Chapter 5 A heavy love that covers everything, yet is straightforward
Two weeks had passed since that day I visited the Shinjo household. With just a few days left until December, the mornings had grown noticeably colder, and I found myself shivering more often.
"…Phew."
The last class of the morning was wrapping up—survive this, and it’d be lunchtime.
(…Days have been flying by like crazy lately.)
I zoned out during the lesson, letting that thought drift through my mind. If life had kept going as usual, I probably wouldn’t have dwelled on something like this.
"…Arisa and Aina, huh?"
Whenever my guard was down, they popped into my head. Their true selves—sides they never showed at school—came back to me so vividly from that exchange. Lately, lunchtime only amplified those memories. And more than that, the change of meeting them every morning before school left me baffled about how it even happened, yet I couldn’t deny the quiet comfort of sharing those small moments together.
"Perfect timing. Class rep, give the command."
"Yes. Stand, bow."
Lost in thought, I hadn’t noticed the lesson ending. As lunchtime began, students scattered to enjoy their break, but Sota and Kaito gravitated toward me.
"I’m starving!"
"My stomach was about to growl any second."
Listening to their chatter, I pulled something out of my bag—something I wouldn’t normally bring, something the girls had been giving me every day recently.
"Bento again today, huh?"
"Come on, seriously, who’s making those for you?"
"Haha… just some people who’ve been good to me."
What Sota and Kaito were staring at was none other than the bento Arisa and Aina had made. They took turns preparing it daily, and I had a hunch today’s was Arisa’s handiwork.
"…Chomp."
Egg rolls, karaage, mini hamburgers, asparagus with bacon… a perfectly ordinary bento lineup, nothing fancy.
"…Man, this is delicious."
The words slipped out—it was that good. Not enough to bring tears to my eyes, but if I were the type to cry easily, I might’ve.
"You’re eating it like you’re in bliss…"
"…It’s intriguing, but seeing you like this makes it hard to ask anything."
I silently begged them not to pry further. If they found out these were from Arisa and Aina—the famously beautiful sisters at school—it wouldn’t just be them; the horde of lovesick guys pining for the pair would make my life hell.
"Oh, today’s onigiri has umeboshi… heh."
Just knowing my favorite filling was inside made me grin like an idiot—embarrassing, but their bentos were genuinely that tasty. The cafeteria has its charm, sure, but these bentos carried a heartfelt warmth the school food couldn’t touch.
(Speaking of which, Sakuna-san apparently wants to make one too, but the girls have been fending her off so far.)
I smirked, wondering where they were even competing, but I couldn’t help being curious about what Sakuna-san’s bento would be like.
(Still… having them put their hearts into making me a bento every day is amazing. I’m grateful, but I can’t shake the guilt.)
I’d told them not to overdo it, that they didn’t need to go this far, but both Arisa and Aina just smiled and said, “Don’t worry about it.”
(…Why are those two so—)
Could they possibly…? I shook my head—nah, that’s too simplistic. Sure, I helped them out, but that was just basic human decency… right?
(If a guy got to be with girls that gorgeous, he’d be the luckiest bastard alive.)
Lost in that thought, I’d polished off the bento without realizing it. That always happened when I ate their food—a testament to how much care they put into it.
"Was it that good?"
"You look stupidly satisfied."
"…Yeah, dangerously so. Also, haven’t you two been staring at my face nonstop lately? How many times have we had this exchange?"
They chuckled awkwardly, admitting I had a point.
"But, you know, the bento’s one thing—what’s got you looking so happy lately?"
"Yeah, your real smiles have definitely gone up."
"Huh? I smile plenty around you guys too, don’t I?"
I didn’t get the difference between a “real” smile and my usual one. Still, whether it was them or not, I had been laughing more lately. Even the loneliness that used to hit me at home felt lighter.
"Whatever a ‘real smile’ is… what’s with you two watching me so much?"
"Well, my mom told me to keep an eye on you, Hayato."
"Same here. Plus, no way we wouldn’t look out for our best bud, right?"
Did they not realize how sappy that sounded? Their care made me flush with embarrassment and gratitude, my eyes stinging a little.
"…Thanks, you two."
"Ooh, Hayato’s blushing~"
"So cute, widdle guy!"
"Scratch that, you jerks."
They had to ruin a genuine thank-you like that—typical. Yelling at them, we laughed through the banter until I left for the bathroom.
"…Oh."
There, in the hallway, were Arisa and Aina, walking with friends. Seeing them like this, they really were the center of attention—everyone’s favorites.
"…?"
"…♪♪"
They noticed me but didn’t call out or wave, just passed by quietly… except Aina winked at me in that split second. Only me, her, and Arisa caught it—no one else seemed to notice the tiny spark between us.
"…Right, bathroom."
Watching their backs disappear, I remembered my goal, hit the restroom, and stepped out feeling refreshed, rubbing my chin thoughtfully.
"They’re totally normal at school, huh. I mean, I’m glad it keeps the guys’ jealousy off me, but… it’s still kinda thrilling."
I was the only one who knew they were uneasy around guys, yet they showed me so many sides of themselves. That slight sense of being special, even if small, warmed me up.
"…Geez, like I said, don’t get your hopes up."
I’m just a guy who couldn’t meet an ex’s expectations and got dumped fast—thinking that made me kinda sad.
Back to class for the afternoon lessons, then home after school. On my way, I passed the Shinjo house.
"There she is."
Already in casual clothes, Arisa was outside, fussing with her appearance. Spotting me, her face lit up with a bright smile.
"Since lunch, huh, Hayato-kun?"
"Yeah. You’re… early?"
"I rushed home. So, Hayato-kun, shall we?"
"Sure."
We’d planned to meet up after school today. Our destination? My place—one of the biggest changes in my routine lately. Specifically, Arisa and Aina had started coming over to cook dinner.
"How was today’s bento?"
"Really good. I figured it was you today—was I right?"
"Spot on. Hehe, can you tell my cooking apart from Aina’s now?"
"…Hmm, not super confident, but I kinda feel like I can. Might mess up if you quiz me again, though."
"I won’t get mad, so don’t worry. Just keep telling me what you think—it makes me so happy when you say it’s delicious♪"
"…!"
That smile… that damn smile was pure magic. Her overflowing charm packed into that grin made me look away, knowing it was rude but unable to help it.
"Hayato-kun?"
"…It’s kinda hot today, huh?"
"Really? Feels chilly to me…"
She bought my lame dodge. It was a dumb excuse, but I was grateful she didn’t catch how flustered I was—getting called out would’ve been worse.
"Come on in."
"Thanks for having me."
We entered, but she headed straight for the family altar. Both she and Aina always greeted my parents there whenever they came over.
"Visiting again today, Father, Mother."
The photos of my smiling parents, Domoto Kanata and Domoto Kasumi, sat there. What would they think of these girls suddenly showing up to cook? This spot, where they watched over me, was truly special.
"…Mom’d probably laugh her head off, and Dad’d get dragged into it."
I could picture it if they were alive, but imagining it still stung a little.
"Alright, time to start on dinner."
"Arisa, hold up a sec?"
"What’s up?"
Facing her as she stood, I voiced what’d been on my mind.
"Look… the bentos are awesome, and I’m so grateful you’re making dinner too. I feel the same about Aina."
"Yeah?"
"But… are you sure you’re not pushing yourselves? I keep wondering if you and Aina are sacrificing your own time for me. You don’t have to—"
Before I finished, Arisa gently pressed her finger to my lips.
"We’re fine, really. Overdoing it and hurting ourselves? No way—that’d worry you, Hayato-kun, and cause trouble. Aina and I are careful about that. Because of that, we’re choosing to spend this time on you."
With that, I couldn’t argue further. Even their mom, Sakuna-san, apparently supported letting them do what they wanted, so maybe I was the weird one for worrying.
"Then I’ll get started on dinner."
"…Seriously, thanks."
"Hehe♪ Don’t mention it. Save the thanks for after you eat, okay?"
She tapped her finger to her lips with a playful wink. I nearly shouted, I’d fall for you right here!—but what happened next blew that thought away.
▼▽
"…Man, this is delicious again today!"
"Thanks, Hayato-kun."
I savored Arisa’s beef stew, letting the words slip out. After she arrived, there’d been a little hiccup, but time flew, and now we were at dinner.
"Seeing you enjoy it has become my recent joy. There’s seconds, so eat up! Leftovers can go in the fridge—reheat them for breakfast tomorrow."
"You’re doing way too much for me."
"It’s fine. Now, I’ll dig in too."
Had she been waiting for my reaction? Only now did she start eating.
"By the way, Hayato-kun, final exams are coming up. How’s that going?"
"…Oh, right."
I’m not bad at studying, but I’m not a genius who aces every test either—just average.
"Same as usual, I guess. First semester midterms and finals, second semester midterms—all decent. I’ll put in a moderate effort this time too."
Good grades are nice, but I’m fine with slightly above average, so I don’t push too hard.
"…In that case."
"Hm?"
"How about studying with us?"
"Us meaning you and Aina?"
"Yep. Not to brag, but we’re both pretty good students. We could teach you a lot—how’s that?"
"…That’d be great."
"Settled then♪"
So, spur-of-the-moment, we decided to study together before exams. Whether at my place or theirs, we’d figure out later—Arisa looked genuinely excited for it.
(…Guess I’ll throw in a comment here.)
Done eating, I steeled myself and looked at her again.
"Hey, Arisa… why the maid outfit?"
Yep, she was in a maid outfit right now. She’d had a big bag when we met up after school, but I never imagined that was inside. When she said she’d cook and pulled out not an apron but a neatly folded maid outfit, I did a double—no, triple—take.
"Obviously, I wanted to do something for you, Hayato-kun, and felt like wearing this. I hadn’t since that day, so it worked out."
"…That’s the reason?"
"That’s the reason. So… what do you think?"
Standing, she twirled on the spot. It was the same outfit—frilly, form-fitting, mini-skirt showing off her dazzling thighs.
"…Uh, like I said back then, it really suits you."
"Hehe, so? Want to be my master?"
Hand to her mouth, she purred with a sultry edge. I’d never had a stunning girl like her say that to me—I froze, clueless how to respond.
(…Am I in some alternate reality?)
She’d mentioned wanting to serve someone, and if this was part of that, her eyes screamed how serious she was.
"Hayato-kun, well?"
"…!"
Too lost in thought, I didn’t notice her closing in. Stepping back, I hit the sofa, lost my balance, and started to fall backward.
"Hayato-kun!"
The sofa was soft, so no harm done, but Arisa instinctively reached out—and fell with me.
"You okay…?"
"Yeah… oh."
She’d tried to catch me, but now I was supporting her from below. My left hand registered a soft sensation, and my focus zeroed in—it was unmistakably her full chest, my fingers sinking in as her weight pressed down.
"S-Sor—"
I squeezed by accident, digging in deeper. She let out a tantalizing moan but kept her gaze locked on me, inching closer.
"What now? What do you want me to do?"
Her honeyed words and warm softness assaulted my sanity.
"Anything’s fine, you know? Even… something like this."
"A-Arisa!?"
With a seductive smirk, she reached for her chest buttons. Snap, snap—two undone, revealing a glimpse of cleavage that strained against the fabric.
"…!"
I should look away, but I couldn’t. Arisa giggled, pressing a finger into her soft flesh, exhaling sweetly as she continued.
"I’m a maid—your maid, Hayato-kun. I’ll serve you however you want, even naughty things, anything. I’ll do it all for you."
"Arisa…"
What… what the hell was this? I knew it was wrong, but her words and aura were swallowing me whole. I even started imagining doing whatever I wanted with this lewd, gorgeous maid in front of me.
(…A sexy, perfect-figured maid—sure, it’s a guy’s dream, but this is a bit—)
Too much. Too intense. Especially with Arisa’s pure look amplifying the eroticism, something about it gripped my heart and wouldn’t let go.
"Come on, Hayato-kun, tell me—what do you want?"
"…I—"
Whispered in my ear, her voice guided my hand toward her chest. Just a little more, and I’d reach that peak—then I yanked my hand back.
"Ahem!! Stop teasing me, Arisa!"
I deserved a medal for that restraint. She pouted at my retreating hand, cheeks puffing out.
"I wasn’t teasing… ugh, you’re a tough one."
Tough one? What am I, a boss fight? I grumbled internally. Accidents like this aside, casual touches with them had been increasing. Like now with Arisa—or Aina, who’d linger too, wielding words and vibes to melt my reason, exuding sweet pheromones to strip it away.
(…I don’t get it. Why do they do this? Normal contact’s fine, but they—)
They slipped into my heart so easily. Like today.
"Hayato-kun."
Arisa hugged my face to her chest—gentle, warm, reassuring.
"I want to say ‘welcome home’ to you. To let you know you’re never alone when you come back."
There it was again—their words seeping inside me. No matter how I steeled myself, they slid in like poison, melting my walls, hitting my heart raw.
"If our presence, our voices, these moments of touch bring you even a shred of peace, please let yourself lean on us. I’ll catch you, tell you ‘good job.’ I’ll be your warmth."
Her words weren’t sharp blades but sweet nectar, soaking in softly. They tempted me to drown in their kindness, yet rationality held me back—just barely. That dam was cracking, though, and I felt it teetering.
"I’ll be your support. Always, forever. I’ll answer anything… I’m yours—"
Drowning didn’t even cover it. I was helplessly drawn to that warmth, aching to reach out.
Later, I walked her home, but made her change first. Even at night with few people around, letting a girl in a maid outfit wander in the dark was asking for trouble.
"See you, Hayato-kun. Good night."
"Yeah. Night, Arisa."
I watched her disappear into her house, then turned away, shivering slightly in the chilly breeze.
▼▽
A few days after Arisa’s dinner visit, it was Friday.
"…Hoo."
Scrubbing myself with a soapy towel, I couldn’t settle down.
"Gotta wash up quick and get out. Got a bad feeling."
Why? Simple—Aina was over making dinner tonight. She’d whipped it up fast and told me to take a bath while she worked. I knew it was unlikely, but I couldn’t shake the hunch she’d pull something.
"What could she even do in this situation, idiot…? Still, lately—Arisa too, but especially Aina—they’re so touchy and close."
Ignoring the maid outfit fiasco, Arisa was tame by comparison. Aina, though? Whole different level.
"Hayato-kun, you in the tub yet?"
Maybe I’d jinxed it by thinking of her, but her voice came from the changing room.
"Huh? Uh, no, sorry—still washing."
My heart skipped at the sudden interruption, but I answered her.
(It’s winter—standing around out of the tub overthinking will get me sick. Then I’d really worry them.)
She’d said she’d bathe here after, so I’d better hurry. Resuming my scrubbing, I noticed she wasn’t leaving the changing room.
"What’s up?"
"Hmm…"
She seemed to mull something over before speaking.
"So, I accidentally splashed water on myself while cooking. My clothes are soaked, so can I hop in? Don’t wanna catch a cold—coming in♪"
"…Huh?"
My ears caught something I couldn’t miss. Eyes wide, I heard rustling behind me—clothes coming off—then the door slid open, and Aina stepped in.
"Excuse me~♪"
"Wait, what are you doing!?"
My earlier worries and dignified speech flew out the window, replaced by sheer chaos. She wasn’t naked—just a towel wrapped around her—but she grinned like a kid who’d nailed a prank.
"I’ll wash your back~♪ No veto power♪"
"…"
Mouth flapping, I could only stare. But when she shivered and muttered, “It’s cold,” I couldn’t bring myself to kick her out.
"I’ll wash you. Here, hand it over."
"Uh, sure."
Turns out, extreme shock can flip you to calm. I gave her my towel, and she gently scrubbed my back.
"Hmm-hmm-hmm~♪ Hmm-hmm-hmm♪"
Humming cheerfully, her touch was so soft I relaxed—enough to stupidly think I’d want this again.
"Rinsing now."
"Yeah."
Water splashed down, washing the suds away. Then her arms wrapped around me from behind, hugging my back.
"Sorry. Let me stay like this a bit."
"…Okay."
Embarrassment and panic hit, but the comfort outweighed them.
"Your back’s so big, Hayato-kun. A guy’s back… the one that protected us. Strong, dependable… my favorite back."
Muttering that last bit, she chuckled and let go, starting to wash herself. I tried to leave, but she stopped me—Warm up properly—so I obeyed, soaking in the tub.
"Joining you~♪"
Our bath was decently big—plenty of room for two. She splashed in beside me, and I fought to keep my eyes off her, clinging to composure. Like with Arisa, heart-pounding mishaps were common, but this was a first.
"…Ah."
"Hehe, curious, huh?"
Glancing over, our eyes met. Her stunning gaze pinned me—wet brown hair clinging to her skin, cleavage peeking despite the towel, flawless white skin—all so beautiful I wondered how such a woman existed.
"…Um, I’m embarrassed too, you know? Why’d I join you then? Simple—I wanted to bathe with you, Hayato-kun!"
"Straight to the point…"
"But wow, this is intense. Hey, Hayato-kun, I might actually get pregnant."
"What does that mean!?"
Don’t just drop pregnant—my heart can’t take it! In this situation, that word was lethal, and ignoring it was impossible.
"…Aina?"
"…What?"
Did she realize, face flushed, that she’d been gripping my hand since getting in? Unconsciously anchoring me here?
"Hey, Hayato-kun, I… I wanna hear about your parents."
"My parents?"
"Yeah."
Sudden, but in this mess, it was a welcome topic.
"Uh, where do I start?"
"Anything. I wanna hear it all."
She stared, waiting. It wasn’t a secret, and since she knew they were gone, I decided to share—probably with Arisa soon too.
"My parents were everything to me. Dad was kind, Mom was strong."
"Strong?"
"Yeah… that’s the best way to describe her."
Dad’s kindness, Mom’s strength—that’s how I saw them.
"Dad died in an accident when I was in elementary school, Mom from illness in middle school. But they raised me with so much love."
I didn’t dwell on the details much anymore, but those memories never faded.
"I don’t know how you and your parents lived, but I can tell from your words how much you loved them."
"…You think?"
"Yep♪"
I did love them… but—
"You’re the same, right? You love Arisa, Sakuna-san, and your late dad—cherish them. We’re alike that way."
"R-Really?"
"Yeah. Family matters to us—we’re kindred spirits♪"
"…Oh."
Her face went blank. Worried I’d misstepped, I tensed—but then her eyes glistened, and she giggled.
"What’s wrong? You okay?"
"Yeah, sorry… Your smile just now—it looked like Dad."
…Was that a compliment? Not that I looked old, I hoped. She continued, thoughtful.
"Big sis said it too—sometimes you remind us of Dad. Not just reliability, but this sense you’d always protect us."
"Really? Nothing big’s happened since then, so I’m kinda puzzled by that."
"Hehe, just being there calms us. We can lean on you♪"
She rested her head on my shoulder. I’d gotten oddly used to this, but maybe talking about family steadied me.
We kept chatting about family, moving from happy memories to bitters ones.
"Our home was happy, no question—but my dad’s family hated us."
"Huh?"
Her eyes widened. I asked if I should go on; she nodded.
"Thanks."
Dad and Mom met in college, a sweet love story. But Dad’s family, obsessed with status, despised Mom—a commoner—calling her “unworthy.” They opposed the marriage, so Dad basically eloped, getting disowned.
"They pretty much cut him off. That’s why his parents can’t stand me or Mom either."
"…I see."
"Like a manga, right? But it’s real."
Yeah, real. And I’d met them once, proving it.
"A few days after Dad died, they showed up. I didn’t get their words back then, but now I do—they tore into me and Mom mercilessly."
Mom, broken by Dad’s death, took the brunt. I couldn’t stand it and stepped in front of her to shield her. We never saw them again, but that night, Mom’s words stuck with me.
‘Your back was so big, Hayato. Like your dad’s—I was so happy.’
She’d cried saying it, and I bawled too, setting her off again—an endless loop. That day made me vow to protect her.
"Mom always said to lean on her—kids should be protected. But seeing her cry hit hard. I’d think, Don’t cry, I’ll protect you."
It got heavy, and Aina wiped a tear from my eye—I hadn’t noticed it fall. Embarrassed, I tried to look away but couldn’t.
"…So that’s it. Now I get why your back feels so big. No wonder I fell for you—how could I not love someone this cool?"
She closed her eyes, then hugged my head gently.
"Hayato-kun, you’re so strong. But… maybe a little lonely too."
"…!"
"Let us fill that loneliness—me and Big sis. We’ll never let you feel alone; we’ll always be there to complete you. So… drown in us."
Drown—that word sank into my brain like sweet poison. Looking up, her loving gaze held me, and my reflection in her eyes was a lost child, yearning for her.
"By the way, I splashed myself on purpose to bathe with you♪"
"…What?"
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