"I... I have something to tell you. Do you have time, Nanaya?"
Kato Megumi clutched Nanaya's large hands, pressing them tightly against her thighs just like during their first meeting.
Though now, their positions had completely reversed.
"Oh? Isn't this Kato? Were you just talking to me?"
Seeing Nanaya's act, Megumi knew perfectly well he was doing this on purpose.
Being treated like this made her feel miserable, but she still spoke up again.
"Nanaya, I have something very important to tell you. Will you have time later?"
Nanaya looked at Megumi's pleading expression.
"Hmm, I should be free."
Recently, aside from "training" Kato Ran, Nanaya had spent most of his time mastering his other acquired skills.
Megumi took out a lunchbox from her desk. "Nanaya, I made this bento for you. I hope you'll like it."
"Alright, let's talk on the rooftop."
Their second time on the school rooftop, they sat on the familiar bench.
"So, what did you want to say?"
"Um... Nanaya, are you and... my sister... involved...?"
Megumi looked directly into Nanaya's eyes as she spoke seriously.
"Hmm, that's right."
"We're together now."
To Megumi's surprise, Nanaya admitted it so naturally.
It seemed Nanaya was quite honest about this sort of thing...
"We're very much in love. I was planning to tell you later, but it seems you already found out. Did Ran tell you?"
Nanaya said with a perfectly serious expression.
"Th-that's not true at all!"
Megumi couldn't help interrupting, then said angrily, "You must have forced my sister into this! There's no way this is consensual!"
"What are you talking about, Kato?" Nanaya looked at her with feigned confusion. "We're in a normal relationship. Where did you hear such rumors?"
"I—I heard you threatening my sister with my own ears!"
No longer willing to play along with Nanaya's games, Megumi got straight to the point.
"Oh? So what? Are you going to report me?"
Nanaya sat on the bench, arms crossed as he looked at Megumi beside him.
"No... I want... I want to exchange myself for my sister..."
Megumi knew how unreasonable this sounded, but considering everything, if Nanaya remained unharmed, her sister's reputation would be completely ruined.
She couldn't bear to live peacefully with freedom bought by her sister's sacrifice.
Why not bear it herself and win her sister's freedom instead?
Megumi's thoughts were naive.
And somewhat endearingly foolish.
"Oh? Do you know what this decision entails? I suggest you think carefully before deciding."
"After all, your sister wouldn't want to see you do this either."
Nanaya spoke hypocritically.
He could already see [Invisibility] waving at him.
"No, I've made up my mind. I'll exchange myself for my sister. If I can... satisfy you... then I hope you'll let my sister go."
How could Nanaya not soften at Megumi's pitiful pleading?
And such touching sisterly devotion naturally stirred his sympathy.
Seeing the determination in Megumi's eyes:
"Very well. Then we'll do as you say. Should I call your sister now to cancel our arrangement?"
Nanaya made as if to take out his phone.
"No, please don't. Just... reduce your contact with her."
Megumi had already decided her sister must never know about this.
If Nanaya gradually saw her less, eventually ending things with "I've grown tired of you," her sister would be freed.
That would be enough.
"Fine, as you wish."
Nanaya took out his phone and sent a message in front of Megumi:
[Not coming over this afternoon.]
"Thank you..."
Seeing this, Megumi sincerely expressed her gratitude.
"So, when will you fulfill your promise?"
Nanaya stroked his chin, eyeing the little Red Riding Hood who'd delivered herself to his door.
"I-if you're willing... this afternoon... would be fine..."
Since Nanaya had kept his end of the bargain, she should fulfill her duty too...
That was Megumi's reasoning.
Then let it begin today!
——————————
Female students greeted Nanaya enthusiastically as they passed, many of the girls whose virginity he'd taken smiling especially brightly and calling out to him with particular vigor.
The invisible Megumi beside him felt a pang of inferiority at this sight.
In terms of appearance or personality, she couldn't compare to her sister. Even in youthful vibrancy, she fell short of these classmates.
Megumi had heard the rumors—that Nanaya had been intimate with many classmates and upperclassmen.
Seeing her sister's exhausted state every day recently made her think the rumors might be true.
Would she be able to endure it either?
The innocent girl began seriously worrying about her physical limits.
Lost in these chaotic thoughts,
Nanaya brought Megumi to a villa.
"Eh? What is this place?"
Coming back to her senses at the sight of the luxurious villa, Megumi asked.
"One of my properties. Come in."
After acquiring money and certain skills, Nanaya had naturally begun building up his assets in this world.
Starting with real estate.
But these were tangential matters, barely worth mentioning.
The current focus was the girl perched nervously on the edge of the sofa, back straight, visibly flustered.
"Look around if you want, then go take a shower."
Nanaya's words seemed to give Megumi motivation to move. "O-okay."
Her voice was much quieter now.
Gone was her usual calm tone.
After all, who could remain composed knowing what was coming?
Megumi ascended the grand marble staircase to the spacious bathroom.
Staring at her reflection in the mirror,
She felt dirty, yet seemed to see her sister's relieved smile in the glass—finally free.
Everything she was doing would be worth it.
---
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