"Ugh... It's already almost 12 o'clock... Why was Kei-chan so eager to play games today?"
By the time Rita returned from Baumkuchen to the front of Rin Ito's house, it was already almost midnight.
Ever since Rin Ito took her to visit Baumkuchen, she frequently went there to slack off with the girls. This month, she had been to Baumkuchen more often than Rin Ito had.
Combined with Rita's somewhat overly familiar personality, she quickly became close with Kei and the others... especially with Youmu, whose new book had just been released and had nothing better to do.
They often hung out during the day to play games together.
The others were one thing, but why was Kei, who usually didn't play many games, so addicted today?
Ahhhhh, the light in Mashiro's room is off.
In the yard, Rita specifically looked up. The light in Mashiro's room was off, which meant Mashiro was already asleep.
Although she was a bit puzzled by Kei's unusual behavior today, she was more concerned about coming back late.
It wasn't that Rin Ito's house had a curfew, but this week it was her turn to sleep in the same room as Mashiro. If Mashiro was asleep, washing up and getting ready for bed would definitely wake her up.
Forget it, I'll just sleep on the sofa today.
She opened the door and walked through the entryway. Although she decided to sleep on the sofa, she still had to take a shower.
If I open the door carefully, I shouldn't wake Mashiro. I'll just grab a change of underwear and my phone charger, and I'll be fine.
While thinking about what to grab so she wouldn't have to keep going in and out and disturbing Mashiro, Rita tiptoed up to the second floor.
And then...
"Uu... pour it all... into me... EEEEK!!!"
"...Eh?"
Rita froze as soon as she reached the second floor.
Mashiro's room was further inside; to get to Mashiro's room, one had to pass Rin Ito's room first. But today, unusual sounds were coming from the room.
It wasn't unusual because it was alluring. In fact, when Rita and Mashiro lived there and Nanami stayed with Rin Ito, Rita would occasionally hear the faint sounds of their lovemaking coming from the room.
They were a couple; it was perfectly normal.
But today... the voice coming from the room wasn't Nanami's, nor was it Kaede's or Suzu's!
Ma... Mashiro!?
Rita's body went stiff. She stared blankly at the light seeping through the crack in the door.
Did they not close the door tightly?
Rita held her breath and tiptoed over, pressing her eye against the crack.
Although she could only see a back, she was incredibly familiar with that dazzling blonde hair and petite, slender figure... It was absolutely Mashiro. She used to bathe her every day; she could never mistake Mashiro's body!
And this voice was definitely Mashiro's too!
Mashiro was currently... with Rin Ito...
Rita's mind was in total chaos.
Aren't Rin Ito and Nanami a couple? Is this... ch-cheating!?
Right, where's Nanami? I didn't see Nanami in the living room today.
The tangled pair inside the room seemed to hear the voice in Rita's heart and answered her doubts.
"It doesn't matter if we're a little loud. My room has great soundproofing, and Nanami is staying at Kaede's place tonight... I had Kei stall Rita over there, so she won't be coming back tonight."
"GUH... it feels... so good... faster... I'm going to... EEEEK!!!!"
Rita stood dumbfounded outside the room, watching the two through the crack. Mashiro, sitting on top of Rin Ito with her back arched, convulsed violently before beginning to twist her waist again a moment later.
"It's been so long... since you held me. I won't let you off... tonight..."
...
By the time Rita snapped back to reality, she had already walked out of the entryway and into the yard.
Looking up, she gazed with a complex expression at Rin Ito's lit window... Why? Nanami is such an excellent and cute girl, why would you betray her?
She trusted you so much that she even let Mashiro move in. Why would you cheat on her with Mashiro?
Rita's mind was consumed by conflict. When she closed her eyes, all she could see was the scene she had just witnessed... I never expected Mashiro, who only ever had drawing in her head, to do something like this.
Although it's perfectly normal for a teenage girl to fall for the opposite sex...
But that's Mashiro!
Mashiro, who has absolutely nothing in her head except drawing!
Ahhhhhhhh!!!
Forget about all that for now. Where am I supposed to go right now!!!!!
I definitely can't go back inside. If I go back, they'll definitely know they've been exposed... Right, he told Kei to stall me earlier. I'll go back and sleep at Baumkuchen tonight, then come back tomorrow as if nothing happened.
Mmh... yeah, that's the plan.
If he finds out from Kei that I didn't sleep at Baumkuchen, he'll definitely realize.
Maybe Kei has already messaged him, but he hasn't seen it because he's busy with Mashiro.
Right! I'll go back first and pretend I don't know anything!
Rita hurriedly hailed a taxi and rushed back as fast as she could. The moment she arrived at Baumkuchen, Rita knocked on Kei's door.
"Eh? Rita? Why did you come back?" Kei, currently in her pajamas and getting ready for bed, looked surprised to see Rita... Rita actually came back just like Big Brother said she would!
However, Kei still pretended not to know anything and looked utterly confused.
"Rita, why did you come back? Did you forget something?"
At this point, Rita could barely maintain her usual gentle smile.
"I... I left too late. There didn't seem to be any taxis. I waited for a long time but couldn't get one... I decided to just crash here for the night. Is that okay?"
"No problem, there's a break room here where you can spend the night." Kei paused, as if suddenly remembering something, and quickly added, "The bed in the break room isn't made yet. If you don't mind, how about sleeping with me?"
Seeing Kei's demeanor, Rita became even more certain... Kei's unusual behavior today was entirely because Rin Ito asked her to monitor me!
But... being monitored gives me an alibi!
They won't know I've already discovered their secret.
"How could I mind sleeping with someone as cuuuuuuute as Kei-chan? But I haven't taken a shower yet. I just hope Kei-chan doesn't mind me~"
"I have new pajamas here, it's just..." Kei's gaze landed on Rita's chest, and her face instantly turned ashen. "Rita, they probably won't fit you."
"It'll be fine, I can squeeze into them. I wear Mashiro's pajamas all the time, and a little squeezing is no problem."
Rita pretended nothing happened, continuing to chat and joke with Kei, occasionally complaining about how late it was and how long she waited without getting a taxi to establish her alibi.
However... Rita thought she was establishing an alibi, but it was all within Rin Ito and Mashiro's expectations.
Rita understood Mashiro, and Mashiro equally understood Rita.
Mashiro seemed to care about nothing but drawing, but in reality, she was incredibly perceptive.
While Rita wouldn't hesitate when it came time to be decisive, her personality was actually quite gentle.
Earlier, Rin Ito had only set a general framework. After having Kei stall Rita, Rin Ito and Mashiro had carefully worked out the details.
Given Rita's personality, after stumbling upon Rin Ito's 'infidelity', she definitely wouldn't expose it directly, because Mashiro was her best friend.
Although she knew Nanami was a very gentle and kind girl, her ten-year bond with Mashiro far outweighed her less-than-a-month friendship with Nanami.
To avoid affecting Mashiro, she would first pretend nothing happened, and then use various hints to point it out. She would hope Rin Ito returned to the right path, and then she would act as if none of it ever happened.
However... this was exactly what Rin Ito and Mashiro wanted to see.
...
After sleeping with Kei for a night, Rita returned to Rin Ito's house the next morning, pretending nothing happened.
Looking left and right in the room, she saw neither Nanami nor Rin Ito. Only Mashiro was in her room drawing.
Phew...
Rita let out a long breath.
If they were here, I'd have to find a chance to drop hints. It's good they're not here.
Nanami had gone to crash Nijika's recording studio session today... Nanami could sneak in half an hour of studio time to familiarize herself with the equipment while the band rested or Miss Uemura did rough cuts.
That way, she wouldn't have to spend money hiring someone when she rented a studio later.
Miss Shima had booked a total of 4 days across two weekends for the studio. Kessoku Band's first mini-album had four songs, so they had to record one song each day.
If they went over schedule, Miss Shima's already meager budget would be stretched even thinner. Right now, Kessoku Band's budget was so low that their post-recording celebration party involved mooching off Miss Uemura's terrifying stash of snacks.
Nanami didn't leave the house specifically for this, but Rin Ito did.
By the time Rita returned home, Rin Ito had already left, leaving the space to Rita and Mashiro. Of course... besides this reason, the other reason was that after seeing the massive weak point on Sajuna's tiny body the previous night, Rin Ito was itching to ravage her mercilessly.