Caught by her best friend being this close to me, Setsuna-nee just acted impish again and hugged my arm, teasing her best friend. “Yes, I am. Wanna join me?”

Contrary to her expectation, Juri who was just dumbfounded at first got a flash of inspiration.

The girl threw me a somewhat amused look, hinting at what was on her mind before starting her act.

“That’s inappropriate, Setsu!” She pouted her lips as she declared while pointing at us. Then, without waiting for Setsuna-nee to reply, her feet carried her to my empty side as she plopped down on it, copying her best friend.

And unlike Setsuna-nee who was a little reserved at how she was hugging me – preventing her chest from being fully pressed on my arm – Juri didn’t spare any thought on doing the same. Although she’s not as big as Setsuna-nee, it’s sizable enough that I could feel my arm getting squeezed in between.

It took Setsuna-nee a few seconds to react to that. When she did, she almost glared at her best friend but gulped it down in the end. Possibly, she’s taking that as a challenge.

“Inappropriate, you say? Then what are you doing copying me? Are you also going to steal him from my Satsu-chan?”

“No? I’m here to balance the situation. Am I right, Ruki?”

Hearing that exchange and how Juri intentionally dragged me in, I could instantly feel both of their gazes drilling into my face.

I have to be very careful here since one of them is akin to a remote-controlled bomb, while the other, is a landmine. There’s a trigger on the former while I could step on the latter accidentally. The result will be disastrous...

Or maybe not?

In any case, I first weighed my choices while also carefully assessing the current situation. Juri’s idea was definitely to make use of this situation for us to be a little intimate even under Setsuna-nee’s gaze. On the other hand, Setsuna-nee didn’t expect this kind of turn.

I could feel the kind of intent that says ‘Don’t make a wrong move here, Onoda-kun’ from Setsuna-nee. And it’s ‘Play along with me, Ruki’ from Juri.

The choice was easy if I would only base it on who I deemed more important to me... but after the length that it took to change Setsuna-nee’s mind regarding me, I believe I shouldn’t squander it right away.

And so... after much deliberation, I came up with a fair response.

“Juri, I don’t think you’re balancing this out. You’re doubling down... And Setsuna-nee, what were you thinking?”

“Am I now? But isn’t this better than getting tempted by Setsu? It’s only appropriate for me to get in your way.”

“What am I thinking? Of course, I’m just trying to tease you two! I’m not tempting you at all!”

While Juri continued with her act, even bringing up a skewed version of her propriety, Setsuna-nee hurriedly confessed, explaining her side.

However, acting like she didn’t hear her, Juri used the chance to lean her head on my shoulder and squeezed herself closer to me.

Upon seeing that, Setsuna-nee looked like she was on the verge of regretting her decision. While biting her lips, she tightened her hold on my arm as she said, “Ugh... I’ll have some explaining to do to Satsu-chan.”

Surprisingly, even though her words showed concern towards her little sister, Setsuna-nee didn’t let go at all. And like Juri, she squeezed in further, bringing my arm deep into her valley. The heat from both of their bodies was already being transferred to me.

When I thought of giving a fair response, this wasn’t what I was expecting to get. Shouldn’t they stop by now? But no... it felt like they were now trying to compete on who would give up clinging to me first.

Looking at the two women, one was elated and the other conflicted, I couldn’t come up with a path to take apart from standing up and leaving the two of them or enjoying this situation to my heart’s content.

Which did I pick?

It’s the latter, of course. Given my track record, there’s no way I would pass up this chance.

And tainted by my influence, Juri was the same. As soon as she noticed that Setsuna-nee had her eyes closed, she sneakily turned my head to her, initiating a kiss that would either be swift or prolonged depending on her best friend’s state.

Whenever her best friend would move even just a little, she’d stop and act like nothing happened before waiting it out and doing it again.

In the end, it became like a game of cat and mouse as Juri would savor every chance that she would get.

Naturally, I also didn’t just act like a robot, accepting what she was giving. I was responding to everything, enjoying the situation just the same.

What propriety? This woman... After breaking that rule for me, she’s now bolder than most of my girls. And even if our relationship was still unclear, she’s going all out in conveying how interested she is in me.

With this, without noticing what was happening next to her, it took almost half an hour before Setsuna-nee called it quits and gave up on competing with Juri.

She wordlessly stood up before glancing back at us.

Thinking that her best friend had fallen asleep and she probably didn’t want to disturb her, Setsuna-nee conversed with me through gestures that she was going to the bathroom.

Thankfully, she didn’t find my lips glistening, or swollen, for that matter.

I nodded at her and also gestured to leave her friend in my care.

Although there’s a little skepticism in her reaction, she didn’t act on it.

As soon as she disappeared to the restroom, the woman who was faking her sleep immediately stopped her act, snapping her eyes open.

“T-that was close...” She said while sighing in relief.

“Indeed. But Juri, do you like living dangerously? She could’ve caught us.”

“She didn’t in the end, right? That’s all that matters.” As though it’s not a matter of grave concern to her, Juri smugly declared before moving in to kiss me again.

And this time, without Setsuna-nee around, she resumed her attacks, savoring more of our precious time alone.

Setsuna-nee could exit the bathroom at any moment but even with that thought, none of us had the intention to stop.

Eventually I got her back on my lap as I started becoming more proactive, deepening our kisses and even going after her ear and neck.

Juri answered appropriately, even going back to her position when we were inside that cabin.

Naturally, that didn’t escalate further and she soon eventually returned to my side, with her head on my shoulder.

While waiting for Setsuna-nee’s return, I couldn’t help but have a conversation with her, reflecting on what happened.

“Really... Where’s the propriety freak that I know?”

“She’s here in front of you, you dolt... Did you not like it?”

“I do. I mean, I love it. I’m just worried for you, or us. That is a dangerous stunt.”

Although it’s just a guess, I believe she’s unaware of that or she’s oblivious to it at all. It’s like if she put her mind on one thing, she’d see through it to the end without flinching.

“Now that you mention it, it is indeed... Ruki, I am starting to act inappropriately... Am I right?”

“As much as I want to deny that. Yes... But I think it’s my fault. I pushed you to the point of breaking your rule...”

That wasn’t just me trying to take the blame again. Because it’s really my fault that she changed her mind about maintaining propriety.

However, Juri simply shook her head and poked at my cheek, reproving my claim.

“No... I don’t think it is your fault. I’m the one controlling my body. This is ultimately my decision. Also...”

“Hmm?”

“... when I saw Setsu that close to you, I easily understood that she’s just trying to get a reaction from me. However, I cannot help but play along with it. I’ve seen a chance. I took it.”

Well, when I saw her looking at me with that amused expression, I also caught on that she didn’t think much of what she just witnessed.

“Alright. I believe you. I’ll probably do the same if I’m in your shoes. But that confirms it... I feel like it’s my influence that you’re now acting this way...”

“Influence? What influence? I told you, right? I’ve never been close to any other guy before because they’re all shut down immediately. And even if Setsu didn’t do that, I doubt I will be as interested in them as much as I am in you... Remember, I’ve also been in contact with Sakuma-kun through Setsuna but he doesn’t interest me at all... It’s only you. So, maybe... I’m like this originally.”

Reproving my claim once again, Juri went on to explain her side and in the end, she put on a rather forced smile as though she just realized the change in her.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t form a response to it anymore because like earlier, Setsuna-nee exited the restroom.

While Juri resumed her fake sleep, Setsuna-nee, who was still oblivious to what had transpired with her absence, returned to my side before saying, “We’ll be leaving in an hour, Onoda-kun. You can take a nap as well. I’ll look after you two. Your trip must’ve been exhausting, right?”

I don’t know about Juri but... I’m sure I’m not yet exhausted. But since she suggested that, I might as well rest for a bit... I still have my part-time after this, after all.