Chapter 4: Trial
Lunch break the next day found Toru twiddling his thumbs in the classroom, bored out of his mind. Aino and Chika had gone off to eat with their friends.
It made sense—both girls were popular, after all. At home, they were practically glued to his side, so it was probably healthier for them to hang out with others at school. Aino had put up a fight, insisting, “I wanna spend lunch with Toru-kun!” But Toru, seeing her starting to make new friends, had gently nudged her to go with them instead.
As for Toru, he didn’t exactly have a tight-knit crew of his own.
(Guess being alone once in a while ain’t so bad.)
Having three gorgeous girls constantly vying for his attention at home was flattering, sure, but it was also exhausting.
He decided to hit the cafeteria and then maybe swing by the school library. The library here was top-notch, stocked with plenty of classic mysteries he hadn’t cracked open yet.
Toru stood, heading into the hallway. But as he rounded a corner, someone barreled out of nowhere and crashed right into him.
A startled “Kya!” escaped as the other Phil’s collision sent her stumbling, and Toru instinctively caught her before she could hit the ground.
“S-sorry…” came a soft mumble.
“No worries,” Toru said, then let out an “Oh!” as he realized who it was. Mai.
Her cheeks flushed pink, a shy look crossing her face.
“Thank you, but, um… where exactly are you touching, senpai…?”
In his haste to catch her, Toru’s hands had landed somewhere around her hips. The soft sensation sent a jolt through him. Mai, for her part, didn’t look upset, just steadied herself.
He yanked his hands back. “Sorry!”
“Hmm, should I report you for harassment?” she teased.
“It wasn’t on purpose!”
“Too bad it wasn’t.”
“Huh?”
“I’m not gonna tell anyone. It’s my fault anyway.”
Mai’s tone was matter-of-fact. Toru noticed she was holding a cloth-wrapped box in one hand—probably a bento.
“Good thing you didn’t drop that,” he said.
“Yeah. Would’ve been a shame, especially for senpai’s sake.”
Toru blinked, a mental question mark popping up. “?”
“So, why’s Minase-san in the high school building? Our classroom’s pretty far from the middle school section.”
“Don’t people ever call you dense, senpai?”
“Not really, no.”
Mai muttered something about “Lyuti-senpai and Konoe-senpai wearing their hearts on their sleeves too.”
It clicked for Toru why she might be here.
“Wait, did you come to see me?”
“N-not like I was dying to see you or anything, senpai!”
“Going full tsundere on me now?”
“…Fine! I came to see you! We’re friends, right? And friends eating lunch together is totally normal, isn’t it!?”
Her words came out in a loud, rapid-fire burst.
Toru couldn’t help but smile at her obvious embarrassment. He’d be nervous too if he were in her shoes, mustering the courage to ask someone to lunch. It warmed his heart that she’d gone out of her way for him Sistine Chapel him like this. A friend he didn’t want to take for granted.
(With so few friends, I can’t afford to lose her…)
Sure, he had Aino, who was both his girlfriend and a friend, Chika, his childhood buddy, and Asuka, a clear-cut friend “‘til the end. But having a junior like Mai as a friend felt… special.
“Cafeteria sound good? I’m a senior, so I can treat you. Oh, but you’ve got a bento, right, Minase-san?”
“Yeah, but no need to worry about that…” Mai fidgeted, twirling a strand of her silver hair.
“Did you… make me a bento too?”
She nodded vigorously, her face turning scarlet.
Toru was stunned. More than a little. Friends didn’t usually make bentos for each other, did they?
He hesitated, unsure if he should accept such a gesture. But Mai’s uncertain “I-I mean, it’s fine if it’s a bother…” made him snap, “No way, it’s not that!”
“I mean, most guys would be thrilled to get a homemade bento from a girl, right?”
Toru cringed internally. That came out sounding way too flirty for just friends.
But Mai’s face lit up like a sunrise.
“R-really? You’re happy, senpai!?”
“Y-yeah,” he stammered.
Mai giggled, beaming, and Toru found himself at a loss for words.
After a brief pause, she grabbed his hand. Toru’s eyes widened, but she just laughed, “Ehehe!” and said, “I know the perfect spot!”
She tugged him along, her silver hair catching every eye in the hall. Toru could feel the whispers and stares, but he shrugged it off. With Aino and Chika around, he was already gossip fodder—what was one more rumor?
Mai led him to the rooftop of the special classroom building between the middle and high school sections. An observatory dome used by the astronomy club sat up there, a testament to the school’s deep pockets. Next to it was a bench Toru hadn’t even known existed.
Mai struck a proud pose, hands on her hips, chest puffed out. Her already ample figure was… accentuated, and Toru’s heart skipped a beat.
Thankfully, she didn’t seem to notice his gaze.
“Not bad, right?” she grinned.
“Pretty cool spot,” Toru admitted, impressed.
The view was great—below, the schoolyard buzzed with carefree students; beyond, the traditional streets of Nagoya’s Higashi Ward stretched out, serene with the history of samurai estates and the Owari clan’s temple. Best of all, it was deserted. The astronomy club was barely active these days, with only a handful of members.
Toru wondered if Mai was one of them, but apparently not.
She smirked, pulling out a jangling set of keys. “Ta-da! The middle school student council president’s master key!”
“Why the hell does the student council have something like that!?”
“You know, like in manga where the council’s got crazy power?”
“I had no idea our school was like that.”
“So, I may or may not be abusing my authority to get us in here.”
“You just said ‘abusing,’ didn’t you?”
“Well, Konoe-senpai would never pull something like this, but I’m not her.”
True enough. Chika, the former middle school president, was a perfect paragon; Mai was more of a wildcard.
She gave a small, wistful smile. “I come up here alone sometimes.”
Toru didn’t press for why. She’d mentioned not having anyone she could really open up to. That was probably it.
To look at her, you’d think Mai was the life of the party, always surrounded by people. But maybe that was exactly why she needed a place like this—to escape.
It hit Toru what it meant that she’d brought him here. He was her friend.
Mai plopped onto the bench, patting the spot beside her. Sit here, she was saying.
He did, and her face lit up with a smile so bright it stirred something in him. Knowing he was the reason for that happiness made his chest tighten.
She opened her bento box, revealing an elaborate spread of Japanese cuisine—two portions of it.
“Whoa, that’s impressive…” Toru said.
“Dig in♪”
“You sure it’s okay for me to have some?”
“I made it for you, didn’t I?”
Her expression said, Duh. Then she picked up a piece of tamagoyaki with her chopsticks and went, “Ahn~”
Toru froze, but her grin was relentless.
“What’s wrong, senpai?”
“Isn’t that a bit… much?”
“We’re friends, right? Feeding each other’s totally normal!”
“What kind of friend logic is that, Minase-san? So, it’s cool if I do it back?”
“Huh!? O-of course it is!”
“Here, ahn~”
Toru mimicked her, holding out a piece of tamagoyaki. Mai’s face turned beet red.
“How do you just do that without blushing, senpai!?”
“You literally just did it to me!”
“Well, it’s not like it feels bad, so I’ll humor you.”
She glanced at him shyly, then leaned in and took the bite.
Toru realized a second too late how bold that was. A mental image of Aino popped into his head, scolding, “Toru-kun, you cheater!”
Gotta keep things strictly friendly here, or I’m in deep trouble.
Mai, still dreamy-eyed and mumbling, “Senpai fed me…” only made him more nervous. He dove into the bento to distract himself.
The taste hit him like a truck.
“This… is insanely good…”
Maybe it was her upbringing as a refined young lady of a prestigious family, but Mai’s cooking was seriously impressive. Not quite on par with Chika, whose Konoe-family training gave her near-professional chops, but definitely leagues above your average high school girl.
Mai puffed out her chest with a proud, “Ahem!”
“Don’t let appearances fool you—I’m a whiz in the kitchen. My mom taught me everything I know!”
“Gotcha. Minase-san’s mom must be a hell of a cook too, huh?”
“Yeah. Not just my dad—my mom’s always been super kind to me.”
Her eyes softened, looking down. Mai was adopted into the Minase family, not bound by blood to either parent. Yet, the warmth in her voice spoke volumes about how much they cherished her.
“I was born on Saaremaa Island in Estonia, a place with like forty thousand people. It’s this cultural haven, a resort spot with gorgeous buildings and scenery.”
“Sounds like it’d be a great place to visit.”
“Marry me, and I’ll give you the grand tour. Heck, we could even have the wedding there!”
“I’m not marrying you, Minase-san!”
“Ugh, senpai, you’re such a buzzkill!”
“Promising marriage just to go with the flow would be an even bigger problem.”
“I’m a total catch proposing here! You sure you don’t wanna say yes just for kicks?”
Toru opened his mouth to shut her down, then paused. Aino’s proposal had been pretty out-of-the-blue too, come to think of it.
As it stood, Toru was Aino’s fiancé and boyfriend, in name and in truth.
Mai gave him a half-lidded glare.
“You’re thinking about Lyuti-senpai, aren’t you?”
“How’d you know? Psychic or something?”
“Quit messing around. It’s obvious. I can tell you care about her a ton.”
Her tone was flat, almost sulky. Toru remembered that Aino and Mai used to be friends before some falling out.
“She betrayed me,” Mai said. “I bet she’d betray you too, senpai.”
“No way. I trust Aino-san.”
“Got any proof?”
“Not really. But isn’t that the point of trust? Believing without needing proof?”
Mai’s face scrunched up with a “?”.
Toru added, “Even if she did betray me, I’d forgive her. Or rather, it’s my job to make sure I can.”
“Hmm. I don’t get it, but… you don’t seem like the type to betray anyone, senpai.”
Her voice was barely a whisper. She watched him dig into the bento, her expression softening into a smile.
“You eat like it’s the best thing ever, senpai.”
“Because it is.”
“Keep eating like that, and I might wanna make you lunch every day.”
Mai giggled, her smile warm and gentle. Looking at her now, Toru couldn’t help but notice how much she resembled Aino. Despite their current bad blood, he wondered if deep down, they both wanted to patch things up. Aino, at least, didn’t seem to hate Mai.
What did Mai really feel?
For the rest of lunch, Toru let Mai ramble on about nothing in particular. He mostly listened as she chattered away, clearly enjoying herself. Apparently, in class or student council, she always had to watch what she said. Being popular came with its own burdens.
“But with you, senpai, I don’t have to hold back.”
“Uh, could you maybe hold back a little…?”
“Hehe, I’ll think about it.”
Her eyes crinkled like a cat’s, mischievous and content.
The warning bell chimed, and Mai gasped, clapping a hand to her mouth.
“Sorry, I totally lost track of time!”
“No biggie. Thanks for the meal—it was amazing.”
“You’re welcome! I’ll make it again!”
“That’s too much, really…”
“No, no, it’s fine! Oh, but make sure to brag to Lyuti-senpai and Konoe-senpai about getting a homemade bento from your cute junior!”
She shot him a teasing grin and turned to leave.
Just then, a strong gust of wind swept across the rooftop. With nothing but school buildings around, the breeze hit hard.
And, well…
Mai’s short skirt flipped up completely.
“Kya!”
She scrambled to hold it down, but it was no use.
Toru’s eyes caught a full view of her light blue panties and pale thighs, glaringly vivid in the sunlight.
“D-don’t look…!” she squeaked.
He averted his gaze in a panic.
Mai finally managed to tame her skirt, her face flaming as she glared at him.
“You saw, didn’t you, senpai?”
“It was an accident!”
“If you wanna see that bad, just marry me, and you can look all you want!”
“Huh?”
“You perv! You creep! You lech!”
She laughed, clearly more amused than angry, and waved as she skipped off.
Toru let out a relieved breath—she wasn’t actually mad.
Then he remembered class was about to start.
The middle and high school buildings were in opposite directions from here. He hurried back to his classroom, shaking off the fleeting image of Mai’s underwear that flickered in his mind.
Aino would be waiting back in class. Even a short time apart made him miss her, his thoughts drifting to her effortlessly.
He hoped she felt the same.
☆
As per their promise, Toru and Aino had been walking home from school together lately. Mornings were a group affair with Chika and Asuka, but those two were often tied up with club activities or student council duties. Toru and Aino, both free from after-school commitments, could take their time.
Today, they were detouring toward Chikusa Station, strolling side by side.
Aino was in high spirits, her school life going smoothly these days.
“Akiwa-san’s pretty fun, huh?”
Kotoka Akiwa, one of the top-tier girls in their class’s social hierarchy, was Asuka’s friend and the daughter of a miso nikomi udon shop owner. Lately, she’d been getting close to Aino too. It wasn’t thanks to Chika, who didn’t seem to have much overlap with Kotoka. No, this was likely due to Kotoka’s social finesse and Aino’s own efforts to branch out.
They’d grown closer since that pool incident a while back.
(Gotta step up my game too,) Toru thought.
Both he and Aino were shy by nature, but Aino was steadily building her circle of friends.
“She’s got such funny stories,” Aino said.
“Yeah, unlike me, Akiwa-san’s a social powerhouse.”
Toru said it offhand, then blinked, surprised at himself for comparing the two.
Aino giggled. “What, Toru-kun, you jealous?”
“Maybe a little. Like I said before, I guess I’m kinda possessive.”
“Hehe. But you know, Akiwa-san was singing your praises too. Said you’re smart, cool, and athletic.”
“That’s laying it on a bit thick.”
“I think she’s spot-on, though.”
Aino seemed pretty pleased to hear her boyfriend hyped up.
“You’re quite the catch, Toru-kun.”
“Am I?”
Truth be told, Toru’s grades were solid, and he wasn’t bad at sports. But until recently, his only real female friend had been Asuka. Part of that was him nursing old wounds from Chika, and part was just not going out of his way to connect with girls. Asuka had always been the one to approach him, though he’d mistaken her friendliness for some kind of “Defeat Konoe Chika!” crusade.
Aino, however, was fretting over something else.
“What if Akiwa-san falls for you too, Toru-kun?”
“Nah, that’s not happening. Besides, doesn’t she seem like the type to already have a boyfriend?”
“You can’t let your guard down! I’d be in trouble if another girl moved into our house!”
Asuka’s arrival had been unexpected, but they’d made it work. She’d even clicked with Aino and Chika. Still, all three girls had feelings for Toru, which made for some stomach-churning moments. They’d compete for him at the drop of a hat, despite Toru making it clear Aino was the one he loved. If he hadn’t been upfront, the rivalry would probably be outright cutthroat.
Lost in thought, Toru felt a drop hit his cheek.
Rain started pattering down, turning into a downpour in seconds.
The forecast hadn’t mentioned rain—total surprise shower.
Neither Toru nor Aino had an umbrella.
They exchanged a “Now what…?” look as their clothes grew damper by the second.
First things first: find shelter.
But there wasn’t much around. They’d walked too far to head back to school, and home was in the opposite direction.
They ducked under the awning of a nearby building. Toru let out a relieved breath, then froze when he glanced at Aino.
Her clothes were soaked, blonde hair dripping. Worse, her drenched blouse was practically transparent, revealing a light blue bra underneath.
Catching his stare, Aino tilted her head, then looked down at herself. Her eyes widened, and her face flushed as she covered her chest with her hands.
“Toru-kun, you perv!”
“We’ve bathed together, haven’t we? Kinda late for that.”
If anything, Aino had been the one eagerly showing off her body before. Still, this half-hidden glimpse felt oddly more provocative.
She puffed out her cheeks. “That’s different!”
Toru quickly shed his jacket and draped it over her.
“Here, Aino-san, put this on.”
“Thanks…”
She clutched it to cover herself.
(Kinda disappointed, though…)
Toru thought but kept his mouth shut.
Saying it would either get him scolded… or maybe make her happy?
While he debated, Aino poked him. “Hey, look…”
She pointed to the entrance of the building they’d taken shelter under. A gaudy golden sign gleamed.
“I thought this was just an apartment or something, but… is this one of those places couples go to…?”
“A love hotel?” Aino said bluntly.
Toru shrugged, caught off guard. “I was trying to be subtle…”
“Didn’t know you were such a shy guy, Toru-kun.”
“Well, I’m standing here with a girl.”
“Hmm, so you’re imagining us going into a love hotel together and getting all excited, huh?”
Aino glanced between him and the hotel, then leaned in close, her lips brushing near his ear.
“Wanna go in for real?”
“Huh!?”
“We made a promise, didn’t we? That you’d do something naughty with me. This is the perfect spot.”
Oh, right. To make up for teasing Chika (sort of), he’d promised Aino something spicier. At home, with Chika and the others around, it hadn’t happened.
This was a golden opportunity.
But a love hotel? Things could escalate beyond “a little naughty.”
Aino, though, looked ready to charge in.
“Rain’s not letting up anytime soon, right?”
True enough. They needed shelter, and Aino could catch a cold staying soaked. A love hotel would have showers, at least.
She winked. “I won’t do anything too scandalous. Or… maybe I will?”
Toru thought it over.
If he stayed firm, it’d be fine, right? They weren’t going to do anything that extreme, like Aino’s “baby-making” talk.
He nodded. “Let’s go in.”
Aino’s eyes widened, clearly not expecting him to agree. “T-Toru-kun!? You sure?”
“If it’s what Aino-san wants, it’s my job as your fiancé to make it happen.”
“Wow, Toru-kun… that’s kinda… manly!”
Before he could make sense of it, they stepped into the love hotel.
Toru worried their high school uniforms would get them turned away, but the unmanned reception let them breeze through. They headed to a room on the second floor.
The door opened to a surprisingly spacious room.
“Cleaner than I expected,” Toru said.
A large bed, two bath towels, and a bathroom—clearly meant for two.
Toru’s mind wandered to certain implications, but Aino was distracted by something else.
“Are these… costumes!?”
Hanging on the wall were various cosplay outfits. For people who wanted to spice things up, apparently.
“Nurse, bunny girl… oh!” Aino picked up a female police officer uniform—a classic “keikan-san” getup. Real women cops wore pants these days, but the skirt version had that iconic appeal.
(Kinda niche, huh?)
Aino kept sneaking glances at him, like she wanted to say something.
Toru was probably thinking the same thing.
“I kinda wanna see you in that, Aino-san.”
Her face lit up. “Then I’ll try it on!”
She started stripping, shrugging off her jacket and unbuttoning her blouse.
“You’re changing here!?”
“What? It’s just us, right? It’s a love hotel.”
“Yeah, but you were just embarrassed about your see-through bra.”
“That’s different!”
With a flourish, she ditched her bra, sending Toru into a panic. Her ample chest bounced, the cherry-pink tips in full view. He quickly looked away.
“You don’t need to strip that much for cosplay, do you?”
“Hehe, don’t I?”
Aino, clearly enjoying herself, slipped into the faux police uniform. She stepped into the black skirt, pulled on the blue shirt, and topped it off with the hat.
“Ta-da!” she chirped, striking a pose.
“You look… cute. Really cute. But…”
Petite yet curvaceous, Aino pulled off the look perfectly, like a real officer.
Except… Toru’s eyes kept drifting to her chest. Without a bra, her shirt strained, faintly outlining her nipples.
She pointed at him dramatically. “You’re ogling me, aren’t you? That’s a one-billion-yen fine!”
“What kinda fine is that?”
“Or… would you prefer a naughtier punishment?”
She grabbed a pair of handcuffs and lunged at him with an “Ei!”
(Why the hell do they even have those!?)
If Aino got those cuffs on him, who knew what she’d do? She had a tendency to get carried away.
Toru dodged, snatching the handcuffs from her.
“Hey! That was my cosplay prop!”
“Let’s keep things wholesome, okay?”
“Why don’t you try using them on me, then?”
At her suggestion, Toru fastened the cuffs on her wrists, pulling her arms behind her back.
“Huh?”
Aino let out a dazed squeak, clearly not expecting him to actually do it.
“Uh, I guess I got carried away with your teasing, Aino-san.”
“This… this is kinda hot, though. Like a cop trying to punish a criminal, only to get taken down and caught instead? Straight out of some ero doujin.”
“That setup sounds way too goofy.”
“I’m not goofy!” Aino protested, her hands still cuffed behind her.
But, yeah, she looked hot. The way her restrained arms forced her chest forward was… distracting. Her nipples, perked up from excitement, were impossible to miss.
“Hey, Toru-kun,” she said, voice shaky, “you’re not gonna do anything too naughty like this, right?”
“Want me to?”
“W-Well… maybe a little.”
Her face flushed as she admitted it.
She was so cute, Toru couldn’t help himself. He grabbed her shoulders and pushed her onto the bed.
“Kya! Toru-kun… nn!”
With her hands bound, Aino fell back, and Toru loomed over her.
His head felt fuzzy, his heart pounding like a drum. A dizzying, overwhelming desire for Aino consumed him.
She gazed up at him, eyes gleaming with anticipation.
“I can’t exactly fight back, can I?”
“Only if you wanted to.”
“Hehe, it’s a promise, right? You said you’d do naughty things to me.”
Toru undid one button on her shirt. Her breasts jiggled, revealing a tantalizing glimpse of cleavage.
He reached for her chest… then froze.
“Aino-san, something’s off.”
“Huh?”
“The air feels… heavy. And there’s this sweet smell.”
His heart was racing too fast, his thoughts slipping. He wasn’t thinking straight.
Pinning Aino down had been pure impulse.
She seemed more in the mood than usual too.
It felt like some kind of drug.
“Did you… slip me an aphrodisiac or something?” he asked.
Aino shook her head frantically. “N-No way! I wouldn’t sneak you something like that! I’m not that much of a perv… or maybe I am?”
But she had no reason to lie at this point. If she’d done it, she’d probably admit it now, if only to tease him more.
Which meant the sweet scent was the culprit—an aphrodisiac, maybe pumped into the air.
Aino tilted her head. “Is this… a super accommodating love hotel?”
“Spraying aphrodisiacs without telling guests is probably a crime.”
Toru moved to leave, grabbing the doorknob. It wouldn’t budge.
“Locked in…?”
By who? And why?
A chill ran down his spine.
He remembered when Chika was kidnapped—how sudden and unfair it had been. If this was targeting the Konoe family, or Aino…
He was the only one here to protect her.
A crackle came from above, followed by an announcement through a ceiling speaker.
“Renjō-senpai? Can you hear me?”
No mistaking it—Minase Mai’s voice. Why the hell was Mai’s voice coming through a love hotel speaker?
Toru was baffled but waited for her to continue.
“This hotel belongs to the Minase family. I pulled some strings to get into the control room. Oh, this is just to your room, and I can hear you too. Ask me anything.”
“Then why are you here, Minase-san? Don’t tell me you’re…”
“No way! I wouldn’t come to a love hotel with any guy but you, Renjō-senpai!”
Her quick retort made Toru pause. Why specify him? But that wasn’t the issue right now.
“I was… curious, so I followed you guys. Then I saw you walk into a love hotel. Thought it was my chance, so I kept an eye on you.”
“Mai-chan’s a stalker…?” Aino muttered.
“I’m not!” Mai’s shout made the speaker screech, and Toru winced, covering his ears.
“Renjō-senpai, I said if you took Lyuti-senpai’s virginity, the engagement’s off, right?”
“That’s still a thing? I thought…”
“We’re friends, sure, but that’s separate from this.”
Aino puffed out her cheeks. “Since when are you and Mai-chan friends?”
“Just friends, I swear, so don’t worry,” Toru said hastily.
Mai’s voice came back, dripping with irritation. “Oh, just friends, huh? Nice.”
She muttered, “Even though you’re an important friend to me.”
Toru was losing the plot, but he had a bad feeling.
Mai went on. “Sorry, Renjō-senpai, but I need you two to… you know, do the baby-making thing here.”
“What!?” they both yelped.
“You attack Lyuti-senpai, the engagement’s done. I’ve already got someone in the Konoe family on board. They helped lock the door and pump in the aphrodisiac.”
Aino’s face was pure shock. “So… we can’t leave unless we have sex?”
“Don’t just say it like that, Aino-san…” Toru groaned.
But it seemed true. If he gave in, it’d be over—they’d be free, but the engagement would be canceled for “premarital misconduct.”
There was no other way out.
The aphrodisiac-laced air grew thicker. Toru fought to keep his head clear, clinging to reason. First, he needed to uncuff Aino. Then they’d figure something out.
But as he freed her slender wrists, his self-control was hanging by a thread.
His body burned, aching for the girl in front of him.
Aino wasn’t faring better, her breaths hot and heavy. She grabbed his hand, pulling him down onto the bed and guiding it to her chest.
“Toru-kun, you promised to do naughty things, right?”
He didn’t have the strength to argue it wasn’t the time.
His hand grazed her breast, and she let out a sweet “Aun! ♡”
He knew it was wrong, but her reactions were too tempting. Brushing her visible nipple drew a “Hya! ♡ No, not there! ♡”
As he teased her, she moaned louder, “An! ♡ Aaaah! ♡ An! ♡”
“No way! I’m a police officer!” she gasped.
“Still sticking with that roleplay?”
“It’s too good to drop… ♡ An! ♡ Besides, ‘the cop who got overpowered and messed with’ is kinda hot, right?”
She said this while he kneaded her chest.
She had a point. Aino in her cop cosplay, at his mercy—it was a scene.
“Come on, Toru-kun, play along.”
“Alright… geh heh, even a lady cop’s body can’t lie, huh?”
“Toru-kun, you sound so villainous! Hya! ♡ Aun! ♡”
If she wanted a bad guy, he’d go all in. He undid another button, fully exposing her breasts. They bounced, and when he pinched a cherry-pink nipple, she shuddered.
“No! ♡ If I could just use my full strength, I wouldn’t let a creep like you have your way! You coward! ♡ An!”
Aino threw herself into the role, but her moans betrayed her when he teased her.
A stunned voice crackled through the speaker.
“What am I even listening to!?”
Aino giggled. “Cop and criminal roleplay?”
“You pervert, Lyuti-senpai! Idiot! Freak!”
Mai’s insults didn’t faze Aino—she looked like she was having fun.
When Toru moved to slide off her skirt, she let out a dramatic “Kyaaa! ♡”
“Nooo! ♡ Somebody help! I’m gonna be defiled! ♡ Ah…”
Her acting was so intense, it sent a shiver through him. It felt like he was really taking her.
Well, technically, he kind of was.
“…Where do you even get lines like that?”
“E-Ero manga and stuff… ♡ Ah!”
Mid-sentence, Toru stripped off her skirt. Clad only in panties and the police hat, her perfect figure was laid bare before him.
“Toru-kun…”
“If I said I can’t hold back and want to ravish you, what would you do, Aino-san?”
“If it’s you, I’m okay with it. But… we might end up making a baby. ♡ Nn, ah…”
“Then our engagement…”
“It’ll work out. Besides, I… I can’t hold back either. Toru-kun, make me a woman.”
Her plea snapped something in him. The Minase family, Mai’s threats—none of it mattered. He just wanted Aino.
His hand slid to her core, brushing her panties.
“Toru-kun…” she breathed.
He moved to pull them off, but she grabbed his hand.
“Aino-san…?”
“Do everything. Make a baby, anything. I want all your desires poured into me. But… kiss me first.”
She was right—kissing came first. It was one of his goals with her.
Toru leaned over her, and she closed her eyes, lips waiting.
Their lips were about to meet when—
“No way, stop it!”
The door burst open, and Toru nearly fell over in shock.
Of course, it was Mai.
Her cheeks flushed, she glared at them.
But wasn’t she the one who locked them in to make this happen?
Why stop them now?
Aino sat up, giggling, her breasts bouncing as she finally grabbed the shirt to cover herself—though it only made her look more provocative.
“Hmm, I get it,” she murmured.
“What?” Toru asked.
“Mai-chan’s got a thing for you, Toru-kun. That’s why she stopped us, right?”
Toru glanced at Mai, who fidgeted, eyes downcast, clearly embarrassed.
“It’s not like that… I just… didn’t like it.”
“Hmm,” Aino hummed, smiling.
“You should be honest, Mai-chan.”
Mai kept her gaze lowered.
“Renjō-senpai, you’re… you’re an important friend. And… when I’m with you, it’s fun, and my heart races… so… um…”
Mai mumbled, flustered, her face beet red as she shot Aino a half-lidded glare, like a tire that’d just gone flat.
“And stop calling me Mai-chan! I told you, I’m not your friend anymore, Lyuti-senpai.”
“I still want to be friends with you, Mai-chan,” Aino said softly, her voice trembling with courage.
But Mai’s expression stayed cold.
“After you betrayed me?”
Her words cut sharp. Toru hesitated, wondering if he should butt in, then spoke up.
“I don’t think Aino-san meant to betray you.”
Mai glanced at him, a troubled smile flickering. “You’re in love with her, Renjō-senpai, so of course you’d defend her. But it’s the truth. Back in elementary school, I stood up for Lyuti-senpai when she was being bullied. Guess what happened next?”
“I know,” Toru said.
Aino had told him the story, but he kept the details to himself.
Aino spoke instead. “Yeah, I was in the wrong. Mai-chan became the target of the bullies, and I couldn’t do anything to help.”
To Mai, that felt like betrayal. Aino had failed to save her.
Mai’s face soured. “That’s the kind of person she is, Renjō-senpai. And you still want to cherish her?”
Toru nodded without hesitation. “Of course. I get that you were hurt, Minase-san, but that’s in the past, and it’s not my business. If we’re talking betrayal, I let Chika down too.”
He’d run away when Chika needed him.
But Aino had accepted him despite that. So he had no right to judge her actions.
If Aino had flaws, he wanted to support her as her partner, just as he trusted she’d support him.
She whispered, “Thanks, Toru-kun.”
Mai’s expression turned sullen. “I’m not mad that you didn’t save me.”
“Huh?” Aino tilted her head.
Mai puffed out her cheeks. “I never blamed you for not stopping the bullies. I get it—it takes courage, and you didn’t have it. But that doesn’t mean you had to avoid me out of guilt! If you couldn’t talk in class, we could’ve met after school! But you…”
Aino’s face went blank, then she looked down, guilt-ridden. “I’m sorry. I thought you were mad at me, Mai-chan, so I couldn’t bring myself to talk to you…”
“You idiot, Lyuti-senpai… you idiot, Aino!”
Mai burst into tears, and Aino floundered, panicking.
(Just as I thought…)
Deep down, Mai wanted to reconcile with Aino. Toru let out a quiet sigh of relief.
Still crying, Mai went on. “That’s why I was gonna steal Renjō-senpai from you! To make you feel the loneliness of being all alone!”
It clicked for Toru why Mai had done all this. Taking over the Konoe family or one-upping Chika wasn’t the real goal.
“What mattered most to you was Aino-san, wasn’t it, Minase-san?” he said.
Mai nodded, sniffling.
Aino murmured, “I see…”
“Hey, Mai-chan,” Aino said. “It might be selfish, but… if you can forgive me, would you be my friend again? I don’t have many friends besides Toru-kun and Chika-chan, and I’m not great at making them, but… if you’re okay with that…”
“I was planning to from the start,” Mai whispered, her voice faint.
And with that, it was settled.
“So, Minase-san, no need to talk about marrying me anymore, right?” Toru said.
But Mai didn’t nod. “Well… um… I, uh…”
She stammered, her face flushing.
Aino let out a “Hmm” and suddenly threw her arms around Toru. Nearly naked, her embrace nearly broke his restraint again.
The aphrodisiac was still in the air, after all. But with Mai watching, he couldn’t do anything.
Total torture.
Then Mai dropped a bombshell. “Tch! Showing off your lovey-dovey act!”
“I did something awful to you, Mai-chan, and we’re friends, but… Toru-kun’s mine. I’m not giving him up.”
Aino’s tone was calm but serious, catching Toru off guard. It felt different from how she acted with Chika or Asuka.
Suddenly, Mai grabbed his other arm. “Minase-san!?”
“I changed my mind. I’m not dropping my plan to steal you from Lyuti-senpai—or to marry you. But I’ll do it fair and square. That way… it’ll sting more for Aino.”
She called Aino by her first name, muttering softly.
Aino met her gaze. “So you do like Toru-kun, huh?”
“N-No! He’s just an important friend, and… maybe I wouldn’t mind marrying him…”
Mai’s words were a jumbled mess.
Then another voice cut in. “Yo, Toru-kun!”
Toka Tokiedaappeared. Toru had a hunch why she was here.
“You’re the one who set this up, aren’t you, Toka-san?”
“Sharp as ever, Toru-kun. I even supplied the aphrodisiac!” She held up a suspicious red vial, likely the source of the vaporized drug.
Toru stared, dumbfounded.
If Toka was involved, Mai had probably been played.
“Man, I went along with Minase-san’s plan, thinking it’d be a great chance for you and Aino-chan to get it on. Sexually, I mean.”
Mai gaped. “W-What!? You said if they… if they had sex, the engagement would be off!”
“Sorry, kid. I’ve got more pull than the Minase family, so I didn’t need to follow your plan or care about it. But it was a good opportunity, so I used it.”
Mai froze, muttering, “That was close.”
She’d nearly been a pawn to deepen Toru and Aino’s bond. Good thing she’d stopped it, even if it was just an attempt.
Toka laughed, clearly amused. “But, Minase-san, if you wanna join Toru-kun’s harem, I won’t stop you.”
“Harem!?” Mai asked, dead serious.
Toru panicked. “There’s no such thing!”
But Toka pinched his cheek. “Oh, To-ru-kun, that’s a stretch. With all those girls buzzing around you?”
“I’m not keeping them around! Aino-san’s my only fiancée!”
Toru declared it firmly, and Aino nodded happily. “Yup, yup.”
But Toka wasn’t one to back down. “To lead the Konoe family, you’d need, like, ten or twenty mistresses. Even the current head has some.”
Toru had vaguely known that, but hearing it outright was a shock. Did Chika know? And wasn’t there a rumor about Toka being one of those mistresses?
Aino and Mai didn’t seem to care about that, though. Their focus was solely on Toru.
“You only need me, right, Toru-kun?” Aino said.
“Don’t you think I’d make a better wife than Lyuti-senpai?” Mai countered.
Caught between two Nordic beauties, Toru’s brain short-circuited. He was already worked up from Aino’s teasing.
He tried to think of something else.
(The Konoe family head…)
Maybe it was worth aiming for. He could protect Aino, save other girls from unfair fates, and maybe repay Toka.
Toka grinned, as if she knew what he was thinking. What had happened in her past to make her push him toward taking over the Konoe family?
Noticing his distraction, Aino puffed out her cheeks and climbed onto his lap, their bodies pressed close. His heart leapt.
Her sapphire eyes sparkled mischievously as she whispered, “Olet minun sielunkumppanini.”
Toru didn’t know the words, but their beauty struck him. Mai’s wide eyes suggested she understood.
Aino giggled. “I’m yours, Toru-kun. And I want you to be mine alone.”
She leaned into him, her golden hair swaying softly.
《The End》
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