By the time Su Yuzu returned to the dormitory, it was already past midnight. The girl yawned somewhat drowsily.
In this reborn life, she had fairly good sleeping habits. If it were a few days ago, by this time she would have already been curled up in Ms. Unohana Chiyo's covers, tucking her cold little feet into Ms. Unohana's embrace or between her knees for warmth.
Recalling tonight's experience, Su Yuzu still found it interesting. Mn—interesting. It absolutely had nothing to do with being erotic or charming. But it was interesting enough.
The pressure Kujou Katora brought upon Soga Yura was completely different from other girls. Even Soga Ishikawa Kiyomi, who made Soga Yura feel like she was a replacement, hadn't been able to give Soga Yura that much pressure. Because of the natural attribute of being sisters. And at the same time, because of her own past faults.
Kujou Katora, who had also existed as a younger sister, detested Soga Yura, who had once hurt Su Yuzu with cold violence. The Empire's mad dog did not fear anyone's expression. Even if... that person was her master's older sister.
Aside from the dogfight, there was also one person who didn't mind watching the drama unfold, and another who watched these 'children' playing happily with a beaming smile. Clearly, the movie was a rather erotic restricted film. As a result... the atmosphere in the movie theater inexplicably turned into one of 'family fun'.
The movie hadn't even finished playing when Su Yuzu heard the sound of a girl's stomach growling beside her. Several pairs of eyes landed on Soga Yura simultaneously. Soga Yura, who was already struggling to maintain her dignity in front of Yuzu, instantly felt her cheeks burning terrifyingly hot.
"This guy rushed out in a hurry the moment she heard you went to watch a movie with Miss Kujou," Sakura Mai smiled as she exposed Soga Yura's secrets. "She hasn't even eaten dinner."
Ever since Soga Yura no longer needed to maintain her persona of aloof coolness in front of Yuzu, her persona had almost rapidly collapsed into that of a crybaby. Of course—'The Empire's Hound' on Su Yuzu's other side wasn't much better. The majesty of the Senior Superintendent of the Empire's Investigation Bureau, Fourth Action Division, had also flushed away completely.
Let alone Soga Yura and Kujou Katora. Even Ms. Unohana Chiyo's persona of a 'sickly' yet gentle and glamorous older sister had once collapsed. In the instant after Director Saionji offered a salary of ten "Medical Units", Ms. Unohana Chiyo's line, "Little Yuzu, just come at me. Teacher is very resilient," left a particularly deep impression on Su Yuzu.
The gentle and glamorous older sister instantly turned into a miserable exploited person. As if as long as Su Yuzu threw out ten "Medical Units", there would be no problem no matter what she asked Ms. Unohana Chiyo to do.
Soga Yura still wanted to refute Sakura Mai. After all, she wasn't the only one who hadn't eaten dinner. But the Knight Princess's emerald eyes seemed vividly capable of speech: 'But Ms. Chiyo and I didn't have our stomachs growl~'
Before Soga Yura could refute, a serving of strawberry cream crepes had already appeared in front of her. Gulp—Soga Yura's throat swallowed subconsciously.
Among the girls, only Sakura Mai gazed at Su Yuzu's hand. 'That crepe... Where did Sister Yuzu pull it out from? Is it some kind of "Holy Relic"? Forget it... that is Sister Yuzu's own secret.'
*
Di-di-di—
With a short mechanical sound, Su Yuzu had completed the iris authentication. Looking at the little cat whose head was constantly emitting strings of 'ZZZZ' while curled up on a chair in the [Operator Development] interface, she carefully pushed open the bedroom door, keeping her movements as low as possible.
She didn't turn on the lights. But Su Yuzu had already seen Zero in the dormitory living room. The girl was hugging her knees, curled up on a hard wooden chair like a little cat; her long eyelashes hung low, trembling slightly with her breathing.
The girl slept quietly. Curling up on a hard wooden chair certainly couldn't be comfortable, especially while wearing [Ascetic's Fetters]. But Zero still hadn't returned to the bedroom. Su Yuzu knew what she was doing; she was waiting for her. Just like a little cat waiting anxiously at home, thinking its owner went out to hunt and hadn't returned late at night.
As gently as possible, keeping her movements low, Su Yuzu wanted to pick Zero up and carry her to the bed. The girl's body was very light, so light that it felt to Su Yuzu not even as heavy as that set of fetters.
Originally, after Mihou Sakai said she forgave her, Su Yuzu and Mihou Sakai had wanted to remove Zero's fetters. But the girl refused no matter what. She insisted on wearing that set of fetters... to atone. She had really written that.
Clatter—
A very subtle sound, but Su Yuzu could clearly feel the heartbeat of the little cat in her arms begin to accelerate sharply, recovering from a light sleep state to wakefulness. In the darkness, dark golden vertical pupils opened, looking straight at Su Yuzu. The little cat rubbed against Su Yuzu's chest.
"Why didn't you go back to the room to sleep?" Su Yuzu simply pulled out a chair and sat down, gently stroking Zero's hair.
Tap tap tap tap—
The tablet screen was lit up. Su Yuzu watched as Zero tried very hard to write down, "Lady Yuzu said... would return at night."
Su Yuzu was momentarily somewhat at a loss for words. She herself had said she would return a bit late. The information Zero captured, however, was not the 'time', but simply that she would return. For this single point, she could curl up on a chair and wait for her until now.
"You don't have to wait for me next time," Su Yuzu instructed gently by the girl's ear, even though she knew saying this was useless. "Also... I might have something to do tomorrow and will be going on a long trip. I will ask Little Mihou to come over and help take care of you these few days. Don't open the door for anyone other than Little Mihou, understood?"
The dark golden vertical pupils opened wide. Su Yuzu could see the kind of uneasiness generated in the girl because she was about to leave. But she still nodded as obediently as possible, signaling that she understood.
"Alright~ Time is getting late, go to sleep quickly. Sleeping too late is very bad for the body."
The little cat nestled in Su Yuzu's embrace nodded vigorously, and then... the girl's knees knocked together. She tugged at Su Yuzu's sleeve and, with extreme shyness, wrote another line of words on the tablet.
Su Yuzu looked at that line of words, her expression suddenly becoming peculiar. She picked up the girl and walked toward the washroom.
Sometimes Su Yuzu would even wonder if the little cat had developed a liking for some strange Play. Or perhaps without her instructions, she didn't dare to do even a single thing that overstepped boundaries. Then... when she was outside, would she still have to comfort the little cat every day, and at the same time instruct the little cat to solve the problem of relieving herself?
Why did it feel like something was wrong everywhere?
Clink clank—
Being held by her King, the girl's small hands clawed at the chains of the fetters. Looking at the pair of dark golden vertical pupils reflected in the black glass of the washroom, the girl tilted her head in shame.
The Valentine's Day Grand Battle named "Operation Su Yuzu" seemed... not to be without a winner.
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