Chapter 108: Nightfall, the Transformation of Sagiri Amamiya

After an earthquake, there are usually aftershocks. However, since Anhe and the others were far from the epicenter, the tremors were not strong.

Once they tidied up the scattered and damaged furniture and various small items, everyone gathered again in the living room.

Outside, rain had begun to fall at some unknown time. The sounds of sirens, shouts, raindrops hitting the ground, and thunder merged into a continuous chorus.

Given the situation, they finally decided to stay overnight at the Serizawa residence.

With no electricity, the room was illuminated only by a few flickering candles.

Kurozaki Fusako, perhaps exhausted from too much activity that evening, had already gone back to the bedroom to rest with Sakuri.

Anhe sat together with Amamiya Sagiri, while Amamiya Saori, drowsy, slumped on the sofa beside them. The firelight danced on their flushed faces, bathing them in a warm glow.

Opposite them sat the Serizawa sisters.

Since Serizawa Reina had suddenly regained the ability to speak, the two were busy dealing with their parents on the phone.

Though they usually enjoyed teasing each other, both Anhe and Amamiya Sagiri smiled at the genuine expression on Reina’s face.

After a while, the call ended.

Reina let out a deep sigh, then collapsed back onto the sofa with a thud. While fiddling with her sister Yui’s pink flip phone, she muttered, “Parents are such a hassle…”

Though she said it this way, no impatience showed on her face; instead, there was a hint of lingering amusement as she continuously swiped the screen, mumbling to herself.

“Who should I call next? Uncle? No, no, I last saw him five years ago; he probably doesn’t remember me. Maybe…”

Just then, Reina’s eyes lit up as she looked at Anhe expectantly.

“Anhe-kun, can you go to the bedroom?”

“For what?”

Anhe was curious.

Reina suddenly sat upright with a “plop,” holding up the phone with sparkling eyes as she explained, “So I can call you!”

“Huh?”

Anhe was momentarily baffled by Reina’s strange logic. Before he could respond, Yui, standing beside Reina, couldn’t hold back and slapped her sister on the head, complaining, “Dummy sister, don’t waste my phone credit.”

She then took the pink flip phone from Reina’s hand.

Startled by the blow, Reina immediately shrank her neck and held her head in pain. Before she could speak, Yui handed her a white box.

“Whoa, what’s this?” Reina gasped, reaching out curiously.

Yui pointed at the watching Anhe with a slightly sour tone and explained, “Anhe-senpai bought you a phone. It’s the latest model smartphone.”

“Huh?”

Reina froze for a moment, then looked at Anhe with wide, sparkling eyes, full of hope.

“Really?”

“You’ll see once you call me,” Anhe replied with a light laugh.

Hearing that, Reina ignored her aching head and eagerly tore open the package.

Instantly, a sleek silver smartphone appeared.

At first glance, Reina was captivated by the delicate phone, holding it affectionately and playing with it.

But soon, her expression shifted as if struggling with something. After hesitation, she placed the phone on the floor, pushing it toward Anhe as she explained, “This must be precious; I can’t take it.”

Though she said this, her big dark eyes never left the phone.

Seeing her conflicted demeanor, Anhe said nothing and reached out to take the phone back, as if really intending to reclaim it.

Before he could touch it, a small hand snatched the phone back.

“Shouldn’t you say, ‘Once given, a gift can’t be taken back’ at a time like this?” Reina said, clutching the phone tightly, eyes misty and filled with indignation as she glared at Anhe.

Seeing this, Anhe spread his hands and teased, “I thought you didn’t like the gift, Reina-chan.”

“How could I not like it!” Reina immediately protested but then realized something, her cheeks flushing red as she lowered her head, muttering shyly, “Don’t you know when girls say no, they actually mean yes?”

“Eh? Is that true?” Anhe blinked, feigning ignorance as he smiled at Reina. “Then, Reina-chan, can I have a kiss?”

“Of course not!” Reina hurriedly waved her hands and shrank back, as if genuinely afraid Anhe might suddenly pounce on her.

Though she didn’t mind the idea, her heart beat faster when she glanced at the ever-smiling Amamiya Sagiri nearby.

She wasn’t foolish; she had long guessed the relationship between Sagiri and Anhe.

They lived together and often acted very close—anyone not blind could tell.

With this thought, Reina felt a bit dejected.

Meanwhile, Anhe hadn’t noticed Reina’s change in mood. His attention was fully drawn to a new light display that had appeared above her head.

[Name: Serizawa Reina]

[Current Status: Reborn Songbird]

[Current Affection Level: 91]

[Current Desire Level: 34]

[Possible Endings:]

[① Buried Secret Love: Condition—Reject the other’s confession and cease all contact. (Reward: Master-level Culinary Skills)]

[② Twin Blossoms Across the Shore: Condition—Both Serizawa Yui and Serizawa Reina reach 100 affection. (Reward: Master-level Vocal Technique)]

Like with Amamiya Sagiri, after achieving the first ending, Reina also unlocked new endings.

After reviewing both endings, Anhe calmly withdrew his gaze.

The first ending was a definite no-thought choice. As for the second…

His eyes drifted to Serizawa Yui.

Though Yui had no light display above her, her affection level was marked.

[81]

A middling number.

A normal kiss might be accepted, but going further would clearly be rejected.

“A long road ahead,” Anhe thought to himself.

As he prepared to look away, he suddenly felt a weight on his shoulder.

Turning, he saw Amamiya Saori’s peaceful sleeping face.

She had succumbed to sleep after all.

The drawings on her face were now completely washed off. Her fair skin still bore faint peach fuzz.

Her long eyelashes fluttered gently in the candlelight, and her slightly parted red lips exhaled a faint fragrance.

“Let’s carry her to bed,” came Sagiri’s voice beside him.

Anhe nodded, slipped his arms under Saori, and gently lifted her in a princess carry, walking slowly toward the bedroom.

The Serizawa home had two bedrooms—one for Reina and one for Yui.

Yui’s room had originally been their parents’ but was vacated as they worked away from home.

Correspondingly, this room was slightly larger.

Anhe entered and, bathed in moonlight streaming through the window, immediately saw Kurozaki Fusako lying on her side on the bed, fast asleep, clutching the equally sleeping Kurozaki Sakuri.

Slowing his pace instinctively, Anhe gently laid Amamiya Saori on the bed and covered her with a blanket.

Just as he was about to turn away, a small hand suddenly grasped his arm.

Turning, he saw that Saori, who had seemed asleep moments ago, was now blinking her large dark green eyes mischievously at him.

“You’re not asleep?”

Anhe whispered in surprise.

Saori shook her head and playfully stuck out her tongue, explaining, “With all that noise when you carried me, how could I sleep?”

“Fair enough,” Anhe chuckled, placing his hand on her head and gently stroking it. “Go to sleep now, nothing should happen tonight.”

“Mm-hmm…” Saori responded but didn’t close her eyes. Instead, she stared intently at his lips.

Noticing her gaze, Anhe paused, then smiled wryly, leaned down, and lightly pressed a kiss onto her red lips before asking, “Can you sleep now?”

Feeling the lingering moisture on her lips, Saori’s cheeks blushed as she quickly pulled the blanket over her head, mumbling, “Yes!”

“That girl,” Anhe shook his head and was about to leave when his eyes caught Fusako beside Saori.

After thinking a moment, he stepped forward and lightly kissed Fusako’s red lips as well.

Having done this, Anhe turned and left the room.

Unbeknownst to him, in the darkness, a faint smile curved the sleeping Fusako’s lips.

…

Back in the living room.

Amamiya Sagiri remained in her previous seat, gazing into the flickering candlelight, deep in thought.

Opposite her, Reina eagerly fiddled with her new phone.

In stark contrast, Yui sat cross-legged on a cushion, occasionally yawning.

Seeing this, Anhe approached and gently reminded her, “Yui, if you’re tired, go to sleep. I’ll watch things here.”

Hearing this, Yui glanced at her sister. Seeing no sign of drowsiness on Reina’s face, she waved it off.

“I’m fine, I’m not—ahh~”

Mid-sentence, another yawn escaped her.

Noticing Yui’s state, Reina looked between her phone and her sister, hesitated, then set the phone aside, stood up, and reached out to Yui.

“Let’s go to bed.”

“Huh? Aren’t you going to play anymore, sister?”

Yui blinked in surprise.

Reina took on a rare older-sister tone and scolded, “It’s so late already, why play? Come to bed.”

With that, Reina grabbed Yui’s hand and led her to the other bedroom.

“Uh…”

Yui, still dazed, followed her sister, only realizing upon reaching the bedroom door.

“Sister’s the one who’s playful, so why do I feel like I’m the one in trouble?”

With that question, Yui was pushed inside.

The door closed, leaving only Anhe and Sagiri in the living room.

[Alone, in the dark—this is the perfect moment for something good to happen! Thinking this, a glint flashed in your eyes. Surely, if you act carefully, no one will notice!]

The sudden narration caused Anhe’s expression to freeze.

He had no such thoughts initially, but the suggestion stirred something within him.

He turned to Sagiri, who seemed to sense it and looked back.

Their eyes met, and both smiled meaningfully.

“Double stamina gained.”

Muttering this silently, Anhe slowly sat beside Sagiri.

Before he could move, she leaned in, her red lips close to his ear, whispering softly, “Did you have fun playing with Miss Kurozaki today?”

Anhe’s smile faltered.

As he prepared to explain, Sagiri placed a finger on his lips, signaling silence.

“I don’t care about all that,” she said, lowering her head and trailing her finger over his chest, slowly moving downward. “I only care if there’s room for me and Saori in your heart. That’s all.”

Her words sent a shudder through Anhe.

……

A fierce storm battered the city. Thick clouds darkened the sky, lightning flashed, and the howling wind seemed intent on blowing the entire city away.

Rain poured in torrents, flooding the streets up to people’s ankles. Streetlights glimmered dimly through the downpour.

The wind swayed the trees violently, snapping branches that littered the roads. Buildings shook in the tempest, windows creaked as if they might shatter at any moment.

This storm brought a mysterious and terrifying aura, reminding all of nature’s overwhelming power.

The next morning.

Anhe awoke from the sofa.

Morning sunlight streamed through the window.

As he prepared to rise, he felt weight on his chest.

Looking down, he saw a smooth, lily-white arm resting there.

Following the arm upward, he saw Amamiya Sagiri, half-naked, sound asleep with bare shoulders exposed.

Scenes from the previous night flooded his mind, bringing a smile to his face.

He watched her sleeping face for a while. Perhaps from his intense gaze or some other cause, Sagiri’s long eyelashes began to flutter. With a soft murmur, she opened her eyes.

(End of chapter)