"Hmm? That is weird. Why has Anby been gone for so long?"
Nekomata glanced at the door, her ears twitching in confusion. Belle did not look surprised at all, as if she had been expecting this to happen.
"Maybe she got lost trying to find the restroom. And… you really seem to like my brother."
"Nya! Of course! After all, Wise and everyone helped me so much… Nya! Belle, what are you doing?!"
Nekomata flinched when Belle's hand reached for her ear, her tail twitching nervously as her cheeks flushed slightly.
"Eh? I just wanted to touch your ear… Can't I?" Belle asked, pretending to sound pitiful.
"Of course not! A Cat Thiren's ears can't be touched casually!"
Belle blinked, then tapped her finger to her lips, frowning slightly.
"Really? But… why can my brother touch them whenever he wants?"
"T-That's because, Wise… Anyway, you just can't touch them! It's too embarrassing…"
Watching Nekomata lower her head somewhat guiltily, Belle didn't press further. Instead, she tapped her chin, pondering the situation.
'I never thought even Nekomata would fall for Big Brother's charm. This is troublesome. Should I add her to the group? I wonder if he has the energy for it?' Belle mused, a faint memory of Wise's capabilities that night crossing her mind.
'It's certainly not out of the question.'
Her gaze landed on Nekomata. Given the girl's recent performance, it felt right to ask for her opinion first.
"Nekomata..."
"H-Huh? What is it? If you're asking to touch my ears, the answer is still absolutely no!" She refused immediately, crossing her arms into an X.
"It's not that. I was just wondering if you'd be comfortable letting Wise keep touching your ears and tail like he did before?"
Upon hearing Belle's question, Nekomata was slightly stunned, evidently not expecting the topic to change so quickly.
She immediately covered her face with both hands, looking everywhere but at Belle.
After a brief pause, she mumbled, "Y-yes, I do want that. Honestly, Wise's skill is incredible... no kitten could ever say no, and I'm no different!"
"Oh? Really? So… if my skill matches my brother's, or maybe even surpasses it, could I touch you anytime I want?" Belle teased, smirking.
"Eh? Absolutely not!" Nekomata said instinctively, then blinked, startled at her own words.
She wasn't sure why she had rejected the idea so quickly, but even if Belle's technique was better than Wise's, it didn't matter. She simply wouldn't allow it.
As Nekomata made this decision firmly in her heart, Belle watched her with a knowing smile. To Belle, this girl was already a lost cause. Her handsome brother was far too dangerous.
"I got rejected so fast. Is it because my bond with you isn't as strong as my Brother's?" Belle put on a fake pout, making Nekomata a little flustered.
"This… no, uh, p-perhaps? But Belle is still really important to me, like family!"
Nekomata wasn't sure what to say. Saying "yes" outright would be bad, but "no" wouldn't explain anything either. She could only answer vaguely.
"Hmm, I understand."
"Phew, glad you understand."
Belle didn't press the matter. Pushing further might have made things worse. Her job was just to set things in motion, the rest was on her Brother.
Nekomata let out a quiet sigh of relief. If the questioning had gone on, she probably wouldn't have known how to answer.
After a short while, Anby came back, accompanied by Wise.
Nekomata's sharp eyes caught the slight dampness of Anby's hair, and she frowned in confusion.
'What's going on? Did she wash her hair in the restroom? And why's she in pajamas now?'
Wise noticed her questioning look and nodded, confirming that Anby had washed her hair. He also reached out to flick away a strand of hair stuck to her mouth.
"Now that you're done bathing Brother, who's next?" Belle asked with a grin.
"I don't need to. I already took a shower," Anby replied, settling comfortably onto the sofa.
Nekomata looked even more puzzled, but Belle explained that Anby had taken a shower before dinner.
She had been worried Anby was showering with Wise just now. Thankfully, it turned out Anby had already showered, and the delay was probably just her changing into pajamas.
"Nekomata, want to go first? Or should we wash together?"
"Nya! No thanks, Belle, I'm fine on my own!"
Nekomata sprinted away, leaving Belle with her hands spread and a wry shake of her head.
"Belle, stop teasing her so much," Wise warned, hoping she'd take it easy.
"Eh? Brother, really? Weren't you teasing her more than me before?" Belle's tone was laced with irony, leaving him no room to argue.
After all, teasing cats was always fun.
She didn't dwell on it and switched the talk to where they'd sleep tonight.
"Oh, right. Since we don't have any extra rooms, we'll just have to squeeze in tonight."
"Hmm, no problem. Then I'll sleep with Wise tonight," Anby replied eagerly.
'Anby, your intentions are too obvious!' The two siblings thought at the same time.
"That won't work. My brother's a boy, after all. I'll sleep with him, and Anby can sleep with Nekomata in my room," Belle said, draping her arms over Wise's shoulders and leaning her head against him intimately.
Anby couldn't help but frown. Watching Belle claim Wise so possessively in front of her stirred a strange unease.
It didn't feel like the kind of contact siblings should have.
"It's fine. Wise and I are already in a relationship, so sleeping together isn't a problem," Anby said bluntly.
Her words left Belle momentarily speechless, but she still refused to yield on the sleeping arrangement.
Then, just as things were about to get tense, Wise put his hand between the two. Both girls turned to him instantly.
"How about we all just sleep together tonight? That's okay with you, Anby?"
When she heard Wise's suggestion, Anby didn't object and simply nodded.
"Since Wise said so."
"Hmm, Anby really is easily won over by my brother," Belle said with a teasing smile.
"Yes, because I really like Wise," Anby replied, and Wise's lips curved into a warm smile.
"I like Anby the most too, and Belle as well," he added.
"Hmm, saying that won't make me happy!" Belle turned her face, a faint blush coloring her cheeks.
"Then what are you actually thinking, Belle?"
"Very happy…"
Watching the exchange between Wise and Belle, Anby blinked in confusion, then on impulse, leaned against Wise.
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