72. "Explode, My Sense of Decency!"

"In my eyes, Eri-chan is the purest of them all."

"After all, she only reads those innocent shoujo manga."

"Handpicked by her secretary, no less."

"Stuff like Sailor Moon and Cardcaptor Sakura."

"As for you, Hoshina... I'm not so sure."

A flicker of guilt flashed through Kashiwagi Hoshina's beautiful eyes, and she forced a dry laugh, staying silent.

Now that he mentioned it, she might be a bit of a lost cause too.

"Honestly, I'm worried your hobbies might corrupt the others," Akira Sawamura said, letting go of his troublesome little sister, Suou Yuki, with an exasperated sigh.

Suou Yuki immediately rolled over, jumped to her feet, and dashed to the side of Kinomoto Chisato.

Out of all the older sisters present, only Chisato could give her a sliver of security.

Akira's combat skills were just too overpowered.

It was like he was cheating.

Winning against him even once felt impossible.

"Yuki, why did you and Yukino sneak out?"

"Did Yasha-san break free already?"

"That's faster than I expected."

"Is Karura in trouble now?"

"Master, as expected, nothing escapes you!"

"Lady Karura is currently in the bedroom, being scolded by Lady Yasha to the point of tears."

"The scene is just too... too..."

At this point, Yukino's voice trailed off, her face turning bright red.

She stammered, unable to find the right words to describe what was happening in the bedroom.

"Got it, no need to say more."

Akira didn't want to corrupt his other innocent childhood friends.

That troublesome mother-daughter duo was undoubtedly filled with all sorts of R-rated knowledge about childbirth.

Even without guessing, he could imagine what was going on in there.

"Ahhh! Chisato, why are you hugging me all of a sudden?"

Nanjo Sora, still in a state of embarrassment, suddenly found herself being held from behind by Kinomoto Chisato, her arms and legs restrained. She instinctively screamed.

"Sora, I'm just really curious!"

"And it's not just me—everyone's curious."

"What are you wearing under there?"

"Is it really like Akira said?"

"So, sorry about this."

"But I'm going to have to ask you to satisfy our curiosity."

"Wow! Sora's really... impressive!"

"I thought I was pretty well-endowed."

"But compared to Sora, it's like the difference between a volleyball and a basketball."

Chisato suddenly exclaimed in shock.

While Sora wasn't paying attention, the group of childhood friends—Yuki, Chisato, Arisu, Hoshina, Ayaka, and Eru—had already reached a silent agreement through eye contact.

Yep, it was a consensus to lift her skirt.

They decided Chisato would be the one to restrain Sora.

As for who would actually lift the skirt, they'd leave that to chance.

But what they didn't expect was that someone would beat them to it.

"Hehe! Big sisters, I've got this. Let me help!"

Fujiwara Moeka, seeing the opportunity, instantly reacted and rushed forward with a cheer.

With a mischievous grin, she extended her sinful hands.

Rustle! Rustle!

Rustle...

The next second, all the childhood friends gasped in unison, their eyes widening as they tried to take in the scene before them.

The blatant, unashamed gazes fixed on Nanjo Sora instantly made her the center of attention.

Even the more traditional married women—Nakiri Mana, Suou Yumi, and Busujima Tsubaki—couldn't help but shift their eyes.

They secretly observed the mysterious item they had never used before.

Realizing there was no way to salvage the situation, Sora's struggling body went still.

Her eyes glazed over, as if staring into a black hole.

Her delicate features twisted and stiffened.

Her pupils radiated infinite despair.

Overwhelmed by shame, tears began to spill from the corners of Sora's eyes.

The dignified heiress of the Nanjo family...

The elegant noble lady...

All of it vanished in an instant.

Her mind broken, Sora thought in despair:

"This boring world should just end already."

She couldn't bear to live anymore.

"You guys are so mean."

"How could you do this to Sora?"

"Look how humiliated she is!"

Akira quickly pulled Sora's delicate figure out of Chisato's grasp.

Feeling herself back in Akira's familiar, warm embrace, Sora's aching heart finally began to calm.

She clung to Akira's body with all her strength, burying her face in his chest like an ostrich.

Inhaling the familiar scent she'd known since childhood, Sora could no longer hold back her tears.

She silently sobbed, her body trembling.

Seeing this, Chisato, now free, quickly raised her hands in surrender.

She stuck out her tongue and tried to deflect the blame:

"Sora, Akira, I was just the executor."

"They're the ones who egged me on."

"You know I can't say no to them."

Seeing Chisato start to shift the blame, the others weren't having it.

They all began to pass the buck.

"Who's egging you on? I didn't say anything."

"How could we have egged you and Moeka on?"

"Arisu's right."

"I didn't do anything."

"I didn't say anything either."

"We didn't say a word. How could we have egged you on?"

After shifting the blame, the childhood friends exchanged glances, their eyes filled with relief.

Thankfully, Fujiwara Moeka, the bold little fool, had acted before they could.

Otherwise, the blame would've been harder to avoid.

Akira patted Sora's back and called out their lies.

"How can you even say that with a straight face?"

"We've all grown up together. Do you really think we can't communicate with just a look?"

"Some of you have better默契 than I do with any of you."

Seeing her older sisters start to shift the blame, Moeka, as the one who actually lifted the skirt, had no one to pass the buck to.

She could only walk over and bow her head in apology.

"Sora, I'm sorry. I know I was wrong."

"I shouldn't have done something as bad as lifting your skirt."

"Moeka, if you go lift Toyomi's and Chika's skirts right now," Akira said with a sly grin, "maybe Sora will forgive you."

"Really?" Moeka's eyes lit up with interest.

"Akira!"

"Don't corrupt the child!"

Fujiwara Toyomi glared at her mischievous younger brother.

Trying to drag them down with Sora, huh?

Not a chance!

She instantly put on her stern older sister face and scolded:

"Fujiwara Moeka, don't listen to your brother's nonsense."

"From now on, you're not allowed to lift anyone's skirt."

"If you ever do something like this again,"

"I'll tell Grandpa and Dad."

"And you know what'll happen if they find out."

"You won't be allowed out of the house for at least a year."

Hearing this apocalyptic threat, Moeka trembled and quickly raised her hand in a promise.

"Big sis, I really know I was wrong."

"Please don't tell Grandpa and Dad!"

"Since it's your first offense, I'll let it slide this time. But never again."

"Okay, okay! I swear I'll never do it again!"

After quelling her sister's rebellious thoughts, Toyomi turned to Akira's elders and tattled.

"Aunt Yumi, Aunt Tsubaki, Aunt Sakurako,"

"Look how far Akira's sense of decency has fallen!"

"It's slipping away too fast."

Hearing this, Tsubaki, who had been lost in thought, snapped back to reality.

A deep sense of guilt washed over her.

She immediately put on her stern face as Akira's stepmother and began to lecture.

"Toyomi's right. Akira, you can't make those kinds of jokes in front of Moeka."

"Your words and actions are already corrupting her."

As soon as Tsubaki finished, Yumi chimed in.

"Especially you, Suou Yuki."

"I don't know if Akira's a siscon, but you're definitely a brocon."

"Stop clinging to your brother all the time."

She had to nip this in the bud.

Finally, Kujo Sakurako chimed in with a teasing tone.

"Akira, if you want to see Toyomi and Chika's skirts,"

"You should lift them yourself!"

"Don't drag the kids into it."

"I'm sure Toyomi and Chika wouldn't mind."

Toyomi and Chika had only one thought about their aunt at this moment:

Stay far, far away.

Shaking with anger!

Who said they wouldn't mind?

They weren't the type to swoon over a handsome guy.

Aunt Sakurako was even less reliable than Eri and Martha.

"Mom, are you doubting your own daughter?"

"I was just so excited to reunite with my brother after so many years."

"I might've overreacted a bit."

"Once I calm down, I'll go back to normal."

Hearing this, Yuki immediately put on her best acting skills, tears welling up in her eyes as she hung her head and explained in a pitiful voice.

"Really?"

Seeing her daughter in tears, Yumi panicked and quickly apologized.

"Yuki, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have doubted you."

"Mom, Yuki's just acting. Don't fall for it!"

Knowing Yuki's true nature from the original story, Akira couldn't help but twitch at the corner of his mouth.

He wanted to expose his little sister's true colors.

While Eri might just fantasize in her head,

Yuki was the type to actually launch night and morning raids.

She'd even give her brother all sorts of "benefits."

This was something he had to guard against!

"Waaah! Even my brother doubts me. I don't want to live anymore."

"Am I really more perverted than Eri?"

Yuki's acting reached new heights as she cried even louder.

But her words left everyone speechless.

Pfft!

The childhood friends couldn't help but burst out laughing.

It was true, but Yuki, you should at least give Eri some face!

Poor Eri!

Not only does she have to suffer through classes, but she's also your benchmark for perversion.

When it came to being a pervert, Eri, the genius doujinshi artist, was undoubtedly the most extreme among them.

Even Sora paled in comparison.

They'd already discovered Eri's pen name through some digging.

They had to admit that beneath her pure and cute exterior, Eri's tastes were... quite bold.

"Akira, you've only just reunited with Yuki. You don't know her well enough yet."

"How can you doubt your own sister like that?"

After bringing up Eri, Yumi was instantly convinced.

Especially since it involved Sawamura Koharu.

The one thing she couldn't accept was her daughter being inferior to Koharu's.

From the looks of it, while Yuki had her quirks,

She was undoubtedly better than Eri, the frail doujinshi artist.

At least she'd won this round against Koharu.

As for the subtle rivalry between his mother and Koharu,

Akira could only pretend not to notice.

Better not to get involved.

"You're right, Mom. It's my fault."

"I'll make sure to spend more time with Yuki and get to know her better."

"Guide her down the right path."

"Eri's already beyond saving."

"I can't let Yuki end up like her."

To comfort his mother, Akira used Eri as a cautionary tale, vowing with a righteous expression.

He suddenly realized how useful Eri was as a negative example.

Especially since she wasn't here to defend herself.

Sorry, my not-so-cute little sister.

"Good, good. I'm glad you understand, Akira."

"Mom's so touched."

Yumi was moved to tears, wiping her eyes with her hand.

"Sora, look at Eri. Even her pen name, 'Bertholdt Eri,' has been exposed."

"She's not even embarrassed. Compared to her,"

"Your little secret is nothing."

"It's just a niche hobby."

"The upper class has way more perverted hobbies than yours."

"But if Eri's identity as a doujinshi artist gets out, she'll be socially ruined."

Kujo Seiko couldn't accept this either.

Looking was one thing, but why did she have to draw it?

And become so famous for it?

It's no different from the lowest of professions in ancient times.

"It's not like you've brought shame to the entire Nanjo family."

"It's just us childhood friends. It's no big deal."

Seeing Akira use Eri as a negative example to comfort Sora,

Everyone couldn't help but feel sorry for Eri.

She was really suffering.

Not only was she used once by Akira, but now she was being used again.

"Okay, Akira. I get it."

"I feel much better now."

Everything is relative. Compared to Eri's extreme social death,

Sora suddenly felt her own embarrassment wasn't so bad.

"It's all their fault."

"Chisato, Moeka, just you wait."

I'll have my revenge.

"Sora, if Akira hadn't brought you up, we wouldn't have been curious."

"Akira's the root of all evil."

"Look how many people's dark secrets he's exposed."

Chisato, seeing Sora point the finger at her, quickly shifted the blame.

"Hmph! But you two were the ones who actually did it."

Sora turned and buried her face in Akira's shoulder, whispering in his ear:

"Akira, next time you come to my house, let's [beep] [beep] [beep]."

"I want to make them jealous."

"Sora, I refuse."

"High schoolers shouldn't date."

Akira firmly rejected her.

"What about the back? And my maid Sayaka can join too!"

Sora continued to tempt him in a soft voice.

Akira felt his resolve wavering.

No, I can't let my sense of decency fall any further.

I can't stop here.

Explode, my sense of decency!

With great willpower, Akira held firm to his principles and whispered back:

"Sora, where's your sense of decency?"