Higashiba Tsuki Put On Makeup

[Ichijou-kun, is there something strange about me.]

I blinked, wearing that gentle smile.

[Ah, it’s just—]

Ichijou Rikou snapped back to his senses and answered honestly.

[Higashiba-san is very beautiful.]

[So you’ve fallen in love with this body after all, even knowing the inside is just a withered shut-in.]

[“Fallen in love” might be a bit much, I was just curious—]

He pointed at my face.

[Why Higashiba-san is wearing makeup.]

[Did you think a shut-in like me wouldn’t have this skill, Ichijou-kun.]

I lightly adjusted my long hair swaying in the wind and turned to close the door.

Ichijou Rikou had messaged early in the morning, saying we should meet at my place before going together to Nishimura Noriyuki’s house.

So I waited for him in the living room from early on.

At the same time, I followed the books I bought and the cosmetics, doing a little dressing up.

[I suppose I’m fairly smart.

I picked up the basic techniques easily, so there’s no need for you to be that surprised, Ichijou-kun.]

[I’m not talking about that—]

He shook his head.

[I was just wondering why Higashiba-san suddenly did this.]

[That’s because—]

The smile on my face didn’t change.

[It’s all for the sake of the perfect, flawless Higashiba Tsuki.]

[Eh—]

[I chatted with some girls in class before and realized I couldn’t understand what they were talking about at all.

Magazines, cosmetics, things like that—I knew nothing, so I couldn’t even join the conversation.]

[At the same time, I noticed that Higashiba Tsuki never wears makeup.

With such a pretty face, yet not knowing how to use makeup—if that continues, it’s impossible to leave a good impression on others.]

[So—]

I touched my chin, tilted my head, and pretended to be cute.

[Does Ichijou-kun like this version of Higashiba Tsuki.]

[Higashiba-san—]

Under my gaze, he hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

[I like her very much.]

[Heehee—]

My smile widened unconsciously, my eyes narrowing slightly.

To outsiders, it must have looked like a very strange expression.

At that moment, I was smiling like that.

[Hehehehehehe.]

[I laughed out loud again, Ichijou-kun won’t mind, right.]

[More importantly, it’s getting late.

Let’s go, Higashiba-san.]

Ichijou Rikou looked up, gesturing at the sky.

It was already nearing late morning.

If we were any later, we’d have to apologize to Nishimura Noriyuki.

[Then let’s go.]

[Tsuki-oneechan.]

Renako, doing morning exercises in the yard, waved and called out loudly.

Tch, another bit of trouble to get through.

Thinking that, I still responded warmly.

[Morning, little Renako.]

[Where are you going so early, Tsuki.]

The one greeting me was a middle-aged man with a thick beard.

He still retained traces of youthful handsomeness, paired with a sense of weathered maturity that made him unforgettable at a glance.

[Well, that’s a secret, Fujimiya-san.]

[Ahaha, Katsumasa, Tsuki must be going out to have fun with classmates.

Of course she wouldn’t say, right Tsuki.]

Keiko showed a knowing expression, and together with Fujimiya-san put on ambiguous smiles.

[Your name is Ichijou Rikou, right.

Rikou-kun, may I call you that.]

[That’s fine, Fujimiya-san, Keiko-san.]

[Tsuki is a good girl.

Please take good care of her.]

[Yes, I will.]

[Keiko-san, why are you saying such strange things.]

Facing them, I let my cheeks redden slightly and pulled Ichijou Rikou along.

[Ufufu, we won’t disturb you two then.]

Behind us, Fujimiya-san’s hearty laughter echoed.

[Higashiba-san—]

He stared at me in surprise, after I quickly withdrew that shy expression.

[This is also part of acting, you know, Ichijou-kun.]

I looked at him gently.

[You wouldn’t mind me doing something so misleading, would you.]

[I don’t mind that, but—]

His gaze lingered on where our hands were clasped.

[—I didn’t expect Ichijou-kun to care about this.

I remember Tsuki often clings to your arm, doesn’t she.]

[That—]

After I released his hand, he relaxed slightly and gave a wry smile.

[I guess I’m already used to it.

It doesn’t feel the same anymore.]

Sometimes, a childhood friend doesn’t just mean closeness.

It also means familiarity born from too much contact.

Often, that means feelings like love are actually harder to develop between them than with ordinary people.

If that’s the case—

Ichijou Rikou is still seeing Kamizuki Tsuki as a younger sister.

How pitiful, Tsuki.

A rare bit of pity, given to her.

He sighed.

[Even though Higashiba-san always says she used to be a man, to everyone else you’re still a very pretty—well, cute—girl.

I’m no exception.]

[So when you grabbed my hand, I did feel something I couldn’t quite explain.]

Which means—

My eyes narrowed again.

You’re an easily teased virgin, Ichijou-kun.

Though I don’t particularly want to tease you too much.

Doing it once or twice is fine.

If I push it further, you might get uncomfortable.

If you left in anger, I’d only have myself to blame.

[Please don’t get addicted to that feeling, Ichijou-kun.]

[Then I’ll have to ask Higashiba-san not to joke around.]

[Mm-hm.]

We kept a bit of safe distance between us.

[This is Noriyuki’s house.]

Compared to me, Ichijou Rikou—who had personally walked Nishimura Noriyuki home before—was clearly more familiar with the route.

He led me to the front of a villa.

The gate was closed.

Only the flowers in the yard swayed in the wind, releasing a faint fragrance.

[May I ask who you are.]

Someone was guarding the entrance and came forward when they saw us.

[We are Noriyuki’s classmates.

Please inform her.]

[Ah, you must be the guests the young lady mentioned.

Please come in.

I’ll notify her immediately.]

After a short while, Nishimura Noriyuki appeared, walking with slightly hurried steps.

Seeing us, she smiled.

It was still stiff in that old-fashioned way, but by now we were used to it.

[Noriyuki.]

[Tsuki, Rikou, come with me.]

She led us into the rather beautiful villa.

[Welcome to my home, Tsuki, Rikou.]

Only after entering the frighteningly large living room did Nishimura Noriyuki turn around and bow to us.

[Thank you for inviting us, Noriyuki.]

The way to deal with Nishimura Noriyuki was to endure her stiffness, then gradually guide her past it once familiar.

It was a simple principle, though difficult to execute.

At the very least, some goodwill had to be built up.

Still—

I stole a glance at Ichijou Rikou, who was bowing just like me.

Being invited by Nishimura Noriyuki already meant some recognition.

I didn’t know why she included me, but as long as Ichijou Rikou made progress, that was enough.

I touched the earphone by my ear.

I’d put it on in advance, just in case.

Now, I just needed to create a space where the two of them could be alone.

As Nishimura Noriyuki turned away, I leaned toward the badge in my hand and spoke in a very soft voice.

[Get ready, Ichijou-kun.]

He lowered his head toward his chest.

[I know, Higashiba-san.]

His gentle voice came through the earphone.

In fact, even my ear without the earphone could hear it—quieter, but unusually clear.

Using a device to talk at such close range was, on reflection, quite amusing.

Though not that funny either.

At least, it only made my gentle smile grow a bit deeper.

[This is the study.]

It was Nishimura Noriyuki’s first time showing classmates around her home.

You could tell without even relying on game knowledge.

She led us into a room filled with books, again excessively spacious.

Shelves were lined with all kinds of books, including some written in unfamiliar scripts—likely untranslated foreign texts.

Though she brought us here, she didn’t give us time to look around and instead moved on.

[This is the guest room.]

She explained, gesturing at a sparsely furnished room.

[It’s for receiving guests, but hardly anyone stays here.]

[This is the art room, where several famous paintings are kept.]

[This is the dining room.

Meals are taken here.]

She clearly had no idea how to host classmates.

She simply guided us through the villa, giving brief, stiff explanations.

[Noriyuki—]

I interrupted her as she was about to continue.

She turned slightly, looking at me with mild confusion, not anger.

[At this point, it’s better to have tea.]

I blinked at her playfully.

[After all, you’ve been talking for quite a while, haven’t you.

As guests, it would be rude of us not to be considerate of our host.]

[Higashiba-san is right.

We can look around later.]

Ichijou Rikou supported me.

[Then—]

Nishimura Noriyuki hesitated.

[Let’s go to the study.

Aren’t we members of the Classical Literature Club.]

I kindly made the decision for her.

In truth, I was afraid she’d waste too much time hesitating.

This rare opportunity—one that could deepen the bond between the two of them—couldn’t be squandered.

[Very well.

I’ll go prepare tea.]

As she led us toward the study, we encountered someone.

She was a young woman only a few years older than us.

Quite beautiful.

Her long hair was neatly tied up.

Her eyes were lively.

Her lightly made-up face still carried traces of youthful vitality.

She was smiling as she examined us.

[Little Noriyuki—]

[Aunt.]

[Aren’t you going to introduce them.]

[Yes.

This is Tsuki and Rikou, classmates I’ve befriended at school.]

[Nice to meet you.

My name is Nishimura Michiko.

I’m Noriyuki’s aunt, and I was the one who suggested inviting you.]

[Thank you very much.]

After exchanging bows, Nishimura Michiko seemed to notice something and let out a small sound.

[Tsuki, are you wearing makeup.]

Her gaze fixed on my face, exactly as I had anticipated.

[Since I was visiting, I made some preparations.]

[I have to say, Tsuki, you’re very pretty.

Almost on par with our Noriyuki.

But your makeup is a bit rough.]

She pondered for a moment.

[Little Noriyuki, I’ll borrow your classmate.

Tsuki, you don’t mind, right.]

If anything, I welcomed it wholeheartedly.

I had already prepared for Nishimura Michiko to take me away.

Putting on makeup beforehand was part of that plan.

This was precisely how I intended to create time alone for the two of them.

In the original game, because this aunt existed, the first visit didn’t lead to much progress.

But now—

Things should advance quite a bit.

[Then Noriyuki, I’ll go with Michiko-san.]

I smiled and blinked at Ichijou Rikou.

The rest is up to you, Ichijou-kun.