After leaving several "heavy loads" for Suzue to deal with, Rin returned home. Nanase was at class, so only Mashiro was home.
Rin checked on Mashiro and then went to his room to draw. He worked for an hour before his phone buzzed. It was a message from Oriue.
Oriue: [Ito-sensei, I've finished the cosplay outfit for the male lead of 'Slippery Girl'!]
Back on the island, he had promised Marin Kitagawa he would play along with her "Toilet Play" fantasies, but his costume wasn't ready then.
Marin: [This is amazing! It's identical to the academy uniform!]
Marin: [There's a convention next week. Ito-sensei, let's go together!]
Rin: [Next week? Sure. Can I bring a friend?]
Marin: [A friend? Is it a girl?]
Rin: [Yeah. And Sagiri. I'll see if she wants to come as Shimakaze.]
After confirming with Marin, Rin messaged Kaguya.
Rin: [There's a con next week. Do you want to come and take photos?]
He waited ten minutes, but Kaguya didn't reply. She was probably asleep.
Across town, Kaguya was definitely not sleeping. She was staring at her phone, her face crimson.
"Ai... he... he invited me out. Should I say yes? Will he think I'm too easy if I reply too fast?"
Ai Hayasaka sighed. "You literally just got fucked into a pissing orgasm. Why are you acting shy about a text message now?"
"AI!!!!" Kaguya glared. "This is... this is different. Before, I was just trying to win. Now... I actually like him. It's different."
"Will he think I'm a lewd bitch if I agree so easily?"
Aren't you? Ai thought. "Kaguya, he has a girlfriend. You've already lost the moral high ground. Just say yes."
"But I want him to like me the way he likes Kaede," Kaguya whispered. "Not just as a 'fuck-buddy' or a 'human weapon.' I want him to actually love me."
"I don't know where you learned the term 'human weapon,' Kaguya... but fine. I'll help you. Just reply 'Yes' for now."
Ai smiled to herself. Kaguya might never replace Kaede, but with "prolonged contact," she could get close. After all, "love grows through time"—or in this case, through frequent "servicing."