Chapter Text
1130
When I visited my hometown after a prolonged absence, the Rokushoukan was as gorgeous as ever and the smell of white powder made my shoulders relax somehow.
"Welcome home, Mao Mao."
I was invited to tea-grinding Big Sister Pai Rin’s place, and we talked about all sorts of things while drinking tea.
"Ri Haku-sama was here just the other day."
It reminded me that when I came home, the brothel madam also told me about the lord who looked like a large dog.
That gent, entranced by Big Sister Pai Rin, has been banging the big sister in moderation at the old hag's discretion.
It isn't so much about Ri Haku-sama as it’s about relieving Big Sister's frustration.
I sipped my tea, thinking how that big dog, carrying silver with a sincere heart and a desire to satisfy her desires, was quite a good asset to Big Sister Pai Rin.
I want Big Sister to be happy.
"His body was as nice as ever."
The big sister giggled with the face of a bewitching courtesan.
"This would likely make him feel gutted again," and I gave a dry laugh in return.
"I do like a strapping gentleman after all. Especially the butt."
Suddenly, a conversation on Big Sister Pai Rin's fetishes began.
It typically started like this.
Both Big Sister Mei Mei and Big Sister Jo Ka wouldn't listen to her, so instead, she told me many things.
Although I didn't pay attention to the details much earnestly either.
"Naturally the arms, chest and legs are good, too.
And the toned butts are also completely different from ours.
Besides."
As the big sister deepened the smile on her face, "That’s awfully sexy." I was impressed.
"The wild hips, when you're lying face-down, isn't it cute?"
A virgin wouldn't have the experience or interest to answer if asked the question, "Isn't it?" but I nodded anyway, thinking, "Well, it's healthier to have a moderate amount of muscle, right?"
"Mao Mao's friend, that first pickings child, looks like he's got a cute butt, doesn't he?"
Maybe she was talking about Ba Sen-sama, but he was not my friend at all.
I remembered that he had been targeted by this big sister before, and I thought the next time he ran into her, she might seriously eat him, so I looked at the faces of both that too serious subordinate and the big dog and cheered for them both in my heart, saying, "Do your best."
"Come to think of it, what does that beauty of Mao Mao's butt look like?"
"Pfft–"
I spewed out the tea I was sipping unintentionally.
"Oh nooo! You okay?"
"Big Sister, stop talking nonsense…"
I wiped the dirty table with a hand towel and looked at the big sister with half-lidded eyes, but it wasn't effective on her and she was smiling at me.
"He's not mine, and I don't care about his butt."
"Oh, really?"
Yes, really.
Even if there was some connection, a noble and a commoner, the Imperial Brother and a court lady, that was all it was.
I inadvertently touched the front, but I wouldn't know or be interested in the back.
Somehow I remembered that frog again and wiped my left hand on my skirt.
"That person is the Imperial Family, and I’m a commoner."
Big Sister Pai Rin grinned at my answer.
"What?"
"All I said was 'that beauty'."
At the big sister’s words, "Not again…" and I hung my head, crestfallen.
"I don’t know of any other beauty that big sister likes to talk about, besides that one."
"Is that so?"
Giggling, the big sister reached for a bean pastry.
I couldn't stand being made fun of and toyed with, so I reached for a bean pastry, too.
It was sweet but salty and delicious, with sugar mixed in.
"Ah, but…"
I looked at the big sister, wondering if there was anything left to say.
"I've heard that a gentleman with a good job has a tight butt."
"……Hmmm."
"She’s still dragging out the butt conversation," and as I was about to drink my tea in exasperation, before I knew it, the cup was empty.
If I looked, so was the big sister's.
"I'll get you a fresh batch."
"Thank you. I like the tea Mao Mao makes because it’s delicious."
"For now, hot water," and I raised my hips.
A few days later.
I ran into Ri Haku-sama in the outer court, and even more importantly, I ran into the nobleman.
The sight of his back as he grumpily snatched someone's hand and walked in front of them, for some reason, reminded me of the big sister's words.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"At least it doesn't seem to be sagging," I thought, but I didn't have any proof and it looked like it would be a hassle again, so I decided to keep quiet about it, even to Big Sister Pai Rin.