As far as Shichen was concerned, of course he didn't mind—both of them had already agreed. Could he really call himself a man if he objected?
"I'm fine with it…" he said, feigning a casual tone.
"Yay! Then it's settled!" Chisato cheered, practically hopping with excitement.
"Well…all right, then…" Tohru pursed her lips and nodded.
Shichen noticed that she seemed a bit moody, obviously not entirely enthusiastic—or maybe she just hadn't processed it all yet. She'd basically been led along by Chisato's slightly twisted logic.
That might be a problem later on. Chisato might have pushed too hard, too fast, probably without thinking much about it.
It looked like he would have to step in.
When they reached the second floor, Shichen let Tohru show Chisato around and went to take a bath himself.
But halfway through his bath, Chisato suddenly came right up to the bathroom door.
"Chen-nii, Chen-nii, want me to scrub your back?" she called excitedly from outside, sounding way too enthusiastic.
She really adapted fast—bashfulness apparently didn't exist in her vocabulary.
"Chisato!? What are you doing here?" Shichen nearly jumped out of his skin. He spun to face away from the door, only to remember he'd locked it from the inside.
He'd started locking the door precisely because he was worried Tohru might burst in at some point.
And it wasn't just about that kind of concern—he simply hated having anyone interrupt him mid-bath.
"Heh heh~ I already finished exploring our home," Chisato said outside, testing the handle and finding it wouldn't open. "Chen-nii, why'd you lock the door?"
"…" Shichen felt his face twitch in exasperation.
She really had no concept of personal boundaries, huh? They'd literally just met that day. Even if he was quite familiar with her, it didn't mean they were that close in this timeline.
Then again, her situation was special—she'd been waiting ten years to find him. She was just too forward! Fortunately, he did like proactive girls; otherwise, this would be too overwhelming.
"It's normal to lock the door when you're taking a bath," he explained.
"But we're all family in this house, aren't we?"
"Family or not, I still want to lock it."
"You're not seriously guarding against me, are you? That's so mean! If I were the one bathing, I wouldn't lock you out, Chen-nii."
"I can't be as, uh, casual as you are."
"Hee hee~ but I've been missing you for ten whole years, Chen-nii."
"…" From her tone, Shichen could tell just how happy she felt. Thinking it over, he started to understand her behavior: if he'd spent a decade longing for someone, he, too, would be eager to be close the moment they reunited.
Even so, he had his principles; it was important to develop an emotional bond gradually.
"Chisato, there's no rush. We've got plenty of time ahead of us—let's go step by step, okay?"
"Ehhh—" She sounded disappointed.
"No need to hurry. Don't you think we should actually get to know each other? Ten years ago, we hardly got acquainted, right? Let's live together, go out, hang out, one step at a time."
"Huh… Maybe Chen-nii has a point…"
"Right? And I still know next to nothing about you. I'd love to hear about what you've been doing all these years."
"You wanna know about me? Got it!"
"Good girl… By the way, where's Tohru?"
"Oh, she said she was gonna 'warm up' the bed."
"…She knows you came over here?"
"Yep, but she didn't seem bothered… Must've realized I couldn't get in anyway." Chisato chuckled.
Shichen shook his head, laughing softly—maybe Tohru wasn't as clueless as she seemed, after all.
"All right, Chen-nii, I'll let you finish your bath. I'm off to warm up the bed too, so Tohru's scent won't be the only one on the sheets."
Without waiting for him to respond, Chisato bounded away from the bathroom door. That girl had real drive.
Shichen found himself chuckling, enjoying the lively atmosphere at home. Previously, it'd been so dull living alone.
Once he finished bathing, he got dressed in his pajamas and returned to his bedroom—only to see two youthful, attractive girls lying on his bed, just as he'd feared.
Tohru looked the same as ever—lying on her side in pajamas, her big dragon tail draped behind her. But Chisato made Shichen's brow twitch.
Neither of them had a blanket covering them, so he could see Chisato sprawled on her back wearing only her "basic undergarments"—pure white, edged with lace, looking exceedingly cute.
Her skin was fair, almost radiant. Her collarbone was graceful, her stomach smooth and pale, with just the faintest rounding at her midriff. Her thighs weren't especially thin, but they were perfectly shaped, giving her a striking silhouette—strong enough, he guessed, to nearly knock someone out if she kicked them.
It was a picture of girlish beauty, thoroughly mesmerizing… if only Tohru weren't also there.
"Chisato, what are you doing?" Shichen asked, rubbing his forehead.
"Eh? Going to bed?" she replied innocently.
"But you're…like that…"
"Ohhh, I get it, you want me completely naked?" Chisato said, abruptly sitting up and reaching behind her back as if to undo her bra.
"Wait!"
"What the heck are you doing!?" Tohru shouted, grabbing her wrist.
"I'm taking it off."
"That's not what Chen-dono meant!"
"What do you mean, then? Want me to start from the bottom?"
"Don't play dumb—will you behave!?" Tohru barked at her.
"Heh heh~ okay," Chisato relented with a mischievous grin.
Shichen just shook his head. "Right, I forgot. You haven't gone shopping for any sleepwear yet, and the shops are closed now."
"Doesn't matter," Chisato said brightly, waving a dismissive hand. "I can just sleep like this."
"...That's not really suitable. You didn't bring anything at all? Where did you live before?"
"I only just got back from China—I've got nothing," she admitted.
"Well…" He sighed. "You can borrow some of my pajamas. Good thing I bought extras… Don't suppose you mind wearing mine…"
"Of course not!" Chisato lit up instantly.
"Wait, Chen-dono, can I wear your pajamas too?" Tohru pleaded.
"…I only bought two sets," Shichen said helplessly.
"How come…? Well, then, Chisato, how about you wear mine?"
"No way! Besides, yours would be too big for me," Chisato refused decisively.
"Ugh…" Tohru looked pitiful.
"It's just for tonight, you two… Chisato, go take a bath first," Shichen cut in.
"Right away!"
Chisato hopped off the bed, padding barefoot past Shichen in her skimpy outfit.
"Be right back!"
"No need to rush so much…" Shichen mumbled.
She left behind a faint scent, something lightly sweet he couldn't quite place, probably just his sharp sense of smell.
Once Chisato had gone, Shichen approached the bed, where Tohru was still sulking about missing out on the pajamas. It wasn't the clothes themselves she cared about—she hated that Chisato had beaten her to them.
Shichen found it amusing. He climbed onto the bed, gently stroking her head.
Her pair of horns were quite solid, taking up much of his hand. They did get in the way of head-patting a little.
"Are you that upset?"
"Mmph… I've never gotten to wear Chen-dono's pajamas," Tohru complained, raising her face with a pitiful pout.
"You will someday. Don't sweat it."
"But now the first time is going to Chisato."
"It's just pajamas…" Shichen said with a laugh.
"All your stuff is important, Chen-dono!" Tohru said, displeased.
"…Is it more important than me?"
"Huh? Of course not; you're more important."
"Well, here I am. What do you need pajamas for?" Shichen asked.
"But you're so cautious…" Tohru mumbled, turning her face away.
"'Cautious,' huh?" He chuckled. "Sit up, then."
"Huh? Why?" Tohru obeyed, sitting upright across from him, her tail laid out behind her.
"I'm about to show you I'm not as cautious as you think." Shichen reached out and gently cupped her cheeks.
"Wha—?" Tohru blinked in surprise, then realized his intent. Her eyes lit up with excitement. "Chen-dono?"
"Close your eyes," he said softly.
She obediently complied.
Shichen focused on her lips—bright, soft pink, like two petals. They looked so tender. Without hesitating, he tilted his head and leaned in, letting their lips meet. A fleeting second of contact sent warmth jolting through him, pure bliss.
He meant to keep it as quick as a dragonfly skimming water. But before he could pull away, Tohru's eyes flew open and her arms hooked around his neck, pulling him close.
The roles reversed. Her kiss turned proactive.
Shichen: "Mmph!"
~~~
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