I'm Not the Cheese Sandwiched Between Them Anymore, Waaaaah

[Minna-san, I'm back!](I've successfully revived. Three chapters tomorrow, I said it. Even if I die tomorrow, I'll get three chapters out.)

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[Dear readers, if you're going to let chapters pile up, please still drop in, leave a comment, and click to follow updates. Otherwise, the book might end up disappearing one day.]

The morning dew had yet to disperse when a rustling sound woke Baichen.

Opening his eyes, he saw Makoto tiptoeing around the room, searching for something.

Her long purple hair was loosely tied with a ribbon, and the morning light traced her graceful curves through her gauzy nightgown.

"Sister Makoto...?" Baichen rubbed his eyes and sat up, the blanket slipping from his shoulders.

"Oh, did I wake you?" Makoto turned around, holding an exquisite lacquered box. "I was looking for this~"

Baichen leaned closer curiously. Several rolls of yellowed paper and a few small pieces of jewelry lay neatly inside the box.

Makoto carefully unrolled one of the papers, revealing a childish drawing in faded ink-

Two little purple-haired girls stood hand in hand beneath a Thunder Sakura tree.

"Ei drew this a long time ago." Makoto gently stroked the paper, her eyes glistening softly. "Back then, she always said, 'When I grow up, I'll stay with my sister forever'..."

Baichen's heart softened. Just as he was about to say something, the door suddenly flew open.

Ei stood in the doorway, the ends of her hair still damp from her morning training. She visibly stiffened when her gaze fell on the drawing in Makoto's hands.

"Give it back." She strode forward, the tips of her ears reddening.

Makoto nimbly ducked behind Baichen. "Nope, this is one of my treasures!" She poked her head over the boy's shoulder. "Look, Little Baichen, wasn't Ei adorable back then?"

Flustered and indignant, Ei reached for it, but Makoto held the drawing high above her head.

The two circled around Baichen like a pair of cats fighting over a toy.

Caught between them, Baichen grew dizzy from all the circling. He accidentally stepped on the hem of someone's nightgown-

"Ah!"

All three tumbled into a heap, with Baichen pinned beneath the sisters and barely able to breathe.

Makoto took the chance to stuff the drawing down the front of her clothes. She stuck her tongue out at Ei triumphantly. "Come and get it~"

Ei narrowed her eyes dangerously. Suddenly changing tactics, she scooped Baichen into her arms. "Mine," she declared, turning to leave.

"That's cheating!" Makoto jumped up and chased after her. "Little Baichen belongs to everyone!"

[Ei's affection: 100% (stable)]

[Raiden Makoto's affection: 82% (rising)]

[Status gained: morning tug-of-war]

At breakfast, Makoto mysteriously announced that she was holding a "secret tea party."

She had found a miniature tea set somewhere and insisted that Baichen change into the little lace-trimmed dress she had prepared.

"Is this... women's clothing?" Baichen held up the pale purple dress, his mouth twitching.

Makoto pressed her palms together pleadingly. "Just wear it once! It'll be just like the tea parties I used to have with my sister!

She blinked. "Ei used to love wearing them." (I made that up, don't ask.)

"Makoto!" Ei's chopsticks snapped with a crack.

In the end, Makoto's persistent pleading wore Baichen down, and he gave in.

The lace dress fit surprisingly well. Paired with white stockings and little leather shoes, it made him look just like an exquisite doll.

Makoto clapped her hands in approval. Ei scowled the entire time, but her gaze never left the boy.

The tea party was held in the most secluded courtyard of Tenshukaku.

Makoto enclosed a little space with screens and gauze curtains. Thunder Sakura petals drifted down on the breeze, lending the secret gathering a dreamlike air.

"First, I have to teach Little Baichen the proper way to drink tea~" Makoto knelt on a cushion and elegantly lifted her teacup. "You raise your little finger like this..."

Baichen clumsily copied her, but he couldn't quite get it right.

Unable to watch any longer, Ei took his hand and adjusted his posture. "Like this." Her chest pressed against the boy's back, her breath brushing his ear.

Makoto narrowed her eyes. "Ei, you're cheating."

"I'm just teaching him." Ei's expression didn't change.

Halfway through the tea party, Makoto suddenly suggested a game of truth or dare.

She formed a die out of Electro. The rules were simple-the person who rolled the lowest number would take a penalty.

Ei lost the first round. Makoto smiled slyly. "Choose, little sister. Tell us the most sensitive spot on Little Baichen's body, or kiss him for ten seconds right here?"

Without hesitation, Ei pulled Baichen close and went straight in for the attack.

The kiss was deep and long, far exceeding the ten-second limit. Baichen was left dizzy, slumped in Ei's arms and gasping for breath.

"That's cheating!" Makoto protested. "We agreed on ten seconds!"

Ei calmly wiped the corner of her mouth. "You didn't say when to start counting."

Baichen lost the second round.

Makoto leaned in excitedly. "What'll it be, Little Baichen? Tell us what Ei did to you last night, or go show Kujou Sara that outfit?"

"I pick truth!" Baichen shouted, blushing.

Makoto pursed her lips in disappointment. "All right... So, last night Ei-"

"I'll pick dare for him." Ei suddenly cut her off, scooping Baichen up and heading outside.

Makoto froze for a second, then collapsed laughing on the tea mat. "Ei, you're too cute! You actually got embarrassed!"

In the end, Baichen didn't go see Kujou, but he was forced to wear the lace dress until evening.

To his surprise, Ei seemed especially fond of the outfit and wouldn't even let him take it off when they were intimate that night...

[Item obtained: little lace dress]

[Note: Ei's strange preference unlocked]

The day known as tomorrow soon arrived.

Morning light streamed through the paper lattice windows, casting dappled shadows across Baichen's face.

Still half asleep, he rolled over, but his arm found nothing-

Ei, who should have been sleeping beside him, was nowhere to be seen.

As he wondered where she was, an enticing aroma drifted in from outside the door.

System, sign in.

[Sign-in successful!]

[Obtained: Electro Resonance Stone ×2 (deposited in system inventory)]

[Effect: increases Electro affinity by 100% for a short time]

Baichen rubbed his eyes and sat up to find an exquisite breakfast beside the bed-Three-Color Dango, miso soup, and tamagoyaki fried to perfection.

There was also a note beside it, written in Ei's neat handwriting: "Official business. Back before noon."

"Strange..." Baichen muttered. Ei hadn't waited for him to wake up as she usually did.

Stranger still, the breakfast looked too perfect, beyond what Ei could make.

As he puzzled over it, the door slid gently open.

Makoto poked her head inside, her long purple hair loosely tied with a ribbon and an apron embroidered with lightning patterns around her waist.

"You're awake?" Makoto came in with a smile. "Is breakfast to your liking?"

Baichen's eyes widened. "Did you... make this, Sister Makoto?"

"Of course~" Makoto puffed out her chest proudly. "I might not have much fighting power, but I can do everything else!" She sat down on the edge of the bed and suddenly lowered her voice. "Actually... I want to surprise Ei."

It turned out that today was Ei's birthday. (Let's say it's June 26.)

Although Ei herself never mentioned it, Makoto had always remembered this special day.

She planned to personally cook a birthday feast and needed Baichen to help keep Ei occupied.

"But Ei's official business..." Baichen hesitated.

Makoto winked mysteriously. "That's already taken care of~ Miko will keep her busy on the pretext of discussing the Thunder Sakura Festival."

She pulled a long list from her sleeve. "We need to prepare all of this..."

The list was packed with dishes, from traditional sushi to modern cream cake.

Baichen's scalp tingled as he read it. "This much... with just the two of us? I don't want to die young yet."

"Don't worry~" Makoto patted his shoulder. "I found some help."

The help in question turned out to be Kujou Sara and several female officers of the Tenryou Commission.

When Baichen followed Makoto into the kitchen, the usually imposing warriors were struggling to handle the ingredients, and the place was in complete chaos.

"General!" Kujou snapped to attention and saluted the moment she saw Baichen, a handful of wilted greens still clutched in her hand. "Your orders, please!"

Baichen didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Um... wash the vegetables first..."

[Raiden Makoto's affection +2%, currently 87%]

[Now you're conspiring about a birthday too]

Under Makoto's direction, everyone divided up the work.

Baichen was in charge of dessert. Just as he was carefully spreading cream over the cake, Makoto suddenly pressed close behind him.

"Like this here~" She took Baichen's hand and guided him as he turned the piping bag.

The position put the boy almost entirely in her arms, her warm breath brushing his ear.

"S-Sister Makoto..." Baichen's ears grew hot. "You're too close..."

"Focus." Makoto chuckled. Instead of moving away, she pressed even closer. "The cream has to be even to look nice~"

Kujou and the others tactfully turned their backs, pretending not to see.

Baichen could only blush and carry on, feeling the softness against his back as his heart pounded like a drum.

Just as the atmosphere grew intimate, the kitchen door suddenly flew open.

Ei stood in the doorway, lightning flickering in her violet eyes. "What are you doing?"

Everyone froze. Makoto reacted fastest, darting in front of the cake. "Ei! What are you doing here? Didn't Miko say..."

"Boring." Ei cut her off coldly. "I guessed you were plotting something."

Her gaze fell on Baichen's cream-smeared apron, and she frowned slightly. "...A birthday?"

Makoto sighed. "I knew I couldn't hide it from you..." She turned and brought out the freshly made Three-Color Dango. "Happy birthday, little sister."

Ei's expression visibly softened. She accepted the dango and said quietly, "...Thank you."

"Don't get emotional just yet~" Makoto suddenly smiled slyly and clapped her hands. "Serve the food!"

Kujou and the others immediately got to work, bringing out the prepared dishes one by one.

From an exquisite sashimi platter to fragrant sukiyaki, and finally the cream cake Baichen had painstakingly decorated-

Although its shape was a little uneven, the Thunder Sakura petals adorning it showed particular care.

Ei looked at the table laden with food, a rare expression of surprise on her face. She turned to Baichen. "You made this?"

"Most of it was Sister Makoto's work..." Baichen scratched his head sheepishly. "I only handled the dessert..."

Ei picked up a fork and tasted the cake, leaving cream on the corner of her mouth.

Baichen instinctively reached out to wipe it off, but Makoto beat him to it. She swept the cream away with her fingertip, then... put it in her own mouth.

"Tastes good~" Makoto winked suggestively.

Ei's gaze instantly turned dangerous.

She pulled Baichen close and kissed him on the lips, her tongue sweeping over every spot where the taste of cream might have lingered.

"It does taste good." When the kiss ended, Ei offered her calm assessment, completely ignoring the shocked looks around them.

[Ei's affection: 100% (stable)]

[Oh my, Ei's publicly staking her claim]

The luncheon proceeded in a subtle atmosphere.

Whenever Makoto put food on Baichen's plate, Ei immediately fed him something else;

When Makoto suggested a drinking game, Ei simply pulled Baichen onto her lap and forbade him from joining.

Kujou and the others kept their heads down and ate furiously, pretending not to see the open and covert rivalry between the two Electro Archons.

After the meal, Ei suddenly announced that she was canceling all her official business for the afternoon.

"Come practice swordsmanship with me."

She took Baichen's hand, but looked at Makoto. "Alone."

Makoto pursed her lips. "Stingy~ Birthdays should be celebrated together!"

Ei was unmoved. "We'll get together again tonight." She leaned close to Baichen's ear and lowered her voice. "I have a gift for you."

Those words made Baichen’s heart beat faster. He gave Makoto an apologetic look and obediently followed Ei away.

The training ground behind Tenshukaku was deserted. Clearly, Ei had cleared it beforehand.

She took off her outer garment, leaving only a close-fitting black inner layer that revealed her graceful curves.

"Watch closely." Ei took Baichen's hand and guided him into the starting stance. "Thunder Flash."

She moved much more slowly than usual so that Baichen could see every detail.

Electro gathered at the tip of the blade, but instead of being released immediately, it wound around them like flowing water.

"Feel the flow of the element," Ei whispered in his ear. "Don't resist it..."

Baichen closed his eyes and let Ei guide his movements.

Electro wrapped gently around him. It was neither as lively and mercurial as Makoto's nor as violent as Ei's usually was in battle, but a unique pulse that carried her body heat.

"This is... your element, Ei?" he asked in surprise.

"Mm." Ei's voice held a rare softness. "Its original state."

They practiced like that all afternoon, from the most basic moves to complex combination techniques.

Ei was remarkably patient, teaching every movement repeatedly until Baichen could perform it on his own.

By the time the sun sank in the west, Baichen could just about execute a complete set of Thunder Smite sword techniques.

"You're making progress quickly." Ei put away her wooden sword and offered him a rare word of praise.

Baichen sat on the ground, panting, his clothes soaked with sweat.

Ei crouched down and gently wiped the beads of sweat from his forehead with her sleeve. "A gift." (Don't ask why there are so many gifts. People don't necessarily wear every gift they get, and besides, this isn't the only gift. Ask again and I'll explode at you.)

She took out an exquisite rosewood box.

Inside was a small jade pendant bearing a lightning pattern. It matched the one Ei wore at her waist.

"A protective charm." Ei personally tied it around his waist. "I infused it with my divine power... It'll protect you when you're in danger."

Baichen stroked the smooth, warm pendant, a warmth welling up inside him.

He gathered his courage, leaned forward, and gave Ei a quick peck on the lips. "Thank you... This is the best gift I've ever received."

The tips of Ei's ears turned slightly red.

She looked away and said softly, "...There's another gift."

"Hm?"

Before Baichen could react, Ei had scooped him up in her arms and was striding toward the baths in Tenshukaku.

(Male lead: ? What are you doing?)

Steam drifted over the enormous hot spring pool, its surface covered with Thunder Sakura petals.

"Ei...?" Baichen suddenly had a bad feeling.

"Relax," Ei said curtly. "Birthday privilege."

Ei was more lively in the hot spring than usual.

(Kiss scene)

"Ei... Someone's going to come by..." Baichen tried to protest.

"I cleared everyone out." Ei bit his earlobe. "Focus."

(Sex scene. Don't ask for the details yet; I still want to win the repechage.)

[Ei's affection: 100% (stable)]

[Item obtained: Electro Archon Protective Jade Pendant]

[Effect: Automatically activates a protective shield in danger]

The birthday banquet that evening was livelier than the midday feast.

Miko brought out fine wine from her collection, while Makoto presented a giant cake she had made herself.

Ei remained expressionless, but she couldn't hide the tenderness in her eyes.

"Make a wish~" Makoto lit the candles and looked expectantly at her younger sister.

Ei was silent for a moment and closed her eyes. When she opened them again, she looked straight at Baichen. "I hope..."

"Don't say it out loud!" Makoto hurriedly stopped her. "It won't come true if you do!"

Ei paid her no mind and continued, "I hope it stays like this forever."

Those few simple words made Baichen's heart tremble.

Amid everyone's teasing cheers, he quietly took Ei's hand, their fingers intertwining.

The banquet lasted late into the night. A drunk Makoto clung to Miko, laughing and crying, while Kujou and the others had tactfully taken their leave long ago.

Though Ei had drunk the most, she was still sober, her gaze merely deeper than usual.

On the way back to their room, she suddenly pressed Baichen against a pillar in the corridor. "Were you happy today?"

Baichen nodded, but before he could answer, a kiss sealed his lips.

Ei's kiss was more energetic than it had been in the hot spring,

"Mmh... Ei... Someone..." Baichen protested indistinctly.

"I don't care." Ei scooped him up by the waist and strode toward the bedroom. "It's my birthday... I make the rules."

(Male lead: Seriously, what do you take me for, a quilt?)

(The picture's in the author's note!)

To all the dear readers who can still see this book,

Please, I'm begging you, tap that button that looks like poop, sob sob sob. Please send some free little gifts too, thank you everyone qwq. Big gifts would be even better. Five-star reviews and stuff, please, I'm begging you, sob sob sob.