The Gemini Princess wants me to confess my feelings!

"Has anything happened recently?"

The lady held the soup bowl, sipping the soup slowly, and suddenly asked a question as she relaxed.

The question was so abrupt that Kirihara Akira and the twins at the table simultaneously stopped what they were doing, but then continued as if nothing had happened.

Mori Shizue asked softly, "What matter is Mother asking about?"

"You two sisters still bicker? That's rare." Mori Akari handed the bowl to the old maid Shimizu behind her, recalling the past with a nostalgic expression: "Today's scene reminds me of when you were in elementary school, when you two would often quarrel over trivial matters."

"Is that so? I don't remember at all." Mori Shizue smiled shyly.

"You've all grown up. I can't control your conflicts anymore," the lady said calmly as she stood up. "Don't make too much of a fuss. Today is a joyous occasion."

As soon as the lady left the table, it was as if the frozen air began to move again.

Kirihara Akira shook his head. Even he had to admit that dining at the same table with someone like Madam was quite stressful.

He pulled out a napkin, wiped his mouth, and asked, "It's your birthday today, Mr. Hayato didn't come back?"

"He is..."

"He went out for a social engagement..."

The two sisters spoke at the same time, as if they had crashed into each other after getting on the road, and then fell into a deep, hostile silence. Then they turned their heads away in unison, neither looking at the other.

Kirihara Akira coughed twice and said, "Did you go out for a social event? After all, it's your coming-of-age ceremony. As your parents, you must have a lot to do."

"That's irrelevant." Mori Kiyoha stood up and said impatiently, "I'm full."

She left impatiently, as if she didn't want to be near Mori Shizue or even the air Mori Shizue exhaled for a second longer.

After she left, Mori Shizue also left a blank "Thank you for the meal" before getting up and walking away.

Kirihara Akira sat at the dining table, looking completely bewildered.

What's going on?

He asked Asahi and Kanade behind him, "What happened to those two? Do you have any clue?"

For a moment, Asahi Kasane couldn't hold back and abandoned her maid's manners, giving this silly young master a disdainful look.

Although this matter was not actually his responsibility at all, Asahi Kasane couldn't help but roll his eyes.

That guy is oblivious to a girl's feelings and has no self-awareness—he deserves it!

Seeing this eye roll, Kirihara Akatsuki asked in surprise, "What, their argument has nothing to do with me?"

She could only reply vaguely, "No, you're overthinking it. It's just the two ladies, um."

Kirihara Akira wasn't entirely clueless about this.

The day he and Shizue skipped class to go to the arcade, after he said a few words, Shizue hurriedly went home and immediately went to find Asahi and Kanade.

After that, Mori Kiyoha also entered the lady's study. Only the three of them knew what happened inside.

The incident happened after he had spoken, which is why he asked if it was related to him.

Kirihara Akira said, "Miss Shizue has always been very concerned about Miss Kiyoha's affairs, and vice versa. It's hard to imagine what they would argue about."

...I guess it might be related to the way they care about each other?

Asahi and Kanade's eyes widened as they said, "Young Master, I've discovered that although you're a bit slow... well, a little dull, you're actually quite perceptive in certain areas."

Kirihara Akatsuki glanced at her sideways and said, "You're getting bolder and bolder... Never mind, they've all been thinking about giving each other birthday presents lately, and I can't think of anything else."

"You guessed right," Asahi Kasano said.

"People always start with beautiful visions, use all their skills, and then mess things up," Kirihara Akira said with a half-smile and a half-sigh. "But they don't seem to be in that much trouble. Maybe things will be fine after tonight."

Asahi Kasane remained silent, his index finger and thumb resting on his chin as he thoughtfully considered Kirihara Akira's words.

Kirihara Akira turned her head to look at Asahi Kasane and asked, "What's wrong?"

"I think you're right," Asahi Kasana said. "They both care about each other and want to give each other what they believe the other truly wants."

Upon hearing this, Kirihara Akira inexplicably thought of what Mori Shizue had said before: "You should date Kiyoha."

What's wrong? Why do I feel inexplicably guilty?

Kirihara Akira shook her head, dismissing the inexplicable thought, and said, "They're all good people, just young. Sooner or later, we can sit down and have a proper talk and get things straight."

"I still hope this day won't be too late." Asahi Kasano changed the subject, "Have you eaten, young master?"

"That's about it. How so? What's the plan?" Kirihara Akira asked.

Asahi Kasano placed her hands obediently in front of her abdomen and said, "It's my birthday party today, and the guests will be arriving later. You haven't picked out a new outfit yet."

"...That's the trouble with wealthy families," Kirihara Akira said.

"This is nothing!" Asahi Kasano covered his mouth and laughed. "When you marry into the family, you'll have to learn a lot more about etiquette, manners, and dressing up. Madam has already gone easy on you."

It may be hurtful to say, but your current position is more like that of a guest than family member, and Madam's expectations for the two are different.

Kirihara Akira glared at her and said, "Does that mean I'm agreeing to marry into your family?"

"Otherwise what? You want to run off with one of the two ladies? The women of the Mori family are quite formidable."

Kirihara Akatsuki said, "What I mean is, if I don't marry them, but instead marry you, the maid in this house, then I won't have the trouble of marrying into the family, right?"

"Oh, young master, you're going too far," Asahi Kasane said coquettishly, "making fun of a young girl's heart."

"Didn't you say yourself that I can do whatever you want to me?" Kirihara Akatsuki stood up, looked around to make sure no one was watching, and then a thought crossed her mind: "You also promised last time that if it's 'that,' it could be once a day."

"That?" Asahi Kasane looked at Kirihara Akira approaching, thought for a moment before realizing what was happening, clutched her chest, and took two steps back.

Kirihara Akira stopped in her tracks and said disdainfully, "Hmph, you're all talk and no action, you don't actually have any skills."

Kirihara Akira was joking with her.

After all, the two didn't actually have a deep relationship. If you take what they said seriously, it would be sexual harassment.

What about Asahi Kasano? She was already conflicted, but hearing this question immediately ignited her anger. Without thinking twice, she grabbed the young master and buried his head in her chest without a word.

She gently patted Kirihara Akira's head and said, "This time, I specifically changed the neckline decoration on your clothes."

"..." Kirihara Akatsuki enjoyed it for a while before breaking free.

"Thank you."

"Your words of thanks make my actions seem rather strange," Asahi Kasano said. "Please go back to your room first. I'll have someone bring you some clothes; there aren't many to try on this time."

"Okay." Kirihara Akatsuki returned to her room, a little dazed.