The person who likes me is a yandere.

"I stepped on a bath towel and fell down."

The next second, the fluorescent lights in the room flickered a few times and then turned on.

Phew—looks like the electricity's back on.

Just as I was thinking this, I heard someone rushing over from the entrance.

Because I was lying on my back, in my upside-down vision, I saw Asuna coming towards me with a lantern in her hand.

"Hey, Asuna. Don't worry, everything's fine."

I wanted to continue by saying that although the power had just gone out, it was back on now, but even by broader standards, Asuna's expression was hardly friendly, so I fell silent.

"I noticed the living room light suddenly went out, so I came to check what you were doing... and there you two were, naked and hugging! Is this how you made up? Your relationship is too good!"

Nude and embracing?

I was lying face up on the floor with a bath towel on me, and then Hinata, who had rushed out of the bathroom, was lying face down on top of me. Indeed, from Asuna's perspective, that should be how it looked, but I couldn't see any of it, not even the skin color of Sora's skin.

"Asuna, this is a misunderstanding! A huge misunderstanding! Sora, just get out of the way."

A hint of confusion flashed across Qiong's face, who was less than ten centimeters away from me.

"Although I really want to move aside... Brother, please turn over there. Otherwise, I'll be seen naked."

"I...I understand."

I forcefully lifted my chin, turning my gaze away from Qiong.

The soft weight of the dome disappeared from my body. But I was faced with other stimuli.

As I forcefully lifted my chin, I saw Kisai in her uniform walking towards me in my upside-down view, her skirt revealing a breathtaking view.

Before I could feel lucky, I exercised the commendable rationality that peeking under someone's skirt was no fun—a rationality we call gentlemanly—and turned my raised chin back down.

Even if Sora didn't notice, Asuna did. A sound like a cold wind came from behind.

"Qian-yu-you saw Xiaoqiong's butt, right?"

I quickly got up.

"No, no, no, I didn't see it."

"You honest man! You can't even speak clearly anymore... Xiao Qiong's butt feels so bouncy and beautiful."

"..."

I won't answer about the butt. Any response would probably only worsen the situation. So I'll just defend myself:

"I was just acting like a gentleman. Should I call it force majeure...?"

"What's so gentlemanly about looking at your sister's butt! You idiot, Qianyu!"

Not only my sister, but even my ex-girlfriend called me an idiot. Maybe I really am an idiot.

Asuna seemed to be heading back to her tent. Her hand reached towards the entrance door.

Even though I didn't call out to her, she suddenly turned around, her face flushed for some reason.

"Although Qianyu doesn't remember... my butt is just as good as Xiaoqiong's. Qianyu even praised me when she saw my butt!"

Asuna ran to the other side of the entrance door.

Huh—?

I've seen Asuna's butt before?

And he even praised me? Am I really that adept at handling things?

How far have things progressed between Asuna and me? This question lingered in my mind.

Thanks to the commotion caused by the power outage, I think there's a chance to make peace with Qiong.

So I asked Sora, who had just come out of the bathroom after showering—she was wearing pajamas—"Would you like some milk?" I placed the mug on the tray and spoke to her in a casual tone, but Sora asked seriously, "Just now—"

"After the power outage, brother...did you see it?"

"No, no, I... I didn't see it—"

"Liar! You saw it, didn't you, brother!"

Why am I so bad at lying?

Qiong grabbed the hem of her pajamas and looked at me with a panicked expression.

"My butt has developed some growths, and I'd say it's in worse shape than usual. Anyway, it's not in its best condition!"

Sister, what exactly are you trying to explain?

"Okay, I see. No, but you don't need to worry about that. I don't care about Qiong's butt."

This is my thoughtfulness as an older brother. If I were to say that I'm interested in my sister's butt, she'd probably have to scream and call the police.

"Brother, why—"

"Hmm?" Qiong's voice trembled. Her eyes seemed to burn with a fierce rage, full of power.

"Why... do you always say things that Sora hates?"

Qiong reached out and picked up the mug I had placed on the tray, then poured the milk inside onto me.

"Whoa! What are you doing! It tastes like milk!"

Qiong made a clattering sound as she ran up to the second floor and left.

This happened at 9 p.m., and the road to reconciliation was extremely dangerous.

To let Asuna use the bathroom, I went to the courtyard tent.

Chapter Thirty-Three: Qiong's Heart

I struck up a conversation with Asuna, who should have been in the tent.

"Um, Asuna. I've prepared the bathwater, you can go take a bath now."

A reply came:

"Please allow me to refuse. Tell me, Qianyu, do you have any gasoline cans or firewood here?"

"Please don't take Goemon baths (author's note: a Japanese bathing method where water is heated directly under a metal tub)."

The light spilled out through the thin fabric of the tent. I've never camped before. Even if I had, I don't remember. So I wanted to go inside the tent and take a look.

"Um, Asuna, may I bother you for a moment?"

"...Okay."

The zipper at the tent entrance was unzipped, and Asuna, who was lying on the ground, poked her head out:

"Please come in. Although it's nerve-wracking to let a boy into my room."

I didn't feel any of the butterflies in my stomach that I usually feel when entering a women's room; I simply crawled into the tent.

In the space, which was nearly the size of two tatami mats, a suitcase containing Yui's belongings was placed in the corner, and a sleeping bag was laid out in the room. A lantern hung in the center of the tent like a crystal chandelier.

However, I'm more concerned about something than the inside of the tent.

"Asuna, why are you dressed like that?"

Asuna, sitting face-to-face with me on her sleeping bag, answered nonchalantly:

"Isn't it weird to always wear a uniform? So I want to change into loungewear."

"Why a nurse's uniform?"

Inside the tent was a high school girl dressed in a pure white nurse's uniform, which was quite amusing.

"Is this a detective's disguise outfit suitable?"

She even had a name tag that read "Asuna" hanging on her chest. The name tag seemed about to be flung off. The nurse's uniform accentuated Asuna's small, white breasts, and I shyly looked away.

"It's not bad at all."

"Whew, I've received the greatest praise from Yoshizu."

"What? What's the biggest compliment? I meant it wasn't bad, right?"

"Although I don't remember the exact words, when Yoshizumi is shy, she will always say 'It's not bad,' which is the best compliment. You still like nurse outfits when it comes to cosplay costumes, don't you?"

I didn't know how to retort after she teased me like that. This was the first time I realized I liked nurse uniforms. It's such an embarrassing past.

"Asuna, although you often say 'I don't remember Asagi,' actually—"

"Are you just making this up?" I wanted to ask her jokingly, but I couldn't bring myself to say it.

"A-Asuna?"

Because Asuna hugged me.

"...Today, I'm really looking forward to seeing Qianyu...but I'm also very scared."

My back rested against the open tent frame, the ceiling light swaying slightly. Inside the tent, illuminated by the light, I felt the warmth emanating from Asuna, dressed in white. It felt like a dream. Asuna's voice drifted from somewhere far away.

"When I investigated your background before the move, I learned that Qianyu had lost her memory and that she had forgotten me... I was so afraid of meeting Qianyu who had forgotten herself."

I could hear the choking in Asuna's voice. Hugged by the girl who was on the verge of tears, I asked a question I didn't understand.

Are you afraid to meet me?

"The fact that Qianyu has lost her memory might make her a completely different person, which makes me very uneasy. But the Qianyu I saw today is the Qianyu I know. She hasn't changed at all. You're exactly the same as before, which even makes me feel unbelievable."

I'm truly sorry I haven't grown. Perhaps it's better not to say that at all?

"When I first showed Qianyu the nurse's uniform, you also said 'It's not bad' with this expression."

"Could you tell me under what circumstances you saw Asuna in a nurse's uniform?"

Asuna looked up, and my eyes met hers as she gazed upwards. She gave me a mischievous look.

"No way. You have to think of it yourself. The clue is that doctors and nurses are playing house."

Doctors and nurses playing house?

What have we been doing all this time?!

Asuna's lips were close to mine, and she whispered, "I said, 'Whisper.'"