"How can you play games without me? If I'm not there, Natsuha-chan would have a hard time too. Come on, come on, together!", Not caring that Hikari was still being held by Shinomiya Natsuha, Yukino Shindo grabbed Hikari's other arm and pulled them both briskly into Natsuha's room.
Only Yukino's apartment was left behind, and Kiriryuin Kaede, a bit stunned, stood looking at the trash bags by the entryway and at the already-closed door of the next apartment; she only managed to mutter, "Yukino-chan…"
Once the door was shut, the outside world was cut off.
After all, it wasn't the first time the three of them had played games together; they had plenty of experience.
So as soon as Hikari, Natsuha, and Yukino closed the doors and windows, they quickly started the game console and happily began to PK together.
Like usual, the three of them played joyfully, the atmosphere lively and cheerful.
Maybe because they'd just settled Shinomiya Yuko's visit today, Natsuha not only played with great enthusiasm but even, against her normal behavior, started to taunt Yukino.
"Yukino-nee, can you pull off a move like this?", Natsuha gripped the controller tightly, making a pixel character repeatedly squat and stand; after dodging a monster's critical attack and eating a big mushroom, her Super Mario instantly grew big and strong.
Hearing Natsuha's provocation, Hikari and Yukino glanced at her.
After all, Yukino, as a yuki-onna, was exceptionally gifted, many things she was far better at than humans.
So although at the very start when the three played, Natsuha, jealous, had provoked Yukino and even said she wanted to compete with her, that rarely happened afterward. Yukino was that gifted, and Natsuha lost more than she won, often needing outside support and whatnot.
But today, perhaps from being overly excited playing, Natsuha got mischievous again.
This was surprising enough; what neither Natsuha nor Hikari expected was Yukino's response to the taunt, equally unexpected.
Normally Yukino would handle teasing from humans like Natsuha through her special physique and her ice-and-snow powers.
But today, Yukino didn't use those natural strengths at all; she struck back from a different, unexpected angle.
Watching Natsuha attacking the weak points on the upper part of the demon-king character Hikari controlled, Yukino transformed into a knight and used her character to attack another part of Hikari's character, all while changing her voice and murmuring, "Hikari-kun, is Aunt Yuko amazing? Is she even better than Natsuha-chan?"
Yukino not only called herself Shinomiya Yuko, she even pressed her throat and put on a slightly husky tone, somewhat similar to the mature woman's voice of Yuko.
Hearing that, Natsuha instantly became both embarrassed and angry, "Yukino-nee! Don't say my mom's name while we're playing!"
"Oh dear, Natsuha's scolding her mom again, such a naughty daughter… Hikari-kun, help mom teach her a lesson~", Yukino's eyes were a little coquettish as she covered her mouth and laughed.
"Yukino-nee, you're too much! Unforgivable!", Natsuha, seeing Yukino act like that, flushed with shame and anger and charged, the two girls tumbling into a hug and wrestling each other.
Watching Natsuha and Yukino fight so intensely over a game, both of them making cries and noises, Hikari shook his head.
Although women fighting could be visually appealing, especially right now, he was worried they might get truly angry, so he seized the moment and dashed in to stop them.
Startled by his sudden interference, both Natsuha and Yukino yelled a bit, but quickly launched attacks at him at the same time.
Facing attacks from both sides, Hikari didn't flinch; rather, with skill and courage, he tangled with the two of them.
———
The fierce sounds of the fight next door, filtering through the wall, caught the attention of a certain oni who was painstakingly studying an eyeball ring.
Kiriryuin Kaede listened to the violent racket next door and felt the table holding the ring tremble; she couldn't help pounding her fist on the table.
"How dare he!"
Kaede clenched her small fists tightly, her cheeks flushed with rage.
She was almost furious to death. She hadn't expected Hikari to be so excessive with her friend.
They'd had a thing before, but that was an accident.
Yet she hadn't expected that Hikari also had other women.
Not only that, he even dared to play video games with them right in front of Yukino.
'How could he be so bold!'
'And how could Yukino tolerate it!'
'Yukino is a yuki-onna, after all!'
Any ordinary man who had a yuki-onna at his side, even if he wasn't grateful or felt lucky, wouldn't be able to care about other women.
After all, with a yuki-onna's appetite, feeding her fully would be a fantasy.
Yet Hikari…
Thinking about that day's accident, Kaede's body stiffened, 'Maybe what he said then could actually happen?'
'But… that would be two-timing!'
'And he's doing it right in front of Yukino, how dare he!'
The more Kaede thought, the angrier she grew.
Although she was a yokai, coming from a prestigious oni family and raised as the eldest daughter, she had relatively little worldly experience; plus her family's strict rules left her fairly innocent in some ways.
She'd been taught: one life, one partner. That was the upbringing she received.
Although she had in fact had a relationship with Hikari… she considered that an accident and not valid.
Lately she'd been worrying about her family's rules and how things with Hikari should proceed.
And now Hikari was next door having fun playing games with Natsuha and Yukino, Kaede felt like her lungs would explode.
The more the noise carried in, the worse she felt.
Whether from anger or something else, Kaede felt her body burning hot, her lower belly like it had been pushed into a furnace, continuously roasting her with warming heat.
"I really can't stand this!"
After listening for several minutes, thoroughly heated, Kaede couldn't hold it and quickly left the living room closer to the neighbors, went back to her room, and curled under the covers alone.
Under an 18°C air conditioner, she practiced manual-driving clutch techniques three or four times to calm herself before stepping out again.
But to her dismay, the commotion next door had not yet ended.
"This is so annoying!"
Still flushed, she controlled the urge to bite her hands but felt the anger rising again and decided to take a shower first.
Just then, the voices of Natsuha and Yukino gradually died down; soon the next door fell completely quiet.
Kaede let out a sigh of relief.
She decided to shower and then change back into the shrine maiden outfit she'd accidentally dirtied a moment ago.
At that moment, a sound came from the doorway.
With a click, Yukino's room door was suddenly pushed open.
A figure walked in, and seeing Kaede standing in the living room, he was a bit stunned; the two made eye contact, both taken aback.
After a moment staring into the intruder's eyes, Kaede snapped back, her pretty face reddening as she shouted, "Hikari-kun! Why did you come here all of a sudden?"
Surprised by her shout, Hikari replied, "Why are you yelling so loud? I came to take a shower and help Yukino-chan get some clothes."
Kaede raised a hand to cover a key spot and angrily said, "You… you didn't even knock before coming in. Could you have any manners?"
Hikari was even more speechless, "This is Yukino's place, not yours. What door am I supposed to knock on? Besides, I already knew about that mole on your left side; it's not like I haven't seen it, stop pretending and covering up."
He said it on purpose, thinking Kaede would angrily curse him out and then shyly run back to her room.
But to his surprise, after his words, Kaede's hand seemed sound-controlled and slowly dropped.
Hikari blinked, "You're?"
"You told me not to cover it, didn't you? Look, take a look! Look all you want! Anyway, you've seen it already! You dirty, shameless human!", Kaede put her hands on her hips and suddenly got very sassy.
Hearing that, Hikari didn't hold back and frankly inspected her.
It had to be said: as Yukino's friend, and as an oni, Kiriryuin Kaede had a very nice figure.
Compared to Yukino's perfect, plump, silky softness, truly unmatched. Kaede was slightly less voluptuous, but her overall curves were no less attractive, with a kind of bold, powerful charm; she was also quite beautiful, perfectly eye-catching.
Under Hikari's unabashed gaze, Kaede, who'd been pretending to be nonchalant and a little fierce, couldn't help but blush.
"So, did you get a good look or not?", Kaede asked through gritted teeth.
"Weren't you the one who told me to look?", Hikari replied matter-of-factly.
"You… I… yes! I told you to look! Well? Am I more perfect than those two women you just saw? More beautiful than Yukino?", Kaede, for some reason, suddenly asked Hikari with a pouty face.
"You're a little short of Yukino-chan in some ways," Hikari shook his head slightly.
Hearing that, Kaede clenched her fists and ground her teeth, her body trembling with anger.
Her pretty face flushed as she quickly put her shrine-maiden outfit back on.
What she'd said earlier was in the heat of the moment; she hadn't actually intended a real appraisal. But Hikari really dared to compare, and even dared to say she came up short.
That was infuriating.
Kaede wanted to punch Hikari right in the face and beat him into a big pig's head.
Hikari didn't pay much mind. After Kaede had redressed and there was nothing more to ogle, he withdrew his gaze and prepared to go to the bathroom for a shower and then fetch Yukino's clothes.
Just as he was about to step into the bathroom, Kaede suddenly flashed forward and blocked his way.
"Kiriryuin-san, what are you doing?", Hikari narrowed his eyes slightly at the angry stare.
Kaede's chest heaved with indignation as she glared and scolded him, "Stop pretending! You human like a horse, you weren't satisfied just now, were you?"
"I can tell from your eyes, you had those… those thoughts. Don't pretend!"
Hearing this, Kaede, who stood blocking his path, fell silent.
"You… what are you still pretending for? I know you have feelings, I… I actually want to…"
"So… so I'm not entirely unwilling… to… to be defiled by you once more…"
Kaede said, her face red.
A hint of hesitation crossed Hikari's face; he seemed a little reluctant as he said, "This… isn't a good idea. Kiriryuin-san, you and Yukino-chan are close friends. Last time was an accident, this can't continue, right?"
Seeing Hikari act as if he was hesitating on purpose, though she knew he was teasing her, Kaede couldn't help but speak up, "Stop pretending! I heard what you did with Yukino-chan and that one called Shinomiya Natsuha!"
"You've already wronged Yukino-chan, and now you tell me this, psh! Don't put on any virtue with me!"
"And Yukino-chan doesn't mind anyway, so why should I care!"
"I'll be honest: I… I do want it a little!"
"But can you say you have no interest in me at all? Can you?"
When Kaede finally couldn't help but confess her feelings, Hikari crossed his arms and smiled, looking at her with a light laugh and said nothing.
Kaede hadn't expected such a reaction; she was mortified.
Blushing, she covered the white skin under the sides of her shrine outfit with both hands.
Hikari suddenly asked curiously, "Kiriryuin-san, in some ways, wouldn't an oni's horn*ness be not much less than a yuki-onna's?"
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