Ibaraki arrived at their house with a look of satisfaction etched across her face. Meanwhile, Yukari looked rather fatigued, her body slumping as she wrapped her arms around Ibaraki's shoulder for support.
"Hmm, it seems they haven't finished buying supplies yet," Ibaraki muttered to herself as she sat down on the sofa with Yukari beside her.
Yukari unabashedly rested her head on Ibaraki's lap and soon drifted off to sleep. Ibaraki couldn't help but chuckle at Yukari's carefree and relaxed demeanor.
Ibaraki gazed down at Yukari and noticed how adorable she looked while resting peacefully. A mischievous grin crossed her face as she thought of an idea.
"You know, Yukari, I just realized how cute you are," Ibaraki said, unable to resist teasing her. She then gently removed Yukari's hat and ran her fingers through the soft and silky locks of hair.
"I suppose you're right," Yukari murmured softly, her voice laced with sleepiness and contentment. As she began to doze off, Ibaraki looked down at Yukari with fondness and decided to hum a sweet tune, hoping to lull her into a deeper slumber.
As time passed, Yukari's peaceful expression was replaced with a slight smile, while Ibaraki reflected on her own life and decisions.
Initially driven by a desire for revenge, Ibaraki had achieved her goal, but had realized that there was nothing more to strive for. She felt a sense of pity for herself, an emptiness where her ambition used to reside.
But despite this, Ibaraki took comfort in the present. She knew she had someone special to share her moments with – for better or for worse. Ibaraki had no grand aspirations or lofty goals, but found joy in bringing a smile to her lovers' faces.
While reflecting on her life, Ibaraki realized that there was one thing that had been awakened in her by Yukari's influence – the art of trolling others. She found it amusing to ruin others' day by pushing them to their limits and causing them to run away from her – a twisted sense of satisfaction that she couldn't help but chuckle at.
Her partners were not exempt from her tricks, and she took pleasure in teasing them until their faces turned red with embarrassment. Though she knew there were still problems that needed to be solved, she decided to confront them as they arose, content to live in the present and take life as it came.
"Family, huh..." Ibaraki smiled at the thought of having a family of her own, something that she had never truly considered before. She vowed to herself that, unlike her past treatment, she would raise her children with love and kindness.
"I suppose having a family someday isn't such a bad thing," Ibaraki thought to herself. However, a sense of fear crept into her mind – what if the happiness she had found would be forcibly taken away from her?
These thoughts made her heart race with trepidation, as she feared becoming the true demon that others had always perceived her to be. But Ibaraki was determined to protect her newfound happiness at any cost, even if it meant being ruthless and unrelenting in the eyes of others.
The sound of a car pulling up outside caught Ibaraki's attention, and she could hear the excited chatter of Marisa, Shuten, and Nyx discussing the design of the hot spring they were planning to build.
As Ibaraki watched the door open, her friends' smiling faces suddenly turned into shocked expressions as they spotted Yukari sleeping soundly on her lap. But Ibaraki remained unfazed, wearing a small smile that hinted at a private amusement.
Marisa approached Ibaraki silently, careful not to disturb Yukari's peaceful slumber, while Shuten and Nyx observed from a distance with a mixture of curiosity and concern.
"Hey, can you tell me why Yukari is sleeping on your lap?" Marisa whispered to Ibaraki, her tone a mix of curiosity and concern. She wanted to know if anything was wrong and if there was anything she could do to help.
Ibaraki looked at her friends with a pensive expression, deciding to be truthful with them.
"Well, Yukari and I are in a relationship now," Ibaraki said in a soft and hesitant tone. While she had no doubts about her feelings for Yukari, she couldn't help but feel nervous about sharing this news with others.
She watched her lovers' reactions carefully, wondering how they would take the news.
As Ibaraki spoke, Shuten, Marisa, and Nyx exchanged a confused glance. It was obvious to them that Ibaraki and Yukari were more than just friends, so they couldn't understand why Ibaraki felt the need to state the obvious.
"Well, aren't you two already dating from the get-go?" Marisa asked in a matter-of-fact tone, unable to understand why Ibaraki felt the need to make the admission as though it were new information.
"Well, Ibaraki, we aren't that blind to not have noticed it before," Shuten said, feeling slightly offended by the way Ibaraki had made her confession.
"Well, I hate to break it to you, but we already suspected that you were just being a tsundere and trying to deny your true feelings," Nyx said in a teasing tone, poking fun at Ibaraki's previous attempts to downplay her affection for Yukari.
"What? What did you just call me?" Ibaraki asked with a hint of indignation in her voice, attempting to keep her voice calm even as she looked at Nyx with a face of utter disbelief.
The three looked at each other and then, in unison, declared "Tsundere!" Ibaraki felt a surge of annoyance and suffocating heat flush through her body, as she couldn't accept the fact that they were right – she was a tsundere.
Feeling as though she was about to boil over, Ibaraki struggled to control her emotions as she tried to change the subject, hoping to avoid any further embarrassment.
"Hey, don't you guys have something you need to be doing?" Ibaraki said in a near-pleading tone, desperate to shift the conversation to something else. She knew that if they kept teasing her, she would likely scream or do something equally embarrassing, and she couldn't bear the thought of that happening.
"Well, anyway, let's get to work on creating the area for the hot spring," Marisa said to Shuten and Nyx, who readily agreed. They knew it was important to keep busy and continue progress towards their project, and they were eager to get started.
"Sure, I'll stay here with Yukari until she wakes up," Ibaraki said weakly, grateful for the chance to spend some private time with Yukari. She watched as her partners left the room, exchanging a small and private smile with them before they departed.
As they were leaving, they each gave Ibaraki a quick kiss on the lips, a sign of their shared love and respect. Ibaraki smiled warmly in response, feeling a sense of contentment that they could share such moments of affection and care for one another.
As time passed, Ibaraki found herself creating all types of clothing designs for Yukari. She knew the exact measurements of Yukari's body, having felt and seen it bare many times before.
Yukari stirred awake, and Ibaraki immediately stopped her sketches and placed them aside. Her attention was fully focused on Yukari.
Yukari's eyes slowly opened and locked onto Ibaraki's, transfixed by the tenderness in her gaze. For a moment, Yukari lost her composure, but she quickly grabbed Ibaraki by the face and pulled her into a passionate kiss.
As they separated, Yukari felt the remains of her sleepiness dissipate, replaced by a wide smile on her face. Ibaraki reciprocated the smile, feeling a sense of joy at seeing Yukari so happy.
"No wonder my sleep felt wonderful, having you beside me, Ibaraki," Yukari said with a playful and teasing smile. She looked pleased and content, as though she had just awoken from the most restful nap she could ever remember.
"I'm glad I could contribute to your good sleep," Ibaraki said, feeling a rush of amusement and embarrassment wash over her. She couldn't help but blush at the comment, her cheeks turning a slight shade of rosy pink.
"My, it seems like you're quite meek compared to your bedroom self," Yukari teased Ibaraki, her tone light and teasing. She couldn't help but recall the moments when Ibaraki's personality was much more assertive and stubborn, especially in the intimacy of the bedroom.
Ibaraki blushed at the comment, feeling slightly embarrassed by the reminder of her more forward behavior.
"Hey! Shut up! It's just that I'm in the state of decay," Ibaraki retorted with a smirk, trying to deflect Yukari's teasing. She was referencing the "decay" state in which her heat typically operated, a reference to her demonic affinities.
Despite her comeback, Ibaraki couldn't help the laugh that bubbled up in her throat. She felt at ease with Yukari, happy to playfully rib one another without fear of judgment or rejection.
"Hahaha~," Yukari laughed as she hugged Ibaraki tightly. She felt grateful that Ibaraki was always being true to herself and didn't change for others. However, she knew that the current Ibaraki would eventually have to confront her true self, which saddened her as she felt partially responsible for it.
As she looked at Ibaraki's reddened face and innocent expression, Yukari couldn't help but reflect on how capable Ibaraki was of performing cruel and sadistic acts. While she didn't necessarily fear these behaviors, she couldn't help but feel a sense of confusion and curiosity about them.
"You know what, Ibaraki? You're actually quite mysterious. Even I can't say that I fully understand you," Yukari said with a soft tone, looking into Ibaraki's eyes with a gentle expression.
Ibaraki looked at her with a mix of confusion and uncertainty, not fully comprehending what Yukari meant by her statement. Despite her confusion, Ibaraki couldn't help but feel a sense of comfort and understanding emanating from Yukari's gaze.
"Well, I mean, I don't fully understand myself either, so I can't really help you with that," Ibaraki said with a reassuring smile.
"Indeed, I do like it that way," Yukari replied with a wholehearted smile, embracing Ibaraki tightly. She couldn't help but think to herself, "I guess it's fine if I don't understand something." As someone who tended to delve deeper into the nature of objects and people, it was unusual for her to willingly accept an aspect of mystery or ambiguity.
But with Ibaraki, it was different. She loved Ibaraki for who she was, and the sense of mystery and unpredictability made their relationship all the more exciting and special. Yukari couldn't imagine life without Ibaraki, and she was grateful for these moments of intimacy and happiness that they shared together.
"Hey, do you want something to eat? I'm sure you're hungry," Ibaraki said with a smile, feeling the warmth and comfort of Yukari's embrace. She had an idea to make a light snack for them all to enjoy, something to add a bit of fun to their time together.
"Sure, I'd love to help," Yukari said, offering to lend a hand in the kitchen. Ibaraki looked surprised but also delighted at her offer, feeling grateful to have Yukari's company and assistance.
"You know how to cook?!" Ibaraki exclaimed, exaggerating her surprise as she watched Yukari move around the kitchen with ease, Yukari pouted slightly at the comment and playfully hit Ibaraki on the head.
"How rude of you, Ibaraki. Of course, I know how to cook," Yukari said with a playful puff of air, pretending to be offended by Ibaraki's teasing.
Ibaraki let out a light giggle, feeling a sense of pride at her ability to tease Yukari back. It wasn't often that she was able to match Yukari's wit and playful banter.
The two of them worked together in the kitchen, preparing a light snack for themselves and the others. As they put the finishing touches on the food, they called out to their friends, inviting them to join them on this cozy and hazy day.
Ibaraki felt a sense of warmth and contentment in the moment, happy to be sharing such a simple yet meaningful activity with the people she cared about. As they sat down to eat, surrounded by the gentle haze of the day, she felt grateful for the closeness and love that they shared as a group.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I don't know what it is about harem stories – maybe it's the thrill of so many romantic possibilities, or the mischievous satisfaction of stirring up drama. Whatever it is, I can't deny that my motivation skyrockets when I'm writing about them. It's like a guilty pleasure that I just can't resist. Sorry, non-harem stories – it's not you, it's me.