For Mu Xiaoxiao, this weekend was very fulfilling. But for others—especially the girls with the Incubus Pattern like Mrs. Natsumi and Obata Yui—
—The girl neglected by Mu Xiaoxiao these days had a very unhappy weekend.
"Makoto, you look a little down. Are you in a bad mood?"
As her childhood sweetheart, Yoshida Kaoru keenly noticed Himemiya Makoto wasn't her usual self. They walked along the sidewalk, still wet from rain, but she barely spoke.
Himemiya Makoto, usually full of energy, now seemed listless and preoccupied. The childhood sweetheart beside her was the person she'd always liked.
Going shopping and on a date with someone you like should be a happy thing.
But she just couldn't feel happy...
'What did that guy Mu Xiaoxiao mean? Ever since he ended things that day, he's completely distanced himself from me!'
These past few days, he hadn't come looking for her at all. Like a stranger.
He'd done such shameful things to her... and then in the blink of an eye, he didn't care. What a cold-hearted guy. Makoto knew this was supposed to be a good thing.
Such a dangerous, terrifying existence—a vile, shameless pervert—shouldn't she be glad to be free of him? No more worrying about being taken advantage of. No more being trapped in small rooms doing H things.
Himemiya Makoto kept telling herself this. Compared to someone so terrible and dangerous, her childhood sweetheart—the one she'd always liked—was her true love, right?
After breaking things off with him, getting back together with Kaoru should make her happy, shouldn't it? So why did she feel bad instead?
What was wrong with her?
"Makoto?"
"No, I'm fine." Facing her childhood sweetheart's concerned gaze, Himemiya Makoto forced a smile and quickly shook her head. "Maybe I didn't sleep well yesterday... I wanted to sleep in on my day off."
"Sorry. If I hadn't invited you..."
"Kaoru-kun, why are you apologizing? I wanted to come. I don't blame you. It's fun going out with you." Looking at Yoshida Kaoru beside her, Himemiya Makoto quietly bit her pink lips. Kaoru was a good person.
Gentle. Kind. She'd known him since childhood. There was no one better than him.
She should... so why did she keep thinking about that scoundrel Mu Xiaoxiao?
"Let's go to the movies together next time. I already bought tickets. It's the movie I've always wanted to see."
"Okay."
A boy and girl going to the movies together—that was practically a date. But Himemiya Makoto, sitting in the theater, was absent-minded. She wasn't focusing on the movie or Yoshida Kaoru. She kept getting distracted.
Yoshida Kaoru beside her wasn't watching the movie either. He kept stealing glances at the girl next to him. Makoto, his childhood friend since childhood—he had feelings for her.
Today was a good opportunity. A confession, maybe... Yoshida Kaoru wrestled with himself, wanting to find the right moment.
And so, both lost in their own thoughts, what should have been a good "date" felt a bit awkward. After the movie, Himemiya Makoto shopped with Yoshida Kaoru for a while, then he walked her home.
"Um... Makoto..."
At the gate of the Himemiya residence, Yoshida Kaoru, the gentle boy, stopped his childhood sweetheart as she was about to say goodbye. He looked at the beautiful girl he'd known for years, hesitating.
He seemed to have something to say.
"Hm?"
"Makoto! I—"
"Oh! Sorry, Kaoru. I'm not feeling well. I need to go home and shower. Let's talk next time if there's something." Just as Yoshida Kaoru mustered the courage to confess, Himemiya Makoto interrupted.
"Huh? Oh... okay. I'll tell you next time."
Waving goodbye to her childhood sweetheart, Himemiya Makoto forced a smile, turned, and walked inside. The moment the door closed, she leaned against it and let out a long breath.
'Kaoru-kun... was he about to confess?' The atmosphere, his expression, his words—Makoto couldn't be wrong. He'd wanted to confess.
'Ha.' She pressed the back of her hand to her forehead and bit her lip. 'I should be happy. I should be looking forward to Kaoru-kun's confession. Why did I interrupt...'
She'd deliberately cut off her childhood sweetheart's confession.
As for why—she couldn't figure it out.
Watching Kaoru's retreating figure from the window, Himemiya Makoto looked at her phone. No new messages. Her mood sank.
'Kaoru-kun... I'm sorry...'
After dinner, the girl lay in the bathroom to bathe.
Himemiya Makoto soaked in the tub. Hot water rose to her neck. Below the surface, her body was faintly visible. A seductive atmosphere filled the bathroom.
Her hand slid unconsciously over her body—mostly where the Incubus Pattern lay.
'Mu Xiaoxiao...'
'Damn bastard! If you wanted to end things, why didn't you remove this mark? Bastard! Idiot!'
As if his fingers were there again, teasing and caressing her body, Himemiya Makoto let out a soft sound. Her cheeks flushed bright red. She caught herself and shook her head violently, throwing out those messy thoughts.
'Don't think about him. Don't think about that kind of thing. Don't...'
She told herself no, but her body couldn't help it. 'It must be this mark's fault. This Incubus Pattern made me so... so strange. It's all Mu Xiaoxiao's fault!'
When she emerged from the bathroom, her cheeks were flushed—from the long soak, nothing else.
But Makoto's older brother, Himemiya brother, watched his sister's retreating figure with meaningful eyes.
Ring, ring, ring—
Himemiya Makoto hadn't dried her hair. She just lay on her small bed, tossing and turning for a long time before picking up the phone. She didn't know why she called Chisato.
Maybe because she had no one to talk to. Her good friend Chisato, who knew everything, was the only one who could listen.
"Chi-chan, good evening."
"Ah, Makoto? Good evening..."
"Your voice sounds strange." Himemiya Makoto noticed something off. "What's wrong?"
"No, nothing's wrong. I'm fine... ngghhh~ Makoto, what did you need?"
"Just wanted to chat. Are you sure you're okay? Your voice..."
"I'm fine. I... ah!"
Chisato suddenly moaned louder. "Ngggh—Ahhh... no, someone will hear..."
Himemiya Makoto: "..."
"I can't... Xiaoxiao, uh—"
Her voice was no longer muffled. Himemiya Makoto's expression went blood red. She abruptly pressed the hang-up button and hammered her soft pillow a few times.
"That shameless bastard Mu Xiaoxiao!"
Doing that... actually doing that...
Thinking of Chisato on the phone, lying beneath him... Himemiya Makoto's expression grew tense. Her emotions tangled.
Could they restrain themselves a little?
Bang, bang, bang!
"I'm so mad!"
Lying on the bed, panting, the girl buried her face in the pillow and stayed motionless.
What a... terrible weekend.