Eriri took Utaha back to her room. The room was neat, which relieved Eriri a bit.
It's a good thing her mom cleaned the room.
If it had been as messy as it was in the morning, with clothes and socks scattered everywhere, she would have had to endure more of that annoying woman's mockery.
"Should you shower first, or should I?"
"You go ahead. I'm tired from running around all day. I'll sit for a while."
"Don't think about sneaking away while I shower. I shower quickly."
Before leaving the room with her change of clothes, Eriri glanced at Utaha.
"Alright. Since you've figured out my plan, it's lost its advantage. I'll stay here honestly and not go anywhere."
"Hmm, it better be that way…"
Eriri left the room, and the door was gently closed.
Utaha walked to the desk and casually picked up a comic book.
The comic was rather inappropriate, falling under the heavy mature content category.
No wonder her hair color had turned so yellow from reading these all day.
The door was lightly knocked twice. Utaha put down the comic as Sawamura Saori came in with tea and fruit.
"Utaha, make yourself at home. Don't be polite. If you need anything, just tell Eriri or me."
Utaha bowed politely. "Thank you."
After placing the tea and fruit down, Sawamura Saori didn't leave immediately.
The young lady showed an expression of hesitation but seemed to want to say something.
"Auntie, do you have something you want to ask me?"
Utaha noticed her hesitation and took the initiative to speak.
"Well, it's not much. I just want to confirm one thing."
"Go ahead."
"Did Eriri really go to the editorial office with you this afternoon?"
"..." A hint of panic flashed in Utaha's eyes.
Sawamura Sayuri smiled.
"That child has never lied since she was young."
"She can't help but reveal her habit of staring intensely into people's eyes when she lies, as if afraid others won't believe her."
"But the more she does that, the more suspicious it becomes. What she just said in the living room was indeed a lie, right?"
"..."
On one side is the kind-hearted aunt, and on the other side is the beloved who might spend the rest of her life with her.
Considering that the idiot's academic performance isn't exactly stellar, it's even more important not to be distracted by other matters at such a crucial time.
Yes, this is all for Eriri's own good. She mustn't lie to her family, and she shouldn't be in a relationship when she can't even balance her studies. That's not the right thing to do.
So, it's clear what needs to be done.
"...Yes."
Under Sayuri's watchful gaze, Utaha struggled silently for a long time before finally nodding to confirm Sayuri's guess.
"I see..."
Sayuri let out a shallow sigh, collected her emotions, and continued.
"Utaha, you should know what Eriri did this afternoon when she took leave, right?"
Utaha nodded.
"Can you tell me?"
The young mother's eyes showed eagerness, a look that made it hard to refuse, even though the other person was also a woman.
"I'm sorry, Auntie. I promised Eriri I would keep her secret. Even though I feel what she's doing now isn't right... I'm really sorry."
Facing Sayuri, Utaha couldn't bring herself to meet her gaze and bowed her head deeply.
"I understand... It's alright, Utaha. From your perspective, you did nothing wrong, so I'm not upset with you."
"Thank you for understanding."
"Looks like I'll have to find a suitable time later to ask Eriri about the situation. But, Utaha, can you give me a hint? Just a little bit. You mentioned that what she's doing isn't right, so now I'm even more worried."
"..."
"Utaha, you're staying here tonight. I can't keep asking Eriri about this topic tonight. If I do, I'll probably be too worried to sleep all night. You're a kind child and wouldn't want me to worry like this, right?"
"..."
Utaha bit her lip lightly, struggling under Sayuri's expectant gaze.
After a moment of silence, she finally nodded.
Sayuri sighed in relief.
"Thank you, Utaha."
"...Eriri is hiding something from you, and it involves a man."
After much consideration, Utaha finally spoke.
Sayuri's heart skipped a beat. She hesitated and guessed,
"She took leave this afternoon to go on a date with a man?"
"...I'm not sure how to explain it, but I think you might understand better if you listen to this."
Utaha took out her phone and played a recording.
She explained to the puzzled Sayuri,
"When I was discussing the payment contract with the editor, I recorded the conversation just in case. I forgot to turn it off, and it accidentally recorded part of the conversation with Eriri."
Sayuri nodded in realization.
"Please listen."
Utaha pressed play, and the recording played clearly through the phone's speaker.
"Swimsuit, sailor suit, bunny girl, professional attire—if I'm determined, even though it's a bit embarrassing, I can try them all…"
Sayuri's eyes widened as she listened. Those words clearly came from her precious daughter.
"Are you willing to go that far just because of that man?" It was Utaha's voice.
"None of your business!" Eriri's passionate rebuttal.
The recording abruptly ended. Utaha put her phone away.
"I'm sorry, Auntie. I couldn't record the rest because my phone ran out of battery, but this should be enough. It's best if you talk to Eriri about this soon.
"Ah... Yes."
Sayuri's expression became dazed.
Hearing her daughter speak with such determination, she couldn't help but recall how alluring and seductive her daughter appeared earlier that morning.
Her slender hands gripping the pillow and toes curled up, clutching the sheets.
Thinking back, those positions clearly indicated being dominated by a man!
The young wife's cheeks flushed. With her experience, she quickly reached a conclusion.
Could it be that her daughter's actions this morning were some kind of sign?
The dream Eriri had wasn't just a simple fantasy.
It might be a real experience she relived in her dreams after having gone through it!
In other words, Eriri might have already... already crossed the line and entered the adult world, something her mother hadn't even realized or prepared for!
Sayuri's pupils trembled uncontrollably!
"Auntie, are you alright?"
Utaha quickly reached out to support Sayuri, preventing her from falling against the edge of the bed.
Sayuri's reaction was more intense than expected.
Utaha's intention in revealing the recording was simple: she wanted to make Sayuri restrict Eriri's actions, ideally accompanying her to and from school until the situation was clarified.
It wouldn't take long.
As long as the blonde idiot was kept away for a few days, she was confident she could distance herself from her and build a relationship with Chisato first, getting to know him and gaining an advantage.
As for how Eriri would explain to her mother why she wore various outfits for a man, that was no longer Utaha's concern.
By the time she explained to her mother, everything would likely be set in stone.
But now, why did it seem like Auntie's reaction was so extreme... even somewhat abnormal?
"I... I'm fine... Utaha, thank you. I... I think I understand now. Thank you for telling me. I'll... I'll go back to my room now."
Sayuri shakily stood up, taking the tea and fruit she had brought in earlier and leaving the room.
This...Her strategy should have worked, right?
Utaha felt a twinge of guilt as she watched Sayuri leave.
Not long after, Eriri walked into the room, drying her damp hair.
"I'm done showering. You should go wash up."
"Eriri."
"Hmm?"
"Nothing... never mind."
"..."
Meanwhile, in the master bedroom of the Sawamura family.
Sayuri called her husband.
"Stop fishing with your friends! There's a problem at home! Come back now!"
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