Miss Heir wasn't very kind to me.

Chapter 234, Section 9: "After having her first kiss stolen under these circumstances—"

"Hmm—"

Because she went back to her room to sleep just after 8 o'clock, Mio woke up again in the middle of the night.

Click, click... Only the sound of the second hand moving forward was exceptionally clear.

Can't sleep.

No matter what position I tried, I just couldn't fall asleep.

Mio lay on the bed with her eyes closed. How much time had passed?
To check the time, she opened her eyes and looked at the clock hanging on the wall...

11 pm.

Ok?
The bed next to it was empty.

Mio instantly regained half of her senses, propped herself up, and touched the blankets; the sheets were unusually cold.

They must have left a long time ago.

An uneasy feeling swirled in her mind, and an ominous premonition flashed through Mio's heart.

No, it won't.

She got up from the bed, smoothing the wrinkles in her yukata as she slowly walked toward the paper door in the quiet, dim light.

It was only a few steps away, but it felt like an eternity.

Mio tiptoed into Masumi's room next door—

No one is empty.

This situation is even worse.

Calm down, calm down... Mio forced herself to take a few deep breaths, then closed the sliding door expressionlessly.

Where are those two people now?
She then went to Mami's and the other two's room, the rest area, the lobby, the accessible toilet, and searched almost every corner of the hot spring inn, but still couldn't find the two people.

—Except for one place.

Open-air hot spring.

That was the only place Mio could think of.

Two people, a man and a woman, meeting secretly in an open-air hot spring late at night... Could it be that they...

...Ominous thoughts swelled in her mind, and her heart felt as if it were about to burst.

Mio shook her head vigorously.

no, I can not.

Those two people haven't reached that level of relationship yet.

"..."

If it were the usual Masumi, Mio would still have some confidence, but today...

The serpent that tempted Eve to fall, fueled by alcohol, ignited a pleasurable fire within Mio's body, which still smolders deep within her.

It's so annoying, really...

With a gloomy face, Mio walked through the corridor to the open-air bath that the six of them had rented.

The moon was obscured by dark clouds, and Ikaho Town was shrouded in a hazy darkness, as if reflecting her current state of mind.

Once in the changing room, Mio kicked off her slippers, walked as quietly as possible, and peeked through the gap in the curtain with her right eye.

...!
His obsidian-like pupils widened slightly.

Just as I expected, they were indeed here.

However, she was wearing a yukata and sitting on the bathroom chair.

As expected, I had been overthinking it.

Yeah, I told you nothing would happen.

Do not worry.

They were probably just chatting.

"call……"

Mio gently patted her chest and breathed a sigh of relief.

In that case, you should act as if nothing's wrong and join in their casual conversation...

"...!"

The next moment, the sight before her eyes made Mio unable to believe her eyes—

Their figures overlapped, with Rinne nestled in Masumi's arms, clinging tightly to him.

A cat that steals fish!?

Mio's unease became a reality.

What is this?

Mio had never heard of them dating, and from their usual interactions, she couldn't tell that they had that kind of relationship at all.

If things really develop to that point, given Masumi's personality, she probably wouldn't hide it or deliberately conceal it, and wouldn't do anything to hurt them.

Therefore, this is probably just Rinne's wishful thinking, taking advantage of the fact that everyone else was asleep to launch a night attack on Masumi.

This heiress is truly remarkable.

If things continue like this, Masumi's rationality may collapse sooner or later.

After all, even from Mio's perspective, Rinne is a very charming and beautiful girl.

She has long, straight black hair, beautiful purple eyes, and an endearing beauty mark under her eye. Even when expressionless, she exudes a dignified beauty.

Moreover... she has an advantage that she lacks!
No! We absolutely cannot let them continue like this.

Therefore, Mio's blood surged, and she suddenly threw back the curtain and rushed inside—

"Hey! You two, stop right now!"

Mio's face was gloomy, and she was trembling with anger.

Like a cat, she curled up on Masumi's lap, stretching out her soft, delicate body and rubbing against Rinne.

And Masumi, whose expression was frozen.

The three of them met each other's eyes.

"Meow?"

◇

"Meow~"

Masumi ran her fingers through the radiant black hair, gently stroking the head of the heiress who had transformed into a cat.

"So, what's going on?"

Mio asked expressionlessly.

“That’s what Mio sees right now,” Masumi sighed.

Rinne would definitely not want to be seen in such a shameful state by her "arch-enemy".

"...Oh, now you've really become a philanderer."

Looking at Rinne's clingy manner, Mio spoke in a meaningful tone, a slight smile playing on her lips for some reason.

"Will she remember this memory after she regains consciousness?"

"I probably... don't remember."

Masumi replied with an uncertain tone.

Otherwise, Masumi would find it hard to imagine what kind of mindset Rinne had when she was interacting with herself after what happened last time.

"Oh."

Mio nodded and then suddenly clapped her hands loudly.

"Hey, look over here, you sly cat."

Masumi sighed, "...Mio, this isn't how you treat a cat."

Rinne remained unmoved, instead staring intently at Masumi with her round, purple eyes, tilting her face upwards.

After watching her maintain that posture for a moment, Masumi tentatively extended her left hand.

The cat-eared girl sucked on his knuckles, licked between his fingers, and then, like a cat licking milk, held his fingertip in her mouth.

"What...what are they doing? Is Masumi and this philandering cat having some fun?!"

Mio said, trembling all over, her lips twitching uncontrollably.

"Ugh."

Rinne looked up at her, her gaze gentle and unwavering, as if what she was doing was perfectly ordinary and carried no hidden meaning.

"Um, Mio, don't be nervous. I think Rinne doesn't have that many complicated thoughts right now."

In other words, it means following your instincts.

"Is that so?" Mio frowned. "If you're only driven by biological instincts... wouldn't that be even more dangerous?"

Startled, Mio reached out her hand to Rinne.

"Hey, you philandering cat, stay away from my Masumi."

She turned Rinne's head back to its normal position and spoke in a fierce tone.

But the cat-eared girl wasn't buying it at all.

Rinne brushed Mio's hand away. Although her slender palm didn't conceal sharp claws like a real cat's hand, it was still no pushover.

"Damn it, they're really stubborn."

Mio gave up after a few tries, still looking annoyed. Rinne, as the winner, naturally kept her prize to herself.

To change the atmosphere, Masumi started a conversation as if to make things easier:
"It's so late, what brings Mio here...?"

"I was worried when I saw that Masumi and Rinne weren't in their rooms," she answered honestly.

At this point, Mio once again openly revealed her wariness, her slightly narrowed eyes holding a sharp, scrutinizing gaze as she asked:
"Nothing should have happened between Masumi and Rinne just now, right?"

Although it is a question, there is no doubt that Mio expects only one answer.

Fortunately, Masumi can give Mio a satisfactory answer without having to deceive her.

"No."

Masumi's tone was firm; there was absolutely no time to hesitate at this moment.

However, this time, Mio wasn't so easily appeased and calmly pressed on with her question:

"Was it that you didn't want anything to happen, or that nothing happened before it happened?"

Her incisive observation caused Masumi's throat to twitch.

Honestly, if Mio hadn't arrived in time, and Rinne had done what happened last time... could I really have remained unmoved?

Thanks to that medicinal wine and the so-called "placebo effect," the slightest change in her body would cause a burning sensation to quickly spread throughout her entire body. Faced with Masumi's subconscious silence, Mio did not show any dissatisfaction. Instead, she raised the corners of her lips and put on an expression that said, "I knew it."

"Masumi."

"Ok?"

Mio suddenly adopted an extremely serious expression and asked in a very solemn tone:
Do you feel that I lack the charm of being a woman?

"Huh, uh, why is Mio suddenly asking this kind of question?"

"because……"

Mio puffed out her cheeks as if she were being difficult.

"...Masumi is clearly very lecherous, but she always resists my advances. We proved back on Miyako Island that Masumi's constitution is fine, which is why I wanted to ask this—"

Her honey-gold bangs swayed gently in the wind, casting a melancholy shadow on her face.

"Am I lacking in charm to attract Masumi?"

"That's completely untrue."

Masumi denied it without hesitation: "In my opinion, Mio is a very charming girl, and she can be more confident in herself."

"Yeah."

Perhaps Masumi's answer was too formulaic, because Mio's worries and dissatisfaction did not diminish in the slightest.

"Masumi seems to be more interested in me too! Honestly."

She pouted, looking dissatisfied.

Masumi sighed helplessly, "No, I've said it before, having desires and indulging in unrestrained desires are two different things."

He once again took out his worn-out shield to block the bullet.

That's one thing, but understanding and accepting it is another.

Mio frowned, and her expression could be summed up in one word: dissatisfaction! Extreme dissatisfaction!
The unsatisfied desire in her eyes was almost overflowing.

"If that's the case, then Masumi, prove it to me—your desires!"

Mio spoke with absolute certainty.

"...No, how can that be proven?"

Masumi looked troubled.

Acting rashly might get you beaten up by a passing Kamen Rider and turned into a pile of coins that you can't spend in the calculator.

I don't know if the incense offering box at Jinshiro Shrine accepts donations.

"It's very simple."

A faint smile appeared on Mio's lips, like wisps of steam rising from the surface of a hot spring.

"kiss Me."

She said it succinctly.

"Eh!"

"Masumi doesn't want to? I guess I still lack feminine charm..."

Mio sighed, her obsidian-like eyes seeming frozen, giving her a gloomy look.

No, that's not it—

Masumi interrupted him as if she were cutting him off.

"—Then kiss me."

Mio brooked no dissent.

Oh no, this has suddenly turned into a dilemma.

But in the end, it wasn't such a difficult decision, because Masumi had already made her choice in her heart.

It is probably because of this choice that Masumi has maintained her restraint to this day.

"……okay, I get it."

In the silent autumn night air, Masumi held her breath.

To suppress his wavering emotions, he took a deep breath. The sound of his breathing vibrated his eardrums.

It's so hot. It's autumn, and I didn't even soak in a hot spring, but the heat is still building up under my skin.

The light reflected in Mio's eyes swayed slightly, her long eyelashes trembled, and she slowly closed her eyes.

Her delicate cheeks were tilted back, and her slightly pouting lips made her look like a fledgling bird begging for food.

Even though it was a face he was used to seeing, he still wanted to keep staring at it.

Compared to a solemn vow kiss, this is merely proof of attitude; since that's the case—

Masumi closed her eyes, relying solely on the body temperature she felt to approach that warmth.

He was enveloped in a sweet fragrance.

Her soft lips pressed against his.

!! ?
Masumi slowly opened her eyes, then her pupils suddenly contracted.

The face he kissed became clear in the light of the open-air hot spring, its fluffy cat ears asserting their presence at one end of his field of vision.

Rin, Rin Yin! ?
what's the situation! ?

He kissed Rinne—and right in front of Mio!
Because it was so unexpected, Masumi slightly opened her mouth.

Then he tasted something sweeter than candy.

"—Stop right there! You philandering cat!"

Mio's exasperated voice shattered the stillness of the night.

"How dare you steal Masumi's first kiss, and right in front of me!"

Mio was burning with rage.

Seeing Masumi slightly stunned, she coldly shortened the distance between them in one breath, then grabbed his head with both hands and pulled him close.

—This time it was Mio's turn for his lips to meet Mio's.

Her emotions were like a turbid current, so heavy that they threatened to engulf him, surging over him with overwhelming force.

After kissing for a while, Mio reluctantly released her hand, looked at Masumi who was still radiating warmth, and said:

"...This should cover up your kiss with that sly cat, right? I won't lose to her!"

"Uh-huh……"

"Damn it! Damn it! Masumi's first kiss!"

The thought of that thieving cat interfering in her life just now made Mio furious.

"Ahem, well, in that case, Mio has obtained the proof she wanted, right?"

Masumi tried her best to make the same expression as usual, but her ears, which peeked out from between her black hair, were faintly tinged with red.

After asking that question, Mio snapped out of her anger, touched her lips lightly with her finger as if savoring the moment, and smiled with her eyes narrowed.

"Well, although the atmosphere was ruined halfway through, but..."

The dark clouds dispersed, and the moonlight filtering through them enveloped her in a beautiful halo.

Mio's faint smile turned into a wide, radiant one, like moonlight in a cloudless night sky.

"...It's not so bad."

Her disheveled clothes revealed her fair skin on her shoulders, which had already slipped down to her upper arms. Masumi immediately looked away.

Otherwise, he would feel thirsty.

"...Will Mio be satisfied with doing this?"

"No, not enough."

Mio gently shook her head.

"It's not just our lips that are overlapping; I wish there were more places where our lips could overlap."

"Mio."

Masumi raised her voice slightly in protest.

"Ok."

Mio smiled in a gesture of compromise.

"Continuing any further might be a bit too much, but as long as there's progress, that's fine. We'll leave the rest for the nights when Masumi and I are alone."

"Oh, oh..."

Once a relationship is formed between people, it is difficult to change. Perhaps it was this vague awareness that made Kurokawa Mio want to take action.

She reached out and gently grasped Masumi's hand with her soft, fragrant palm.

She felt a slight dampness on her fingertips, and her brows furrowed almost imperceptibly before she tightened her grip on that hand.

"Masumi, your hands are so cold, are you cold?"

"Fortunately."

Because I spent a bit too much time outside.

"Shall we go back to the room together?"

"No, I want to stay a little longer."

"Okay, goodnight."

"Good night."

Smiling and nodding, Mio released her grip on his hand and gently parted her lips:
"Masumi, I love you."

The gentle whispers mixed with her breaths truly reached Masumi's ears.

"Good night, Masumi."

After saying this, Mio stood up from the bathroom chair and left the open-air hot spring.

"..."

Masumi touched her lips with a deeply moved expression.

Recalling those two sensations, it felt like waking up from a blissful dream, with only a lingering warmth remaining.

"Meow~ Meow~"

The heiress's sweet voice pulled him back to reality.

Looking at the cat-eared girl lying on his lap, acting coquettishly, Masumi pressed her temples and took a breath.

Okay, so what should we do next to deal with this cat?

(End of this chapter)