Half an hour later.
The bedroom door creaked open, and Ryougi Shiki emerged unsteadily, her hair in disarray and her shirt clutched to her chest. She looked dazed, instinctively hugging her arms tightly as her body shrank in on itself like a fledgling battered by a violent storm.
Even making eye contact with someone made her instinctively avert her gaze.
"Next!"
Their Father poked his head out from behind the doorframe, beaming as he waved and called out. A loose bathrobe hung from his body.
Gulp—
The two shrine maidens waiting in the gazebo involuntarily swallowed and exchanged gloomy looks.
Before long, a figure crossed the threshold and entered the bedroom.
Samael, whose back was to the door, sensed the air seeming to grow several degrees hotter. He took a sip of tea at the table to wet his throat, then smiled.
"So you're second, Akiha."
"Mm."
Tohno Akiha, standing stiffly in the corner, pursed her lips and nodded faintly, letting out a low, cool hum.
A rustling sound followed.
Samael drained the half cup of lukewarm tea, turned around, and flashed a radiant smile.
"Then let's beg—"
Yet the instant this Father turned around, the smile on his face froze.
At the same time, an exquisite, pale collarbone and a loose kimono lying on the floor entered his sight.
Tohno Akiha stood with her arms folded over her chest, strands of long hair draped before her. Her head hung low, her teeth bit down on her cherry lips, and her eyes were filled with grief, indignation, shame, and an indescribable helplessness.
That scene involuntarily reminded Samael of a certain famous moment—lifting up a skirt with a look of disgust to show someone your panties.
The room fell into deathly silence.
As time trickled by, the muscles in the arms