Recently, Kasumigaoka-senpai had been quite busy.
Her busyness stemmed from none other than Kanade Natsukawa. After Kanade decided to open a boutique selling dresses, Kasumigaoka joined in, helping him contact manufacturers, sketch designs, and even introduce him to illustrators and contributors.
Over the course of one or two months, they made significant progress, given that their resources far exceeded those of ordinary people. But it wasn't just the resources—it was the tireless effort she and Kanade put into the project. Finally, the first batch of dresses was ready.
As for the name of the collection, Kanade hadn't decided yet.
Because it was a trap question.
When he'd been coaxing Eriri, he'd said the idea stemmed from her love for dresses. But in reality, Kasumigaoka had been the one accompanying him through the entire process. Why not Eriri? Because she was, frankly, a bit clueless and of no practical help. The only thing she seemed capable of was competing with illustrators for contracts.
Opening a boutique wasn't terribly challenging when profit wasn't a priority. For Kanade, it had all started as a whimsical idea during a date with Eriri, when he saw how cute she looked in a dress.
Money wasn't an issue for Kanade. Between his girlfriends, each with their own successful careers, and the inheritance from his family, they could all live comfortably for the rest of their lives. What's more, he'd handed over all responsibilities for the family business to Kaguya, with Hayasaka assisting her, leaving him completely free.
Bored, Kanade decided to find something to do—and to indulge in his own selfish desire: to design and create the most beautiful dresses tailored specifically for his wives.
Promotion? He hadn't even considered it. Social media influencers? He hadn't bothered reaching out. But as for models? Kanade was surrounded by plenty of stunning women.
He'd taken photos of a few of them wearing the dresses and posted them on the boutique's webpage. Faces weren't shown, and the models were wrapped modestly enough to avoid jealousy from anyone.
With that, the boutique had reached a stable launch.
Currently, Kasumigaoka was lying on a bed, casually scrolling through her phone. Having just taken a bath, she wore a loose T-shirt and a pair of very short high-waisted shorts. Her long, slender legs stretched out, bare and flawless like polished ivory.
Why no black stockings? Kanade wondered. That was clearly her favorite. Didn't they even grant a buff to her "attack speed"?
Kasumigaoka said nothing, her smooth legs rubbing together absentmindedly as she browsed. Her toes stretched into an elegant curve, and the ridiculously short shorts barely contained the curves of her hips.
"Alright, no need to stress anymore. Eriri got some influencers in her circle to promote us. We've got 138 orders on the first day, and there's still plenty of stock left."
"Hmph." Kasumigaoka finally put her phone down.
She was at Kanade's house, and though it was winter, the warmth of the indoor heater kept the chill at bay, despite the icy winds blowing outside.
"You've worked hard these past few weeks," Kanade said, sitting down on the bed.
"Nothing to it. It was pretty fun," Kasumigaoka replied nonchalantly, placing her white, delicate legs across his lap without even glancing at him.
"Massage me."
"Got it!" Kanade, ever the dutiful "lapdog," began to gently knead her soft, smooth skin with his fingers. Kasumigaoka's eyes fluttered shut slightly, clearly enjoying the sensation. After all, Kanade was quite skilled at massages.
"Oh, by the way, there's a convention coming up in a few days. Want to wear one of our dresses and walk around?"
"Hmm? Didn't think I'd see the day I'd need to 'advertise.'" Kasumigaoka chuckled.
"Every lady deserves a taste of the working-class life."
"And you're no different," Kasumigaoka retorted with a roll of her eyes. Kanade, after all, had perfected the art of appearing to "mooch" gracefully.
Just a few days ago, Kasumigaoka's mother—likely under her father's orders—had tried to coax her into taking on more responsibilities in the family business. Specifically, they wanted her to negotiate with a certain influential figure.
Naturally, Kasumigaoka flatly refused and vented her frustration to Kanade. He, however, had only laughed, suggesting that she might find it amusing.
Fast forward to the actual meeting: Kasumigaoka's mother dragged an extremely reluctant Kasumigaoka to a business luncheon. Upon arriving at the table, Kasumigaoka froze in surprise, staring at the sharply dressed young man sitting across from her.
Wearing a formal suit and tie, Kanade exuded a mix of professionalism and youthful charm, though his expression betrayed his efforts to stifle a laugh.
"Well, well," Kasumigaoka muttered, a suspiciously sarcastic smile playing on her lips.
"Hello, Miss Kasumigaoka," Kanade greeted, swirling a glass of red wine as if this were the most natural thing in the world.
"Hello, I'm doing just fine," Kasumigaoka replied, her voice dry. Then, turning to her mother, she declared, "Mom, you can go. I'll handle this deal."
Kasumigaoka's mother hesitated, leaning close to whisper, "That guy… he's from some major global corporation. His influence is immense, and he personally sought us out for this collaboration. If he's pursuing you for… personal reasons, you don't have to force yourself."
"Don't worry, Mom," Kasumigaoka replied confidently. If he doesn't cooperate, he can spend the night in the hallway, she thought privately.
Once her mother left, Kanade poured her a glass of wine.
"Well, isn't this a surprise, Kanade-kun. What's your title now? CEO Natsukawa?"
"Er… I didn't plan on this, but I figured I'd have some fun messing with you, so I took over the company for the day," Kanade admitted sheepishly.
"You? Running a company? Truly impressive. How did I not know this about you?"
"Ah, I'm innocent, Kasumigaoka-senpai. My 'management experience' is limited to being in the student council. Someone else runs the show—I just thought this would be a fun way to spend the day with you."
"Pfft."
Kasumigaoka sat down across from him, sighing with a touch of exasperation.
"I'm off to take a shower," Kanade said, releasing her leg from his grasp.
Kasumigaoka's pale foot playfully pressed against his back. "Go on, go on. Your mind's always in the gutter anyway."
"Hey, I didn't even say anything." Kanade grinned at her.
"You didn't think anything, either?"
"Not at all."
"Then don't touch me tonight," Kasumigaoka Shiyu huffed, her voice carrying a faint note of teasing.
"I'm greedy. I'm shameless," Kanade admitted with mock repentance, causing Kasumigaoka to stare at him for a moment before breaking into a chuckle.
"Hurry up and take your shower, you idiot."
Kanade happily complied, heading to the bathroom with a spring in his step.
The next morning.
"Let's stay in bed a little longer," Kanade mumbled.
"Why do you always cling to me and refuse to get up whenever we sleep together?" Kasumigaoka asked, exasperation laced in her voice. Kanade was currently snuggling into her chest, his face buried comfortably in her softness.
"Because it's soft and smells nice," Kanade replied without hesitation.
Kasumigaoka's cheeks immediately flushed with a warm red hue. "…Do you have no shame?"
Despite her protest, she didn't push him away. Kanade's occasional childlike behavior—while admittedly immature—had a strange charm to it, even endearing at times. Perhaps this was her maternal instinct shining through?
"Fine, but only until ten o'clock. We have class today."
"Let's skip it."
"No way. I actually want to attend this lecture. The professor's quite engaging," Kasumigaoka said softly.
"Alright, then let's go together," Kanade said, yielding to her.
"Mm."
With that, Kanade obediently closed his eyes and nestled closer.
They were already in their third year of university. Time had flown by in a blur, and Kasumigaoka found herself staring at his serene, sleeping face. She had worried at the start of their relationship—afraid there would be arguments, moments of insecurity, or sadness.
But those fears had proven unnecessary.
Kanade, despite his carefree demeanor, was incredibly thoughtful, always attentive to everyone's feelings. He ensured no one felt neglected or upset.
Love, Kasumigaoka realized, wasn't just about mutual affection and tolerance—it required careful nurturing. And Kanade excelled at that, putting in the effort to build a stable and harmonious dynamic.
Over time, even her relationships with the other girls had improved. They had no real reason to dislike each other; it was simply their shared feelings for this greedy man that had initially caused friction.
She and Eriri, for example, often bickered in their usual fashion. Yet their bond had deepened to resemble that of true best friends.
At least, it should've been like that.
But earlier that morning, Kasumigaoka had glanced at her phone and found a text from that blonde nuisance:
"How many rounds did you two go last night? Yesterday, he did five with me! Teehee~"
Kasumigaoka hadn't held back, firing off an angry barrage of messages. Eventually, Eriri couldn't take it anymore and called her directly, only for Kasumigaoka to answer and hang up the moment Eriri started speaking.
Still, even that hadn't been enough to vent her frustration.
She turned her attention to Kanade, slapping his cheek lightly to wake him up.
"Wake up! No more sleeping!"
"Eh? What is it now?" Kanade groggily blinked, still half-asleep, only to find Kasumigaoka leaning over him.
"Get up already! Hurry!"
"But I thought we were going to class later. Do we have to get up now?"
"We're not going anymore!" Kasumigaoka growled, gritting her teeth. She even considered staying in bed all day to plan her revenge. When her turn with Kanade came again, she would craft the perfect response to humiliate that smug blonde.
When did Eriri get so bold? Kasumigaoka fumed internally. Her combat power is pitiful, yet she dares taunt me? I can't let this slide!
"Why are you still lying there? Get moving!"
"Alright, let me put on some clothes first…"
"I'm not talking about you! I mean it!"
"Huh? Isn't this a bit rushed? Stuff like this should be taken slow…" Kanade attempted to calm her, but Kasumigaoka was clearly in no mood for patience.
"I don't care! Get it up! If I'm not satisfied today, no one's leaving this bed!"
"Uh… maybe we can try a different approach?" Kanade suggested nervously.
Kasumigaoka paused for a moment, glaring at him with narrowed eyes. Then she sighed and said, "…Fine."
"Wait, seriously?" Kanade thought, though he had no time to voice his surprise. Kasumigaoka didn't hesitate to take control, leaving him utterly at her mercy.
Feeling a mix of helplessness and growing tension, Kanade could only submit to her will. So this is how it's going to be, huh?