The morning after I spent the night with my featured author, Rushiato Maid.

We walked down the long hallway of the Maid mansion after finishing our bath. "Ugh... uuu~..." "What's wrong, Rushia?"

Rushia, the albino girl walking beside me, said this while her pale white skin flushed to the same color as her eyes.

"W-well, how shameless I was yesterday..."

Rushia had a stronger libido than expected.

She absorbed everything I taught her and by the end, she happily initiated things herself. "I suppose it's because you're young. Can't be helped."

"Was Okaa-san like that in the old days too?"

"That's right. Though unlike Rushia, I didn't have a lover back then."

As for how we addressed each other, we decided to keep things as they were.

I had considered calling her by her real name, Nagareko.

However, she seemed to cherish the pen name "Rushia" that I had given her very much. It was a relief.

As for how she addressed me, Rushia said she was already accustomed to it, so we continued with that as well.

「Oka. What are you doing after this today?」

「I'm heading home for now. Everyone's waiting, so I can't stay late.」

When he gets back home, there will inevitably be questions from Akari, Nako, or Midori about the lakeside incident. It's unavoidable, of course. 「So, that's how it is... What a shame.」

Lushia grabs my hand with a squeeze.

「I... want to stay by Oka's side a little longer...」 Lushia looks up at him with melancholy eyes.

Seeing tears welling in her red eyes stirs up a surge of affection. I kiss my small lover on the lips.

It's incredibly cute how she closes her eyes and surrenders herself to me. 「I'll come back again.」 「...Okay. I'll be waiting ♡」

Lushia giggles softly, a gentle, purring laugh.

I think there's something really lovely about seeing this defenseless smile on her face, when she's usually so serious and poised. And just then— 「Hey! Ojou-sama!」

「Whaaahhhhhhhhh!」

A big man pops his face out from the hallway with a slip of the tongue.

The man in sunglasses and a black suit: Niekawa Saburo. Kazuhana's younger brother. 「Oh? What's wrong, Ojou-sama?」

«You—you! Don't just pop up out of nowhere! Stupid idiot!»

Rushia pulled away from me and started patting Saburo's chest.

"It's okay! I'm the only one who saw you two hugging and making out!"

"Don't say I wasn't looking at all! Stupid! Stupid!" Saburo turned to look at me.

"Ah, young master, good morning!" "Y-young m-ma...?" Was he talking about me? Maybe?

"Yes! Since you're the future head of the family, I thought 'young master' might fit! Please call me that from now on!"

"Well, go ahead and call me whatever."

Since I haven't officially married into the Kaida family yet, "young master" feels a bit weird.

"Perfect timing, you two. You haven't had breakfast yet, have you? My brother is making food, so go ahead and eat! Young master too!" "Really?" "Sure thing!"

Rushia’s eyes were shining with delight.

She was probably happy to know she could spend a little more time with me. Such a cute girl, really.

"Well then, may I join you for the meal?"

"Yatta! Well then, right this way. I'll show you to the canteen!"

With Terminator Saburou leading the way, we walked down the hallway.

Suddenly, Luchia said something like this.

"Saburou. You better keep what happened earlier strictly between us."

Luchia gazed at Saburou with a piercing stare.

"Huh? Earlier... Ah, yes yes! Understood★" "Do you really understand?"

"Got it~. Keeping the cuddling and kissing part quiet is all, ya know~. So there, okay?!"

Saburou gave a solemn thumbs-up.

"You truly do comprehend, don't you?"

"Don't worry about it. I won't say a word about the kiss!"

"It's a secret among us. It's embarrassing, after all. Especially from old grandpa!"

"Mo~. I get it already, missy is just too worrisome, huh. Ah, here we are!" Saburou slid open the fusuma to the canteen. Bang-bang-bang...! "Waah! Wh-what the heck?!"

Rushia clings to me in a daze, her face a mask of shock.

Among them were men dressed in black suits, looking just like Saburo.

"Congra-tu-lations, Miss!"

Rushia’s mouth hangs open in a blank stare.

The men in black suits approach us, clapping their hands. "Ryuka." "Gr... Grandfather..."

From behind the ranks of suited men, Rushia’s grandfather, Hirata Kougen, steps forward.

"Congratulations. It is good that your long-held wish has finally been fulfilled." "H...?"

Rushia looks up at her grandfather with a puzzled expression.

Meanwhile, Mr. Hirata nods affirmatively.

"Today marks the anniversary of Ryuka becoming a woman. So, I thought we would all celebrate together."

"W-What?!" Wh-whaaaaaaaaaat?! What did this man just say? Rushia became a woman... There’s no way...

At that moment, a Terminator looking exactly like Saburo pokes his head out. It is Saburo’s older brother, Jirota. He is holding a cart in his hands.

And there sat a gigantic cake.

"What is this, Jirota?! That cake?!" Rushia asked, half in tears.

"I'm sorry, Miss. I told him to stop, but he wouldn't listen..."

"No way! Why, why would you do that, big brother?! He'd be so happy! See, Miss?"

On a plate placed alongside the cake as a garnish,

it read: [Congrats ♡ First F*ck Anniversary].

...It seems Rushia sleeping was noticed.

"How did you know?! How could you possibly know?!"

Rushia seemed to grasp the gravity of the situation, her face turning bright red as she screamed. "Who's the culprit?!" "Yes sir! It's me!"

"You damn—aaahhhhhhhhhhhh!"

Since Rushia started thrashing around wildly, I grabbed her from behind and locked her in a bear hug to stop her.

"Uncle! Don't stop me! I have to kill this guy!"

"Give it up, Lu-Shia. I hate having to wait for them to get out of prison."
"Mmph..."
Lu-Shia suppresses her anger.

On the other hand, Saburo explains why he knows what's going on.

"Eh? Well, last night, I happened to pass by the young master's room, and nobody was there. That just screamed 'up to something,' right! They're doing it!"

So that's what that was about...

I guess having a room prepared for a stay-back actually made it easier for them to find out.

"I rushed to report it to Master Takahara! Praise me!"

"You rotten dogggggggggggggggg!"

Shaking off my attempt to hold her back, Lu-Shia stomps on Saburo's foot.

"Ryuko. Why are you angry? Isn't this a happy occasion?"
"Grandpa, keep your mouth shut!"

Mr. Takahara shrinks his shoulders into himself.

"P-Please don't take it so hard."

"Thank you, Okaya... or should I say Mr. Mitsuhiko?"

Gakuran smiled brightly, in high spirits.

"Starting today, you may call me Papa-in-law. Dad is fine too—call me whatever you like."

Having slept with Rushia, the members of the Kaidan family seemed to believe I had already become a son-in-law by marriage.

They had no intention of looking down on Rushia, and were apparently thinking about our future together.

But currently, all I was to Rushia was her boyfriend.

I thought they were in a bit of a hurry, but then...

"Yay! Let's start the celebration party for my first time!"

"Grandpa, fire him, right now, yeah!"

"Hahaha! Our home has become so much brighter since Hirohiko arrived! I knew you were a wonderful man, Hirohiko! Just as befitting my own son-in-law!"

Gakuran said this, looking genuinely delighted.