Tohsaka Rin secretly glanced at Tohsaka Touka, who, just like Yukinoshita Haruno, was lying weakly on the puddle of water atop the tea table, too exhausted to get up. The two of them were facing each other and whispering quietly. Rin still felt like she was dreaming.
Could it be...
Their vaguely remembered father had been a playboy, which was why Mother didn't care at all about girls appearing around Father?
Otherwise, she had no idea how to explain it. Mother had only mistaken someone else because of her mental illness. It shouldn't be to the point where she only had Father in her eyes and couldn't see anything else.
"I mean, Rin, don't you like Father?"
Seeing her like this, Tohsaka Sakura couldn't help pouting.
Rin had been lecturing her before, but she clearly wanted him just as much.
Forget it. Rin had always been a tsundere who refused to admit what she felt. Push her a little harder and she'd accept it.
"Ah, n-no! Of course not! I really do like Father!"
Hearing Sakura deliberately stir things up, Rin immediately looked nervously at Tohsaka Aoi and hurriedly made her position clear.
It wasn't that she really wanted Hachiman to be her father. She was only worried about Mother's condition. If Mother got upset, that would be bad.
"Mhm. Rin and Sakura must both listen to Daddy. Daddy is very busy every day, so you mustn't make him worry about us."
Tohsaka Aoi smiled gently. Looking lovingly at Rin and Sakura, who had always been adorable and loved clinging to Hachiman ever since they were little, she softly stroked Rin's smooth black hair before turning back to look at Hachiman.
"My lord, I think that child also has something she wants to say to you."
"Aoi really is observant."
Following Aoi's gaze, Hachiman saw Kanzaki Moemi beside Kirishima Touka and beckoned to her.
"Come here, Moemi. What did you want to say?"
"Um... My older sister, Kanzaki Sayaka, turned down your kindness before, Master-nii. She wants to atone for it."
Moemi hesitated for a moment. Ignoring Sakura's smile that looked ready to kill someone, she crawled straight into Hachiman's arms. Her fair little feet dangled in the air as she wrapped her arms around his neck together with Fueguchi Hinami, one on each side, then pointed at her troublesome older sister, Kanzaki Sayaka.
"Master-nii, how about giving my sister an unforgettable punishment? For example... making her experience Empathy for a whole day?"
Warm breaths slipped from her soft pink lips as she spoke into his ear in a spoiled tone.
Although Moemi was younger than Sayaka, she was much more sensible than her sister. She knew exactly who had given them their happy life now.
If Master-nii hadn't stepped in back then, her family's situation wouldn't have been any better than Yakumo Rio's and Yakumo Miyu's.
At least Rio and Miyu were daughters of a yakuza family. Her own family had been debtors hunted by the yakuza. If she hadn't known that her parents' debt wasn't owed to the Yakumo Group, she would have thought they were all in the same situation.
"There's no need for a whole day of Empathy. Whether someone becomes my exclusive personal maid depends on their own wishes. I never forced your sister, so she didn't betray my goodwill."
Watching Moemi act cute while saying such terrifying things about making her own sister experience Empathy for an entire day, Hachiman might have thought the two sisters had a grudge against each other if he didn't know they got along well. He smiled and shook his head.
"B-But..."
Moemi still wanted to say something, but she no longer knew how to make Hachiman forgive Sayaka and let her continue serving as his exclusive personal maid.
Even a punishment of one full day of Empathy wasn't enough to change Master's mind. What else could she do?
She couldn't actually torture her sister...
If she overdid it, then Master-nii would want her even less as a maid.
"M-Master... I have a very close friend... Kanzaki Aoi. She's sweet-looking, tall, and very gentle and considerate. I hope you'll allow her to become your exclusive personal maid."
Seeing that her younger sister hadn't managed to persuade Hachiman to punish her, Sayaka stepped forward. Kneeling beside Kushida Kikyo, she lowered her head and pleaded with him.
Hachiman wasn't a cruel person. Compared to punishing herself, contributing something of value would earn his forgiveness much more easily.
"Aoi? Kanzaki Aoi? Kanzaki... Wait. Sayaka, do you know Kanzaki Ranko?"
Hachiman didn't care much about Sayaka offering up Kanzaki Aoi. Aoi also seemed to be one of the heroines of the hidden world. If he really wanted her, he wouldn't need Sayaka's help.
However, the names Kanzaki Sayaka, Kanzaki Moemi, and Kanzaki Aoi reminded him of another girl with the surname Kanzaki.
The idol agency Merrow and Shion had put together should have Kanzaki Ranko in it. But there were simply too many beautiful idols there, so he hadn't paid special attention. He was just waiting for Merrow and Shion to surprise him.
"Kanzaki Ranko... Um... I'm not that familiar with Ranko... I think she's become an idol..."
Sayaka froze for a moment, searching her memory.
The Kanzaki family was just an ordinary family. None of its members had become successful and cut ties with the rest, so they still kept in normal contact.
She vaguely remembered Ranko mentioning that she'd become an idol trainee some time ago.
But back then her parents had been arrested because of their debts, so she hadn't been in the mood to pay attention to Ranko's situation.
"I know! I know! Ranko is already at your idol agency, Master-nii! Next week she's enrolling at Sobu High too, in the idol class that's about to be established!"
Moemi's eyes lit up. Seeing her sister unable to say anything more, she quickly kissed Hachiman and eagerly recommended the idol from her family.
Back then, Sayaka had hidden what was happening at home from her, so she had no idea their parents had been arrested over their debts. She had been carefree enough to follow Ranko's activities.
Ranko was only a little older than she was. She hadn't joined the idol agency long ago either, and being assigned to Sobu High had just happened by coincidence.
Her own status wasn't high enough to bring up Ranko herself, but she hadn't expected Master-nii to have already noticed that chuunibyou girl.
"For this hot spring convention, can we invite Ranko? Can she cosplay with us?"
Thinking about Ranko taking her sister's place and serving Hachiman together with her, Moemi couldn't help kissing him on the cheek again. Gently nibbling at his ear, she pleaded in a soft voice.
"Please, Master-nii."
"Mmm... Since Kanzaki Ranko is already in the idol agency and will be joining Sobu High anyway, it shouldn't be a problem for her to participate in our activities ahead of time."
Seeing Moemi pleading so carefully, simply hoping to bring along another beautiful idol girl to spend time with him, Hachiman naturally couldn't bring himself to refuse. He gently pinched her rosy little cheek.
"Later, have Haruno make the arrangements. If the staff at the hot spring inn can handle that many people, the rest of Ranko's idol friends can come too."
He knew quite a few beautiful idols.
Toudou Miyu from Ai Kyan, Takano Ayaka from Idol Sister, Mizuhara Honami from Imaria, Ogata Rina from White Album...
There were also Takagaki Kaede, the joke-loving heavy drinker from The Idolmaster series; Higuchi Madoka, the ice beauty with the disdainful expression; Fujita Kotone, the "baby dragon Pikachu"; Mayuzumi Fuyuko with her landmine-style fashion, and many others.
There were countless distinctive idol girls. Naturally, he also liked gothic chuunibyou idols like Kanzaki Ranko.
Back then, he'd wanted to become a producer or manager and raise beautiful idols himself.
Now that he actually had the opportunity, he no longer had the time.
Everyone already complained that he had too little time for them to serve him. How could he abandon them to become a producer?
It was enough to occasionally cheer for the mermaid songstresses on stage and be the man supporting the beautiful idols behind the scenes.
"Thank you, Master-nii! Ranko and I will definitely thank you properly together!"
Moemi hadn't expected things to go so smoothly. Delighted, she hugged Hachiman and showered his face with kisses while secretly making a victory sign in her heart. She began thinking about how to tell Ranko the good news and get her to serve Hachiman together with her.
What kind of expression would Ranko make when she heard?
Although Ranko had become an idol, she wasn't inferior either. In front of Master-nii, she was Ranko's senior.
Hmm...
If they were going to cosplay together with Master-nii... what role would suit Ranko?
She hadn't even decided on her own cosplay yet. But since she was Master-nii's exclusive personal maid, she might have to help as temporary staff or an NPC during the event. She could assist Ranko while she served Master-nii, so it was better to think about Ranko's costume first.
Ranko wasn't very good at talking to people. She was a little chuunibyou and liked using elaborate but hard-to-understand words.
But aside from that, everything else about her was wonderful.
Snow-white skin, delicate features, spiral twin-drill curls, and a dark gothic outfit...
Hmm...
In that case... would it be better to have Ranko cosplay as a vampire?
"Ranko doesn't know anything about this, does she? You're selling her out just like that, Moemi?"
"Just let them come experience the hot spring inn first. As for whether they join the convention and cosplay with us, let them decide for themselves."
Just by looking at Moemi's expression, Hachiman knew what she was thinking. Smiling, he rubbed her shoulder-length hair before turning to look at her sister, Sayaka.
"As for the Kanzaki Aoi you mentioned... Sayaka, you're now officially a member of the Service Club as well. You can receive five Empathy Collars. If Kanzaki Aoi wants to join the club too, then give one of the collars to her."
He vaguely remembered that Kanzaki Aoi was also one of the heroines from another hidden-world story.
But what if Sayaka brought her over next time, only for Aoi to change her mind?
After what had happened with Sayaka regretting her decision at the last minute before, he didn't want to accept someone who clearly didn't yet understand the situation.
Helping people was always based on mutual consent. If they weren't willing, he wouldn't force them.
But if the same thing kept happening over and over, it was still rather frustrating.
"Yes, Master."
Sayaka knew she'd performed terribly last time and no longer dared hope for much.
Just hearing Hachiman personally acknowledge her as a member of the Service Club was enough.
Watching Moemi sitting on Hachiman's lap, wrapping both arms affectionately around his neck and constantly using little gestures to make him happy, Sayaka quietly bit her lower lip.
She had never expected her younger sister to take her place in serving Hachiman...
Fortunately, Moemi genuinely looked happy. The smile on her face wasn't forced.
As long as she worked hard to make up for her mistakes and repaired Hachiman's impression of her, she still had a chance to become his exclusive personal maid again.
Then Moemi wouldn't have to bear all of this by herself.
Sayaka couldn't tell whether she was jealous of Moemi or worried about her.
Whether her family would have a happy future now depended entirely on whether Moemi could win Hachiman's favor.
Her feelings were incredibly complicated.
However, beside Sayaka, there was someone whose emotions were even more complicated.
Out of the corner of her eye, Kushida Kikyo glanced at the silent Sayaka and ground her teeth inwardly.
No wonder Shion had stopped caring about Sayaka after she gave up becoming an exclusive personal maid at the last minute.
This girl really wasn't worth worrying about.
The reason Kushida Kikyo was angry wasn't because Sayaka was dragging other people into this.
It was because Sayaka hadn't told her in advance.
If she'd told her first, and then Kikyo had been the one to tell Hachiman, wouldn't the credit have been hers?
Even though there were already countless beautiful girls in the Service Club, she still believed it was important to recruit more people.
Recruiting people still earned merit. The only difference was how much, depending on the newcomer's quality, how outstanding they were, and whether they could please Master.
Exclusive personal maids like Sayaka, who had originally been disobedient but were later taught by Master and now longed for his affection like pets, were completely different from those young ladies of prestigious families.
Of course, unlike the girls in the club who had been thoroughly tamed, she herself wasn't obsessed with Hachiman.
To her, this was simply another way of pleasing him.
Looking at Tohsaka Rin and Tohsaka Sakura leaning against Hachiman on either side, and Fueguchi Hinami and Kanzaki Moemi sitting in his arms, Kushida Kikyo made up her mind to keep thinking of ways to please him, and ways to get more girls into his bed.
However, no matter how well she planned things, she was limited by her own resources and connections.
There was no way she could compete head-on with the great financial conglomerates and noble families in this area.
Others had long since come up with similar ideas.
Himeragi Yukina, Shirogane Kei, Fujiwara Moeha, Shirakiin Ririchiyo, Kuroba Ayako...
Even Kana Arima, the former child-star idol from the idol agency.
Cheerful, clumsy, airheaded, aloof tsundere, bratty, gentle, chuunibyou.
There were countless personality types, not to mention differences in profession, race, and background.
They had already prepared all kinds of beautiful girls, simply waiting for the day Hachiman happened to take an interest.
Even within the idol category alone, there were several competing groups.
Professional idols, amateur school idols, school idols still in training...
Even idols competed in different lanes.
"It's lively today..."
A petite yet exceptionally beautiful black-haired girl with long hair that reached her shoulders and curled slightly at the ends walked gracefully into the bustling main lounge in short boots. After looking around, she smiled and headed toward the sofa where Hachiman was sitting, greeting members she recognized as she walked.
"Good afternoon, Lady Riya. Isn't Saya joining this event with you?"
"Moeha, are you here by yourself? Where's your sister Chika?"
"Ayako, keep chatting with everyone. I'm going to see the Club President."
Hearing the unmistakable sound of someone approaching, Kushida Kikyo turned around.
The moment she saw the warm, perfectly social smile on Saegusa Mayumi's face, she couldn't help curling her lip.
Damn rich heiress.
She believed her own smile was even sweeter than Mayumi's, and her figure, and overall appeal, was much better.
But Mayumi's family background alone was enough to make countless people value her.
"Mayumi, looks like you're pretty popular in the club."
Hachiman smiled as he watched Saegusa Mayumi approach.
She hadn't joined very long ago, but many of the wealthy young ladies already knew her. She also seemed to have quite a reputation in the supernatural world.
"Club President, it's not that I'm popular. It's that the atmosphere among the club members is wonderful. That's all thanks to the education and guidance you've given everyone every day."
Mayumi stopped in front of the tea table and bowed politely.
As her lowered gaze fell upon Yukinoshita Haruno and Tohsaka Touka, who had clearly already recovered but were still lying across the tea table without getting up, her small fair face immediately flushed red.
Looking back up at the smiling Hachiman, her eyes began darting away.
With her upbringing and self-control, she could remain calm on the surface even when seeing something shocking.
But in front of Hachiman, at a time like this, there was no need to hide how she felt.
She could openly show her embarrassment.
Compared to the girls in the Service Club who constantly clung to Hachiman or couldn't help climbing into his arms on their own, she hadn't received nearly as much assistance yet.
If she didn't act shy now, it would only feel fake if she tried to do it later.
"You don't need to use those polite social formalities with me. Mayumi, did you come to see me because you need something? Or did you simply come to apply for assistance?"
Hachiman patted Fueguchi Hinami and Kanzaki Moemi, who were sitting in his arms, smiling at Saegusa Mayumi, the black-haired young lady who was much smaller than Yukinoshita Yukino.
Moemi immediately understood.
Somewhat reluctantly, she took the hand of the nervous Hinami, who had remained silent the entire time like she was invisible, and stood up. Together they returned to Kirishima Touka and the others, who were seated on a nearby sofa.
Actually, she wanted to serve Master-nii in front of everyone like the older girls did.
But Master-nii rarely took the initiative.
It looked like she really needed to learn how to serve him properly.
"Hinami, how do you feel? Does anything hurt?"
As soon as Hinami returned, Touka quickly pulled her to her side and anxiously looked her over from head to toe.
Their ghoul bodies were different from ordinary humans. Even when weak or flawed, they still healed exceptionally well.
But Hinami was like a completely blank sheet of paper, with no experience fighting or killing.
Touka didn't know whether Hinami, who had always been protected, could really accept all of this.
"N-No... Hachiman-nii... he's really nice to us..."
Meeting Touka's deeply concerned gaze, Hinami blushed and shook her head.
Still, she couldn't help secretly glancing at Hachiman, who now had yet another beautiful girl sitting in his lap.
Unlike Big Sister Touka, who was always worried she might feel wronged or unable to bear it, she didn't dislike the big brother who had brought them such a wonderful new life.
She could even say she liked him very much.
She was naturally shy. It wasn't only humans she feared, even unfamiliar ghouls frightened her.
But for some reason, whenever she saw Big Brother, she felt completely at ease.
Sitting in his arms and breathing in his scent gave her the same special feeling as leaning against her father's embrace.
However, since Big Brother never took the initiative beyond hugging and kissing her like a little sister, she didn't dare make the first move either.
What if he didn't think of her that way?
She would be too embarrassed to face anyone.
"Club President, I'd also like to receive your assistance and training. There have been so many new members joining the club lately. If I don't work harder, even the magical girls who joined after me are going to surpass me."
[🙇🏻 You Can Support the Story Through P@tr3on—AmbitiousTranslator. It also has 40+ Chapters of all the novels and fanfics. Thanks for reading~]