Chapter 82: Sayaka Amamiya's Counterattack—The Amamiya Sisters Cornered After School

After leaving the Kurorai Fushiko residence, Anwa did not hurry home, instead lingering in the corridor to feel the chill of the wind. Thanks to the clarity that followed his "sage's time," he finally understood what the narrator’s words had meant earlier.

Clearly, the commotion from before had been overheard by the Amemiya sisters. With Amemiya Sagu's understanding of Kurorai Fushiko, it wouldn't be difficult for her to deduce his involvement. And Kurorai Fushiko’s unusual excitement today was, in all likelihood, an intentional performance meant for Amemiya Sagu.

Anwa couldn’t help but feel a headache coming on. With Sagu’s jealous temperament, he could already foresee what awaited him that evening. Still, with Saori around, perhaps Sagu wouldn’t go too far?

Thinking of his "young sister-in-law," Anwa felt somewhat reassured. He took a deep breath and knocked on his own door.

Soon, footsteps approached from within. The door opened to reveal Amemiya Sagu, dressed in a maid outfit. Her expression was composed, as though nothing had happened earlier, and when she saw Anwa, she even greeted him with a gentle smile.

"Welcome home."

Her voice was soft as she stepped aside to let him in. Although Anwa found this odd, he entered regardless.

As the door closed behind him, Anwa changed his shoes in the entranceway, glancing curiously into the empty living room.

"Where’s Saori? Why isn’t she in the living room?"

"Her~" Sagu drew out the word, and when Anwa turned to look, she gave him a sly wink. "Saori fell asleep. She won’t be waking up until at least tomorrow."

"What do you mean?" Anwa was momentarily stunned, but the narrator’s voice suddenly rang out in his mind:

"Drugging your own sister to achieve your goals? A crafty tactic, indeed. But perhaps Amemiya Sagu doesn't realize that you were at a loss as to how to make a move on Saori. She’s actually made things easier for you..."

The narrator’s words sent a chill down Anwa’s spine, giving rise to uneasy thoughts.

Sure enough, in the next instant, Sagu’s actions confirmed his suspicions.

"Anwa, you reek. Go take a bath," Sagu said, pushing him toward the bathroom without waiting for his agreement. More than that, she followed him in and locked the door behind them.

"Sagu, I can wash by myself, really," Anwa said with a guilty conscience as she approached. After all, he had only just survived a previous ordeal and wanted nothing more than to rest.

Sagu seemed to see right through him. Her gentle smile faded, replaced by a look of plaintive reproach.

"Is it because you were sneaking around with Lady Kurorai just now, and now you find me distasteful?"

"Of course not!" Anwa denied flatly. Seeing Sagu’s expression grow more aggrieved, he gritted his teeth and moved to meet her.

No matter how wronged he felt, he couldn't bear to wrong his wife.

An hour later, Anwa emerged from the bathroom carrying Sagu, who wore nothing at all, and made straight for the bedroom.

On the bed, Amemiya Saori was sleeping deeply, a half-finished glass of milk on the nightstand beside her. Noticing his gaze, Sagu drew close, whispering in Anwa’s ear, "I gave her a little of the medicine I used to take. Don’t worry, she won’t wake up."

Then, Sagu’s crimson lips parted as she gently bit Anwa’s ear, her delicate hand gliding across his back like a feather duster.

...

The next morning.

Amemiya Saori awoke in bed. An odd smell lingered in the air, making her wrinkle her nose uncomfortably—it was the first time she’d ever noticed such a thing.

"Did Sis buy chestnut blossoms?" she wondered, sitting up and glancing to her side. She was startled.

The bed was a complete mess except for the spot where she had been sleeping, and there were obvious wet patches on the covers.

"What…?" the confused Saori muttered, just as the bedroom door opened and Sagu entered, clad only in a white T-shirt.

"Good morning, Sis," Saori greeted her sweetly.

Seeing her already awake, Sagu smiled and nodded. "You’re up, Saori. Breakfast is in the living room. Go wash up and eat."

Sagu’s voice was a little hoarse. After speaking, she headed straight to the wardrobe and started changing into her school uniform right there in front of Saori.

Saori didn’t seem to mind, instead admiring her sister’s figure with focused attention. Soon, though, her brows furrowed in concern. She got out of bed, crossed the room barefoot, and, placing one hand on Sagu’s neck and the other on her chest, asked curiously, "Sis, why do you have so many red marks?"

"Red marks? Do I?" Sagu was briefly taken aback, glancing down to see several patches of flushed skin on her chest, standing out starkly against the pale skin around them. Realizing the cause, her cheeks reddened, but she maintained her composure and explained, "Oh, those? I had a snack last night and had an allergic reaction, that’s all."

"Is it serious?" Saori asked, giving a concerned pinch.

"It’s nothing. It’ll be gone soon," Sagu replied, but then suddenly felt something odd at her chest and, without thinking, brushed Saori’s hand away. She didn’t like anyone touching her in intimate places—no one but Anwa, not even her own sister.

"So soft!" Saori exclaimed in envy, but she didn’t press further. Reminded by her sister, she realized she was hungry, but then, as if remembering something, she pouted, her eyes full of grievance.

"By the way, Sis, didn’t I just lie down for a nap yesterday? How did I end up sleeping through the night, and why didn’t you call me for dinner?" She glanced back at the disheveled bed, her eyes glinting with cunning intelligence. "And why is the bed such a mess? The sheets are soaked in several places."

Hearing her sister’s questions, Sagu’s heart beat faster, but she kept her calm façade as she dressed, replying, "Don’t you remember, Saori?"

"Remember what?" Saori asked, puzzled. Sagu pointed at her legs. "Last night you drank too much milk and wet the bed."

"Wet… the bed?!" Saori’s eyes widened in shock, her cheeks turning scarlet as she shook her head in denial. "Impossible! I haven’t wet the bed since I was five!"

Even as she spoke, she reached for her pajama pants. She wanted to prove her innocence, but the moment her hand touched the fabric, she froze.

"Wet… it’s wet," she murmured, the light fading from her eyes.

Seeing her reaction, Sagu exhaled in relief, though she felt a pang of guilt. Sorry, little sister, but since you reacted to the sounds I made with Anwa last night, in a way, you’re not entirely innocent.

She couldn’t help but smile at the memory. Last night, right in the middle of her and Anwa’s passion, there had been a sudden movement from the next bed. Glancing over, she’d seen Saori, apparently asleep, slowly slide her hand into her pajama pants…

When the sisters finally left the bedroom, Sagu had changed into her school uniform, while Saori wore only a white T-shirt, her slender, pale legs bare. Her cheeks were flushed a deep red, one hand clutching the hem of her shirt, the other holding a pile of clothes as she walked straight to the bathroom.

The sound of running water soon followed.

Seeing this, Anwa walked over to Sagu and asked, "What’s wrong with her?"

Sagu winked at him, a sly smile on her lips, then leaned close to whisper the explanation in his ear.

After hearing it, Anwa gave Sagu a peculiar look.

Nearly half an hour later, Saori finally emerged, now dressed in her school uniform. Her hair was damp, her pale calves bare—evidence of a recent shower. She ate breakfast in the living room without once raising her head, then hurried to the entryway, pulled on her white stockings and shoes, and left the house.

Anwa and Sagu exchanged glances and both smiled. After quickly cleaning up, they changed shoes at the entryway and left together.

As they were closing the door, before Anwa could even pull out his key, the neighboring door swung open. Kurorai Fushiko emerged in a Mickey Mouse coat and blue jeans, accompanied by a petite girl with twin ponytails and a red backpack.

"Anwa!" Kurorai Sakuri’s sleepy face lit up as soon as she saw him. She let go of her mother’s hand, rushed over, and looked up at him excitedly. "Good morning, Anwa!"

Then she turned to Sagu and piped up in her clear, childish voice, "Good morning, big sister whose name I can’t remember!"

"Good morning, Sakuri," Sagu replied with a laugh, crouching down to her level, unconcerned by the girl’s inability to remember her name.

"You little rascal..." Anwa said helplessly, ruffling Sakuri’s hair before looking over at Fushiko.

"Good morning, Miss Fushiko," he greeted.

He couldn’t help but notice the dark circles under her eyes and the weariness she couldn’t hide. "Did you not sleep well last night?"

"Just a little," Fushiko replied with a smile, though her thoughts were quite different.

Why do you think I couldn’t sleep? Isn’t it obvious? She wanted nothing more than to shoot him a glare, but with her daughter present, she refrained.

Just as she was about to reward herself last night, the sounds of passion from Anwa’s apartment began to drift through the walls. It didn’t take much imagination to guess what was happening. She’d assumed it would last half an hour at most, but the noises continued until three in the morning.

Because the two apartments were mirror images of each other, Anwa’s bedroom was directly adjacent to hers. As a result, she heard everything with perfect clarity and barely slept at all.

Fushiko glanced at Sagu, a touch of admiration in her eyes. Sagu, for her part, maintained her gentle smile and turned to Anwa. "Saori’s waiting downstairs. We should get going."

"Right," Anwa replied, giving Sakuri’s hair one last tousle before bidding the mother and daughter goodbye.

After they left, Fushiko watched Sagu’s departing figure, frowning thoughtfully.

"She’s only just had her first time—how could the sounds last so long?"

…

Elsewhere, after seeing the Amemiya sisters into their car, Anwa rode his bike to school.

Today, Rena Serizawa was once again absent, and even Nobue Ito had called in sick. When he phoned to check on her, she claimed it was just a mild cold, but Anwa was skeptical.

The school day passed quickly.

After class, Anwa drove to the elementary school where Sakuri studied. After finding her, he managed to get Ito’s address from her and then set off at once, refusing Sakuri’s request to go with him.

Meanwhile, at the North Academy gates, the Amemiya sisters—planning to walk home together—were suddenly stopped.

Before them stood a middle-aged man in tattered clothes, messy hair, and missing an arm. Saori peered at him uncertainly. "Uncle Watanabe?"

"It’s me, Miss Saori," he replied with a nod, then turned to Sagu. "Good day, young mistress."

Being addressed so formally caught Sagu off guard, but she responded politely. "H-hello."

Having confirmed his identity, Saori’s previous timidity turned to delight. Watanabe Sawano had been her personal driver and bodyguard, but ever since their parents’ passing a few weeks ago, she hadn’t seen him.

She’d assumed he’d run off now that his employers were gone, but here he was again—and clearly not in good shape. Curiosity won out.

"Uncle Watanabe, where have you been? And what happened to you?"

Sawano glanced down at his ragged clothes and empty sleeve and gave a bitter smile.

"It’s a long story. Could we talk somewhere else? To be honest, I haven’t had a hot meal in four days."

Saori hesitated, glancing at her sister.

Sagu, after a moment’s thought, pointed across the street at a Kendeikun restaurant. "We can talk, but only in that place. If you act in any suspicious way, we’ll leave immediately."

(End of chapter)