"Alright, alright, fine! I surrender."
Midori Kuriyama's face was beet red as she said shyly, "I snuck over last night and... slept with Dr. Asai and Mr. Hoshimiya."
In broad daylight, and in front of so many acquaintances, the secretary ultimately couldn't bring herself to say the word 'SEX.'
Eva and Ran simply nodded slightly, showing no excessive reaction.
Ever since Midori had made those suggestive comments the night before, they knew it was only a matter of time. They were a bit surprised it had happened this fast, but now that it was confirmed, it didn't feel like a world-shaking revelation.
Serena, however, looked utterly incredulous. The chopsticks in her hand clattered onto the table.
"God damn it! Miss Kuriyama, you move way too fast!"
The heiress looked indignant, but the words that came out of her mouth left everyone speechless.
"I was supposed to be Hoshimiya-sensei's second woman! Now I'm stuck being the third wheel!"
Midori: /(//o/w/o//)/ Megumi: (*￣︶￣) Eva: "..." Ran massaged her temples. "Serena, that's not how you use the term 'third wheel'..."
Serena knew that, of course; she was being provocative on purpose. After sticking her tongue out playfully, she became even more determined to drag Hoshimiya Yuu home and "devour" him. Otherwise, she wouldn't even get a chance at being third.
Compared to Serena's restlessness, Ran seemed unusually calm.
Sensing the question in Yuu's eyes, Ran smiled. "Since I couldn't be Yuu-nii's first, it doesn't really matter what number I am. I'd rather let things happen naturally."
In truth, Ran hoped to wait until their wedding day, but she knew that might be unrealistic. Yuu had promised her that she would always be the "primary" woman, and he wouldn't go back on that. If he could only marry one, it would be her.
Ran believed in him completely. Even though she didn't notice the strange fluctuations of time in this world, she knew they'd have to wait until graduation to marry—at least another year. She didn't think she could wait that long, nor did she want Yuu to suffer that long. So, she chose to let nature take its course, believing the fruit would ripen soon enough.
"Ran, you're so sly!" Serena complained. "You're making me look like the petty one!"
"Hehe." Ran turned away and let out a quiet giggle.
Everyone had a different personality, but Ran indeed had her own little schemes. Between a fighter and a generous woman, men clearly preferred the latter.
Yuu patted Serena's rounded bottom and laughed. "Don't worry, Serena. I like that about you too."
Serena's blunt, boisterous personality was actually quite charming. Being around someone like her was easy—no need for second-guessing. If such a person happened to be a beautiful girl, she was even more lovable.
Serena's looks were actually top-tier; she was just "sealed" by that headband. Yuu had wanted to suggest a hairstyle change more than once, but thinking about the future involving Sherry, he kept his mouth shut. There was no need to add danger. If he wanted the "Sherry-version" of Serena, he could just remove her headband when they were in bed.
Looking at the playful girls, Eva felt out of place. Previously, Midori was in her camp, but after one night, it seemed Eva was the only "outsider" left.
Despite being Ran's mother and her closest relative, she felt like a stranger to the group.
Especially seeing the interaction between Ran and Yuu, Eva felt a wave of unease. The thought of her daughter sharing a man with so many women triggered her maternal protective instincts.
Yet, looking at the handsome, sunny Yuu—who, aside from being a playboy, was flawless in every way—the great lawyer didn't know where to start her "cross-examination."
Seeing that the topic was already open, Yuu decided to tell the girls about Hitomi Kujou.
Serena let out a mock tragic sigh. "One step too late. The number three spot was snatched by Miss Kuriyama..."
"Serena!" Ran, being thin-skinned, called out her friend's name in embarrassment.
"Alright, alright!" Serena giggled and dropped the "third wheel" joke, turning her curiosity toward Hitomi Kujou. She hadn't gone to Tropical Land that day, so she was curious about the college girl who was "lucky" enough to take Yuu's virginity.
Megumi and Midori were equally curious, wanting to know who had beaten them to the punch.
Yuu simplified the story, omitting the death of the "Golden-Haired Kishida" and replacing it with Hitomi falling for him at first sight. He described a standard progression: meeting at the park, exchanging numbers, a home visit, and then... the mood was right.
It was a common enough story, so the girls didn't overthink it. Only Ran fell into deep thought.
By her calculations, that was the day before they went to Moonlight Island...
"No wonder Yuu-nii seemed a bit different that day. Aside from being sleepy, was it because you changed from a boy into a man?"
The moment Ran said this, everyone looked at her as if she were a psychic. It was one thing to tell if a woman had lost her virginity—there are physical signs. But to detect a man's "transition" just by a feeling!
Ran smiled sheepishly. "It's just hindsight. I didn't think much of it then, I just felt Yuu-nii was slightly different from usual."
"Still quite impressive..." Eva looked at her daughter in surprise. She hadn't realized Ran had such sharp intuition.
In reality, Ran's intuition was an inheritance from Eva, though the student had surpassed the master.
Eva possessed three talents: Intuition (Purple), Precise Diction (Blue), and Seductive Curves (Purple).
Intuition (Purple) was a slightly weaker version of Ran's sixth sense.
Precise Diction (Blue): The ability to hit the mark with the most concise language; effects are vastly enhanced when backed by evidence.
The combination of Intuition and Precise Diction, along with her hard work, was why Eva remained undefeated in court. Her work ethic was legendary—so much so that she had left Ran with Richard Mouri years ago. In hindsight, it might have been better for Ran to grow up with her bumbling father than a mother who would have been too busy to give her any love at all.
The final talent, Seductive Curves (Purple), was a charm-based one.
Seductive Curves: Body proportions far exceed the norm, flexibility is greatly enhanced, attraction to the opposite sex is increased, and libido is slightly increased. Effects are maximized during dances, banquets, or any occasion that highlights the physique.
As one of the most tempting "milfs" in this world, Eva's body was top-tier. Yuu wasn't surprised she had this talent. Even though she usually wore professional suits that hid her curves, the exaggerated lines of her body still drew the eye.
Every time Yuu looked at Eva, a fire would ignite in his gut—a feeling Ran and the younger girls couldn't quite replicate. This was the unique allure of a gorgeous mature woman. Unlike the innocent charm of the teenagers, her body instinctively triggered thoughts of carnal desire.
Even though Eva was just sitting there eating in modest loungewear, Yuu couldn't help but want to explore the prideful flesh hidden beneath the fabric.
Forcing himself to look away, Yuu silently calmed his "Little Yuu."
He knew he couldn't rush this. He would definitely take Eva, but not now. She was Ran's mother, after all; if he made a move too aggressively, it wouldn't look right. He didn't want to jeopardize his relationship with Ran.
For Eva, he couldn't be the aggressor. He had to wait for this long-neglected, beautiful woman to offer herself... or at the very least, wait for a "convenient accident."
Yuu's secret thoughts remained hidden, but his burning gaze did not escape the girls' notice. Ran gave him a sharp kick under the table. Even if her mother was sexy and beautiful, as a future son-in-law, he should show some respect.