscience: Sakiko in a maid uniform is truly beyond cute. It's such a pity you can't see it.]
It really was a shame he had promised Sakiko not to share that magnificent photo. However, on second thought, Mutsuki figured it was for the best. After all, if he let Soyo enjoy a sight like that, he'd be the one losing out!
[Capitalist With a Conscience: I'm done talking. I'm going to sleep.]
'Going to sleep?'
'Going to sleep with WHO?'
Soyo was now in a state of total panic, initiating a frenzied bombardment of messages.
[Soyo: Don't touch Sakiko!]
[Soyo: Answer me!!]
[Soyo: If you dare lay a finger on her, I'll kill you!]
However, as Mutsuki continued to ignore her, Soyo's messages shifted from threats to desperate pleading.
[Soyo: Just come find me instead, okay? Please don't touch Sakiko. 🙏]
[Soyo: Can you at least be gentle? My heart is breaking. 😭]
[Soyo: Be a little tender, Sakiko still has school tomorrow... 💔]
Clearly, someone wasn't going to get a wink of sleep tonight.
As for the culprit himself...
"Do you... like Sakiko that much?"
A voice tinged with a hint of resentment rang out, giving Kamijou Mutsuki a fright. He spun around and saw a certain "Little Cucumber" standing behind him—he had no idea how long she'd been there.
'Wait, Mutsumi-chan, when did you get here? I didn't sense you at all!'
"Do you need... me to call Sakiko over?"
Mutsumi stared at the messages Mutsuki had sent to Soyo on the computer screen, her voice trailing off gloomily. It seemed the "Little Cucumber" of the Kamijou household was tasting a bit sour tonight.
"Right now? Then tell her to put the maid uniform back on before she comes over."
'Wait, you actually want to?!'
Mutsumi couldn't help but puff out her cheeks, instantly turning into a cucumber-colored pufferfish.
Kamijou Mutsuki couldn't resist. He reached out and poked her cheek.
"Pshhh~"
The "pufferfish" instantly deflated.
"Mutsuki!"
"Forget about calling Sakiko over," Mutsuki said, stopping his teasing once he saw the "Little Cucumber" was truly getting upset. "After all, I already have a maid to warm my bed tonight."
Indeed, Mutsumi wasn't wearing pajamas. Instead, she was dressed in a black-and-white maid uniform similar to the one Sakiko-sensei had worn earlier.
Under the silver glow of the moonlight, she looked as ethereal and dreamlike as an elf. In terms of sheer visual impact, she was every bit as stunning as Sakiko.
The only issue was...
"Mutsuki!"
Noticing the boy's gaze subtly drifting toward her chest, even the usually cool and aloof Mutsumi couldn't help but flush a deep crimson.
"Small is cute too!" Mutsuki offered a head-pat as a consolation prize.
"..."
It would have been better if he hadn't said anything at all. Hearing that only made Mutsumi feel even more "stuffed" with complicated emotions. However, words were never her strong suit, so the girl chose a more direct approach...
"Mmph~"
Since that day, kissing had become a common occurrence between them. Yet, Mutsumi didn't seem to have much natural talent for it; every time felt just as awkward and fresh as their first.
While Mutsumi welcomed her childhood friend's arrival, the presence of "Maid Saki" had clearly triggered a significant sense of crisis within her.
The two remained locked in a kiss as they moved from the chair to the bed. It wasn't until she was finally out of breath that Mutsumi reluctantly pulled away.
"Mutsuki."
Mutsumi sat astride Mutsuki, her eyes shimmering with a watery mist.
'Wait, since when did he end up on the bottom?'
"I've never properly fulfilled... my duties as a fiancée."
Looking at Mutsumi's blurred, dazed expression, Mutsuki figured she was about to have a very bold idea.
"Maybe we shouldn't. Sakiko is right next door, after all."
Mutsuki wasn't the type to intentionally suppress his desires, but he felt it might be a bit impolite to Sakiko-sensei in the next room.
"I can..."
The girl's cheeks burned crimson. After a long silence, she whispered, "...use other ways."
'Wait, since when did my cucumber turn 'yellow' (lewd)? You're not my Mutsumi-chan—who are you?!'
The answer lay in a certain "trash" guy's private study materials. Mutsuki wanted to make one last struggle, but then his eyes caught the scenery beneath the maid skirt.
It was his favorite—white lace with garter straps...
That was it. He was completely at her mercy. Seeing that Kamijou Mutsuki wasn't resisting, Mutsumi lowered her head. And then, Mutsuki truly understood: cucumbers really are cold.
"Ugh... it doesn't taste good..."
After an unknown amount of time, Mutsumi swallowed what was in her mouth and knit her brows.
"I didn't exactly ask you to eat it..."
"But... it belongs to Mutsuki."
As expected of the Cucumber Swordswoman; her love talk was a critical hit every time. Looking at the girl in his arms, Mutsuki felt he couldn't let her do all the work, so he moved gently and began to "press the cucumber juice" himself.
"Ngh..."
Feeling this strange sensation, the girl bit her lip, but she couldn't stop the soft hums escaping from her nose.
In the bedroom just one wall away, the sleeping Sakiko seemed to sense her childhood friend's song-like, weeping whimpers, and she couldn't help but frown in her sleep.
Consequently, the next morning, feeling a certain cool sensation on a particular part of her body, the blue-haired girl's cheeks instantly turned crimson. It wasn't until she put on her maid uniform that her heart finally calmed down.
She had a strange dream last night—she dreamed about that night in the apartment.
Only in the dream, she didn't burst out of the wardrobe; instead, she hid inside and watched with wide eyes as Kamijou Mutsuki and her childhood friend...
'Wait, wait! Forget it! What kind of unclean things am I thinking about?!'
Sakiko quickly shook her head, dispelling those messy thoughts. It was just a dream; what was she overthinking?
Although Mutsumi was Mutsuki's fiancée and it was natural for them to be intimate, she knew her childhood friend's conservative personality.
'My Mutsumi-chan is pure and noble; she would never do anything out of line with Kamijou Mutsuki before they are actually married!'
Thinking this, Sakiko finally regained her "High-Cold Maid" form. She tugged awkwardly at her short maid skirt and headed to the kitchen to start breakfast. Even though she had to go to school soon, as long as it was work hours, she had to wear her uniform. Sakiko-sensei wasn't just talk; she was serious to the point of being rigid.
Once breakfast was ready, she prepared to wake Mutsuki and Mutsumi.
Speaking of which, Mutsumi was usually the one making breakfast—why hadn't she gotten up yet?
Sakiko was puzzled, but didn't think too much of it. That is, until she opened the door to Kamijou Mutsuki's room.
"!!!"
Seeing the scene inside, Maid Saki suffered an immediate "pupil earthquake."
......................