"You were waiting for me?"
Shuya looked surprised as he spotted the elegant figure ahead.
Kanae sat quietly on the ground, gently petting both Snowball Beasts with each hand. The fluffy creatures had their eyes half-closed, happily nestled against her legs while she stroked their pure white fur.
If Rei Miyamoto saw this, she'd probably be quietly fuming.
She'd spent ages trying to get close to the Snowball Beasts, but they only tolerated her at best. They never let her do something this intimate.
Only Shuya could get away with petting them like this. Even Shizuka couldn't.
Well… Shizuka probably could if she really tried, but she'd much rather have Shuya petting her instead.
Kanae had managed to do something even Rei couldn't. Her natural charm was just on another level.
When she noticed Shuya, Kanae stopped what she was doing and softly apologized to the beasts. "Sorry, girls. Shuya's back. I'll give you another massage next time, okay?"
"Meow~" "Meow~"
The Snowball Beasts lifted their heads and gave her a mildly annoyed look.
But the moment they saw Shuya, they forgot all about it. They launched themselves at him faster than Kanae could react.
"Meow!" "Meow!"
Shuya caught one in each hand and immediately started petting them the way Kanae had been doing.
Only then did he look at her. "Did you need something, Kanae?"
"Well…"
Kanae glanced behind him, confirming they were alone, then asked, "Mei didn't come back with you?"
Shuya shook his head.
He had planned to bring her, but Mei refused. Now that she remembered her past, she wanted some time alone with Gyutaro.
Since the deal was done and Mei was basically a Nen Beast tied to him now, Shuya figured she couldn't run even if she wanted to. So he left the siblings alone and returned first.
Mei could enter Greed Island through the gate, but she couldn't create one herself. She'd need Shuya or another contractor to bring her in later.
"I've made up my mind, Shuya."
Once she was sure they were alone, Kanae fidgeted for a second, then looked at him with clear determination.
Shuya raised an eyebrow. "Made up your mind about what?"
Kanae clenched her small fists. "My body's mostly recovered now."
"…And?"
Shuya had no idea where she was going with this.
"So…"
Kanae took a breath. "Let's team up and bully little Shinobu again tonight."
"Huh?!"
Shuya froze.
He took a second to process what she just said, then stared at her with a weird expression, wondering if she was messing with him.
"You're not scared Shinobu's gonna chase you with a Nichirin Blade?"
"Even if she's the Insect Hashira now, don't forget—I used to be the Flower Hashira~"
Kanae waved her hand with a playful smile. "Shinobu's the weakest one. If I just hold her hands down, she won't be able to do anything to me."
Shinobu being physically weak wasn't exactly new information.
Could she say something everyone didn't already know?
Shuya played along. "You know she's gonna cry if you do that, right?"
"It's Shinobu, so it's fine." Kanae said it like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Shuya gave her a dry look. "You really are a great big sister."
"Mhm~"
Kanae squinted happily, either not catching the sarcasm or pretending not to.
She looked so proud of herself that Shuya's mouth twitched.
He couldn't help thinking, What the hell are you "mhm"-ing for? I wasn't complimenting you.
"Still, I'm saying no."
Even though the idea sounded fun, Shuya refused without hesitation.
He was hoping to enjoy both sisters together eventually.
If he went along with this and messed with Shinobu's head too much, she'd probably have a complete meltdown.
Kanae could claim she didn't know about the shared sensations before.
But now that she did know and still wanted to do this? Shinobu would definitely bite her.
As for whether Shinobu would get revenge the same way later…
That would actually be ideal. After a few times, it would naturally turn into the three of them enjoying themselves together.
But Shuya didn't think that would happen.
Shinobu was petty and black-bellied, sure. She got revenge once after feeling everything Kanae experienced.
She wasn't stupid, though. She'd figure out what Kanae was doing and refuse to play along with this back-and-forth game.
Kanae tilted her head, pretending to be confused. "Eh? Why not?"
As Shinobu's closest sister, she knew exactly how her little sister would react.
Shinobu would never play that kind of game with her.
But Kanae wasn't suggesting this just to tease Shinobu.
She knew Shuya wanted to experience both of them at once.
And honestly… she didn't mind. She actually wanted to see the different expressions Shinobu would make under him.
So earlier, she had brought up something similar to Shinobu.
She almost got her head slammed into the floor for it.
That's why she ended up hiding in Greed Island for a while.
But she was clever.
She quickly came up with a plan.
She would suggest to Shuya that they "bully little Shinobu together" tonight.
Of course, that was just the surface-level suggestion.
Her real goal wasn't just to tease her sister.
Since she and Shinobu shared sensations right now, if she and Shuya did anything… Shinobu would feel it too, right?
So here's the thing.
Even if Shinobu got angry afterward, that would be a problem for later.
But during the act itself?
Would she just hide in her room and suffer in silence?
Or would she come running to stop them?
Kanae was betting on the latter.
After all, when she mentioned doing things with Shuya this morning, Shinobu had warned her pretty harshly.
If Kanae ignored that warning and did it anyway tonight, Shinobu would definitely come storming in angry.
And once she did… Kanae already had a way to make her stay.
This was her perfect, above-board trap. Even if Shinobu saw through it, she'd still have no choice but to walk right into it.
She didn't tell Shuya the full plan, though.
She wanted to surprise both him and her little sister tonight.
So before Shuya could say anything, Kanae slipped into his arms.
The Snowball Beasts made small unhappy noises at being displaced.
Kanae blinked up at him cutely. "Really? Not even a little?"
Her soft chest pressed against him. Even though he'd already reshaped them plenty of times the night before, the feeling still made heat rush through him.
Especially with that sweet floral scent drifting up from her.
It was dangerously tempting.
This was really hard to refuse.
Shuya opened his mouth to answer, but Kanae leaned in and pressed a light kiss to his lips.
She pulled back just enough to whisper, "How about now?"
Kanae really knew exactly what she was doing.
She had him completely wrapped around her finger.
"…Fine."
The word slipped out before he could stop it.
As for Shinobu…
If she got mad, she got mad.
He couldn't bring himself to care anymore.
Shuya set the Snowball Beasts down and pulled Kanae closer, ready to drag her somewhere private and deal with the fire she'd started.
This spot near the gate wasn't safe. Other contractors could show up at any time.
The Snowball Beasts didn't seem bothered. They were used to this by now.
They just quickly ran off before they ended up like Makomo.
Kanae placed a finger against his lips and shook her head with a smile.
"Not yet."
She added softly, "At least not right now."
Even though being this close to him was making her want it too, if they went any further Shinobu would notice.
Besides, Shinobu had just done it last night. Kanae wanted to give her body a little more time to recover.
"Then what am I supposed to do?"
Shuya gave her a look. She lit the fire and now she didn't want to take responsibility?
Kanae played dumb. "What do you mean?"
"I'm really worked up right now," Shuya said through gritted teeth.
Kanae smiled and deliberately dragged out her words. "Then how about…"
She waited until Shuya looked at her expectantly before finishing.
"…I go find Aoi and have her help you?"
She'd talked with Aoi before.
She knew the girl wasn't actually against doing things with Shuya. She was just scared about her first time.
She probably just needed a little push.
So the first person Kanae thought of wasn't the quiet Kanao, but Aoi.
What about Nezuko and Mitsuri?
They had that competition with Shuya about mastering Breathing Styles first.
"Forget it."
Shuya waved her off.
The fire Kanae started wasn't something he wanted to dump on Aoi.
He respected his contractors' feelings and didn't want to pressure them.
He decided to save this heat and burn it all on Kanae tonight instead.
Kanae tried tempting him again. "Are you sure? I can convince Aoi for you~"
"No need. You can go now."
Shuya shot her a look.
Kanae pressed, "Then what about Kanao?"
Shuya glared at her. "If you don't leave right now, I'm seriously going to take you right here."
"Hehe."
Kanae quickly stole another light kiss, then slipped out of his arms like she was escaping.
She smiled brightly at him. "I like you the most~"
Just as she was about to step through the Crossing Gate back to the Butterfly Mansion, she suddenly remembered something and turned around.
"Oh, right! Don't forget—the place we're bullying little Shinobu tonight is in my room~"
"Wait—!"
Shuya blinked, trying to stop her.
But Kanae had already disappeared through the gate.
Shuya scratched his head.
…So when Kanae said "bully," she meant it like that?
Last night he and Shinobu had teamed up to mess with Kanae through the wall.
Now she wanted to do the same thing back to Shinobu?
Was this some kind of sisterly understanding?
Shinobu would definitely come to stop them, right?
What was he supposed to say when she showed up?
"Perfect timing"?
Or…
Shuya suddenly remembered what Kanae joked about earlier—that Shinobu was weak, so if they just held her hands down, she wouldn't be able to do anything.
Kanae wasn't actually planning to do that tonight, was she?
That would be… interesting.
Shuya spent the rest of the day in a strangely excited mood.
When night finally fell, he went to pick up Mei first and brought her back to Greed Island.
He didn't know what she and Gyutaro had talked about all day, but the moment he saw her, he could tell.
He had completely won her over.
As for Gyutaro, Shuya handed him over to Tamayo to help with her research.
He also gave Gyutaro two options for the future—become human again once Tamayo finished the reversion drug, or stay a demon like Yushiro.
That was all future stuff. Shuya wasn't too concerned about it right now.
What he cared about was Kanae.
He was already impatient.
After handling Mei and Gyutaro, he headed straight to Kanae's room.
Her room had a similar style to Shinobu's, but it felt warmer and more lived-in.
Shuya didn't have time to appreciate the decor.
His eyes went straight to the girl already sitting on the edge of the bed, waiting for him.
Kanae.
He walked over.
"Can we start?"
"Wait!"
Kanae caught his wandering hands.
"You're not backing out, are you?"
Shuya stared into her purple eyes. "We can still go back to Greed Island right now."
"I'm not."
Kanae shook her head.
Shinobu still didn't know Greed Island existed.
If they went there now, how would she find them later?
Kanae spoke calmly. "Can I take the lead?"
"…Sure."
Shuya was a little surprised, but he didn't refuse.
Kanae leaned in and kissed him gently.
After the kiss, the girl who said she wanted to take the lead… didn't do anything else.
That's it?
Shuya gave her a speechless look and tried to take control back, but Kanae stopped him again.
She shook her head.
She didn't say anything. She just started counting down silently in her head.
Three… two… one—!
Knock knock knock.
Urgent knocking suddenly came from the door.
Kanae's lips curved into a small, satisfied smile.
Just like she expected.
Shinobu had received the signal she deliberately sent.
She came.