Chapter Three: The Cohabitation of Two
“Wow… What a huge mansion!”
Aino’s excited, cheerful voice couldn’t help but soften Toru’s expression. Aino was in her usual blazer uniform, looking utterly adorable.
That said, Toru wasn’t in any state to be excited. His body felt like it might freeze from tension and fear. He was about to meet someone from the Kōnoe family.
Before them stood the Kōnoe family’s mansion. The massive, traditional Japanese black gate loomed over Toru and Aino, as if intimidating them.
The Kōnoe family was a dynasty of executives running a massive corporate group in Nagoya—and it was also the family Toru’s mother came from.
Kōnoe Chika, the family’s legitimate heir, was Toru’s childhood friend and, at one point, his fiancée. For a few years after his parents’ divorce, Toru had even lived in this mansion.
But his engagement to Chika was broken off, and Toru was cast out of the Kōnoe family.
Unable to protect Chika, Toru had been abandoned.
From the moment he was born, Toru had been under the Kōnoe family’s control. He’d been made painfully aware of that, and so he grew to fear them and kept his distance.
Yet here he was, visiting the Kōnoe family with Aino.
Of course, it was for various formalities related to his and Aino’s engagement.
Since the engagement was at the Kōnoe family’s behest, they needed to coordinate with someone from the family.
That said, legally speaking, the engagement itself was apparently established simply by Toru and Aino’s mutual agreement.
Toka, the Kōnoe family’s secretary, had explained that to them.
“It’s kinda funny, isn’t it? You and I are already engaged, Renjō-kun.”
Aino giggled happily. Her smile was so cute that Toru couldn’t help but stare, then quickly snapped out of it.
“Uh, anyway, shall we head inside?”
“…Renjō-kun, are you blushing?”
“N-no way!”
“Hmm.”
Feeling awkward, Toru started walking. Aino, looking a little pleased, followed behind him.
When they entered the mansion and were led to the reception room, they were greeted by Toka Tokieda, the secretary and Toru’s guardian.
The entrance was in traditional Japanese style, but the reception room was Western. Built in the Taisho era, this massive mansion featured not only a Japanese-style building and garden but also a Western wing.
The reception room was decorated in an opulent Victorian style, with a grand chandelier sparkling above and an expensive-looking red chaise lounge.
Toka was seated on the lower side of the chaise, but upon seeing Toru and Aino, her face lit up, and she stood abruptly.
“Welcome, Toru-kun! It’s been a while—way too long, actually. You could come visit more often, you know!”
Toka spoke in her drawn-out yet beautifully soft voice.
Though Toru had known her for a long time, seeing her again, he couldn’t help but notice how stunning she was. Tall and slender, she had the figure of a model. Her long hair was dyed a glossy brown.
Her black pantsuit fit her perfectly, accentuating her striking silhouette.
“She’s gorgeous…”
Even Aino, standing beside him, muttered under her breath, a little intimidated. Aino was considered the prettiest girl in school, but Toka had a mature, cool beauty that high schoolers couldn’t match.
That said, her elegance lasted only until she opened her mouth. Once she started talking, her goofy, lopsided smile gave her a relaxed, almost silly vibe.
Still, her ability to remain a commanding beauty despite that was what made Toka remarkable—and she was easy to talk to, at least.
“It’s been a while, Toka-san. Though didn’t you just visit my place the other day?”
Toru lived alone but was still a minor, so Toka, acting as his guardian on behalf of the Kōnoe family, occasionally checked in on him.
Toka clapped her hands together.
“Oh, right! I did drop by, didn’t I?”
“You mean that was just for fun…?”
“Whoops, my true intentions slipped out. You’re just so cute, Toru-kun.”
Toka giggled.
“S-stop teasing me!”
“I’m not teasing, though.”
Toru felt like he’d heard those same words from someone else recently.
Anyway, Toka treated Toru like a little brother.
She was one of the few people Toru could trust.
Toka took a step closer to Toru.
Then, suddenly, she hugged him tightly. Toru’s heart skipped a beat. Her face was so close to his.
“F-Toka-san… w-what are you doing?”
“I used to hug you like this all the time when you were little, didn’t I?”
“T-that’s true, but…”
Indeed, Toka had doted on Toru since he was a child, occasionally hugging him. Maybe she didn’t see him as a man, but it didn’t feel bad.
Still, having this happen in front of Aino was a problem.
Noticing the soft pressure of Toka’s large chest against him, Toru felt his cheeks heat up.
He glanced at Aino, who was puffing out her cheeks in a pout.
“Toka-san… um… well…”
“No need to be shy!”
“L-Lyuti-san is watching…”
Toru said quickly, and Toka blinked in surprise before letting out a small laugh.
Finally releasing him, she stepped back and put on a polished, formal expression.
“Nice to meet you, Aino Lyuti-san. I’m Toka Tokieda, the Kōnoe family’s secretary.”
“U-um… so, Tokieda-san, what’s your relationship with Renjō-kun?”
“Curious?”
“Yes. I mean… I’m Renjō-kun’s fiancée, after all.”
Aino’s pale cheeks flushed red as she stared at Toka with her blue eyes.
Toka chuckled at the question.
“Sorry, no need to worry. Toru-kun’s like a little brother to me.”
“You hug your little brother like that?”
“It’s just a greeting. Or maybe, Lyuti-san, you want to try hugging Toru-kun too?”
Toka was fully in teasing mode now.
Aino’s pale cheeks grew even redder.
“N-no, it’s not like that!”
“Really?”
“Well… maybe a little…”
“Then go for it right now! No time like the present!”
“Huh?”
Toru and Aino exchanged glances. Aino shyly lowered her eyes.
Hugging Aino right here and now felt like a tall order.
“Can’t do it?”
Toka pressed Aino further. Aino’s eyes darted around hesitantly. Toru tried to throw her a lifeline.
“Toka-san loves joking around, so you don’t have to take her too seriously, Lyuti-san…”
“Ugh, that’s harsh! I’m just giving Lyuti-san a little push. Don’t you want to hug a cute girl like her, Toru-kun?”
“W-well… I do, but…”
As Toru admitted it, Aino glanced at him, her face lighting up with a mix of joy and relief.
Taking a few steps, Aino moved to stand directly in front of Toru. With resolve in her sapphire-blue eyes, she gazed at him, her eyes glistening.
“Um… you’re not against it, right, Renjō-kun?”
“No way I’d be against it. If anything…”
“What were you about to say?”
“I’d… kind of be happy about it…”
Toru felt embarrassed and stole a glance at Aino.
Her petite but adorable figure caught his eye.
If they hugged, Aino’s chest would press against him, just like Toka’s had.
(Not as big as Toka-san’s, but Lyuti-san’s are…)
As he thought this, Aino seemed to notice his gaze and shyly crossed her arms over her chest to cover herself.
“You were looking at my chest again, weren’t you?”
“N-no, I wasn’t!”
“You weren’t thinking mine are smaller than Tokieda-san’s?”
She hit the nail on the head, and Toru fell silent for a moment. Aino puffed out her cheeks in a sulk.
“It’s fine. I’m still growing, you know. When I’m an adult, they’ll be even bigger…”
Aino trailed off, looking up at Toru with an anxious expression.
“Will we still be together when I’m an adult?”
“Well…”
It depended on the situation. Their engagement was, after all, a means to help Aino.
If her problems could be resolved another way, their engagement might be called off.
“I… want you to see me grow, Renjō-kun.”
At some point, Aino had stopped covering her chest.
Instead, she crossed her arms, leaned forward slightly, and looked up at Toru.
It almost seemed like she was emphasizing her chest. Even through her blazer and white blouse, its lovely shape was clear.
Aino giggled.
“You’re totally looking at my chest, aren’t you?”
“Yeah, sorry.”
When Toru reluctantly admitted it, Aino’s face lit up with a playful expression.
“You don’t have to apologize. I’m kind of happy about it…”
“Huh?”
“N-nothing! But, um, could you hug me instead, Renjō-kun?”
It seemed Aino had initially planned to initiate the hug herself.
Toru, feeling guilty for staring at her chest and comparing her to Toka, thought it might be better for him, as the guy, to take the lead.
“Young love is so nice~”
Toka muttered irresponsibly, clearly enjoying the show.
Aino, meanwhile, looked nervous, her eyes squeezed shut as if bracing for a kiss.
Toru was just as nervous about hugging her. He’d held her from behind once before, when she collapsed at a bookstore, but that was an accident.
Hugging like lovers was something he’d never even imagined until now.
But they were engaged now, after all.
The atmosphere made it impossible to back out.
When Toru touched Aino’s shoulders, she flinched and squirmed. Her face turned bright red.
“L-Lyuti-san, I just touched your shoulders!”
“I-I know, but it’s embarrassing… Eek!”
As Toru slid his hands around her back, Aino let out a small squeal. His heart raced.
“Renjō-kun…”
Aino called his name in a sweet, almost pleading tone.
At some point, she’d opened her eyes and was gazing at him expectantly. Her small, red lips seemed like they’d accept a kiss in this moment.
If nothing interrupted them, he might have done it.
But then—
“Well, you two seem to be having fun.”
A chilling voice cut through the air.
It was cold enough to freeze the room.
Toru hurriedly turned around… and there stood Kōnoe Chika.
His childhood friend and the daughter of the Kōnoe family’s head.
Chika glared at Toru and Aino with icy black eyes.
Her tall, slender beauty made her all the more intimidating.
Toru’s hands were still on Aino’s back, moments from a full embrace.
He tried to pull away, but Aino grabbed his hand tightly, stopping him.
“L-Lyuti-san?”
“We don’t have to hold back just because Kōnoe-san is watching. We’re engaged, after all.”
“B-but…”
Seeing Chika’s expression drop to near absolute zero, Toru felt a chill of fear.
Yet he couldn’t exactly shake off Aino, who was clinging to him.
Chika was his former fiancée, but she no longer held any affection for him—probably even despised him.
Aino was right; there was no need to hold back for Chika’s sake.
So why did Chika look so angry?
“When I was your fiancée, you never hugged me like that,” Chika muttered under her breath.
Toru stared at her.
Chika’s face flushed red, and she glared back at him.
“What?”
“Nothing…”
In the end, no one can truly know what’s in another’s heart.
Toru had never fully understood Chika.
But her words just now sounded like she’d wanted him to hug her.
Aino seemed to interpret it the same way.
Releasing Toru, she faced Chika directly, her blue eyes locked on her.
“Are you jealous, Kōnoe-san?”
Her bluntness startled Toru, and he glanced at Aino. Her expression was pure but deadly serious as she stared at Chika.
Toka, watching from the corner, seemed to be enjoying the scene and had no intention of intervening.
“Me? Jealous of you? Don’t be ridiculous.”
Chika’s words lacked confidence. Toru hadn’t seen her look this flustered or anxious in a long time.
Unlike the frail Chika of their childhood, the current Chika was a perfect superhuman—heiress to a prestigious family, top student, and an undeniably beautiful girl.
She shouldn’t have anything to fear.
Yet now, she almost seemed scared.
Aino looked up at Toru and smiled.
“We can hug later, okay?”
“You sure?”
“We’re engaged, so we can do it anytime. Besides… I’d feel bad for Kōnoe-san.”
Aino giggled.
Toru worried Chika might snap, but she just pursed her lips in frustration, staying silent.
Then, Chika let out a small laugh. It had a slight villainous edge, but her smile was undeniably cute.
Toru’s heart skipped a beat.
“But you and Toru only just met, right, Lyuti-san? I bet you’ve never taken a bath together or anything like that.”
“Of course not!”
Aino’s cheeks flushed red, perhaps imagining the scene. She glanced at Toru.
Toru, looking at Aino’s delicate frame, couldn’t help but picture them bathing together, completely bare, and he panicked.
Chika, observing their reactions, seemed a little irritated but quickly put on a smile.
“I wasn’t just this guy’s fiancée; we lived in the same house. So, yes, we’ve bathed together.”
Chika declared it like a trump card.
Aino’s face fell, overwhelmed with a sense of defeat.
(…What kind of battle is this?)
Thinking calmly, the situation was absurd.
But Aino and Chika were openly radiating rivalry.
Aino closed in on Toru.
“Is it true you bathed with Kōnoe-san?”
“Y-yeah, but… it was when we were kids.”
“How old were you?”
Before Toru could answer, Chika cut in.
“The last time was, what, sixth grade?”
“Uh, yeah, that’s right.”
Toru nodded reluctantly.
Aino’s face showed shock, her blue eyes glistening with tears.
“That’s old enough to be a boy and a girl, right?”
“Exactly. Toru was totally checking me out with pervy eyes, wasn’t he?”
Chika turned to Toru with a playful grin.
Hearing her call him “Toru” so casually made his heart skip. Since their engagement ended, Chika had always called him “Renjō-kun” by his surname.
Calling him by his first name now, even unconsciously…
“I never looked at you like that, Kōnoe-san.”
“Liar.”
“I’m serious.”
“If that’s true, it kinda pisses me off.”
Chika narrowed her eyes, glaring at Toru.
Aino watched their exchange with teary eyes. Suddenly, she grabbed Toru’s arm tightly.
“N-nope, we’re hugging right now!”
“Huh!?”
“And I’m going to live with Renjō-kun and bathe with him too!”
Toru almost said it was impossible but stopped when he saw Aino’s desperate expression.
Chika wore a triumphant look, as if she’d won.
But the tables turned in the next moment.
Toka, who had been silent, suddenly spoke up.
“Love that idea! Starting tomorrow, why don’t you and Toru-kun take baths together, Lyuti-san? Some naked bonding might strengthen your engagement.”
“No way that’s happening!”
Toru and Chika’s voices harmonized. They looked at each other, embarrassed, and quickly averted their gazes.
Even after growing distant, as childhood friends who’d spent so much time together, they thought alike and spoke in sync.
Toka raised a finger with a smile.
“You can do it! After all, Toru-kun and Lyuti-san are set to start living together tomorrow.”
She announced it like it was the most natural thing.
“Me and Lyuti-san are going to live together!?”
“Since you’re engaged, it’s ‘cohabitation,’ right?”
Toka deliberately rephrased it.
But that wasn’t the issue, Toru thought. Aino and Chika froze in shock.
“Live together where?”
“The Kōnoe family’s got a place ready for you. Don’t worry, it’s a mansion!”
“That’s not the point. We’re high schoolers—cohabitating… wouldn’t that be improper conduct and get us expelled?”
“No worries, no worries. It’s the Kōnoe family’s decision, and that school’s got plenty of Kōnoe family donations.”
“That’s ridiculous!”
“If the Kōnoe family says black is white, it’s white. If they say white is black, it’s black.”
In her airy, gentle tone, Toka said something straight out of an evil organization’s playbook.
In this city, the Kōnoe family’s influence was immense.
And since Toru and Aino’s engagement was their will, it probably wouldn’t be an issue.
“We’ve got Lyuti-san’s mother’s permission too. Everything’s set, smooth sailing. Starting tomorrow, you and Lyuti-san can get all lovey-dovey in the same house.”
Chika looked flustered.
“I wasn’t told about this!”
“It’s the head of the family’s decision, Chika-chan.”
Toka said with a grin, unfazed even by the next head of the family. Most adults used honorifics with Chika, given her status, but not Toka.
That showed the Kōnoe family’s power.
“Since the head isn’t here today, you’re the proxy, Chika-chan.”
“So I was called here to tell them to live together!?”
Chika looked shocked. As the family’s proxy, she’d have to order Toru and Aino to cohabitate.
Though, in reality, the head and Toka, Toru’s guardian, had orchestrated it.
It seemed Chika hadn’t been informed.
Her beautiful face twisted with frustration as she glared at Toru and Aino.
“You better not do anything indecent!”
“We won’t…”
Toru muttered, and Chika shot him a suspicious look.
“But living with a cute girl like her—”
“Might make you want to make a move.”
Aino cut in playfully. Chika puffed out her cheeks, glaring at her.
“You say that like a joke, but you should be careful.”
“Careful? Of what?”
“Y-you know… being forced into something… lewd…”
Chika blushed, speaking shyly.
Toru hadn’t seen her like this in a while.
Aino tilted her head.
“Renjō-kun wouldn’t do that.”
“No way. All guys are beasts.”
“Really?”
“Hasn’t he looked at you with creepy eyes?”
At Chika’s words, Aino blushed slightly and mumbled, “Well…” glancing at Toru.
True, Toru had stared at her chest and imagined her naked, so he couldn’t defend himself.
Aino gave a mischievous smile.
“Come to think of it, Renjō-kun was looking at my chest… and said he wanted to make babies with me.”
Chika’s eyes widened in shock. Even Toka looked surprised.
Toru tried to clarify it was a misunderstanding, but Chika didn’t seem to listen. Aino was likely saying it to rile Chika up.
“Unbelievable! Toka-san, this won’t do. If Toru and this girl live together, she’ll get pregnant!”
Toka said, “Maybe,” and chuckled, her thoughts unreadable.
Aino, meanwhile, stared at Chika with her blue eyes, challenging her.
“But I think I’d be okay with that.”
“What?”
“If it’s Renjō-kun, I wouldn’t mind whatever he did. Even if I got pregnant in high school and had his baby… I think I’d be fine with it.”
“No way that’s okay!”
“But we’re engaged. I’m going to marry Renjō-kun someday. I’m not like you, Kōnoe-san.”
Aino said, turning to Toru, her face bright red, looking up at him.
She’d just said something outrageous about being okay with having his baby in high school.
It was unclear how serious she was.
But her cheeks were flushed, and she clung tightly to Toru’s right arm with both hands. Her hands and chest enveloped his arm, and the softness made his heart race.
“L-Lyuti-san… y-your chest is touching…”
“I’m… making it touch…”
Aino lowered her eyes, whispering.
All this made Toru panicked, feeling his cheeks heat up. As he glanced at Chika, he saw her glaring at them, almost in tears.
It was clear she wasn’t happy about their cohabitation.
Aino’s comment about being okay with pregnancy must have been unforgivable to her.
Chika turned to Toka.
“Tell them, Toka-san! Getting pregnant in high school is wrong, right!?”
“Well, you’d need to use protection properly.”
Toka said in her leisurely tone. Chika’s face grew redder.
“N-not that! Doing… lewd things in high school is wrong, isn’t it!?”
Toka let out an “Oh?” and smirked.
Even with her goofy expression, Toka’s stunning beauty shone through.
“Chika-chan, you’re so proper. Well, you are a refined young lady.”
Toka teased, then turned serious, facing Toru.
“Toru-kun.”
“Y-yes?”
“You have to treat Lyuti-san well, okay?”
“Of course. She’s my fiancée.”
Toru had no intention of making moves or getting her pregnant, even if they lived together.
Their engagement was just a means, not a romantic relationship.
Nothing would happen, and he’d make sure of it. But Aino, perhaps misunderstanding his words, looked delighted.
Chika puffed out her cheeks.
“My father decided on this cohabitation, so there’s no helping it. But if anything happens, I won’t forgive you.”
“Even if you say that…”
Toru shrugged, and Chika glared at him, incensed.
“As your former fiancée, I can’t forgive you for being happy without me!”
Her words shook Toru. He’d betrayed and hurt Chika.
She still hated him.
She hadn’t recovered from her emotional wounds.
For Toru to casually get engaged to Aino might indeed be unforgivable to her.
Guilt overwhelmed him.
But Aino clung tighter to his arm, her shapely chest pressing against him, making him acutely aware of her presence over Chika’s.
And Aino was… glaring at Chika.
“I want Renjō-kun to be happy. No, I’m going to make him happy.”
“What can you do for Toru?”
“You call him ‘Toru,’ don’t you, Kōnoe-san?”
Pointed out by Aino, Chika seemed to realize her slip. Flustered, she faced Aino’s calm words.
“Are you still in love with him, Kōnoe-san?”
“N-no way! That’s not it! I…”
Chika fell silent, her face bright red, before fleeing the room.
Toka muttered, “Chika-chan’s got a cute side too,” waved at Toru and Aino, and followed her, likely to console her.
This whole situation stemmed from the cohabitation plan, which was mostly Toka’s fault.
Toru and Aino looked at each other.
Aino had completely shut Chika down.
“Kōnoe-san… she’s gone.”
“Uh, Lyuti-san, are you really okay living with someone like me?”
“It’s because it’s you, Toru-kun, that I want to live together.”
Aino smiled softly, her blue eyes sparkling with excitement.
“But I’m a guy…”
“We’re engaged. Living together means I can get hugged every day, right? And maybe try that bath thing Tokieda-san mentioned.”
Aino whispered shyly yet sweetly.
Alone with her now, it felt like things could spiral out of control.
She looked up at him expectantly.
“We’ll do even more embarrassing things from now on, won’t we?”
“N-no way we’re doing that…”
“But I… really wouldn’t mind getting pregnant with your baby, Toru-kun.”
Aino giggled mischievously, her cheeks red, gazing at him with glistening eyes.
☆
The next day was a holiday, and by evening, Toru and Aino arrived at their destination.
They stood in front of a neat, single-family house.
White walls, a red roof—a slightly eye-catching design.
A newly built two-story house, prepared by the Kōnoe family for their cohabitation.
Their belongings would arrive later, but they’d start living here today.
Both were in their school uniforms, despite it being a day off, due to the sudden move and minimal luggage.
“It’s a bit big for two people.”
Toru muttered, and Aino giggled, looking up at him with her blue eyes.
“It might not just be the two of us soon.”
“…We’re not making babies.”
“But you’re the one who said you wanted to, Renjō-kun.”
“I didn’t say that. Besides, didn’t you say we’d do stuff like that after marriage?”
“Did I?”
“Yeah. I’m just a dumb guy, so you should be a bit more cautious, Lyuti-san.”
“Oh, so you do want to do those things, Renjō-kun?”
Aino laughed, then blushed, perhaps embarrassed by her own words.
Toru felt himself flush too.
“A-anyway, let’s go inside.”
Toru said quickly, and Aino nodded eagerly.
He felt a bit nervous. It was like stepping into an RPG dungeon.
After that, Toru unlocked the door, opened it, and invited Aino in.
“Thanks… you’re so sweet, Renjō-kun.”
“It’s just normal.”
“Is it?”
Toru flipped the wall switch, turning on the light.
An LED bulb illuminated the stylish, elegant entryway. It felt a bit luxurious for a high school couple.
Then again, it was a house provided by the wealthy Kōnoe family, so the extravagance made sense. Besides, Toru and Aino were engaged, not a couple.
Aino stood in the hallway and giggled.
“I’ve always wanted to try this.”
“Try what?”
“So… dinner? A bath? Or… me?”
Aino’s sapphire eyes sparkled mischievously.
It made Toru’s heart race high speed.
Even knowing it was a joke, being told that by a stunning beauty like Aino threw him off.
Trying to stay calm despite his burning cheeks, he said, “There’s no food, and the bath isn’t ready, right?”
“True, we haven’t prepared anything… so, ‘me’ it is?”
“If I said yes, what would you do?”
Toru replied without thinking and immediately regretted it.
“Uh, well…”
“S-sorry. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable or harass you…”
“N-no, I brought it up. And… if you wanted to… I’d be okay with ‘me.’”
Her words threw Toru into further panic.
He stared at her delicate frame, imagining all sorts of things.
From now on, he’d be living under one roof with this golden-haired, blue-eyed, lovely girl, just the two of them.
If he wasn’t careful, things could really spiral.
Shaking his head vigorously, he said to Aino, “I’m not doing anything.”
Aino looked up at him, slightly disappointed.
Trying to change the subject, Toru said, “Uh, let’s look around the house. We need to decide on rooms and stuff.”
“Y-yeah.”
They naturally headed upstairs, wanting to check it out first.
Opening a door on the second floor, they found a bedroom.
Ending up in the bedroom first thing felt awkward to Toru.
It was as if he’d dragged Aino in here, especially right after her “me?” comment, making the moment even more uncomfortable.
But Aino didn’t seem to mind, looking around the room with delight. “It’s so stylish!”
Indeed, it was an elegant bedroom. The decor and furniture looked expensive.
There was just one problem.
“This… it’s a double bed…”
Toru muttered, a bad feeling creeping in.
Could it be that this house had only one bedroom? He hurriedly checked the second and first floors, and his fears were confirmed.
In other words, Toru and Aino would have to sleep in the same bed.
When Toru returned to the bedroom, Aino was sitting on the bed’s edge.
“Renjō-kun… what’s wrong?”
Aino tilted her head, a gesture so cute that Toru couldn’t help but stare. Her uniform skirt revealed a glimpse of her slender, pale legs.
Shaking off stray thoughts, Toru explained the situation, and Aino let out a soft “Oh.”
Then, with a slight, pleased smile, she relaxed her expression.
“We’re engaged, so… sharing a bed is natural, right?”
“B-but, it doesn’t quite work like that…”
“Don’t you want to sleep with me, Renjō-kun?”
Aino’s eyes glistened with expectation as she looked up at him.
Her pale cheeks were bright red.
“Don’t you want to sleep with me, Renjō-kun?”
Sitting on the bed, Aino repeated with a smile.
Toru panicked.
Even if they were engaged, it felt wrong. They weren’t even dating.
“Uh, we’re minors, and if something happened…”
“Do you dislike the idea of sharing a bed with me?”
“It’s not that I dislike it—if anything, it’d be nice, but…”
Toru let his true feelings slip and immediately regretted it. Having a beautiful girl like Aino want to be by his side was honestly thrilling.
Aino trusted and needed him. After being abandoned by Chika and the Kōnoe family, that was something he hadn’t felt in a long time.
Her words made him happy. Truly happy, but…
Aino’s face lit up.
“If I want to sleep with you, and you want to sleep with me, then there’s no problem, right?”
“W-well…”
Aino’s boldness left Toru flustered. Perhaps embarrassed herself, she lowered her eyes.
Then, in a soft whisper, she said, “You know… I often can’t sleep at night.”
“Really?”
“I take sleeping pills, but… I think I’m just scared of being alone.”
Aino didn’t seem to get along with her mother and was often alone at school.
She’d always been lonely, and her delicate nature made it unsurprising that she had insomnia.
“So, I thought… maybe if you were next to me, Renjō-kun… I could sleep peacefully. Is that okay?”
Toru hesitated.
Sharing a bed felt like a problem, but Aino wanted it.
And he’d promised to support her.
After thinking it over, he nodded.
“Okay, let’s… sleep in the same bed.”
“Really!?”
“Of course. Uh, I mean, I won’t do anything weird.”
“It’s fine if you do, you know?”
Aino’s blue eyes sparkled mischievously, her expression gleeful.
Embarrassed, Toru looked away.
Trying to change the subject, he said, “Uh, for dinner, let’s order takeout…”
They had plenty of living expenses from the Kōnoe family.
In that sense, there was nothing to worry about.
“What should we get?”
“Whatever you like, Lyuti-san.”
“Thanks.”
Aino smiled gently.
They ended up settling on pizza, a safe choice.
Aino clapped her hands. “Oh, and like I said in front of Kōnoe-san… there’s one more thing I wanted to try once we started living together.”
“If it’s something I can do, I’ll do anything.”
At Toru’s words, Aino nodded and opened her mouth to speak.
But then she tilted her head, her golden hair swaying as she thought.
(What’s up…?)
Aino giggled.
“Never mind, it’s a secret.”
“Huh? Why?”
“Because if I told you, you’d definitely object, Renjō-kun, being all serious.”
“If it’s something I’d object to, I’d rather you not do it.”
“It’s fine… I’m sure you’ll like it too. And you’ll find out soon enough.”
Aino gave him a radiant smile, and Toru sensed she was up to something.
But her lovely, adorable smile made him give up pressing further.
As Aino predicted, that night, Toru would learn exactly what she’d meant.
☆
Toru soaked in the bath, staring blankly at the wall.
The day had flown by.
The first day of their cohabitation had already turned to night. The bathroom clock showed ten p.m.
The house the Kōnoe family had prepared for them was quite a mansion.
The circular bathtub, possibly made of marble, was grand, easily big enough for four people.
Bathing alone in such luxury was incredibly comfortable.
A bath this extravagant might have been designed for him and Aino to share.
(No way that’s happening, though…)
Toru muttered to himself, recalling Aino’s words.
Aino had shown her rivalry with Chika.
Maybe because of Hawkins, she’d said something outrageous about being okay with getting pregnant with his child in high school.
And she’d said she wanted to sleep in the same bed as him, and he’d gone along with it.
(I’ve got to be careful…)
If he wasn’t, he might actually end up getting Aino pregnant.
It was just the two of them in this house.
If he lost control, no one would stop him.
As Toru fretted, the bathroom door suddenly opened.
With only two people in the house, it could only be Aino.
She stood there, looking shy, wrapped in just a bath towel.
“L-Lyuti-san!?”
“Um, I came to do… that thing I wanted to try.”
“What do you mean?”
“Like I said in front of Kōnoe-san, I wanted to try taking a bath with you once we started living together.”
Now that she mentioned it, she had said something like that.
So that was the “something” she’d wanted to try.
If she’d told him beforehand, he definitely would’ve objected.
(Keeping things innocent in bed is hard enough, now I have to stay calm in the bath too…!)
Aino’s curves were more pronounced than in her uniform, naturally, given she was in just a towel.
A golden-haired, blue-eyed beauty, one towel away from being naked, was too much for Toru.
“Uh, it’s a bit embarrassing if you stare too much.”
Aino blushed, speaking softly.
Toru hurriedly turned away.
“S-sorry.”
“N-no, it’s okay. I’m… kind of happy you’re interested in me.”
Her voice was cheerful from behind him.
Soon, the sound of the shower started. She was probably rinsing off.
The water stopped, followed by soft footsteps, and then a splash as she entered the tub.
“Renjō-kun… can I get in?”
“Even if I said no, you’d get in anyway, right?”
Toru said resignedly, and Aino let out a small laugh.
She sat down in the tub, right next to him, close enough to touch.
His heart racing, Toru looked at her. She met his gaze with her blue eyes.
“Are you uncomfortable with me doing this, Renjō-kun?”
“That’s an unfair question… Of course I’m not uncomfortable, but… I’m not sure I can stay calm.”
“Might you make a move?”
“If you know that, maybe don’t do this…”
“I’m doing it because I know. I… wouldn’t mind if you did anything to me.”
Aino whispered mischievously. Her actions making Toru incredibly flustered.
How could he get through this situation unscathed?
He didn’t have the courage to do anything to Aino. He’d promised to support her, which is why he became her nominal fiancée.
But he lacked the confidence and strength to fully accept her and protect her forever.
Yet Aino said she was okay with giving him everything.
Being so trusted and needed filled him with conflicting emotions.
In this moment, he could do anything to her, and both the situation and Aino herself permitted it.
But…
In the tub, Aino’s small hand rested on his, like lovers.
“I want you to do what you want, Renjō-kun.”
She whispered sweetly in his ear.
Aino, in just a bath towel, sat beside him in the tub, whispering devilishly tempting suggestions.
“What you want is what I want.”
Aino said, her voice soft and pleading.
Toru panicked.
If this continued, he’d give in to her. Hearing her offer would be his undoing.
They were alone in the tub, after all.
He imagined Aino in her blazer, belly swollen, smiling and saying, “It’s your baby, Toru-kun.”
A wave of dizziness hit him.
That couldn’t happen.
(…But)
Aino wanted him to. She’d accept anything he did.
And, as he’d said, he was just a healthy, foolish high school boy.
It’d be a lie to say he wasn’t interested in a cute girl like Aino.
The situation allowed it. They were engaged, after all.
Aino was the one who started this, saying it was okay, so there was no need to hold back.
“Uh, really, is it okay?”
“Y-yeah… if it’s what you want.”
Aino, face red, stared at him in the tub.
Her towel, soaked, clung to her, revealing her body’s lines.
Her golden hair cascaded over her.
Aino giggled.
“The way you look at my chest… it’s naughty.”
“You’re the one making me look.”
“Yeah… you’re right.”
Aino took a deep breath, visibly nervous.
Toru’s heart raced.
(How did it come to this…? Isn’t this a problem…?)
His rationality was questioned, but it hardly mattered anymore.
“Go ahead… Renjō-kun. You can do whatever you want.”
Aino lowered her blue eyes shyly, her gesture unbearably cute.
His powerlessness, his responsibility toward her, his desire to protect her—all of it nearly faded.
But was that okay?
The thought flickered in his mind.
Toru reached for her towel—
“S-sorry!”
He stood abruptly, and Aino looked stunned.
Then he fled the bathroom.
(I can’t commit to that…)
Call him a coward, fine. He was just too scared of hurting her.
He opened the door to the changing room and shut it firmly.
“Geez, Renjō-kun… I really wouldn’t mind anything you did.”
Aino’s gentle words from behind were his only solace.
☆
Toru emerged from the bath with Aino, nothing having happened.
(Well, sharing a bath isn’t exactly “nothing”…)
He’d nearly lost control, almost tearing off her towel and giving in.
Even if he didn’t act, he’d looked at her with impure eyes.
“Since I bathed with a boy, I guess I can’t get married now, huh?”
Aino whispered playfully, making Toru’s heart skip.
She wore a thin pink negligee, sitting on the bed, swinging her pale legs.
Toru, standing, caught his breath at her radiant post-bath glow.
“But I can marry you, right, Renjō-kun?”
She said softly.
Toru felt his cheeks heat up, flustered. Aino’s face was red too.
“Since we’re engaged, that’s true, but… we didn’t do anything that’d make you unmarriageable…”
“You were looking at me with naughty eyes. …It was kinda cute how excited you got.”
Aino giggled.
Then she patted the bed next to her.
“You can sit here, Renjō-kun.”
“Uh, well…”
“Are you embarrassed because you’re conscious of me?”
“You’re the one doing things to make me conscious…”
“Oh, I’m making you embarrassed? That’s kinda nice.”
Aino’s face lit up with a happy smile.
That adorable smile was unfair.
It made him want to grant her every wish.
Toru sat beside her cautiously.
They’d be sleeping in the same bed anyway, so he couldn’t shy away from sitting next to her.
Still, both in sleepwear, sitting side by side on the bed, they felt entirely like a couple.
Glancing at Aino, Toru saw her negligee revealing her beautiful shoulders and a hint of her chest and cleavage.
Noticing his gaze, Aino blushed.
“You’re totally looking at me with naughty eyes, Renjō-kun.”
“S-sorry.”
“It’s okay. I picked this negligee for that.”
Her words surprised Toru, and he stared into her blue eyes.
Embarrassed, Aino looked away.
So she’d chosen that sleepwear to… seduce him?
“Does it… look good?”
“It’s really cute…”
A stunning blonde, blue-eyed beauty in a thin negligee was too much for Toru.
Though she’d be cute in regular pajamas too.
Aino smiled happily.
“I’m so glad… hearing you call me cute makes me happiest.”
Her small hand rested on his, its warmth flustering him.
“L-Lyuti-san…”
“You’re really nervous, Renjō-kun.”
“It’s your fault…”
“Because I’m naughty?”
“Because you’re cute.”
Aino’s eyes darted, startled by his words.
“If I’m making you nervous… that’s nice.”
Like a lover, she intertwined her fingers with his.
Then, in a sweet voice, she whispered, “There’s only one thing engaged couples do in bed, right?”
“Sleep, right?”
When Toru deliberately said that, Aino puffed out her cheeks and glared at him.
Even that expression was adorable, Toru couldn’t help but think.
“You’re being mean, Renjō-kun. There’s one other thing, right?”
Aino leaned in, resting her head lightly on his shoulder, her body pressing close.
Her golden hair swayed softly.
“Lyuti-san… if you keep doing things like that… I’m happy, but… I might really end up losing control…”
“If you want to, you can lose control, you know? …Want to continue what we started in the bath, right here?”
Aino asked softly, still leaning against him.
On the bed, beside Toru, sat Aino in her thin negligee, their hands intertwined like lovers.
She leaned into him like a girlfriend, gazing up at him with her sapphire eyes.
She’d said he could lose control, but he couldn’t just do that.
When Toru said as much, Aino smiled.
“You’re so serious, Renjō-kun.”
“And you’re so bold, Lyuti-san…”
“Am I? You know, I’ve never let anyone else do this kind of thing with me. I’m scared of guys…”
“I’m a guy too, you know…”
It was a bit of a shock to Toru, feeling like he wasn’t being treated as one.
Aino giggled.
“I know you’re a guy, Renjō-kun. You’ve looked at me with naughty eyes plenty of times.”
“That’s… yeah, sorry.”
It was true, even if it was because Aino had pressed her chest against him or joined him in the bath nearly naked.
Aino gave a gentle smile.
“You don’t need to apologize at all. You’re the exception… you’re special to me. So, for my first kiss, or… um, naughty stuff… I want it to be with you, Renjō-kun.”
She whispered, leaning into him.
Being called special made Toru dizzy with joy.
His divorced parents had lost interest in him, and the Kōnoe family and Chika, who once had expectations for him, had cast him aside as unwanted.
At school, he hadn’t found his place either.
Yet this beautiful, kind blonde girl with blue eyes needed him.
Toru gently placed a hand on Aino’s shoulder. She flinched, calling his name in her lovely voice, “Renjō-kun…”
He applied gentle pressure, pushing her shoulder down.
“Ah…”
Aino let out a small gasp.
She fell back onto the bed, her large chest bouncing with the motion. Her negligee shifted, revealing more of her chest and her bare, pale legs as the hem rode up.
Toru took a deep breath and leaned over her delicate frame.
Aino’s face flushed red, her hands shyly covering her chest.
With her eyes squeezed shut, she whispered, “You can… do whatever you want with me, Renjō-kun.”
Her body, pinned beneath him, seemed to await his touch.
Caught up in the moment, Toru had pushed her down, but now he didn’t know what to do next.
Aino, eyes closed, had said she was okay with anything.
In her thin negligee, she was breathtakingly beautiful.
If he suddenly kissed her small, red lips…
She’d be surprised but delighted.
She’d even said she wanted her first kiss to be with him.
(But is it okay to kiss her…?)
He hadn’t even confessed to her. The order of things was all wrong.
First an engagement, then cohabitation, then bathing together…
So, he should do things properly now.
Confess to Aino, have her accept, then kiss her. Move to the next step. That’s how it should go.
(But I don’t have the courage.)
The thought of Aino rejecting him or hurting her made him unable to take that step.
How could he, who’d disappointed Chika, be sure he wouldn’t disappoint Aino? Did he truly love her?
Aino had accepted the engagement due to her family’s circumstances and was bold with him, but did she really love him?
Only when Toru truly cherished her would he have the right to do such things.
Yet here he was, swept up in the moment, pinning her to the bed, leaning over her.
As Toru agonized, Aino gently touched his cheek with her right hand. The softness made his heart race.
As if seeing through him, she gazed at him with clear blue eyes.
“I know you care about me, Renjō-kun. But… you don’t have to overthink it. Just do what you want, what I want.”
“But if we did, and… you know, you got pregnant, you’d be the one in trouble, Lyuti-san.”
“I wouldn’t be troubled. I know you’d protect me.”
Aino smiled softly.
Realistically, since their engagement was backed by the powerful Kōnoe family, even if Aino got pregnant in high school, their influence could handle school and financial issues.
Of course, he could avoid getting her pregnant, and he should.
But that wasn’t the core issue.
If that happened, there’d be no going back. Hurting Aino, delicate and beautiful like glass, was what scared Toru most.
As he froze, Aino whispered sadly, “You’re not going to do anything?”
Toru was at a loss. He was the one who’d pinned her down.
Doing nothing now felt like backing out awkwardly.
On reflection, they were pressed together on the bed, and Aino’s ample cleavage was tantalizingly inviting.
Her right hand moved from his cheek to lightly grasp his arm.
She pulled his left hand toward her. Toru fully leaned over her, their faces inches apart.
Close enough to kiss with just a little movement.
Her bold move startled him.
Her sapphire eyes sparkled provocatively.
She giggled mischievously.
“I like it when you look at me with naughty eyes, Renjō-kun.”
With her going this far, Toru couldn’t hold back.
He took a deep breath.
“Uh… Lyuti-san, is it okay if I touch you?”
Her face lit up, and she nodded shyly.
Toru gently stroked her golden hair. She smiled.
“You said touch my body, and you touch my hair?”
“W-was that bad?”
“No, I’m happy… but you could touch my butt or chest if you wanted.”
Her cheeks flushed as she spoke softly.
Toru froze, his eyes drifting to her chest. The thin negligee clearly outlined its shape.
Aino looked at him playfully with her sapphire eyes.
“Your eyes are glued to my boobs, Renjō-kun.”
“That’s embarrassing to hear…”
“But it’s true, right? …Are my breasts big?”
“I-I think so… but I don’t have anyone to compare to.”
Her face lit up with joy.
“Right! You’ve never touched Kōnoe-san’s or Sakurai-san’s chests, have you?”
“I haven’t touched yours either!”
“But you will, right? I’m special, the only one you’ll do naughty things with, right?”
“Well, you’re my fiancée.”
Aino gave a seductive, enchanting smile.
Toru reached for the neckline of her negligee. She flinched, closing her eyes.
“It’s okay. With you, I’m not embarrassed no matter where you touch. I want you to make me your special someone.”
She leaned into him, urging him to continue.
She’d probably accept anything… even going all the way.
Maybe Toru needed to steel himself. If he touched her soft parts, she’d forgive him.
She might even be happy.
But.
He pulled his hand back and gently stroked her golden hair.
Aino looked at him curiously.
“Renjō-kun?”
“Uh… sorry. I’m overwhelmed… I can’t go further…”
As a healthy high school boy, he wanted to give in to the beautiful girl before him.
But he lacked the courage to go further. He’d never done this with a girl and wasn’t used to it.
To him, Aino was like a fragile gem, and he was scared of breaking her with his own hands.
She might be disappointed in his cowardice.
But Aino smiled gently, her chest still exposed, and wrapped her arms around his back, hugging him tightly.
They pressed together on the bed. Feeling her softness, his cheeks burned.
“Lyuti-san…!?”
“…We don’t have to rush, right? I’ll let you off for today. But I have a request.”
“W-what?”
“Call me by my first name. We’re engaged, so I don’t want us to be formal forever.”
“Uh, but…”
“If you don’t, I won’t let go.”
If she kept clinging to him, he’d lose it. So, for now, Toru surrendered.
“Okay, Aino-san.”
“You could drop the honorific. But thanks… Toru-kun.”
Hearing his name called so sweetly, like a lover, made his heart race.
Suddenly, Aino kissed his cheek with a soft chu. The sensation was delightful.
As he stared in shock, she smiled playfully, shyly.
“Next time, I’ll make sure you kiss my lips, Toru-kun.”
She leaned into him happily.
He might become unable to live without her. That’s how precious she was becoming, and it scared him.
He knew the fear and despair of loss all too well.
But for now… something mattered more.
Aino, right in front of him, was dear to him.
“I’ll do my best to protect you, Aino-san.”
He hugged her back, gently stroking her beautiful golden hair.
Aino’s face lit up with joy, clinging to him even tighter.
“I want to feel you, Toru-kun. Is it okay if we sleep like this?”
“Hugging each other?”
“Y-yeah. What do you think?”
She asked shyly. The first-name thing was supposed to be the trade-off, but Toru couldn’t say no and nodded.
“Yay.”
Aino whispered softly. Embarrassed, Toru turned off the room’s lights.
“Good night, Toru-kun.”
“Uh… good night, Aino-san.”
Despite saying that, with Aino’s delicate body in his arms, he couldn’t stay calm.
Especially after touching her chest, he was too excited to sleep.
But Aino soon began breathing softly, fast asleep.
She’d fallen asleep so easily.
Despite her insomnia and sleeping pills, she was out like a light, leaving Toru stunned.
Her words about feeling safe with him must have been true.
She trusted him that much.
That was more precious to him than seeing her naked or touching her chest.
Aino needed him.
He didn’t know when that might end, but for now, he was her fiancée.
As long as that was true, he wanted to live up to her trust and support her.
“Mm… Toru-kun…”
Aino mumbled in her sleep.
Toru gently reached out.
And softly stroked her beautiful golden hair.
☆
In front of him stood Aino in her blazer uniform.
It was seven-thirty in the morning.
Toru, also in his uniform, was in the living room of their shared house. They sat at the table, eating breakfast bought from a convenience store the day before.
Aino was adorably nibbling on an onigiri and sipping instant miso soup.
Recalling last night—bathing together and sleeping in the same bed—his face heated up.
(N-nothing more happened, though…)
Aino gazed at Toru happily.
“This feels like we’re family, doesn’t it?”
“Yeah, it does.”
Toru nodded honestly. Since being cast out of the Kōnoe household, he’d lived alone for a long time.
Eating breakfast with someone like this was a rare treat.
Aino smiled.
“Starting tomorrow, should I make breakfast?”
“You, Lyutil-san?”
“It’s just ‘Aino,’ right?”
“Oh, right, Aino-san.”
When Toru called her by name, Aino giggled, tickled but delighted.
Using her first name did make them feel closer.
“Can you cook, Aino-san?”
“Um… I think I could if I tried.”
So, she hadn’t cooked much.
Raised as a refined young lady, it wasn’t surprising.
Toru couldn’t help but chuckle.
“Should I do it? I’m pretty used to it.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
Living alone helped, but more than that, when Toru was in elementary school, the Kōnoe family’s private chef had taken a liking to him.
When she learned he was interested in cooking, she eagerly taught him. Looking back, it was quite professional training.
She was probably bored, with little to do in the Kōnoe mansion.
Like Toka, the Kōnoe family treated their staff well—high pay, good conditions.
It was a sign of their wealth and prestige as a conglomerate. Though they were strict with their own kin.
“So, Aino-san, you don’t have to push yourself.”
“But… that feels unfair to you, Toru-kun.”
“Does it? How about we split the chores then?”
That way, Aino wouldn’t feel burdened. Living together meant they’d have to address these things eventually.
Aino smiled and nodded. “Okay.”
“And if you want, I can teach you to cook.”
“Of course. If that’s all it takes, I’ll do it anytime.”
“Thanks. We’re… kind of like newlyweds, huh?”
Aino’s blue eyes sparkled mischievously.
Toru felt his cheeks heat up.
No guy would be unhappy marrying someone as cute as her.
And right now, he was her fiancée.
Trying to hide his embarrassment, he changed the subject.
“Anyway, let’s head to school.”
The house was within walking distance of school.
There was no rush, but it was time to get ready.
Aino looked up at him with her blue eyes, a pleading expression.
“I have a request.”
“What?”
If it was something he could do, he’d do anything for her.
A bit shyly, she whispered, “Can I walk to school with you, Toru-kun?”
“W-well…”
“Is that a no?”
“Not a no, but… we’ll probably get teased by the class.”
Leaving the same house, heading to school, and entering the classroom together would raise questions about their relationship.
Explaining would be a hassle. Toru imagined their classmate Asuka glaring, demanding, “What’s going on?”
Aino tilted her head cutely.
“Just tell them we’re engaged.”
“But isn’t that a bit embarrassing? Keeping it quiet might be safer.”
“I’m not embarrassed to be your fiancée, Toru-kun.”
Her direct gaze made him falter.
She was right.
There was no need to be embarrassed about their engagement, and doing so would be disrespectful to her.
Aino giggled. “Besides, you said you wanted to make babies with me, bathed with me, slept in the same bed—so what’s there to be embarrassed about now?”
“…You’re right.”
Toru glanced at her chest, and Aino shyly crossed her arms to cover it, her face reddening.
“You’re such a perv, Toru-kun.”
“N-no, I’m not…”
“Maybe I’ll brag to Kōnoe-san and Sakurai-san about what you did to me yesterday.”
“Please don’t…”
“You can do those things to me again when we get home, you know?”
Aino whispered in his ear, making his heart race.
She clearly planned to bathe and sleep together again tonight.
“And that’s why I’d love to walk to school with you.”
Her words made him surrender.
And so, Toru ended up walking to school with Aino.
☆
On the way, Aino was in high spirits.
She seemed ready to whistle, which was kind of cute.
But there was a problem.
“Uh, Aino-san… if you cling to me like that, it’s kind of tough…”
Aino was gripping his arm tightly with both hands, like a couple arm-in-arm.
Her soft touch made his cheeks burn.
Aino giggled.
“Why’s it tough for you, Toru-kun?”
“You don’t get it?”
“Oh, you’re blushing, Toru-kun. Cute!”
Her sapphire eyes gleamed playfully.
The stares from passersby and her body’s warmth were hard to ignore.
Not blushing would be weirder, Toru thought.
But seeing her so happy, he couldn’t pull away.
Instead, he said softly, “Being called cute as a guy feels… complicated.”
“I think you’re not just cute but cool too, Toru-kun.”
Her straightforward words threw him off.
He was completely at her mercy.
Aino smiled happily. Then clung to him even tighter.
“This feels like a uniform date, doesn’t it?”
“Well, maybe…”
When he agreed, she nodded excitedly. “Right!”
They were nearing school, and other students’ stares were noticeable.
He felt like he recognized some faces, breaking into a cold sweat.
And then he saw someone he knew.
Turning a corner, they spotted a tall girl.
Her uniform was slightly disheveled, but she was strikingly beautiful.
It was their classmate, Sakurai Asuka.
Noticing them, Asuka let out an “Ah.”
Seeing Toru and Aino arm-in-arm, her face reddened.
(This is awkward…)
In the library, when Aino had blurted out, “Renjō-kun said he wanted to make babies with me!” Asuka had been there.
And Aino had asked her, “Do you like Renjō-kun?” He didn’t know why Aino suspected that, but since then, he hadn’t talked properly with Asuka in class.
Asuka stopped, taking a deep breath.
Then she approached, glaring at them.
“You and Lyuti-san seem to be having fun this morning, Renjō.”
“We’re engaged.”
Aino answered with a smile.
Her blue eyes and Asuka’s black ones seemed to spark as they locked gazes.
Toru watched nervously.
Aino pressed her chest against him, as if showing off to Asuka. Toru panicked, and Asuka puffed out her cheeks.
“Toru-kun and I live together now. Because we’re engaged.”
Aino’s words seemed to shock Asuka.
But she quickly recovered, flashing a defiant grin.
“So what? You only just started talking to Renjō, right? I’ve known him way longer!”
Asuka declared, countering Aino. Toru found it odd that she felt so competitive.
He and Asuka were supposed to be allies against “defeating Kōnoe Chika.” But now, Asuka seemed to have forgotten Chika, focusing only on him and Aino.
Aino wore a confident smile.
“But from now on, I’ll get to know Toru-kun better.”
“True. If things keep going like this, that might happen.”
Asuka glanced at Toru, her expression shy.
In a small voice, she said, “I lied the other day.”
“Huh?”
“I said I didn’t like you, Renjō. That was a lie.”
Toru caught his breath. Glancing at Aino, he saw her quietly watching Asuka with her blue eyes.
Asuka’s face was red up to her ears.
Then, with resolve, she looked straight at him.
“If… I said I liked you, what would you do?”
Her words stunned him.
Though phrased hypothetically, it was essentially a confession.
Caught off guard, Toru didn’t know why she’d like him.
Asuka blushed, clearly embarrassed.
“At first, I approached you to beat Kōnoe Chika.”
“But you ended up liking him?”
Aino’s question made Asuka look away.
“Because… Renjō listened to me seriously… He didn’t laugh when I said I wanted to beat that perfect superhuman Chika and supported me. He’s the only one who really understood me.”
Toru didn’t think he’d understood Asuka. They’d spent a fair amount of time together since junior high.
But he hadn’t even known she liked him.
Yet Aino smiled and murmured, “I get it.”
“I feel the same.”
“So you like Renjō too, right, Lyuti-san?”
“…I belong to Toru-kun. And he belongs to me.”
Aino stared directly at Asuka with her blue eyes.
Asuka’s expression grew flustered.
“You mean you and Renjō…”
“We bathed together and slept in the same bed.”
Aino blushed shyly.
(That’s misleading…!)
It was true, so not entirely a misunderstanding.
But it sounded like they’d gone all the way.
As Toru opened his mouth to explain, he noticed tears in Asuka’s black eyes.
“Uh, Sakurai-san? There’s a lot to this…”
“You idiot, Renjō!”
Asuka shouted, wiped her tears, and ran off toward school.
As Toru watched her go, stunned, Aino tugged at his uniform sleeve.
“Hey, Toru-kun.”
“What?”
“Getting confessed to by a cute girl like Sakurai-san must make you happy, right?”
“Uh, well…”
It’d be a lie to say he wasn’t. Asuka was straightforward, cheerful, fun to talk to, and, as Aino said, quite cute. Toru respected her determination to challenge Chika.
If Aino weren’t around, how would he have responded to Asuka’s confession?
But he had Aino now.
She looked at him anxiously, and he understood her worry.
“I’m… your fiancée, right, Toru-kun?”
“Of course. Don’t worry, I’m not going to break off our engagement just because Sakurai-san confessed.”
“Really?”
“I promised to support you.”
At that, Aino’s voice brightened with a happy “Yay.”
To Toru, Aino was no longer just a nominal fiancée.
But he hadn’t confessed, and they weren’t boyfriend and girlfriend.
Still, it was undeniable that Aino was becoming precious to him.
He hoped she felt the same.
Deep down, he realized he was too entangled with her to turn back.
“Toru-kun… we’ll go to school together every day, right? Not Sakurai-san or Kōnoe-san, but me with you.”
“I’m your fiancée, after all.”
Hesitantly, Toru gently stroked her golden hair.
Aino’s blue eyes widened, then she happily accepted his touch.
☆
At school, Toru felt nervous opening the classroom door.
Because he was with Aino.
Hesitating at the door, Aino tilted her head curiously.
“What’s wrong, Toru-kun?”
“Just… wondering how everyone will react.”
Neither he nor Aino had many friends in class.
Two loners entering together would definitely draw attention.
Aino smiled softly.
“Don’t worry. We’re… engaged, after all.”
She said it shyly. Toru noted “engaged, after all” was becoming her catchphrase.
It was, for now, the most important aspect of their relationship.
It was early, so few classmates were in the room.
Steeling himself, Toru took a deep breath.
A voice called from behind.
“Morning, Renjō-kun and Lyuti-san.”
Turning, he saw Kōnoe Chika, her glossy black hair touched by her right hand, looking at him directly but uneasily.
She seemed to want to say something but couldn’t quite bring herself to.
“Uh, morning, Kōnoe-san.”
Toru replied, but Chika fidgeted.
At the Kōnoe mansion, he, Aino, and Chika had faced off, and Chika had fled after Aino asked, “Do you still love Toru-kun?” leaving her speechless.
What did Chika want now?
(Talking somewhere other than school would’ve been better…)
Their past engagement was a secret at school.
They couldn’t discuss anything too personal in public without drawing attention.
But since they were estranged, school was likely the only place Chika could approach him.
Aino smiled mischievously and pressed herself against Toru like a lover.
Her delicate, warm touch made his heart race.
Chika’s face reddened, and she glared at them.
“Renjō-kun… last night, you didn’t… do anything weird to Lyuti-san, did you?”
He meant to say no but faltered.
Bathing and sleeping together wasn’t exactly “nothing.”
Seeing him silent, Chika panicked.
“N-no way… you really… did something that could make a baby?”
Toru and Aino exchanged glances. Aino giggled, looking at Chika with her blue eyes.
“You’re kind of a perv, aren’t you, Kōnoe-san?”
“You’re the one who said things to make me think that!”
As Chika confronted her, Aino smiled confidently.
“We didn’t do anything to make me pregnant. Though I wouldn’t mind.”
Chika visibly relaxed.
But Aino pressed further.
“But we did bathe together.”
“What?”
“Toru-kun looked at me with naughty eyes a lot.”
“I bathed with Toru too!”
“That was in sixth grade, right? And we slept in the same bed too…”
Toru hurriedly tugged at Aino’s sleeve to stop her, but it was too late.
Chika’s face was red up to her ears, her black eyes teary as she glared at them.
“I’ve decided.”
“Huh?”
“As a member of the Kōnoe family, I have a duty to ensure you two don’t do anything indecent.”
“I don’t think that’s a thing…”
Toru said cautiously, and Chika puffed out her cheeks.
“It is.”
Even if it was, Toru wondered how Chika planned to “supervise” them.
Her answer came quickly.
“I’m going to live in the same house as you two.”
Chika said it as if it were obvious.
“You’re going to live with us!?”
Toru was startled by her declaration.
A refined young lady like Chika, from a prestigious family, living under the same roof as a guy would surely be forbidden.
Sure, when they were engaged, they lived in the Kōnoe mansion together, but that was as kids, with parental approval.
Now was different.
Besides, Toru was already living with Aino.
Aino tilted her head.
“That house was prepared for me and Toru-kun, wasn’t it?”
“Yes. But it was provided by the Kōnoe family, which means it’s my family’s property. There’s nothing strange about me living there.”
“Is that so? I don’t think your father or that secretary lady… Tokieda-san would allow it.”
Aino seemed to share Toru’s opinion.
To the Kōnoe family, Chika’s value was immense.
As the only daughter of the main family’s head, she was destined to lead the Kōnoe family.
Her excellence set her apart.
She wasn’t like Toru or Aino, who were merely used by the family.
More importantly, there was another issue.
“I don’t get why you’d care about me, your ex-fiancé, now, Kōnoe-san. You and the Kōnoe family kicked me out of the mansion.”
“I didn’t kick you out. That was my father’s decision… I was against it.”
Chika’s words surprised Toru. He’d assumed she was fully on board with ending their engagement.
Hesitantly, he asked, “I thought you hated me, Chika.”
Her eyes widened, and for a moment, she looked delighted.
Then her face flushed.
“You just called me ‘Chika,’ didn’t you?”
“Oh, sorry. Old habit.”
“It’s fine. I’ll let it slide… I absolutely hate you, though.”
“I figured.”
Chika puffed out her cheeks and glared at him.
As expected, she still despised him.
Yet Toru wasn’t shaken. Before, just seeing her would have drowned him in self-loathing.
That must be because Aino was by his side.
Aino interjected, “I like Toru-kun, though.”
She smiled gently at Chika.
Chika glared back.
“What do you know about me and Toru?”
“I could say the same to you. You have no right to interfere with me and Toru-kun.”
“I do. I’m his ex-fiancée.”
“So you can’t stand seeing your ex-fiancé happy?”
“Tch… yeah, that’s right! Got a problem with that?”
“Hmm. So you’re coming to watch us to make sure we don’t do naughty things?”
“If I don’t, you’ll probably end up pregnant with Toru’s kid.”
Chika said something outrageous.
Though there weren’t many students around, they were in a school hallway. Toru broke into a cold sweat at the thought of others overhearing.
Aino fixed Chika with her sapphire eyes.
“That’s not your real reason, is it? You actually want to bathe with Toru-kun and sleep in his bed, don’t you?”
Chika looked down briefly, took a deep breath, and then countered, “If I said I did, would you give him up, Lyuti-san?”
“No way. Bathing with Toru-kun and sleeping with him are my privileges.”
“Then I’ll take those privileges from you. Starting today, I’m coming to your house… just watch!”
With that declaration, Chika turned on her heel and strode away.
If the Kōnoe family didn’t stop her, she might actually show up.
Toru and Aino had no right to object.
It was a house provided by the Kōnoe family, after all.
But Aino didn’t look troubled; she seemed amused.
Glancing at Toru, she giggled.
“Our sweet newlywed life for two is ruined, huh?”
“We’re not married yet…”
“Just a matter of time, right?”
Aino peered into his eyes mischievously, making him falter.
Her pale finger gently touched his cheek.
She said playfully, “We’ll have to show Kōnoe-san how engaged we are, won’t we?”
☆
On the way to school, Asuka confessed to him, and at the classroom door, Chika declared she’d live with them. It was a hectic morning.
(At this rate, crazy things will keep happening all day…)
Toru seriously wondered if he’d even make it home with Aino.
But once in the classroom, things were relatively calm.
Some classmates seemed curious about how close he and Aino were.
Aside from Asuka, no one was close enough to pry. Asuka’s glare was intimidating, but when he glanced at her, she turned away.
During breaks, Aino came to his desk, happily chatting. It made him happy too, though it drew attention, but that was it.
The issue came during second period: gym class.
Though gym was separated by gender, it was held at the same time on the same field.
For warm-ups, they had to do partner stretches.
Toru had no close friends. He usually paired with Ooki, a friendly eccentric guy.
But Ooki was absent today.
This was a problem, Toru thought.
Without Ooki, the boys’ numbers were uneven.
He was the odd one out.
As he considered asking the teacher, someone tapped his shoulder.
Turning, he saw Aino in her gym clothes, smiling brightly.
“Alone, Toru-kun?”
He’d never paid much attention to her before, so this was his first real look at her in gym clothes.
Her white shirt clearly showed her chest’s shape, and her navy shorts ended above the knee, her pale legs dazzling.
Aino blushed, looking up at him.
“Geez… don’t look at me with naughty eyes at school, okay?”
“S-sorry. You’re just so cute, Aino-san…”
Her face lit up, and she giggled proudly.
“I’ll forgive you… You can do naughty things to me as much as you want at home. Excited?”
“W-well… yeah.”
Resigned, Toru admitted honestly, and Aino nodded happily.
Then she clapped her hands.
“I didn’t come here just to let you ogle my gym clothes.”
“Well, yeah.”
“If you don’t have a partner, want to pair with me?”
“Huh?”
“One of the girls is absent too. So, what do you think?”
Aino was the odd one out too. There was no rule against mixed-gender pairs for warm-ups.
Glancing at the boys’ gym teacher, he gave a look that said, “Go ahead.”
Since Toru was in a bind, it was a welcome offer.
Though he worried about being so close to Aino during exercise, it was too late for that.
He nodded, and Aino smiled.
“Let’s do it.”
First, Toru sat on the field, and Aino pressed his shoulders from behind for stretches.
“Your body’s so flexible, Toru-kun…!”
“I-I guess…”
Her palms’ touch distracted him too much to focus.
Now they switched, Toru helping Aino stretch.
When he placed his hands on her back, she trembled slightly.
“W-what’s wrong?”
“N-nothing. Just… your hands are big.”
“I’m a guy, after all.”
“Right.”
Aino seemed ticklish and a bit shy.
They continued the warm-ups like this. Aino’s excessive touching of his body was a bit distracting.
During the process, Aino glanced at the girls’ gym teacher.
Her name was Tono, a young teacher, probably mid-twenties.
Wondering what Aino was looking at, Toru noticed a silver glint on Tono-sensei’s ring finger.
Noticing his gaze, Aino blushed and whispered, “Tono-sensei got engaged recently.”
“Oh, so that’s her engagement ring.”
“Yeah, it’s nice, isn’t it? An engagement ring…”
Aino murmured softly, then looked startled and shook her head.
“I-I mean, it’s probably too soon for us… and they’re expensive, so I’m not saying I want one.”
“But you’re interested?”
“…It’s something I admire. My parents didn’t get along… so wearing an engagement or wedding ring all the time, showing how much you treasure each other, feels special, doesn’t it?”
“I get that.”
Since Toru’s parents’ relationship was cold as far back as he could remember, he’d never seen them wear wedding rings.
Of course, rings don’t guarantee love, and some couples are close without them.
But they’re a symbol, no doubt.
“When we’re adults, it’d be nice to wear matching rings.”
Aino whispered shyly in his ear.
Toru nodded. “Yeah.”
(When we’re adults…)
He hoped for that and was surprised by his own thoughts.
Being Aino’s fiancée was starting to feel natural.
But whether their engagement would last that long was uncertain.
The Kōnoe family, Aino, and Toru himself were all changing. No one could predict where they’d be in a few years.
Still.
Toru decided to do what he could for Aino now.
And he hoped… to one day give her an engagement ring and stay with her until then.
Post a Comment