Miss Heir wasn't very kind to me.

Chapter 268 Girls Side. "Is Kurokawa Mio some kind of incompetent wife?"

Mio picked up the boxer shorts that someone had stuffed into her hand and brought back to her room, put her feet under the bed, and quietly walked into the hallway.

The door to Masumi's room remained tightly closed.

Great, let's do it now.

Mio carefully descended the stairs, one step at a time.

Even if you deliberately walk barefoot, the creaking sound of your bare feet on the wooden floor is still very loud in the quiet corridor.

A strong sense of tension made her whole body tense, afraid that Masumi might reveal her face from behind at any moment.

It's okay! Just say you came out to use the restroom.

As Mio calmed herself down, she stepped onto the second-floor corridor.

There was no one in the restroom, and no lights were on. It was pitch black, like the sea under the night sky, filling the space with a vast darkness.

Just now she was so focused on rummaging through Masumi's laundry basket, but now, staring at the bathroom, Mio couldn't help but shiver in the darkness.

If I get caught... my relationship with Masumi will be over.

Oh, and take a deep breath!

"call--"

(Sniff)
"--call."

Mio's raised lips gradually relaxed: she felt relieved.

I never knew deep breathing was so amazing.

But none of this matters.

Mio walked quietly to the laundry basket next to the washing machine.

I can finally get rid of this heavy burden in my heart.

Next, just casually put it back in its original place... its original place?
Where did I put these boxer shorts again? Mio frowned.

"..."

It doesn't matter, just stuff it in anywhere.

Mio pinched the corner of the garment, gently lifted it, intending to put it inside, when just then—

"Huh? This dress..."

I haven't seen Masumi wear it.

Mio picked up the shirt sandwiched in the middle, unfolded it, and found it was a light blue T-shirt with a slender cartoon fish pattern printed on it.

Below the image is a line of letters: "Dokuta Fisshu", which should be the name of the fish.

I remember now, this was a gift I brought to everyone when I visited the coffee shop at Christmas.

Different marine creatures are printed on the water-colored fabric that mimics the ocean.

She herself is a shark, Haizuki is a jellyfish, Rinne is a catshark, Chiai is a seal, and Mami is a sea otter.

Masumi's name is... Pale Red Inkfish.

It is a type of fish that can precisely peel away the stratum corneum of the skin without damaging healthy tissue. It is native to Türkiye, which also has a hot spring and bathing culture, and is often used in fish therapy for foot baths.

Mio had been to Hakone with her family before, and the hot springs there kept these "doctor fish".

I remember Ms. Rugu saying that she chose the marine life considering each person's personality, so Masumi...

Mio couldn't help but look down at her feet... Hmm, her vision was excellent; each toe was exquisitely white, with the tips painted with vermilion nail polish.

Since learning about Masumi's quirk, she has started to take care of her feet, applying moisturizer every night to keep her skin soft and supple.

Why doesn't Masumi want to hold her feet in her arms and admire them carefully, even though they are such beautiful feet?

Sure enough, that wasn't enough to capture Masumi's attention, since there were just too many temptations around him.

Does it really have to be like what Miss Rugu said...?

Mio stared intently at the pale red inkfish on the T-shirt, and memories of the New Year suddenly resurfaced in her mind.

—That happened after soaking in the hot springs, when I returned to my room to rest and before falling asleep.

◇

"...The last time I stayed overnight at a friend's house was back in high school. It feels like ages ago that we slept in the same bed and chatted about gossip."

My tone was as gentle as if I were touching a memory.

"Just asking, that friend isn't Masumi, is he?"

Mio asked, facing the dark ceiling.

I chuckled lightly, "Ms. Kurokawa really doesn't let her guard down at all."

"Don't change the subject!"

Mio shifted from lying on her back to lying on her side, her eyes, accustomed to the darkness, coldly gazing at me as if from ancient times.

"Okay, okay." I compromised as usual: "It's just other girls in the club, not Masumi, don't worry."

"...I can't calm down."

"Ok?"

"What a joke! The way you touched Masumi just now was so natural, how can I feel at ease? Why are you guys so skilled at it!"

Mio gritted her teeth, releasing her emotions, when suddenly her expression changed, as if she had thought of a certain possibility.

"You and Masumi... you haven't done this many times already, have you?!"

I remained noncommittal, offering a leisurely, slight smile.

It was an expression that conveyed everything without saying a word.

Mio was deeply shocked and curled up on the bed like a cooked lobster, muttering to herself.

"...How could this be! Someone else beat me to it...?"

It's like in a competitive game, you finally manage to bring an enemy down to their last sliver of health, only to have someone else steal the kill.

"I know Masumi is carefree, but I never thought about seriously correcting her. Ugh! It's all my fault for being so arrogant... that Masumi was... by that witch... Right! When was that?"

Mio opened her eyes wide, and I could clearly see from my vantage point that the whites of her eyes were bloodshot.

"It was the night I first arrived in Kobe~"

I then revealed a victor's expression, and smiled charmingly.

"Huh!? Could it be that when Masumi texted me saying she'd be late, she was actually asking for help! But I didn't take it seriously and ignored it... It's all my fault! I'm such the worst girlfriend."

"No," I denied as always, "Masumi enjoys it too."

"Eeeeeee!"

Mio let out a mournful cry through her teeth, clutching her ears and shaking her head desperately, her hair rubbing against the pillow, making a rustling sound.

"Also, Ms. Kurokawa and Masumi aren't a couple yet, right? But I won't deny that."

My next line was like a demon tearing open a crack in hell and sneaking into the human world.

"Ms. Kurokawa's boyfriend, Masumi, hmm, tastes quite good. This feels like an affair, it seems to have become more interesting."

"No! Don't say any more! My Masumi... Waaaaaah!"

"Hey, Ms. Kurokawa, you're head over heels in love with Masumi, right? Well, you'd like to hear more about Masumi, wouldn't you? Listen, Masumi's hands can do more than just play the guitar~"

I smiled gently and began to tell the story in a soft voice.

"Masumi's body, perhaps because of Kurokawa-san's meticulous care, is quite robust. Hehe, it feels even more comfortable than I imagined..."

Judging from the atmosphere alone, this conversation could be described as a friendly interaction between girls, but the topic itself is really quite shocking.

If Masumi were there, seeing the sadism hidden behind her senior's smile, she would probably shudder.

No! I don't want to hear it!

Mio weakly covered her ears, her lips, partially obscured by her drooping hair, trembled softly as she murmured Masumi's name.

"Masumi... my Masumi... she actually suffered such a terrible torment at the hands of this witch..."

Why! Why am I so powerless!

I am the most incompetent wife in the world.

If I were stronger, I could protect you from this dangerous woman...

Could things be different then?
lie.

Hush をつき.

In the end, what have I protected?

Masumi... I'm so sorry...

……

Mio, with a will she didn't know where it came from, briefly rallied from her despair and stared at me, Rugu, with sharp eyes.

"You despicable and shameless woman! I'll take care of you right now!"

Like a large dog pouncing into attack stance, Mio lunged at me with a snap, but the next moment—

"As I've said before, don't be fooled by the fact that working at an aquarium may seem glamorous and romantic; it's mostly physical labor."

I effortlessly defused Mio's attack and turned the tables on her.

"Ah, I forgot, I only said that to Masumi. Ms. Kurokawa, would you like to know the context in which I said that to Masumi?"

"Do not want to know!"

Mio looked up and met my unwavering gaze.

This dark-haired beauty has a unique gaze. She looks calm and harmless, but anyone who has had a few encounters with her knows that this is just an illusion.

Beneath this calm surface lies a depth of sinister cunning that is utterly unfathomable.

She's practically like a witch who's an enemy of magical girls, a female executive of an evil organization.

"Even if you hear this kind of news, don't be so swayed, Ms. Mio."

As I spoke, I looked at her, her eyes revealing a hint of illness, as if she were about to deliver the final blow to Mio.

However, the lines that came out of her mouth surprised Mio.

"Didn't you do very well at the hot spring today, Ms. Kurokawa? Masumi looked very satisfied, right? Although I've seen it many times before, this must be the first time Ms. Kurokawa has seen it, right?"

These last words still made Mio tremble with excitement, but...

Masumi's eyes at that moment, and the way she gently stroked her head and hair.

Finally... I'm no longer alone.

My entire respiratory system felt enveloped by Masumi's scent.

It is something you ask for yourself.

It was Masumi who gave it to her willingly. Such happiness.

"If I'm not mistaken, this should be the first time Ms. Kurokawa has made such great progress with Masumi, right?"

"Uh-huh."

Mio turned her face away, avoiding the main point.

“After all, every time before, Masumi would immediately resist or run away…”

"Yes, that's it!"

I interrupted her as if I were cutting her off, my tone highly seductive.

"Only this time did we achieve a satisfactory result. Ms. Kurokawa, have you ever wondered why?"

"Eh, this kind of thing..."

My relentless questioning left Mio confused, her mind blank, completely caught in my rhythm, unable to give a coherent answer.

“It’s cooperation.”

I slowly and deliberately revealed the answer.

"If the two of you work together, even if Masumi escapes, we can catch him immediately. What do you think, Ms. Kurokawa?"

"what?"

"Why don't we both clamp him down together?" I said, surprising everyone.

"What did you say!?"

Mio was dumbfounded.

"It means cooperation, Ms. Kurokawa. The effect of 1+1 is often greater than 2."

I smiled slightly, loosened my grip on Mio, reached out and brushed my hair aside, tucking the strands that were falling across my face behind my ear.

"..."

Mio suddenly realized that the purpose of this "female executive of the evil organization" was not to defeat the magical girl, but to bewitch her into corruption.

"What a joke! Masumi belongs to me, and I will not give him to anyone!"

Mio's voice was colder than the cold air outside the window.

"Oh dear~ But I've already gotten a taste of Masumi first. If I'm not mistaken, the other girls should all be making their own progress, right?"

"...Even so, I will definitely be the final winner!" Mio said decisively.

"Hehe, since Miss Kurokawa is so confident, that's perfect. We're counting on you."

Mio frowned: "Of course I will try my best, but what's with that?"

"Since I'll be returning to Miyako Island soon, I'll leave the coffee shop entirely in Ms. Kurokawa's care."

“I have no intention of cooperating with you, nor do I intend to share Masumi with anyone.”

"Don't rush to conclusions. Actually, I also want to have Masumi all to myself. We can discuss or compete on this point later."

As I reached out and touched her shoulder, Mio's body stiffened slightly, but she didn't react any further, only staring coldly at me.

"Miss Kurokawa should know about the Three Great Unifiers of the Sengoku Period, right? They are the three people who unified the country in turn. During Oda Nobunaga's unification of the country, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, one of the Three Great Unifiers, was the commander of his army, while Tokugawa Ieyasu, the second of the Three Great Unifiers, became his ally and helped him stabilize the Kanto defense line."

Mio brushed away the hand that was on her shoulder.

"...What am I trying to say, Miss Rugu, by spouting these outdated stories from five hundred years ago?"

Unconsciously, the way I addressed her changed back to using honorifics. Mio didn't realize that her feelings were gradually being manipulated by me.

"In other words, after Oda Nobunaga died in the Honnoji Incident, his former subordinate Toyotomi Hideyoshi seized the opportunity to take over the Oda family's territory. After Toyotomi Hideyoshi's death, Tokugawa Ieyasu took over the Toyotomi family's territory. So, until the very end, the winner is still unknown."

After recounting the Warring States period story, I, like an ancient poet, finally returned to the main topic.

"Ms. Kurokawa's desire to monopolize Masumi can wait until after the world is pacified~"

"Don't try that! This is just a delaying tactic to lure me into a trap!"

"How could that be? I came here with 100% sincerity."

This conversation clearly shows that this woman is no ordinary person.

This conversation, which was utterly unreasonable to Mio, continued until late at night.

◇

"--what are you doing here?"

Rinne's room was very close to the bathroom. As soon as she opened the door, she saw that honey-gold figure standing in front of the washing machine, lost in thought.

"Rin, Rinne!? When did you get here?"

Was it just her imagination? Rinne frowned slightly. The moment she appeared, Mio's shoulder seemed to jump in surprise, and then she hid her hands behind her back, as if she were hiding something.
"just."

Rinne answered calmly, then asked:
"She seems so nervous, could it be that Mio is doing something shady behind everyone's back?"

"What nonsense are you talking about! How could I possibly—"

Mio suddenly stopped halfway through her sentence, her tongue getting tied up because she had too much to say, and her cheeks kept getting hot.

Rinne sighed deeply.

"I was just asking casually; I didn't really want to hear about Mio's shameful and shallow desires."

"That last sentence is superfluous!"

"Excuse me, could you please move aside?"

Rinne ignored the furious Mio and walked to the laundry basket, picking up the clothes piled inside.

"Ugh, what are you going to do?!"

"do the laundry."

Rinne answered nonchalantly.

"Oh, oh..."

Mio turned her face away, a sigh escaping her lips, and muttered softly.

"I thought……"

"What did you think? Did you think I'd be like Mio, hugging Masumi's worn clothes and taking a big gulp of inhalation?"

"!? You, when did you find out?"

"One rainy morning."

"Rain? Then it'll be at the latest December!"

Rinne sighed and said expressionlessly:

"That's why I said I'm not interested in Mio's shameful and superficial desires."

"I already said, that last sentence is redundant!"

"Good good."

Without thinking twice, Rinne agreed and threw the clothes into the washing machine.

"Wait a moment!"

Mio suddenly stopped her.

"Ok?"

"Um... um!"

Oh no, I can't think of an excuse at all.

At least let me put these boxer shorts back first.

But if you do this...

"—I see. I thought that was the limit of what I could do by inhaling the scent from Masumi's shirt, but I didn't expect Mio to still be unsatisfied. She really is a complete pervert."

"What nonsense are you talking about? This is a very common thing!"

"Nothing special? Hmm, then I'll tell Masumi about this nothing special. I wonder if he'll date a perverted nymphomaniac who likes to steal his underwear and smell it."

"No! Please! Please!"

Mio had no choice but to lower her head to her love rival. What if Masumi found out about this...?

"Oh my~ So even the usually competitive Mio can make this kind of face in front of me."

A smug and satisfied smile spread across Rinne's lips.

"So, you perverted slut who steals boys' underwear, Mio, tell me, what are you willing to do to keep this unspeakable secret?"

"Um, Rinne, we're friends, right..."

"Friends?" Rinne scoffed. "Who would be friends with a pervert like you!"

"Also, you must call me Lady Kamishiro! From now on, Mio will be a spineless dog who can never raise its head in front of me again, ahahahahaha!"

The haughty cat witch who stole fish laughed loudly.

The vivid hallucinations escalated into a scene of utter despair, and Mio cried out in anguish, "Eee-ya!"

If this continues... she'll go crazy! Clutching Masumi's boxer shorts in her hand, she died in this ridiculous and shameful way.

I have to say something!
"Ok?"

Rinne looked at Mio, whose face had suddenly turned pale, completely bewildered.

"...Shirts, blouses and underwear should be washed separately."

It took Mio a lot of effort to squeeze out those words.

"Oh, that's common sense."

With her usual indifferent expression, Rinne put the clothes into the washing machine, pressed the switch, and then tilted her head to look at Mio.

"Anything else?"

"No! Nothing!"

Left with no other choice, Mio crumpled her boxer shorts into a ball and clenched them in her palm, then backed out of the washroom while keeping a close eye on Rinne.

Then, as if fleeing from something invisible to the naked eye, he ran back to the third floor and hid in his room.

It was exactly 7:00 AM.

Beep beep beep. Beep beep beep.

"Hoo~ Ah."

Masumi turned off the alarm on her phone next to her pillow, rubbed her sleepy eyes, got out of bed, and looked out the window.

It's a sunny day today.

(End of this chapter)