Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shortly before the auction begins, bestselling novelist Natsume Chikage is approached by Aoki Yukiko, a wealthy young woman and enthusiastic fan. She praises his novels and deliberately leaves after a brief, pleasant introduction.
• Saionji Koji, the auction organizer and father of Chikage’s classmate Nanase, greets him and compliments his success. He is impressed by Chikage’s popularity, financial ability, appearance, and martial-arts reputation.
• Koji learns that Chikage is Furukawa Ayuo’s master after defeating the legendary Dragon King. His admiration increases, and he offers to assist Chikage in buying back his family home if necessary.
• Furukawa Ruka immediately counters Koji’s offer, revealing that she has already promised to help Chikage financially. Both adults subtly compete to support and gain favor with him.
• Koji invites Chikage to lunch after the auction, intending to discuss their future relationship and business matters. Ruka recognizes that Koji is using his position as auction host to create an obligation.
• Kaga Kyoko arrives to support her daughter, Kaga Resaki, and explains that she is acting as Chikage’s lawyer for the auction. She quickly notices the competition among wealthy women and families seeking closer ties with Chikage.
• The crowd enters the large auction hall. Kyoko worries that wealthy bidders may purchase Chikage’s house merely to profit from his fame, making it impossible for him to reclaim it.
• Chikage remains confident that he will succeed, reassuring his anxious younger sister, Ruri.
• Konoe Hitomi reveals that she has been present all along. She considers Chikage’s optimism somewhat naïve but implies that her own influence will prevent the auction from becoming a problem.
• The auction officially begins.

Character Developments

• Natsume Chikage: Continues to display modesty, calmness, and confidence. Despite the high stakes, he trusts that the situation will turn out favorably. His growing fame and abilities make him increasingly desirable as an ally, student, or potential family connection.
• Natsume Ruri: Becomes nervous about losing the house and worries that accepting outside financial help may cause Chikage to lose his agreement with their grandfather. She remains emotionally dependent on and protective of her brother.
• Saionji Koji: Develops a strong personal and possibly familial interest in Chikage, viewing him as an ideal match for his daughter. He offers financial assistance while subtly maneuvering to secure Chikage’s gratitude.
• Furukawa Ruka: Shows herself to be highly protective of her granddaughter’s relationship with Chikage. She quickly competes with Koji and refuses to let another family gain an advantage.
• Kaga Kyoko: Acts as Chikage’s lawyer but also becomes aware of the broader social competition surrounding him. She recognizes that Chikage has become extraordinarily valuable in the eyes of influential families.
• Konoe Hitomi: Appears more powerful and influential than the others realize. Her respectful treatment by Ruka suggests a high social position, and her confidence implies she has a plan to ensure Chikage’s success.
• Aoki Yukiko: Presents herself as a polite fan, but her deliberate approach and interest hint that she may have motives beyond simple admiration.

Significant Themes

• Chikage as a “hot commodity”: His fame, wealth, talent, martial-arts strength, and reputation make him an attractive asset to powerful families and wealthy women.
• Marriage and alliance politics: The adults treat Chikage’s relationships as potential family alliances, subtly competing to associate themselves with him.
• Power beneath social politeness: Conversations remain courteous, but characters constantly assess one another and maneuver for influence.
• Reclaiming the past: The auction represents Chikage’s effort to regain his former home and resist returning to the restrictive main family.
• Confidence versus uncertainty: Chikage remains optimistic, while Ruri and Kyoko worry about the unpredictable influence of wealthy bidders and Chikage’s rapidly increasing fame.

Character Interactions

• Aoki Yukiko warmly introduces herself to Chikage as a fan, establishing a flattering but potentially calculated connection.
• Koji praises Chikage and offers help, while Ruka immediately interrupts to assert that she has already pledged equivalent support.
• Koji and Ruka engage in a restrained rivalry, each trying to secure Chikage’s trust and association.
• Kyoko and Ruka recognize each other as potential rivals over their daughters’ relationships with Chikage, though they remain outwardly polite.
• Ruri seeks reassurance from Chikage, and he calms her fears with confidence.
• Hitomi’s arrival shifts the balance of power: Ruka treats her with unusual respect, leaving Kyoko confused about Hitomi’s true status.

Chapter Summary: “Auction Begins! Holy Crystal Cross!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The auction opens with host Uchida Mai introducing the first item, Town’s Resentful Woman, an unfinished painting by the legendary artist Omega. It sells for 200 million yen.
• Natsume Ruri is astonished by the enormous prices, comparing the painting’s sale to her brother Chikage’s earnings as a novelist. Chikage jokes that he hopes her future artwork will be worth just as much.
• After several ordinary items are sold, the Holy Crystal Cross is presented. Although it appears to be a simple white-crystal ornament, Chikage’s special appraisal reveals that it can slowly heal wounds and injuries.
• The cross starts at 30 million yen, but most attendees dismiss it as an easily forged tribal relic. Only a few people initially bid.
• Chikage raises his paddle at 33 million yen, immediately drawing attention. Because of his popularity, several attendees begin bidding either to gain his favor, compete with him, or create trouble.
• Ruri, Kaga Resaki, and Kaga Kyoko anxiously protest that Chikage is risking money meant to buy back his house. Chikage insists that the cross is worth the expense and sets a personal limit of 50 million yen.
• Furukawa Ruka offers to cover any shortfall, allowing Chikage to continue bidding. The price rises to 50 million yen.
• Aoki Yukiko, who is romantically interested in Chikage, bids 55 million yen because she genuinely wants to obtain the cross for him. Chikage realizes that competing with her could cause the price to become unreasonable and reluctantly stops bidding.
• Just before Yukiko can win, Konoe Hitomi bids 60 million yen. Yukiko immediately withdraws, unwilling to oppose the influential Mido family.
• Hitomi wins the cross for customer number 33. Chikage is relieved that someone he knows owns it, since he may have a chance to obtain or trade for it later.

Character Developments

• Natsume Chikage: Demonstrates his ability to recognize the cross’s true supernatural value. His desire to acquire it shows his growing concern for healing and protecting himself and those close to him. He also displays financial confidence, though his impulsiveness worries everyone around him.
• Natsume Ruri: Acts as Chikage’s practical and protective younger sister, repeatedly reminding him that the money is needed for the house. She eventually accepts that the cross genuinely matters to him.
• Aoki Yukiko: Reveals the depth of her feelings for Chikage by aggressively bidding on an item he wants, intending to give it to him later. Her actions suggest both generosity and a desire to receive something in return.
• Konoe Hitomi: Shows her influence and decisiveness by entering the bidding at the crucial moment. Her purchase prevents Yukiko from acquiring the cross and places the valuable item within Chikage’s social circle.
• Furukawa Ruka: Supports Chikage financially and emotionally, offering to pay the difference if necessary.
• Uchida Mai: Recognizes Chikage’s influence over the auction and uses the escalating bids to heighten the excitement and value of the item.

Significant Themes

• Hidden value versus outward appearance: The cross looks like an ordinary crystal trinket, but Chikage knows it possesses a powerful healing ability.
• Money and influence: The auction illustrates how wealth, popularity, social connections, and family status can matter as much as the object itself.
• Loyalty and affection: Several women bid or offer financial support because of their feelings for Chikage, transforming the auction into a contest of personal attachment.
• Protection and responsibility: Chikage’s interest in the cross reflects his wish to protect the people around him from injury.
• Competition and social power: Yukiko’s bid is defeated not by lack of desire, but by Hitomi’s connection to the powerful Mido family.

Important Character Interactions

• Chikage and Ruri share a teasing but caring sibling relationship, with Ruri attempting to restrain his spending.
• Ruka reassures Chikage that she will support him financially, easing Ruri’s fears.
• Yukiko competes directly for the item Chikage wants, revealing her romantic intentions.
• Hitomi’s intervention changes the outcome of the auction and leaves Chikage hoping to negotiate with her later.
• The chapter ends with Chikage relieved that Hitomi owns the cross, while also recognizing that persuading her to give it up may be difficult.

Chapter Summary: “Acquired at Auction! Finally Able to Go Home!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Natsume Ruri suspects Konoe Hitomi bought the white crystal cross specifically as a gift for Natsume Chikage. Worried that Chikage might owe Hitomi a favor, Ruri resolves that, if necessary, she will make him buy it back from Hitomi.
• No other special equipment appears during the auction, disappointing Natsume Chikage slightly. Still, he is pleased that a valuable golden special item has gone to someone they know.
• Meanwhile, Natsume Yuma, Natsume Qihui, and Natsume Kayo rush toward the auction by taxi. The driver suddenly puts on a mask, releases white gas into the vehicle, and incapacitates all three passengers. Their destination and the driver’s identity remain unknown.
• The auction reaches the Natsume family’s former mansion in Tokyo’s Minato Ward. The property, originally owned by Natsume Haozai, is placed on sale because of his company’s financial troubles. It begins at 400 million yen, with minimum bids of 10 million.
• Chikage immediately bids 410 million yen. Despite expectations that wealthy admirers, bank representatives, and members of the main Natsume family would compete against him, no one raises the price.
• Aoki Yukiko, who had previously seemed eager to bid, unexpectedly falls asleep, while the other potential bidders remain strangely silent.
• Chikage realizes that Konoe Hitomi—and possibly the Mido family—may have secretly prevented the opposing bidders from participating.
• He successfully purchases the mansion for only 410 million yen and feels deeply relieved that he can finally return home.

Character Developments

• Natsume Chikage: Demonstrates careful preparation and strategic thinking. He had anticipated interference from the main family, the bank, and wealthy admirers, arranging a potential loan secured by his book copyrights through Saionji Koji. His successful purchase fulfills an important personal goal and brings him emotional satisfaction.
• Natsume Ruri: Shows protectiveness and jealousy toward Chikage, particularly regarding Hitomi’s possible gift and influence over him.
• Konoe Hitomi: Her quiet, seemingly indifferent behavior conceals considerable influence. Her interaction with Chikage implies that she may have manipulated events behind the scenes to ensure his victory.
• Natsume Yuma and Natsume Qihui: Their anxiety over reaching the auction exposes their urgency and desperation, but both are rendered helpless by the mysterious driver.
• Natsume Kayo: Unlike the others, she secretly hopes they will not arrive in time, hinting at divided loyalties or dissatisfaction with the family.
• Uchida Mai: Though aware that the auction may become a confrontation and that Chikage is being targeted, she remains professional and conducts the sale fairly.
• Aoki Yukiko: Her sudden, unnatural sleep suggests that she too may have been affected by Hitomi’s intervention.

Significant Themes

• Returning home and reclaiming one’s past: The mansion represents Chikage’s former life and his desire to reclaim what was lost.
• Hidden power and manipulation: The auction appears to be controlled by unseen forces, with Hitomi likely neutralizing Chikage’s opponents without openly revealing her involvement.
• Preparation versus uncertainty: Chikage carefully plans for every expected obstacle, yet the complete absence of opposition surprises him.
• Family conflict and independence: Chikage’s effort to buy the house without direct outside assistance reflects his struggle against the Natsume main family and his determination to stand on his own.
• Loyalty, affection, and debt: Ruri’s concern over Hitomi’s gift highlights the emotional obligations and rivalries developing around Chikage.

Character Interactions

• Ruri discusses Hitomi’s possible intentions with herself and worries about Chikage becoming indebted to her.
• Chikage and Ruri support each other before the mansion auction, with Ruri encouraging him to succeed.
• Uchida Mai attempts to provoke further bidding, but the wealthy attendees and bank representatives remain silent.
• Chikage and Hitomi exchange a silent, meaningful look. Her feigned innocence effectively confirms to him that she likely arranged the lack of opposition.
• The auction attendees applaud Chikage after his successful purchase, marking his emotional victory and symbolic return to his former home.

Chapter Summary

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Natsume Chikage successfully buys back the Natsume family’s former main house at auction for 400 million yen, far less than expected.
• Natsume Ruri breaks down in tears, overjoyed that the siblings can finally return to their childhood home. Chikage comforts her, reflecting that their family has come full circle.
• Konoe Hitomi leaves the auction early, but Chikage follows her and suspects that her organization secretly prevented anyone from competing against him.
• Hitomi refuses to confirm this, teasing Chikage about lacking proof. She also reveals that she may give him the valuable white crystal cross he wanted, but only if he agrees to a future request.
• After the auction, Chikage receives congratulations from the guests. His friends are relieved that the auction went smoothly, though they remain puzzled about why the Natsume main house and the bank failed to interfere.
• Furukawa Saio eagerly asks to study shogi at Chikage’s newly recovered home, and Chikage welcomes her.
• Aoki Yukiko wakes after inexplicably sleeping through the auction. Panicked, she realizes she may be blamed for failing to fulfill the political-marriage and auction responsibilities assigned to her. She then discovers that Natsume Yuma, Kayo, and Qihui are missing and cannot be reached.
• At the Natsume main house, Yuma, Kayo, and Qihui regain consciousness after apparently being abducted or forcibly transported. They find themselves surrounded by Konoe Hitomi, armed-looking men, and Natsume Taizo.
• Hitomi identifies herself as being from the powerful Mido family and implies that the Natsume family has repeatedly caused trouble for her people.
• Mido Orihime arrives at the house and declares that she is angry because the Natsume family continues to trouble those under her protection.

2. Character Developments

• Natsume Chikage: Demonstrates loyalty to his family and determination to reclaim their home. He is perceptive enough to suspect Hitomi’s hidden assistance but remains helpless against her teasing and mystery.
• Natsume Ruri: Releases years of grief and longing upon regaining the family home, showing how deeply the loss affected her.
• Konoe Hitomi: Reveals greater influence and power than she openly admits. She manipulates events behind the scenes, teases Chikage, and sets up a future bargain involving the crystal cross.
• Aoki Yukiko: Shifts from confident participant to anxious and confused scapegoat after realizing she slept through the crucial auction and may face consequences.
• Natsume Yuma: Initially assumes Yukiko successfully handled the auction, but becomes increasingly worried upon encountering the Mido family. He also begins blaming Qihui for possibly provoking them.
• Mido Orihime: Makes a forceful entrance as an intimidating authority figure who personally intervenes when her people are mistreated.
• Natsume Ruri and Chikage’s allies: Their supportive reactions reinforce the close bonds surrounding the siblings.

3. Significant Themes

• Restoration and closure: Recovering the old house symbolizes the Natsume siblings reclaiming their family’s past and healing from earlier displacement.
• Family loyalty: Chikage and Ruri’s emotional reunion with their home contrasts with the manipulative and hostile behavior of the Natsume main house.
• Hidden power and influence: Hitomi’s unseen intervention and Orihime’s arrival reveal that major families can control events without acting openly.
• Consequences and accountability: The main house’s previous schemes appear to be catching up with them, while Yukiko fears punishment for failing in her assigned role.
• Protection and allegiance: Orihime’s anger shows that harming or provoking people connected to her carries serious consequences.

4. Character Interactions

• Chikage comforts Ruri after the successful purchase, strengthening their sibling bond.
• Chikage and Hitomi engage in playful but strategic verbal sparring over whether she manipulated the auction and over the crystal cross.
• Kyoko, Ruka, Resaki, and the Furukawa family celebrate the siblings’ success and offer emotional support.
• Saio’s request to study shogi with Chikage adds a warm, familial moment after the tense auction.
• Yukiko’s confusion contrasts with the Natsume main house’s hidden crisis, linking the auction’s outcome to the confrontation at home.
• Hitomi confronts the main-house members alongside the Natsume family’s own Taizo.
• Orihime’s arrival immediately shifts the balance of power, leaving the Natsume main house intimidated and uncertain about what punishment awaits.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Mido Orihime confronts the Natsume family for repeatedly trying to reclaim Natsume Chikage and force him into a political marriage.
• The family members panic and apologize, claiming they only wanted to help Chikage and his sister, Ruri. Konoe Hitomi exposes their real motive: they wanted to exploit Chikage’s abilities and value.
• Natsume Taizo initially tries to justify their actions through ancestral family rules, arguing that Chikage belongs to the Natsume main family and that they have authority over him.
• Orihime reveals that Chikage has no blood relationship with the Natsume family at all.
• DNA test results confirm that Ruri is biologically related to the Natsumes, but Chikage is not. Konoe explains that Chikage was likely switched at birth with Ruri’s true older brother.
• The boy who was biologically related to the Natsume family later died in an accident with the family that had unknowingly raised him.
• Orihime warns the Natsumes never to interfere with Chikage or Ruri again, threatening to destroy the family if they disobey.
• After Orihime and Hitomi leave, the Natsumes remain shocked and confused. Despite the warning, Natsume Tsubae and Taizo doubt the results and order Kayo to secretly obtain DNA samples from Chikage and Ruri for confirmation.

Character Developments

• Mido Orihime demonstrates her authority and protectiveness toward Chikage. She makes it clear that her connection to him is powerful enough to challenge the Natsume family.
• Konoe Hitomi acts as Orihime’s outspoken representative, directly condemning the Natsumes’ exploitation and revealing the DNA evidence.
• Natsume Taizo shifts from confidence and opportunism to panic and anger. He initially sees Chikage’s connection to Orihime as an advantageous marriage alliance, but is devastated when he learns Chikage is not related to the family.
• Natsume Yuma reacts with intense jealousy, envying Chikage’s apparent closeness to Orihime and feeling bitter about his own inability to enter the Mido family’s sphere.
• Natsume Qihui exposes the family’s selfish motives through his clumsy excuses and is slapped by Taizo when the situation collapses.
• Natsume Tsubae is deeply shaken by the revelation that her true nephew died and refuses to accept the situation without further proof.
• Natsume Kayo is placed in a difficult position. Because she is close to Chikage, her family asks her to secretly collect DNA samples. She is emotionally conflicted about discovering that he may not truly be her cousin.
• Chikage and Ruri remain absent, but the revelation dramatically changes their status: Ruri is genuinely part of the Natsume bloodline, while Chikage is an unrelated child who was raised by the family by mistake.

Significant Themes

• Blood ties versus chosen relationships: The chapter questions whether biological family is more meaningful than the bonds formed through care, loyalty, and affection.
• Family exploitation: The Natsumes treat Chikage as an asset for political gain rather than as a person, revealing the corruption behind their claims of familial authority.
• Power and intimidation: Orihime’s status allows her to protect Chikage and force the Natsumes into submission.
• Jealousy and social status: Yuma’s envy highlights the resentment caused by unequal access to wealth, influence, and powerful connections.
• Identity and belonging: Chikage’s entire place within the Natsume family is thrown into question, while the family must confront the loss of the child who was actually related to them.
• Truth disrupting assumptions: The DNA revelation overturns the Natsumes’ beliefs and exposes how much of their treatment of Chikage was based on mistaken identity and self-interest.

Character Interactions

• Orihime and Hitomi confront Taizo and the Natsume family, with Hitomi verbally dismantling their excuses.
• Taizo attempts to appease Orihime by abandoning the proposed political marriage, only to be corrected when Orihime declares that Chikage was never theirs to control.
• The Natsume family reacts collectively with shock to the DNA results, while Yuma privately burns with jealousy.
• Tsubae questions Hitomi about the truth, learning that the Natsumes’ biological grandson died years earlier.
• Orihime delivers a final threat against the entire family, and Hitomi reinforces it by warning them not to target Ruri either.
• Afterward, Taizo and Tsubae pressure Kayo to investigate secretly, forcing her to choose between family obedience and her relationship with Chikage.

Chapter Summary — “I Know My Daughter Kissed You!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After completing the auction procedures to reclaim the Natsume family home, Chikage receives a mysterious call from his cousin, Natsume Kayo. She says she has something important to discuss with him and the siblings in person and plans to visit the next day.
• Kaga Kyoko reviews the remaining legal steps with Chikage: transferring ownership through the Legal Affairs Bureau, confirming the bank’s sale documents, inspecting the house’s condition, and signing the final paperwork. Chikage plans to take several days off school to handle the process, arrange cleaning and minor renovations, and sort through the furniture.
• Chikage, Ruri, and their companions unexpectedly meet Saionji Koji and his wife, Rikka. Koji invites everyone to lunch, creating an opportunity for the adults to discuss Chikage’s relationship with their daughter, Saionji Nanase.
• During the meal, Rikka and Koji emphasize that Nanase has known Chikage since middle school, belongs to the same class and club, and frequently talks about him. Their comments strongly imply that Nanase has romantic feelings for him.
• Kaga Kyoko and Furukawa Ruka openly suggest that they would approve of Chikage as a romantic partner for their daughters. Furukawa Ayuo further embarrasses Chikage by declaring that she likes “Big Brother’s type” rather than someone like her father.
• When the families separate, Koji privately reveals that he knows Nanase kissed Chikage and that it was her first kiss. Although he claims he will not interfere, he warns Chikage not to hurt his daughter.
• Chikage is left flustered and unable to explain the circumstances. He then decides to take Ruri, Resaki, and the others to the reclaimed house to begin cleaning, inspect the furniture, and plan renovations.
• Chikage is also excited because returning to the house will allow him to register new special equipment. Meanwhile, students at Private Moonlight Academy—including Tsukishima Rin and other girls close to Chikage—learn that he has bought back the house and begin competing anxiously over who will visit him first.

Character Developments

• Natsume Chikage: Becomes increasingly aware that several girls and their families may view him as a romantic prospect. He remains socially awkward and embarrassed by the attention but handles the adults’ teasing with growing tact. He also takes practical responsibility for restoring the family home.
• Natsume Ruri: Continues to be protective of her brother and suspicious of the many girls showing interest in him. She approves of Chikage as an ideal partner for Resaki in theory, but strongly rejects the possibility of Resaki actually choosing Chikage.
• Kaga Kyoko: Acts as Chikage’s legal adviser, carefully guiding him through the property-transfer process. She also openly signals that she would approve of Chikage dating Resaki.
• Kaga Resaki: Becomes visibly embarrassed by her mother’s implications, secretly glancing at Chikage despite regarding him as an older-brother figure.
• Furukawa Ruka: Aggressively and playfully promotes Chikage as a desirable partner for her daughter, showing little restraint in front of the other families.
• Furukawa Ayuo: Innocently declares that she prefers Chikage’s “type,” intensifying the adults’ romantic teasing and making Chikage uncomfortable.
• Saionji Koji and Rikka: Present Nanase’s closeness to Chikage as evidence of her interest in him. Koji shifts from polite socializing to a protective fatherly warning after revealing that he knows about the kiss.
• Saionji Nanase: Although absent from the chapter, her feelings for Chikage become clearer through her parents’ comments: she talks about him frequently and has already kissed him.
• Natsume Kayo: Her unexplained request to meet Chikage and the siblings creates a new element of suspense.

Significant Themes

• Romantic competition: Multiple families and girls subtly or openly compete for Chikage’s attention, suggesting that his popularity is rapidly becoming a major source of conflict.
• Parental involvement in romance: The adults discuss whether their daughters should choose relationships independently, yet they simultaneously attempt to influence those relationships by endorsing Chikage.
• Family and homecoming: Reclaiming the Natsume home represents the siblings’ restoration of their family security and independence.
• Responsibility and adulthood: Chikage must manage legal procedures, renovations, and property ownership while also navigating increasingly complicated emotional relationships.
• Embarrassment and misunderstanding: Chikage repeatedly becomes the target of suggestive remarks, especially concerning Nanase’s kiss, while he struggles to clarify his actual relationships with the girls.
• Competition and urgency: The girls at school fear losing their opportunity to visit Chikage, setting up future interpersonal rivalry.

Character Interactions

• Chikage and Ruri discuss Kayo’s mysterious upcoming visit, with Ruri showing trust in her brother’s judgment.
• Chikage works closely with Kaga Kyoko, who advises him on the legal and practical responsibilities of reclaiming the house.
• The lunch gathering becomes a social contest between Kyoko, Ruka, Rikka, and Koji, with each parent commenting on Chikage’s suitability as a partner for their daughter.
• Ruka embarrasses Chikage by encouraging Ayuo’s admiration of him, while Ruri grows increasingly irritated at the number of girls being directed toward her brother.
• Koji privately confronts Chikage about Nanase’s first kiss, establishing a protective but not openly hostile relationship between them.
• Chikage, Resaki, and Ruri prepare to restore the house together, strengthening their sense of shared ownership and family life.

Chapter Summary: “Seize the Initiative! Honestly Admitting His Desires!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Natsume Chikage, Natsume Ruri, and Kaga Resaki visit and reclaim the Natsume family mansion in Minato Ward.
• Ruri is deeply moved to be home again and excitedly gives Resaki a tour.
• Chikage discovers that the house is a special “Gold” item called Home Laden with Memories. Its effects rapidly restore stamina and improve residents’ mood, comfort, and sleep.
• After equipping it, Chikage realizes that “stamina” includes sexual energy, leaving him embarrassed and concerned because he has already been struggling with heightened desire.
• He decides to keep the effect active for now because Ruri and Resaki have been sleeping poorly. He also acknowledges that, now that he has regained financial stability, he intends to pursue a romantic relationship.
• The house is mostly intact, but its furniture was sold during the family’s bankruptcy. Chikage arranges cleaning, utility checks, repairs, furniture, and interior design. The family plans to move in the following day.
• Back at the Saionji mansion, Akita Sana arrives early under the pretext of playing games. Ruri suspects Sana intends to confess her feelings to Chikage before the other girls can.
• The group discusses the auction. Chikage won the mansion for 410 million, despite preparing 600 million, suggesting that others deliberately allowed him to win. Chikage privately remains suspicious that Konoe Hitomi influenced the outcome.
• Sana tries to create an opportunity to be alone with Chikage. She pretends to have stomach pain, leaves Ruri and Resaki packing, and secretly heads toward Chikage’s room.

Character Developments

• Natsume Chikage: Reconnects emotionally with his childhood home and takes responsibility for restoring it. He begins honestly accepting his romantic and physical desires rather than denying them, while still trying to act responsibly toward the girls around him.
• Natsume Ruri: Feels relieved and joyful about returning home. She becomes increasingly alert to the romantic competition surrounding Chikage and watches Sana suspiciously.
• Kaga Resaki: Shares Ruri’s excitement about the mansion but shows jealousy when Sana appears to be seeking private time with Chikage.
• Akita Sana: Displays determination to act before Chikage’s other potential romantic interests. She disguises her intentions by offering to help pack, then deliberately creates an excuse to approach him alone.
• Konoe Hitomi: Does not appear directly, but Chikage continues to suspect that she manipulated the auction in his favor.

Significant Themes

• Home and belonging: The mansion represents the Natsume family’s history, emotional wounds, and eventual restoration. Its special ability reinforces the idea that home is created by family rather than merely being a building.
• Recovery and rebuilding: Reclaiming the house symbolizes Chikage’s recovery from financial hardship and his effort to rebuild a stable life for Ruri and Resaki.
• Honesty about desire: Chikage begins acknowledging his sexual and romantic needs instead of suppressing them, marking a shift toward emotional honesty.
• Romantic competition and initiative: Sana’s actions show that the girls are increasingly willing to compete openly for Chikage’s attention.
• Comfort and emotional healing: The house’s effects on mood, sleep, and comfort reflect the characters’ need for security after past instability.

Character Interactions

• Chikage comforts Ruri when she becomes emotional upon seeing the family home.
• Ruri enthusiastically bonds with Resaki by showing her around the mansion.
• Chikage coordinates with both girls about furnishing the house and designing spaces suited to their needs, including manga work areas.
• Ruri and Resaki react with excitement to the auction victory, while Sana celebrates Chikage’s growing reputation.
• Ruri and Resaki remain unaware of Sana’s scheme as she leaves them packing and secretly moves toward Chikage’s room, setting up a likely confession or intimate conversation.

Chapter Summary: “A Scumbag’s Future Visions!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Akita Sana secretly locks herself in a room with Natsume Chikage and asks how he sees her. Chikage sincerely praises her as cute, entertaining, and skilled at video games.
• The two play Street King, betting that the loser must grant the winner a request. Sana appears to cheat by altering the game’s settings and wins.
• As her prize, Sana kisses Chikage and confesses that she has liked him since first seeing him at Miki’s house. She explains that she imagined dating him, playing games together, cosplaying for him, and becoming physically affectionate.
• Sana directly asks Chikage to date her. Chikage admits that her feelings have reached him but asks for time because he previously promised to consider Tsukishima Rin first.
• To determine whether he and Sana have a romantic future, Chikage uses his divine ability to view the future through physical contact.
• His visions show him dating Sana, kissing her as an adult, and wearing matching rings with her. However, he then sees Tsukishima Rin emerging from his home with a child, followed by Chikage kissing Rin and apparently having a family with her as well.
• Chikage panics at the possibility that his future self is dating both Sana and Rin and fathering children with both of them. He struggles to believe the vision, wondering whether it could be false or merely an acted scene.
• Sana pressures him for an immediate answer, insisting that he lost the game and therefore must agree to her confession. Chikage refuses to decide while confused but promises to give her a sincere answer after sorting out his feelings.
• Sana accepts this, touched by his earnestness. At the end, Rin, Saionji Nanase, Yukimura Suzune, and Fujiwara Aoi arrive at the house, setting up a likely confrontation or complication.

Character Developments

• Natsume Chikage: Realizes that he genuinely has romantic feelings for Sana, but remains committed to handling his promise to Rin fairly. His future vision deeply unsettles him because it conflicts with his monogamous values and his self-image as a loyal, single-minded person.
• Akita Sana: Moves from shy hints to an open, determined confession. Although embarrassed, she becomes surprisingly forceful and competitive, treating romance almost like a game she refuses to lose.
• Tsukishima Rin: Does not appear directly in the central interaction, but her prior claim on Chikage and her appearance in the future vision make her a major influence on his decision.
• Chikage’s future self: The vision suggests a version of Chikage who maintains relationships with both Sana and Rin, forcing the present Chikage to question his assumptions about his future and character.

Significant Themes

• Love versus responsibility: Chikage must balance his feelings for Sana with his promise to consider Rin first.
• Fate and free will: The future visions suggest a possible romantic destiny, but Chikage remains uncertain whether the future is fixed, accurate, or alterable.
• Monogamy and moral identity: The possibility of loving or marrying two women challenges Chikage’s upbringing and personal beliefs.
• Confession and sincerity: Sana’s direct confession contrasts with Chikage’s cautious response, emphasizing the need to respect genuine feelings rather than answer impulsively.
• Games as a metaphor for romance: Sana uses their game and its wager to push Chikage toward a romantic decision, reflecting her competitive and persistent personality.

Character Interactions

• Sana’s teasing, possibly rigged game gives her an excuse to demand a romantic favor.
• Her kiss and confession leave Chikage embarrassed and emotionally conflicted.
• Chikage’s refusal to give an immediate answer disappoints Sana, but his promise to respond sincerely reassures her.
• Chikage’s hand-holding with Sana enables the future vision, transforming an intimate moment into a source of panic.
• The arrival of Rin and the other girls immediately after Sana’s confession creates tension, especially given Chikage’s disturbing vision of a future involving both Sana and Rin.

Plot points and events

• Chikage’s sister interrupts him while he and Sana are alone; Chikage covers their awkward situation by claiming he was testing the door lock. Sana later joins the others downstairs.
• Chikage confirms he has bought his house back, bringing relief and excitement: he can finally settle down.
• Rin asks to speak with Chikage privately, but he postpones, citing preparations for the house and messages from his lawyer. Privately, he needs time to recover his Divine Power and is wary of being pressed for an answer about dating.
• The girls eagerly help choose furniture, turning the day into a lively group outing and causing them to forget their club activities. They agree to pause the club’s investigation, since they are nearly finished with the Seven Mysteries.
• As rain approaches, Rin deliberately leaves with Sana, making room for Nanase, Suzune, and Aoi to speak with Chikage. Nanase and Suzune decide to leave because the weather spoils their plans.
• Aoi stays behind and asks Chikage to walk her home so she can tell him something. He suspects she intends to confess and agrees.

Character developments and interactions

• Chikage is pleased to have a stable home but remains hesitant about romance. He is considerate of the girls, yet postpones difficult conversations while he tries to manage both his feelings and his depleted power.
• Rin remains eager for Chikage’s answer, but shows generosity by giving the other girls a chance to talk with him. She reminds him of their promise and trusts him to keep it.
• Sana is buoyed by Chikage’s promise to consider her confession seriously. Though competitive with Rin, she accepts Rin’s decision to leave and make room for the others.
• Aoi hides her romantic intentions beneath excuses, then nervously takes the opportunity to speak with Chikage alone.
• Nanase and Suzune also hope to confess, but postpone their plans when the rain threatens.
• Ruri and Reisa try to stay close to Chikage and offer to accompany Aoi, but Aoi insists on going with him.
• Sana and Aoi continue their familiar teasing and bickering; meanwhile, the girls’ shared enthusiasm for furniture briefly unites them.

Significant themes

• Romantic rivalry and patience: Several girls want Chikage’s attention, while he delays giving a clear answer.
• Consideration and fairness: Rin steps aside so others can have their chance, and the group navigates competition without openly breaking their friendships.
• A new sense of stability: Chikage’s restored home represents a chance to settle down and move forward.
• Everyday camaraderie: House planning, club activities, and playful banter provide a warm counterpoint to the romantic tension.

Key plot points and events

• Aoi takes Chikage to Yoyogi Park, a place tied to her middle-school memories, saying she has something important to tell him.
• They share crepes from a vendor who recognizes Aoi and teases her about Chikage being her boyfriend. The vendor gives them the crepes and quietly tells Chikage to treat Aoi well.
• As they walk, Chikage admits that being with Aoi always lifts his mood. They reminisce about meeting three months earlier and becoming friends at school and work.
• Aoi stumbles while walking backward, and Chikage catches her. They playfully share bites of each other’s crepes.
• At Aoi’s favorite riverside resting spot, a quiet moment prompts her to confess that she fell in love with Chikage at first sight and grew to love his character and abilities. She asks whether he feels the same.

Character developments

• Aoi moves from coy hints and embarrassment to an open, heartfelt confession. She reveals how deeply she admires Chikage and how important their growing friendship has become.
• Chikage recognizes that Aoi’s presence has made him happy since their first meeting. He is clearly affected by her confession, though he has not yet answered her question.

Character interactions

• The vendor playfully nudges Aoi about her feelings and privately encourages Chikage to care for her.
• Aoi and Chikage bond through teasing, shared food, memories, and affectionate conversation. Their closeness becomes unmistakable during Aoi’s confession.

Significant themes

• Love growing from first impressions: Aoi’s attraction begins at first sight but deepens as she comes to know Chikage.
• Honesty and vulnerability: Aoi risks embarrassment to express her feelings directly.
• Shared memories and emotional connection: Their ordinary moments and recollections build intimacy.
• Affection as a source of happiness: Chikage reflects that Aoi’s lively nature brightens his mood.

Key plot points and events

• Fujiwara Aoi asks Natsume Chikage whether he likes her. Chikage admits he has special feelings for her and credits her smile with helping him through loneliness and the burdens caused by his family’s upheaval.
• Chikage has used his recovered divine power to glimpse a future in which he and Aoi marry, but the vision shows only their wedding. He wonders whether this future can coexist with possible futures involving Sana, Rin, and the other girls—or whether he has seen separate timelines.
• He cannot give Aoi an immediate answer because several girls, including Sana and Rin, have confessed to him. He promises to decide within a few days. Aoi is disappointed but resolves to wait, and they hold hands.
• At home, Ruri and Resaki worry about Chikage’s late return. They quickly suspect Aoi confessed to him and ask whether he accepted. Chikage says he has not decided, and that he intends to answer Rin before dating anyone else.
• Chikage declines Ruri and Resaki’s offers to help with the new house’s paperwork, asking them instead to help pack after school.
• Later, he finds many messages from girls hoping to confess to him, prompting him to tell them he will be away from school for a few days. In a chat, Rin confirms she knows about Sana’s confession and says the girls are competing fairly. Chikage promises to answer Rin first; she accepts but makes clear she will not give up even if rejected.

Character developments

• Chikage is unusually uncertain: he cares deeply for Aoi and Rin, as well as other girls, and struggles to determine whom he truly loves. His visions deepen rather than resolve that confusion.
• Aoi shows her romantic feelings openly, then accepts that Chikage needs time. Despite jealousy and disappointment, she remains hopeful and agrees to wait.
• Rin displays confidence and persistence, while admitting she does feel jealous. She is willing to accept Chikage’s decision but intends to keep pursuing him.
• Ruri is protective and curious about Chikage’s romantic life, while Resaki quietly harbors feelings for him and hopes to become important to him in the future.

Significant themes

• Romantic ambiguity and choice: Chikage’s affection for several girls makes commitment difficult.
• Fate and uncertainty: His limited vision of a wedding raises questions about parallel futures and whether one outcome excludes others.
• Patience and perseverance: Aoi and Rin both choose to wait, though Rin vows not to give up.
• Support and emotional connection: Aoi’s kindness helped Chikage through a difficult period, giving their relationship deeper significance.

Character interactions

• Chikage and Aoi share an honest conversation about their feelings and end it with fingers interlaced, though they are not yet dating.
• Ruri and Resaki tease and question Chikage when he returns home, while showing concern for him.
• Chikage and Rin discuss the confessions by text; their exchange reveals mutual trust, Rin’s jealousy, and her determination to continue pursuing him.

Plot points and events

• Chikage arranges several upcoming visits and outings by message: Suzune books time with him for Saturday afternoon, Nanase hopes to shop with him Sunday evening, and Orihime wants him to visit Sunday afternoon. He also agrees to see Miki’s mother, Aunt Miyuki, on Monday.
• Miki learns that Sana confessed to Chikage, but he has not accepted because he has not decided whom he wants to date. His honest uncertainty makes Miki hope he still has feelings for her.
• Chikage returns to his old apartment with movers to collect his belongings and bring Little White to his new home. The cat has been sneaking in through a ventilation fan and angrily complains at his return, but is quickly soothed with a treat.
• Seeing the apartment emptied leaves Chikage briefly wistful. He reflects that the hard but warm memories will remain with him, and that home is wherever his family is. Before leaving, he thanks the landlady for caring for them.
• Kayo arrives and asks to speak privately. After looking around the apartment and hearing about Chikage’s past there, she reveals that Orihime recently claimed Chikage has no blood ties to the Natsume main family.
• Chikage realizes Orihime may have discovered the truth through his medical examination. When Kayo asks whether he already knew, he confirms that he is not biologically related to the main family or to Ruri.

Character developments and interactions

• Chikage remains overwhelmed by competing social and romantic demands, yet shows gratitude and attachment to the modest home where his family lived. He chooses to be honest with Kayo once she raises his parentage.
• Miki interprets Chikage’s indecision about dating as a possible sign that he still likes her, though Chikage makes no such promise.
• Kayo is visibly troubled by the revelation but believes Chikage deserves to know. Her conversation with him turns a rumor into a confirmed family secret.
• Little White reacts with apparent resentment at Chikage’s absence, highlighting the affection between them.

Significant themes

• Family and belonging: Chikage defines home through the people he loves, not through a particular place or bloodline.
• Truth and identity: The disclosure about Chikage’s origins raises the question of how he fits into the Natsume family—and whether others may suspect an even stranger explanation.
• Romantic uncertainty: Chikage’s unresolved feelings affect several relationships, while others try to read meaning into his hesitation.
• Change and memory: Leaving the apartment marks the end of one chapter, but Chikage carries its difficult, affectionate memories with him.

Key plot points and events

• Natsume Kayo learns that Chikage and Ruri are not related by blood. Chikage explains that his father recently told him, and he has kept it secret to spare Ruri further grief after losing her parents.
• Kayo agrees to keep the secret. She reveals that Mido Orihime threatened the main family, discouraging them from pursuing Chikage and Ruri.
• Kayo collects DNA samples for the family’s test, using a hair from Chikage and Ruri’s toothbrush. She also explains that the main family tried to outbid Chikage for his house after his book signing, but she was imprisoned before she could warn him. The Mido family’s intervention helped prevent the plan from succeeding.
• The main family has since arranged Kayo’s marriage to a Tanaka family son as punishment for contacting Chikage. Kayo says she does not want to marry him and begs Chikage for help.
• Chikage tells her to stay with him and calls Konoe Hitomi. He agrees to pay her standard fee of 100 million yen to help Kayo escape the main family’s control.
• Kayo decides not to return for her belongings and will stay at Chikage’s home. After he leaves to send the samples, she wonders how to explain the situation to her aunt.

Character developments

• Chikage reaffirms that family is defined by care, not blood. He is protective of Ruri and feels responsible for Kayo’s troubles, readily spending a large sum to help her.
• Kayo moves from loyalty to the main family toward accepting that she needs to leave. Her fear and distress give way to relief when Chikage offers support.
• Hitomi shows affection beneath her teasing: she questions Chikage’s motives but is warmed by his willingness to help, and agrees to take the case.
• Orihime and the Mido family are revealed to have played a crucial role in protecting Chikage and Ruri from the main family’s plans.

Significant themes

• Chosen family: Chikage considers himself Ruri’s brother despite their lack of biological ties.
• Care and responsibility: He believes Kayo’s hardship began because of him, so he must help resolve it.
• Money versus people: Chikage treats the 100 million yen fee as worthwhile because the people he cares about matter more.
• Control and freedom: The main family uses imprisonment and an arranged marriage to punish and control Kayo, while Chikage offers her a chance to choose for herself.

Character interactions

• Kayo is moved by Chikage’s devotion to Ruri, especially in contrast with her own brother’s poor treatment of her.
• Chikage apologizes for Kayo’s imprisonment; she reassures him, but reveals the forced-marriage arrangement and asks for help.
• Chikage and Hitomi exchange teasing remarks before discussing the fee and the value Chikage places on helping others.
• Chikage tells Kayo to remain at his home, where she will wait for the furniture and clean while he handles the DNA samples.

Key plot points and events

• Ruri and Renai return to their new home and find Kayo cleaning. Kayo explains that the main family had confined her, so she cannot safely return and asks to stay with them. Ruri and Renai welcome her, condemn the main family, and are reassured that Chikage’s victory in a bet has stopped their interference.
• Kayo, lacking clothes and underwear, invites Ruri and Renai to shop and eat with her.
• Chikage spends the afternoon completing housing arrangements, with one final real-estate signing left for the next day. He then meets Suzune in Bunkyo Ward.
• Suzune has dressed up and asks Chikage to visit Rikugien Gardens for artistic inspiration. After dinner, they admire the illuminated garden.
• Suzune reveals that she is developing a story about romance but has no experience of love. She asks Chikage to pose with her for couple-like photos. They hold hands and take a selfie, while Suzune privately prepares to confess her feelings.

Character developments

• Kayo shows relief at escaping the main family’s control and becomes more comfortable relying on Ruri and Renai.
• Ruri and Renai display their affection for Kayo and strong loyalty to Chikage, reacting with anger and concern over the family’s treatment of her.
• Chikage is tired from handling practical matters, but finds unexpected calm in the garden. Suzune’s closeness also stirs feelings in him.
• Suzune takes a significant romantic risk: she arranges the outing, initiates hand-holding, and uses the photo session as a way to experience and express intimacy.

Significant themes

• Chosen family and refuge: Ruri and Renai offer Kayo a safe, welcoming home after her mistreatment.
• Power and accountability: The main family’s influence is checked, at least for now, by the bet Chikage won.
• Art and lived experience: Suzune seeks real romantic gestures to make her writing more convincing.
• Romantic tension and vulnerability: A seemingly practical photo session becomes an intimate moment, with both characters affected by their closeness.

Character interactions

• Ruri and Renai comfort and support Kayo, while Kayo reassures them that Chikage’s victory has protected her.
• Suzune and Chikage share a gentle evening that shifts from sightseeing to an increasingly personal “pretend couple” photo session. Chikage cooperates, and their mutual nervousness hints at deeper feelings.

Plot points

• Yukimura Suzune leads Natsume Chikage through Rikugien Gardens to gather inspiration for her story. They take increasingly intimate “couple” photos, including hand-holding, embracing on Togetsukyo Bridge, and sharing snacks.
• Chikage notices Suzune becoming absorbed in her phone and gently pulls her out of the path of an oncoming visitor, showing concern for her.
• In a moonlit clearing, Suzune writes down ideas while Chikage takes a candid photo of her. She likes the picture, despite acting coy about the compliment.
• As they walk hand in hand, Suzune confesses that she has long wanted someone who shared her love of literature. Her conversations with Chikage and admiration for his earnestness gradually became love.
• Chikage reciprocates, saying Suzune has been special to him and that he has had feelings for her too. However, he cannot accept her confession yet because he promised Rin he would answer her first. He asks Suzune for a day or two to think.

Character developments

• Suzune moves from shyly disguising her desire for closeness as “research” to openly admitting her love. She reveals her loneliness and her longing for a genuine intellectual and emotional connection.
• Chikage recognizes that his feelings for Suzune are real and treats her confession seriously. He also remains committed to keeping his promise to Rin, even though he cares for Suzune.

Character interactions

• Their playful, affectionate photo session steadily blurs the line between pretend romance and genuine intimacy. Suzune relaxes in Chikage’s embrace, while he grows increasingly aware of her boldness and his own unfamiliar feelings.
• Chikage’s gentle warning when Suzune nearly collides with someone shows their growing ease and his protectiveness.
• Their honest exchange ends on a hopeful but unresolved note: Suzune accepts that Chikage must first address his promise to Rin.

Significant themes

• Shared interests as intimacy: Literature gives Suzune and Chikage a sense of being understood.
• Love and vulnerability: Suzune risks rejection by expressing the depth and seriousness of her feelings.
• Honesty and responsibility: Chikage reciprocates but refuses to disregard his prior commitment.
• The shift from pretense to reality: A staged “couple” outing becomes the setting for a sincere confession.

Plot points and events

• After confessing, Yukimura Suzune continues holding Chikage’s hand and asks him to be honest about his eventual decision. He promises to tell her directly.
• Chikage uses his divine power to glimpse possible futures. In one, he and Suzune are married, sharing peaceful afternoons reading together before Suzune becomes unexpectedly passionate. He is startled by her future confidence.
• Suzune misreads Chikage’s knowing expression as evidence that he is thinking something indecent. Embarrassed, she writes an idea in her notebook and refuses to let him read it until they are dating.
• Chikage returns to the new house, where Ruri, Renai, and Kayo welcome him. Ruri and Renai catch his characteristic verbal cue for lying and press him about his late outing. He admits Suzune wanted to talk, but evades the question of whether she confessed.
• In his new private bedroom, Chikage arranges his collection and considers how Kayo is adjusting to staying with them.
• The Collection Club plans to visit the new house the next day, and Chikage also agrees to a visit from Rin. Hitomi reports that Kayo has left the Natsume Family and is now free of its control, and reminds Chikage to visit Orihime.

Character developments and interactions

• Suzune is relieved after confessing and shows growing boldness, though she remains easily flustered around Chikage.
• Chikage recognizes his feelings for Suzune and sees a possible future with her, but continues to avoid discussing the confession with his family. His teasing response also makes Suzune suspect he has a mischievous side.
• Ruri and Renai demonstrate how well they know Chikage by spotting his telltale “um,” then eagerly speculate about Suzune’s confession.
• Kayo is warmly welcomed into the household; Chikage resolves to check on her adjustment.
• Hitomi uses her influence to secure Kayo’s independence, while Chikage expresses gratitude.

Significant themes

• Honesty and emotional vulnerability: Suzune asks for directness, while Chikage’s evasions show he is not yet ready to discuss his romantic life openly.
• Possible futures and commitment: Chikage’s vision suggests marriage with Suzune is one potential path, though the future remains uncertain.
• Home and belonging: The new house gives Chikage privacy and provides Kayo with a safe place after leaving her family.
• Romantic anticipation: Suzune’s confession, the upcoming group visit, and Rin’s invitation set up further complications in Chikage’s relationships.

Key plot points and events

• Kayo wakes early after a deeply restful night at Chikage’s home and makes breakfast for the household.
• Chikage tells Kayo that her arranged-marriage obligations have been settled and she is free to choose her own future. The main family confirms the news. Kayo is relieved, though uncertain what she wants to do now.
• Ruri, Renai, and Chikage encourage Kayo to explore her interests and offer their support. Kayo decides to stay with them for a while.
• Several of Chikage’s friends visit, but he is away meeting with someone from the Mido family. The girls spend time together and plan to play Monopoly.
• Hitomi arrives hoping to see Chikage. While she waits with the group, she asks how they feel about Chikage considering dating. The girls respond evasively.
• A conversation about Chikage’s first kiss reveals that several girls may have feelings or memories connected to him. Sana privately believes she has already taken his first kiss, while the others react with varying degrees of embarrassment, curiosity, or excitement.

Character developments

• Kayo gains freedom from her family’s plans for her, but must begin deciding what she wants for herself. She shows her caring nature by cooking and imagining herself looking after the others.
• Chikage is absent for much of the chapter, but his actions—resolving Kayo’s situation and following through on his promise—show his reliability and care for her.
• The girls around Chikage reveal their romantic interest indirectly, though most pretend to be neutral when asked about dating.

Significant themes

• Freedom and self-determination: Kayo’s release from an arranged future gives her the chance to discover her own goals.
• Belonging and chosen family: Kayo feels more at home with Chikage and the others than at the main family estate.
• Romantic rivalry and denial: The girls’ evasive answers and reactions to the first-kiss discussion hint at unspoken competition for Chikage’s affection.
• Support and kindness: The household offers Kayo reassurance and practical companionship as she adjusts to her new independence.

Character interactions

• Kayo and Renai share an awkward early-morning encounter before Kayo takes over breakfast.
• Chikage, Ruri, and Renai warmly celebrate Kayo’s newfound freedom and encourage her to find her own interests.
• The visiting girls express frustration and curiosity about Chikage’s absence, while Ruri and Renai explain that his affairs are settled and he has gone to the Mido family.
• Hitomi prompts the group to discuss Chikage’s dating plans; their guarded responses expose their feelings more than their words do.
• The group’s discussion of Chikage’s first kiss creates a private contest of hope, jealousy, and secret confidence—especially for Sana, who believes she has already claimed it.

Key plot points

• At Ueno Zoo, Chikage meets Orihime, who surprises him by wearing a black dress instead of her usual kimono. She asks whether he thinks she is pretty; he praises her appearance, especially her ruby-like eyes.
• As they enter the zoo hand in hand, Chikage uses his Divine Power to glimpse a possible future. He sees himself living with Orihime, kissing her after a disagreement, and sharing an apparently accepted romantic relationship with her and Hitomi.
• Orihime explains that she chose the zoo because she wanted to go on a date with Chikage—not because she cares about the animals. Since she cannot see them clearly, Chikage draws them for her.
• Orihime says that people, animals, and other living things appear to her as distorted “lumps of flesh.” Chikage promises to cure her condition, but she says she does not want it cured.
• Orihime reveals that her family’s “Shore of the Afterlife Syndrome” brings benefits as well as difficulties: those who inherit it are exceptionally intelligent and can tell when someone is lying.

Character developments and interactions

• Chikage grows more comfortable with Orihime’s affection and shows thoughtfulness by bringing a sketchbook so she can experience the zoo through his drawings. His glimpse of their future leaves him wondering about his relationships with both Orihime and Hitomi.
• Orihime reveals a warmer, more personal side. She values time with Chikage, trusts him with family secrets, and speaks confidently about their eventual marriage. She also views her unusual perception as part of her identity rather than simply an illness to be eliminated.
• Their handholding and intimate conversation deepen their bond. Orihime directly questions Chikage, while he dodges an awkward comparison between her and other girls but gives her a sincere compliment.

Significant themes

• Perception and difference: Orihime’s vision makes the familiar world appear alien, emphasizing how subjective perception shapes reality.
• Acceptance versus cure: Chikage wants to help Orihime, but she sees value in the abilities her condition gives her.
• Intimacy and honesty: Their growing trust is underscored by Orihime’s ability to detect lies and her decision to confide in Chikage.
• A possible shared future: Chikage’s vision hints at a future relationship involving both Orihime and Hitomi, though its implications remain uncertain.

Key plot points and events

• Chikage asks Orihime how she can tell when people are lying. She explains that her “shore of the afterlife syndrome” makes everyone appear as distorted flesh, but liars turn black in her sight. The Mido family has long required anyone with this condition to lead the family, valuing the intelligence and lie-detection it brings.
• Orihime says Chikage is the sole exception: she sees him as normal and cannot read his lies. She had assumed he was like her.
• After visiting the zoo, the two go shopping. Chikage uses his special ladle on milk tea, making it appear normal to Orihime. She enjoys its unfamiliar taste and realizes that food he handles can become normal to her.
• Chikage reflects on his feelings for several other girls and the burden of knowing from the Future Eye that they may become his partners. He struggles with whether he can pursue them while dating Orihime.
• Orihime confronts him about the girls’ interest in him. He admits he has considered dating one of them but has not decided.
• Though jealous and unable to understand why Chikage would want ordinary girls, Orihime ultimately allows him to see them when she is busy, insisting that he belongs to her and must give her his attention when she is available.
• Her unexpected agreement sparks a bold idea in Chikage, though the chapter ends before he reveals it.

Character developments

• Orihime opens up about her condition and its role in her family. She remains content with her unusual perception and does not seek a cure, but shows curiosity about normal food and affection for Chikage.
• Chikage wants to help Orihime if a treatment ever becomes possible, while keeping his own nonhuman nature secret for now. He also confronts the emotional difficulty of choosing among girls he cares about.
• Their relationship deepens through candid conversation, shared affection, and Orihime’s possessive—but surprisingly permissive—response to his other romantic interests.

Significant themes

• Perception and normality: Orihime’s vision makes other people seem monstrous, while Chikage’s presence and food offer her glimpses of ordinary experience.
• Knowledge as a burden: Knowing possible futures complicates Chikage’s choices and makes it harder for him to follow his feelings naturally.
• Love, jealousy, and unconventional relationships: Orihime’s possessiveness coexists with a distinctly nontraditional view of romance and other people.
• Difference and belonging: Orihime sees Chikage as uniquely like herself, raising questions about what makes someone “normal” or part of one’s kind.

Character interactions

• Chikage listens without judgment as Orihime explains her condition and offers to seek treatment while leaving the choice to her.
• Orihime and Chikage share milk tea, giving her a pleasant sensory experience she could not ordinarily have.
• Orihime presses Chikage about the other girls, and he admits his uncertainty rather than denying his feelings.
• Their disagreement exposes their radically different worldviews, but ends with a negotiated understanding: Chikage may spend time with the others, while Orihime expects his devotion when they are together.

Key plot points and events

• Natsume Chikage tells Mido Orihime that, since reconnecting with her, he has sometimes been able to see the future. He shows her a sketch of clothing he saw her wearing; Orihime recognizes it as the design for a kimono she is planning to wear, and accepts this as proof.
• Chikage says he has seen himself ending up with Orihime and several other girls. Orihime is surprised that her twin sister, Hitomi, is among them.
• Orihime reveals that Hitomi is her fraternal twin—not her maid. The family’s strict hierarchy requires Hitomi and even their mother to address Orihime formally rather than by name.
• Chikage admits that he wants to be with Orihime and all the other girls. Orihime accepts this without objection, but says she regards ordinary people as playthings and warns him not to forget her earlier warning.
• Their date ends early when Orihime receives an urgent call. She schedules their next meeting at her home for two days later.
• Orihime bluntly says she expects them to become intimate then. She explains that meeting Chikage has made physical intimacy possible and appealing to her, unlike her usual revulsion toward ordinary people. Since she believes their future together is certain, she sees no reason to wait.

Character developments and interactions

• Chikage is increasingly resolved to pursue a future with Orihime and the other girls. However, her contempt for ordinary people worries him; he hopes she will come to recognize them as people.
• Orihime trusts Chikage’s apparent future-visions and readily accepts his desire to be with multiple partners. She remains proud, detached, and dismissive of ordinary people, but shows growing personal interest in Chikage and initiates a kiss before they part.
• Chikage and Orihime move from discussing their presumed destiny to openly addressing romance and sex. Their views differ sharply on other people, while their mutual attraction and commitment deepen.
• Hitomi’s true relationship to Orihime reframes her respectful behavior: it stems from the family’s rigid status rules, not from a servant’s position.

Significant themes

• Destiny and choice: Orihime treats their future together as settled and uses that certainty to justify moving their relationship forward.
• Hierarchy and dehumanization: Orihime’s elevated family status—and her belief that ordinary people are lesser—creates a moral tension Chikage wants to challenge.
• Intimacy and difference: Chikage awakens in Orihime a response she says she has never felt toward ordinary people, suggesting a possibility for change even as her worldview remains extreme.