After packing her schoolbag, Kotomi Izumi didn't leave right away. She had seed to fall asleep quickly during the two afternoon exams, but in truth, she never really slept. It was more like she lay at her desk with her eyes closed, slightly turned to the side, squinting.
She kept her gaze fixed on Arisu Sakayanagi, her attention never leaving her.
If Arisu showed even the slightest sign of discomfort, Kotomi would leap up from her chair and take her straight to the hospital.
"Arisu, how's your leg feeling?" Kotomi bent halfway down and asked as Arisu slowly packed her pencil case and schoolbag.
Today, Arisu was unusually slow in tidying up, moving like soone unwell, with sluggish movents in everything she did.
"Much bett—cough, cough—I an, it's sowhat better now, but I think walking might still be a bit difficult. If you're not in a rush, could you wait for a bit? Like during lunch, you could help down the stairs again. Atsuki should already have the car parked at the school gate."
At this point, Arisu gave a wry smile:
"Mainly, I'm worried that if Atsuki realizes my legs are still weak, she'll make a big fuss and call my parents. And once they find out, it's only a matter of ti before the Sakayanagi family's private doctor rushes to Chiba. You probably don't know this, but my personal physician is Atsuki's younger sister."
"Huh? Atsuki has a younger sister working in the Sakayanagi household too? Her real sister?"
Kotomi was surprised. She rembered Atsuki ntioning before that she was the only one in her family working for the Sakayanagi household, and that even her relatives weren't introduced to jobs there.
It was understandable—after all, Atsuki wasn't just an ordinary maid at the Sakayanagi estate; she was the head maid in charge of the entire maid staff. While not a position of great power, most of the other maids followed her orders.
As head maid, maintaining appearances was important. She might lend money, but she'd never help a relative get a job at Sakayanagi's.
Atsuki believed that, in her role, there should be no close relatives around her in the workplace. That was her principle as head maid.
Whenever she returned to her hotown, she'd face relatives pestering her for job referrals at the Sakayanagi estate. But without even consulting the family, Atsuki would refuse outright.
Because of that, many of her relatives would accuse her of going to the big city, becoming a rich family's maid, and forgetting her roots—looking down on her relatives!
Behind her back, who knows how many nasty things were said.
Even if she hadn't heard them herself, Atsuki could guess from the odd, jealous looks people gave her each ti she went ho.
If anyone was curious, Atsuki would explain it openly. The last ti Kotomi asked, she didn't hide a thing.
That was when Kotomi first learned that despite working for the Sakayanagi family all these years, Atsuki never had any relatives by her side. Still, Atsuki herself didn't seem lonely at all. In fact, she seed to enjoy it, saying it made life more peaceful.
She only returned ho once a year during the New Year holidays to spend two weeks with her parents.
So when Arisu suddenly said that the Sakayanagi family's personal physician was Atsuki's younger sister, Kotomi was montarily confused—had Atsuki really made an exception for her own sister?
"Her real sister? Haha, of course not. That private physician, her na is Kana. Like Atsuki, who has taken care of since I was little, Kana was already working for the Sakayanagi family before I was born. Later, because of my congenital heart disease, she officially beca my personal doctor."
"I don't know how the relationship between Atsuki and Kana developed, but sohow, over ti, Kana started calling Atsuki her big sister."
After hearing Arisu's explanation, Kotomi finally understood—so they weren't biological sisters. Atsuki had simply co to be known as Kana's older sister within the household.
"Did this Miss Kana co to Chiba with you too?"
"Nope. After I started high school, only Atsuki ca with to Chiba. Kana had to stay with the Sakayanagi family and didn't co along. But she still visits every Friday to give a check-up."
Once she finished speaking, Arisu had also finished packing. Kotomi slightly turned her body to let Arisu lean on her more comfortably.
Naturally, Arisu didn't waste the opportunity. Just like in the morning, she placed her hand on Kotomi's waist—this ti even lower.
Feeling Arisu's hand creeping close to her butt, Kotomi's face flushed slightly, but she didn't say anything and let her be.
She figured Arisu's legs still hadn't fully recovered, and even just standing up took a lot of effort. Maybe she was just putting her hand lower for better support.
They maintained this posture all the way from Class 1-A's door to the front gate of Sobu High School. There weren't many students around, but their intimate posture still caught the attention of more than a few onlookers.
No doubt by tomorrow, rumors about Kotomi and Mashiro, or Yui, would not only escalate—they might even evolve into an entirely new phase.
From three people… to four.
—Shocking! Kotomi is no longer satisfied with Mashiro Shiina and Yui Yuigahama—she's now extending her claws toward Arisu Sakayanagi! A new level of depravity is about to unfold!
As for the ever-changing rumors at school, Kotomi no longer felt joy or sorrow. If she heard this new one, her first thought might honestly be, "Claws? Where? I want a drink!"
Sure enough, at the school gate, the familiar Rolls-Royce Phantom was waiting. Seeing that little gold hood ornant, Kotomi felt a fierce pang of envy. When would she ever be able to afford a Rolls-Royce?
Arisu glanced at Kotomi and said with a gentle smile:
"Do you like it? When I was little, I was really into cars. So every year on my birthday, automakers from around the world would send their proudest models. I'd pick one I liked as my gift. I get different presents every year, but the one constant is always a decent car. This Rolls-Royce Phantom? It was my ninth birthday present."
"Lady Sakayanagi, if you keep talking like that, I'm going to have to give you a stern lecture about your outrageously luxurious birthday gifts," Kotomi said seriously. Totally not jealous. Not at all. sob sob
Arisu chuckled and gently poked Kotomi's cheek with her fingertip:
"Silly girl, once you marry , all the cars I've received in the past—and the ones I'll get in the future—will be yours too. It's not like I can drive them myself anyway, with these legs."
Kotomi had just been sulking over the "lemons" and hadn't even dropped them yet when her face instantly turned crimson.
Unfair!
A surprise proposal like that? Totally cheating!
Arisu Sakayanagi curled her lips into a victor's smile. She felt the mood right now was perfect—if only she had a ring ready.
Tsk, no matter. Once Kotomi says yes, she'll show her that every diamond in the world belongs to her. Arisu was full of confidence, already pondering where to host their wedding.
Why not a world tour wedding? Hold ceremonies in the top-rated luxury hotels of every country, permanently buy out each hotel's presidential suite, and hang a photo of their wedding dress mont in the most prominent spot. A different wedding dress for every ceremony.
She also wanted every plane, ship, and train they took during the journey to feature an image of Kotomi in her wedding dress. And for their final wedding—launch a private rocket into space, sending up a satellite nad "Koto & Ari" to remain in orbit.
No exaggeration—if Kotomi nodded now, Arisu would begin implenting this plan imdiately, with the highest quality and speed, turning it all into reality.
She rembered when she and little Kotomi were young, picnicking at a park, and happened to see a newlywed couple taking wedding photos nearby. Little girls naturally dream of romance—Kotomi was no exception.
Seeing the bride in her snow-white gown, little Kotomi's eyes sparkled like stars. She said with admiration:
"I'm so jealous… I want to wear a wedding dress too. I always wished I could wear one like the girls in TV dramas when they get married. But Mom says I'm still too little."
Little Arisu grabbed little Kotomi's hand and earnestly declared, "Kotomi, I'll make you the happiest bride in the world!"
"Wedding banquets always have desserts. I want teddy bear cookies!"
"Silly girl, who eats teddy bear cookies at a wedding banquet…"
"Then I won't marry you!" Little Kotomi pouted.
"No, wait! I only want to marry you, Kotomi! I'll prepare a giant teddy bear cookie just for our wedding, okay?"
"Yay! Super giant teddy bear cookie! Oh, and why are you the one marrying …? Hehe, oh well, if it's you, then marrying you is fine~ I want strawberry filling in the teddy bear cookie."
"Definitely no chocolate."
Kotomi, who hadn't fully regained those mories, likely didn't realize that she was "married" off to Arisu with a teddy bear cookie back then.
Beep—
The luxurious Rolls-Royce let out an expensive-sounding honk, interrupting the mont between Kotomi and Arisu. Snapped back to reality, Kotomi, who had just been gazing closely into Arisu's eyes, blushed and lowered her head.
Arisu, anwhile, shot a sharp glare toward Atsuki inside the car.
Feeling the hostile gaze from her young lady, Atsuki shrugged helplessly. With no other choice, she leaned out the window and said:
"Ojou-sama, you two can flirt all you like inside the car. I'll just dim my lightbulb wattage and act invisible. But could you please get in first? This car is massive. Blocking the school gate like this isn't ideal—it might cause trouble."
Only then did Arisu rember—they were still standing near the school gate. And with a Rolls-Royce Phantom beside them, they were already drawing enough stares. If they didn't get in soon, they'd beco the center of attention.
"Kotomi, let's get in."
"Ah, right."
Kotomi opened the car door very carefully. Thanks to the Queen of All Females constitution, her strength had increased significantly—even she didn't know her own limits. She had to move gently, afraid that if she used too much force, she might accidentally rip off the door handle.
If she accidentally broke sothing, it'd be no different from one of those news stories about a mischievous kid snapping off the little golden emblem from a Rolls-Royce.
After helping Arisu Sakayanagi into the back seat, Kotomi was about to turn around and leave. She hadn't eaten much for lunch, and now her stomach was starting to grumble. On the way ho, she was weighing her options—grilled chicken skewers, or braised pork rice with two marinated eggs from the ran shop?
But before she could fully turn around, Arisu grabbed the corner of her uniform. Without turning or letting go, she asked, "Arisu, is there sothing else? If not, I'll head ho."
This little penguin is just adorably clueless!
"You silly girl, the car's right here and you still want to walk ho?"
Arisu rolled her eyes, half exasperated and half amused. She seriously needed to marry Kotomi soon—what if so other woman ran off with her adorable penguin?
Too bad she couldn't warn Kotomi like she did when they were kids: "Kotomi, be careful! In this world, every girl close to your age—except —has ulterior motives!"
"No need to trouble you… it's not on the way. I'll just walk ho," Kotomi said, her mind entirely focused on those skewers and braised pork rice, trying to politely decline.
"Cut the nonsense. Get in. Sit here," Arisu ordered, her tone rising like a queen seated on her throne, patting the spot beside her.
Kotomi had no choice but to obediently get in.
The Rolls-Royce Phantom drove off.
One could only wonder what absurd level the rumors involving Kotomi, Mashiro Shiina, Yui Yuigahama, and Arisu Sakayanagi would reach tomorrow.
After turning in her test paper, gumi Kato imdiately dashed toward the Class 1-A exam room. She wanted to use the walk ho after school to apologize again and cheer up her still-sulking little penguin.
She was already debating whether to treat Kotomi to grilled chicken skewers, braised pork rice, or maybe even Burger King.
During lunch break, gumi's phone browser history had exploded with searches like:
How to cheer up your girlfriend?
What to do when your girlfriend is moody?
Accidentally made my girlfriend angry—how to fix it?
How to get along with your girlfriend's little sister?
How to deal with a difficult sister-in-law?
Introductory guide to tactical martial arts
Human fatal weak points
When does Sword Art Online Volu 2 release?
Chainsaw Man
Basically, she searched a ton of things!
gumi read a lot and found many tips helpful. She hurried over to the Class 1-A door—only to find… it was locked?!
Peeking through the window, Kotomi's figure was already gone. At the sa ti, Arisu Sakayanagi was also missing. A wave of anxiety surged in gumi's heart!
She imdiately bolted toward the school gate, panic rising uncontrollably in her chest.
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