Chapter 420: Mashiro's Interest and a Tamed Lioness
At that moment, Shiina Mashiro felt a flicker of surprise. Though her expression remained a perfect, placid mask, she could genuinely feel the rhythm of her heart quicken, just for an instant.
To her, Sister Cerberus and Sister Lanterby had been very kind. Cerberus, in particular, shared a small secret with her. Mashiro didn't quite understand the significance of this secret, but an instinct deep within told her it was something to be cherished and kept safe.
Sōryūin Akemi, holding a world history textbook, looked over with wide, curious eyes. "I didn't expect you to know Sister Cerberus, Mashiro. Did you two know each other from before?"
Mashiro blinked, returning from her brief reverie. The memory had been fleeting, and once it passed, she had simply drifted into her usual state of quiet contemplation.
She shook her head gently, her voice a soft whisper. "I met Cerberus and Sister Lanterby at the arcade."
Akemi's face lit up, a bright smile blooming across her features. "Ah! So Sister Cerberus and the others went to the arcade! That sounds like so much fun. We have school today, but we'll have plenty of time to go tomorrow!"
Tilting her head, Mashiro looked at Akemi with a hint of confusion, though her face betrayed nothing. "Akemi, you know Cerberus?"
"Of course!" Akemi nodded enthusiastically. "Sister Cerberus and I are super close! She's incredibly kind, absolutely beautiful, has an amazing figure, and her personality is the best. She's so lively and loves to have fun. Most of the time, she's just really, really cute."
"Cute? Mmm..."
A thought seemed to surface in Mashiro's mind, and she clenched her small fist. Her gaze drifted back to the photograph in Akemi's hands. "Ren?" she whispered, the name a quiet question. "Who is Ren?"
The mere mention of his name was enough to send a jolt of excitement through Akemi. She carefully held up the photo, her finger precisely tapping the image of a young man. "It's this person! He's so handsome, right? He has a great figure, too, and he's the gentlest person I know. And Mashiro, I'm telling you, Brother Ren's cooking is super delicious!"
"Super delicious?" Mashiro echoed, her voice barely audible.
Akemi paused, her head tilted in thought. "Probably... the best in the world."
Mashiro's gaze settled on the man in the photo. He was seated opposite Cerberus, a gentle, warm smile gracing his lips. She gave a slow, deliberate nod. Akemi couldn't begin to guess what was going through Mashiro's mind—it was just as likely that she wasn't thinking of anything at all.
"Oh, right! Mashiro!" Akemi beamed. "Let me introduce everyone to you. You'll get to know all of them soon. They either live with Brother Ren or they're our classmates."
Mashiro nodded again, her attention fully captured.
"Okay, so besides Sister Cerberus, me, and Brother Ren, who should I introduce first... Hmm... Well... Ah! Let's start with Sister Lucifer!"
"Lucifer?"
"Yep, that's this older sister right here! Isn't she beautiful?"
Mashiro leaned in, studying the image closely before nodding. Her small hand drifted up to her own head, patting the smooth hair where no horns existed. "Has horns..." she murmured, a touch of confusion in her tone.
Akemi giggled. "Mhm! Both Sister Lucifer and Sister Cerberus have head decorations like that. But Sister Cerberus's are animal ears."
"Head decorations?"
"Mhm! Oh, and Sister Yuko likes butterfly decorations, but she doesn't wear them on her head."
Mashiro's hands clenched slightly in her lap. "Head decorations..." she repeated softly.
"Super cute, right?" Akemi said with a grin. "My sister even said that while animal ears are one thing, being able to wear horn decorations so naturally is a talent probably only Lucifer has. Oh! And Sister Pandora, too!"
"Sister Pandora? Sister Yuko?"
Akemi waved a dismissive hand. "They're not in this group photo. They hadn't arrived yet when this was taken. If we go over now, Sister Pandora will be there. Sister Yuko had to go back to her hometown for some business, but she'll be back soon. Mashiro! Let me tell you, Sister Yuko and Sister Pandora are both unbelievably beautiful!"
Her eyes sparkled as she tried to find the words. "I can't quite describe it, they're just... stunning. Then there's Sora, this cute little one. Her name is Kasugano Sora. She might look young, but she's actually a first-year in high school and lives with Brother Ren, too. She goes to our school, so we'll all eat lunch together. Sora is really cute, Mashiro. I'm sure you two will get along great!"
"And then..."
For the next while, Shiina Mashiro sat on the edge of the bed, her gaze fixed on Sōryūin Akemi, who passionately and carefully introduced Sakura Hibiki and the others one by one. Occasionally, Mashiro would pose a quiet question, and Akemi would answer without a moment's hesitation, her explanation branching off into a dozen other related stories. Mashiro listened with the intense focus of a student attending a lecture, absorbing every detail.
"Akemi, Mashiro, come down for dinner."
Sōryūin Akemi led her new friend downstairs, where a table laden with a feast awaited them. The eyes of Sengoku Chihiro and Hiratsuka Shizuka were practically glowing with ravenous hunger.
Sōryūin Shion lit a slender cigarette, a wry smile playing on her lips. "You two are really something... I know you might have been waiting for this meal, Senior Chihiro, but what's your excuse, Senior Shizuka? How can you let yourself get that hungry?"
A muscle in Hiratsuka Shizuka's jaw twitched. "Tsk... Shion, you're as cunning as ever. We've only been apart for a single day! I swear you've gotten even sharper. You were much cuter back in your school days. Give me a cigarette."
Shion's smile tightened, but she tossed a pack over without another word. Shizuka deftly caught it, slid one out for herself, and tossed another to Sengoku Chihiro. Soon, the three beautiful women were exhaling plumes of smoke, their postures visibly relaxing. Shion naturally smoked a light, fragrant brand, ensuring the scent wouldn't bother the two younger girls.
Sengoku Chihiro grumbled, "Don't point fingers at me. Don't you often skip lunch yourself?"
"My fiancé is very strict," Shion said playfully, her tone dripping with mock seriousness. "I wouldn't dare miss a meal. Right, Kirukiru? You usually don't dare to drink too much either, do you?"
Amou Kirukiru clicked her tongue, then shot back irritably, "And when did Ren give you permission to smoke?"
Shion's face stiffened for a fraction of a second before she broke into a nervous chuckle. "Heh heh... Kirukiru... You're not going to sell me out, are you?"
"Depends on my mood."
"Shion, you!" Hiratsuka Shizuka exclaimed with an exasperated sigh. "You just had to show off that you have a man... no... a fiancé, didn't you?! That's just cruel! Senior Sengoku! Shion is being too much!"
Sengoku Chihiro nodded in vehement agreement, her expression a perfect match of annoyance. "A man who can actually conquer you, Shion, and keep you so obedient you only dare to sneak a smoke... Who exactly is this Ren? And if he doesn't let you smoke, how do you even resist the urge?"
"You wouldn't understand even if I told you," Shion said, a hint of smugness softening her grumpy tone. "This is love. Besides, I'm slowly quitting. I smoke much less now."
Hiratsuka Shizuka took a large bite of food, chewing thoughtfully before tilting her head. "So, tomorrow night we're going to your boyfriend's shop for dinner. I'm genuinely looking forward to seeing what kind of man he is."
Just then, a quiet voice cut through the chatter.
Shiina Mashiro, who had been nibbling at her food with the delicate precision of a little hamster, spoke a single sentence.
In an instant, the lively atmosphere froze. The clatter of chopsticks ceased. Every head in the room, even Amou Kirukiru's, swiveled in her direction.
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