Shout out to Kishan Patel, the latest member. I hope your stay is long and enjoyable.
************
During dinner that evening, Shiina Mashiro barely touched her food. It wasn't that the meal lacked flavor—on the contrary, she'd been spoiled by too many delicious dishes lately. Nozomi, catching on, didn't press her to eat more. He simply watched, thoughtful. After all, tomorrow was the weekend, and he had plans: a movie outing with Miura Yumiko and the others. Still, at the moment, boredom crept in like a stray cat.
With a mischievous glint in his eye, Nozomi strolled down the corridor and knocked lightly on Mahiru's door. Before long, she was walking with him, her fingers interlaced with his, to Sayu's room.
There, under the soft hum of the ceiling fan and the lingering warmth of spring air, they indulged in what Nozomi jokingly referred to as "light nighttime gymnastics." Of course, he didn't stay too long. With plans for the next day and a code of fairness carved into his heart, he left only after both girls were satisfied and curled up in bliss.
Nozomi wasn't the type to discard the old for the new. Whether it was Sayu with her soft laughter or Mahiru with her gentle smile, he cherished them both. Their tolerance of his greedy affections wasn't something he took for granted. If he had the capacity to care deeply, then he would make sure each of them felt that warmth equally. That was his unspoken promise.
Back in his room, with the moonlight filtering through the curtains and sleep still far off, Nozomi pulled out his phone.
He fired off a message to Yukinoshita Yukino: "Yukino, are you asleep?"
Minutes ticked by. No reply.
So he sent another: "Ah, I get it. You're deliberately ignoring me, huh? Tomorrow, you'll probably claim you fell asleep and never saw the message. But here I am, anxiously waiting for your reply, and you're out there playing with my fragile heart. Too cruel."
Finally, a message blinked onto the screen.
Yukinoshita Yukino: "I was just about to sleep. What do you want to say? Make it quick."
Nozomi chuckled.
Nozomi: "So you were lurking."
Yukinoshita Yukino: "I'm seriously considering blocking you. Harassing girls at night like some delinquent."
Nozomi: "It's your fault. We barely talked today. I was too busy hugging you during club time. The guilt is overwhelming. I had to make up for it somehow."
Yukinoshita Yukino: "Y-You... you still dare bring that up?! You shameless scoundrel!"
Her face turned red at the memory—how boldly he had embraced her in the clubroom earlier. And now he had the nerve to tease her about it?
Nozomi: "So? Still not coming to the movies tomorrow?"
Yukinoshita Yukino: "No. I'm not interested. I dislike group events."
Nozomi: "Alright. Then let's go just the two of us some other time."
Yukinoshita Yukino: "I never agreed to that either!"
Nozomi: "You will."
Yukinoshita Yukino: "Where does this ridiculous confidence come from?! I said I won't go. What are you trying to pull?"
Nozomi: "Nothing sneaky. I just plan to sincerely beg."
Yukinoshita Yukino: "Even if you beg, I still won't go! You're not sincere at all!"
Deep down, she knew what this meant. Despite the label of "movie outing," this was a date invitation. And with this guy's reckless courage—hugging her in the clubroom like that—what if he tried something worse while alone?
Nozomi: "I'll show you my sincerity next time. I really care about you, Yukino."
Yukinoshita Yukino: "...So corny. Don't talk to me anymore. I'm sleeping."
Nozomi: "I also want a lap pillow from Yukino~"
Yukinoshita Yukino: "..."
Nozomi: "Alright, I've said my piece. Good night, Second Lady."
Staring at the screen, Yukino bit her lip. Her cheeks were burning.
"You… you've already said so many indecent things... how am I supposed to sleep now?!"
She covered her face with her hands, trying in vain to cool the heat spreading across her skin. The mental image of Nozomi staring at her legs with those heated eyes, his hand movements...
No. Absolutely not. She shook her head furiously.
And yet, no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't get him out of her mind.
Meanwhile, Nozomi had already fallen asleep, his expression peaceful.
He believed that if you didn't say what was in your heart, no one would ever know. Now that his relationship with Yukinoshita had grown to the point where they could embrace, showing his care directly was a natural step.
......
The next morning arrived with the soft golden hue of sunlight streaming through the curtains. Nozomi was up earlier than usual, refreshed and ready for the day ahead. After a quick wash-up, he made his way to the kitchen, guided by the familiar scent of something delicious cooking.
There, in front of the stove, stood Shiina Mahiru, clad in a pale blue apron that fluttered lightly with her movements. Her golden hair was tied into a neat high ponytail, cascading down her back like silk. With her graceful posture and delicate profile, she looked like a painting come to life.
Nozomi smiled quietly to himself.
Tiptoeing forward, he gently wrapped his arms around her slender waist, resting his chin lightly on her shoulder.
"Ah!" Mahiru let out a small yelp, nearly dropping the spoon in her hand. Her cheeks flushed instantly as she tilted her head to shoot him a glare, though her eyes sparkled.
"Don't distract me—I'm making breakfast."
"You do your thing, I'll do mine," Nozomi replied with a mischievous grin, his breath brushing against her neck.
He pressed a light kiss to the nape of her neck, causing Mahiru's shoulders to tense and a shiver to run down her spine. Her face reddened all the way to the tips of her ears.
"Y-You really have no shame in the morning," she muttered, trying to maintain her composure.
Nozomi chuckled but relented, loosening his arms and stepping back.
"Isn't Sayu usually the one making breakfast? What brings you into the kitchen today?"
Mahiru turned her head slightly. "Sayu can't do everything. She and I talked it over—we're taking turns from now on. She has school, and I like cooking, so today's my day."
"I see. Then I'll look forward to breakfast even more," Nozomi said with a smile, gazing at her back with warmth. "Mahiru, you're going to make a great wife one day."
She rolled her eyes but couldn't hide the small smile tugging at her lips. "Of course I will—I'll be your little wife."
Blushing, she shooed him away with her spatula. "Now go wake up Mashiro. And stop bothering me, you're such a tease in the morning."
"As you wish, my lady," he replied dramatically, giving her a mock bow before heading upstairs.
Nozomi reached the third floor and quietly opened the door to Shiina Mashiro's room. The room was quiet, filled only with the soft breathing of the girl still wrapped up in her blanket like a cozy burrito.
Nozomi tiptoed to her bedside and looked at her adorable sleeping face. Unable to resist, he leaned down and planted a soft kiss on her lips.
"Mmm...?"
The warmth of the kiss stirred Mashiro. Her hands instinctively reached up to wrap around his neck, and she nuzzled into his chest with half-lidded eyes. Nozomi smiled, stroking her silky hair before lifting her gently into his arms and placing her on his lap.
Mashiro, with her snow-white skin and doll-like features, looked utterly ethereal.
If Mahiru was the sun that warmed your heart with her smile, then Mashiro was the quiet moonlight—distant yet beautiful in its stillness. She wasn't talkative, but her actions spoke volumes.
"Good morning, Master," she whispered in her usual calm tone.
Nozomi blinked, amused. "Who told you to call me that?"
Mashiro tilted her head. "Nozomi is the owner... is it not proper to say 'Master'?"
He pinched her cheek playfully. "When it's just us, call me by name."
"Okay, Master."
That gentle voice, laced with innocent affection, melted Nozomi's heart. She nestled against him, content like a cat curled in its favorite spot. He could feel his heart throb at the overwhelming cuteness, but he kept his desires in check.
Instead, he simply let Mashiro rest in his arms while he whispered sweet nothings into her ear. She listened, quiet and obedient, occasionally nodding.
Just like before, she didn't resist him. Her gaze remained calm and trusting—as if she'd silently accepted his presence, his warmth, and the bond they shared.
Nozomi smiled to himself.
His world might be complicated, but mornings like these made it feel blissfully simple.