Chapter 5: Rinoa and Alice
This country has old sayings like “Good deeds should be done quickly,” “Strike while the iron is hot,” and “The day you decide is the lucky day.” Following that wisdom, I ignored the fact that final exams started tomorrow and invited Rinoa-san to a photo studio.
“What’s gotten into you today, Takumi-kun?” Rinoa-san asked, peering at my face with a playful smile as we walked.
“Hm? What do you mean?” I replied, startled by her sudden closeness but trying to keep my cool.
“Don’t play dumb,” she teased. “You’ve never just up and asked to take my photo like this before.”
“So what?” I said. “Is it wrong for me to want to photograph you, Rinoa-san?”
“Not wrong at all,” she said, her eyes sparkling. “I’m thrilled you asked. But this shoot’s got something up its sleeve, doesn’t it? What are you and Yuzha-san plotting?”
“Haha, you’re sharp,” I said, giving a wry smile.
Rinoa-san’s keen intuition made me chuckle. I’d been too obvious this time, and if she’d picked up on it, the other guest—who seemed less perceptive than her sister—might have caught on too.
“Welcome, Rinoa-chan, Takumi!” Yuzha-san greeted us at the studio, where she and Manager Uezu were adjusting lighting and sets. “Thanks for coming!”
“Thank you for having us!” Rinoa-san replied. “I can’t believe you’re letting us use such an amazing place, even though we’re not making a photo book like yours, Yuzha-san!”
“Hehe, don’t worry about it,” Yuzha-san said. “I’m having fun behind the scenes. Relax, Rinoa-chan.”
For Rinoa-san, who’d only shot at home, a studio must be both exciting and nerve-racking. For Yuzha-san, usually the one being photographed, setting up was a fresh thrill.
“Hey, Rinoa-chan,” Uezu-san said. “Sorry to rush you, but your costume’s ready. Can you change? Yuki-chan, show her the way.”
“Got it,” Yuzha-san said. “Come on, Rinoa-chan, let’s go.”
“Y-Yes!” Rinoa-san said. “I’ll be back, Anno-kun.”
“Go for it,” I said. “I’m looking forward to seeing your costume.”
I waved as they disappeared into the changing room. I didn’t know what Rinoa-san would wear today—while I’d discussed sets, props, and themes with Yuzha-san and Uezu-san, the costume was a surprise, even for me. I wasn’t sure why they felt the need to keep it from me too.
“Hehe,” Uezu-san giggled. “I can’t wait to see their reactions. This is giving me chills!”
“You’re evil, Uezu-san,” I said. “Don’t forget this shoot is to help the sisters reconcile.”
“Of course!” he said, winking dramatically. “That’s why we got killer costumes. You’ll be drooling, Tak-kun, guaranteed!”
“What nonsense,” I muttered, though his confidence piqued my curiosity. If Uezu-san was this sure, the costumes had to be something special.
“By the way, Tak-kun,” he said, “are you sure it was okay not to tell them beforehand? What if one panics and bolts?”
“It’ll be fine,” I assured him. “We’ve got a plan to keep them here. Once they realize what’s happening, they won’t escape.”
“That’s pretty ruthless,” he said, grinning. “And I say that as someone who helped set this up.”
“Don’t act innocent when you were all in,” I shot back. “Is the other guest—Alice-san—here yet?”
I hadn’t meant to be coy, but today’s shoot was a joint session with Rinoa-san and Alice-san, though neither knew the other would be here.
“Yup, she’s changed and waiting,” Uezu-san said. “In a different changing room, of course, so they haven’t crossed paths.”
“Good,” I said. “Staggering their arrival times paid off.”
The key was keeping them unaware of each other until the shoot began. If they met too soon, their moods would tank, and the shoot would be a bust.
“I’m off to check on Alice-chan,” Uezu-san said. “Rinoa-chan should be ready in thirty minutes, so get moving, Tak-kun!”
“Got it,” I said. “Stick to the plan, Uezu-san.”
“You got it!” he said, giving a thumbs-up before heading to Alice-san’s changing room, striding like a cyborg into a furnace—though his reliability didn’t quite match his bravado.
“Right,” I muttered, slapping my cheeks to psych myself up. “Let’s do this.”
I started setting up the camera. Everything had to be perfect—this shoot was to settle the Shinomiya sisters’ rift.
About thirty minutes later, as Uezu-san predicted, Rinoa-san emerged from the changing room, blindfolded and led by Yuzha-san’s hand.
“S-Sorry to keep you waiting, Anno-kun,” Rinoa-san said nervously.
“What do you think, Takumi?” Yuzha-san asked, smirking proudly. “Rinoa-chan’s costume is cute, right? It’s Uezu-san’s latest design.”
I hated to admit it, but she was right—Rinoa-san looked ridiculously adorable.
“Hehe, look at that, Rinoa-chan,” Yuzha-san teased. “Takumi’s frozen by how cute you are.”
“R-Really?” Rinoa-san asked, her voice tinged with anxiety. “What do you think, Anno-kun?”
She seemed worried the outfit didn’t suit her, but that was baseless. The costume was white, with a large bunny-ear headband, a big ribbon at her chest, and a daringly high-cut leotard that drew the eye to her garter belt and fishnet stockings, completed with heels—a luxurious, all-in ensemble. What a choice, Yuzha-san.
“Sorry for the cliché, but…” I said, “Bunny-girl Rinoa-san, you’re insanely cute. I want to dote on you right now.”
“Dote!?” Rinoa-san squeaked, blushing. “D-Don’t say weird things, Anno-kun!”
My honest thoughts slipped out, and yeah, maybe they were a bit pervy, especially with the bunny outfit. If Yuzha-san weren’t here, I might’ve patted her head.
“My, my,” Yuzha-san said, pouting. “I’m jealous. You’ve never said that to me. Hey, Takumi, if I wore the same outfit, would you dote on me?”
“Enough nonsense,” I said, exasperated. “Just lead Rinoa-san to the set already.”
“Fine, fine,” Yuzha-san said, sticking out her lips but guiding Rinoa-san to the shooting area.
“Um…” Rinoa-san said hesitantly, “how long do I keep this blindfold on? And why am I wearing it?”
“Hehe, it’s for the vibe,” Yuzha-san said. “A blindfolded bunny girl? Super thrilling, right?”
“I-I guess…?” Rinoa-san replied, sounding unsure.
I agreed with Yuzha-san’s logic, but Rinoa-san was clearly confused. The blindfold was just a pretext—the real reason was something else.
“But shouldn’t we do it right before shooting?” Rinoa-san asked. “Isn’t it too early to wear it from the changing room?”
Her sharp observation left Yuzha-san and me exchanging wry smiles. Her intuition never dulled, no matter the situation. But it was too late to back out now.
“Here’s the sofa, Rinoa-chan,” Yuzha-san said. “Sit down. Takumi, you ready?”
“Good to go,” I said. “Rinoa-san, I’ll take a few shots with the blindfold on, okay?”
“Y-Yes, okay…” she said, nodding slightly.
Her voice trembled, unsurprising given the unfamiliar studio and blindfold. But I caught a hint of excitement in her tone, betraying her nerves.
“Man, looking at her now, I nailed this choice,” Yuzha-san said, eyeing Rinoa-san’s figure with enthusiasm. “I knew a bunny outfit would suit you!”
“T-Thank you…?” Rinoa-san said, still unsure.
“I could tell even through your clothes, but wow, Rinoa-chan, your boobs are huge,” Yuzha-san said. “What’s your cup size? Can I feel?”
“Uh… last time I was measured, it was G or H, I think…” Rinoa-san mumbled, then gasped. “Ah! Y-Yuzha-san, stop… don’t touch…!”
Blushing furiously and squirming, Rinoa-san let out a soft moan. I felt like I’d stumbled into a forbidden garden, but I couldn’t not press the shutter.
“Anno-kun, don’t shoot…!” she pleaded, gasping again. “Y-Yuzha-san, please… stop… ahh!”
“Takumi, this is bad,” Yuzha-san whispered. “Rinoa-chan’s face is insanely sexy right now.”
“Yeah… bad,” I agreed, swallowing hard.
With her vision blocked, Rinoa-san’s sense of touch was heightened, making her react intensely to Yuzha-san’s teasing. She bit her lip, trying to stifle sultry breaths, but it only amplified her natural allure. I couldn’t stop shooting, captivated by the scene.
I’d seen her in shoots before, but this was different—more intimate, more intense. Swallowing hard, I kept capturing their decadent exchange.
“Okay, enough!” Uezu-san interrupted, breaking the charged atmosphere. “Yuki-chan, stop before you get sued for harassment!”
I muttered a relieved “Thank god,” realizing his presence meant the other guest was here too—
“Wait, what!?” a voice shrieked. “Why is Rinoa-chan blindfolded and doing yuri stuff with Yuki-chan!? I want in—er, I mean, explain this!”
“Calm down, Alice-chan,” Uezu-san said. “You’ll ruin their shoot.”
“Shoot!?” Alice-san exclaimed, grabbing Uezu-san’s shoulders. “This was supposed to be me and Yuki-chan with Tak-kun, right!?”
The other star of the day, Alice Shinomiya, stood in a pink bunny-girl outfit, a color contrast to her sister’s. Naturally, with all this commotion, Rinoa-san couldn’t miss it, even distracted by Yuzha-san’s groping.
“That voice… Onee-chan!?” Rinoa-san gasped. “Why are you here!?”
Her rationality snapped back, plunging her into panic. The shoot had to pause. Yuzha-san, with a dramatic flourish, removed Rinoa-san’s blindfold, freeing her.
“Anno-kun, what’s going on!?” Rinoa-san demanded. “Why is Onee-chan here!?”
“Yuki-chan, you tricked me!” Alice-san accused, glaring.
“No idea what you mean,” Yuzha-san said, whistling innocently.
“Calm down, Rinoa-san,” I said. “I’ll explain.”
The sisters turned on their respective schemers. Alice-san shot Yuzha-san a withering look, while Rinoa-san’s agitation was palpable. Seeing her flushed from pleasure in front of her estranged sister was understandably mortifying. This was all Yuzha-san’s fault.
“No arguing, Alice,” Yuzha-san said. “Get over there.”
“Stop pushing, Yuki-chan!” Alice-san protested. “Say something, Tak-kun!”
“Exactly, Anno-kun!” Rinoa-san said. “I knew you and Yuzha-san were up to something, but—”
She’d caught on, but the gears were already turning, and the battle was on. Too late to stop now. I grinned and announced to the sisters, “Today, we’re doing a joint shoot with Rinoa-san and Alice-san!”
““What!?”” they cried in unison.
“Come on, you two!” Uezu-san said, clapping his hands. “No time to freak out—get ready!”
He pushed Alice-san toward Rinoa-san, who was still reeling, while Yuzha-san sidled up to me.
“You’re one lucky guy, Takumi,” Yuzha-san said, patting my shoulder with a satisfied air, as if the real challenge was just beginning.
“Huh? What’s that mean?” I asked, baffled.
“Having the right to touch Rinoa-chan’s boobs whenever you want, obviously,” she said.
“What are you even saying!?” I snapped.
“They’re so soft and bouncy!” she gushed. “Once you feel them, you’re hooked! Though, I’m not lacking in bounce myself.”
“Can you not blab about things I didn’t ask for?” I groaned.
My head ached. Yuzha-san and I go way back, but this was one of her most baffling outbursts. Was she suggesting I compare them? Sorry, I’m not that kind of guy.
“Yuki-chan, enough nonsense,” Uezu-san said, exasperated. “Tak-kun, Rinoa-chan and Alice-chan are ready. Start the shoot.”
His scolding saved me from Yuzha-san’s teasing. Ignoring her tongue-clicking, I grabbed my camera and faced the two adorable bunnies, who still looked awkward and kept a slight distance.
“Let’s get started,” I said brightly. “Rinoa-san, take the lead on poses like usual. Alice-san, feel free to do what you want. I’ve got one request.”
“What is it, Anno-kun?” Rinoa-san asked.
“What’s up, Tak-kun?” Alice-san said.
“Stay close,” I said. “Really close. Don’t drift apart, no matter what.”
Their faces froze in disbelief at my beaming request. Their identical reactions made me chuckle before I launched into an explanation.
“Today’s theme is ‘Best-Friend Bunny Girls,’” I said. “No acting distant. I want you hugging, even. Oh, and we’re making a photo book, so take it seriously.”
“A book!?” Alice-san gasped. “You mean a doujinshi with me and Rinoa-chan? Yuki-chan, you never mentioned this!”
“What’s that about, Anno-kun?” Rinoa-san said. “This is news to me too…”
They hadn’t misheard or forgotten—it was deliberately sprung on them now. That was the plan.
“By the way,” Uezu-san said, jumping in, “those bunny outfits were designed by Yuki-chan. We’d been planning a photo book for promotion, and since they come in different colors, we thought, why not have Rinoa-chan and Alice-chan wear them?”
He covered everything I was about to say. The joint shoot was spontaneous, but the photo book wasn’t. Originally, it was for Yuzha-san alone, but using the bunny outfits to reconcile the sisters led to making it a group project.
“More models, the better,” Yuzha-san added, winking. “Plus, I figured I’d let Takumi shoot someone other than me for once.”
She said it with a smile, but the catch was a summer sleepover shoot—just the two of us.
“E-Even so…” Rinoa-san said, “Onee-chan’s one thing, but a nobody like me in a book? That’s not right…”
“Don’t worry about that!” Yuzha-san said. “This role’s perfect for you, Rinoa-chan!”
“Plus, Alice-chan’s always bragging about her cute little sister,” Uezu-san added. “Your debut will make waves, and it’s killer promo for the costumes.”
“They’re right, Rinoa-san,” I said. “I guarantee it. Be confident.”
Encouraged by all three, Rinoa-san nodded shyly, looking down. Good, she was on board. But Yuzha-san puffed out her cheeks, sulking, making Uezu-san and me exchange wry smiles.
“Fine,” Alice-san said, resolute. “If Yuki-chan designed these, I’ll step up for Rinoa-chan’s debut book!”
“Onee-chan!?” Rinoa-san exclaimed, stunned.
Alice-san’s bold declaration was reassuring, but her trembling shoulders were obvious, even to us—and especially to Rinoa-san nearby.
“That’s all from us,” Yuzha-san said. “Take it from here, Takumi.”
“Got it,” I said. “Let me know if you have any directions, Yuzha-san.”
I aimed my camera at them again. Though still hesitant, Alice-san, used to modeling, moved close enough for their shoulders to touch and wrapped an arm around Rinoa-san’s waist, pulling her into a hug. The sight of the sisters, like a painting in a museum, nearly drew a sigh of awe from me.
“Onee-chan!?” Rinoa-san yelped. “What are you—!?”
“Shh,” Alice-san said. “Look at the camera, not me, Rinoa-chan.”
“Here we go,” I said. “3, 2, 1—”
As a seasoned model, Alice-san nailed her expressions despite her complex feelings toward her sister. Rinoa-san, caught off guard, remained stiff and tense.
“Rinoa-san, your expression’s a bit rigid,” I said. “Relax your shoulders.”
“S-Sorry…” she said, her shoulders slumping apologetically.
This was a golden opportunity—two bunny girls in a dreamy, intimate pose. I didn’t want to waste it.
“Hey, Rinoa-san,” I said. “What was it like with your Onee-chan back then?”
“…Huh?” she said, looking up, surprised by my sudden question.
Forcing her to relax wouldn’t work. The shoot’s main goal was reconciliation, so my job was to get them to open up, like we’d done before.
“Back then…” Rinoa-san said, her gaze wandering as she thought.
Alice-san hugged her tighter, saying, “We used to be this close, right, Rinoa-chan?”
“…Yeah,” Rinoa-san replied softly.
I was shocked. I’d expected her to jump like a cat spotting a cucumber, but instead, she relaxed into Alice-san’s embrace. Alice-san gently stroked her head, like soothing a child.
“I’m sorry, Rinoa-chan,” Alice-san said suddenly.
“Onee-chan?” Rinoa-san said, looking up, startled but locking eyes with her.
I silently pressed the shutter, capturing their exchange as Alice-san confessed years of pent-up guilt.
“I was selfish, causing you trouble,” Alice-san said. “No, I’m still causing it…”
“…Yeah,” Rinoa-san said. “Because of you, Onee-chan, things got really tough.”
Tentatively, she hugged Alice-san back, spilling her own bottled-up feelings.
“After you left, Mom and Dad changed,” she said. “It was hard, painful… And you were out there, free, doing what you loved. I was so jealous, so envious…”
“I know, I know… I’m sorry, Rinoa-chan,” Alice-san said.
“But…” Rinoa-san continued, “I love that Onee-chan.”
“…What?” Alice-san said, eyes widening.
Rinoa-san smiled, holding back tears that glistened like gems, and poured out her heart.
“I hated you right after you left,” she said. “I thought we’d always be together, but you vanished without a word, like a betrayal. About a year later, I saw you on a magazine cover at a bookstore. You were sparkling, cooler than I’d ever seen at home.”
“I wanted to hate you, to never see you again,” she continued. “But I couldn’t. Even when Mom and Dad badmouthed you, seeing you chase your dreams, so happy… I couldn’t hate you.”
“Rinoa-chan…” Alice-san whispered.
“But I can’t be like you,” Rinoa-san said. “I don’t have the courage to leave or the strength to live alone. But I wanted to know my unknown self, so…”
Our eyes met through the lens. Tears streamed down her cheeks, but her smile was radiant, like that one time. Alice-san smiled too, looking at the lens. Entranced by their beauty, I kept shooting.
“So you had Tak-kun take your photos?” Alice-san asked.
“Yeah…” Rinoa-san said. “To find my unknown self…”
She’d thought about how to discover it, picturing her sister’s magazine cover. If she could be the opposite of her usual “pure princess” image, the person in those photos might be her unknown self.
“Did you find anything, being shot by Tak-kun?” Alice-san asked.
“I want to live freely like you someday, Onee-chan,” Rinoa-san said. “Not just doing what Mom and Dad say, but finding what I want and living for it. I don’t know what that is yet, but… when Takumi-kun takes my photos, I feel like that’s who I want to be.”
“Hey, Tak-kun,” Alice-san said suddenly, catching me off guard. “How does Rinoa-chan look through your lens?”
I paused, lifting my finger from the shutter. Rinoa-san’s face clouded with anxiety. I recalled the moment I saw her unshackled at home, the feeling from that day in the classroom when she loosened her uniform.
“Rinoa-san’s the one who showed me why I take photos,” I said.
“…What does that mean?” Rinoa-san asked, puzzled, as did Alice-san.
Yuzha-san sighed, shrugging, while I continued, “She makes me want to capture fleeting beauty forever.”
Rinoa-san’s face turned scarlet at my words, which I’d dodged before. Alice-san smiled warmly, while Yuzha-san puffed her cheeks and smacked my head.
“You smooth-talker!” Yuzha-san huffed.
“Ow, ow! Stop it, Yuzha-san!” I protested.
The heavy atmosphere in the studio vanished. My words felt like a proposal, embarrassingly so, and Rinoa-san seemed to agree, her face burning.
“Hehe, you’re all red, Rinoa-chan,” Alice-san teased. “What’s up?”
“I don’t know,” Rinoa-san mumbled, burying her face in Alice-san’s shoulder. “My heart’s pounding… I’ve never felt like this… I can’t look at Takumi-kun!”
Her shy reaction was too much, especially for someone like Alice-san, who’d surely been confessed to countless times. Spare me the innocence.
“Good for you, Rinoa-chan,” Alice-san said. “Tak-kun found you.”
“Yeah,” Rinoa-san said. “Thanks to Takumi-kun, I’ve discovered so many sides of myself, and… I can talk to Onee-chan again. Thank you, Takumi-kun.”
“Thanks, Tak-kun,” Alice-san added.
“I should be thanking you,” I said, pressing the shutter.
Capturing the sisters, reconciled and embracing, in both memory and photos, filled me with satisfaction.
“Let’s move to the bed next,” I suggested.
“Yesss!” Alice-san cheered. “Now that we’ve made up, time for some steamy shots with Rinoa-chan!”
“Onee-chan!?” Rinoa-san yelped. “Don’t touch weird places! Takumi-kun, help me instead of shooting!”
“Alice-san, ease up,” I said. “You’ll mess up the outfits.”
“I know, I know!” Alice-san said. “Come on, Rinoa-chan, to the bed. Your big sis will pamper you.”
Alice-san lay on the bed, pulling Rinoa-san into her arms. Their intimate yet adorable pose was irresistible.
“I’ll go change too,” Yuzha-san said. “Let me know when you’re done, Takumi.”
“Got it,” I said. “Thanks for everything, Yuzha-san.”
“No biggie,” she said. “I’ve always wanted Alice to reconcile with her sister. But, Takumi, I’ve got one thing to say.”
“What’s that?” I asked.
She leaned in close, whispering sweetly in my ear, “Make sure you keep me in your memories too.”
Then, she kissed my cheek with a chu. A silent scream escaped me, my face like Munch’s painting.
Alice-san gasped, covering her mouth, saying, “Yuki-chan, bold!” Rinoa-san, like a startled rabbit, leapt off the bed, grabbed my hand, and pulled me from Yuzha-san, hugging me tightly. Her scent and softness were overwhelming.
“Hey, Yuzha-san!” Rinoa-san protested, cheeks puffed. “What was that!?”
Yuzha-san, unfazed, smirked and headed to the changing room. “See you later, Takumi. Rinoa-chan, Alice, good luck with the shoot!”
She waved bye, and Rinoa-san, still clinging to me, glared at her back. I’d love to stay wrapped in her embrace, but my sanity was at its limit.
“Uh, Rinoa-san,” I said, “can we restart the shoot?”
“…Fine,” she said. “I’ll make sure to snap you out of that lovesick daze Yuzha-san put you in, Takumi-kun!”
“Lovesick!?” I sputtered. “I’m not lovesick! Stop spreading rumors!”
“That’s the spirit, Rinoa-chan!” Alice-san cheered. “Let’s make Tak-kun swoon together!”
“No, Onee-chan, stay out of it,” Rinoa-san said. “This is between me and Takumi-kun.”
“Don’t be like that!” Alice-san whined. “Let’s take him down together! Two’s better than one, right, Tak-kun? A sisterly double-team?”
“…Spare me,” I groaned.
A “sisterly double-team”? That’s the stuff of ero-doujinshi, not reality. The somber mood was gone, replaced by chaos. I sighed heavily, shrugging.
Later, Yuzha-san joined in a black bunny outfit, making the shoot even rowdier. But through the lens, the three of them were graceful, radiant, and alluring. Capturing this moment filled me with pure happiness.
Post a Comment