Chapter 51 – Serious Piston! The Wives' Offensive (Patreon)

A large-scale school event, the Shuchi'in festival had each class and club arranging their own activities. The usual fare included live portraits, haunted houses, maid cafés, and food stalls. For cultural clubs, the festival performance was the highlight of the year.

Some performing clubs stayed up all night practicing, determined to shine in the next day's festival.

A few girls from the light music club wandered through the campus on the eve of the festival. Arriving before the massive performance hall, the thought of performing there tomorrow made all four girls nervous.

"Hey—the performance order's been posted!"

Spotting a sheet on the door, the four girls crowded around. "We're in the middle!" "Middle's great!" "Huh? B-Komachi?" "Isn't that that underground idol group that's been getting popular? How can they participate in our school festival?" "Oh, Mio, you didn't know? Their most popular member, Ai Hoshino, is a student here." "Wow, how come I never heard about her before?" "Because she just transferred here today!"

The four light music girls, learning that such a popular idol group would also be performing, suddenly felt immense pressure. "The performance is in the afternoon. Let's go practice some more!" The four airheads quickly returned to their club room for last-minute cram training.

Near Shuchi'in, in an apartment building.

Ai Hoshino, wearing a thin nightgown, lay on her bed listening to music through her earphones as she hummed softly. Her bare, delicate feet rose and fell in rhythm with the beat.

"Ai-chan, why didn't you tell Kouma you were participating in the Shuchi'in festival?" Her manager, Miyako Saito, stepped out of the bathroom wrapped only in a towel, her body radiating steam as she asked curiously.

Ai lifted her starlight-gleaming eyes, a brilliant sparkle shining within them. "I'll tell him tomorrow. I want to surprise Kouma!" Seeming to think of something, her adorable face filled with indulgent affection.

Seeing Ai's expression, Miyako could only shake her head helplessly. No matter how many people adored this girl on stage, the moment Kouma was involved, she instantly reverted to her doting-sister mode.

"I wonder what she'll do if Kouma ever gets a girlfriend..."

The next day—Shuchi'in School Festival.

At the Yukinoshita residence, Kouma pried himself loose from Yukino's embrace and sat up to stretch. "System, check in."

[Ding! Host has checked in at the Yukinoshita residence. Obtained ability [LV1. Serious Piston].]

[LV1. Serious Piston: The host's core waist and hip strength will break through physical limits, doubling daily!]

"Whoa—golden legendary!" Even Kouma was stunned by this ability. This was the famous Serious Series—the Serious Piston! The kind that could break through a human's limiter!

"So... does this mean I've broken my limiter now? Even if it's just one part of my body..." Curiously, he touched his lower abdomen but felt nothing unusual. And just by drawing this ability today, Kouma had a feeling he'd be putting it to use before long...

"Auntie Mihoko, will Mrs. Yukinoshita be coming to Shuchi'in today?" he asked during breakfast.

Mihoko stood at the side and replied softly, "Young Master Kouma, Madam said she will come to Shuchi'in this afternoon. Lady Haruno will also head to Shuchi'in immediately after her morning classes."

Hearing Mihoko's words, Yukino felt a daze of confusion. She never expected her mother to actually attend a school festival. Somehow, that made the pressure on her inexplicably heavier.

Noticing her furrowed brow, Kouma smiled and said, "Then when Haruno-neechan and Mrs. Yukinoshita want to buy our takoyaki, they'll have to pay double!"

Yukino couldn't help but laugh. "Agreed."

After breakfast, Mihoko drove them to Shuchi'in. Even though they had left early, they were still shocked by the cars clogging the streets and the sea of people at the gate. "So many people!" And this was only the morning. It was hard to imagine how terrifying the crowds would be by noon.

But as they walked toward the Service Club, the crowd thinned out dramatically.

"Yukino-neechan, let's preheat the takoyaki grill first." Since their stall was in the Service Club itself, all the equipment and ingredients were already there. No hauling required—they set up quickly. A small table held the takoyaki grill, neatly arranged toppings and batter sat beside it, and a small blackboard by the door read: "Takoyaki—¥500 per serving."

With the foot traffic here, though, Yukino wondered how long it would take before their first customer arrived.

At the Sawamura residence, Eriri sat before her mirror, skillfully tying her smooth blonde hair into twin-tails before putting on her Shuchi'in uniform. Donning her short pleated skirt, her long, straight white legs were fully exposed. Checking the day's forecast—cloudy turning overcast, with possible light rain in the evening—she muttered, "I guess I'll wear stockings."

Opening a drawer filled with thigh-high socks, she picked a pair at random. Her slender foot slid into the stocking, gliding up her fair calf until the elastic band snapped against her thigh with a soft thwack, lightly pressing into her plump skin. She checked herself in the mirror. "Perfect."

Walking downstairs, she found her mother still fussing over herself in her room. Helpless, she called out, "Mom, you're not performing on stage. You don't need to spend this much time!"

"Don't you have artwork to exhibit? As your mother, I can't embarrass you!" Sayuri's voice came from her room.

And besides, her mind drifted to the Yotsuya house next door. Yesterday, she had overheard from Miko that Kouma would be selling his own takoyaki at the festival. Limited quantity, first come first served. Sayuri was certain—Mrs. Yotsuya would never miss this golden opportunity to bond with Kouma!

Neither would she.

After carefully preparing herself, Sayuri donned a yukata. Even Eriri couldn't help being stunned by her mother's appearance. "You look like you're entering a beauty pageant..."

Sayuri lightly tapped her daughter's head. "You talk too much. Let's go!" As they stepped out, she couldn't help glancing toward the Yotsuya house. She'd bet Mrs. Yotsuya was harboring the same intentions and would surely be dolled up as well.

Sure enough, both families stepped out at the same time and ended up crossing paths. "Good morning, Mrs. Yotsuya—Miko-san."

"Good morning, Mrs. Sawamura—Eriri-san." The two households exchanged pleasantries with polite smiles.

The girls' smiles held a hint of shared embarrassment. Both knew exactly what had happened on that rooftop that day. But Eriri didn't know how to ask about it, and Miko didn't know how to explain. So even after becoming neighbors for several days, they had barely exchanged more than a few words.

The wives' smiles, however, were laced with hidden daggers. As mature women, they could each faintly perceive the other's intentions. The label of "rival for Kouma's attention" had already been firmly affixed.

But Sayuri studied Touko from head to toe, a flicker of doubt in her eyes. Simple makeup, a simple high ponytail, a black coat over straight-leg pants, and black patent leather low heels. A very plain outfit by any measure.

"Could I have misjudged her?" Sayuri wondered. But her gut told her otherwise. When their eyes had met earlier, she had faintly sensed a trace of barely concealed contempt in Touko's gaze.

Eriri poked her mother's waist and muttered helplessly, "Look at her mom. She dresses so plainly..."

But Sayuri kept her gaze locked on Touko. As Touko climbed a step, Sayuri caught it—a glimpse of sheer black fabric peeking above her ankle boots.

God damn—stockings under pants! She had clearly seen, as the straight-leg pants rode up above the ankle, a tantalizing flash of sheer, flesh-tone black silk!

Stockings under pants, and that's what she called plain? And that heavy coat covering most of her body—the weather was indeed a bit cool today, but not to the point of needing such heavy coverage.

"Could it be that..." A thought struck Sayuri. She recalled a certain genre of adult videos she often watched—the kind where a woman wore an elegant, modest coat on the outside but a figure-hugging, seductive outfit within. The dramatic contrast, delivered at just the right moment, would leave anyone dazed.

And if a sho[ta] like Kouma was subjected to that, would he be able to resist? At that point, wouldn't he be completely at Touko Yotsuya's mercy?

In an instant, Sayuri had pieced together the other woman's plan. She couldn't sit still.

"No—I can't let this woman seduce Kouma-kun!"

After thinking it over, Sayuri decided to seize the initiative. She would beat Touko to the punch and test Kouma's defenses first—raise his threshold so high that even if Touko's plan succeeded, it wouldn't affect him anymore.

This was understanding Touko Yotsuya. Becoming Touko Yotsuya. And ultimately surpassing Touko Yotsuya!

Walking along the street, Sayuri quietly pulled Eriri aside and whispered in her ear, "You said you have a private room in the art department?"

Eriri shot her mother a strange look, wondering why she was asking. But at the mention of the privilege she had earned through her own skills, the girl immediately began to show off.

"Well, it's not like the art club president forced it on me. I didn't really want it. I mean, with my talent, I don't need a private environment to create top-tier work."

Sayuri gazed at her daughter, who was trying to act humble, and bluntly cut through the act. "Isn't it just where you keep your toys and costumes?"

Eriri's face instantly turned bright red. She glanced around nervously and lowered her voice in annoyance. "Mom—why are you bringing this up on the street!"

Taking her daughter's pride into consideration, Sayuri played along and lowered her voice as well. "Do you still have any... cosplay outfits in that room?"

"There are... a few sets left..." Under Sayuri's relentless questioning, Eriri stomped her foot and described the outfits in a voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz.

"Hmm, that should be enough."

"Enough for what? Mom, what are you thinking?" Eriri was completely baffled by her mother's behavior.

"Nothing. Let's take a taxi to Shuchi'in."

"Huh? The bus stop is right ahead! Weren't we going with Miko and her mom?"

"No bus. We need to seize the advantage!" Sayuri waved her fist and quickly flagged down a taxi.

On the other side, the Yotsuya mother-daughter pair, who had just boarded the bus, suddenly noticed the Sawamuras were no longer behind them. Looking back, they saw them climbing into a taxi.

"As expected of a rich girl—taking a taxi," Miko murmured in awe. Taxis in this country were notoriously expensive; even a short ride cost thousands of yen.

Touko watched the taxi pull ahead of them, her expression calm. She wasn't worried about what Sayuri might do. Today, she was wearing the legendary "Sure-Win Set" from the internet. They said no man could stay clear-headed after seeing it. And her slim-waisted, wide-hipped figure was perfect for pulling off the full effect.

All she needed now was to create an opportunity to be alone with Kouma.

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