Ayano's reaction upon seeing Makoto was much the same as Ayari's. Her entire body stiffened unnaturally.
But a gentle smile soon appeared on her face. "Makoto... Why have you come so late?"
The way she addressed Makoto was still the same as before.
Makoto said, "Am I not welcome?"
Ayano hurriedly replied, "Of course not. Please, come in."
She sensed that Makoto's attitude toward her had changed. Perhaps he could no longer be bothered to keep pretending. How had a mere boy suddenly become the most powerful and highest-ranking person in the entire Hyuga Clan, with no one knowing what had happened in between?
Before that day, Ayano had always believed Makoto was just an ordinary Branch Family boy. This abrupt change in status had caught her completely off guard.
Makoto sat down on the sofa while Ayano turned to pour him tea. The room was silent, filled only with the chirping of nighttime insects and birds from beyond the door.
Makoto quietly watched Ayano's back. Though she wore only a long dress meant for lounging at home, the way she bent over accentuated her full, curvaceous figure.
Unlike Ayari, Ayano possessed far more feminine charm.
When Ayano came over carrying the tea, she met Makoto's completely undisguised gaze, and her whole body involuntarily froze.
Slightly flustered, she avoided his eyes, walked over with her head lowered, and placed the tea on the table in front of him.
Makoto spoke. "I ran into Harucha on my way here."
Ayano immediately became nervous. "Did she... say something to you?"
Makoto's gaze shifted slightly at this, but he said nothing. He merely picked up the teacup and took a light sip.
Ayano could not help sitting down beside him. "Makoto, don't listen to her nonsense..."
She seemed to want to defend herself,