Shiina Taki was testing Kanzaki Saku, but how could Kanzaki Saku not be testing his sister's friend as well?
If Taki were truly the sunny and cheerful girl she appeared to be, she would have been focused on studying and might not have even felt his hint.
'He touched me! Brother Kanzaki's big hand! Was he doing it on purpose?!'
'No, no! His expression is so natural, and his movements are so fluid. It was completely just a casual act of helping!'
Just as Taki's mind was racing with wild thoughts, on the verge of revealing a cheerful smile.
Kanzaki Saku's fingers gently slid a few times on her thigh.
It didn't seem like an unconscious slide, but rather one with some sort of intent.
It was very faint, as if he were writing something?
Noticing this, Taki held her breath, focusing all her senses on that one spot, trying her best to decipher what Kanzaki Saku had written.
One stroke, two strokes...
Was it a 'W' and a 'C'?
WC?
In this context, its most likely meaning was the restroom?
Was he hinting for her to go to the restroom? Why? Could it be...
Her expression beginning to look unnatural, Taki quickly pretended to choke on her juice, coughing violently to cover her loss of composure.
"Cough... Thank you, Brother Kanzaki."
Kanzaki Saku's actions were extremely subtle and swift. After writing those two letters, he retracted his hand as if nothing had happened.
There was no flaw in his expression either; he even showed concern for Taki, who was pretending to choke.
"No need to drink so fast, no one's going to steal it from you."
"If you don't feel well, or need a change of pace, feel free to take a break anytime."
"I... I understand. Thank you for the reminder, Brother Kanzaki." Taki's voice was a little dry. She forced herself to stay calm, refusing to show any weakness at this moment.
After delivering the fruit and his hint, Kanzaki Saku didn't linger. He smiled at Sagiri as well, "Well, you two carry on, I won't disturb you anymore."
Then he turned and left the room, thoughtfully closing the door once more.
He left only a conflicted Taki, still holding the cup of cold juice.
The skin on her thigh where he had written seemed to still be faintly burning, constantly reminding her that Kanzaki Saku had indeed given her a hint.
'What on earth does he mean? Am I overthinking it, over-interpreting? Or is he really sending me a signal?'
After a moment of symbolic struggle, Taki's brain was taken over by her desires.
'Who cares if it's a hint or not, it won't stop me from getting him! If it's a hint, that's even better, it saves me some trouble. If not, it doesn't matter, I already have a backup plan!'
However, the biggest obstacle to achieving her goal was not Kanzaki Saku's thoughts, but the girl beside her, Sagiri, who had maxed out her brother-complex stats.
"Um, Sagiri," Taki said, trying to make her voice sound as natural as possible, "I... I need to use the restroom."
Sagiri looked up at her words, eyeing her suspiciously. The brief, subtle atmosphere between Taki and her brother just now had made her sensitive brother-complex radar tingle slightly.
"The restroom?" Sagiri narrowed her eyes, her tone questioning. "Taki, you're not thinking of..."
Seeing that Sagiri was about to become suspicious, Taki had a flash of inspiration and immediately put on a look of 'an honor student's helplessness,' and sighed.
"Sigh, maybe I was too focused on studying just now, and my brain's a bit overworked. Plus, I drank that cold juice, so my stomach's a little upset."
She even cooperatively rubbed her abdomen, her expression completely convincing. "I'll be quick, I'll be right back to continue the fight! I'm determined to make you understand this problem!"
Taki's excuse was flimsy on its own, but combined with her performance of being completely absorbed in tutoring all afternoon, it seemed very real.
So, the earlier 'addiction to studying' wasn't a mistake, but an important bit of foreshadowing laid by you, Lewd Taki?!
Was this also part of your plan, Lewd Taki!
Sagiri looked at the densely written draft paper in front of Taki, then recalled her focused and serious expression while solving problems earlier. Most of her doubts were dispelled.
'That's true, Taki is studying so seriously, how could she be thinking of sneaking off to find my brother? I must have been too sensitive and wronged her...' Sagiri couldn't help but feel a little guilty.
"Oh, okay, go ahead then." Sagiri waved her hand and lowered her head again, muttering, "Remember to come back quickly."
Success!
Taki was ecstatic, but she showed none of it on her face, merely nodding obediently. "Mhm, I'll be quick!"
She stood up and controlled her steps as much as possible, not wanting to seem too eager, and walked steadily out of Sagiri's room.
As the door gently closed behind her, cutting off Sagiri's view, Taki leaned against the hallway wall and let out a long sigh of relief, feeling a thin layer of sweat on her back.
She didn't dare to delay, afraid that Sagiri might change her mind or suddenly come out, so she quickly started looking for the Kanzaki family's restroom.
As she searched, Taki considered her next move.
If... if I really did misunderstand just now, and Brother Kanzaki had no such intention, and it was all just a fantasy born from my prolonged repression...
It doesn't matter! I, Shiina Taki, have a backup plan!
Taki's original plan was simple. The Kanzaki Saku described by Sagiri was a gentle older brother who doted on his sister.
An older brother who cared so much for his sister would surely not want to see Sagiri all alone at school without any friends, right?
In that case, as Sagiri's best friend at school, when she is suffering from some unspeakable 'hidden illness' concerning her physical and mental health.
And it might affect her friendship with Sagiri, leading her to be unable to take care of Sagiri as she does now.
That gentle and kind older brother, out of love for his sister, shouldn't refuse to provide a little help to 'treat' her of this troublesome 'symptom,' right?
To come up with such a plan, one could only say that Taki had been reading too many doujinshi.
Any normal person would have told Taki to get lost. Who needs a friend like you, resorting to threats?
However, Kanzaki Saku wasn't a normal person. If he hadn't actively cooperated and guided them, Yukino and the others would have been stuck as little kitchen maids for the rest of their lives.
So Kanzaki Saku would express that Sagiri desperately needs a friend like you; she absolutely can't do without you!
As for this 'leaking' symptom Taki mentioned, as Sagiri's brother, it would naturally be his duty to help you plug it up!
Just as Taki was contemplating Plan B while finally finding and walking toward the bathroom.
The bathroom door opened on its own, and a large hand reached out, pulling a startled Taki inside.
____
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