Shichen returned home through the darkened evening sky, carrying the limp and exhausted Utaha Kasumigaoka in his arms.

The café was already closed. When Shichen entered Utaha’s bedroom he could still hear Tohru and the others chatting downstairs.

Yatogami Tohka was there as well; it seemed the girls had become friendly in the short time he was away.

They were all innocent, adorable girls who had gathered around him. Although they sometimes grew jealous of one another, they got along just fine when he wasn’t present.

So after all this time, he was the real obstacle to group harmony?

Shichen shook his head and laid Utaha on the bed. Her uniform was rumpled, and strands of hair clung to her sweaty forehead.

After a moment’s hesitation, he undressed her.

Even after removing every layer—including her undergarments—Utaha remained sound asleep, showing no sign of waking.

Having already pushed his luck earlier, Shichen didn’t take further advantage. Noting the many hickeys still on her skin, he undid her headband so her black hair fanned out, pulled a blanket over her, and left the room.

Silence fell. Only Utaha’s soft, almost inaudible breathing could be heard—until her eyes suddenly opened.

Incredibly, her cheeks flushed bright red and tears welled in her eyes.

Biting her lip, she replayed what had just happened. She had actually gone that far with Shichen!

She’d never even imagined it before, yet it happened so abruptly—and she had been the one to ask for it.

Still, apart from asking, she’d been passive the entire time. The memory of her legs wrapped around his waist, her back pressed to him…

Even though it was her first experience, she could tell Shichen was far more practiced.

He’d beaten her to it—

It had to be Tohru!

She needed no further guessing to know Tohru had made her move before she did.

Thank goodness she seized this chance tonight, or who knew how far behind she would have fallen.

Even so… it was mortifying.

Her throat was hoarse; she had no desire to speak, nor strength to move.

That guy—he didn’t know how to be gentle with her…

And her first time had been on a boat. If she truly became immortal, she thought, she would remember it forever.

Shichen had no idea Utaha was awake—or pretending to be. He certainly wasn’t going to keep watch over her right now.

After being teased all evening by Aqua, Tohka, and the others, he’d been restless for some time. Originally he meant to ask Tohru for help, but then Utaha had practically delivered herself to him.

He hadn’t expected tonight’s sudden turn of events, but it left him pondering another issue:

He wasn’t proactive enough—too hesitant.

Why did he always wait for the other side to provoke him before acting?

Did he secretly prefer being passive?

Being pursued by women was nice, but he couldn’t play the submissive man forever.

He’d been perfectly assertive with Darkness, hadn’t he? Perhaps he needed to train himself to take the initiative more often.

…

Downstairs in the kitchen, everyone had gathered.

“Shichen-dono!”

“Shichen!”

Tohru and Yatogami Tohka rushed over and clung to his arms, one on each side. They glared at each other and frowned.

“Tohka, what are you doing?”

“What are you doing? Let go of Shichen!”

“Shichen-dono is mine!”

“Shichen is mine!”

“You two… Didn’t I ask you to get along?” Shichen sighed.

“But—”

“Weren’t you chatting just fine until I showed up? What happened the moment I walked in?”

“Don’t you know why, Shichen‑nii?” Chisato Nishikigi asked with a grin.

“…You’re too sharp for your own good.”

“Hehe. By the way, Shichen‑nii, didn’t you go pick up Utaha? Why are you only getting back now—and where is she?”

“Yeah! Where did you go, Shichen? And who’s Utaha?” Tohka chimed in.

“I don’t smell her scent on you,” Tohru added, sniffing his clothes.

“I took her out on the ocean for a while.”

“Eh? Why?” Chisato asked, eyes shining with envy.

“She couldn’t wait any longer—just like you once did—and I wanted to test some new powers.”

“So Utaha’s already let you drink her blood, then?”

Shichen glanced at the ever‑composed Takina Inoue and nodded. “Mm‑hmm.”

“And now?”

“She’s asleep.”

“I see… What about dinner?”

“She probably won’t wake up… We’ll save some for her.”

“All right then—let’s eat! It’s been ages since we’ve shared a meal with you.”

“Sorry to keep you waiting.”

“No worries! Your business is more important, Shichen‑nii~”

“Flattery won’t get you a reward tonight.”

“Aww, how mean!” Chisato puffed her cheeks.

Shichen chuckled, slipped free of Tohru and Tohka, and walked over to sit with Kanna and Yoshino.

“Ah! Shichen-dono!”

“Shichen… you still haven’t told me who Utaha is,” Tohka protested, following close behind.

Lifting Kanna and Yoshino with ease, Shichen sat them on his knees, then told Tohru: “When you can get along with Tohka, I’ll treat you the same way I treat these two.”

“Why‑yy…”

Shichen turned to Tohka with a smile. “You’ll meet Utaha tomorrow.”

“Another girl, right?”

“Yes—family, all of them.”

“That’s a lot of family,” she muttered.

“All the more friends for you in the future.”

“If you say so…” Tohka didn’t sound convinced.

“Enough overthinking—let’s eat. Try Tohru’s cooking; she’s even better than me,” Shichen said, changing the subject.

“Really?” Tohka eyed Tohru skeptically.

“Hmph.”

Arms folded, Tohru snorted. “What, you don’t believe me?”

“It’s just… this aroma alone proves your skill, but I still think no one cooks better than Shichen.”

“Hmm?” Tohru blinked, then grinned at her. “You’ve got taste. I suddenly like you.”

“Uh… thanks?”

“Great! You two sit together,” Shichen said cheerfully.

“Huh? I want to sit with Shichen-dono!”

“I want to sit with Shichen too…”

“Three meals a day—plenty of chances. Tonight is decided.” Shichen declared mercilessly.

“Ugh…”

With no choice, the two sat down together.

Because Kanna and Yoshino occupied Shichen’s lap, the seats on either side of him were free; Chisato and Takina quickly claimed them.

“Takina, how have you felt staying here lately?” Shichen asked the girl who had remained calm throughout.

“I’ve learned a lot, and I understand just how strong Chisato is,” Takina replied with a small nod.

“Oh, you mean that arms‑deal incident? Chisato, you’ll have to fill me in later.”

“No problem, Shichen‑nii. Don’t worry~”

“I know you’re capable, but worrying about you is normal for me.”

“T‑that’s sweet of you…” Chisato beamed, then laughed. “It’s my fault; why not punish me—maybe a spanking?”

“Kanna and Yoshino are right here! Quit the nonsense,” Shichen scolded.

“Eep—”

“All right, enough talk. Let’s eat!”

“Okay!”

Dinner was lively. Tohru had cooked many dishes, yet for the first time it still wasn’t enough—most of it disappeared into Tohka’s stomach instead of Tohru’s “dragon‑sized” appetite.

Surprisingly, the two seemed to respect each other more afterward.

After the meal, Shichen gathered everyone—including Takina—into his room and formally introduced the identities of Tohka and Yoshino.

The others had no concept of “Spirits,” certainly not the kind Tohru knew, but when the two displayed their Astral Dresses, the group began to understand. Takina, meanwhile, was stunned; she had finally encountered the supernatural firsthand.

More than powers, however, everyone was moved by the girls’ tragic pasts, and their kind hearts brimmed with sympathy.

Shichen likewise explained Tohru and the dragons’ circumstances to Tohka and Yoshino.

With everything out in the open, the atmosphere grew warmer and more intimate.

Unfortunately, that didn’t curb the biggest rivals’ jealousy—Tohru and Tohka still vied for Shichen. Now they focused on outdoing each other and largely ignored everyone else.

Shichen didn’t mind; a little harmless jealousy was good for the soul. What concerned him was the night ahead.

It was late—time for bed—but aside from Takina, not a single girl wanted to leave his room.

With so many of them, even the floor wouldn’t be enough space for sleeping bags.

~~~

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