576 - I Was Genderswapped and Reincarnated as a Villainess, but I’m Making this My Personal Yuri Game

#### Chapter 576: "Who Exudes the Most Motherly Aura?" The first term of this school year was unexpectedly delayed due to a mass fainting incident. Nevertheless, the closing ceremony concluded without a hitch, and summer vacation began. Although the break started a few days later than usual, it was just a matter of taking the missed days upfront, so the total number of vacation days remained unchanged. However, for elementary and middle school students, a late start to summer vacation might feel like a loss. For adults, if the distribution of days remains unchanged, there's neither loss nor gain. But for children, simply having the vacation start later can evoke a sense of loss. Even some adults would find it unsettling to have their holidays broken into shorter, sporadic periods. More troublesome is how plans of various kinds have been disrupted. If it's something flexible, like Momiji-ryu training that can be rescheduled during the unexpected school closure, it's fine. However, with a program like the Tsubomoe Society's planned lessons, making up for or adjusting the missed sessions can be quite challenging. "Good morning, Sakuya. This year has really been something, hasn't it?" "Good day, Ms. Ayame. Indeed... It's troubling not knowing the cause, isn't it?" When attending the summer classes at the Tsubomoe Society, Ms. Ayame complained about the difficulties she faced in adjusting the schedule. The children who were supposed to attend during summer break couldn't come, and so they had to make up for those sessions later. Even when asking other children from schools that went on break as scheduled to fill in the earlier vacancies, it wasn't guaranteed those vacancies would all be filled. Even when they managed to reschedule and have some children attend earlier, it didn't necessarily mean those affected by the delayed break could join the newly available slots. By moving times around and negotiating until things fit somehow, a lot of coordination, requests, and convincing were necessary. "If you were as proficient as Sakuya, it wouldn't matter much to reduce the number of sessions... But not everyone can manage that." "Haha... But I did mess up one question this time..." "Honestly... You should realize that in itself is unusual, Sakuya. Even if you aced exams at the top of Tokyo University, consistently making no mistakes is unrealistic. Saying you slipped up just once because you were having a stressful day is what's unusual!" "Uh...?" Granted, I've graduated from a fairly decent university in a previous life, so it’s stranger to make mistakes on elementary or middle school tests. Especially when I’ve been doing preparatory work, revisions, and additional study at the cram school, it would be odd not to achieve high scores. "Well... Regardless of the cause, the mass fainting incident really was a nuisance, wasn’t it?" "Absolutely! I’ve worried myself into more wrinkles!" Ms. Ayame worried over her face, touching her skin for wrinkles. Despite being in her late twenties, she looks youthful and beautiful. Many people nowadays remain fresh-faced and attractive for a long time, and Ms. Ayame could easily pass for a college student. That would put her in the same generation as Ms. Kazura... She truly could pull that off. Still, what on earth caused the mass fainting incident among the middle schoolers? The fact that it's unexplained makes it all the more concerning. Fortunately, the children involved had no lasting effects, and I, too, was unaffected, but it was still a major inconvenience. If it was someone's act of terrorism, it's infuriating. If there's a perpetrator behind it, they mustn't be let off lightly. If found, they deserve to face justice! --- Although it was supposed to be a summer course at the Tsubomoe Society with Ms. Ayame, I somehow found myself sipping tea at a café instead. It's no surprise, as it's become quite routine. "Master, today's ohagi is delicious!" "Thank you. They're not that hard to make, you know." "Really! Is that so?" Today's recommendation was ohagi, freshly made by the Master himself, not store-bought. Ohagi wouldn't require the same level of skill or technique as a decorated cake, so if it's not too challenging, I might try making traditional sweets next. I've been learning mostly Western desserts from the Master, as they fit our lifestyle and tea preferences better. But I once gifted traditional Japanese sweets as Valentine's chocolates, under the guidance of my mentor. Japanese sweets may seem daunting, but perhaps they're simpler than expected. "Ms. Ayame comes by to practice with you too, but... she doesn’t seem to improve much, does she?" "Uh, that's fine! I've accepted it! I'm specialized in eating! I relish the treats Sakuya makes!" "Haha..." It's true that Ms. Ayame hasn't improved much at making sweets. With our sessions not being overly frequent, it’s not surprising there's been no remarkable improvement, but she does seem a bit clumsy... "Um... How's the reception for the new CD?" To change the subject as Ms. Ayame was sulking, I inquired about the new CD playing at the café since its grand opening performance. Having asked soon after it was released, some time has passed and it must have played many times, which might have changed the customer feedback. "It's been very well received, and many people have asked where they can purchase the CD." "I see." While this was similar to the previous feedback, I probed deeper into the topic. There might be odd customers or stalker-like types around, and even slightly persistent customers, if left unaddressed, could become a big issue later on. "Are there any persistent or overly aggressive customers causing you discomfort?" "Hmm... Sakuya, you're worried about the shop and Akigiri, aren’t you? But no, there haven’t been any customers like that." She understood my intent, as I'd pried enough to make it clear. But my concerns extend beyond the store and Akigiri. Regarding the Master... Well, though Ms. Higiri may have grandchildren, she still appears youthfully vibrant and beautiful. Her figure, with its mature elegance, could easily attract attention even from those not specifically fond of mature women. Engaging with the café has become a norm, but if any harm were to come to Ms. Higiri or Akigiri as a consequence of our involvement, no amount of regret would suffice. Even if the trigger was our music being played here, it's not far-fetched to imagine someone developing misguided feelings for Master or Ms. Higiri while visiting this café. "Of course, it's important to keep an eye on Akigiri, but you must also be cautious, Master. You're so youthful and beautiful that someone might get the wrong idea about Ms. Higiri," I advised. "Oh, stop it. There's no one out there who would think that about an old lady like me. But thank you, Sakuya," she replied, dismissing my comment as flattery. However, I wasn't just being complimentary. It's not outlandish to think someone might fancy Ms. Higiri. Frankly, if I were still the man I was in my previous life, I might have developed feelings for her myself. Naturally, I wouldn't ever dream of forcing anything upon her, but meeting her regularly at the café and conversing with her in such a friendly manner could lead to some serious misunderstandings. Ms. Higiri truly is a remarkable person. Besides, the Kujou family's watchful eyes are on this café. Maybe not every hour of every day, but during business hours, someone's always on guard. I'd wager there are eyes from the Konoe family here too. Since Konoe Productions has taken this shop under their official wing, any incident here would reflect poorly on their reputation, and Mother Konoe wouldn't allow such a weakness. "Sakuya, do you perhaps have a preference for women with a nurturing, maternal presence?" Ms. Ayame suddenly inquired, watching our exchange intently. "What!?" I exclaimed, turning to face her, surprised. Ms. Ayame, with that intensely observant look, seemed to imply she had uncovered my secret. Does that mean my preference for maternal figures is known? Not to mention, does this reveal my attraction to women? How... When did this happen? When did Ms. Ayame realize this? And did she talk about it with anyone? Has it become common knowledge that Kujou Sakuya is fond of women? My thoughts spiraled into chaos, unable to focus. How should I handle this? "So, am I, with my own abundance of maternal charm, attracting you too, Sakuya?" she teased a bit exaggeratedly, striking poses. "Uh... yes... I suppose..." I mumbled awkwardly, not knowing how else to respond. "See, I knew it! From now on, you can think of me as your mother and let me take care of you!" she declared happily. "Ah... well... thank you..." I replied, trying to brace myself as Ms. Ayame continued to playfully flaunt that 'motherly charm,' leaving Master and me feeling utterly speechless and somewhat overwhelmed. --- A few days into the summer break, I found myself contemplating Ms. Ayame's words. Whether or not Ms. Ayame possesses a motherly aura, could it be true that I am genuinely drawn to women with such nurturing qualities? If so, who would fit that description? My own mother, Kujou Yoriko, is indeed my mother. However, she doesn't quite strike me as overflowing with maternal warmth. She has more of a stern, educational mom vibe. Not to question her genuine role as my mother at all... Plus, she seems to have changed significantly from her initial personality. In the game, Kujou Yoriko would laugh alongside Sakuya with an 'ohohoho!' while belittling the less fortunate, the stereotype of a wealthy, unpleasant madam. But this version of her is drastically different. Perhaps it should be said that my departure from Sakuya's expected behavior has influenced her? Initially, she behaved similarly, but our actions may have altered her demeanor. Nowadays, she acts strictly yet caringly, like any normal mother concerned about her child, and I can confidently say we now have a good mother-daughter relationship compared to the rocky period in the past. Putting that aside, what other maternal figures are there...? There's Konoe Mother, who recently gave birth to a second son and exudes a maternal sense. However, her boisterous, hearty personality doesn't quite scream motherhood to me. Similarly, neither Mrs. Eiko nor Mrs. Nobuko strike that chord. I feel more terrified by the formidable nature of the Gokita family ladies than comforted by any maternal essence. In that vein, it's no surprise that Ms. Higiri, who seems warm and indulgent, is genuinely the top contender for maternal warmth. Ms. Higiri feels more like a mother to Akigiri and Komurasaki than a grandmother. Regarding Komurasaki, she feels more like Akigiri's elder sister than a mother. Among acquaintances significantly older than me who might have that motherly presence, there's Ms. Ayame, Momiji, and Ms. Kazura. With An's age difference, she seems more like an older sister than a mother figure, and Yuzu, with her scatterbrained nature, is far from maternal. Although Ms. Ayame is often carefree and unlikely to excel in housekeeping or cooking, she does have an enticing warmth that could indeed be described as maternal. In that sense, perhaps she does possess a certain motherly aura. Ms. Kazura, at moments, projects a remarkably mature sisterly presence. But usually, her naive demeanor reveals a more childlike side, so she doesn't quite match the nurturing motherly figure. As for Momiji, given her proximity since childhood, it's hard to know. But someone so attentive and caring certainly embodies a motherly essence. I allowed my imagination to wander... Held in Momiji's bountiful embrace, spoiled until I melted... "Oh, to nestle into Momiji's bosom!" I exclaimed without thinking. "Heh!?" came an unexpected reply. When I glanced over, there stood Momiji by the door, frozen with a surprised expression, having dropped what she was carrying. "Sakuya-sama wants to... in my chest...? Buh—!" Momiji sputtered as she suddenly fainted, nosebleeding profusely. "Mo—Momiji!?" I cried. Recalling a scene from before, I quickly fetched tissues to stop the bleeding and hoisted Momiji up to carry her to her room. After tucking her into bed, no sooner had I stepped out than I heard an outcry from inside. "Was it a dream again!? What's going on!? Since it's a dream anyway, let it go further! Let me see Sakuya-sama and I cuddling! I'll nap until I see the continuation!" Phew... It seems she's mistaken this incident for a dream again. If Momiji found out I was a pervert intent on her chest, she'd definitely look down on me. Although I've been sneaking glances while we're in the bath together, I really should hold back for a while. If she catches me in a moment where she knows it's not a dream, it could spell disaster... So far, I've managed to cover it up, but eventually, she won't dismiss it as just a dream every time. I need to find a solution before my deviant tendencies are exposed...