Miss Heir wasn't very kind to me.

Chapter 233, Section 8: "In the still of the night, a cat steals fish."

"Ouch~ My head hurts so much."

When Masumi woke up—or rather, when she regained consciousness—she was greeted by a wooden ceiling.

The cool warmth of the towel on his forehead suggested he was resting in his hotel room, but...

"Masumi-nii is awake!"

A surprised voice rang out.

"Oh, Chiai."

His vision gradually cleared, and the soft silhouette of his childhood sweetheart filled his field of vision.

?

Perhaps it was just her eyes playing tricks on her, Masumi rubbed her eyes in disbelief.

what happened?

Chiai wasn't wearing the yukata provided by the inn, but rather...

"Qian'ai, what are you wearing..."

"what!"

Mentioning this, Qian'ai's face instantly turned red to her neck.

"Um, Masumi-nii, please don't misunderstand. It was Asami-nee who kept pestering me to wear it, saying that Masumi-nii might like this style, so I... Ah! Anyway! I didn't want to dress like this!"

The more he tried to cover up, the more hesitant and fragmented his words became.

Yes, the black and white fabric that Chiai is wearing now is an outfit called a "maid outfit".

Unlike the reserved and conservative classic style I wore in the maid café in Sannomiya, this maid outfit is the kind that you absolutely cannot wear out in public.

The overall design is adorned with ruffles, and the amount of skin shown makes one think, "Huh? Skin showing? Calculating the amount of skin covered should be much faster, right?"

Even so, the area that can be covered is quite limited.

Although the skirt hem does cover the buttocks, one cannot make large movements, otherwise the fair and fleshy thighs will be exposed.

"See, Chia, I was absolutely right. Masumi-kun's eyes are practically glued to the screen."

Asami's lips curled into a smug and provocative smile.

"Oh, by the way, Masumi-kun, the front of this maid outfit can be unbuttoned."

After she finished speaking, she gave a demonstration, which was unnecessary, and Qian Ai's high-pitched scream immediately filled the room.

"Ma, Mami-nee! You've drunk too much! Go sober up right away!"

Chiai, her face flushed, kept pushing Mami aside after she had rezipped the zipper.

"Hey, Chia was already completely honest with Masumi-kun just now, why are you still bothered by this?"

Incidentally, Mami, whose face was adorned with a silly smile due to drunkenness, was wearing an outfit that revealed little skin, but was still quite striking.

It has rabbit ears on its head, a black leather bodysuit with high slits that exposes its shoulders, white sleeves on its wrists, a black bow tie adorning its neck, and a white, round tail on its rump.

Next is Haiyue.

Her face was covered by a cartoon ghost mask, and she wore a long, pure white fishtail dress. She was an adorable ghost girl who looked a little confused.

But beneath that cuteness, the slender yet full-figured curves of her body break through the original design of the fishtail skirt, making her presence stand out as if she were about to burst out.

Because of the reverse orientation of the ceiling light, the gaps and tightness between the white dress and the soft skin of the cosplay outfit, which originally seemed quite conservative and reserved, were all clearly reflected.

In the end what happened?
Am I still dreaming?
"Masumi, how are you feeling now? I'll go get you a new towel."

Mio knelt down beside his pillow, her slightly damp blond hair contrasting with her pale, cherry-blossom-colored cheeks.

The image she was preparing seemed to be that of a demon girl, and perhaps for that reason, her attire was as unrestrained as that of a demon, consisting of a black two-piece swimsuit adorned with lace.

The back of both the top and bottom pieces features small black bat wings and a heart-shaped tail.

Maid, rabbit, ghost girl, demon girl.

"...Are you having a costume party? Halloween is already over."

Seeing Mio's outfit, Masumi asked with a strange expression.

"How rude, Masumi-kun."

Mami pouted, "These are battle suits that everyone specially prepared for the final battle. You should at least praise us a few times first, right?"

"...My current reaction should be more convincing than any words of praise, right?"

Masumi said calmly.

"Ah! Masumi-nii's nose is bleeding again!" Maid Chiai hurriedly went to get tissues.

Please don't misunderstand, this is because the problem with snake wine has not been resolved at all.

The plastic bag containing the cosplay costume had been torn open and was lying haphazardly to the side, with a paper receipt attached, indicating that it was purchased on [Date] from Shincho Bookstore (Kobe Sannomiya Store).

Taking the tissue Chiai offered to stop the nosebleed, Masumi seemed to remember something and turned her gaze to the other side.

"Huh? Rinne isn't wearing anything."

"...Considering that you just woke up from your unconscious state, I won't hold your verbal mistakes against you."

The stunningly beautiful girl with long, straight black hair spoke with a cold expression.

"I'm sorry, I misspoke," Masumi apologized immediately.

"What I mean is... you're not wearing a cosplay outfit like them."

The heiress was wearing a yukata provided by the hotel. The dark blue yukata was made of gradient fabric, with bright red azaleas blooming on it in a flamboyant way, like soaring fireworks.

"Are you disappointed?"

Rinne retorted calmly. No emotion could be detected in her cold, emotionless eyes.

"No, not really."

Although Rinne's attire was the most proper among the girls, with her full hips resting on her slender ankles and her sitting posture upright.

The slight panting mixed in with her words wasn't very noticeable, but Masumi still managed to catch it keenly.

Because the heiress hadn't consumed much alcohol, the effects were only now taking effect, and her yukata, which she had changed into, was somewhat disheveled due to her rapid breathing.

Her already wide robe slipped down to her upper arms, but Rinne was completely unaware.

Her snow-white shoulders and armpits shimmered slightly with a thin sheen of sweat, and her sweat-dampened collarbones, chest, and thighs were exposed without any defense.

"...The clothes that Asami-nee prepared are just too—"

At this point, Rinne suddenly paused, then let out a long sigh.

"I cannot accept this."

"Hey, what does it matter?" Mami puffed out her cheeks. "Anyway, I'm only wearing it for Masumi-kun to see."

Even so…

"Huh?" Masumi's curiosity was piqued by Rinne's reaction: "Rinne's outfit is..."

"Hmph, I knew Masumi-kun would be really looking forward to it!"

Mami excitedly clasped her hands together in front of her chest and said, her rabbit ears twitching, and her high-strung leather coat bounced twice like a rabbit.

"Ms. Mami."

Rinne gave Mami a cold look, but it had no effect on Mami, who was in a state of excitement after drinking.

"...Then let me put it another way, it's the complete opposite of my style."

On the contrary, that is to say...

"Ah! Mio-neechan! Quickly, bring me a cold towel!"

"I understand! Masumi, you have to hang in there!"

Kurokawa Mio quickly ran to the wooden basin in the corner of the room, re-wetted the towel with cold water, wrung it out, and applied it to Masumi's burning face.

After a series of emergency treatments, Masumi Miyazawa was revived.

The girls in front of me were still making a racket.

Mami was still clinging to Rinne, insisting that she also put on a cosplay outfit.

After repeated attempts to persuade her failed, she suddenly put a cat-ear headband on Rinne's head.

"No, Rinne, every girl in this room, except for Masumi-kun, must have her own cute point."

"Sister Mami, I shouldn't have let you open that suspicious bottle of medicinal wine today."

The heiress deeply regrets her actions.

"Even I am now..."

They suffered greatly from it.

"What about Rinne too?"

"No, it's nothing."

Rinne shook her head as if to cover up her embarrassment, and looked at Masumi with concern.

"How are you? You've been bleeding since just now."

"Thank you all, but I'm fine now."

"It's getting late, you should go back and rest... Oh, and change your clothes before you go back."

"Hey, Masumi, don't you really need me to stay with you a little longer?"

"I'm not giving up," the demon girl Mio asked, unwilling to give up.

"I don't know why, but I'm incredibly energetic right now. I can stay here with you until dawn."

"No, no need to trouble yourself."

Masumi firmly refused. Although it sounded tempting, the more beautiful things are, the more dangerous they often are.

"I'm so sorry for what happened earlier, making you all worry."

"No, Masumi-nii doesn't need to apologize at all. It's all Asami-nee's fault."

Chiai, who only drank one glass of wine, was probably the least affected.

"Hey, I really wanted to share good stuff with everyone."

Masumi closed her eyes helplessly, hearing the rustling sound of fabric rubbing against her ear.

Rinne, with a stern face, urged the others to change out of their cosplay outfits.

"Then you should get some rest and take care."

The sound of the door closing smoothly could be heard, and the fragrance of the girls after their bath still lingered in the room.

I glanced at the clock; it was only eight o'clock. Yet, it felt like a long time had passed.

Masumi suddenly remembered something: who helped him change his yukata?
◇

The chirping of autumn insects.

Masumi sat alone on a bath chair by the open-air hot spring.

The chilly autumn wind was biting, but it was just right for his feverish body.

"..."

Doing nothing but gazing blankly at the moonlight, the red leaves, and the wisps of steam rising from the surface of the hot spring is a very comfortable way to pass the time.

The overheated mind seemed to gradually cool down.

well.

At this point, as long as there are no further stimuli...

Ultimately, snake wine is not some kind of miraculous medicine that works instantly; its effects largely come from alcohol and psychological suggestion.

After her defenses were weakened by these elements, and then she experienced her first mixed-gender bathing with girls, all of whom were beautiful and charming and launched a fierce offensive against her, Masumi's reaction naturally became pathetic.

Fortunately, it is all over at last.

It's about time to sleep. Tomorrow we're going sightseeing in Ikaho Onsen town.

Just as Masumi was about to return to her room, she suddenly heard footsteps behind her.

"Well?"

Masumi turned her head, and there stood the heiress, who looked equally surprised.

"How will you be here?"

"Oh, it's a bit stuffy in the room, so I came out for some fresh air."

As Masumi answered, her gaze fell on the top of Rinne's head.

The two cat ears were fixed to the headband, made of fine downy fur, black on the outside and snow-white on the inside.

Because the headband was hidden by her hair, it looked like two cat ears that had grown out of her own.

"Huh? Why are you staring at me?"

Rinne tilted her head slightly, puzzled. "Is there something on my face?"

"No, it's nothing."

Didn't you notice that the cat ears were never removed?

But it's fine this way, it's pleasing to the eye, so I might as well not remind her.

"It's so late, why is Rinne here too..."

"The room was a bit stuffy, so I came out to cool off," Rinne replied casually.

"so."

Masumi nodded.

So that's it. He was also troubled by the effects of snake wine, just like him.

"Then keep an eye on the time, don't stay out too late, I'll head back now."

Masumi stood up. If she continued to stay alone with Rinne, the fuse of the bomb, which had already been extinguished, might reignite.

This possibility must be nipped in the bud.

“...Hey, Masumi.”

Suddenly a gust of wind blew by, making the maple leaves on the treetops rustle.

Rinne's fingers gripped Masumi's sleeve tightly, her slightly trembling voice carried on the wind.

"Masumi, do you like me?"

Ok?
Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee?

Masumi's expression froze instantly. She turned her head stiffly and suddenly asked this question without any preparation in this situation.

But no matter when, where, or under what circumstances the question was asked, his answer has always been the same from the beginning.

"happiness……"

"It's okay, you don't need to answer."

Rinne's voice was as steady as a maple tree swaying gently beside an open-air hot spring.

Her heart was pounding, and the moment she asked the question, Rinne regretted it.

Taking a step forward here would definitely damage the current relationship.

It will at least cause Masumi psychological burden.

Rinne loosened her grip on Masumi's sleeve, letting her fingers slowly fall to her sides, and said softly.

"Lately, I've been very happy every day."

"Eh."

Rinne hugged her long, straight legs and sat on the bathroom chair.

After hesitating for a moment, Masumi sat down next to her again.

"Recently refers to..."

"Probably after I returned to Kobe from Uji."

"That can't be considered recent anymore."

"Hmm, it's been 81 days since then," Rinne said casually.

I remember it so clearly! It feels so heavy!
Masumi couldn't help but glance at Rinne. The inn's yukatas were designed as pajamas, so they were quite loose.

Because of the posture of hugging one's knees, one can easily see the armpits and the rounded part in front through the cuffs.

Oops!

Masumi immediately looked away, and in order to change her mood, she asked:
"What about before?"

Masumi remembered Rinne telling him on Mount Rokko that she was very satisfied with her current life.

“Of course I was content before.” Rinne nodded. “Whether it was my job at the coffee shop or being able to give back to the orphanage with my own efforts, I was content with everything.”

"Because I have finally become the kind of person I wanted to be, someone that others depend on, someone special."

She emphasized each word, her strong and clear pronunciation was very pleasant to hear.

"Although there have been many hardships, I have never regretted becoming who I am today. I originally thought that I would live like this for the rest of my life, without any other emotional burdens."

Her fingers, resting on the bathroom chair, curled slightly.

These hands, with even the fingertips glowing with a beautiful color, have always refused to reach out to anyone.

Rinne's world has a warm side, but also a cruel and narrow side.

Before that, she chose to lean on warmth and face cruelty.

Rinne Kamishiro, an unapproachable beauty at school, the independent heir to a coffee shop, and an older sister figure admired and relied upon by the children at the orphanage.

As far as Rinne was concerned, this beautiful and powerful figure was the image she had always dreamed of, and it should be something to be satisfied with.

But now, sitting side by side with another boy in a yukata, revealing her vulnerability without reservation, is not the emotionally closed-off, cold and aloof Rinne Kamishiro.

Instead, she's an ordinary girl who naturally smiles when she's in a good mood, and who uses a meaningful tone to mock others when she's unhappy—Rinne Kamishiro.

"I like to correct Mami's frivolous parts, I like to take care of Kaizuki's useless parts, and I like to listen to Chiai talk about school. Although saying this will make that person complacent, I like Mio's koto music."

She heard deep breathing and felt the evening breeze gently swaying her bangs as Rinne continued speaking.

"...Masumi doesn't like staring at girls' bodies with lewd eyes."

Gurgle!

Masumi's head felt like it was being pressed down by ice, and she squeezed out strange noises from her throat.

Rinne smiled faintly.

Suddenly, she made a cat-like gesture with her hands, gently bit her lower lip, gathered her breath, and then slowly opened her lips.

A clear, melodious, and long-lasting "meow" rang out from its mouth.

"Eh?"

"..."

The cat-eared girl's face gradually turned rosy.

"poor."

"me?"

“It’s me.” Rinne sighed, “I wanted to make your heart flutter, but I ended up making my own heart pound.”

"Don't say that, it's very cute."

"……poor."

This sentence must be referring to him.

Masumi sat by the open-air hot spring with a gentle smile, gazing up at the night sky.

...The moonlight is so beautiful.

The night sky was cloudless, with only the crescent moon visible.

He asked for nothing more than to gaze at the bright moon a little longer.

Suddenly, I felt a weight on my leg.

"Rinne?"

The heiress suddenly collapsed onto his knees.

Are you sleepy?

Masumi lowered her gaze and saw a cat-eared girl with a blushing face and a gentle, clingy expression.

The yukata's neckline was wide open, revealing creamy skin underneath and daringly provocative cat-themed lingerie.

wrong!

This alluring posture is—

“Meow~ Meow~”

The abnormal form of Heir Lady Cat Rin has made a triumphant return, catalyzed by snake wine!

(End of this chapter)