Chapter 3: Flirty After-School Date
Lunch break. Following the time specified in the so-called love letter, Toru headed to the old school building.
The letter was straightforward: it expressed affection for Toru and asked him to come to the biology prep room in the old school building during lunch.
Of course, Toru had Aino, so he planned to turn down the confession. But if it was a genuine confession, ignoring it felt a bit too harsh.
The old school building was occasionally used for special classes, but during lunch, it was practically deserted.
Especially on the fourth floor.
Toru stepped into the cramped room labeled "Biology Prep Room." No one was there. Despite its name, the room was basically a storage closet, stuffed with everything from gym mats to a globe.
"Maybe it’s just a prank," Toru muttered.
According to Chika and Asuka, it wouldn’t be surprising if Toru got a confession from a girl, but he couldn’t think of anyone who’d do this.
Then again, he’d completely missed Asuka’s feelings despite her being so close, so maybe he was just clueless.
Lost in thought, he heard the door creak open.
"You actually showed up, senpai♪"
Mai Minase stood there, winking playfully with one eye.
Toru stared back, half-exasperated, half-surprised.
"Wait, don’t tell me you wrote that love letter, Minase-san?"
"Yup, that’s me!"
"Why would you…? You don’t even like me like that, do you?"
"I don’t exactly dislike you either, y’know. Plus, I’m dead serious about marrying you and taking over the Konoe family."
"Is that just your rivalry with Chika talking?"
"Partly, sure. But not entirely."
"Then it’s about getting back at Aino-san, huh?"
Toru said it to test her, and Mai’s face went blank in an instant.
Oof, stepped on a landmine, Toru thought.
But Mai was the one who’d tricked him into coming here with that letter.
And he was curious about her real motive.
"So what if it is?" she shot back.
"I’m on Aino-san’s side. She’s my fiancée. I can’t help you with whatever you’re planning."
Toru’s tone was calm but firm. This was a line he wouldn’t cross.
Mai stomped closer, raising her hand toward him. Toru braced for a slap, but instead, she did something unexpected.
Grabbing his collar, Mai deliberately stumbled backward, pulling him off balance. Toru lurched forward, and her ample chest jiggled with the motion.
Instinctively, he caught her to break her fall, and they both tumbled to the floor. Luckily, there was a mat to cushion the impact.
"…Senpai," Mai whispered, her voice soft, her eyes glistening as she gazed up at him.
Right now, Toru was pinning Mai down on the mat. Her skirt had ridden up, revealing her pale thighs.
"You… pushing me down like this out of nowhere… you’re such a perv, senpai!"
"You did that on purpose, didn’t you, Minase-san?"
Mai’s face fell into a pout, clearly unimpressed.
"You’re no fun, senpai."
"And if I was having fun, what then?"
"W-Well, I mean, that’d be… kinda okay, I guess?"
"What’s your game here?"
"Hmm, let’s say… what if I told everyone you dragged me into this classroom and assaulted me? What then?"
She said it with a gleeful smirk, pulling out her phone and snapping a photo of the two of them in this compromising position.
"This pic would make great evidence, right? You’d be labeled a criminal, expelled, and maybe even your engagement with Lyuti-senpai would be called off."
So that was it. She was trying to trap him. Toru nodded to himself.
"You really think people would buy that so easily?"
"I’m just a frail middle school girl, and you’re a high school guy, senpai. I’m an honor student, you know? All I’d have to do is scream ‘help’ right here, and it’s game over."
Toru let out a dry chuckle.
Mai glared at him, her expression souring.
"What’s so funny?"
"If you were serious about this, Minase-san, you’re kinda slipping. That’s all."
"Slipping? Slipping?! I could ruin your life, you know!"
"This place is dead during lunch. Scream all you want—no one’s coming."
"B-But even if I don’t scream, I’ve got this photo. I can just tell everyone later—"
"If no one’s around, I could just take your phone and delete the photo. By force, if I have to."
"Y-You wouldn’t…"
She clearly hadn’t considered that possibility.
Toru leaned in, doubling down for effect.
"And what if I did assault you right here? It’s just you and me. No one’s coming."
With that, he reached out and gently brushed her hair.
Of course, he had no intention of actually harming her, but a little intimidation was necessary to keep her from pulling this kind of stunt again.
Mai flinched, trembling like a scared animal, her eyes welling up as she looked at him.
"I-I…"
She clamped her mouth shut, squeezing her eyes closed.
That vulnerable expression stirred something dark in him for a split second, but Toru quickly shoved it down.
"I’m not gonna do anything. Relax."
"Liar."
"I’m not lying. And you didn’t really plan to frame me, did you?"
If she was serious about ruining him, she could’ve come up with a better plan. Mai was a sharp honor student, despite her occasional airheadedness. She didn’t need to resort to something this sloppy.
Mai puffed out her cheeks, then gave a soft smile.
"You’ve got me all figured out, huh?"
"I don’t think you’re that bad of a person, Minase-san."
"Everyone else seems to think I am."
"I don’t know about them, but I don’t."
Toru said it with conviction.
Mai blinked, then looked away, her expression awkward.
"Honestly… it could’ve gone either way."
"Either way?"
"If you did try something, it’d drive a wedge between you and Lyuti-senpai, which would help my plan to take over the Konoe family. So I tempted you on purpose. Saying I’d frame you was just to rile you up, maybe push you to… y’know, make a move."
"You didn’t have to do something this risky for that. You should value yourself more."
"I don’t have a ‘self’ worth valuing."
Mai’s voice was barely a whisper.
At that moment, voices drifted in from the hallway. Toru had thought the place was deserted, but apparently, there were exceptions.
The problem was what they were saying.
"I can’t stand Minase, y’know."
It sounded like Mai’s classmates. They were clearly jealous of her popularity with boys, and one of them seemed to think Mai had stolen her crush.
They trashed her as they walked away.
Mai’s lips curled into a hollow, self-deprecating smile.
"See? That’s who I am. Not some popular girl—just a scheming, busty slut. Guys leer at me, girls hate me. I’m nothing like Konoe-senpai."
"But you’re the middle school student council president. You’ve got great grades, and, uh…"
"You’re not gonna compliment my looks?" Mai teased, her tone lightening.
"You’re ridiculously cute. I mean, maybe that’s just me seeing you the same way those guys do, but…"
"Meh, I’ll let it slide since it’s you, senpai."
She giggled softly.
Toru pressed on, trying to hide his embarrassment.
"And you’re a refined young lady from a good family, right? You’ve got class."
"Hahaha, says the golden boy from the Konoe clan!"
"Well, in that sense, we’re kinda the same, aren’t we?"
"But I’m adopted. No blood ties."
Mai said it casually.
Toru froze, unsure how to respond. Noticing his hesitation, Mai’s expression shifted to mild panic.
"I-It’s not that big a deal, really! My dad’s Japanese, and he fell in love with my Estonian mom. I was born, but then they died in an accident… and Akira Minase, my dad’s best friend, took me in."
"Oh, I see. That’s why I didn’t know."
Toru had no memory of the Minase family having a daughter. He’d assumed he just wasn’t aware, but this explained it.
His secretary, Toka, must’ve kept it under wraps.
Mai’s face softened.
"My dad—my foster dad—dotes on me, even though I’m just some mouthy kid with no blood relation. I want to repay him."
The pieces were starting to come together.
The Minase family was a prestigious branch of the Konoe clan, but still just a branch. That seemed to grate on the family head. There were probably practical issues at play too.
The Minase family had distanced itself from the Konoe main house at some point, maybe even clashed with them.
In that context, sending Mai, the adopted daughter, to infiltrate and take over the Konoe family made sense. It was ruthless, but if she wasn’t a blood heir, it was even more logical. Without Konoe blood, her marriage to Toru, a branch family member, would be a strategic move.
Still, Toru couldn’t help but think—
"If your dad really cares about you, would he want you to do this?"
"I…"
"Fathers cry their eyes out just when their daughters bring home a boyfriend, y’know."
Toru said it half-jokingly. He didn’t know the real state of Mai’s relationship with her foster father.
But if it was genuinely good, her dad wouldn’t want her doing this. And if it was only surface-level affection, Mai had no obligation to seduce Toru for the Minase family’s sake.
Mai seemed to follow his logic, but her eyes dropped.
"I’m scared. Of losing my place. All I have is being the Minase family’s daughter. Without that, I couldn’t go to this school or be the student council president. I… I don’t even have any real friends."
Her voice was small, fragile.
Toru thought for a moment, then mustered his courage.
"Then how about I be your friend?"
"Huh?"
Mai stared at him like he’d grown a second head, and Toru felt his face heat up.
"I mean, I can’t marry you and hand over the Konoe family or anything, but if you’re in trouble, I can help. As a friend."
"I don’t need your pity, senpai."
"Not pity. Just, y’know, friends."
Mai gave him a skeptical look, then let out a soft laugh.
"Well, if you’re that desperate to be my friend, I guess I can humor you."
"That’s… kinda condescending."
"I’m a bad girl, remember?"
Then, suddenly, her face flushed, and she mumbled, "W-Well, nice to meet you, I guess."
She looked so cute that Toru couldn’t help but stare for a moment. But then Aino’s face flashed in his mind, and he thought, I still love Aino-san more.
It might be rude to compare, but his feelings for Aino were unshakable.
Mai whispered, "Uh, don’t you think it’s time to get off me? Friends don’t usually pin each other down like this."
Toru realized he was still straddling her. He scrambled to his feet, and Mai stood, straightening her clothes.
Then she smirked.
"You were totally getting turned on, weren’t you?"
"No way."
"Oh, come on, don’t play dumb! We’re friends, right?"
"Exactly why I’m not admitting to anything like that."
"Hmm. Y’know, ‘biology prep room’ sounds kinda naughty, doesn’t it? Preparing biology?"
"What?"
"Like, preparing for baby-making, right?!"
Toru choked, coughing violently at her outrageous comment.
But Mai wasn’t done.
She cupped her chest with both hands, emphasizing their size even through her uniform. They were… aggressive, maybe even bigger than Aino’s or Chika’s.
Toru’s eyes followed instinctively, lingering a bit too long.
Too late—he caught himself, but Mai was already laughing.
"Hahaha! Senpai, you’re so obvious! Totally glued to a middle schooler’s chest!"
"That was your fault, okay?!"
"Sure, sure. I’m the bad girl, and now your friend. Yeah… I like this."
Mai murmured dreamily, almost to herself.
Toru had a sinking feeling he might’ve just signed up for something wild by agreeing to be friends with this unpredictable girl.
And, as it turned out, two people weren’t thrilled about his decision.
"To… ru?" "Renjou~!"
He whipped around to see Chika and Asuka at the door.
(When did they get here?!)
Cold sweat ran down his back. Apparently, worried that Toru might get “stolen” by another girl because of the love letter, they’d been watching the whole thing from the shadows.
Asuka yanked Toru’s tie.
"I’m supposed to be your friend, aren’t I?! Making new ones without telling me is just cruel!"
"Well, sure, you’re my friend, Sakurai-san, but normally people don’t need permission to make new friends…"
"You need mine!"
She thumped his chest, and Toru floundered. Chika, meanwhile, was glaring at Mai with narrowed eyes.
"What’s this? Did you actually fall for Toru in this short time?"
Mai’s face went beet red for a split second before she snapped, "N-No way that’s true!"
"Just friends, okay? Friends. But, well, if senpai really wanted to marry me, I wouldn’t say no."
"Toru’s not gonna say that, so relax. He’s only marrying me and Aino-san."
"Bigamy’s the plan?!"
Chika and Mai bickered loudly. Those two really didn’t get along.
Maybe Mai’s issue was settled… or was it?
Either way, Toru had a bigger problem to tackle.
He needed to clear up Aino’s misunderstanding and make things right with her.
☆
“Aino-san.”
Aino turned at Toru’s call, her cheeks puffed out in a pout.
“What’s the big idea, dragging me out here?”
It was after school, and Toru had messaged Aino on LINE to meet him by the shoe lockers.
He flashed a gentle smile. “I thought we could walk home together.”
“Hmph. What about Chika-chan and the others?”
“They’re heading home separately.”
Toru had anticipated Chika and Asuka insisting on tagging along, so he’d cleared it with them beforehand. When he pointed out that he’d already walked to school with them that morning, they reluctantly agreed. Chika, in particular, probably felt a bit guilty since she was part of the reason for Aino’s upset.
Toru glanced at Aino, trying to read her mood. “You still mad?”
“Not really. I wasn’t even mad to begin with.”
Toru knew that was a lie but kept quiet. Pointing it out would only make her angrier.
“Don’t wanna walk home together?”
“If you’re that desperate, I guess I could humor you.”
Aino’s tone was sharp, her expression all tsundere.
Toru couldn’t help but chuckle.
She blinked, caught off guard. “What’s so funny?”
“Just… didn’t know you could make that face, Aino-san. It’s cute.”
“H-Huh. Cute, huh…” Aino mumbled, fidgeting with a strand of her hair.
They fell into step side by side, walking naturally. A quiet stretch passed, but it didn’t feel awkward.
Aino broke the silence with a soft murmur. “I get it, you know.”
“Hm?”
“You’re the type who’d only pull that prank on Chika-chan by accident, right? Like, you mistook her for me or something.”
She was spot-on.
Toru explained how he’d mixed up Aino and Chika’s positions, and Aino nodded.
“Knew it. But still… when I thought you did something naughty with just Chika-chan and not me, it made me so sad and frustrated…”
Her emotions had gotten the better of her, it seemed.
Toru could relate. If the roles were reversed, he’d feel the same.
(If I imagined Aino-san with another guy…)
The thought alone made him shudder.
“Sorry.”
“Why are you apologizing? It’s not your fault.”
“For making you feel sad.”
“Then make me happy to make up for it.”
“That’s why I asked you to walk home together.”
Aino’s face softened into a smile. “Heh, so this is an after-school date, huh?”
She seemed to be cheering up a bit.
“Feels like a waste to just head straight home… Wanna swing by Chikusae Station?”
It was a suggestion from Aino. Chikusae Station was one of the nearest stops to Kobunkan Middle and High School, though it was in the opposite direction from their homes. It wasn’t a place they frequented, but as a decently sized JR station, the area around it was lively. There were prep schools, arcades, and plenty of places to hang out.
Plus, a bookstore.
“Sounds good. Let’s do it. Wanna hit the bookstore?”
“Yep!” Aino nodded eagerly, her mood visibly brightening.
She started chatting about her day at school, clearly in high spirits. Aino, who used to have few friends, had been fitting in better lately, thanks to Chika. Toru had heard about her going to karaoke with other girls, but it seemed she was now connecting with classmates more casually too.
Seeing Aino so happy warmed Toru’s heart, though a small part of him couldn’t help but think, I used to have her all to myself.
As if reading his mind, Aino stepped in front of him, spinning to face him with a playful twirl.
“No need to worry. You’re still the most important person to me, y’know? I only talk to girls anyway.”
“I-I’m not worried.”
“Liar. But I kinda like that you’re jealous. I’m always the one getting jealous.”
“Sorry. It’s not just Chika—Sakurai-san’s been coming over too.”
“And maybe Mai-chan too, huh?”
The memory of the biology prep room incident flashed through Toru’s mind. Aino wasn’t entirely off the mark. Chika and Asuka had already seen everything, so Aino would probably hear about it soon enough.
Better to come clean now.
Toru recounted how Mai had called him to the prep room at lunch, how she’d tried to tempt him, and how nothing happened but they’d agreed to be friends.
Aino blinked in surprise. “Mai-chan making friends? That’s rare.”
“Yeah, she said she doesn’t have any friends she can really trust.”
It occurred to Toru that Aino and Mai had been friends back in elementary school but had a falling out. Curious about their history, he was about to ask when Aino beat him to it.
“Both Mai-chan and I stood out, y’know? Pale skin, different hair colors.”
“Yeah, that makes sense. Plus, you’re both total beauties.”
“Exactly! …Wait, you think Mai-chan’s a beauty too?”
“Uh, I mean…”
“She is cute, objectively speaking. I’d say so too.”
Toru couldn’t help but imagine how striking they’d look together. It wasn’t a bad thought—just an appreciation of their charm.
But apparently, their elementary school classmates hadn’t seen it that way.
Aino wasn’t the most socially adept back then—something Toru found endearing—but it made her a target for bullying. Mai had stepped in to protect her, only to become the target herself.
Aino hadn’t been able to help Mai in return. That was the root of their rift.
Aino stared at the ground, her voice barely above a whisper. “Toru-kun, I’m a coward. I couldn’t even protect my one precious friend. I don’t have the courage to stand up to anything. Mai-chan has every right to be mad at me. Are you… disappointed in me?”
“No way. It’s not your fault. I might’ve frozen up in the same situation.”
“Really? I bet you’d have protected her.”
“I abandoned Chika during that kidnapping incident, remember? She’s forgiven me, but I still feel guilty.”
Aino gave him a gentle smile. “Then we’re kinda the same, huh?”
“But do you think Minase-san’s really still mad at you?”
“Huh? She always gives me this sour look whenever we meet…”
Deep down, Toru suspected Mai still needed Aino in some way.
He looked at her. “Aino-san, how do you feel about Minase-san?”
“…I want to make up with her, if I can. She was my only friend back then.”
“Then, I know it’s not my place, but if there’s anything I can do to help, I’m in.”
It wasn’t just for Aino’s sake—it was for Mai too. She didn’t seem like a bad person. And if they could win Mai over, reconciling her with Aino was a necessary step.
Aino nodded. “Thanks. But I’m okay now—I’ve got friends.”
“Chika?”
“Of course Chika-chan. But I’ve got an even more important friend too.”
Toru wondered who she meant. Asuka and Aino weren’t that close. Maybe a classmate like Kotoka Akigawa?
As he pondered, Aino poked his cheek playfully. “It’s you, dummy.”
“Huh? Me? But I’m your fiancé, and we’re dating…”
“There’s no law saying your lover or fiancé can’t be your friend too, right?”
“Well, no, but it feels… kinda weird.”
“I want to be your girlfriend, your friend, your rival, your mom, your little sister, your fiancée—everything. Is that bad?”
“Not bad at all. Friend and rival, sure, but mom or little sister? Can you even do that?”
“Like… Toru-oniichan…?” Aino said, looking up at him with a shy, hesitant tone.
(Whoa, that’s dangerously cute…)
“How’s that?”
“Perfection.”
“Then maybe I’ll call you Toru-oniichan for a while.”
“I’d love that—it’s adorable—but if Chika overheard, she’d think I’m some kind of perv, so maybe let’s not.”
“But that’s the point—letting Chika-chan hear it.”
“What, so you can make her think I’m a creep?!”
“N-No, not like that! Chika-chan’s your cousin, practically a little sister, right? She probably sees you as a big brother too.”
That was true back then, no question. Even now, after patching things up, it might still be the case. For someone like Chika, the perfect superhuman, Toru was probably the only person she could let her guard down with. That’s why he was special to her.
“That’s exactly why I’m gonna steal your little-sister role and rub it in Chika-chan’s face. And since Sakurai-san’s your girl friend, I’ll take that role too! I don’t wanna share you with anyone.”
Aino said it with a sulky pout.
They were nearing the station, standing on a bridge where the train tracks ran below. Toru and Aino paused in the middle.
The breeze tousled Aino’s golden hair.
Got it, Toru thought.
Aino wanted to be his number one, no matter the role. He could understand that feeling.
Because he felt the same way.
Seeing Aino get along with Chika, even as just friends, made him feel like she was being taken away. Maybe that was possessiveness talking, or maybe it was too controlling.
But if Aino felt the same, he didn’t need to hold back.
“Then will you make me your number-one friend too?”
“I’ve been planning on that since the day we met.”
Aino giggled softly.
Warmth and embarrassment swirled in Toru’s chest, and he tried to cover it with a sheepish grin.
“But if we’re talking roles, Aino-san, you’d be more like my daughter than my mom.”
“Hmm, so you’re the dad, then?”
“Something like that.”
Aino’s sapphire eyes sparkled with mischief.
“Ohh, so you’re the kind of perv dad who gets naughty thoughts about his daughter?”
“No, no, I mean I get those feelings for you as my fiancée, my girlfriend…”
“Bad Daddy Toru!” Aino teased, her tone playful and childish.
Toru shrugged, his cheeks softening at her antics. They locked eyes and burst out laughing. A train with orange stripes roared past beneath the bridge.
Aino mumbled something—probably in Finnish—but the train’s noise drowned it out.
“Sorry, what’d you say?”
“You sound like some dense rom-com protagonist.”
“Hey, that was just bad timing! And I’m not that dense.”
“True. You figured out how I feel about you ages ago.”
“Then say it again?”
“Hmm… maybe next time. Gotta keep you guessing.”
Aino’s tone was coy, teasing.
It drove him crazy, but in a good way.
They’d reached the bookstore—Chikusasho Shokan, a well-known local spot with a solid selection of books, including some pretty niche ones.
Both Toru and Aino were bookworms. Their first real conversation had happened when he helped her out at a bookstore near Nagoya Station, after all.
They gravitated toward the paperback section, specifically the shelf heavy with foreign literature.
Aino picked up a sleek, stylish paperback.
Toru recognized it and spoke up. “Ellery Queen’s Nationality Series. You reading those?”
“Yup. I’ve gone through The American Gun Mystery and was gonna grab the next one.”
It was a classic mystery series, famous for titles named after countries, hence the “Nationality Série.” But a lot of people, Toru included, had only read the big ones like The Greek Coffin Mystery or The Egyptian Cross Mystery. He’d only tackled The Roman Hat Mystery and The Greek Coffin Mystery himself.
A thought struck him. “Wait, The Roman Hat Mystery is part of the Nationality Series, but Rome’s not a country, right? It’s Italy’s capital…”
“Maybe if it was the Roman Empire, it’d count as a country…?”
They tilted their heads, puzzled, but dropped the pointless debate. The mysteries in the books were plenty to think about.
Thank Commercially, the Konoe family gave them a generous allowance for living together, so while they couldn’t go wild with spending, buying books was a nice perk. Toru grabbed a few Japanese mystery novels. Aino let out a small gasp.
“Hey, that author went to our school, right?”
“Yeah, and I think he was a professor at National N University’s engineering department.”
A renowned mystery writer and a respected academic at a local university. Some people were just unfairly talented, Toru thought. No way he could pull that off.
Aino stared at him, her gaze steady. “What kind of adult do you think you’ll be, Toru-kun?”
“Curious?”
“You’re my fiancé, after all.”
“Fair point.”
“I bet you’ll be a super cool adult.”
“I’ll try my best—for you. Toka-san’s been pushing me to become the head of the Konoe family. It’d be nice if I could pull that off.”
That promise was made to save Chika, but it was also about protecting Aino. With the Konoe family’s power and wealth, he could give her a happier life. Not just buying books but letting her do whatever she wanted.
Aino’s eyes softened. “You don’t have to push yourself too hard. That secretary of yours is on your side, right? Even if it’s a promise, if you say it’s too much, she’ll understand.”
“Maybe. Toka-san’s not exactly the warm-and-fuzzy type.”
“Then I’ll protect you.”
Aino’s sudden declaration caught Toru off guard, and he stared at her. She looked back, her expression shy.
“I-I mean, I might not be strong enough or able to do much… but no matter what path you choose, I’ll be right there with you.”
“Thanks, Aino-san.”
Her words felt true, and Toru had no intention of leaving her side either. He’d do whatever it took to stay with her.
They browsed the bookstore a while longer, savoring their time together. Toru wished it could last forever, but they’d have to head home eventually. Still, Aino would be there too.
Aino’s face lit up with glee as she bought a ton of books. Maybe a bit too many.
Toru finished paying for his books and turned to see Aino muttering, “So heavy…” while hefting her paper bag.
He chuckled and took it from her.
“T-Toru-kun, you don’t have to…”
“Don’t sweat it. I’m a guy, after all.”
“Y-Yeah, I know that from all those times we’ve bathed together…”
Her comment made Toru flush. He couldn’t deny nearly losing his cool a few times.
Aino giggled. “Thanks, though.”
They walked side by side, Aino’s golden hair glowing in the sunset. They didn’t talk much on the way home, but Toru felt content. Aino’s calm expression suggested she did too.
Guess we’ve made up, Toru thought.
“I wish moments like this could last forever,” Aino murmured.
Toru felt the same. “They can. Or I’ll make sure they do.”
“I’ll do my part too.”
They exchanged a quiet laugh.
Then Aino pointed with a gasp. “Oh!”
It was a UFO catcher in front of the arcade, stuffed to the brim with plushies.
“Kumanyan!” she exclaimed.
Kumanyan was a mascot that looked like a sleepy-eyed cross between a bear and a cat—pretty cute, in Toru’s opinion.
Aino stared at the plushie with obvious longing. Here’s my shot, Toru thought.
“Want me to win it for you?”
“You can do that?!”
“Just watch.”
Toru was pretty dexterous. Not a jack-of-all-trades like Chika, but he had decent grades and wasn’t bad at sports. Plus, he was a pro at arcade games.
He popped in two coins and nabbed the plushie on his second try.
“Wow…” Aino’s eyes sparkled with admiration.
It wasn’t that big a deal, but Toru felt a bit bashful. Still, it wasn’t a bad feeling.
“Anything else you want, just say the word.”
“Then… maybe this?”
She pointed at a trickier prize—a figure from a popular manga, dressed in a slightly risqué cheongsam.
“Didn’t know you were into stuff like that, Aino-san.”
“Is that… bad?”
“Nah, I’m actually into figures like that too.”
“Pervert.”
“What?!” Toru thought it was unfair, but Aino mumbled, “Even though I’m way naughtier,” and it threw him off completely.
Okay, yeah, if Aino wore something like that, it’d probably be way hotter.
Shaking off the thought, Toru nabbed the figure on his third try.
“Amazing! Okay, what about this one?”
“I think I got this…!”
Aino’s cheers of “Awesome, awesome!” egged him on, and he kept winning prize after prize.
The result? A mountain of prizes. With all the books too, they wondered if they could even carry it all home.
Aino tilted her head curiously. “How’re you so good at this?”
“Uh, back in elementary school, Chika used to drag me into all sorts of crazy challenges…”
He and Chika would sneak off to the arcade, where she’d run him ragged—demanding specific plushies or challenging him to beat her at games. Thanks to that, he’d gotten stupidly good at arcade stuff. He could clear Drum Master’s Lunatic Hard Mode without breaking a sweat.
When he said as much, Aino’s face soured. Toru winced. Oops.
“Hmph. So you and Chika-chan were that close, huh?”
“It was just kid stuff, y’know?”
“Still, I’d rather you not talk about flirting with other girls on our date.”
Back then, Chika was just his cousin—not exactly “flirting.” But before he could argue, Aino grabbed his arm, pressing herself close. Toru felt his body heat up.
“Aino-san… your chest is, uh, touching me.”
“That’s the point. Or do you prefer Chika-chan’s?”
“No way. Yours is…”
He caught himself, embarrassed, and clammed up. But under Aino’s steady gaze, he gave in.
“Yours is way better.”
“Pervert.”
“You made me say it!”
“It’s what you really think, right?”
“Well, yeah.”
Aino giggled mischievously, then spun to face him. She leaned forward, hands clasped behind her back, emphasizing her chest.
Toru’s heart skipped, and he stepped back.
“As an apology, wanna touch?”
“That’s… an apology?”
“I won’t forgive you unless you do something even naughtier than what you did with Chika-chan.”
Her whisper was teasing, provocative.
“I…”
“No good?”
How could he say no?
“Fine.”
His quick agreement made Aino blink in surprise.
He lowered his voice. “If that’s what you want, I’m game. And… honestly, I want it too.”
Aino’s eyes widened, then she grinned, delighted. “Oh? So you’re so turned on you wanna ravish me right here?”
“I didn’t say that!”
“But if you’re thinking it, I’m kinda happy.”
Her cheeks flushed faintly as she murmured.
Toru had to fight the urge to pull her into his arms right then and there.
But, of course, doing something like that in public was out of the question.
Then again, heading home meant dealing with Chika and Asuka. They should’ve gone back already today, though.
Aino whispered, “It doesn’t have to be right now. We’re always together, aren’t we? But… if you’re gonna do something with Chika-chan or Sakurai-san, you better do it with me first.”
Toru nodded, naturally.
That put an end to any accidental pranks with Chika or Asuka.
Aino’s face lit up with a satisfied smile. She scooped up the Kumanyan plushie. “I’m gonna brag to Chika-chan and the others that you got this for me!”
“That’ll make Chika…”
Toru trailed off, picturing her fuming with jealousy. But Aino just grinned.
“You’re not worried about Chika-chan’s mood, right?”
“Of course not…”
“Good boy.”
“And from now on, you’re walking home with me every day. Just us—no Chika-chan or Sakurai-san. I’m your girlfriend, so that’s only fair, right?”
She had a point, and Toru nodded. He already felt guilty about the Chika incident, and besides, he wanted to walk home with Aino.
Aino was in high spirits. With that, they headed home, lugging their mountain of prizes and books.
As expected, Chika and Asuka were waiting for them at the house.
When Toru opened the door, there they were—both in maid outfits. Asuka’s was the same revealing one from before, and Chika, for some reason, was in a mini-skirt version that showed off her cleavage.
“Welcome home, Master!” they chimed in unison, bowing.
The low-cut maid outfits made the gesture… dangerously revealing. Chika’s bow was especially risky, flashing a glimpse of her underwear. Flustered, Toru stammered, “Sakurai-san, I get, but why you too, Chika…?”
Chika pouted. “What? I’ve been doing maid cosplay for ages, haven’t I?”
“Yeah, but I thought that was just a temporary thing.”
“I can’t let her outdo me,” Chika said, glaring at Asuka.
Sparks flew between their eyes.
So that’s what was going on—Chika was competing with Asuka.
Though, Toru couldn’t help but think she was aiming at the wrong target.
Aino, unfazed, smiled serenely. “You both look cute.”
Chika and Asuka shot her grumpy glares.
“So, you went on a date, huh?” Chika said.
“That’s not fair!” Asuka added.
Aino just laughed. “I’m his girlfriend, so it’s only natural.”
She held up the Kumanyan plushie with a flourish. “Look at this! Toru-kun got it for me!”
Asuka gasped and pointed, but Chika, surprisingly, stayed calm. She even smirked.
“You think that’s gonna make me jealous, Aino-san?”
“What? You’re not?”
“Well… maybe a little,” Chika admitted. “Okay, a lot! But I’m the one who should be making you jealous. I’ve kept every single thing Toru’s ever given me since kindergarten—hairpins, plushies, even those shiny mud balls. They’re all displayed in my room!”
Aino and Asuka froze, stunned.
(That’s… intense love…)
Toru suddenly worried about Chika. She’d kept everything, even during their rough patch?
Chika glanced at him, her face reddening. “N-Not that I’m, like, treasuring everything you gave me or anything!” she mumbled.
In his head, Toru retorted, You totally are, though. Aino and Asuka probably thought the same but kept quiet.
The three girls bickered, but it was more like playful teasing.
Aino hugged the plushie tightly, murmuring, “A present from Toru-kun…” The sight was so adorable, Toru wanted to pull her into a hug.
But with Chika and Asuka there, he couldn’t.
He imagined what it’d be like if it were just the two of them, like in the beginning, and his heart skipped.
Living with all four of them—Asuka included—was becoming their new normal. But it wasn’t exactly normal.
It wasn’t just their environment. If Toru’s, Aino’s, Chika’s, or Asuka’s feelings changed, their life together would have to shift too.
Toru realized he needed to think seriously about this—about Aino, Chika, and Asuka.
But for now, in this moment, it was the four of them.
The lively atmosphere carried over as they ate dinner. They didn’t always make Chika or Asuka cook—tonight was takeout, as usual.
They ordered a ton of pizza, going all out in true high school fashion.
The girls’ eyes sparkled at the spread on the table.
“They all look so good…!” Aino said.
“B-But eating this much might make me gain weight…” Asuka muttered, concerned.
Chika shrugged. “It’s fine once in a while, right?”
Then her face lit up, like she’d just had an idea. “Hey, pizza’s Italian, isn’t it? In Japan, we’re used to Italian or Spanish food, but…”
“Northern European food’s less familiar?” Aino asked.
Chika nodded, a bit sheepish. “Yeah… sorry if that’s ignorant, but I don’t know much about it.”
Fair point. Toru couldn’t think of dishes from Finland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, or Estonia off the top of his head either.
Aino smiled. “There’s a lot to it. Cold countries surrounded by the sea, so salmon and herring are delicious. Potatoes are a staple, and sausages too. Oh, and something unique… reindeer meat.”
“Reindeer? Like, Santa’s sleigh-pulling reindeer?” Toru asked.
Aino giggled and nodded. “Yup. That’s the image in Japan, but in Finland, it’s a traditional ingredient—stewed or as steaks. Also, crayfish are common there, like you’d see in Japan.”
Toru had seen crayfish in school ponds but never thought of eating them.
“They’re a different kind from Japan’s, though. Crayfish parties are a summer tradition.”
“Whoa!” Asuka nodded, wide-eyed.
Hearing this, Toru was reminded of Aino’s Finnish roots. It wasn’t just her appearance—her background ran deep.
Aino added quietly, “I’ve lived in Japan so long, I’m not that knowledgeable, though.”
“I wanna visit Finland with you someday,” Toru said. To truly know Aino, it felt essential. As her fiancé, he wanted to understand everything about her.
Aino’s smile was radiant. “I’m looking forward to it.”
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