On the other side.
"What are you doing?"
Rei Ao, who was about to go out, saw Shiba Miya and Yotsuba Maya kneeling before him on one knee with utmost respect.
Yotsuba Maya lowered her head and said, "Rei Ao-san, we ask you to become Miyuki's husband. The Yotsuba Family will forever pledge its loyalty to you."
"…"
Shiba Miya's expression was complicated.
But he still said, "Many of the Yotsuba Family's stubborn members have already been cleared out. From now on, there will be only one voice in the Yotsuba Family."
Both how swiftly they acted and the decisions they made took Rei Ao by surprise.
"You say you want the Yotsuba Family to be loyal to me. Personally, I don't care about that. In other worlds, I might be a king or a demon lord or something. Having power in this world doesn't bother him all that much."
"But shouldn't you ask Miyuki's opinion about making me her husband?"
"!!!"
Shiba Miya and Yotsuba Maya froze in place.
Oh right.
They seemed to have overlooked Miyuki's feelings.
"For now, just treat it all as a transitional period. Don't overthink it; Miyuki will consider things for herself."
Rei Ao looked at Shiba Miya. "Aren't you curious why, even though you yourself are very appealing to me, I still chose Miyuki?"
"???"
Shiba Miya's face instantly turned red.
"Yes, I… I am curious. Maya said she knows something I don't."
"Then I'll tell you."
[Ding! You have chosen to grant the Sub-Chat Group of the Trading Chat Group to the target: Shiba Miya!]
"Everything you want to know is in the chat group. Go look for yourself. I should get going, too. I hope that next time we meet, we can become one family."
With a smile, Rei Ao's figure disappeared from their sight.
"…"
Shiba Miya quickly grasped the new knowledge in her mind.
"So that's how it is…"
She turned to look at Maya with a strange expression. "What's your relationship with Rei Ao? Why was I invited to the chat group before you?"
"???"
Yotsuba Maya's pupils widened slightly.
Incredulous, she said, "Sister, are you suspecting I'm seducing Rei Ao?"
Shiba Miya blinked her crystal-clear eyes innocently. "I can't help it; I'm just thinking about Miyuki's happiness."
"Mom, what in the world are you talking about?!"
Miyuki, who had been secretly listening behind the door, finally couldn't contain her embarrassment and burst into the room, her face bright red.
It was as though her mother had completely decided that Rei Ao would become her husband.
"Oh dear, Miyuki heard everything."
Shiba Miya didn't look embarrassed in the slightest. Instead, she squinted her eyes with a smile, sizing up her daughter, who possessed a uniquely mature charm.
"Miyuki, don't blame me. I suspect that given your personality, you probably wouldn't go looking for a second boyfriend, right?"
"…"
Shiba Miyuki fell silent.
Because what her mother said was true.
She was very traditional.
Since she had already given her all to someone, she couldn't bring herself to accept a second person in the future.
She would rather live alone for the rest of her life.
Besides… aside from complaining that Rei Ao was a shameless pervert, she didn't really dislike him.
Noticing that Miyuki wasn't reacting too strongly, Miya breathed a small sigh of relief.
At least there was hope.
Shiba Miyuki didn't say anything, just turned around angrily, glared at them, and then went back to her room, slamming the door in one swift motion.
"I'm going to rest. Don't bother me!"
Miya and Maya exchanged smiles and left wisely.
…
"I'm back. Is no one here to welcome me?"
Rei Ao returned home.
Everyone was still eating dinner, and no one greeted him.
Mai gave him a dismissive glance.
"Did you take a bath yet? No bath, no dinner."
"Fine, fine, I'll go take a bath, okay?"
Mai was still as sensitive as ever about everyone's smells.
"… …"
Kawasaki Saki, who was quietly eating, was taken aback.
So this was how Mai and Rei Ao got along—so casual?
Just then—
"I'm done eating."
Futaba picked up her bowl and chopsticks, placed them in the dishwasher in the kitchen, and went back to the second bedroom.
But moments later, she walked out of the room holding some clothes.
Then Kawasaki Saki witnessed something unbelievable.
Click!
Futaba opened the bathroom door
and walked right in without hesitation.
The door closed—and only then did Kawasaki Saki realize her jaw was hanging open, the food slipping from her chopsticks back into the bowl.
"!!!"
She had just seen…
Futaba go into the bathroom!
But Rei Ao was… He…
The other people there were similarly unfazed.
"Sigh…"
Only Mai looked a bit weary…
Even in front of other people, maybe they could pause and think first?
Feeling that there was no help for it, she gave a rather flimsy explanation:
"Kawasaki-san, don't overthink it. We do this often—just to save water."
"You know, water bills are expensive."
"Ah?… Oh… Oh…"
Kawasaki Saki tugged at the corners of her mouth, not sure whether to believe it or not, and lowered her head to eat.
Sora tugged on Ilia's sleeve with a confused look. "Are we short on money?"
Ilia just glared back, picked up a chicken leg, and stuffed it into Sora's mouth.
"I told you, no sneaking around or whispering during mealtimes. Eat properly."
"Mmph mmph!"
Sora muttered unclearly in protest, but the chicken leg was too tasty, and she started gnawing on it.
"Save water?"
Tohru's eyes darted around.
Wham!
She put down her bowl and chopsticks.
She stood up dramatically and shouted, "I'm full!"
"I'm going to take a bath, too. After all, we're saving water, right~?"
"???"
Kawasaki Saki was utterly shocked.
From Tohru's eager look, she felt as if her worldviews were crumbling.
Fortunately, Mai, who was wearing black stockings, pinned Tohru's tail with a foot—right at the tip—and glared daggers at her. "Tohru, you clean up the table! You're not going anywhere!"
"Huh? That's not fair. Futaba was allowed!"
Mai felt her blood pounding in her temples. Just as she was about to explode—
"Mmph!"
A sound came from the bathroom, making the whole living room go silent.
"???"
Kawasaki Saki was numb at this point.
What on earth was going on?
She was still there—could they really be doing this?
To break the awkward silence, Kawasaki Saki hurriedly stood up.
"Um… I—I'd better go now!"
She ran off.
"…"
Mai had a deep black line on her forehead.
She never expected they'd really start bathing together right then and there.
But come to think of it…
"When did Futaba become so… proactive?"
~~~
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