“Fufufu, this might be the first time I may eat sustenance with a mortal body.”

“What an utter embarrassment for someone above all mortals.”

“But you were always eating this food made by mortals in your chick form.”

“Fair enough.”

A simple banquet was prepared in accordance with Asteria’s selfish request. The food which made out of fish dishes and some vegetables are lined up in a long table. At one end, Asteria sat with Apollo and Artemis on her side.

I don’t like the idea of my sister's body being used in this manner. Moreover, Hinoki, the Elven Queen with her councilor named Sierra are here. Not long after, Violetta brought over Shouko when she learned that Hasu and Ichirou are here.

Fonfon is barred from going as he needs a lot of things to take care back at our kingdom. Along Violetta comes Fang who is wholly concerned of Senya however, he was kicked out because of the regulation inside the Fox Manor where men are not allowed inside.

And so, a festive mood was set in stone despite Hinoki wanting to voice her concern over her daughters being used as vessels right now by Apollo and Artemis.

I saw something like a small gourd in front of me. Probably filled with liquor.

“This is…ah, it’s sake.”

I picked up that liquor and had a whiff of it.

However, before I can even as much as take a sip of it, Apollo’s hand reaches out to me stopping me from drinking any. Since he just sits beside me, I was stopped in the moment’s haste.

“Hold it right there!”

“What’s wrong…?”

“You…have you forgot that one incident?! Back with the pirates!”

“The drinking party? Y-Yeah…it’s coming back to me now.”

“You become the worst kind of a person whenever you are drinking. Probably more haughty and mad than anyone else I’ve known.”

Yeah…I should probably stop.

When I set down the sake, I immediately noticed that everyone was staring at me with curious and quizzical eyes. It seems most of them don’t know what I am like when I’m drunk and I don’t think it’s desirable for me to show something like that now.

However, the sake is then picked up by Apollo and shared it with Artemis but before they can even take a small bit of sip, Hinoki who is sitting side-by-side with Izuna cleared her throat.

“Ahem.”

“What…seems to be the problem, Mother of this vessel.”

“You really think I’d allow you to drink using my daughters bodies?!”

“Tsk.”

“Seeing the face of my very own daughter clicking and sneering at me like that infuriates me. Don’t you ever do that again.”

“Hmph!”

Hinoki could only glare at Apollo who heaves a prideful huff. Hibiscus never made any of that expression and I don’t think she will ever do it. It also gives me a complicated feeling but I don’t think I can do anything about it.

As per usual, Topaz and Alstroe started their eating contest and the fox servants are rushing in and out just to keep the food coming.

I’m sorry.

Senya is being accompanied by Mimosa and they are drinking quietly in one side of the room. On the contrary, Mimi looks thrashed from drinking too much at the start of the banquet. Shouko showed concern for her and accompanied her to the restroom to vomit.

Also, for a while now, Izuna is leaning her head on Hinoki’s shoulder casually and Hinoki is caressing her head like it’s natural for them. Izuna has this childish smile on her face and her tails wag happily. I really don’t have to mention it but Astlan Lionheart probably has a successful harem seeing how these two bond.

My mother greatly cares for them too. I’m certain of it.

Then, I noticed Violetta trying to reach out for a liquor herself. As such, I sent a glare to her direction.

“Urk! Asagao…”

“That’s not good, Violetta!”

“Just a sip won’t hurt, right?”

“No, you’re not going to drink too!”

“Do I have to argue with this one too?!”

“Of course!”

“You won’t back down…?”

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

“Yeah! Since they won’t let me drink too, I won’t let you!”

“That’s how you reason it out!?”

“Yeah!”

“Fine…”

Violetta lets out a shrill and saddened voice as she put down the liquor. I don’t think there’s really any bad effect for a pregnant to drink a little liquor but that doesn’t mean I’ll allow her. My position is gradually rising above Violetta, especially when it comes to her pregnancy.

Yeah, the baby inside her will be my cute and precious younger brother or sister.

Since there’s a lot of liquor here and there, the temptation should be a lot tougher to handle, especially for Violetta.

Ah, maybe I can do that too.

I picked up a tray and lined up every liquor available. Seeing my do this, Senya sent me a confused stare while Apollo grew paler as he watches me stack up a lot of liquors.

“Hey, you seriously don’t reflect on your past mistake?!”

“This is not for me.”

With a tray full of liquor, I head outside.

I trot in a hasty manner and without any trouble, I reached that entrance to the fox manor and outside, I saw Ichirou, Hasu, and Fang sitting in blanket laid down on the ground while watching the leaves fall from the trees in a wonderful afternoon while slowly eating their own share of food.

It seems that they were also served with food.

As such, I approached them.

“Oh, hi Asagao.”

“Uh…hi…”

“That alcohol. Did you brought it out for us?!”

Ichirou immediately eyed on the liquors. Since he is already eager to have some, I set it down and nodded.

“Thanks for that, Master. I hope Shouko is enjoying herself. Later, there’s something we want to discuss with you regarding Flow. Please keep your fervor in moderation.”

“Yeah, I got it Hasu. Thank you for your efforts too.”

“As such, I am indebted to you for a lifetime and I have already offered you my undying loyalty as long as you take care of Shouko in my stead while I do your biddings.”

“Saying things like indebted for a lifetime and undying loyalty is really uncomfortable. Hasu, you can do as you please once we settled everything. Also, I have already in possession of Shouko’s soul. Mimosa gave it to me earlier.

I showed Hasu the crystal that Mimosa gave me earlier before we head back. She said that Higan gave it to her before engaging a death match with Flow. Since I received it, the only thing to do now is to return it to the right person.

Seeing that I handed him the crystal, Hasu’s eyes then is filled with tears as he takes my hand and kisses it.

“I, Hasu, is eternally indebted to you. I thank you for giving me and my sister a new hope in life.”

“No, Higan originally found it and it was later handed to me. If anything else, Higan is the one who seems to take it from Flow.”

“I see, however, your promise stands as it is and we’ve successfully taken back what’s lost. Of course, I will express my gratitude to Lady Higanbana too. I will also extend my usefulness for all of your sisters.”

“That’s too much…”

“Ahahaha, I like how you are gullible to people’s teasing.”

“You…!”

Hasu said with a sincere smile. Since I am talking to Shouta Murayama’s adult version, he has a real oriental hot guy look so it was a little moving, at least for my heart but it’s not enough to move the man inside me.

I then turn my sight to Fang who is in his human form. Black hair painted with white stripes and fair enough, his looks are quite daunting and hostile but there are a certain wildness and coolness about him. Yeah, if I sort this out in my mind, he is quite the looker too.

“Is there something in my face, Miss Asagao?”

“No, nothing.”

“Is that so? How is Miss Senya and Miss Mimosa?”

“They are having a leisure fun, don’t worry about them. Also, Mimi is-“

“I don’t have any need to hear about her. I’m turning passive from her faults but that doesn’t mean I will give a single care for her.”

“Aren’t you actually shy to admit that you care for her?”

“Huh?! Miss Asagao, you shouldn’t go assuming stuff like that!”

I guess I shouldn’t agitate him that much. He looks a little shaken from the question.

I should leave now. I wanted to hang out with them since it brings back a certain nostalgic feeling. Like men’s time and talking about each other’s preferences and pervy stuff.

But the only thing would come out of this is, if I think hard about it…

Three hot guys with a single girl.

Yeah, It’s like a dating simulator game where I have to capture one of the three. Not to mention, someone has already rejected me so that’s down to two.

As someone with still an inkling heart of a man inside, I’d prefer to be surrounded by girls but that situation further ingrains my ever slowly sinking feminity.

But even though as a girl, I got confessed by a girl!

Isn’t this what everyone calls dilemma?!

No use thinking about it, I should probably head inside.

As I turn my heel after looking dumb in front of them as those thoughts cross, I wave them goodbye and walked, however, my hand was grabbed.

“Asagao, I want to talk with you.”

“T-That’s…fine by me.”

It was Ichirou. He grabbed my hand gently before I could leave.

This refreshing guy loves holding someone like this!

Since I replied positively, he has a relieved countenance. With that, we started walking towards the outland where the beach is. For the reason why he chose this place, I don’t know.

Although, it’s a little refreshing to see the blue sea and the hot weather makes me feel how a tropical island is like.

As if he just pulled his courage towards his chest, Ichirou abruptly faces me.

“Asagao, don’t think I haven’t noticed. You are avoiding me.”

“……”

“I know. It’s because of that night, right? That thing about me, being in love with Diyu.”

“If you knew, why break it out to my face and rub the fact that you rejected me?!”

I snarl at him those words since his own words sting like they are biting me in the chest.

At first, my chest felt a pang, however, it spiraled downwards and now, I feel empty all of the sudden. I can’t even look at him in the eyes.

I’m not certain anymore of how I feel for him or how I felt for him back then.

“I’ll be frank with you, Asagao. I felt really torn when I did that. When I rejected you.”

“I hope you are not saying this because you still want something between us to happen?”

“No, I can’t do that. It’s just that recently, I felt like there’s a huge gap between us ever since that day. I know, it feels awkward and it’s even more awkward now that I am laying those things.”

“It sure is.”

In a girl’s perspective, that’s outright dumb and plain stupid. Since I felt that way, can’t deny now that my feelings are slowly turning into a girl.

But, that’s that and this is this.

Whenever Ichirou is I involved, my feelings, my ego, and my gender alignment mentally gets really messed up.

“So, Asagao, I want to be clear and upfront. I love Diyu but I also like Asagao.”

“Uh-huh, are you trying to be a playboy or something?”

“When I said like, I mean as a friend. Someone close. I don’t want the distance that we have now. I’m doing this because, like what I said, I like Asagao.”

“I see…you are always like this. Honest and earnest…no…that what you used to be but this is still fine.”

But, I feel like it didn’t ease anything inside me.

No, there’s still a tension that keeps me from accepting it.

As I was thinking of this useless things, someone's voice called out to us.

“Oho, so this is where the two of you are.”

“Ah! H-Higanbana!? No…it feels different. You are the Goddess Asteria that they were talking about, right?”

Ichirou’s face pales as the visage of Higan in which Asteria has temporarily taken control appears. She is wearing a traditional shrine maiden outfit in which I think was put on abruptly.

“Oh, I am Asteria, the cutest in the world!~”

“I…I was just talking to Asagao.”

“I can see that, however, this body’s senses are far too sensitive when a situation such as that takes place. I took the initiative to investigate the matter on my own and look what I found.”

“I was just trying to mend my relationship with Asagao.”

“Oho? The way I see it, you are trying to seduce her again. It’s what probably my vessel will think. Lad, you do be careful now. My vessel is not the kindest girl out there and would be out on a hunt if she learned that you are trying to woo the girl she loves again.”

“I’m not!”

“That’s a lie. My vessel has moved on from being narrowminded now, you see. But unless you really do something stupid and unforgivable to the lass over there, you’ll be in a whole lot of pain!~”

I can’t believe it.

Asteria’s words seem simple but the meaning, the tone, and even the implication behind it sound too real that Ichirou stopped giving excuses.

“If you understand it, leave her alone.”

Ichirou left as it is while looking down. I can only stare at his figure as he leaves with a crestfallen figure. Even me at that moment don’t know what to say.

I just felt sorry for him.