She wasn't the type who liked to eavesdrop on the' conversations of others.
If it were any other matter, even if she were curious, she would not engage in such inappropriate behavior.
But this concerned her own 'lover'.
Coupled with her curiosity about the legendary sword technique "Swallow Reversal," it drove Miyajima Sakura, who was usually extremely observant of etiquette, to engage in what she considered an unethical act of eavesdropping.
It was precisely because of this that she learned about the identity of her future 'lover'.
He was someone her family had arranged for her to marry, a long-standing family friend.
Although she didn't fully understand the 'matter' mentioned by her grandfather and mother,
she often heard from her mother, 'I'm glad you're not as disobedient as I was,' and she roughly guessed her mother's personality back then.
Combined with her parents' cold relationship... Miyajima Sakura, who was far from foolish, naturally pieced everything together.
Originally she thought that as long as he could defeat her, she would be his wife.
Thinking about the trembling in her grandfather's words earlier, and the regret contained in her mother's speech.
Knowing that her mother had done something wrong, she couldn't help but clenched her fists.
.
.
.
.
On the other side, Miyajima Tsubaki, who was full of complicated thoughts, stayed with her father for a while and chatted a few words before leaving the study.
Looking up at the bright moon in the sky, her plump body draped in a hazy glow as she leaned gently against a pillar.
Her heart's initial blessings for her daughter turned to guilt after learning about Sasaki's identity.
Although her daughter did not show any signs of rejection, she always felt that her daughter was paying for her sins.
It was her mistake, after all.
But apart from that, what else could she do?
She couldn't think of any way to make herself feel better.
Miyajima Tsubaki looked up at the dark sky and the bright moon and couldn't help but sigh softly.
...
Meanwhile, at the Sasaki household.
After dinner, lying back on the couch with her little head on Sakuragi Otome's silky legs, Okino Rinka watched a variety show on TV and laughed joyfully.
While laughing and rolling around, she also noticed Sister Otome's occasional glances towards the entrance.
Finding a more comfortable position, the girl, resting her head on Otome's soft and silky thigh, rubbed her feet clad in pink and white striped knee socks, and spoke.
"Brother Fuyumi just said he was going to a classmate's house for dinner. Otome-nee, if you're worried, you can call to check, right? You two are boyfriend and girlfriend, a little push is fine."
"He should be back soon, no need to call."
Shaking her head, knowing that her little actions were noticed by Rinka, the latter gently pinched her soft cheek, then turned her attention back to the TV.
Rinka, knowing what she was worried about, thought back to the incident this afternoon as her lively eyes flickered slightly, and she casually asked,
"Is Sister Otome really afraid that Brother Fuyumi will be snatched away by someone else? Girls who are too controlling aren't liked by boys, you know~"
"What snatch... I'm just, just worried if Fuyumi ate well..."
Otome tapped her forehead, still stubbornly denying.
"Tch~ Just admit you're you're worried. Is there anything you can't say?," The girl pouted, continuing in a conversational tone, "But Sister Otome-, if you just worry and do nothing, what if Brother Fuyumi really gets snatched away by someone else? What then?"
What then, indeed?
Sakuragi Otome knew she should do something.
But she was afraid that doing too much might annoy Fuyumi and push him towards someone else.
Yet, doing nothing felt somewhat unwilling.
She comforted herself by thinking she didn't need to care.
As long as she did her part well, she could ensure that Fuyumi's heart always had a place for her.
But really, if she had to share her lover with someone else, would Sakuragi Otome be willing?
A conflict is bound to happen..
After all not everyone is their childhood friend...
Wait?
Childhood friend?
Her body stiffened suddenly, as if realizing something, Sakuragi Otome bit her lip lightly.
Feeling the silky thigh under her head suddenly tense up, Rinka, knowing she startled Otome, flipped over, laying on her legs wanting to see her face, to comfort her.
But the sight that greeted her was that tall and imposing, 'M'-shaped bun, completely blocking Otome's face from view.
Feeling somewhat disgruntled at the lonely view and a little annoyed, she pouted and flipped back over, consoling somewhat helplessly,
"It's okay, Sister Otome, I was just teasing. Fuyumi-nii likes you so much, how could he possibly be snatched away by someone else?"
"Besides, I'm here too. I'm watching over Fuyumi-nii, I won't let him slip away from you."
Hearing Rinka's comforting words, and thinking about how she once tried hard to bring herself and Fuyumi together.
The turmoil and complexity in Sakuragi Otome's eyes gradually subsided, replaced by a bright smile: "Hmm, thank you, Rinka-chan~"
Looking up at the variety show on the TV, she stroked the girl's smooth, fluffy hair: "Rinka-chan, do you think Fuyumi is very popular with girls?"
"Of course, Brother Fuyumi is very gentle, nice to everyone, and also gives a very comforting warmth."
Hearing Otome bring this up.
Thinking about the rainy night incident, Rinka's little heart began to pound restlessly.
Stealthily pressing her hand over her agitated chest, and recalling how she was taken advantage of that night,
The girl couldn't help but bare her little fangs, her eyes soft and playful as she spoke: "But he's also very bad~"
.
.
.
Hearing Rinka say bad things about her boyfriend.
Thinking about the past two nights, how that bad guy had changed his ways to play tricks on her,
A scorching blush appeared on Sakuragi Otome's face, which shone like jewels under the warm light, and the plump thighs that were brought together could not help but squeeze slightly.
"Eh?!"
"Otome-nee, you pulled my hair."
Okino Rinka, who had short chestnut hair hanging down her body, felt a slight sting on her scalp and couldn't help but exclaim.
And her outcry also brought the misty-eyed, slightly feverish Sakuragi Otome back to her senses.
"Ah, sorry, sorry, I didn't mean to touch Rinka"
Hastily, parting her legs that were pressed together, showing a small gap, the girl, embarrassed and concerned, stroked her hair: "Does it still hurt?"
Shaking her head like a pussy shaking off water,
Rinka, feeling no more pain in her hair, lay back down: "It didn't really hurt in the first place."
Looking at the oppressive shadow cast by the overhead light that was thoroughly blocked, the girl frowned and reached out her hands to disperse the annoying shadow on either side.
Feeling a somewhat different sensation from the past.
Knowing Otome wasn't restrained, and developed some more flesh, the girl's eyes suddenly widened.
'Damn it, it's just excess flesh, what's so good about that?'
Guessing where she fell short, she bit her teeth in frustration, then, angered, clenched her fists tightly.
Feeling Rinka's antics, Otome, wearing an oversized T-shirt, felt uncomfortable and arched her back a bit:
"Ah~ Rinka-chan, what are you doing?"
Hearing Otome's exclamation, through the small gap she created, the latter looked at her face and bit her little fang a bit irritably: "It's too bothersome~"
'It's just two big lumps of flesh, what's so good about that, I'm not... envious at all.'
.
.
Otome, who didn't know the girl's thoughts just felt that she didn't hurt Rinka, so it was no big deal.
And although she wanted to know Rinka's attitude, but she couldn't ask directly, so it was a good thing that she was a bit distracted.
So Sakuragi Otome didn't respond and, suppressing the urge to push her hand away and acting casually, she inquired: "Rinka you spoke very highly of Fuyumi just now."
Hearing the words, the latter couldn't help but blink.
Afterall she didn't understand what Sister Otome meant by her words, so she nervously stuck out her moist little tongue, licking her somewhat dry lips, and laughed, "Afterall, Fuyumi-nii is really good to me, I'm just telling the truth."
Its's just before she could even process the meaning of her words,
Sakuragi Otome, who got to know that Rinka did have a very high opinion of Fuyumi, smiled bitterly and said: "You think... will Fuyumi, in the future... or even now, might.. find.. someone outside..."
The question that had not yet been understood was instantly shattered by Sister Otome's words.
Okino Rinka was startled, knowing that Sister Otome had begun to doubt her,
She rolled her throat, shook her head with a flawless chuckle and said, "How is it possible? Brother Fuyumi likes you so much, why would he go to someone else?"
"At school, Otome-nee you're also known as a beautiful girl.
Fuyumi-nii, I can't bear to think about it. Why would he leave such a pretty girlfriend and look for someone else?"
With that said, she extended her arm through the gap in the large 'M', playfully touched her forehead:
"Are girls in love always this sensitive?"
.
.
Unwilling to confront her directly with her suspicions and discoveries.
And holding the belief that it was better to resolve these issues internally rather than involve outsiders.
Sakuragi Otome took a deep breath, opened the gap between the dumplings across Rinka, lowered her head and looked directly into her eyes: "Actually, I don't really mind if Fuyumi finds someone else, but they must be close enough to me; otherwise, the conflicts that arise could really trouble him."
Listening to Otome's words, which struck like thunder, and seeing the ambiguous intent in her eyes.
Rinka's pupils suddenly contracted, and a tremendous fear enveloped her like a tight sleeping bag, her scalp tingling intensely from top to bottom.
She swallowed hard, her eyes trembling uncontrollably as she internally screamed in panic.
'It's over, it's over, it's over, Otome-nee knows about it, she followed me... she knew Brother Fuyumi has someone else outside...wuwuwu .Brother Fuyumi, I'm sorry...'