Even though she knew her older sister was revealing the secret so that Rei Ao would understand she was still pure—and also out of fear that Rei Ao might have certain "special interests"—
She understood.
It felt awkward.
But she still took the initiative to explain and reassure him.
She really was still as pure as ever.
After listening to Yotsuba Maya's bizarre explanation,
Rei Ao's heart remained unruffled.
He had already seen too many such cases.
Sawamura Sayuri, Sakurajima Ai, Takagi Yuriko—one after another, all of them had experiences very similar to Shiba Miya's.
He would have been a fool not to notice something fishy by now.
In his mind, he silently asked, "Chat group, do you think this matter might be related to me?"
[…]
Unfortunately, there was no response.
Rei Ao could not be bothered to dwell on it.
After all, it was only something that benefited him without doing him any harm.
"However, in that case, why do you think you have so much experience?"
"Uh…"
Shiba Miya caught her breath.
This topic made her feel deeply embarrassed.
She replied in a trembling voice, "B-because…I occasionally use my hands…"
"…"
Yotsuba Maya felt as though the image she had of her sister was falling apart.
She herself had tried it before.
"Uh."
Rei Ao gave a short snort of laughter. "You're oversimplifying it. Experience? Actual practice isn't something you can just simulate with your hands."
"Ugh, I-I can learn. Whatever you want me to do, I'll do it!"
Shiba Miya spoke words that made her face redden.
Having learned the rules of the chat group, Yotsuba Maya felt so awkward she almost wanted to bury her face.
She never would have imagined her older sister had such a side.
Rei Ao, amused by Miya's earnestness, reached out his hand.
"…"
Realizing his intention, Shiba Miya placed her hand on his. Then he easily pulled her to her feet.
She had not even steadied herself—
Suddenly, he moved in close to her, stopping barely a palm's width away, so that their gazes met.
Rei Ao said, "Mrs. Shiba, you really do present a tempting proposition."
"Ugh!"
Shiba Miya's face took on a faint flush.
He was talking about her…
Even Yotsuba Maya standing behind them couldn't help feeling startled, because she had exactly the same appearance as her sister.
"But…"
Rei Ao abruptly changed his tone.
"The terms of the trade are set in stone for now and aren't up to me to change, so I'm sorry."
"Though it sounds self-absorbed, if you've fallen in love with me at first sight, you can just tell me directly."
By the time a stunned Shiba Miya processed his words, Rei Ao had already slipped past her toward the bedroom.
She, on the other hand, raised her fingertips to her lips in amazement.
"Just now…"
"Sis, he just kissed you."
Yotsuba Maya walked up and said quietly.
Yes.
Mortified and furious!
Only she knew what a special person Rei Ao was—
But the one who'd caught his attention was this naive older sister.
"Wha—?!"
At Maya's words, Miya realized the feeling on her lips was real.
Her cheeks flared red like a ripe apple.
Embarrassing as it was, that had indeed been her first kiss!
"Stop yelling—he's already gone in."
Yotsuba Maya cut short her shock.
"!!!"
Only then did Shiba Miya remember there were pressing matters.
She turned, about to stop him.
Just as she reached for the door, Yotsuba Maya grabbed her wrist.
Sighing, she said, "Sis, you can't stop this."
"Maya… Do you know something I don't?"
The abruptness of her restraint made Miya realize something was off,
As though Maya had known all along what was about to happen.
"I do know something that you, Sister, don't."
In this world's group chat, it was only Maya and Miyuki. Miya wasn't part of it.
"But I can't tell you. You can only ask Rei Ao yourself."
"…"
Miya studied the Maya standing before her.
Although she did not truly think of Maya as her younger sister, she believed Maya would not lie to her.
So she slowly lowered her hand.
Right then,
Both Shiba Miya and Yotsuba Maya heard sounds coming from inside the room.
"Did you hear all of that?"
After Rei Ao entered the bedroom,
He saw Shiba Miyuki sitting on the bed with dull eyes, quietly weeping.
"…Yes."
Shiba Miyuki nodded, looking aggrieved.
Knowing her mother could not help her, and having finally faced reality, she had grown so nervous she could not stay calm.
So she ended up eavesdropping at the door.
It was her first time learning that she was not actually her mother's biological daughter.
This was undoubtedly a heavy blow for her.
No wonder she had never met her father.
No wonder her father had not come, even when her mother was on the brink of death.
So her so-called father was never really her father at all.
Everything fell into place.
At some point, Rei Ao had already sat down beside her
And gently wiped away her tears, speaking softly: "Whether she's your real mother or not doesn't matter."
"It…doesn't matter?"
Shiba Miyuki was at a loss.
"What matters is that she loves you. She treats you as if you were her own daughter. She was even prepared just now to 'take your place' in paying the price."
Rei Ao gave her a hug and a shoulder to lean on.
"So, knowing how deeply she cares for you, do you still think it matters whether or not you're her real daughter?"
An onlooker sees clearly.
If Shiba Miya was willing to give herself up for Miyuki, wasn't that love?
His words woke her from her confused daze.
In that instant, the knot in her chest was untangled, and Shiba Miyuki suddenly understood.
"That's right—Mom does love me. Even if I'm not her real daughter, she's still my mom."
She had briefly been thrown off by the series of shocking revelations and lost her usual rationality.
Had it not been for Rei Ao, she could not have come out of that dark mindset so quickly.
Now she thought of her mother's situation again—
And the impression she had of Rei Ao.
It seemed she could add "warm and dependable" to it.
Even entrusting herself to him…well, she wouldn't mind.
Outside,
Hearing the conversation between the two,
Shiba Miya covered her mouth and burst into tears.
But they were tears of joy and relief.
"…"
Yotsuba Maya felt a twinge of envy at that kind of love, but…she believed she was unworthy of it.
She was only another person carrying Maya's memories and experiences.
However,
Shiba Miya suddenly wrapped her arms around her.
"Sister,"
That was the address that fell from her lips.
She had already gone through life and death, and now Miyuki, too, had acknowledged her. She felt at peace.
"…Sister…"
It was the first time she had heard that word from Miya's mouth. Even Maya couldn't help trembling at heart.
Because…this was the familial bond she had always longed for.
~~~
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