That night, Kaguya didn't back down.

  "Are you ready?"

  Ryuji looked at the beauty standing before him, a little surprised by her determination.

  "Y-Yeah!"

  Kaguya, though slightly embarrassed, nodded firmly. At this moment, she couldn't afford to falter.

  Kaguya, you do this.

  In her heart, she tio cheer herself on.

  "Alright then, I'll start."

  Ryuji, seeing her resolve, felt that if he hesitated now, it might reflect poorly on him.

  Fifteen mier, Ryuji stepped out of the room.

  Outside, Ai was tidying up as part of her usual maid duties. Of course, she also had half a mind to eavesdrop.

  But before she even had a ce to press her ear to the door, it was over.

  "Wait… is the young dy's endurahat bad?"

  It wasn't that Ai doubted Ryuji's ability. She was well aware of how formidable he was. Still, the brevity of the situatio her stunned.

  "..."

  In response, Ryuji merely shrugged.

  "She ime to adjust," he expined casually.

  Kaguya's resilie turned out, was not as impressive as her usual demeanht suggest. Within just fifteen minutes, she had fainted.

  He sidered using reverse cursed energy to help her recover but decided against it. Better to leave her with a memorable experieher than overdo it. After all, Ryuji wasn't in a hurry.

  "Tsk!"

  Ai clicked her tongue, finding it amusing that Kaguya, usually so perfect, had such a gring weakness.

  After a moment, Ai turned her attention back to Ryuji.

  "And you? Aren't you feeling a little… unfortable?"

  It must've been frustrating to stop halfway.

  "That's why I came out here, isn't it?" Ryuji replied, a faint smile on his face as he looked at her meaningfully.

  Ai quickly uood what he meant. With a smirk, she approached him slowly and k down without hesitation.

  —

  Late at night, at the Nishimiya residence.

  Due t overtime, Yaeko arrived home much ter than usual.

  She assumed both of her daughters would already be asleep, but to her surprise, she found her eldest daughter, Shouko, and her younger daughter, Yuzuru, sitting in the living room waiting for her.

  "...?"

  The se made Yaeko feel both touched and puzzled.

  "Why are you two still up so te?"

  "Ha~"

  Yuzuru let out a sleepy yawn before replying zily, "It's not my fault. Shouko said she wao wait for you, so I stayed up with her."

  It wasn't unusual for Yaeko to return te due to work. However, tonight, her eldest daughter had insisted on waiting.

  Hearing this, Yaeko looked at Shouko curiously.

  Despite the exhaustion evident on her face, with dark circles under her eyes, Shoko forced a gentle smile and signed her response.

  "It's nothing. I just wao spend more time with you, Mom."

  Lately, nightmares had been pguing Shouko. The dark circles under her eyes were a clear indication of her restless nights.

  However, she had kept her struggles to herself, not wanting to worry her mother or sister. After all, telling them wouldn't ge anything, except to make them more anxious.

  Still, deep down, she had e to a resolution.

  Wheime es… I'll quietly find a pce to disappear. That would be for the best.

  But for now, for just a few more days, she wao be close to her family.

  "Is that so?"

  Unaware of the deeper turmoil in Shouko's heart, Yaeko simply took her words at face value. Watg her daughter sign, a warm smile spread across her face.

  Despite her striature, Yaeko cared deeply for her daughters and loved them dearly.

  She sat down beside Shouko and said gently, "You should get more sleep. Look at those dark circles, have you been staying up pying on your pho night?"

  Apart from this, Yaeko couldn't think of another reason for her daughter's tired appearance.

  "Exactly!" Yuzuru chimed in, still half-asleep. "Sister, you've had dark circles under your eyes for days now. Did you find a game you're addicted to or something?"

  Yuzuru's tone was teasing, more pyful than serious. To her, as long as her sister was happy, it didn't matter what she did.

  Shouko, however, didn't bother correg the misuanding. She simply smiled, nodded, and reassured them that she'd rest better iure.

  Just as the three of them were about to head to bed, a voice called out from outside the door.

  "Shouko doesn't have dark circles because she stays up pying games."

  "...?"

  The sudden voice startled all three of them—Yaeko, Shouko, and Yuzuru.

  Shouko's face paled. Did the person outside know something?

  Yaeko frowned slightly, sensing a deeper meaning in the words. She g Shouko, who was avoiding eye tact, looking guilty.

  Resolute, Yaeko walked over to the door and ope.

  Standing outside was Arisu, leaning lightly on her e, with Masumi standing behind her, arms crossed as usual.

  "Sorry for the intrusion," Arisu greeted with a polite bow. Her demeanor was calm and graceful, with impeccable etiquette.

  "Who are you?" Yaeko asked, fused by the sudden visit.

  "I'm Shouko's cssmate, Arisu Sakayanagi," Arisu replied with a warm smile.