Miss Heir wasn't very kind to me.

Chapter 215, Section 17: "What Masumi Wants to Protect"

Seeing Masumi's troubled expression, Kurokawa Mio sighed in frustration and crossed her arms, saying, "If you ask me, there's absolutely no need to consider that girl's opinion."

“She’s not Haiyue’s family, and even if she were, according to the law, Haiyue is already an adult, and she has no right to forcibly take Haiyue away.”

"Even if she comes back a week later, just kick her out on the grounds of trespassing on private property or obstructing business."

"Wow, Mio-neechan's style..." Chiai couldn't help but cover her mouth, tilting her cute head and thinking for a long time: "How should I put it... she's a strong person."

"What's wrong?" Mami smiled and said, "Chiai is a bit of a chuunibyou (a person with delusions of grandeur).

"Sister Mami!"

"Just kidding, but Miss Mio's style just now was indeed very assertive, just like the insightful heroine in a light novel."

Asami nodded in deep agreement: "Beautiful, powerful, and free."

Kurokawa Mio tossed her hair, the honey-gold ends fluttering in the breeze: "I'm the type who always puts what I want to do first."

For Kurokawa Mio, she never considered being "disliked" as a weakness; on the contrary, she hoped to be liked.

It's meaningless and useless to try to make so many people understand her true thoughts and feelings; having Masumi is enough.

"What are the consequences of doing this?" Rinne asked calmly.

"There were many failures, but fortunately Masumi was there."

Rinne sighed, "They took advantage of Masumi's kind and gentle nature."

“Using that word is incredibly rude.” Kurokawa Mio frowned, correcting her, “Do I need to prove that I’ll put Masumi’s matter before mine?”

She unconsciously adopted a tone of pride. Mio would become blinded by the mere mention of Masumi.

Rinne, used to this, gently shook her head: "There's absolutely no need for that."

Her answer made Kurokawa Mio chuckle smugly.

"Have you surrendered to my deep and passionate love for Masumi? If you know what's good for you, just be a good shop manager and don't have any improper thoughts about my Masumi."

"You and Masumi should only maintain a purely financial relationship."

Asami felt that the last sentence was a bit strange and was about to complain when she suddenly felt a cold chill sweep over her back.

"No, I just have to admit defeat to your shamelessness and self-importance."

Rinne spoke with her usual cold expression, and Chiai, worried about being dragged into a bloody battle, immediately tried to smooth things over:
"Um, you two, the topic has shifted. We're talking about Haiyue now."

Rinne's expression remained unchanged: "I'm sorry."

Kurokawa Mio then turned her gaze to Masumi: "So, Masumi? Would you like to consider the method I suggested..."

“…No.” Masumi rejected the idea without even thinking.

"Why?" Kurokawa Mio frowned, then her wariness became blatant: "Masumi wouldn't be interested in that girl..."

"No, that's not true." To avoid Mio misunderstanding, Masumi quickly explained, "It's because of Umizuki."

"Haiyue?"

Qian is curious.

Masumi nodded: "While Mio is right, I can't ignore Kaigetsu's thoughts."

These words made Haiyue slowly raise her head.

"Before you met us, Miss Kozuki was Kaigetsu's only friend, right?"

"..."

Looking at the silent girl, Masumi continued, "Although I also think that Miss Kozue is a bit too self-absorbed and ignores Kaigetsu's own thoughts."

"However, I think Haiyue also doesn't want to hurt the people who care about her."

Last night in the park, Masumi held Kaizuki's delicate hands with unwavering determination.

However, he always understood one thing in his heart: holding her hands was not to interfere with Haiyue's life according to his own wishes, but to give her support.

Every time she makes a choice, there is someone willing to stand with her and share the responsibility and consequences of that choice.

For Masumi, this was something that would open up a whole new world once she made up her mind, but for Kaigetsu, this power was far greater than Masumi had imagined.

It was so significant that the girl was willing to discard any beautiful memories she might have had in the past and risk everything to stay by Masumi's side.

So, what should have been a simple decision—whether to stay in the coffee shop or not—became a choice that Haiyue had to make, one that required severing ties with the past.

Masumi didn't want to make Kaigetsu feel embarrassed or in pain.

"so?"

Rinne turned her head slightly, expressionless.

"Therefore, I want to work with Haiyue, not to choose between Kobe and Wakayama, but to persuade that Ms. Kozue—"

"Convince what?" Qian Ai asked curiously. "Do you want her to believe that Haiyue can be independent?"

Masumi shook her head: "I also hope so—to produce results, prove that I can be independent, no longer need to rely on others, and leave no room for anyone to criticize me."

This is something Rinne has been doing all along, including Masumi forming a band in Tokyo with a similar purpose.

"But unfortunately, given the current situation, it's not possible yet."

However, there is no need to solve all the problems at once; maintaining a current, acceptable status quo is also perfectly acceptable.

Haiyue has her own place to stay. She is still halfway through her journey and doesn't need to take responsibility for her future. It's also difficult for people to take responsibility for the future.

Thinking about all this, Masumi slowly opened her mouth:

"What I want to do is convince Miss Shao that Haiyue can be better taken care of here. Her singing is proof of that, and it will also make her realize her blindness and arrogance."

Asami pondered, "A happy ending? A world where no one gets hurt?"

Rinne sighed, "She's really greedy."

Who is this person referring to?

"However, you're wrong about one thing."

"Ok?"

Masumi looked at the heiress with a puzzled expression.

"The anonymous singer account isn't just a matter between you and Haiyue, is it?"

Rinne said calmly, "We will share this responsibility with you."

Her pure gaze and sincere tone reminded Masumi of the first time she went to the shopping district with Rinne, when she said, "As the heir, I will share this responsibility with you."

And her recent trip: on a remote island far from her daily life, looking up at a completely unfamiliar sky, her breathing sounded like waves rising and then gradually receding in her ears.

Perhaps from that moment on, she began to fulfill her father's request to "take care of Masumi."

As for her actions during this process, which completely contradicted her duties as an heir, that's another matter.

Masumi nodded.

"Wait! If this is such a good point, why is Rinne asking? Masumi created this account for me, didn't she?"

Kurokawa Mio pouted, "Damn it, they underestimated the cultural student."

"In that case, why don't you do your part too, Mio?" Rinne said calmly.

"Of course, I originally intended to help Masumi solve her problems."

Kurokawa Mio answered without hesitation.

◇

"Ah~"

Haiyue sat in the chair, trying to open her mouth wide as if she were facing a dentist.

Rinne's expression was strange: "When Mio said she was going to lend a hand, she meant helping Kaigetsu with her oral health check?"

Kurokawa Mio replied as if it were the most natural thing in the world: "Isn't this a very efficient method?"

"You're all thinking about complicated psychological issues. It might just be a sore throat or something like tonsillitis, making it hard to sing."

"...I think Mio's idea is too simplistic."

"Open your mouth wider," Kurokawa Mio commanded.

"Awooooo~" (It's already... open to its maximum size...)
"Tsk, her mouth is really small." Kurokawa Mio frowned. "I can't see it at all."

Looking down into the girl's mouth, all you can see is sticky saliva at the junction of the palate and the esophagus.

After observing for a while, she could only come to this conclusion: "His tongue is a little yellow."

Masumi: "Because I fed her oranges this morning."

"stare--"

Kurokawa Mio let Kaigetsu go and stared intently at Masumi.

"What's wrong? Mio."

Masumi felt uneasy under his gaze.

"It's nothing." She turned her face away, feigning indifference. "I was just thinking about what happened this morning." "Uh." Masumi forced a smile.

◇

"Masumi-kun, wake up!"

The powerful voice made Masumi strain her eyes to open them, her heavy eyelids fluttering open.

She was dressed in terrible clothes, her calyxes were full, and her branches were trembling... It was actually Asami.

It's rare to see her so energetic in the morning; it's usually the opposite.

"Huh? What's going on, Masumi-kun? Aren't you usually the first one up at the coffee shop?"

Seeing Masumi still lazing in bed, Mami looked on with suspicion.

"Ah~" Masumi swallowed a yawn, feeling incredibly sleepy. "It's just because I didn't sleep well last night."

It wasn't just that I didn't sleep well; it could almost be described as "not sleeping at all."

“Eh—” Mami narrowed her eyes meaningfully, “Oh, so you’re so uneasy about Umi being taken away?”

Masumi had no energy left to argue with her; her newly awakened consciousness was slowly slipping into sleep.

Asami pouted in dissatisfaction, and Masumi-kun, who didn't react, lost all interest.

"Hey, Masumi-kun."

"……Um."

"Miss Shao should have arrived this morning, don't sleep in."

Since it was still a business day, the two parties agreed to meet at 8:30.

"I know……"

Masumi responded with muffled snoring.

"Ugh, Masumi-kun has turned into a sleepyhead, he has no energy at all."

Miss Mami was very unhappy.

His coffee-colored eyes swept around, and suddenly the idea of ​​expired coffee came to mind—it was a terrible idea.

"Hmph~ Let Mami-sama bring Masumi-kun to his senses."

Mami revealed a wicked smile and approached Masumi, who was lying on the bed.

"Well!"

Good weight.

Masumi woke up with a start because he felt something was wrong. It seemed that something was wriggling in his blankets, gradually approaching him, while bringing a unique elasticity and smooth skin-like touch.

It feels so soft!

When that thing reached her chest, Masumi quietly lifted her eyelids and sleepily looked into the stuffy blankets that had been pushed up.

"Good morning, Masumi-kun. Are you feeling a bit more awake now?"

Mami smiled sweetly, wearing a thin tank top. The disheveled fabric revealed her fair skin at the shoulders, and the straps were plunging quite far down to her chest…

"Mami, what are you doing?"

Masumi swallowed hard while suffering from a headache.

She stopped, pressing her cheek against Masumi's neck, and said in a coquettish voice, "We've reached the finish line!" before pressing her soft, smooth body tightly against Masumi's.

"Wake up Masumi-kun."

"What kind of way is this to wake someone up?"

“In Ryujin-in Michiyo’s latest business journal, and in the barista’s room on the third floor of the Starry Night Cafe in Suma Ward, Kobe City.”

Asami smiled and said with a cheerful smile.

Not only that, she also extended a hand and intertwined her fingers with Masumi's.

"Ah, it feels just like lying in bed with my lover this morning."

"It doesn't look the same."

Although they look very similar, Masumi refuses to admit it.

"The tsundere trait is no longer popular, Masumi-kun."

Asami put on a teasing smile, her slender fingertips tracing over Masumi's body.

"Hoo hoo~ Masumi-kun's body is pretty strong because he exercises every day. Well, after all, he knocked out the robber with one punch at the convenience store before. Strength Lv.MAX?"

"...It's not that exaggerated, I took him down by sneak attacking from behind."

"None of that matters," Mami said dismissively, her body swaying with delight.

"Hey, Masumi-kun, am I feeling alright?"

Sensual whispers and breaths gradually enveloped his earlobe, rendering Masumi unable to move. He was then pursued by Mami's breathy whispers in his ear, as Mami was clearly enjoying teasing him.

Masumi chose to speak the truth frankly:

"You're so heavy, and you're so energetic first thing in the morning?"

Mami objected: "Don't say such discouraging things. A woman's craving for desserts and a man's greed are both reasonable."

She straightened up slightly, looking down at Masumi, her long black hair cascading down onto Masumi's body.

"Ugh... It's already... daylight... Whew..."

The third party's murmured sleep echoed in the room.

Mami was taken aback. "That voice is..."

"Masumi... Asami... so noisy..."

A cute flaxen head peeked out from under the covers, squinting as if afraid of the light.

The smooth skin clearly shows the marks left by the blanket and exudes a sweet fragrance.

"I don't want to... be separated from Masumi..."

There was a hint of loneliness in her voice, and then, as if seeking warmth, she clung tightly to Masumi, the smooth and tender touch spreading across her arms and thighs.

"Little Umizuki!? Why is she with Masumi!? Could it be—"

"It's not what you think!"

Masumi was fully awake, her brows furrowed in puzzlement: "Strange, I should have taken her back to her room last night..."

"Last night!? What happened? Masumi-kun has become a god!"

Asami was shocked and exclaimed, "This is sneaking out! Sneaking out! Umi is actually having intimate contact with Masumi behind the backs of other girls!"

Masumi sighed, "You have no right to judge others in your current state."

crunch--

The familiar sound of the door being pushed open.

"Good morning, Shin Shin Shin Shin Shin Shin! What are you guys doing?!"

The visitor's tongue trembled so much that he could not speak fluently.

Masumi cautiously shifted her gaze to behind Mami.

The honey-blonde beauty, extremely displeased, squinted at Mami and Haizuki, radiating arrogance.

"Masumi is mine... she's my beloved Masumi... Ms. Mami, Ms. Kaizuki, you two have gone too far!"

"Uh." Mami's throat tightened: "Ms. Mio, let me explain. My guilt lies with Umizuki."

Enraged, Kurokawa Mio wouldn't listen to anything. She picked up the cushion from the ground and threw it away with all her might.

I'll hide.

The plump, silly beauty was more agile than she looked, so Masumi's face was right next to her on the pillow.

"Ah! Masumi, are you alright!" Kurokawa Mio cried out in a high-pitched voice, panicking as she said, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to."

"It's ok."

The cushion slid down, and Masumi said expressionlessly.

crunch--

Then the sound of a door opening was heard.

"They went into their rooms and never came out again. What's the reason—?"

Rinne stopped abruptly, her expression turning cold.

"It seems that we should have a good talk before that Miss Shao arrives."

(End of this chapter)