Chapter 1123: The Sisters’ Plot
After the laughter died down, Tomiko turned to me with a slightly guilty expression. She looked nervous, as if worried she had crossed a line with her earlier teasing.
"Jack... I am sorry. I didn’t mean to... You know, imply anything bad about you," Tomiko said softly, her voice carrying genuine concern. "I was only joking around with Haruna. I hope I didn’t hurt your feelings."
I reached across the table and gently held Tomiko’s nervous hand, my fingers wrapping around her softer, elegant ones. I gave it a reassuring squeeze, looking straight into her eyes.
"I know, Oba-san. Don’t worry at all. I’m not even slightly angry. Actually, I feel really happy when you tease Haruna and me like that. It makes me feel like I’m truly part of this family."
"We’re all comfortable enough to joke around... that’s what family does. And Oba-san, you have every right to tease me. I like it when you do."
Tomiko’s tense shoulders relaxed. She looked at me with a warm, appreciative smile, her hand lingering in mine for a few extra seconds before she gently pulled away.
"Hmm... You really are such a sweet boy," Tomiko murmured, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. "Most young men would get defensive, but you... You always make everyone feel at ease."
Kasumi nodded in agreement, her voice gentle and affectionate. "Yeah, Tomiko. We are all family now. There’s no need to apologize for a little playful teasing. Jack understands us well."
Tomiko nodded slowly, her expression softening further. "You’re right, sister. Thank you, Jack. I feel relieved."
We continued eating for a few more minutes, the warm atmosphere returning. The delicious food, the soft clinking of chopsticks, and light conversation made everything feel cozy. Haruna kept stealing glances at me, still a little pouty but clearly satisfied with how the dinner was going.
As we were almost finished, Haruna stood up and walked over to the living room. "I’m turning on the TV. Let’s watch something while we finish the last bites."
She switched on the television, and the evening news immediately filled the screen with a serious report. The anchor’s voice was grave as footage played showing police at a crime scene.
"...In a horrifying incident, several men have been arrested after brutally raping, murdering, and even cannibalizing members of their own families. Neighbors reported strange behavior in the days leading up to the attacks. Authorities are calling it one of the most disturbing cases in recent memory..."
The screen showed blurred images of the arrested men — the exact same group who had ambushed us during that camping trip. The ones I had hypnotized and commanded to commit these atrocities as revenge.
Yuko froze mid-bite. Her eyes widened in shock as she slowly turned her head to look at me. Her face paled slightly, realizing the connection. She knew the truth — these were the men I had hypnotized to destroy themselves and their families.
Kasumi brought a hand to her mouth in horror. "Oh my God... What kind of world is this? Raping their own family members... and then eating them? Are they even human anymore? How can people become so monstrous?"
Tomiko looked visibly disgusted, pushing her plate away slightly. "Haruna, change the channel right now. This is too disturbing to watch while eating. Turn it off or find something lighter."
Haruna quickly switched the channel, but the mood at the table had already shifted. "Ugh, that was gross. Who even does stuff like that? They deserve the worst punishment possible."
Yuko was still staring at me under the table. I could feel her foot nudge mine, a silent question in her eyes. She looked equal parts shocked and strangely aroused by the dark reminder of my power.
I kept my expression calm and concerned on the surface. "Yeah, it’s sickening. Some people are just pure evil deep down."
Kasumi shook her head slowly, still disturbed by the horrifying news. "I feel so bad for those poor families... How can someone turn on their own blood like that? Raping and eating their own relatives... The world is becoming scarier these days. It honestly makes a mother worry so much."
Tomiko sighed deeply and tried to change the mood. "Let’s not ruin the rest of the evening with such horrible news. Jack, would you like some tea or dessert after this? Something warm might help everyone relax and sleep better."
I smiled at her and replied, "Let’s drink tea. It would be good for sleep... and I know Oka-san also likes drinking warm green tea before bed. It helps her unwind."
Tomiko nodded. "Okay then." She called over to the maids, "Please prepare a strong pot of green tea and bring some light snacks too. We’ll have it in the living room."
While waiting for the tea, I noticed Yuko and Haruna had moved to the big sofa together. They sat very close, whispering secretly with their heads almost touching.
Haruna kept nodding slightly, both of them stealing glances toward me with naughty little smiles. It was obvious the two sisters were plotting something together — likely another scheme to push me closer to their mother.
I stood up and moved behind Kasumi. "Oka-san, your shoulders look tense. Let me massage them for a bit." My hands settled on her soft, mature shoulders, kneading deeply. Kasumi let out a soft sigh of pleasure.
"Mmm... That feels really good, Jack. You have such strong, warm hands..."
I worked my fingers in slow, firm circles, feeling the tension melt under my touch. The scent of her body was already starting to tease my senses.
Soon the maids brought the steaming tea. We all gathered around the low table, sipping the fragrant green tea together. The warm liquid helped calm everyone down, but the undercurrent of tension and desire in the room only grew stronger.
After finishing our tea, it was finally time to sleep. The maids had neatly laid out several thick futons side by side in the large traditional room, creating one big shared sleeping space.
I lay down on the far left corner. Kasumi settled down on my right, intentionally leaving a generous gap between us — clearly meant for Haruna to sleep next to me.
Tomiko took the far right position. But then Yuko and Haruna made their move. They both shifted at the same time, lying down on the side next to Tomiko and "accidentally" pushing the arrangement. This forced Kasumi to slide much closer toward me, closing the gap completely.
Haruna said in a loud, pouty voice, "Hmm... Oka-san, tell Jack I’m still angry with him. He has to sleep alone tonight as punishment for leaving me alone today."
