Table of Contents
Table of Contents Page
Copyrights and Credits
Bonus Story: I Ended Up Being Kind to the Girl I Hate Most in Class
Bonus Story: Grandchildren Video Viewing Party
Newsletter
Color Gallery
Prologue
Prologue
BACK IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, SAKURAMORI Akane didn’t really care for Ishikura Himari.
As Akane sat at her desk in the classroom, Himari started chatting her up.
“Hey, hey, Akane-chan, did you watch the drama at nine last night?”
“No. I’m not interested in romance dramas,” Akane responded, snorting and pulling a textbook out of her desk drawer.
“It was really good, though! I recorded it, so let’s watch it together sometime,” Himari suggested.
“I’ve told you before—I don’t have time to play with you. I have to take care of my little sister when I get home, and I need to study every day,” explained Akane.
Himari’s eyes sparkled.
“Akane-chan, you’re amazing. You study so much, you’re always at the top of the class.”
“Well, of course. There’s no one in this world who could ever best me.”
Akane flipped her long hair. She made sure to work harder than anyone else, so there was no way she would ever lose. Not now, not ever.
“But, but! You should take a break once in a while! Studying all the time must be exhausting,” said Himari.
“Of course I take breaks,” responded Akane.
“Well, then take one with me! Breaks are more fun with two people than they are all alone!” said Himari, clinging to Akane like an eager little puppy.
“…I’m sorry, but I’m not interested in hanging out with you,” Akane furrowed her brows and gazed coldly at Himari.
“But I’m interested in you, Akane-chan! Very much so! Let’s be friends!” Himari responded, despite Akane clearly indicating to Himari that she wasn’t particularly interested in getting to know her.
Himari held Akane’s hands, seemingly not minding what Akane had just said. Wearing an innocent smile, Himari’s entire being overflowed with affection.
Akane stammered in response to the gesture. “Uh, um…”
“Let’s take a little detour on the way home from school! I found a cafe that has this incredibly delicious strawberry parfait,” Himari suggested to a hesitant Akane.
“Strawberry parfait?!” Akane flinched slightly. She quickly hid her expression, but she couldn’t evade Himari’s keen eyes.
“Oh? So Akane-chan loves strawberry parfait, got it!” said Himari teasingly.
“N-no, not at all,” denied Akane.
“Liar! Your love for strawberry parfaits was written all over your face!” Himari exclaimed.
“N-no, that’s not true!”
“It’s my treat today! Let’s go, shall we?” said Himari and pulled Akane’s hand.
“Umm…okay, but I can only stay for a little while,” Akane uttered.
“Yippee! I’ve got a date with Akane-chan!” Himari exclaimed, raising both hands in the air and cheering with joy.
I really don’t like her, Akane thought.
Being together with Himari made the depths of Akane’s heart feel warm and fuzzy. That warm and fuzzy feeling was comfortable and new. It made Akane feel uneasy and ultimately out of place.
Chapter 1: Homemade
Chapter 1:
Homemade
AKANE’S HOMEMADE DISHES WERE LINED UP on the living room table, bathed in the morning sunlight.
Salmon grilled in tinfoil, mushroom miso soup, and Japanese seasoned rice pilaf with a variety of ingredients. It was a genuine meal, so it was hard to believe it was made in the short time between waking up and leaving for school. As Houjou Saito unwrapped the foil with the tip of his chopsticks, a wave of trapped steam escaped with a sizzle, carrying a rich aroma that signaled an authentic, high-quality dish. In Saito’s mouth, a juicy richness spread—different from the familiar taste of simple grilled salmon. The miso soup contained various mushrooms—enoki, shimeji, and nameko, offering a multitude of textures to enjoy. Every grain of white rice in the seasoned rice pilaf was infused with dashi stock, while the burdock root and carrots provided a pleasantly crisp bite.
“How do you like it? I’d like to hear your honest opinion,” Akane, wearing an apron over her school uniform, asked with a proud look on her face.
“The level of effort put into this is way too much for a simple breakfast,” responded Saito.
“In other words, it’s the most delicious thing in the world, right? Which means you admit defeat to me and will obey me completely, right?” said Akane.
“Why does eating a good meal mean I lose?” Saito mused.
“Isn’t it obvious? Even the dog that ate those millet dumplings became Momotaro’s servant.”
“I’m not a dog.”
“Sorry, my mistake. You’re clearly the monkey in that story!” Akane retorted.
“You little…!”
Even this early in the morning, she showed no signs of losing her sharp tongue. Her utterly condescending expression infuriated Saito.
Lately, she’d been showing a slightly more endearing side, but right now, that side of herself felt like nothing more than a dream or an illusion. As that thought crossed his mind, Saito asked Akane a question.
“The other day, you said it’s not okay for me to get too close to other girls when I already have a wife. What did you mean by that?”
Akane startled and dropped the miso soup bowl, but Saito caught it just in time before it hit the table. The carefully prepared meal had almost ended up drenched in miso soup, but disaster had been averted.
“Wh-what did I mean by that?! What do you mean by that?” Akane responded, her eyes spinning in confusion and sweat dripping down her face.
“Exactly what I said…I just want to know what you truly meant when you said that.”
“Th-there’s no hidden meaning or anything! I don’t even know why I said it…! What did you think I meant by that remark?!”
“I-I don’t know…” Saito blurted, realizing he had asked an embarrassing question.
“I just, um…right. I…must have meant that if Grandma and the others saw you getting too close with other girls, we’d lose the reward for our marriage. That’s gotta be what I meant. Right!” said Akane.
“Ah, I see… I’ll have to be careful, then…” said Saito.
“You better be! You can be such an idiot sometimes.”
Akane crossed her arms and turned away, her earlobes burning red.
After all, the two of them had only gotten married for their own personal reasons, not for love. While their household environment had greatly improved through constant discussion and compromise, their relationship still wasn’t exactly romantic. Saito, feeling despondent, reflected on how he had overanalyzed Akane’s trivial words.
Akane suddenly smacked the table with a sense of urgency. “Actually! There was something I needed to interrogate you about!”
“Interrogate…?” Saito knew whatever was coming wasn’t going to be a simple question—the atmosphere suddenly felt more like the setup for some kind of medieval torture session.
“So, the parsley I was carefully growing in the garden…? This morning, it was gone… You didn’t mistake it for a weed and pull it out, did you?”
“Oh, you planted that? I saw something growing, figured it was nutritious, and ate it,” answered Saito.
“You…ate it?! When?! How?!”
“Just last night. Raw.”
Akane was stunned.
“Raw? Are you a rabbit? A cow? I was growing the parsley so I could use it for some Italian dishes!”
“Once it’s in your stomach, it’s all the same, right?” said Saito.
“Not at all!” exclaimed Akane.
“It was pretty bitter…”
“Of course it was! Speaking of which, the green onions and herbs I was growing have also gone missing… Don’t tell me you ate those too?”
Saito put his hands together in a prayer-like gesture. “They were delicious. Forgive me.”
“You’re basically a wild animal!” Akane held her head in her hands.
Believing that attentiveness to one’s partner was crucial in married life, Saito spoke up, concerned. “Is your head hurting? If you’re not feeling well, perhaps you should rest a bit more before going to school…”
“My head hurts because of you! This is why geniuses are so troublesome…you don’t understand food at all…come to think of it, even the rice porridge you made for me back when I was bedridden tasted strange…”
“I didn’t put anything unusual in it. I did add plenty of supplements to help you recover faster, though,” said Saito.
Akane looked at Saito, her eyes lifeless.
“I figured as much. It had been a while since someone made porridge for me, so I didn’t complain at the time…”
“But did it taste good?” asked Saito.
“I just told you it tasted strange,” replied Akane.
“You’ll get used to it.”
“I don’t want to get used to it,” said Akane.
“Soon, with a calm mind, you’ll come to accept it,” responded Saito.
“I don’t want to accept it! Chill out with your weird innovations! Just stick to cleaning up after meals!”
“Not possible. We agreed to share the housework.”
Akane tried to plead her case. “We should each handle what we’re good at, though.”
“Yeah, and I’m really good at cooking,” said Saito, giving a thumbs-up.
“Are you serious?”
“Absolutely. While you had a cold, I memorized about ten specialized books on nutrition. I have all the elements necessary for human transmutation in my head.”
“I’m not talking about nutrition.” Akane sighed in frustration.
Just as it seemed like the distance between them had lessened a bit, that day’s argument was as relentless as ever. Saito shoveled down his breakfast and made a hasty retreat from the living room.
As Saito walked down the hallway after arriving at school, the sound of loud footsteps thundered behind him. When he turned around, he saw Akane approaching, a furious expression plastered on her face. That was her “I’m going to kill Saito” face. Maybe she hadn’t aired all of her grievances that morning after all. Threatened, Saito quickened his pace to put some distance between them. But Akane picked up speed too, closing in on him. Soon, both of them broke into a light run, and a chase scene suddenly began to unfold in the school building.
“Wait! Wait!” yelled Akane.
“The heck I will! I’m not going to let you kill me!”
“I’m not going to kill you! But if you don’t stop, I’ll shoot you!”
“Shoot me? With what?!”
It was the first time Saito had ever received such a Hollywood-style threat. Knowing how serious Akane was, she probably hadn’t violated any firearms laws—but there was a distinct possibility that she had developed a weapon on her own.
Akane slammed a block-shaped object against Saito’s chest and he came to a stop.
“Argh… I’ve been… No, wait—I haven’t.”
Saito had braced himself for a heavy impact, but the attack turned out to be surprisingly gentle. What had been slammed against him wasn’t a blunt weapon, but a bento lunch box wrapped in a stylish handkerchief.
“Why didn’t you take your lunch with you like you’re supposed to? You left it sitting on the table!” Akane exclaimed.
“Oh…sorry, I must have forgotten.”
During the argument with Akane that morning, the bento lunch box had completely slipped Saito’s mind. He had an incredible memory, but when it came to everyday tasks, his precision was rather lacking.
“You forgot? Really? You just didn’t want to eat my homemade lunch, right?” said Akane, furrowing her brows.
“No, really—I’m honestly truly happy you make me homemade dishes,” Saito replied. Akane was known as a model-level beauty—at least when she kept quiet—and her cooking skills really did go far beyond those of an ordinary high school girl. Turning down her homemade lunch would leave Saito just asking for punishment from the heavens.
“O-okay… Well, as long as that’s how you really feel.” Akane averted her gaze and mumbled softly, shifting her hips slightly and fidgeting. “I worked really hard to make it for you…so you’d better eat every last bite—got it?”
Seeing the faint blush of pink spread across Akane’s cheeks, Saito found himself thinking she looks kind of cute. Frustrating as it was for Saito to admit, there were times when the expressions she showed had such overwhelming charm, it completely overshadowed the fact that she was supposed to be his mortal enemy.
“You could have stored them in the fridge for me to eat after I came home from school,” said Saito.
“It won’t taste as good if you wait that long! I want you to eat it when it’s at its very best!” Akane exclaimed.
“You wanted me to…?”
“N-not that I specifically meant you or anything! It’s just that—whoever it happens to be, I absolutely won’t allow anyone to ruin the deliciousness of something I made! At worst, they’ll end up in hell!”
“That’s harsh…” Saito mumbled. He didn’t believe in an afterlife, but if given the choice, he definitely preferred heaven over hell. And if it came down to it, he’d much rather have one of Akane’s carefully prepared lunches than a dry, store-bought sandwich from the school canteen.
As they walked down the empty hallway, Akane spoke up again. “There’s a special sale on eggs at the supermarket today.”
“We don’t have to keep chasing those sales. Our per diem from Grandpa is plenty generous.”
So much money was being deposited into Saito’s account that even he was a little freaked out by it. It was possible that his Grandpa Tenryu, the head of the Houjou Group, simply didn’t understand what the standard of living for regular folks was like. Akane raised her index finger and spoke.
“When we’re adults, we’ll be living off of our income alone. It’s not good to get used to luxury.”
“You’re such a goody-two-shoes,” said Saito.
“And?”
“I’m impressed,” Saito sincerely told Akane, who flinched in surprise.
“Flattery won’t get you anywhere, you know!”
“Good that I didn’t ask for anything, then.”
“I-I mean…if you really insist, I guess I could go whip up one more dish for you in the home economics room…” muttered Akane.
“You’re giving out rewards now? You truly don’t need to go that far.”
“Then, what…? What did you want…? If you asked for, like…my body or something, that’s obviously out of the question…” said Akane.
Akane stepped back, guarding herself with both arms, and glared up at him like a frightened little animal.
“Who the hell would even want that?!” exclaimed Saito. He broke into a cold sweat, worried that other students might have overheard their conversation.
“Anyway, I’m going to that sale. I’ve got to redeem myself after the humiliation last time.”
“Yeah, we were beaten half to death,” added Saito, remembering.
The passion of housewives vying for supermarket sales was terrifying—no student couple could hope to compete. That said, things between Saito and Akane really had improved since then, so maybe that shared defeat hadn’t been all bad.
Crimson flames lit up in Akane’s eyes. “This time, no matter what it takes, I will win.”
“Let’s at least strategize wisely,” offered Saito.
“Of course, don’t worry about it. I wonder which would be more effective—pine resin or a beehive,” said Akane.
“Don’t go planning guerrilla warfare in a residential area!”
Now Saito was actually worried. It was probably just a figure of speech, but there was no telling what Akane might actually do when she lost her cool.
“You’re helping too, Saito. We’re meeting after school at the back gate.”
“You’re asking me out after school? I never thought the day would come!”
Akane panicked. “Don’t say it like that! We’re just shopping. For essen-thiall supplies.”
“You didn’t even pronounce ‘essential’ correctly,” Saito quipped.
“Shut up, I just bit my tongue a little!” Akane exclaimed.
“It sounded more like you bit your tongue completely off.”
As they were talking, the two of them had arrived near the classroom of 3-A. Akane placed her hand on the door and turned to look at Saito.
“Okay, from here on out, we’re strangers. No one can know we’re married. Got it?” said Akane, impudently sticking out her tongue and squaring her shoulders before walking into the classroom.
She was still like a stray cat that refused to warm up to people. And yet, Saito had started to realize in recent days that life wasn’t so bad spent with the girl he once couldn’t stand.
Lunchtime had come, and as Saito was opening his bento at his desk, his cousin Shisei came running over.
“Ani-kun, I’m hungry. Gimme your whole lunch!”
“You really can go from zero to outrageous in no time,” said Saito, exasperated. “There wasn’t a shred of hesitation.”
“Why would there be?” Shisei nodded in agreement.
“Nor was there any guilt,” added Saito.
“Of course not.”
As Shisei reached for his rolled egg omelet, Saito grabbed both her hands, blocking her from getting any closer to his lunchbox. Two beasts, locked in a primal struggle. The classroom was suddenly a battlefield.
“If you don’t let me take your lunch, I’ll starve to death! As my Ani-kun, it’s your duty to supply your family with food!” exclaimed Shisei.
“Shise, you already stuffed yourself to death at breakfast, correct?”
“I had three bowls of rice.”
“See? You eat even more than I do,” said Saito.
“That was then, this is now.”
“No, it’s not! You brought your own lunch from home too, right?”
Shisei’s parents understood her outrageous appetite. To prevent the unlikely-but-not-impossible chance of her being lured away with food by a stranger, they always made sure she had proper meals.
“I did. But what I, Shise, want to try is…that lovingly made lunch your wif— mmggh!”
Just as Shisei was about to blurt out “wife,” Saito swiftly clamped his hand over her mouth and, in one fluid motion, locked her in a wrestling hold from behind. Shisei plopped herself down on Saito’s lap, letting out a satisfied sigh through her nose. Saito leaned in and whispered in her ear.
“I told you not to say stuff like that.”
“Whatever do you mean? I, Shise, have a terrible memory.”
“Liar…” said Saito.
Nobody from the Houjou family could ever have a bad memory. Shisei always got perfect scores on math tests—and finished them in five minutes before taking a nap. Saito still remembered the time when she started eating a melon bread during the test, and he didn’t know how to react.
Seated on his lap, Shisei turned to face Saito, bringing her small hands to her mouth, eyes glistening like jewels. She whispered sweetly, in an unbearably adorable tone.
“Annniiii-kuuuuun, Shise wants to eat.”
It was Shisei’s ultimate begging pose.
“Gah…”
Even Saito, who was used to his cousin’s otherworldly charm, couldn’t help but flinch. Their classmates, who had no immunity to her wiles, had their spirits shattered in an instant.
“Poor Shisei-chan.”
“Come on, let her have a bite at least.”
“Just give her the whole thing already.”
“Hogging it all for yourself—Saito-kun, you’re a monster!”
Criticism rained down on Saito from every corner of the classroom from boys and girls alike. Saito couldn’t understand it—all he was doing was trying to protect his own lunch. What infuriated him even more was the sight of Shisei flashing him a victory hand sign that no one else could see. Usually, Saito wouldn’t have minded sharing his food with Shisei. But this lunch was special—it had been made by Akane specifically for him, hand-delivered to boot. On top of that, Akane kept glancing over at him from her seat. If he were to give her this homemade lunch to Shisei, who knew what kind of war zone would await him at home? He wanted to maintain peace in the household as much as possible.
Just one bite… That should be okay, right? With that thought in mind, Saito shot Akane a meaningful look. Akane tilted her head in confusion. Clearly, his message had not gotten across at all. Even between husband and wife, there was no such thing as telepathy.
As Saito struggled with what to do, Himari peeked into his lunchbox.
“Hmm? Saito-kun’s lunch…is the same as Akane’s, isn’t it?”
Saito and Akane froze. He felt the corners of his mouth twitch as he forced himself to stay calm.
“Wh-what are you talking about? No way that’s true. It’s just an optical illusion. Like…you know, when you see a mirage in the desert. That kind of thing,” explained Saito.
“It’s not a mirage,” said Himari. “The way the food’s arranged and the size of the lunch boxes may be different, but the food inside is exactly the same.” Himari placed both hands on Saito’s desk and stared intently at his lunch.
Their classmates buzzed with excitement.
“Whoa, she’s right! Nice catch, Himarin!”
“What’s going on here?”
“Don’t tell me it’s homemade…by Sakuramori-san?”
“Are they, like, dating?”
Dozens of eyes darted toward Saito and Akane. Akane’s face flushed all the way to her neck as she shouted, “We’re not dating!”
“Really? But your face is bright red,” said Himari, looking genuinely puzzled.
The rest of the class was abuzz with curiosity.
“This is what my face normally looks like,” insisted Akane.
“If you were born that red, that’d be a serious condition. And besides, it’s not even true,” said Himari.
“O-oh, actually, it’s blood… I just…committed a crime,” said Akane.
“Let’s turn yourself in. If you do it now, the sentence will be lighter.”
“I’ll go with you,” said Himari, taking Akane’s hand with determination. Saito couldn’t help but think she really was the perfect best friend for Akane, but this was no time to be impressed. Akane had been backed into a corner, and there was no telling what she might do in her panicked state.
“In any case, we are absolutely not dating!” declared Akane, slamming her hands on the desk.
“Yes, yes, that much is completely true,” added Saito, backing her up.
Technically, we’re already married!
There wasn’t a shred of romance between them, nothing they needed to hide. They hadn’t even kissed, let alone anything more intimate. Akane and Saito were just two students who happened to be married.
“Still, it’s kinda suspicious.”
“Saito and Akane always kinda seemed like a married couple.”
“And matching lunches? That’s the smoking gun!”
Their classmates showed no signs of easing their interrogation.
“Well, you see…” Saito, preparing to show the class the kind of brilliant argument only the top intellect in the grade could make, suddenly noticed something odd—the bento box in his hand felt unusually light.
He looked inside. It was completely empty.
On his lap, Shisei sat with her cheeks puffed up like a squirrel, quietly chewing away. Saito was now certain—the culprit hadn’t gotten far.
“Didn’t I say you could have just one bite?”
“Nom nom? Om nom, om nom nom.” Shisei was mumbling with her mouth full.
“Don’t talk with your mouth full. Wait until you’re done eating,” scolded Saito.
“Nom,” said Shisei, gulping down the food that had filled her cheeks to the brim. Then, she took Saito’s thermos bottle, drank all the tea, and let out a big sigh.
“Aaah! I said that was one bite,” said Shisei.
“Are you some kind of monster?” asked Saito.
“I won’t deny being beyond human comprehension.”
“You’ve gotta be kidding me…”
Saito, having grown up with Shisei, knew full well she was an ordinary human.
Shisei leaned in and whispered to him. “You should be grateful. I destroyed the evidence for your sake, Ani-kun.”
“Really?”
“Nah. I just wanted to eat it,” said Shisei.
“Yeah, that’s what I thought.” Saito let out a sigh.
Still, Shisei had technically saved him, so Saito gave her a pat on her head.
After lunch, Saito and Akane slipped away from the prying eyes of their classmates and snuck into an empty classroom for a two-person emergency meeting. Unless they came up with a countermeasure fast, their school life could be in jeopardy. Akane leaned her elbow on the teacher’s desk and held her head in her hands.
“I was careless. I even rearranged the side dishes just in case, but to think they’d still figure it out… Himari’s intuition has always been oddly sharp,” said Akane.
“Surprisingly sharp… I guess it makes sense since she’s always hanging around with a bookworm like you,” quipped Saito.
“Don’t call me a bookworm!” Akane protested with teary eyes.
“Point is, it’d be really bad if people found out we’re living together,” said Saito.
“If they found out we’re married on top of that, it’d be total chaos. Who knows what’d happen with our school reports.”
“The upshot is that it’s not like we’re in some kind of inappropriate situation or anything. If our families officially explain, we might be able to smooth things over,” said Saito.
Akane slammed her forehead down on the teacher’s desk. “No way. They’ll say it sets a bad example for the other students. I might even get expelled. Besides, my pride could never handle people knowing I’m married to you,” cried Akane.
“You really know how to hit where it hurts…” Saito picked up the shattered pieces of his pride and continued. “As for the lunchboxes, let’s just say we happened to eat the same frozen food, so we ended up with similar lunches. That’s our story, and we’re sticking to it.”
“I don’t cut corners like that, though,” said Akane, lips pursed in a pout.
“Do you have a better excuse?”
“How about saying you snuck into my house and stole my lunch?” suggested Akane.
“No! I’d get arrested!”
“Just think of it as gaining life experience.”
“Like hell! If I get a criminal record, I could get expelled!” shot back Saito. “On top of that, the charge is so lame it’d be even more embarrassing.”
“How about saying that you and I went to the same cooking school?” suggested Akane.
“Cooking school? I’ve never done anything that legit. What kind of school are you talking about, anyway?”
“The Sakuramori Akane School of Culinary Arts,” she said proudly.
“The name literally gives it away. Everyone would know you taught me.”
Akane’s eyes sparkled with delight. “Ah, so you’re my disciple—basically beneath me. How about that?” said Akane with a smug grin.
“Not okay,” shot back Saito. “Don’t let your lust for power make you lose sight of the goal.”
Excuses work best when they’re simple. The more elaborate the setup, the harder it is to keep thestory straight, Saito thought.
“Putting that aside, I think we should start eating lunch in the cafeteria for a while,” suggested Saito.
“You’re saying you don’t want to eat my lunch anymore?” fired back Akane, full offense taken.
“No, it’s just that after today, people will definitely be paying closer attention to our lunches. If we have the same side dishes again and again, they’ll catch on.”
“Then how about you just mess up your lunch so it looks totally different?”
“Would you be okay with that?” Saito asked, raising an eyebrow.
“If my cooking gets disrespected, I’ll be furious,” said Akane flatly.
“If it’s going to make you mad, don’t suggest it in the first place,” said Saito. “Anyway, the cafeteria’s the safest bet.”
“Fine.” Akane sighed. She raised her index finger, lecturing him. “But no junk food, okay? Even in the cafeteria, make sure you pick a proper set with soup and three side dishes. Don’t get yourself sick.”
“What are you, my mom?” Saito replied with a wry smile.
“No, but if my housemate gets sick, I’m the one who has to deal with it, aren’t I?”
“Ah, right. Like that time you got a fever—that was rough,” said Saito sarcastically.
Akane’s face showed instant regret at her words. “Ugh… I mean, yes, that’s exactly what I meant,” she huffed. “In order to not trouble each other, we both need to manage our health properly. Got it?” Akane was speaking from a place of desperation, but she still carried an air of authority.
“The worst-case scenario would be everyone finding out where we live,” said Saito. “If we’re caught living in the same house, it’s not really something we can explain away.”
“Maybe we should start shopping at a supermarket farther from home too,” Akane added. “It’ll be a pain to carry everything back, though.”
As they continued talking, the sound of footsteps echoed from the hallway.
The classroom door swung open without warning.
“…!”
Akane and Saito were already suspected of having a relationship—getting caught secretly meeting like this would be the final nail in the coffin. Saito and Akane dove under the teacher’s desk, shoving and squirming until they managed to fit themselves into their hiding spot.
“How many desks were we supposed to bring again?”
“Wasn’t it eight?”
“I feel like they said they needed more than that…”
“I’ll go ask the teacher real quick.”
Chatting as they entered, a few students wandered around the empty classroom. It didn’t seem like they would be leaving anytime soon. Saito and Akane remained hidden under the teacher’s desk, the cramped space making it nearly impossible to move. Akane was kneeling with one leg up, and Saito had somehow ended up in a position that looked like he was being held by her. Her chest, rising and falling with rapid breaths, was pressed against Saito’s face. A sweet, slightly tart scent hit his nose head-on.
“Hey, get off me a bit,” Akane whispered, her voice tinged with embarrassment.
“Don’t ask the impossible,” Saito muttered back, feeling the heat rising to his face.
“That tickles—don’t talk!”
“You’re the one talking!”
As if trying to gag him, Akane wrapped her uniform sleeve around Saito’s head, pulling him in and closing the distance between them even further. The soft sensation of having this girl pressed against him tormented and unsettled Saito. All he could hear was Akane’s faint, aching breaths—and a heartbeat that was racing. But maybe it wasn’t her heart echoing so loudly…maybe it was his own.
No one at this school would have ever imagined that Saito and Akane—mortal enemies—would be in a place like this, so close together. Even Saito himself felt like it wasn’t real, as if he had wandered into a dream. And strangely enough, that dream didn’t feel unpleasant enough to be called a nightmare.
“We’re supposed to move the teacher’s desk too, right?” A student’s voice echoed through the room, and Saito and Akane froze in place.
This was bad. Really bad. Getting caught like this wasn’t something they could laugh off. If it was a classmate, they’d definitely shout “See? I knew you two were dating!” Even if it was someone from another class, the rumors would still spread through the entire school like wildfire.
“What do we do…?” Akane whispered, her voice small and anxious.
Even Saito—usually sharp in a crisis—found his mind sluggish, as if coated in molasses. He couldn’t think straight.
Footsteps approached.
Pressed together in tense silence, Saito and Akane huddled under the desk. Just when they thought it was all over, one of the students spoke.
“The teacher’s desk is way too heavy. Let’s just borrow another one from the next classroom over.”
“Yeah, good idea. Let’s go.”
The door closed, and the students’ footsteps gradually faded. Only once the silence fully settled did Saito and Akane crawl out from under the teacher’s desk.
“Haah…haah… That was awful,” Akane muttered, holding her flushed cheeks in both hands trying to catch her breath.
Saito, burning up from head to toe, loosened the collar of his shirt and fanned himself with his hand. They were too embarrassed to even look at each other, so they spoke with their backs turned.
“It’d look bad if we left the classroom together,” said Saito.
“I’ll go out into the hallway—Saito, you jump out the window,” instructed Akane.
“This is the fourth floor.”
“You’ll manage.”
“I’ll splat, not manage,” said Saito, exasperated.
“So should I be the one to jump?”
“No jumping. Just go back to class ahead of me,” said Saito. “I’ll follow after a little bit.”
“Got it. See you later,” said Akane before dashing out of the empty classroom.
See you later—that might’ve been the first time Akane had ever said something like that to Saito. Maybe it was because she’d lost her usual composure, but still, it was a farewell that implied that they’d meet again. It was a far cry from the past two years of school life where they couldn’t stand the sight of each other.
Feeling strangely surprised, Saito left the empty classroom. Just to be safe, he took a roundabout route back toward his own classroom—and ran into Himari on the stairwell landing.
“Ah! Saito-kun!” Himari skipped down the stairs with a light, effortless rhythm. At the end, she skipped two steps in one bound, her skirt fluttering as she landed gently in front of him.
“You’ll fall if you run on the stairs.”
“It’s fine—if I do, you’ll catch me,” said Himari with a smile.
“Don’t drag me into it. I’d dodge you with everything I’ve got.”
“Meanie! You’ll never be popular with girls like that.”
“Fine by me.”
“Ah ha ha, that’s so you, Saito-kun.” Himari laughed brightly, clasping her hands behind her back.
Himari was Akane’s best friend, and she and Saito had been chatting off and on since their first year. Unlike Akane, though, Himari never picked fights—it was always just harmless small talk, which made it easier for Saito to deal with her.
“Oh, by the way…” Himari suddenly said, as if remembering something. “Saito-kun, that lunch… Akane didn’t really make it, did she?”
Saito stiffened at the question but tried not to show it on his face, only giving a small shrug and replying with a joking tone. “We probably just used the same frozen food. I mean, hey, there’s always the chance she’s copying me.”
“Really?” asked Himari, unusually serious, her voice low. She leaned in so close he could feel her breath, as if determined not to miss even the slightest facial tic. Her high-bridged nose—unusually prominent for a Japanese girl—was nearly touching his. The faint scent of her mature perfume drifted through the warmth between them.
“It’s true,” answered Saito.
“So, for real, you two aren’t dating?” asked Himari again. Her eyes, locked on his, seemed to waver slightly.
Saito, suddenly uneasy, swallowed hard. “Of course not.”
“I see, I see… Yeah, okay.” Himari nodded repeatedly, almost to herself. Then, letting out a deep breath, she stepped back with a bounce. “Sorry for being so weird. I’ll take care of clearing up the misunderstandings with the others, okay? See ya!” With an embarrassed smile, Himari turned and left.
If it was Himari—the most popular girl in class—saying it, their classmates would surely believe her. Relieved, Saito felt like peace was finally returning to his world.
Chapter 2: Bestie
Chapter 2:
Bestie
A WOODEN FAN SLOWLY SPUN ITS BLADES around above the customers and staff of a stylish café. The menus on the tables were handwritten and full of charm, and the trinkets displayed on the shelves along the walls delighted the eyes. Except for the occasional chime of the doorbell when a customer entered, the place was completely removed from the hustle and bustle of the outside world.
In that serene café, Akane was enjoying tea with Himari.
Their schoolbags rested at their feet, and they nibbled on scones topped with clotted cream and strawberry jam, sipping strawberry-flavored tea—blissful moments spent between beloved besties. But that peace was suddenly shattered by an unexpected question.
“Akane, do you have a crush on Saito-kun?”
Akane spat out her tea in shock. She started coughing, and Himari gently rubbed her back. It must have gone down the wrong pipe, given the tears that welled up in her eyes.
“You okay?” asked Himari.
“I’m okay, but…why do you ask all of a sudden?”
“I’m just curious. What do you think about Saito-kun?” inquired Himari again.
“I-I don’t think anything of him! There’s absolutely no way I could ever have a crush on him! If it weren’t for him, I’d be at the top of the class.”
“I see…”
“Why are you asking?” Akane tilted her head to the side.
Himari held her teacup in both hands and looked down. A whisper slipped from her lips.
“I…um…I have a crush on him.”
“What…?” Akane froze for a moment, being completely caught off guard by her unexpected words. She thought for a moment that it might be a joke, but Himari’s face ruled that possibility out. The usually cheerful and lively Himari now seemed like a different person—her ears were bright red, and she was biting her lip nervously. Akane had never seen her like this before.
“What do you even see in that guy?” asked Akane, confused.
“…I like everything about him,” Himari answered, blushing in embarrassment.
“There’s nothing good about him—literally nothing,” insisted Akane.
“There’s plenty!”
“Really…?” Akane wasn’t convinced. “Are you sure you’re not being fooled?”
“No way!”
Akane began to worry—she had to save Himari from Saito’s clutches. Ever since their first year of high school, Saito had been nothing but a source of frustration for Akane. She couldn’t believe there was actually someone who liked him—and of all people, it was her bestie.
“But Saito-kun is, like, really cool,” said Himari, pouting slightly, as if getting a bit defensive.
“Cool? Are your eyes broken or something?” blurted Akane, wondering if she should make Himari an appointment at the eye doctor.
“They’re not broken. I’m not even talking about his looks—well, I do think he’s good-looking—but what’s attractive to me is what’s on the inside.”
“Inside?” Akane imagined someone—or something—climbing out of a Saito-shaped costume.
“Back when we were preparing for the sports festival, one of my friends collapsed from heatstroke,” said Himari, adding sugar to her tea and stirring it gently with a teaspoon. “The school nurse was nowhere to be found, and everyone started panicking—but Saito-kun stayed totally calm. He moved my friend into the shade right away, gave everyone instructions on how to help, looked up the emergency contact, and got their parents to come pick them up. He’s usually quiet, but in that moment, he was like a king—so cool,” said Himari, her eyes shining a little.
“Sounds more like a know-it-all to me,” muttered Akane.
“That’s what makes him great. He’s dependable—so different from the other guys.”
“Well…” murmured Akane. I guess I kind of get it.
When Akane had come down with a high fever, Saito hadn’t panicked at all. He calmly took care of her and even carried her to the hospital in a princess carry… And as she was cradled in his arms, swaying slightly, Akane couldn’t deny he was…reliable.
“I don’t have any confidence in myself,” said Himari softly. “So, I can’t help but admire Saito-kun, a man so perfectly sure of himself.”
“Admire him…” echoed Akane.
She understood that, too. Saito, the person who stood at the top of their academic year like a thorn in her side, was also a blindingly bright wall looming ahead of her. The words she’d muttered in her fever back then hadn’t just been nonsense. Ever since entering high school, her goal had been to catch up to that wall—and break through it.
Himari leaned over the table, continuing to speak passionately.
“And…you know, Saito-kun is actually really kind! He usually acts aloof and everything, but when I was feeling down, he noticed and asked if I was okay! One time he even gave me candy! I have no idea why he was carrying it around, but it was sweet of him…” Himari closed her eyes in a blissful expression, lost in the pleasant memory.
Akane shifted uncomfortably in her seat as she watched her. Akane got where she was coming from—it was true that Saito was a considerate person. He had remembered the contents of a class essay anthology that even Akane herself had forgotten, and another time, Saito brought Akane her favorite snack as a souvenir. He could be sloppy, yes, but he wasn’t the kind of guy who trampled on people’s feelings.
“Himari, you really pay attention to Saito’s good qualities, don’t you?”
“Yeah!” Himari nodded cheerfully. The aspects of Saito that Akane had only come to know after marrying him—Himari had known them all along. Akane found herself feeling a little frustrated by that fact and lowered her gaze. She didn’t understand that feeling: A slight discomfort, like a tiny thorn lodged deep in her heart. Akane washed it away along with her tea.
Himari covered her mouth with her hand and lowered her voice. “Also…all the other guys besides Saito-kun keep sneaking glances at my chest.”
“Seriously?” Akane was mortified.
“They totally do. Not just glances either. Like, full-on staring. You’re supposed to look someone in the eye when you talk to them—it’s just rude,” said Himari.
“That’s not just rude—it’s sexual harassment. We need to wipe out this entire class of sex offenders,” declared Akane.
“If you do that, you’re the one who’ll end up with the heavier sentence.”
“You’ll come visit me in prison, won’t you?”
“I mean, they’re guys. Of course they’re curious about girls’ chests. But if it comes to that, I’ll visit…” said Himari with a shrug.
“I’ve never had anyone sneak glances at mine…” said Akane, comparing her own modest chest to Himari’s motherly curves. Akane was left swirling in her complicated feelings.
“Saito-kun is different,” Himari gushed. “He’s never looked at me with pervy eyes, not even once. Even during swimming class, he doesn’t sneak a glance. He just has this mature calm about him—it’s nice.”
“Saito’s no saint,” said Akane. “If you let your guard down, you’ll end up dead.”
“Dead? What’s he going to do to me?” asked Himari, wide-eyed.
“He’s just really good at pretending not to look. I’m sure he’s peeping, though. Probably spending the entire day scanning every inch of your body,” said Akane firmly.
That said, Akane also knew full well that ever since he married her, Saito had never once made a move on her. She had even pretended to be asleep once, just to test if he’d try anything. But instead, he had completely ignored her, read a book, drank some water, and promptly passed out. It wasn’t that Akane wanted him to take advantage, but being treated like she wasn’t even on his radar wounded her pride. She began to think maybe he just didn’t have any sexual desire at all. Or maybe being so physically close to her all the time had ruined his taste.
“Well…if it’s Saito-kun, I wouldn’t mind being looked at,” Himari murmured, cheeks flushed.
“You’re serious about him,” said Akane quietly.
“Yeah,” said Himari, nodding.
“Right…”
Romance had always seemed like something from a far-off world—something that existed in TV shows and movies, not in her own life. But now, Akane felt the ground beneath her feet begin to shift.
Himari fidgeted with her fingers.
“So, um… Akane, you and Saito-kun are close, right? If you could help me out, I’d really appreciate it.”
“W-we’re not that close.”
“Well, maybe not close, but you’re at least kind of…within reach, I guess? Besides Shisei-chan, you’re the one who talks to Saito-kun the most.”
“I wouldn’t call it talking. It’s more like yelling.”
“Either way, please help me make it so Saito-kun and I can fall in love with each other,” said Himari, pressing her hands together in a pleading gesture.
“Uh…” Akane faltered.
There was no real reason to refuse. Even if she was technically married to Saito, it was only on paper. They were living together purely to pursue their respective goals—it wasn’t a real marriage. There was no love between them, no romance. Though things had been getting a little more comfortable lately, they still argued constantly. As long as Akane couldn’t imagine a future where she’d fall for Saito, she figured she should let him pursue romance freely.
More than anything, Akane didn’t want to see her bestie, Himari, sad.
“…All right. I’ll help you.”
“Thank you! I love you, Akane!”
Himari jumped into her arms, overjoyed. Her embrace was soft and comforting. Akane had agreed to help for the sake of her longtime best friend—someone who had always been by her side. Akane felt like she would do anything for Himari.
“So…what exactly should I do? I don’t know much about romance, so I’m not even sure how to help,” inquired Akane.
“Well, first, I want to know more about Saito-kun! What he likes, what he hates, his hobbies, everything. I want to know it all.”
“Why do you want to know all that?” Akane frowned, feeling puzzled.
“Well, part of it is because I think it’ll help me get closer to him…but mostly, when you love someone, don’t you just want to know everything about them?”
“Huh… Is that how it works?”
“Yup! Though maybe you don’t get it yet, since you’re still kind of a kid,” teased Himari.
“I’m not a kid,” shot back Akane. “I can eat spicy curry just fine, thank you very much.”
“Feeling proud about eating medium-spicy curry is exactly what makes you a kid. You’ve gotta go for extra spicy.”
“Extra spicy is a bit much…” That was still a little too advanced for Akane.
Himari’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “You must know tons about Saito-kun, right? You talk to him every day.”
“Hmm…?”
That was when it hit Akane—she hadn’t realized it until Himari pointed it out. Even though they lived together, she hardly knew anything about Saito at all.
As Saito sat reading in the living room, a sudden chill ran down his spine—he felt a defiant air that made him tense.
What is this feeling? Is someone watching me?
He immediately lifted himself slightly off the sofa and glanced around, but there was no one there.
The living room was dead silent. The only sound was the faint dripping of water from the kitchen faucet across the counter. He must not have fully turned off the tap when he filled his glass.
Whatever, it’s too much trouble. I’ll leave it. With that thought, he turned his attention back to his book.
But once again, that sharp, overwhelming hostile presence struck him.
A bad feeling gnawing at him, Saito got up and turned the faucet off properly. He didn’t want to face a scolding from Akane when she got home—“You’re driving up the water bill!”—after all, he wanted to protect his peaceful home life.
He settled back onto the sofa and resumed reading. But no matter how much time passed, the foreboding feeling didn’t go away. It even felt like the menacing sensation was growing—slowly, steadily, thicker by the second. As it crept up behind him, Saito steeled himself and turned around.
Saito gasped at what he saw.
Akane stood there, her eyes focused like those of a professional assassin. In her hand she clutched a pen, its sharp tip gleaming with a menacing light.
“Wh-what are you doing here…?”
“Don’t mind me. Just continue doing your thing,” said Akane.
“That’s impossible. I do mind!” exclaimed Saito.
“Your job is to ignore me and go about your life like normal.” Akane spoke in a voice devoid of any emotion.
“Job? What job?”
“Professional zoo monkeys don’t get embarrassed when crowds of people watch them. They just keep living life as usual. That’s your job too.”
“A professional…monkey?”
“Yes. Take pride in being a pro monkey,” said Akane firmly.
“I’m not a professional monkey.”
“Oh? So you’re an amateur monkey?”
“First of all, I’m not a monkey in the first place.”
Feeling a genuine sense of threat, Saito fled the living room.
Was she seriously planning to assassinate me with a pen from behind…?
It sounded absurd, but he couldn’t completely rule out the possibility. He had thought their relationship had softened, that the emotional distance between them had closed, but that had all been his own naive assumption. Akane had only pretended to lower her guard, just to make him let his own guard down.
What a master tactician…!
This house was, after all, still a battlefield. Lower your guard, and you lose your head. Saito renewed his vigilance with grim determination.
He could not possibly stay in such an unguarded shared space, so he retreated to his study. Of course, studying was out of the question. He made himself comfortable and immersed himself in his favorite pastime—reading.
But once again, the air around him turned tense with hostility.
Saito quickly scanned the room. Akane wasn’t there. He even checked under the desk and deep inside the closet, but of course, she wasn’t there either. Ever since they moved in, not even for cleaning had she once set foot into his study.
And yet—the hostile air didn’t disappear. Akane must have been watching him.
But from where?
At a loss, Saito happened to glance out the window—and saw her.
Akane was standing out on the street, peering into his study through a pair of binoculars. She had gone to the trouble of pulling a hood low over her head and covering her mouth with a scarf to hide her face, but all it did was make her look more suspicious. The ribbon braided into her hair was still clearly visible.
Without a word, Saito closed the curtain.
My wife is stalking me—what do I do?! Saito considered asking the police for help, but he figured they probably wouldn’t take him seriously. Besides, he couldn’t even say for sure if this actually counted as stalking. He had thought he was starting to understand Akane’s feelings just a little—but that may have been pure arrogance on his part.
This girl is utterly incomprehensible!
That truth hit him hard as evening fell, and soon it was time for dinner.
“What’s wrong? Hurry up and eat before it gets cold,” urged Akane, though she hadn’t touched her own meal. Instead, she was pointing her smartphone at Saito.
“…Are you filming me right now?”
“Yes,” said Akane calmly. “I’m filming you.”
“Should we talk about my right to privacy?”
She replied without flinching. “Oh, come on. It’s a home video. You’ve got no legal ground for interference.”
“You’re trying to record my last supper, aren’t you? You’re going to send that footage to some intelligence agency as evidence of my assassination. Then, they’ll wire the payment to your bank account… That’s what this is, isn’t it?”
Saito was now so steeped in paranoia that he had fallen deep into conspiracy theory territory.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about. Are you okay?” asked Akane, her voice calm.
“I could say the same—I have no idea what you’re after.”
“No need for you to understand. Now hurry up and eat. I have to measure how many times you blink while you’re eating.”
“…Wait. Have you been observing me this whole time…? What for…?” Saito was confused and alarmed.
“Well, that’s…” Akane’s eyes darted away, looking troubled. “There was no way I could ever tell you the real reason—not even if your mouth were torn open!”
“Why would my mouth get torn open?” Saito was even more confused now.
“Well, who knows? He he he…” said Akane with a lilting chuckle. Her damp, shadowy smile was terrifying Saito. Saito readied his knife and fork like weapons, entering full combat mode.
Perhaps having given up on filming, Akane finally began eating her hamburger. She sliced into the meat with precision, as if symbolically cutting open Saito’s mouth, then brought the piece to her lips and bit down. The silence was suffocating. The tension was unbearable. Saito could barely swallow his food—it lodged in his throat, and he had to force it down with water.
Akane suddenly broke the silence.
“…Do you prefer bigger breasts?”
Saito couldn’t believe what he just heard. “B-breasts?! What kind of question is that?”
Akane’s cheeks flushed a deep red. “No special reason. Just making conversation!”
“You can’t say something like that and then pretend it means nothing!” Saito had no choice but to protest.
Akane let out a long, heavy sigh. “Fine, I’ll rephrase. From bra cup sizes A to Z, which do you like best?”
“That’s…not much better. And wait—size Z? Does that even exist?” challenged Saito.
It sounded more like a code name for a final weapon: A chest that could kill someone just by existing. Saito was at a total loss for how to respond. Maybe the right move for a peaceful household was to say Akane’s size was his preference. But there was a real risk she’d explode—“So, you’ve been looking at me lasciviously?!”
On the other hand, if he named a smaller size than hers, she might look at him like trash and call him a pedophile with a Lolita complex. On the other, if he named a larger size, she might glare at him like filth and call him a MILF lover.
What…the hell…am I supposed to…do?! Saito clutched his head, tormented by an impossible interrogation.
“You’re so indecisive. If you’re a man, just pick one already,” blurted Akane. She watched him squirm at the table with eyes that said, in no uncertain terms, that he was human garbage. Judging by her expression, his approval rating had taken a sharp dive.
“Then what about you? Could you answer right away?” Saito shot back, glaring at her.
“I like bigger ones, like Himari’s,” replied Akane calmly. “It feels comforting to be wrapped in them.”
“Tch…must be nice. Girls can say whatever they want, and it’s never considered sexual harassment,” grumbled Saito. If Saito, a guy, had said the same thing Akane just did, she would have flipped the entire dinner table, relayed his comment to Himari, and the resulting rumors would’ve spread through the school like wildfire—leading to his social death.
Akane switched the inquiry. “Um…in that case…what kind of girls do you like, Saito?”
“Huh?” Saito was stunned.
It was a question just as unexpected—maybe even more so—than the one about bust size. Akane wasn’t the type to indulge in romantic gossip, and she certainly wasn’t someone with whom Saito ever imagined having that kind of conversation. There was no romance between them—none at all. And yet, here she was—blushing, avoiding his gaze, and waiting for an answer. Her hands rested awkwardly on her lap, and she fidgeted shyly.
Is she…interested in me?
No way, Saito thought, quickly shaking off the fleeting suspicion. There was no way Akane was thinking anything like that. She and Saito were natural-born enemies. He couldn’t forget the two years of constant conflict that defined their high school life.
“Um, let’s see…I don’t really have a specific type,” he said.
“So, any girl is fine with you?”
“That’s…absolutely not what I said!”
“So, you’re fine even if it’s not a human, right? How about a guppy?” said Akane.
“I absolutely cannot date a guppy.”
Akane raised an eyebrow and continued. “That’s rude. You’ll hurt the guppy’s feelings.”
“Guppies don’t have feelings to hurt.”
“Even if they smile all the time and people think they’re strong, they might actually be fragile on the inside.”
“Wait, we’re still talking about fish, right…?” Saito found himself feeling more and more confused. He knew discrimination was wrong—but empathizing with a guppy seemed a bridge too far.
“Then, I will switch the question again. What kind of food do you like?” Akane asked Saito.
“Favorite food? I guess…steak, or sushi. I also like chirashi sushi loaded with salmon roe on top.”
“Pretty fancy for a student.”
“It’s not like I order stuff like that on my own. My grandpa takes me out to eat a lot,” explained Saito.
When it came to Saito’s grandfather Houjou Tenryu, you couldn’t underestimate him—despite his age, his appetite was even greater than Saito’s. The moment the two stepped into a restaurant, his grandfather would order a sixteen-ounce steak and polish it off in no time.
“You get along well with your grandpa,” commented Akane.
“We don’t necessarily get along. I just can’t say no to him.”
“Because deep down, you love him?” said Akane with a teasing squint.
“Don’t say gross stuff like that. He literally drags me along. Even after my elementary school graduation, I just wanted to go home and read—but he had me pulled into a helicopter out of nowhere…”
“To kill you?”
“Do I look dead? He basically kidnapped me to some villa and threw me a graduation party,” said Saito.
“What a way to show his love,” said Akane.
“I definitely didn’t feel any love there! It was a week straight of parties—no time to read at all…” Saito shuddered as the memories returned. Endless introductions to his grandfather’s acquaintances, subordinates, and their kids. Forced small talk. Wasted time.
But wait, there was one moment that stood out.
Saito suddenly recalled a delicate girl with long, flowing hair. From the instant he saw her, he was drawn in—he couldn’t take his eyes off her. Saito and the girl talked nonstop, completely absorbed in conversation. Her gestures, the way she stood, her scent, the way she looked when she blushed, the sound of her voice—everything about her made his heart race. He got the sense that the girl had liked him too. She’d smiled at him with an angelic expression.
Alas, because he had been so unusually swept up in the moment, Saito had forgotten to even ask her name. Where is she now? What is she doing? It was too faint to call it love—just a fleeting memory from his childhood.
“Hmm, I see… So, you don’t like your grandpa,” Akane recited as she scribbled notes. She was using the same pen Saito had mistaken for a weapon earlier that day. Her motive was unclear, but one thing was certain: Akane genuinely wanted to know more about him. And Saito…didn’t really mind that.
“Next question: How do you like your steak cooked?”
“Rare, I guess.”
“So, practically raw,” said Akane as she jotted down his answer.
“Common misconception,” Saito corrected. “Rare steak may be red, but it’s still cooked properly.”
“What about the sides? What do you like with it?”
“Garlic sauté, maybe? Not too crispy.”
“Barely cooked garlic…more raw food.”
“I keep telling you, none of this is actually raw!”
Maybe—just maybe—Akane is planning to make my favorite food?
Knowing her cooking skill, it would probably be a flawless, gourmet-level dish. Saito felt himself start to salivate in anticipation.
In the corner of the classroom, Akane reported her findings to Himari.
“I found out what kind of girl Saito likes.”
“Really? Tell me, tell me!” Himari leaned in excitedly.
“Apparently, Saito doesn’t like girls who are like guppies,” stated Akane.
“Guppies…? You mean the tropical fish?” Himari blinked in surprise.
“He said he just can’t see them as women.”
“But what kind of girl is ‘like a guppy,’ anyway?” Himari was puzzled.
“I looked it up. Guppies are known for being hardy and having a high reproductive rate.”
“So…I guess he’s not into the super sexy type?”
“Who knows…” said Akane, tilting her head.
The two of them puzzled over it together. Boys seemed so complicated to them.
“And apparently, his favorite food is raw meat,” added Akane.
“Raw meat?! That’s…unexpectedly wild,” gushed Himari.
“He likes raw garlic too.”
“Definitely wild. I thought he was more of a brainy type, but I guess he has that side to him too… I see,” Himari murmured, almost like she was savoring the words.
“You seem happy, even though it’s nothing like the image you had of him,” said Akane, a little surprised at her friend’s words.
“Well, I got to learn something about Saito-kun that I didn’t know before. It kind of makes me feel like I got a little closer to him, and that makes me happy!”
“I see…that’s how it is.” Honestly, seeing her bestie so happy made Akane happy too. It made Akane want to dig up even more dirt for her.
“Saito’s hobbies are reading and gaming. He even reads in bed before going to sleep,” blurted Akane.
“In bed? How do you know something that specific?” Himari tilted her head, suspicious.
“Oh—” Akane quickly clamped a hand over her mouth. That was a bad slip. She’d just implied that they slept in the same bed as husband and wife—something she definitely hadn’t meant to reveal.
“Um, you know, that’s…something I had overheard Saito saying to Shisei-san.”
For some reason, that scattered, stammering explanation seemed to somehow satisfy Himari. “I wonder what kind of games he likes?” inquired Himari.
“Horror games,” Akane replied flatly. “The kind where you shoot zombies and ghosts—messy, gory stuff. That’s all he ever plays! Yikes, his taste really is awful. The sound always leaks out of his headphones,” Akane spat out, clenching her fist.
“Wow, why are you so oddly passionate about this?”
“Ah, well, I just…I’m the type who can’t stand those kinds of games! I think he should be playing something more educational…something cute. That’s all. Seriously, that’s all,” said Akane.
“That’s all, huh?” said Himari, nodding gently.
Akane was panting heavily by this point. Giving information was fine and all, but talking about Saito was too risky for her. It felt like she could accidentally let something slip at any moment.
Himari gently took Akane’s hand. “Thank you, Akane! That was really helpful.”
“Was it, though?” Akane suddenly felt anxious, unsure whether she’d been of any real use.
“Yes! Next time I’ll try playing one of those zombie-shooting games at the arcade. That way, I’ll have something to talk to Saito-kun about,” said Himari.
“…You really shouldn’t play horror games. You’ll get cursed or something.”
“I won’t get cursed over something like that. Really, thanks!”
With a cheerful bounce in her step, Himari returned to her seat. Akane let out a sigh of relief and began preparing for the next class. She pulled out her textbook and notebook, neatly lined them up on her desk, and checked that her mechanical pencil was loaded with lead. She had thoroughly reviewed the material the night before, but she went over today’s lesson once again just to be sure. If she wanted to defeat a formidable opponent like Saito, there was no room for compromise in her studies.
“I’d like to make a deal with you.”
Akane heard a voice, and when she looked over, she found Shisei right in front of her. With both hands resting lightly on her desk, looking up at Akane with wide eyes, Shisei resembled a small animal like a rabbit—or a squirrel.
“A deal…? Like what?” asked Akane.
“I’ll give you information about Ani-kun. In exchange, I want a handmade lunch from you, Akane.” Shisei was drooling.
“Y-you weren’t listening to that earlier conversation, were you?”
Akane panicked. If Shisei told Saito that Himari was looking for information about him, it would be a disaster. Shisei tilted her head with a blank, innocent look. It seemed there was no need to worry—Shisei hadn’t caught on.
“I, Shise, know everything about Ani-kun,” she said matter-of-factly. “What he likes, what he dislikes, how he writes certain kanji, his weaknesses…even the taste of his sweat.”
“Wait, hold on. How do you know what his sweat tastes like?”
“I lick him a lot,” replied Shisei.
“A lot?!”
“It’s the perfect way to get salt. Very appetizing.” Shisei’s stomach let out an adorably high-pitched growl.
Might Shisei someday eat Saito alive? The horrifying thought flashed through Akane’s mind, making her shiver. She would very much prefer not to get involved with a real-life cannibalism incident up close.
“I don’t need any of Saito’s info, thank you very much,” Akane told Shisei.
“Ani-kun told me, ‘There is someone who’s been oddly curious about me lately…what do you think it means?’ Akane, he’s talking about you, correct?”
“Wh-why would you think I’m the one—?!” Akane sputtered, flustered.
“I can tell. I, Shise, and Ani-kun are connected on a deep level. Akane, are you interested in Ani-kun?”
“H-huh?! Of course not!” shot back Akane, feeling her cheeks grow hot.
“Ani-kun said that this person has also been stalking him,” uttered Shisei with a smug look.
“I’m not stalking anyone! I just…” It annoyed her to be misunderstood, but she couldn’t reveal the truth—not when she was doing all this for Himari.
“Akane…zero yen? Sold!” With a sharp, auctioneer-like motion, Shisei thrust out two fingers.
“I’m not for sale!”
“No need to be shy, Akane. Ani-kun’s a good guy; it’s natural to be curious.”
“I said I’m not interested in him!”
Just wait till I get home… Akane seethed with rage and cursed in silence.
Akane was rushing around in the open kitchen at home. She was wearing her school uniform with an apron over it, her sleeves rolled up to reveal her slender arms.
“I’ll have dinner ready in no time, so Saito, could you take care of cleaning the bath and changing the trash bags?”
“Got it. What’s for dinner tonight?”
“Fish,” said Akane.
“Fish, huh…” Saito slumped a little, and Akane narrowed her eyes.
“Got a problem with that?”
“No complaints…but I was just wondering when steak might finally make an appearance,” said Saito.
“I’m not cooking you steak.”
“But you asked me all about how I like it prepared…” Saito was stunned.
“Wait…were you actually expecting me to make it for you?” It was Akane’s turn to be stunned.
“Of course I was! You even asked me how I liked the sides prepared—I figured you were planning to make my favorite.”
“Oh…really?” murmured Akane, her curled hand resting near her mouth. Her cheeks were faintly flushed. “Well, I actually don’t mind you expecting things from me…”
“Huh?”
“N-nothing!” Akane waved her hands as if to dissipate what she had just said, then crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes at Saito.
“You’ve got a childish side, don’t you?”
“Nah, not really,” denied Saito.
“Oh, please. Getting all sulky just because your favorite steak still hasn’t shown up? Poor thing.” Akane giggled teasingly.
“Tch…” Saito clicked his tongue, feeling his whole body grow warm. Akane’s smug expression was infuriating. When it came to food, he was at a disadvantage—her cooking was just that good.
Humming softly, Akane spun around lightly and untied her apron.
“You know what…I guess I’ll take responsibility.”
“Responsibility…?” Saito blinked in confusion, only for Akane to point directly at him.
“For Saito, the man who so clearly craves my cooking, I’m saying I’ll go buy the ingredients for a steak dinner—so be grateful.”
“Right now? I could go get them for you instead,” suggested Saito.
“You’d probably mix up steak with, like, tissues or something,” said Akane.
“That’s way too big of a mistake! I can tell the difference between meat and paper goods, you know.”
Akane frowned, a wrinkle forming between her brows. “I don’t trust you…you’re the kind of guy who calls protein shakes ‘cuisine.’”
“Protein shakes are cuisine!” protested Saito. That was the one thing Saito refused to back down on.
“Just wait here. I’ll be right back.”
“I’m coming too. It’s already dark out—it’s dangerous for a girl to be walking alone this late.”
“H-huh?! Why are you suddenly treating me like some delicate flower? What are you planning?” Akane took a step back, eyeing him suspiciously.
“I’m not up to anything. I just need that steak to make it back safely. I’d be in trouble if it didn’t.”
“You’re more worried about the steak than me?! Just how badly do you want it?!” said Akane.
“I’d die for it,” said Saito.
“…Do whatever you want,” Akane replied coldly. Despite her words, a soft smile tugged at the corner of her face.
Saito and Akane left their house together. After Saito locked the door, the ever-cautious Akane tugged on the doorknob several times to be absolutely sure it was locked.
The residential streets, now cloaked in nightfall, were quietly alive with the breath of human life. Though no one was outside, the sounds of simmering pots and chatting families drifted out of various houses. The fragrant aromas of home-cooked meals wafted through the air, making Saito’s empty stomach growl.
“I really like this time of day,” said Akane.
“Why?”
“It just feels so warm and peaceful… It makes me miss going home to my parents. It’s nostalgic, you know? It reminds me of when I was little, looking forward to my mom’s cooking,” Akane spoke fondly, her voice full of warmth.
“I see. Personally, I don’t really like it that much,” said Saito.
“Why not?”
“It’s just not a world I belong to.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Beats me,” said Saito with a shrug.
“Don’t give me that. I’m asking you a question, so answer me properly.” Akane wasn’t going to let this slide.
“Are you interested in me or something?” asked Saito.
“N-no!” Akane turned her face away sharply. “Not at all.”
But I want to know a little more about you too, Akane, thought Saito, watching her out of the corner of his eye.
He had first noticed that feeling when Akane came down with a high fever. Saito recollected the very incident that made him feel as if he was holding a book that was about to close. He felt a pull—he wanted to read more, to see what was inside what could be called The Book of Akane. That feeling didn’t quite rise to the level of affection, but it certainly wasn’t hostility. Even now, learning that Akane liked cozy, domestic moments—it intrigued Saito.
Not that I could ever say that out loud to her though.
He glanced sideways at Akane, who was puffing out her cheeks in frustration. If he said he wanted to know more about his longtime rival, she’d definitely think he was being creepy. Driven by fear, Akane would probably barricade herself in her room.
The two of them walked out of the residential area and onto the main road, surrounded by heat and exhaust fumes. They then slipped into a side street. A few people passed by—some with hoods pulled low, others carrying strangely large bags. Even ordinary people who wouldn’t stand out during the day looked suspicious under the cover of night.
By the bike racks in front of the supermarket, a rugged-looking man was squatting and smoking. He wore a tank top over his muscular frame, his beard unkempt and scruffy. A sign nearby clearly read No Smoking, but he didn’t seem to care in the slightest.
See…it really is sketchy at night. Dealing with people like that was a waste of time, Saito thought. As he tried to steer Akane away and head into the store, he heard her reprimanding the man.
“Hey! The sign says no smoking here. Can’t you read?” Akane marched forward, practically picking a fight.
“Wha—?!” Saito tried to stop her, but of course, Akane was already too far gone.
“The hell’s your problem, brat?” The man scowled, as Akane jabbed a finger at him. “Cigarette smoke doesn’t just affect the person smoking—it’s bad for everyone around you. This area has families with kids, you know. What are you even thinking? Put that cig out. Right now.”
“Damn brat, mouthing off like that… You looking to get killed?” The man’s eyes flared as he spat a glob of foul saliva onto the ground.
“I-I won’t be intimidated by some savage threat.” Akane glared back, unflinching.
Saito couldn’t help but feel conflicted. He remembered when Akane threatened him in her low, menacing whisper, saying she was going to kill him if he told anybody in class that they were married. There was no doubt in his mind that she meant every word.
“It’s my life—I’ll do whatever I want, wherever I want!” growled the man.
“If you’re that desperate to live like trash, why don’t you go bury yourself under a volcano where you belong?!”
The man was absolutely furious. It really looked like he was on the verge of throwing a punch. Akane stood her ground, firm and unwavering, her fists clenched in defiance. But she was clearly scared—her knees were trembling.
It was Akane’s nature to throw herself into trouble in the name of justice. Given the difference in their sizes, she wouldn’t walk away unscathed if it came to a real fight—but she didn’t seem to be thinking that far ahead.
She’s so reckless… Sensing that this confrontation could easily turn violent, Saito stepped in between them.
“Both of you, calm down. And you, Akane—stop jumping down people’s throats,” said Saito, grabbing Akane by the shoulders and gently pulling her back.
“So now you’re taking his side?” snapped Akane.
“I’m not taking anyone’s side. I’m just saying—you could’ve approached this situation differently.”
“I’m simply calling a piece of garbage a piece of garbage.”
“That’s exactly what I’m talking about.” Saito gave her a light flick on the forehead.
“Ow!” Akane stumbled back, clutching her forehead with both hands, and glared up at Saito with wounded eyes.
“Y-you flicked me… You’re getting paid back a billion times worse when we get home!”
“Yeah, yeah. When we get home.” Saito silently began preparing himself for instant death the moment they got home. That flick shouldn’t have really hurt Akane—but even a blow as light as a water flea’s, multiplied a billion times, would surely be fatal.
The man’s face twitched, and he began to raise his voice. “Quit flirting and ignoring me, dammit! You think this is a joke?!”
“We’re not flirting,” said Akane quickly. “I’m being serious! We don’t have that kind of relationship!”
She was weirdly flustered—but now wasn’t the time to point that out. As the man raised a clenched fist, Saito immediately reached out and grabbed it.
“What the hell are you doing, brat?!”
“A handshake,” said Saito. “It’s what you do when making peace, right?”
Saito then yanked the man closer and locked eyes with him, just inches away.
“But just so you know…” Saito continued. “If you ever lay a hand on her, I’ll destroy everything you care about—you, your family, your whole life.” Saito smiled sweetly at the man, but the look in his eyes made it clear: he wasn’t joking.
The Houjou Group wasn’t just a clean-cut, respectable corporation. It had a long-standing tradition of utterly obliterating anyone who stood in its way for the sake of profit—a tradition upheld by its current head, Tenryu. Even Saito’s father had been kept in the dark about those methods, but Saito had been taught them directly by his grandfather from a very young age. Saito’s message must have gotten through.
With a silent scowl, the man yanked his hand free and threw his cigarette to the ground before walking off.
“Hey, you forgot something,” Saito called after him. “If you don’t put out the flame properly, you could be charged with arson—death penalty or life imprisonment.”
“Shut the hell up!”
The man stomped back, ground the cigarette out under his shoe, and this time ran off for good.
As they wandered the aisles inside the supermarket, Akane walked with her lips pursed in a pout. “I was this close to knocking that thug out right then and there. You didn’t need to butt in, Saito!”
“Well, excuse me. You just looked like you were scared, that’s all.”
“I-I wasn’t scared! You were just being annoyingly helpful!” said Akane, her face turning red hot as she stubbornly looked away.
When Saito had driven off that thug, there’d been something chillingly intense about him. He was smiling—and yet it wasn’t a typical smile. It carried such menacing weight that you could genuinely believe he’d follow through on his threats. It was nothing like the usual petty arguments she had with him. Even though the thug clearly had the upper hand in terms of physical strength, he’d been overwhelmed by Saito’s sheer presence and fled.
So, Saito does have his cool moments… The fact that she was impressed by Saito frustrated Akane, and yet, there was no way she could bring herself to thank him. It would’ve felt like admitting defeat. Instead, she took a different route.
“I’m going all-out on that steak tonight,” Akane declared, raising her fist in determination.
“I’m looking forward to it,” said Saito.
Saito’s expectant gaze made Akane feel ticklish inside.
This unexpected side of Saito—she didn’t want to tell anyone about it, not even Himari. And she didn’t know why.
The moment they got home and stepped into the living room, Akane turned to Saito with a demand.
“Sit right there on your knees.”
“On my knees…? Why…?”
“You’re going to get some payback for the forehead flick you gave me. Didn’t I say I’d return it a billion times over once we got home?” said Akane.
“You’re…actually going through with that?” Saito sighed, feeling a chill running down his spine.
“Of course. If I don’t get my revenge when something’s done to me, the grudge will multiply a hundred million times every day.”
“Sounds like the universe might explode under the weight of that grudge alone.”
Rather than letting the compound interest of hate snowball into a crushing debt, Saito felt like it would be easier to just get it over with and let her forgive him.
Saito gave in and sat down on his knees on the sofa. Akane rolled up her sleeves and approached him.
“Close your eyes. Your eyeballs might burst.”
“Don’t flick me that hard, then,” said Saito.
“Just close your eyes. Come on.”
Akane raised her hand, prepping her flick. Her whole arm was trembling slightly, and Saito could tell she was putting her full strength into it. Saito quickly shut his eyes, preparing himself for the impact. He felt Akane’s presence close in, carried on the wind.
“Hi-ya!”
Tap!
A tiny flick hit against his forehead. When he opened his eyes, Akane was leaning in close, grinning mischievously.
“What, were you scared?” jeered Akane. “You think I’d really hit you that hard?”
“…I wasn’t scared,” replied Saito, feeling a little embarrassed at how tense he’d gotten.
“Nah, you were. Your back teeth were chattering, and you were soaked with tears and sweat.”
“You are seriously exaggerating.”
“I’m not. I thought maybe you’d grown a little, but nope—Saito is still Saito.”
Nodding in satisfaction, Akane turned and started preparing dinner. While she cooked, Saito got to work on his assigned chores. He scrubbed out the overly spacious bathtub and filled it with hot water. He also washed the rubber duck that Akane had somehow brought into the house without him noticing. He replaced the trash bags in the bedroom, study, and other rooms around the house. As for the kitchen—he decided to leave that for later. Akane, darting around the space equipped with a kitchen knife, looked far too dangerous to approach.
Back when they had just gotten married, coming home from school and immediately diving into housework had been exhausting. But now, Saito had gotten used to it. If Akane was busy doing household chores while he just sat around playing games, it would only spark a marital argument—so it was safest to work alongside her like this.
Eventually, the table was set with dinner. Filet mignon, seafood paella, and a mysterious soup he didn’t recognize. Oil and bubbles danced cheerfully on the surface of the soup, sending up fragrant steam. Just smelling the aroma made Saito’s mouth water.
“Wow, this is seriously fancy,” muttered Saito, impressed.
“For me, preparing things like this is a piece of cake! Go on, dig in!” Akane proudly proclaimed as she watched Saito, studying his reaction.
Saito put his hands together briefly in thanks, then equipped himself with a knife and a fork. Having often been taken to fine restaurants by his grandfather, he’d had proper table manners drilled into him from a young age. He pressed the knife against the steak, and the meat accepted the blade with effortless grace. He sliced off a bite-sized piece and brought it to his mouth. The charred surface was perfectly crisp, while the inside was tender like gelatin. The meat parted easily in his mouth as he bit into it, and the rich, savory flavor spread all the way down his throat.
There’s a saying about food being so good it “makes your cheeks fall off”—and this was exactly that. The inner sides of Saito’s cheeks twitched as a response to the intense umami as he chewed, and his stomach growled in recognition of its own hunger.
His whole body was screaming for more.
“This is…dangerous,” Saito blurted out.
“Was it that bad?! So awful you feel like throwing up?!” Akane looked up at him, eyes brimming with tears.
“No, I meant it in a good way.”
“Wait, you feel like puking in a good way?”
“What does that even mean?”
“I don’t know!”
“At the very least, I don’t think I could ever associate vomiting with a positive emotion… Actually, can we not talk about this while we’re eating?” pleaded Saito.
“You’re the one who brought it up!”
“No, that was you!”
“What a seamless blame shift!”
“Who’s the one shifting?”
The two of them locked eyes, glaring across the table. Even trying to compliment her home cooking ended up in a fight, just what you’d expect from two sworn enemies. Their communication was broken by default.
“Anyway, just eat it—even if you have to puke while eating it. I worked really hard to make it for you, and I’d rather have you eat it before it gets cold,” scolded Akane, letting out an exasperated sigh.
“I’d rather not eat while vomiting. I’ll eat it normally.”
With that, Saito set his crosshairs on the seafood paella. He scooped up a generous portion of rice and ingredients with a large spoon and shoved it into his mouth. The springy flesh of the squid gave satisfying resistance as his teeth sank in and a gratifying snap as he bit through it. The scent of fresh ocean rushed in with the flavor. The rice, glistening with the sensual sheen of olive oil, was thoroughly infused with the essence of the ocean. Scattered throughout were small diced pieces of something that offered a satisfying crunch and peppery kick.
“What is this…?” Saito inquired, lifting the spoon while staring at the dice-sized cube on top of the rice.
“I chopped up some beef round originally meant for curry and added it in,” Akane explained. “I figured if you like steak that much, you’d probably enjoy having some beef in it too—not just seafood.”
“I see… That’s a pretty thoughtful touch.”
Saito had had paella before, usually at restaurants his grandfather brought him to, but it had never really left much of an impression until now. Akane’s paella—this was different. It wasn’t some generic mass-produced dish meant to please the general public. This was a bespoke dish, crafted just for him.
“What’s the soup?” asked Saito, staring down at the mysterious yellow concoction. It was strangely sludgy—like melted brains in a swamp—with red vegetables ominously floating on the surface.
“It’s Sopa de Ajo,” answered Akane.
“Ah-ho…what?” Saito asked.
“Sopa de Ajo. I found the recipe while looking up soups that go well with paella on my phone. It’s probably the kind of soup that turns you into an idiot when you have it.”
“Is that so, now?”
“If I make you have a ton of this soup, I bet your intelligence level will drop to that of a plankton. Then the title of top student will be mine!” said Akane with a triumphant grin. “Now have it. Have it all. Chug it. Every last drop.”
Her eyes sparkled with anticipation as she urged him on. She really seemed eager to lower Saito’s IQ. Saito doubted any soup could have that kind of effect, but with Akane, you could never be too sure. There was always a chance she had slipped something suspicious into it. Cautiously, he took a sip.
There was no hint of poison. He didn’t feel any dumber, either.
What had looked like a lumpy mess turned out to be softened bread. Its texture was similar towheat gluten, and it was mixed with beaten egg, creating a consistency like rice porridge. The natural sweetness of the vegetables had infused into the broth, and thin strips of red bell pepper added a refreshing, tangy accent. Since the steak and paella had been rich and hearty, the comforting soup made for a perfect palate cleanser. The more Saito sipped, the more warmth spread through his body.
“Does this have garlic in it?” asked Saito.
“Yep. You said you liked garlic with your meals, so I grated in a whole bunch just for you.”
Saito recalled something he’d come across while flipping through a dictionary out of boredom. “Ah, that makes sense. ‘Sopa de Ajo’ literally means ‘garlic soup’ in Spanish.”
“W-well, of course I knew that. There’s no way I wouldn’t!” retorted Akane.
“Liar. You totally tried to sabotage my intelligence, didn’t you?”
“As if I’d do something like that! I knew exactly what it meant and just wanted to tease you. And you fell for it beautifully. Ugh, how embarrassing…” said Akane, exaggeratedly shrugging her shoulders as her face flushed red with shame.
Saito nearly burst out laughing at how flustered she was, but knowing it would only make things worse, he fought hard to keep it in. Still, some of his amusement must have slipped through because Akane shot him a sharp, indignant glare.
Saito sliced into the steak once again, savoring the richness of the meat. He scooped up the paella, enjoying the vibrant flavors of the seafood. He then sipped the Sopa de Ajo, allowing the deep taste of garlic to warm him from within. It was the kind of meal that seemed to recharge him from the very core of his being.
“Think you can eat it all without puking?” Akane asked, a hint of sincere concern in her voice.
Saito had to suppress the urge to say You really are dense, aren’t you? since it should have been obvious to her that he was enjoying the delicious meal. But he knew that if he said anything like that, Akane would no doubt take it literally—and explode with rage.
Somehow, between them, hostility always came through loud and clear, while positive emotions never seemed to reach properly. That was just how it was between the two nemeses. If he wanted Akane to understand how much he appreciated this, he’d have to praise her with all his might. Though praise didn’t come easily to him, Saito took a deep breath, bracing himself, and shared his honest opinion loud and clear to Akane.
“Everything is truly delectable.”
“What? You think it’s detestable?” Akane trembled, visibly shaking.
“What kind of misheard nonsense is that? I said it’s delicious. This is better than anything made by a professional chef. It’s a masterpiece.”
“I can’t believe it. You, praising me like that? Wait—this is a trap, isn’t it?” Akane raised her knife and fork like dual swords. She looked like a dual-wielding samurai, ready to strike. Answer poorly, and she’d cut him. Answer well, and she’d still cut him. The air around her radiated merciless bloodlust.
“It’s not a trap,” said Saito calmly. “Honestly, it’s so good that I’d be overjoyed if you cooked like this for me every day for the rest of my life!”
As Saito threw all the praise he could muster at her, Akane visibly panicked. “Wh-what the heck is that supposed to mean? Sounds like you’re asking me to marry you or something!”
The moment the sentence left his mouth, Saito cringed at his own words. He felt embarrassed, realizing he was sounding like some lovesick fool from an old Hollywood movie. “N-no, that’s not what I meant! I mean, c’mon now, we’re already married…” He tried to step back his words.
“Oh, so you’ve finally realized how amazing I am!” said Akane, giggling.
Seeing Akane squirm shyly like that, any thoughts Saito had about correcting himself vanished into thin air. With a burst of enthusiasm, Akane leaned across the table. “All right, then. I’ll cook my amazing dishes for you whenever you want! What else do you want me to make? I’ll make anything you want tonight!”
Whether it was from being so thrilled by the praise or just plain excitement, she didn’t seem to notice how close she’d gotten to him. Her eyes sparkled with sincerity, and her cheeks were flushed like strawberries. Saito couldn’t help but be captivated over how charming she was in that moment. A sweet scent drifted from her skin, and he felt his heartbeat quicken. Akane’s occasional flashes of cuteness were downright unfair. She always said something irritating the moment she opened her mouth—and yet here she was, looking like that.
“Uh…aren’t you a little too close?” said Saito hesitantly.
“Oh.” Akane quickly pulled back.
“W-well, it’s just because I thought you might not hear me from far away!” said Akane, her cheeks flushed in frustration.
“O-oh. Got it.”
Her awkward excuse left her visibly embarrassed, shrinking into herself. Saito, too, found himself unsure of how to deal with the sudden awkward tension. Neither of them was used to this—this normal, almost romantic kind of atmosphere. They were supposed to be sworn enemies, not an ordinary married couple.
Trying to diffuse the sweetness in the air, Saito scratched his cheek and said, “Uh…so, can I maybe get seconds on the steak?”
“Hmph, I figured you’d say that. I made sure to stock up on meat ahead of time,” Akane replied, turning to the fridge.
“The beef is cheaper than the last cut, though.”
She pulled out a hefty slab and dropped it onto the counter with a thud. This wasn’t just meat—it was a full limb. It looked heavy enough to crush a man.
“When…did you even buy that…?” Saito was puzzled.
“You remember when I said I forgot something and had to go back to the store while you waited? I bought it then,” said Akane, puffing out her chest proudly with a kitchen knife in hand.
“Huh… That thing looks like it could last a month.”
Akane blinked and said, “What are you talking about? We’re eating it all tonight.”
“What, do you think I’m a lion from the savannah of something?” protested Saito, screaming internally that he was not his cousin Shisei, Master of the Bottomless Stomach, either.
“It was 90 percent off, and the expiration date’s basically today—so we have to force it into you while we can.”
“Do you have any mercy at all?”
“We must reduce food waste and protect the planet, no matter the cost.”
“Try protecting my life while you’re at it.”
“You’re tough, so you’ll rise from the ashes, right?” teased Akane.
“So you think I’m a phoenix, huh…?”
The moment he thought—even for a second—that Akane was cute, his fate was sealed.
She’s a demon after all. Saito was reminded of that fact quite painfully. As he quietly tried to rise from his chair and slip away, Akane grabbed the back of his shirt. She was smiling brightly with boundless enthusiasm. Or was it murderous intent?
In high spirits, Akane cheerfully asked, “What’s that they say? When something’s served to you…”
“…You should eat every bite,” Saito answered, steeling himself and sitting back down. She was going out of her way to cook for him, after all. He couldn’t just brush it off.
With a gleam in her eye, Akane thrust her kitchen knife into the air. “I’m going to make tons of your favorite dishes. You’re not sleeping tonight.”
“Somebody, help me!” Saito’s feeble plea for mercy was drowned beneath a mountain of meat.
Ever since elementary school, Akane had always felt out of place in class. She didn’t really understand why things turned out that way. She lived normally, talked normally—just like everyone else—yet things never seemed to go well. It was as if she had wandered into a country where she spoke a different language.
When Akane entered the classroom, the once-lively chatter of her classmates came to an abrupt halt. The cheerful atmosphere instantly turned heavy, and everyone averted their eyes.
As Akane ignored her classmates and sat down at her desk, whispers from classmates began to leak out from around her.
“Crap, I thought she heard us.”
“It’s such a pain when Sakuramori finds out…”
“She’s such a goody-two-shoes, it’s annoying.”
“My mom always tells me to be more like Sakuramori-san.”
“Ugh, that’s the worst!”
“She’s just full of herself because she’s cute.”
Each whisper pricked at Akane like a tiny needle of malice. Akane was always at the top of her class, respected by both parents and teachers. Everyone knew that getting on her bad side would be trouble, so no one dared to openly pick a fight with her—which made things all the more insidious.
How pathetic, Akane would think. If they’ve got something to say, then they should say it to my face.
Under her desk, she clenched her fists. None of her classmates ever fought back when she got angry—they’d just laugh nervously and apologize. They wouldn’t stand up to her, wouldn’t even try to face her as equals. Instead, they’d wait until later to gossip behind her back with their friends. That was even more frustrating and humiliating than a direct confrontation.
Akane wished there were someone who would take her seriously and confront her head-on. But deep down, she’d already resigned herself to the idea that no such person existed.
“Akaaane-chaaan!”
“Wha—?!” Suddenly hugged tightly from behind, Akane jolted in surprise. “Hey! I’ve told you…not…to do that!”
There was only one person who would pull something like this. As she pried the arms off and looked up, she was met with Himari’s beaming, carefree smile. “Good morning, Akane-chan! You’re looking cute as always!”
“Shut up. If you weren’t a girl, I’d have reported you already for assault,” said Akane.
“But I am a girl, so I’m safe! That means I get unlimited hugs!”
“Stop! Right! Now!”
Himari, undeterred, launched another playful attack. Akane desperately pushed Himari’s chin away with her palm. Around them, their classmates watched from a distance, whispering to one another. Akane stood up silently and took Himari’s hand.
“Huh? Akane-chan, what’s going on? This is the first time you’ve held my hand… Are you going to whisk me away from class for a date?” said Himari.
“Just be quiet and come with me.” Pulling a confused Himari along, Akane led her into an empty neighboring classroom. She made sure to close both the front and the back doors so no one could eavesdrop.
Akane let out a sigh before speaking. “You know, we’re finally in a new homeroom class, and you’re starting to get along with everyone else. You should stay away from me—if you keep trying to be my friend, you’re just going to alienate yourself again.”
Himari blinked in surprise. “Why?”
“Because everyone hates me.”
“Then that just means I’m the only one who knows how wonderful you are! That makes me so happy!” Himari exclaimed.
“That’s not what I’m talking about…I’d really just prefer if you stopped following me around like this—we’re not even friends,” said Akane.
“I consider you my friend,” said Himari without missing a beat. “I really like you, Akane-chan.”
“Ugh…”
Himari’s smile, so bright and unflinching, shone like the sun. It was almost blinding in its sincerity. No matter how many times she tried to push her away, Himari never left Akane’s side. Even Akane’s harshest words never seemed to reach her. Himari was the complete opposite of Akane—honest to a fault, open-hearted in every way. And Akane couldn’t help but envy her for it.
“Do you like me, Akane-chan?” asked Himari. Eyes sparkling with hope, Himari took Akane’s hand. The directness of her affection left no room for Akane to run anymore. Akane felt her ears burn with intense heat as she looked down and whispered, “I do.”
“Of course you do. I knew it. I like you too!” Himari squealed with delight and threw her arms around Akane.
“Okay, okay, I get it already—just ease up a little, will you? You’re crushing me! Seriously, I’m going to get squashed…!” Akane cried out in protest.
It took quite a while to calm the overexcited Himari down. The two of them sat by the window, leaning close together, holding hands as they talked.
“Let’s stay besties forever, Akane.”
“Yes. As long as I have you as my best friend, Himari, I don’t care if everyone else hates me. I don’t even need to get married,” Akane declared with absolute confidence.
“Well, I still want to get married, though. Once we’re in high school, I’m going to get a smart and handsome boyfriend,” said Himari.
“Traitor!” said Akane.
“I’m not betraying you, my bestie. I will always have room for boyfriends, that’s all I’m saying!”
“A room? What are you saying?!” Akane protested in outrage, and Himari just laughed cheerfully.
Akane was asleep, in the middle of an innocent dream about when it was still just her and Himari, and Saito wasn’t part of their world.
Waking from her dreams full of nostalgia, Akane sat up blankly in bed. For a moment, she had no idea where she was. As her consciousness returned, she remembered—she was married to the boy she hated most in class, and this was the bedroom she shared with her husband. More surreal than the dream had been, and yet undeniably real.
She also remembered how fun the dinner had been tonight. Saito had uncharacteristically praised her cooking with such earnestness that Akane had gotten carried away and stuffed him full of steak.
Saito groaned next to her in bed. “Ughhh… I can’t have another bite…”
Lying next to her, Saito was apparently having a nightmare. As if trying to flee from a monster, he tossed and turned so violently he was nearly falling out of bed.
“Sorry…” Akane whispered. As long as Saito wasn’t listening, Akane could apologize honestly. She tried to pull Saito back onto the bed, but he was heavy. A boy’s build was a far cry from a girl’s. Grunting with effort, Akane mustered all her strength to drag him up. By the time she had him tucked under the blanket properly, she was out of breath. Saito, completely unaware of Akane’s struggle, wore a pained expression. He muttered, “She’s a demon… Take strawberries for self-defense… Scatter them and run if it comes to that…”
“What kind of dream are you even having?” murmured Akane.
Back in elementary school, Akane never imagined she’d be married by the time she reached high school. Nor did she ever think her best friend would fall for her husband. And yet, for the sake of that best friend’s happiness, she’d been willing to give this mission her all.
Just as that thought passed through her mind, a strange sound reached Akane’s ears. It was like the creaking of the floor—or footsteps, maybe. A damp, oppressive presence was emanating from somewhere very close by.
Something’s here.
Akane felt her heart pounding violently. She wanted to run, but her legs wouldn’t move. She didn’t want to look, but she couldn’t not look.
Slowly, she turned toward the source of the presence.
There, in the darkness, a shadow stood at her bedside.
Chapter 3: Attack by Night
Chapter 3:
Attack by Night
“AHHHH!”
Akane’s scream echoed through the dark, quiet residential streets.
“What the hell?! Are we being invaded by centaurs or something?” Saito jolted upright in a daze.
On the bed, Akane was curled up in the fetal position, sitting with her knees to her chest and her hands covering her head—full defensive posture. She looked like an armadillo under attack from a mountain lion.
“A-a ghost…there was a ghost…”
“A ghost? Where?”
“There!” Akane pointed to the side of the bed on her side.
“…There’s nothing there,” said Saito.
“It was there just now! Something with a deathly pale face, muttering incomprehensibly… Was it a cursed doll? A vengeful spirit? Whatever it was, it was terrifying! And dangerous!”
“Oh, I see. Good night.” With a sigh, Saito gave up and slid back under the covers.
“Waaake uuup! Wake up! Don’t leave me alone!” Akane frantically shook Saito. This was no environment for Saito to get a peaceful night of sleep, so he stuck a hand out from under the blanket and gave her a thumbs-up.
“It’s all right. You’re not alone. The majesty of nature and everyone around the world are on your side…” mumbled Saito.
“Don’t say random things and fall asleep! To keep the ghost away, it’s important for both of us to keep our eyes open now.”
“That’s not how ghosts work! Go back to sleep!”
“I can’t sleep! And now, I’m not letting you sleep either!”
Akane ripped the blanket off Saito. It was pure desperation—if she was going down, he was going down with her. Saito, who had just started his second round with Mr. Sandman, was now completely awake. And given how Akane had overreacted to his horror game in the past, he had a decent sense of how she was feeling.
“…You’re seriously terrified, aren’t you?” asked Saito.
Akane flinched. She tilted her chin up stubbornly.
“I-I’m not scared!”
“You’re shaking.”
“That’s because it’s cold!”
“I’m not cold,” said Saito.
“Girls have less muscle mass to generate heat, so we get cold easier! Shut up! What are you going to do if a ghost steals your soul?!” Akane’s eyes were deadly serious. She was clearly at her limit.
“What am I supposed to do with a question like that?”
Saito didn’t believe in the existence of ghosts, so there wasn’t much he could say. It’s not that he thought science explained everything, but there just wasn’t enough credible evidence for him to justify believing in the paranormal. That said, he knew if he didn’t find some way to reassure Akane, they would both be in for an all-nighter.
Saito reached into the drawer of the bedside table, pulled out a notepad, and scribbled “Evil Spirit Begone” on a sheet. He handed it to Akane.
“Here, it’s a super effective talisman for defense. Just hold onto it while you sleep. Good night.”
“Don’t mock me!” snarled Akane, mercilessly tearing Saito’s special talisman to pieces.
“Hey, what are you doing? I put my heart into making that!” said Saito.
“It’s obvious there wasn’t even a milliliter of heart in it!”
“Yeah, true enough,” admitted Saito.
“I’ve got it! At this point, the only way to calm the ghost’s wrath is to offer you as a sacrifice…” Akane pondered the idea, rubbing her thumbnail thoughtfully.
“Wouldn’t that just make me a vengeful spirit too?!”
“You’d probably be a weak ghost anyway, so I’m not worried.”
“You sure do cut deep.”
As the two argued, a sudden clatter came from the room next door. With a shriek, Akane leapt into Saito’s arms.
“H-hey, wait…” said Saito.
Clinging to Saito’s chest, Akane looked nothing like her usual cheeky self—she became fragile and small. He noticed the soft texture of her sleepwear and the gentle warmth of her girlish body. Her arms were wrapped tightly around Saito’s back, holding him in a firm embrace. The floral scent of her shampoo lingered, fresh from her bath. He could feel her trembling and pressing against him, her shaky breaths carrying with them a vulnerable intensity.
In the dim bedroom, the vividness of the moment was too overwhelming for Saito to bear—especially for a moment shared alone in bed. That normally brash and headstrong girl now showed a frightened, delicate side Saito had never imagined. And somehow, he found it…adorable.
“Let me go check if something’s there,” said Saito.
“N-no! Don’t! Stay here!” pleaded Akane.
“But if I don’t go, we won’t figure this out.”
“Please don’t leave me!” Akane clung to Saito even tighter, as if determined never to let him go.
There was no way he could leave her like this. Saito let out a small sigh.
The following night, as Saito was reading a novel at his desk, Akane burst into his room clutching a stack of textbooks. Without a word, she ran to the corner of the room, sat down hugging her knees, and began trembling.
“N-no… This is impossible… I’m moving, or we need to do an exorcism…” Akane muttered as if she was reciting a spell.
“Tell me what happened,” said Saito. He had just gotten to a particularly steamy scene in his novel and had hurriedly shut his book. Saito was caught off-guard—it wasn’t like it was straight-up erotica that he was reading, but still, a female classmate catching him in a moment like that was awkward.
“It showed up again—the ghost,” said Akane. “I was studying in my room, and I heard quick footsteps from the living room…like tmp, tmp, tmp…”
“I see. You should go get some evidence of it with your smartphone,” suggested Saito.
“Are you kidding?! What if I get cursed and my phone explodes?!” Akane screamed, her face pale.
“Ghosts these days really pack a punch, huh.”
“The whole house might get blown up with us inside it…”
“What, does this ghost have missiles or something?” Ghosts were starting to reach beyond the veil a little too much, if that was true.
Ignoring Saito’s exasperated sigh, Akane went on to spread her textbooks out on the floor and begin studying. She had even brought along a notebook and writing utensils.
“Um, why are you doing all this here?” asked Saito.
“I-I’m keeping an eye on you to make sure the ghost doesn’t attack you, duh!”
“Pretty sure I’ll be fine. You can go back to your room now.” Saito stepped forward to try and usher her out, but Akane arched her shoulders like a stray cat and hissed.
“I’m absolutely not leaving! This is my room now!”
“This is clearly my room.”
“Starting today, it’s my territory!” said Akane.
“Territory…?” Saito was stunned.
Akane didn’t budge an inch. Holding her textbook like a shield and gripping her pen like a sword, she looked like a knight ready for battle. If he tried to forcibly remove her, he’d likely be branded a pervert and be defeated before the battle began.
Saito gave up and returned to his book. Of course, with Akane in the room, it was hard to keep reading the steamy scene, so he skipped ahead, planning to go back to that scene later.
I can’t focus…
This was not the shared space of the living room. This was Saito’s private space. It felt strange, like having a female classmate over as a guest. The study room space was tighter than the living room, which made Akane feel unavoidably close.
Akane sat sideways, right on the floor, glaring down at her textbook. The hem of her skirt had ridden up slightly, revealing the blinding expanse of her thighs. She must have been sitting awkwardly too, because she brushed her hair out of her face with an annoyed gesture that carried with it a faint, unintentional allure.
“…Wanna use my desk?” Saito offered.
Akane clutched her textbook to her chest like a shield, eyeing him suspiciously. “Wh-why are you being so nice all of a sudden? You’re planning to lure me into your room and attack me, aren’t you?!”
“Wait, you’re the one who barged into my room in the first place!”
“You’re the one who insisted I stay with you!” Akane’s memory was anything but a bear trap.
“I’m just saying, it must be hard to study on the floor, so let’s trade. I can read my book down there.”
“You’re just saying that so you can peek under my skirt from below!” Akane responded, hastily tugging down the hem of her skirt to cover her thighs.
“Hell no, I won’t peek! I value my life, after all!”
“Th-then…” With clear hesitation, Akane slowly stood up and sat down in Saito’s chair. She carefully arranged her textbook and notebook on the desk, then placed her pen precisely parallel beside them. Every single motion was awkward and stiff.
“…Are you nervous or something?” asked Saito.
“Of course I am, okay?! I-it’s my first time being in a b-boy’s room!” exclaimed Akane.
“I-I see…”
“Do…do you mind…?” Akane clenched her skirt tightly in her lap and fidgeted, rubbing her crossed legs together shyly.
That bashful reaction made Saito feel just as flustered. Saito quietly set his book down and left the room. Akane hurried after him.
“Where are you going? Taking a trip abroad?!”
“The bathroom! Stay there!” yelled Saito.
“If I do, I’ll die! The ghost always targets people who are alone!”
“It won’t! You can survive five minutes, okay?!”
Saito dashed down the stairs, managing to escape from Akane, and locked himself in the bathroom.
Soon after, Akane started pounding desperately on the bathroom door. “Open up! Just tonight, leave it open!”
“No way!”
“Even dogs go to the bathroom in front of people!” yelled Akane.
“I’m not a dog!” Saito yelled back.
Akane was undeniably cute when scared out of her wits, but there were limits to everything. Now, in a different way from before, there was no longer a place of peace for Saito in his own home. When Saito stepped out of the bathroom, Akane was standing in front of the door, cheeks puffed out and teary-eyed, waiting for him. Even when he washed his hands or climbed the stairs back to his room, she followed him like a baby duckling trailing her mother.
What am I supposed to do about this…? thought Saito. He sighed as he read his book.
Akane kept glancing at him every few moments, seemingly worried that he might suddenly disappear, so it was hard for her to concentrate on her studies.
As this dynamic continued through the evening, night fell, and soon it was time to get ready for bed.
“…I’m going to take a bath,” said Akane.
“Okay.”
Akane gathered her textbooks and notebooks and left Saito’s study.
Relieved that he could finally relax, Saito let out a deep sigh. He wanted to properly read the steamy scene he had skipped over earlier, so he began flipping back through the pages.
“Um…”
“What is it?!”
Akane had suddenly reappeared, and Saito hastily slammed the book shut. She stood peeking through the doorway, pajamas in her arms, her face beet red with embarrassment.
“I-it’s dangerous to take a bath on my own, so…would you…come with me?”
“Huh?!” It was hard to believe those words had come from the same girl who would try to break his fingers if their hands so much as brushed by accident.
“Come with you…as in, to the bathroom?” asked Saito.
“Y-yeah… Like, when I’m washing my hair and I close my eyes, something might attack me…”
“Nothing’s going to attack you…” At least, it had never happened to Saito before.
“Do…do you not want to…?” Akane looked up at him pleadingly with upturned eyes. With that face, rivaling the beauty of a fashion model, her expression carried devastating power.
“…Fine. But just for tonight.”
Five minutes later, Saito was sitting cross-legged on the changing room floor, standing guard. The door between him and Akane, who was in the bath, was firmly closed.
Well, yeah. Of course it turned out like this. Obviously.
Nodding to himself, Saito couldn’t deny feeling at least a little disappointed. Even if she was his nemesis, was there a boy alive who wouldn’t feel his heart flutter, even slightly, at the idea of bathing with a beautiful girl?
From beyond the door, Saito could hear the sounds of Akane washing her hair and bathing. Even through the frosted glass, her nude silhouette was faintly visible. And since he’d actually seen her naked once before, a flashback replayed all too vividly in his mind.
Akane called out from the bathroom in a small and uncertain voice. “Hey, you’re still there, right? You’re there, aren’t you? Everything’s okay, right?”
That, in and of itself, was a dangerous level of stimulus for a healthy, adolescent boy.
I will not get aroused by my mortal enemy.
Saito repeated this mantra, diving into intense mental discipline. He began summoning historical figures from memory, listing them by era and reciting their names in order—hoping the grand arc of humanity would purify his own petty worldly desires.
I am the world. The world is me. Just as Saito was relaxing into a yoga pose, on the verge of reaching enlightenment…
“Why aren’t you answering me?! I’m about to get mad, you know!” yelled a hysterical Akane, swinging the bathroom door open and sticking her head out.
Akane’s skin was bare and glowing white, glistening with suds. Saito could see her delicate shoulders, her gleaming collarbone…and her softly flushed twin mounds bounced boldly in front of Saito’s eyes.
“Cover yourself!” screamed Saito. In a flash, every ounce of discipline shattered and his worldly desires rushed back in full force.
“Hey, Saito-kun. Saito-kun. Yoohoo, Saito-kuuun!”
After hearing his name called repeatedly, Saito woke up from his nap. Right in front of his desk, Himari was resting her chin in her hand, peering into his face from close range.
The last thing he remembered was the math teacher writing on the board. It had been boring, but the oddly rhythmic tapping of the chalk had lulled him to sleep. In a daze, Saito mumbled, “Has the world…already ended?”
“The world’s still going strong, but class is definitely over! We’re supposed to be moving to the special classroom, remember?” said Himari.
She was right. In the third-year classroom for Class A, almost no other students remained.
“Thanks for waking me. I’ve been short on sleep lately,” said Saito.
Himari teased him, covering her mouth as she giggled. “You were probably up late watching naughty videos, weren’t you?”
“Nope.”
“Come on, I know the truth! Guys your age are always thinking about dirty stuff!” said Himari.
“…That’s not true.” Though, since last night’s sleep loss had been thanks to those antics with Akane, he couldn’t claim total innocence. No matter how many classical verb conjugations he recited, the image of Akane’s naked, soap-covered body refused to leave his mind.
“So? What kind of naughty videos do you usually watch, Saito-kun?” asked Himari.
“I told you, I don’t watch that stuff.”
“Then what kind of girls do you like? I heard you’re not really into super sexy types.”
“Who told you that?”
“Ah, um… That’s a secret! Can’t reveal my source, journalistic integrity, you know?” Himari held a finger to her lips and winked. The way she did it so naturally and adorably—it was no wonder she was the class sweetheart.
“I’m no expert, but…isn’t love something that transcends types?” asked Saito.
“You mean the person you fall for becomes your type?”
“That’s not exactly what I meant. When we say ‘type,’ we mean something simple and defined, kind of like a template. But a person’s real nature is much more complicated. If you don’t actually get to know someone properly, there’s no way you can fall in love with them. Falling for someone based just on looks or abilities or some surface-level image—that’s something kids do,” Saito explained.
Spending time with people like Shisei, someone whose looks were out of this world but whose personality was totally alien, or Akane, a reckless dragon in human form, confirmed this for him. Any guy who would fall in love with either of them based on appearances and marry them too quick would have an absolute hell of a time. In Saito’s case, he was already suffering to the point of worrying about early onset hair loss.
“Hmm… So cool…” Himari murmured dreamily, her eyes sparkling with admiration.
“Pardon?”
“Oh—nothing! I just think your way of thinking is really wonderful, Saito-kun! The guys who confess to me never actually know anything about me. I always end up thinking, ‘What exactly do you like about me, huh? Is it just my boobs?!’”
“Must be tough being pretty.”
“Gee! Calling me pretty—Saito-kun, you’re so bold!” Himari’s cheeks flushed red.
“It’s just an observation. You’re pretty, aren’t you?”
“You’re asking me? What am I supposed to say? If I agree, that’d make me a narcissist!” Himari blushed.
“I can confidently say that I’m a genius.”
“Wow, narcissist alert!”
It was hard to argue with Himari here, since she was parroting the general consensus. Still, Saito believed that being able to assess one’s own abilities accurately and objectively was important. Modesty was often treated as a virtue, but Saito saw it as a form of hollow hypocrisy.
Himari cleared her throat and glanced sideways at Saito. “You sure seem knowledgeable about love and all…but you’re a virgin, right?”
“S-so what if I am?!”
“Ah, you don’t deny it, huh? I knew it!”
“Is there a problem?”
“Not at all. I’m happy to hear it,” said Himari.
“…Are you mocking me or something?” questioned Saito, looking at her suspiciously.
Himari laughed, scrunching her shoulders playfully. “Nooo, I just meant…well, same here!”
“Same…here…?” Trying to make sense of what she meant, Saito’s mind arrived at an awkward conclusion. He couldn’t fathom how he’d ended up having this kind of risqué conversation with a classmate in the middle of the day.
“Let’s drop the subject. We really should be heading out,” said Saito.
“Ah, just one last question! You said you don’t fall in love based on ‘types,’ but if it’s someone whose personality you do know, you can tell whether you’re compatible, right?”
“Well…probably.”
Himari then leaned one hand on the desk and brought her lips close to Saito’s ear. Her long blonde hair brushed softly against his neck, and a faint scent of perfume drifted over him.
In a barely audible whisper, Himari said, “So, how about someone like me…?”
“Wait, what do you…”
As he froze, Himari suddenly pulled away with a grin. “Just kidding! Gotcha! You’re all red—ugh, you’re so cute, Saito-kun!”
“Y-you little…!” Saito blushed.
“Sorry, sorry! Catch you later!”
And with that, she was gone.
As Himari walked away, even her earlobes were flushed red.
She’s embarrassed too? What is going on? Saito had no idea what Himari was thinking. If she was going to tease him, he wished she’d at least do it with some composure.
As Saito fanned his face with his hand to cool down the lingering heat, a voice called out from below.
“Getting aroused at school, are you?”
It was Shisei, who had crawled under the desk and suddenly popped her head up between Saito’s knees.
“I’m not aroused,” said Saito.
“Liar. You reek of a male in heat.” Bringing her nose close to him, Shisei sniffed Saito.
Saito grabbed Shisei’s forehead with a grip of steel. “How about we continue this conversation after you come out from under my desk?”
“Absolutely not. I, Shise, will take up permanent residence between Ani-kun’s thighs,” replied Shisei.
“That area is not suitable for human habitation!”
Grabbing hold of her as she clung to his knees, Saito yanked her out from under the desk.
Since the ghost incident, Akane and Saito had been fighting less, but now he found himself drained in a different way. When Akane was in panic mode, she seemed to forget her sense of personal space.
Exhausted, Saito had taken refuge on the school rooftop during lunch. Only two people ever went up there: Saito and Shisei. Compared to his home, it was a sanctuary of peace. With a carton of milk—his protein shake substitute—in hand, Saito grumbled like a regular at a bar.
“Lately, she’s been…” started Saito.
“Complaining about the old ball and chain, huh?” said Shisei. She was sipping Saito’s milk through his straw without asking.
“I’m not complaining. Also, how did you know I was talking about Akane?”
“I can tell from your voice. Whenever you’re worn out from dealing with your wife, you come running to Shise’s arms. And I’m the bewitching woman who soothes you.”
“Stop making it sound weird,” Saito scolded.
“It’s not weird. Everyone needs a place to escape to. You need Shise, and I, Shise, need you.”
“That’s true, but still…”
To Saito, who felt neglected by his parents, Shisei was the closest thing he had to family. It was more than that, really. Long before his marriage to Akane, Shisei had been by his side, always supporting him unflinchingly.
“Don’t hold back; just lean on me. I, Shise, will embrace you with boundless affection.” With a radiant smile, Shisei held out her arms to Saito in a welcoming gesture. Her expression, glossy like a porcelain doll, shimmered with an alluring mystique—truly, she had the aura of a siren. Though she looked like an adorable little fairy, one wrong move and you’d find yourself dragged into the depths of some enchanted spring.
“Don’t stand on the railing. That’s dangerous,” scolded Saito.
“Boooo.”
Saito lifted Shisei from her perch on the rooftop railing and gently set her down on the ground. No matter how otherworldly her beauty was, her fundamentally childlike nature kept the world safe from falling under her spell.
“So? What about the wife?” Shisei asked, tilting her head.
“She says she sees ghosts in our home. Gets scared about them standing by her bed or hearing footsteps at night. Now she won’t even go to the bath alone.”
“Ani-kun, you are a pervert.” Shisei gave Saito a deadpan stare.
“I didn’t do anything pervy! We didn’t end up bathing together anyway!”
“But deep down, you wanted to, right?”
“N-no way!” Saito panicked. He couldn’t truthfully claim he was completely free of impure thoughts.
“Ani-kun is a closet pervert.”
“I’m not a closet pervert!”
“I, Shise, know…Ani-kun is the kind of guy who would risk his life just to see a girl naked. He’d climb a skyscraper just to peep,” she said matter-of-factly.
“I’m not that desperate.” Saito just wanted to live a grounded life.
“Did Ani-kun see a ghost?”
“No, not at all. I’m pretty sure it was just a mouse, but when I told Akane that, she didn’t believe me. She went, ‘So you’re on the ghost’s side too?!’ and got all paranoid. I don’t even know what to do anymore.”
Shisei scrunched up her tiny hand as she fell into thought. “Maybe it really was a ghost.”
“No way.”
“It’s not impossible, Ani-kun. Grandpa has a lot of enemies. It could be the ghost of someone who got laid off and ended their life because of it, haunting the house he built. And now they can’t stand to see his grandchildren happy, so they want to curse them to death,” said Shisei.
“Then you tell it to curse grandpa instead, please.” Total misdirected resentment—but then again, Saito and Akane weren’t exactly living happily. If anything, Saito, Alane, and the ghosts could probably form a “Victims of Grandpa” support group together.
“Besides, ghosts aren’t even real,” Saito insisted.
“They are. I, Shise, have seen one.”
“For real?!”
“For real. One even gave me some melonpan,” said Shisei.
“Then it’s definitely not a ghost.”
“Another one pushed money on me crying, saying, ‘Please take this, no need to pay me back,’” added Shisei.
“That is absolutely not a ghost. That’s one of your fans.”
Having a stranger suddenly hand you money is a scarier act than most ghosts could manage—but that was the power of Shisei’s inexplicable charm. She could drive people to irrationality.
“You did turn the cash in to the police, right?” asked Saito.
Shisei shook her head. “Nope. I used it to hang out with Ani-kun.”
“Ugh… Now I’m an accomplice?” Saito clutched his head in his hands. From then on, he’d have to carefully monitor where Shisei’s money came from. More than shady—it was outright terrifying to think she might be spending dirty…or scary…money.
“In any case, something’s definitely up at your place. Even if it’s not a ghost, ignoring it could be dangerous,” Shisei advised.
“Yeah… I guess you’re right…”
Now that he thought about it, the noises he’d heard really were too loud for some kind of pest. If it turned out to be an intruder, both he and Akane could be in serious danger.
“If it’s something like that, then I, Shise, will find out what it is for you. Shise isn’t as dull as you, so I can get to the bottom of it.”
“But if Akane finds out you know about the marriage, it’s going to be a problem,” said Saito. Akane would definitely assume Saito was the one who spilled the beans and go nuclear.
“Don’t worry. I, Shise, can handle that.”
“How?”
“However it needs to be handled. You just relax and leave it to me. I, Shise, will protect my precious Ani-kun from any indecent intruders,” Shisei boldly declared with confidence.
As Shisei and Saito returned to Class 3-A, Shisei made a beeline for Akane’s desk.
“Akane, Akane. I need to talk to you.”
“…To me? About what?” Akane looked wary. They’d been in the same class since entering school, but Shisei and Akane had barely ever interacted. Saito couldn’t recall seeing them chat even once. Shisei placed her hands on Akane’s desk and spoke plainly.
“You’re married to Ani-kun, right?”
Akane froze, thinking Why would you say that here?!
Saito nearly choked. It wasn’t just what she said—it was the delivery. Shisei had pitched a 102 mile-per-hour fastball right down the middle.
Akane immediately trained her death glare on Saito, her eyes like a professional assassin. You told her, didn’t you?!
No no no! Saito frantically shook his head. Normally their communication was a mess, but for once, the couple’s eye contact perfectly relayed the situation in real time. Without the slightest concern for Saito and Akane’s desperate panic, Shisei continued calmly.
“I, Shise, know everything. About Ani-kun and Akane living toge—”
“All right then! How about we go for a lovely little walk! Right now!” said Saito, rushing to cut off his cousin.
“Yes, yes! Let’s all go for a nice walk!” Akane urged, following Saito.
Saito clamped a hand over Shisei’s mouth and clutched his head in agony, while Akane grabbed Shisei’s legs. Together, they abducted her at top speed. Students in the hallway watched the scene with glazed-over eyes, murmuring things like “Ah, the usual kidnapping…” Saito and Akane dashed into an empty classroom, slammed the door, and locked Shisei inside.
Shisei murmured in awe. “Such flawless teamwork… So this is the power of marriage…”
“When you’re about to say something dangerous, be aware of where you are!” snapped Saito.
“I was. There was no one nearby, so there was no risk of being overheard.”
“You never know who might walk in!”
“That’s the thrill. Life is a gamble.”
“No one asked for thrills!” shouted Saito.
Akane slammed her fist against the blackboard. “Saito. You… What were you thinking…?”
Her bangs were swept back in irritation, a vein pulsing on her forehead, and her glare razor-sharp like a wrathful demon. Akane had fully entered Fury Mode.
“I told you not to tell anyone about us! What were you thinking?! You wanna be crushed?!” Akane roared.
“Crushed where?!” asked Saito, who instantly sprang back to put some distance between them.
“I recommend the crotch,” said Shisei with a raised finger in the air.
“Nobody asked for your help!” Screaming, Saito ducked behind a desk, shielding his lower body. “You’re misunderstanding—I didn’t tell Shisei! She figured it out herself! Right, Shisei?!”
Pressed for support, Shisei raised a palm to halt the conversation. “Wait, give me a second. I’m trying to remember the punchline from a comedy sketch I watched yesterday.”
“Who cares about that right now?! My life is on the line!” Saito shouted, his voice cracked with desperation.
“Ani-kun’s life, or the punchline… Which do I choose…” Shisei placed a hand to her forehead, deeply conflicted.
“There should be no debate! Whose side are you even on?!” Getting stabbed in the back at the last minute was the type of tragic ending he really wanted to avoid.
Meanwhile, Akane dual-wielded two chalkboard erasers, creeping toward Saito with slow, menacing steps. Whatever attack she was planning with those, he knew one thing for sure: He was in real danger.
“Calm down. Ani-kun’s telling the truth. I, Shise, figured out on my own that you two are married.”
“Really…? You’re not just covering for Saito?” asked Akane, looking doubtful.
“No one can deceive Shise’s eyes. Shise is a seeker of veracity, the embodiment of the original truth.”
“You’re starting to sound like some cult leader… Let’s not go down that road,” Saito suggested matter-of-factly. With her charisma, Shisei really could convert and control people all over the world.
“Grandpa knows, Saito’s parents know—how could you expect to keep it from Shise? Especially when Grandpa’s subordinates already do whatever Shise tells them.”
“You’re not trying to take over the Houjou Group, are you?” asked Saito, growing uneasy.
“I, Shise, have no greed. I simply want your soul, Ani-kun.”
“…What are you, the devil?!” He hadn’t signed any contracts with Shisei, but now he was starting to worry.
“I see… It’s true, there’s no way your family wouldn’t know. I’m sorry for keeping it a secret from you, Shisei-san,” said Akane.
“No problem,” said Shisei, giving a thumbs up.
Unbelievable. Akane can apologize to anyone but me… Saito felt a bit conflicted.
“So why didn’t you tell me that Shisei-san knew about us?” Akane narrowed her eyes at Saito.
“Because I knew you’d get mad…” confessed Saito.
“No I wouldn’t!”
“You’re mad right now!”
“This doesn’t count as mad!” Akane looked like a wrathful demon.
Shisei shook her head wearily. “I know you’re newlyweds, but please don’t flirt at school.”
Saito and Akane shouted in unison, “We’re not flirting!”
Climbing up to sit on a desk, Shisei let her white-tights-covered legs dangle as she spoke. “Ani-kun told me everything. There’s a ghost in your house and it’s been causing problems.”
“Th-that’s right! And this guy right here doesn’t even believe it’s a ghost! He doesn’t understand how serious this is!” Akane exclaimed.
“I, Shise, understand. That house…is possessed by a malevolent spirit.”
Akane leaned toward Shisei. “Right?! I knew it…”
“I feel an overwhelmingly dark energy from both of you. Akane’s force of will is barely keeping the spirit from invading. You’ve done well to endure it alone,” said Shisei.
“Shisei-san…” Akane sniffled back tears as she was gently patted on the head by Shisei.
“H-hey…you two…” Saito had a bad feeling. This was a classic setup—someone mentally worn down starts believing everything a mysterious medium says. Akane’s stress and sleep deprivation had eroded her ability to think clearly.
“If we don’t exorcise it soon, disaster will spread. Akane’s grades might drop by fifty points across all subjects…” declared Shisei.
“That’s horrifying!”
“That’s not really that bad…” said Saito. But Saito’s sensible observation didn’t reach the ears of Akane, who had already been swept away by this expert exorcist’s words.
“What should I do, Shisei-san?!”
“I, Shise, just need to ‘see’ the house. Once I do, I’ll know what’s there and how to expel it. Trust me.” Shisei gently placed a hand on Akane’s shoulder.
Akane nodded, her eyes spinning. “I trust you! How much will it cost?”
“Don’t pay her!” Just in time, Saito stopped his wife and cousin from initiating a shady transaction.
Saito, Akane, and Shisei walked the road from school back home. It was a wide sidewalk lined with trees. Students commuting by bike zipped past them, their uniforms fluttering in the breeze. Shisei, as usual, wore a blank expression, but her steps seemed just a little lighter. Saito figured she might be in a good mood.
“It’s been a while since I walked home with you, Ani-kun. Is this the first time you’ve gone home together with Akane?”
“Y-yeah… I think so…” Akane, looking restless, kept glancing around. She seemed worried about running into classmates.
“Maybe it would’ve been better if we went home separately, Akane,” said Saito.
“No way! Shisei-san stands out too much. If someone tails us and finds out where we live, it’ll be a disaster. I need to keep watch to make sure no one’s following!”
“I seriously doubt anyone is tailing us,” said Saito, shrugging, but Shisei shook her head.
“I, Shise, get tailed all the time. The other day, a girl from our class followed me home and greeted me from my own room.”
“That’s pure horror! Were you okay?!”
“I was. I expected something like that to happen, so Grandpa gave me this.” With a flourish, Shisei pulled out an object that looked like a magic wand, but the tip had protruding electrodes and crackled with sparks.
“Houjou Security’s Custom-Made, No-Mark, Lawsuit-Proof Stun Gun!”
Saito was stunned. “What a name… That cutesy design hides a truly sinister side…”
“No one’s ever pressed charges. The girl from class even said, ‘Do it again tomorrow, please!’” said Shisei.
“Is it really working as a deterrent, then?” If anything, this seemed to have created a new problem.
Akane peered at it with great interest. “A stun gun… It’s my first time seeing a real one,” she said. “It’s kinda cute.”
“I’ve got an extra. I’ll give you one. Use it if Ani-kun ever tries anything pervy.”
“Really?! That’d be a lifesaver!”
“Don’t arm her! She doesn’t need an increase in firepower!” Saito quickly picked Shisei up and pulled her away from Akane before she could hand the weapon over. Their house was already dangerous enough—no need to turn it into an actual war zone.
“I’ve actually used this stun gun to exorcise many ghosts.”
“Stun guns work on ghosts?!” asked Akane.
“Yes. Ghosts are formed by distorted magnetic fields and wayward neural electrical impulses—so you can deal with them by using electricity,” Shisei explained, nodding solemnly.
Akane looked at her with admiration. “Wow. You really know your stuff, Shisei-san…” Desperate times called for desperate measures, it seemed, since the normally logical one in the relationship was completely buying into Shisei’s nonsense.
Saito leaned in and whispered to Shisei. “Don’t lay it on too thick. If she starts buying pots of magical good fortune and such, what’s next?”
“Don’t worry, this is all part of the plan,” Shisei whispered back. “I’ll get her to believe I’m a powerful exorcist and then declare that there’s nothing in the house. That should put her at ease.”
“Oh…that actually makes a lot of sense…” mumbled Saito.
“I, Shise, am always on Ani-kun’s side. I’ll never steer you wrong,” said Shisei, thumping her chest confidently.
“That’s what people say right before they steer you horribly wrong…” quipped Saito.
Still, Saito knew better than anyone that Shisei truly would never do anything to hurt him. He decided to trust her on this one.
The three of them finally arrived at home. Akane unlocked the door, and Shisei stepped into the house.
“Hmmm…” muttered Shisei.
“What do you think, sensei…?” asked Akane.
To Saito’s surprise, Akane had already started addressing Shisei like she was the master of some paranormal dojo. Here we go… Come on, Shise, tell Akane there’s nothing here!
Saito watched with hope as Shisei solemnly declared, “This house is teeming with spirits… It will soon be completely swallowed by the underworld.”
“Shise—?!” Saito couldn’t believe his ears.
Akane’s face turned as white as a sheet. “Th-the underworld?! Wait, it’s already too late?! Should we just burn the house down?!”
“Don’t be hasty!” shouted Saito.
Akane bolted toward the kitchen, but Saito held her back. There was no way he was going to let a classmate commit arson.
“Don’t worry. That’s why I’m here. I’ll find the center of the disturbance and eliminate it. That will dispel the spirits,” said Shisei matter-of-factly.
“Please, sensei!” Akane looked at Shisei with the face of a true believer staring at her savior.
Shisei casually kicked off her shoes at the entrance and stepped inside as if it were her own home. With no hesitation, she ran down the hallway into the living room. “The spiritual presence is coming from this direction,” she said as she opened the refrigerator and stood on her tiptoes, retrieving a plastic container with both hands.
“That’s…just the braised burdock root dish I made last night,” said Akane.
“I sense a dangerous aura…if we don’t do something about it, the whole family could collapse…” said Shisei gravely.
“No way! I just made it last night!” Akane peered nervously at the container.
“There’s only one solution. If I, Shise, with my spiritual resistance, eat all of this…”
“Sensei, you’d be able to seal the spirits inside your stomach…? But what about your body?!” cried Akane.
“My body might explode…” Shisei replied solemnly.
“Explode?!” Akane’s eyes widened.
Shisei reassured her.
“It’s fine. If it’s to protect you two, I don’t care what happens to me…”
Saito cut in. “You’re just hungry, right?”
As Shisei reached to open the container, Saito grabbed her hand. Shisei was drooling, her desire barely concealed.
“Sensei, please take this seriously!” Akane, though now fully a believer, scolded Shisei as well.
“Mgh…” Shisei reluctantly put the container back in the fridge. Still exuding the authoritative air of a skilled exorcist, Shisei then turned her sharp gaze toward the open kitchen and living room. “Where did you see the ghost?”
“I didn’t see it clearly, but I heard something running around the living room,” said Akane. “It was around eight o’clock at night, I think.”
“Oh?” Shisei’s eyes lit up.
“Sensei, did you sense something?” asked Akane eagerly, waiting for a divine revelation.
“Hmm…hm?” Shisei placed her finger on her cheek and tilted her head. “It’s here, isn’t it? There’s a spirit of a child in the living room! It’s watching us right now, isn’t it?!”
Panicking, Akane ducked behind the counter and reached under the sink for a knife, but Saito was using all his strength to hold the sink door shut so she couldn’t grab one. She was too panicked to even notice.
“There’s not enough information for a definitive judgment. More investigation is needed,” said Shisei, leaving the living room and stepping into the hallway. Saito and Akane followed her.
“You do have an idea, don’t you?” asked Saito. “Of what’s in our house?”
“Until things are clear, it’s best for amateurs not to know,” Shisei replied.
“‘Amateurs,’ she says…” muttered Saito. It wasn’t like Shisei was any sort of professional exorcist herself.
“The fridge is spawning an endless stream of spirits… A gate to the underworld must have opened in there…” Akane hugged herself and trembled.
“Why would our house be some kind of paranormal hotspot? I mean, I guess it’d be kinda cool if it were,” said Saito.
“What’s wrong with you?! Are you an emissary from the underworld?!” Akane glared at him, visibly alarmed.
“What even is that supposed to mean? I don’t believe in the paranormal, but come on—wouldn’t it be exciting to actually encounter the unknown?”
“No, it wouldn’t! I’m starting to question if you’re even human!”
Shisei, with purposeful steps, climbed the stairs and stopped in front of a door. “This room?” she asked.
“It’s my study, though I don’t really use it for studying. It’s more of a reading room,” said Saito.
“For reading X-rated books?” asked Shisei.
Akane gave him a sharp look. “Saito?”
Saito found himself on the receiving end of cold, accusatory stares from both girls. “I don’t read dirty books!” he protested.
Shisei pointed a finger at his chest like a detective pressing a suspect. “I, Shise, know. The books you read have lots of erotic scenes. When I try to peek, you always slam them shut.”
“H-how do you know that?!”
“I, Shise, remembered seeing where you were in the book and opened to that exact spot later to confirm.”
“Argh…” Saito gritted his teeth.
“Reading that kind of filth in my house is unforgivable! Disgusting!” cried Akane.
“They’re just normal novels! Even movies have steamy scenes!”
“We have to inspect your porn stash, Ani-kun,” declared Shisei.
“It’s not a porn stash!”
“We’ll confiscate any inappropriate materials!”
Fueled with righteous fervor, Shisei and Akane stormed into Saito’s study.
“Wait! Aren’t we supposed to be investigating ghosts?!” Saito protested, but the girls were unstoppable. Shisei, using her small frame, crawled into the closet.
“Oooh…” Her muffled voice echoed from inside.
“Did you find something, sensei?! A haunted porno mag?” Akane called out.
“There’s too much going on! Narrow your search focus!” yelled Saito, pulling Shisei out by her legs.
“I found Ani-kun’s underwear,” said Shisei proudly, holding up a pair.
“W-why would you look for something like that?!” shrieked Akane, turning beet red and covering her eyes with her hands.
Shisei buried her nose in Saito’s underwear and sniffed repeatedly. “It doesn’t smell like my usual Ani-kun. Smells like detergent—I can confirm it’s been properly washed,” said Shisei.
“Of course it has!” Saito tried to snatch his underwear back, but Shisei nimbly dodged him.
“Finders keepers. This treasure belongs to me now.”
“Your hand’s going to rot!” shouted Akane. “Throw it away right now!”
“If she throws my underwear away, I’ll be going commando!” Saito shot back.
“Ani-kun’s commando mode could solve all the world’s problems,” said Shisei.
“That’s absolutely not true!” snapped Saito.
“Not wearing underwear is perverted!” screamed Akane.
“You’re the one who told her to throw it away!”
It took quite a while for Saito to drive the two girls out of his study room and reclaim his underwear from the chaos. Panting, he collapsed onto the floor. He made a firm resolution: From then on, he’d lock up his underwear drawer. He could handle Shisei, but Akane seeing his underwear was another story.
“Next, I’ll investigate Akane’s study room,” announced Shisei.
“Wait, sensei! There’s no ghost in my room. It’s totally safe…” Akane’s face looked like it had been coated in the miasma of hell as she tightly gripped Shisei’s shoulder.
Shisei tried to move forward—but made zero progress. “You don’t want your panties unearthed too, Akane?” she asked.
“Of course not! Just look for ghosts like a normal person!” shouted Akane.
“But panties are way more interesting.”
“No they’re not, sensei!”
Blocked by an ironclad defense, Shisei was forced to retreat from Akane’s study room. Shisei was now flanked by Saito and Akane on either side. Saito knew that if he let his guard down, anything could be dug up next. The three of them walked down the second-floor hallway and arrived at the bedroom.
Akane shrank back in fear. “When I was sleeping here, I saw a shadow standing by my pillow.”
Shisei began her questioning. “What kind of shadow? Like…a chupacabra?”
“I don’t know exactly what a chupacabra is, but it was a small shadow, about the size of a child,” answered Akane.
“Did it try to bite you?”
“No… When I screamed, it disappeared right away.”
“I see…” said Shisei, folding her arms tightly as she started pondering.
“Did you figure something out?”
Shisei didn’t respond.
“Shisei-san?” Akane reached out to touch her shoulder, but Saito stopped her.
“Just give her a second,” said Saito. “She might not look it, but Shise is sharp. Right now, those brain cells of hers are racing through every possible scenario. That’s Shise…she’ll definitely uncover the truth.”
“Y-yeah…that’s our sensei,” said Akane.
Saito and Akane held their breaths and watched.
Before long, Shisei slowly lifted her face and proclaimed, “I’ve finally figured out what the ghost really was.”
“Really?! What was it?” Akane leaned in.
“A cat? Or maybe a possum?” Saito also waited for the answer.
The bedroom was filled with solemn silence. With an aura of unusual gravity, Shisei raised her index finger to the ceiling dramatically and declared, “The ghost was…me, Shise!”
Both Saito and Akane were at a loss for how to respond.
“U-um… What exactly do you mean?” Akane asked, confused.
“I deduced it from the location of the appearances, the time the paranormal phenomena occurred, and the ghost’s behavior pattern. The ghost was me, Shise, because I have been visiting this house for the past few days,” she confessed.
“Why didn’t you just say that from the start?!” asked Saito as he grabbed Shisei’s cheeks and stretched them side to side.
“I see! So it was Shisei-san! Thank goodness…but still, say something sooner next time!” Akane, relieved but still angry, shifted through a flurry of expressions like a skilled actor.
Now that the culprit was identified, it was time for Saito to interrogate her. As Saito gently stretched Shisei’s marshmallow-like cheeks, he questioned Shisei.
“I’m pretty sure the door was locked. How did you get in?”
“Mmmph.”
“I mean, it’s you, so I’ll let the trespassing slide—but why sneak in without telling us?”
“Mrmph Mmph.”
“You understand that you have no right to an attorney, correct?”
“Mrmmph.”
Akane interjected on humanitarian grounds. “Saito, let go of her cheeks. Everything she’s saying is muffled, anyway.”
“…Fine. I’ll give you five minutes.” With that, Saito finally released Shisei’s cheeks.
Shisei rubbed her face, but she didn’t seem to be in pain—on the contrary, she looked like she was having fun.
“I’ll answer your questions one by one,” said Shisei. “First, I asked Grandpa for the key, and he gave it to me right away.”
Saito sighed, his face twisted in disbelief. “That old jerk…”
Shisei was beloved by everyone she encountered, and their grandfather Tenryu was no exception. Add to that his shameless grandparental bias—he doted on her to an absurd degree, granting her every request without hesitation.
Shisei held up a peace sign and continued. “Answer to the second question. I didn’t tell you two I was coming because I didn’t want to disturb the lovey-dovey newlywed couple at night.”
“We’re not lovey-dovey!” Akane shouted, blushing furiously.
“You were. I saw you trying really hard to keep Ani-kun from falling out of bed while he was asleep—”
“Aaaah! Aaaah!” Akane’s screaming interrupted Shisei’s report.
“Wait, I was about to fall off the bed…?” Saito was puzzled.
“Um, she meant that you were falling off and I kicked you the rest of the way down, Saito!”
“You’re horrible!” said Saito.
“You’re the one who let your guard down! In this house, showing your back for even a second is fatal!” exclaimed Akane.
“This house is the worst! I want to live somewhere normal!”
“That’s not what really happened. Actually…” Shisei started to explain, but Akane quickly cut her off.
“Silence! Let’s drop this topic right now! I’ll let everything else slide; just forget it!”
“What exactly was done to me?” Saito’s confusion and dread only deepened. There weren’t many things crueler than being kicked out of bed, but somehow he suspected something worse. He even wondered for a moment if he was already dead—but he didn’t exactly feel dead.
“Well, since the case is closed, I’d like to be paid with dinner,” said Shisei.
“You were the detective and the culprit!” fumed Saito.
Shisei truly was shameless. “I’ve had Akane’s homemade lunch before—it was really good. It’s not fair that only Ani-kun gets to eat her delicious cooking every day. That stuff’s divine,” said Shisei.
“O-oh…really?” Akane’s shoulder twitched.
“It was so good, I thought my cheeks would fall off. Akane’s cooking is the best in the world.”
“Well, of course! I’ve put more research and effort into it than anyone else! Anybody with good taste would understand! You could search the entire galaxy—no, even all parallel multiverses—and still not find a cook better than me!” Her nose proudly in the air, Akane was clearly letting the praise go to her head.
“I want to eat your food, Akane… I’m hungry…” pleaded Shisei, tugging at Akane’s shirt and whispering sweetly like a sugar-spun angel.
Shisei had unleashed her ultimate weapon: puppy-dog eyes. The only known human capable of resisting this attack was Saito.
Akane was already wavering.
“F-fine! I’ll make you whatever you want, as much as you want!”
She caved instantly.
“It’s so good… It tastes like heaven…” Shisei trembled as she cradled her rice bowl.
The table was filled end-to-end with steaming dishes. Yakisoba, karaage fried chicken, grilled fish, stew with meat and potatoes, pancakes—it was a complete mess of a menu, but each dish had been personally requested by Shisei, and Akane had happily delivered.
“I’m glad it suits your taste! If there’s anything else you want, I’ll make it right away!” said Akane.
“Then, may I have some stew, curry, hashed beef and rice, ramen, cold noodles with sauce—”
Saito thumped Shisei on the head. “Have a little restraint, will you?” Her appetite was scary.
“No need to hold back. Make yourself at home,” offered Shisei.
“That’s not only your choice to make…” said Saito.
“Don’t worry about it, Shisei-san. I actually prefer cooking for someone who enjoys my food that much. Unlike a certain someone who couldn’t even be bothered to say ‘delicious’ at first,” said Akane, shooting Saito a sharp glare.
Shisei gave him a smug look. “See? All is well.”
Saito clenched his fist. “Tch…”
Still, normally it was just the two of them at dinner, so having a larger, livelier table wasn’t all that bad. The room had a warm, family-like atmosphere.
“Ani-kun, can you debone the fish for me?”
“Yeah, yeah.”
Saito removed the bones from the grilled fish. Shisei promptly heaped it onto her mountain of rice and stuffed it all into her mouth at once. Despite being a stunning beauty, she showed no shame—her no-holds-barred way of eating was almost captivating.
“Yum-yum.” With her cheeks puffed out like a squirrel, Shisei happily devoured her fish and rice. Her face was dotted with countless specks of rice.
“You’ve got rice stuck to your face again,” said Saito.
“Mmm…”
As Saito gently picked the rice grains off with his fingers, Shisei closed her eyes and relaxed, like a small animal enjoying a shampoo.
“…H-hey,” muttered Akane.
“What’s wrong?” asked Saito.
“…Nothing.” Despite her words, Akane’s expression was sour.
Is she mad about Shisei’s lack of table manners…? As Saito wondered, Shisei reached over and grabbed a piece of chicken from his plate with her bare hands.
“Hey! Don’t just take my food!”
“Om nom nom! Om nom nom nom!”
Saito tried to retrieve it, but it was already too late—the fried chicken had vanished into Shisei’s stomach.
Shisei let out a satisfied sigh. “Ani-kun’s things are Shise’s things.”
“Like hell they are,” said Saito.
“They are. It’s written in the constitution that sisters own everything their brothers have. Shise looked it up.”
“Don’t just lie so shamelessly.” Saito had no desire to live in a country where sisters trampled all over their brothers’ human rights. He liked Akane’s fried chicken too, after all.
“Well then, since I, Shise, am so kind, I will give my selfish Ani-kun some yakisoba.”
“Stop grabbing it with your hands!”
Shisei came at him with a fistful of yakisoba, warm noodles dripping from between her small fingers. There wasn’t a shred of kindness in the scene. Unbothered, Shisei stuffed the yakisoba into Saito’s mouth and tilted her head.
“Taste good?”
“Yeah, but…I would’ve preferred to eat it like a normal person,” Saito chewed the yakisoba with a mix of conflicting feelings.
As Saito glanced subtly at Akane, he realized her expression had grown even more severe.
Uh oh, this isn’t good… Saito sensed the peace of the household was in danger.
He whispered to Shisei.“Try to behave a little. Akane’s serious about these types of things.”
“Shise is behaving. I haven’t even gotten up to dance on the table yet.”
“I’ve never seen you do that. And if I did, I’d start to seriously reconsider our entire relationship.”
“I don’t want Ani-kun to cut ties with me. I’ll do anything—just don’t throw me away.” Shisei clung tightly to Saito.
Another wrinkle formed in Akane’s brow.
“See? Akane’s getting mad. Just behave during mealtime,” Saito warned.
“Understood. I, Shise, will swallow my pride and pretend to be a proper lady.”
“You are a proper lady, though, aren’t you?” Indeed, Saito’s father was a plain old salaryman, exiled from the Houjou Group. But his father’s sister—Shisei’s mother—was the president of one of the group’s affiliate companies. Unlike Saito’s unimpressive home, Shisei lived in a grand estate.
Shisei straightened her posture, back perfectly upright. With flawless manners, she picked up a knife and fork, cut into the pancakes, and brought a piece to her mouth. Her elegance, combined with her mysterious beauty, made her look like a noble lady straight out of a Renaissance painting.
“…Wow, I guess you really can do it if you try,” said Saito, impressed.
With a graceful gesture, Shisei covered her mouth and replied, “But of course. O-ho ho ho!”
“O-ho ho ho?” Saito repeated in despair. The mood took a sharp downturn.
“If it’s Ani-kun’s wish, I can do any shameful thing you ask of me. Tonight as well, please use me, your servant, as you desire…” Shisei twisted her body seductively.
Akane began trembling. “S-Saito…d-don’t tell me you always make Shisei-san do those kinds of things…”
“This is all a misunderstanding! Shise, think about how you phrase things!” Saito shouted.
“O-ho ho ho.” Shisei kept giggling.
Saito shook Shisei’s shoulders, but she only let out an exaggerated, theatrical laugh.
Dinner was over, and Saito was now dealing with the mountain of dirty dishes. Shisei knelt on a chair, watching the cleanup process with interest.
“Unexpected. I didn’t think Ani-kun would do housework like this,” said Shisei.
“I can’t just make Akane do everything. She cooks, I clean,” said Saito loud enough for Akane to hear.
Akane’s mood didn’t seem great, and Saito was hoping to score a few good-husband points. But Akane didn’t even glance his way—she was sitting at the table, quietly focused on her studies.
“The same Ani-kun who used to leave cups until they rotted…” Shisei murmured.
“Cups don’t rot, even if you leave them out.”
“You used to laugh innocently from the middle of the tragic garbage heap of your room…”
“Stop making me sound like some charity case!” said Saito as he turned off the faucet, wiped his wet hands on his shirt, and sat down on the sofa. Shisei scurried after him and dove onto his lap, resting her arms across his legs and lying down.
“It’s a sleepover, so I want to spend lots of time with Ani-kun.”
“Of course. What do you wanna do?”
“Game. Organ Hazard 3. Co-op mode.”
Akane flinched and looked up from her textbook. “Organ Hazard?!”
“You like Organ too, Akane?” asked Shisei innocently.
“No, I don’t! I can’t stand that stuff!”
“But organs are squishy and cute,” said Shisei.
“C-cute?” Akane was clearly disturbed. Obviously, Shisei’s sense of aesthetics was incomprehensible to normal people, and that included Saito.
He leaned toward her and whispered, “Let’s skip Organ Hazard today.”
“Why? You love it, Ani-kun. That’s why Shise—”
“Akane doesn’t like horror,” Saito whispered.
“Then Akane can just study in her room.”
“Yeah, that’s not really an option…” answered Saito in a hushed voice. Excluding her like that would look like they were kicking her out. And with how moody Akane seemed tonight, that kind of provocation could spell disaster for their marriage.
“Then you choose, Ani-kun. I’m happy as long as we play together.” Sitting on his lap, Shisei looked up into his face. Her expression was blank, but to Saito—who had grown up with her—it felt like she was smiling.
“I’ve got this new cat puzzle game. Well, it’s more like an action game. Want to try it?”
“If Ani-kun will teach me step by step.”
“You got it.”
Still seated on his lap, Saito started up the game with the controller. The TV screen lit up with hundreds of cats—some wearing clothes, some with hats—each with their own unique look.
“The game’s about catching mischievous alien cats that came from space. It’s basically tag. I bought it thinking Akane might want to play since she’s a cat lover…” As Saito explained, he glanced at Akane, but she quickly turned her face away.
“I’ll pass. I have prep work for tomorrow,” said Akane.
“It supports up to four players.”
“Don’t drag me into your weird games!”
“It’s not weird!” Saito objected.
“I still don’t have time to waste on childish games like that!” Even the sound of Akane’s pen on paper was aggressive. Clearly, she was in a foul mood tonight, and Saito still had no idea why.
“Ani-kun, Ani-kun. Let’s play already.” Sitting on his lap, Shisei kicked her white-tights-covered legs back and forth.
“Y-yeah, okay…” said Saito, selecting the game mode and stage, then handing the controller to Shisei. Her player character ran after cats all over a wide, open stage, each cat avoiding the player using different skills. The space cats weren’t easy to catch.
“Darn, they’re fast runners. Don’t we have, like, a flamethrower item or something?”
“What would you even do with a flamethrower?!” asked Akane in alarm.
“Set the player on fire and catch the cat when it comes over to check on them,” replied Shisei.
“Let’s not pursue any kind of deeply psychotic gameplay style, okay? Just use the terrain to corner them like a normal person,” said Saito. Saito placed his hand over Shisei’s and guided the controller. One by one, he caught the alien cats as they got stuck behind pipes and in dead ends.
“Whoa…Ani-kun’s really good,” said Shisei in admiration.
“Right? Now try it yourself.”
“Wait. Just a little longer. I want you to keep helping me.”
“You already get how it works, don’t you?”
“I do. But…having you hold my hand like this feels really nice,” said Shisei.
Shisei nuzzled her cheek against Saito’s hand. Her snow-white skin was smooth to the touch, like fine silk. It felt to Saito as if a kitten was cuddling up to him.
Slam! Akane shut her reference book with a sharp thud. She pressed her hands on the table and glared at Saito, her face red with anger.“Hey, you two,” she growled.
Saito flinched. “Wh-what is it?” The tense atmosphere put Saito on edge.
“…Nothing.” Akane opened her book again.
“That is definitely not ‘nothing’! You’ve been mad this whole evening!”
“I’m not mad!”
“You totally are! Your face looks like a demon!”
“Calling a girl a demon?! Say goodbye to your front teeth!” shouted Akane.
Saito shuddered. “Spare me, scary demon!”
Akane was certainly demon-like in that moment in Saito’s eyes. As Shisei’s older brother figure, Saito couldn’t afford to lose face in front of her, but all he wanted right then was to retreat to his room and barricade the door. If it had come this far already, he needed a plausible excuse to escape this battlefield.
Saito stood up slowly. “It’s getting late, so I think I’ll go take a bath…”
“Shise will join you, Ani-kun.” Shisei, in true form, followed Saito as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Akane jumped out of her chair. “Wait a second! Shisei-san, you’re the same age as us, right?!”
“Technically, we’re not the same age. Ani-kun is eighteen, and I, Shise, am seventeen,” Shisei replied.
“That’s not the point! You’re too old to be taking baths together!” said Akane.
“I, Shise, always bathe with Ani-kun,” said Shisei, clinging to Saito’s waist.
“Always?!” Akane was stunned.
“It’s been a while since the last time, though,” Saito corrected.
“A while? Since last time?!” Akane’s eyes spun in circles.
“If two’s no good, should we go for three?” Shisei tilted her head innocently.
“Absolutely not! One person in the bath at a time! Now hurry up and go!” barked Akane.
“Yessir!” Saito bolted from the ticking time bomb of a living room at full speed.
As Saito lay in bed reading his book, Akane entered the bedroom, having just finished her bath. As always, even in her own home, she was impeccably composed, leaving not even a moment’s impression of vulnerability.
Akane set her smartphone on the headboard and sat down at the edge of the bed. “Where is Shisei-san?”
“She’s still playing games. I found a guest futon in the closet and laid it out in the living room. She’ll fall asleep eventually.”
There had even been pajamas in Shisei’s size stored in the closet—their grandfather likely had anticipated her visiting the new house from the start.
Akane let out a quiet sigh. “Finally, we can talk—just the two of us.”
“Huh? You wanted to talk alone with me?”
Akane quickly corrected herself. “N-not like that! I just have a bunch of complaints I couldn’t say in front of Shisei-san! It’s awkward saying that stuff around her!”
“You pick fights with me in front of her at school all the time, though,” said Saito. Akane never seemed like someone who knew the meaning of the word “restraint.”
“Sh-sh-shut up! If you keep poking at me like that, you’ll make me angry!”
“You’re angry already,” said Saito. As far as he was concerned, he hadn’t even poked at her in any particular way—he’d just asked a normal question. “Whatever. Just get in already,” he said, lifting the edge of the blanket in invitation.
“Wha—! Stop doing that!” blurted Akane, her ears turning red.
“Why not?”
“It feels…indecent!”
“You know it’s not.”
“It is! I-it’s just, inviting a girl into bed like that, that’s…” Akane, utterly flustered, cupped her cheeks with both hands as if trying to contain the heat.
Saito panicked at her unexpected reaction. “I-I wasn’t inviting you to bed or anything! It just seemed like your complaints were going to take a while, so I thought you should get in bed before you catch a chill!”
Akane narrowed her eyes in caution. “Y-you’re being suspiciously kind all of a sudden… What are you scheming?”
“I’m not scheming anything! I just don’t want to deal with you getting sick again—it’s a lot of work to take care of you!” shot back Saito.
“Hmm… Maybe I should’ve bought a bomb for self-defense.”
“That’s not self-defense—that’s overkill.”
“A bomb probably wouldn’t even scratch you.”
“Don’t place that much faith in my durability!”
Despite all the back-and-forth, Akane eventually climbed under the blanket. Saito turned off the main light with the remote, and the room was gently illuminated by the soft orange glow of the nightlight. Akane’s hair, still holding traces of warmth from her bath, spilled smoothly over her pillow.
“Okay, lay it on me,” said Saito.
“Okay… Well, first of all, you forgot to take out the trash again this morning.”
Saito grinned mischievously. “Hee hee… I didn’t forget. I’m conducting an experiment to observe the organic phenomenon that occurs when trash is left for a full week.”
“Please stop. That’s absolutely going to end in disaster.” Akane shuddered.
“You can’t know until you try. Have you ever confirmed it with your own eyes?”
“I don’t want to!”
“I have. It was a glimpse into the mystery of life itself,” gushed Saito.
“Then you don’t need to experiment anymore! You’re just using that as an excuse to cover up your crimes!” said Akane.
Saito admitted defeat. “Yeah, fair. You got me.”
“Of course… Honestly.” Akane sighed in exasperation.
“Sorry. I’ll take it out tomorrow,” said Saito.
“Please do.” Normally, Akane would’ve been a lot angrier—but tonight, her tone was oddly mild. It felt like the complaints weren’t the real point—she just wanted an excuse to talk with him.
Or maybe I’m reading too much into it. Saito felt embarrassed by his own self-awareness.
“Anything else?” asked Saito.
“Well…you bought that cat game for me, didn’t you? I wish you’d told me about it sooner,” said Akane softly.
“I just figured you seemed super busy with studying. I didn’t want to get in your way or anything.”
“I’m not that busy. I mean, sometimes I want to take a break too. And…I wanted to be the first one to play it,” Akane mumbled.
“Oh, you wanted to get good before I could so you could beat me up in-game? That’s pretty malicious,” said Saito, feigning fear.
“That’s not it! I just…I wanted to play before Shisei-san…” Akane fidgeted with the blanket as her sentence trailed off.
“So you wanted to beat her up too. That’s even worse,” said Saito.
“That’s not it either! I mean—ugh, I don’t know! Why did I want to go first so badly?!” said Akane, flustered.
“Don’t ask me! I’m not a mind reader!” said Saito, responding to the classic, shameless Akane-style dodge.
“Well, you should know! What are all those grades of yours good for?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?!” exclaimed Saito.
“It’s like strapping the latest computer tech to a fishcake. Totally wasted!”
“I don’t recall turning into a fishcake!”
“Poor thing,” taunted Akane. “You don’t even remember the transformation. But I assure you, you are 100 percent fishcake now.”
“That’s not funny!”
The two bickered late into the night. The noise and energy—though chaotic—brought back a sense of familiarity and comfort.
Akane stretched her arms above her head, visibly refreshed. “Ahhh… That felt so good.”
“Feeling refreshed after a fight? That’s pretty messed up,” said Saito.
“Well, I need to yell at you at least once a day to keep myself balanced.”
“Oh, so you’re using me as a sandbag for your mental health?” But Saito could feel the tension lifting too. Maybe it was better this way—letting her vent rather than having her silently stew in resentment. It made him feel like he’d gotten just a little closer to understanding what was on her mind.
“That all for complaints?”
“Oh, there’s one more,” said Akane.
“What is it?”
Akane averted her gaze, looking uncomfortable. “W-well…it’s about Shisei-san.”
“I’m sorry for letting her stay over without warning,” said Saito.
“No, that’s not it! I wanted her to eat dinner with us, and she is really cute. It’s just…I kind of think you’re too attentive with her, Saito.”
“Akane, she’s the kind of person who’d literally start eating pebbles off the street if you leave her alone. Is that a problem for you?”
“No, it’s not a problem, really. I mean, it’s not exactly a problem, but…huh? Why am I complaining? Ugh…” Akane’s voice trailed off awkwardly.
“Okay, let’s dig into that a little more, shall we?” Saito leaned in.
“No need! That’s the end of this conversation!” Akane snapped and turned her back on him with a dramatic roll.
“You’re not getting away that easy. I want to know more about you.”
Akane was jolted, shoulders going up in surprise. “M-more about me?! Why?!”
“Well, since we’re living together, it’ll go smoother if I have a solid understanding of my cohabitant, right?” Saito reasoned.
“O-oh, I see… Yeah, that makes sense!” Akane nodded stiffly.
“So why are you panicking?”
“I’m not panicking at all! Don’t get full of yourself!”
“I didn’t think I was…” muttered Saito, confused.
“It’s just… I don’t really understand it myself. I just feel…uneasy and queasy, I guess…” said Akane.
“Queasy? Like heartburn?”
“No, not heartburn, it’s more like—um—Eep!” Akane shrieked and whipped around to glare at Saito. “D-did you just stroke my butt?”
“Huh?! Of course not—wait—Aaagh!” Saito let out a yelp of his own as something tickled his thigh. “You touched my thigh just now!”
“Why would I do something that horrifying?!” shouted Akane.
“You’re the horrifying one! I wouldn’t dare make a move on a dragon!”
“A dragon?! What part of me screams ‘dragon’?! I’ll turn you to ash, not even a hair left behind!”
“That’s exactly what I mean! Right there!” yelled back Saito.
Sparks practically flew between them across the bed. Suddenly, a voice could be heard from below.
“Keep it down, will you? I can’t sleep.” A small face popped out from under the blanket—Shisei, who had apparently snuck in between them.
“Shisei-san?!” Akane gasped.
“When did you get in here?!” asked Saito.
“Right before human civilization began.”
Saito couldn’t believe what was happening. “That’s a lie!”
“Ever since Ani-kun said, ‘Heh… Once Akane gets out of the bath, tonight’s the night I finally grope that butt,’ when he thought he was alone in bed.”
Saito froze as Akane slowly turned to him with a pale face and a fiery glare. “Saito…So it was you…”
“That’s a lie too!” Facing Akane’s death glare, he denied Shisei’s lie with every fiber of his being. There was no way he could risk his life over a girl’s butt—he wasn’t that far gone.
“I’m sleeping with Ani-kun tonight. I always do when I stay over,” said Shisei.
Akane’s brow twitched violently. “Always? So not just the bath, but sleeping together too…?”
“Not always! Only when Shise insists and I can’t shake her,” Saito hurriedly clarified.
“Since I was a baby, I’ve always been with Ani-kun. I feel calmest when I’m snuggled up to him,” said Shisei, wrapping her slender legs around Saito’s. Shisei rubbed up against him, skin-to-skin, and pressed her nose into his chest, inhaling deeply with a contented sigh.
“But…your futon is already set up in the living room, isn’t it, Shisei-san?” asked Akane.
“I don’t want to sleep alone. It’s not fair if Akane gets to monopolize Ani-kun all the time.”
“I-it’s not unfair! It’s not like I want to be here either!” said Akane defensively.
“Really?” Shisei leaned in close and stared into her eyes.
“It’s true! This was all decided by our grandparents as part of their conditions for our marriage! So, yes! If we randomly add someone else to our bed, they’ll be furious!” exclaimed Akane.
“That’s fine. I already called Grandpa and got his permission. He said, ‘Do whatever you want.’”
Saito sighed. “He really is way too soft on you…”
He couldn’t help but worry. If Shisei ever casually asked for the company itself, Grandpa would probably hand it over with a smile. Saito lived in constant fear of the day Shisei figured out that owning the Houjou Group would mean unlimited steamed meat buns for life.
Shisei then added, “If Akane really wants to sleep alone with Ani-kun that badly, then I guess I can back off.”
“I-I don’t want to sleep alone with him!”
“I’ll sleep on the floor so I don’t interrupt your…you know, intimacy,” said Shisei as she started to get off the bed.
Akane yelped, “That’s not what we do at night at all!”
“Oh… So maybe tonight was the night you two had planned for it? Sorry for interrupting you,” added Shisei, continuing to slide off the bed.
Akane panicked and quickly grabbed Shisei to pull her back. “There was no plan! Don’t get weird ideas! Sure, fine, we can all sleep together, okay?!”
Saito had fallen asleep, leaving Akane alone as she felt a swirling mix of unease and frustration inside her. Thanks to Shisei lying between them, there was at least no fear of being sexually harassed. That, at least, was comforting for Akane.
But still, how could he be so unfazed sleeping alongside two of his female classmates, and even fall asleep faster than when it was just her there? What nerve did this guy have? His calm, rhythmic snoring made it even more infuriating.
“Your boobs are surprisingly big.”
“Wha—?!” Akane shrieked. Out of nowhere, Shisei was grabbing her chest with both hands. Akane recoiled, nearly rolling off the bed, covering her chest with both arms.
“You were awake? How can you just casually sexually harass me?! Is this some kind of family tradition?!”
“It’s not harassment. There were boobs in front of me, so I touched them,” said Shisei plainly.
“If that logic was acceptable, we’d have to let gropers out of jail!”
“Most girls want me to touch their boobs. They try to trick me into it.”
“…We’re going to have a serious talk with a school counselor, okay? You and me.” Akane was now genuinely worried. She understood why people were obsessed with Shisei—she was rather charming and magnetic—but this was ridiculous.
“Akane, you get jealous too,” said Shisei.
“Huh? What are you talking about…?”
“Of Ani-kun. You got mad because I was being all lovey-dovey with him, right?”
“W-what?! I wasn’t mad at all!” Akane insisted.
Shisei gently pressed a fingertip to Akane’s chin. “Lies. You tried to stop me from taking a bath with him and sleeping next to him.”
“Th-that’s because, I mean—guys and girls shouldn’t be taking baths together at this age! And doing that kind of thing in my house? Of course I’d put a stop to it!” As she babbled on and on, Akane felt her whole body burning from the inside out. It wasn’t, couldn’t be, jealousy. She didn’t like Saito—not in that way. Akane just felt that the misunderstanding was embarrassing. Her face was beet-red from shame.
“You can’t fool Shise’s eyes,” said Shisei. Her cool palm gently touched Akane’s flushed cheek, then slid to her neck and along the curve of her earlobe, as if to confirm the heat rising from her skin. Her eyes, clearer than any star in the night sky, saw through Akane as if peering directly into her soul. It felt like being read by a spirit—she was exposed right down to her core. Akane couldn’t move.
“Akane, are you blushing?” asked Shisei.
“I’m not!” snapped Akane.
“Ani-kun is dense. If you don’t communicate clearly, he won’t understand,” said Shisei.
“Communicate what clearly?!”
Shisei let out a small breath. “…This makes me feel a little better. I was worried about whether Ani-kun would be able to live happily.”
“…What do you mean by that?” Akane asked, but Shisei didn’t answer. Instead, she curled up beside the sleeping Saito, burrowed into his arms, and nuzzled her face against his chest.
“’Night, Akane.”
“Wait—hey! We’re not done here! And stop clinging to him like that! Where’s your shame?!” Akane reached over to peel her off, but Shisei was already fast asleep, her breathing calm and peaceful.
Chapter 4: Uneasy Feeling
Chapter 4:
Uneasy Feeling
AFTER CONFIRMING THAT SAITO WAS ONCE again in the living room, fully engrossed in his horror game, Akane quietly closed the door behind her. If she were to speak honestly, she would ask him to stop playing those tasteless games already—but interfering too much would only reignite the war between them, and she didn’t want that. Saito had made compromises to accommodate her too. She figured she should make some concessions as well.
With that in mind, Akane entered her study and locked the door behind her. It was time for a strategy meeting. She opened her messaging app on her smartphone and placed a call to Himari.
“Sorry to keep you waiting,” said Akane.
“I wasn’t waiting at all. Thanks for making time for me, even though you’re busy studying!” Himari cheerfully answered.
“I’ve always got time for you, Himari.”
“You know what? I actually went to the arcade, like you said! I tried that zombie shooting game, but it’s really hard. I kept getting game overs. Honestly, saving up and buying a console might be cheaper in the long run,” said Himari.
“In that case, you could come over to my pla—” Akane cut herself off mid-sentence, a chill running down her spine. Not good. If she invited Himari to her house, it’d be impossible to hide her relationship with Saito. If Himari found out she was married to him, she might never speak to her again, and just the thought of that was unbearable.
“Uh, well, if you still want to have something in common with Saito, maybe it’d be faster to read the kind of books he likes?” suggested Akane.
“Oh, that’s a good idea! What kind of books does Saito-kun like?”
“He’s a fan of smutty books,” replied Akane, purely based on assumptions.
Himari giggled. “Makes sense, he’s a guy after all. Okay, I’ll go buy an X-rated magazine at the convenience store and give it a read!”
Akane was starting to feel like she was leading her friend down the wrong path. “Wait. How exactly is that supposed to help you connect with him?”
“I could say something like ‘Oh, so this is the kind of stuff you’re into, Saito-kun? Want to try this with me sometime?’”
“Isn’t that moving way too fast?!” said Akane, widening her eyes.
Himari burst out laughing. “You’re right! He’d get totally freaked out, wouldn’t he?”
Just hearing her cheerful laugh made Akane smile too. Even though they were only connected through a phone, it felt like they were chatting side by side.
After a good laugh, Himari spoke again. “Besides, I’d like to have a proper date at an amusement park or something before we get all into…you know, that stuff,” confessed Himari in a bashful, quiet tone.
“…Yeah.” Akane could feel the sincerity in Himari’s words, and it made her own chest tighten a little. Her bestie was serious. She was truly in love with Saito, and she wanted him to love her back. Akane herself was unfamiliar with that kind of feeling, but she couldn’t help but find it kind of beautiful that Himari could feel it so deeply.
“I’ll do some research into what kind of books Saito likes,” Akane offered.
“Aww, thanks! Sorry to make you do all this.”
“No problem. Just leave it to me—I’ve got your back!” Akane ended the call with the bold declaration and left her study.
Okay, so…where should I start? She paused in the hallway, smartphone in hand, thinking. The easiest thing would be to just ask Saito directly. But if he misunderstood and thought she was interested in him, it’d be a disaster. Being accused of stalking again would be even worse.
That guy gets carried away so easily. I still remember how he sulked about not getting steak—he was like a little kid. It was kind of cute, though.
Akane smiled at the memory. But then she quickly caught herself, shaking her head furiously. Nope! Not cute at all! He’s the enemy!
She figured it’d be easiest to quietly check his bookshelf, so she tiptoed toward Saito’s study. Pressing her ear to the door, she listened for any sign of life inside. All clear—he wasn’t there. Akane slowly opened the door, slipped inside, and closed it behind her. Scanning the room for the bookshelf, her eyes landed on a notebook sitting atop the desk. On the cover, written in thick black marker, were the words “Top Secret Notebook.”
Top secret…? What’s in there…? Now Akane wanted to know. She really wanted to know. That notebook contained information Saito would surely want to keep hidden at all costs. What was he up to? Knowing Saito, it couldn’t be anything good. If she didn’t find out now, something disastrous might happen later.
Just a peek should be fine, right? Akane gulped, then opened the so-called top-secret notebook.On the first page was written “You’re that curious about me?”
Akane nearly ripped the notebook in two out of shock before stopping herself at the last moment. Destroying it would only prove that she had broken into his room—and in doing so, would play right into Saito’s hands. What irritated her even more was the smug self-portrait drawn next to the line, as if he’d predicted this exact scenario. Plus, for a self-portrait, it was way too handsome. That made it all the more infuriating.
From the second page on, it became a flipbook: a kineograph of what appeared to be Saito, flipping his hair back and repeating “You’re that curious about me?”
“Jeez. How much free time does this guy have?! Drawing a flipbook? While I’ve been busting my butt studying?!” Clutching this top-secret notebook (with a bonus flipbook), Akane quaked with rage.
Then, she heard a voice from behind.
“Decent likeness, right?”
“Aaaagh!” Akane jumped in fright. Turning around, she saw Saito standing there.
“Wh-what’s wrong? No need to be that surprised,” he said.
“N-no! You’ve got it all wrong! I’m not a spy or anything!”
“…Spy?” Saito blinked, confused.
“I won’t fall into your trap so easily! If I’m going down anyway, I’ll jump!” cried Akane, rushing to the window.
“Wait, hold on—calm down! What are you panicking about?” Saito grabbed her arm before she could open it.
“Don’t play dumb! You set out a decoy notebook knowing I’d sneak in, didn’t you?!”
“That notebook’s just for doodles, but I still didn’t want anyone to see it, so I labeled it ‘Top Secret,’” Saito explained.
“Wait…so…you didn’t notice?”
“Notice what?” said Saito. He blinked, clearly confused.
Akane let out a long sigh. So it was all in my head, she thought.
“I-I just… I wanted to ask if you had any interesting books to recommend. Something fun you’ve read recently.” If she’d just asked him that directly from the start, this whole thing could’ve been so much simpler. She couldn’t let Saito feel superior, though, so she’d gone through all this nonsense instead.
“Hmm… A History of Humanity Through Food and Weapons was pretty funny,” said Saito, placing a thick academic tome in Akane’s arms.
“Whoa, it’s so heavy! Is this really the kind of book you laugh your way through?!”
“Totally. It’s filled with the tragic stupidity of humankind, endlessly warring and destroying themselves.”
“You are so full of yourself! Who do you think you are?”
“I’m an observer of the world,” said Saito matter-of-factly.
“Observer…?” Akane wasn’t sure what he even meant by that, but it definitely sounded pretentious. Akane almost handed the book right back, but she remembered she was doing this for Himari’s sake and held her tongue.
“Anything else? Something lighter, maybe?” she asked.
“I read this for fun—The Conflict Between Übermensch and Ressentiment: The Fate of the Victors,’” said Saito, handing her another hefty hardback.
“Übermensch and…Ressentiment? So a hero story, huh? Kind of childish,” muttered Akane.
“It’s not about superheroes. It’s a work of philosophical theory that discusses Nietzsche’s concept of the Übermensch and applies it to real historical events and current affairs,” Saito explained.
“That’s not light reading at all!”
“What, you don’t know Uncle Nietzsche?” teased Saito.
“Of course I do! We covered him in ethics class!” shot back Akane, flustered and afraid he might start looking down on her.
“So you get it! What Uncle Nietzsche says is usually pretty savage, but he always gives you this great bird’s-eye view of society—it’s hilarious,” said Saito confidently.
Akane frowned. “Why are you laughing at society…? And what’s with ‘Uncle Nietzsche’? That’s way too chummy.”
“Better than calling him just ‘Nietzsche’—this way he sounds friendlier and more relatable.”
“How come you’re so close with this philosophical giant?” Akane still couldn’t make sense of how his brain worked.
Then Saito’s face lit up. “I’ve had no one to share my thoughts on the book with, so this is perfect. Just skim it and let me know what you think.”
“…I’ll do what I can,” Akane muttered, hugging the headache-inducing book to her chest as she retreated from Saito’s study.
Class 3-A, the next day.
Himari let out a dramatic sigh. “I went to the library and borrowed that book you recommended, but, like…I couldn’t understand any of it. It felt like I was reading in a foreign language!”
“It’s needlessly complicated. Definitely not a casual read…” said Akane, collapsing face down on her desk out of exhaustion. She’d pushed herself to stay up late trying to understand that dense monstrosity of a book. Akane couldn’t bear the thought that something Saito understood could be beyond her reach.
Himari blinked in surprise. “Wait, you read it too, Akane?”
“Y-yeah…” said Akane awkwardly.
“Why?”
“Why? Well…”
I didn’t want Himari to be the only one who read it. That was the honest reason, but she couldn’t admit it. She didn’t even understand why it bothered her in the first place. The more she searched for a reason, the more that frustrating, uneasy feeling swelled up in her chest again.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t more helpful. I should’ve asked him for a recommendation that was easier to read.”
Himari beamed. “Nah, it’s totally fine! You helped a lot! I’ll just ask Saito-kun to explain it to me!”
“…Whuh?” Akane blinked.
“Be right back! Thanks for the convo starter!” Himari hugged the book to her chest and ran straight to Saito’s desk.
Akane couldn’t help but admire Himari’s boldness and social grace. She respected her for being able to ask Saito to explain something without shame—something Akane herself could never bring herself to do while she still felt inferior to him.
“Hey, hey! Saito-kun, you like this book, right? I tried reading it, but it’s way too hard. Could you explain some of it to me?” With a thud, Himari plopped the intimidating tome onto Saito’s desk.
Saito raised an eyebrow and looked at Himari. “You…can read?”
Himari pouted, puffing her cheeks. “Wow, rude! Yeah, I know I’m not the brightest, but that’s going way too far!”
“Sorry, sorry. I was just surprised. I didn’t think a gyaru like you would read books.”
“Sure, if they look interesting!” replied Himari cheerfully.
Saito questioned her, looking puzzled. “Wait, The Conflict Between Übermensch and Ressentiment looked interesting to the gyaru?”
“Um, well…it looked interesting in the contrary kind of sense, maybe?” said Himari, clearly flustered.
Akane wished Himari would stop glancing her way. Now wasn’t the time for her to jump in and help—if Saito figured out Akane had been gathering info on him for Himari’s sake, Saito might discover the extent of Himari’s interest on him. That would be a disaster.
“Interesting in the contrary kind of sense…?” Saito echoed suspiciously.
Himari leaned forward, hands on his desk. “Um, anyway! What does ‘ressentiment’ mean?” she asked brightly.
“Look it up in a dictionary,” said Saito nonchalantly, returning to his book—effortlessly shutting down the class’s most sociable girl.
What’s with Saito’s attitude?! Akane wanted to scold Saito, but if she stepped in and made things awkward, it’d defeat the whole point.
“I did look it up! I was reading definitions for like an hour. But my online research didn’t really help. It just felt like I was reading in a foreign language.” Himari giggled sheepishly.
Saito finally glanced up from his book. “You looked for an hour? Good effort.”
“What was that thing they wrote about—something-something ‘a bitter emotion the weak feel toward the strong’? But who counts as strong? Like, someone good at fighting? What does ‘ressentiment’ mean, anyway?”
“They were talking about holding a grudge,” said Saito.
Himari blinked. “What about my pudge?”
“No, we’re not talking about body composition.”
“There’s a body competition? So they are good at fighting!”
“Swing and a miss.” Saito sighed deeply—but he looked amused. He closed his book, turned to her, and started explaining. “Okay, so imagine there’s a student who’s not very smart.”
“So, me.”
“Doesn’t necessarily have to be you. Whoever they are, they get angry at a student who is smarter, saying: ‘Why is that person always so good at everything? Were they born with talent? It’s so unfair. The reason I get yelled at for my bad grades is only because geniuses like that exist. It’s not because I don’t study. They’re the villain here. They should all be punished.’”
“So unfair!” exclaimed Himari.
“That’s ‘ressentiment.’ Instead of working hard to surpass the strong, it’s the process of rationalizing their own weakness by turning the strong into villains. In a similar manner, they would say things like ‘The rich are evil’ or ‘Pretty people are cheating,’ for example,” said Saito with a shrug.
Himari beamed with admiration in her eyes. “Ohhh, I get it now! That made it super clear! Saito-kun, you’re really good at explaining things!”
“Well, I am a genius,” said Saito smugly, though his cheeks relaxed in satisfaction.
Ugh, there he goes, getting cocky again… Watching him from a distance, Akane couldn’t help but feel irritated. If she’d been the one over there, they would’ve started arguing in no time. But Himari didn’t mind Saito’s arrogant tone—instead, she kept asking him more questions with a smile, and Saito didn’t seem to hate it either.
“Ooh, she is good, that Himari,” a voice murmured beside Akane. Shisei had appeared next to her before Akane realized it.
“Good at what?”
“At handling Ani-kun. Ani-kun actually loves teaching people. He likes being depended on. He’s been taking care of me since we were kids, you know,” Shisei explained.
“…Is that so?”
“Akane, you could learn from her too.”
“Wh-why is this suddenly about me?!”
“You never ask Ani-kun for help.”
“Of course not!” exclaimed Akane. “My pride wouldn’t allow it. I don’t want him thinking he’s better than me!”
“If you leaned on him once in a while, I think it’d make him happy,” said Shisei softly.
“W-why should I care about making him happy?!”
Shisei tilted her head and asked, “You really don’t know?”
“I don’t!” insisted Akane, flustered. She didn’t know why her face was heating up again either.
“Then never mind. Farewell.” And with that, Shisei vanished—swiftly swallowed up by the gaggle of girls who always clung to her. One of her fans stuffed a steamed meat bun in Shisei’s mouth to keep her from calling for help. It seemed, frankly, criminal.
Lately, the class gyaru had been unusually eager to ask Saito for book explanations. Today, once again, Saito was being peppered with questions from Himari in the hallway and doing his best to explain.
“In short, the Übermensch Nietzsche talks about doesn’t refer to some kind of psychic superhuman, but rather a person who has a clear sense of what they want to do in life and pushes forward with the relentless effort and strength to achieve it.”
“Like Akane?” asked Himari.
“Yeah, I guess so. She could be called an Übermensch.”
After losing to Saito in grades for two years straight since entering high school, most people would have given up trying to beat him. But Akane never gave up. She vowed to one day surpass him, and she had been pushing herself with everything she’d got.
Come to think of it, Akane really is amazing, thought Saito. If he had been in her shoes, he might have given up halfway, justifying it by saying things like “this isn’t efficient” or “the difference in talent is too big.” Akane, who refused to make such excuses for herself, was a genuinely strong person, though her way of life seemed utterly exhausting to Saito.
“Now, I finally get most of what I didn’t understand last night! Thanks so much!”
“Why are you even reading this book? I feel like a picture book would be more appropriate for you.”
Himari puffed out her cheeks. “Hey, you’re making fun of me again!”
“No, I’m just being considerate. Books that are all text are probably tough for you.”
“Not at all! My head starts spinning after five minutes, that’s all!”
“That can’t be healthy,” remarked Saito.
“It is fine!” Himari countered. “I only feel like I’m going to black out occasionally!”
“You’ve got to take care of yourself more properly.” At this point, Saito had no clue about Himari’s motives. It clearly wasn’t the kind of book a ditz like her would normally go for, and yet, she seemed genuinely happy when he explained things to her. Even though she was clearly pushing herself, she didn’t show any signs of strain.
“Well, you know, sometimes reading serious books like this is a good life experience! Maybe it’ll help my grades a little too,” said Himari.
“I don’t think reading a book that digs this deep will help with high school tests,” said Saito solemnly.
“Anyway, thanks again, Saito-kun! Sorry for bothering you!” Himari pressed her hands together and bowed her head to Saito in gratitude. Despite her flashy looks, she was a surprisingly polite girl. Unlike other gyaru, she wasn’t cynical at all.
“You’re not bothering me. I like talking to you,” said Saito.
Himari beamed. “Whoa? R-really…?”
“It’s true.”
“Hee hee… Hearing that kind of thing makes me blush,” said Himari, scratching her cheek as her necklace-adorned neck slowly flushed red.
Saito hadn’t implied anything special with his remark, but her reaction made him feel a bit embarrassed too.
“Isn’t it kind of a pain to explain everything to me?”
“I really don’t mind. Besides, I owe you one,” said Saito.
Himari blinked in confusion. “Owe me? Did I save you from a falling meteor or something? Do you owe me a life debt?”
“Nothing that dramatic. But it’s also not entirely incorrect, I guess.”
Saito glanced back toward the classroom. From his desk, he looked at Akane standing by the hallway window. The moment their eyes met, she turned away.
“You’ve always stopped our fights, haven’t you? Between me and Akane,” said Saito.
“I just don’t like watching people argue.”
“Thanks to you, I escaped with my life more than once. If you hadn’t been there, I might’ve been dead by now. So, thanks.” It was a sincere expression of gratitude from Saito.
“D-don’t say that… It’s not like I did anything worth that kind of gratitude!” Embarrassed, Himari recoiled slightly, and in that moment, she bumped into a passing student. In her rush to dodge, she ended up bumping shoulders with Saito.
“Ah, s-sorry!” said Himari in a hushed voice.
“No, it’s fine…”
“Jeez, what am I even doing… This is so embarrassing,” said Himari, holding her blushed cheeks in her hands and laughing.
Normally full of energy, she now exhibited an unexpectedly feminine expression, and Saito found it surprisingly disarming.
Himari clasped her hands together and continued. “Just so you know, Akane’s not a bad person at all. She’s the one who told me about the books you like, Saito-kun.”
“Why would Akane tell you what kind of books I like?”
“Uh… Well, um, I just wanted to talk with you more, Saito-kun. I thought maybe if I read the same things you read, I might understand your thoughts a little better,” said Himari.
It dawned on Saito that she genuinely seemed to like him. Saito scratched his cheek, a little embarrassed and flattered. “I appreciate that, but…you don’t have to push yourself, you know?”
“I’m really not pushing myself! I’m dumb, yeah, but if you explain it, I get it! It just makes me feel lonely if I can’t see what you see.”
“Is that how it works?”
“It does. You know, I want to see the same view as the person I…” Himari trailed off in a whisper, looking down. She was clasping her hands near her chest. Her eyes had a soft glow, like they were warmed by a gentle flame. Saito noticed the scent of her perfume more strongly than usual.
Suddenly flustered, Himari changed the topic. “A-anyway! Akane’s really great, you know? Back in elementary school, when I was getting bullied, she stood up for me.”
“Someone bullied you?” said Saito. “I feel like anyone who tried that would get ganged up on by the rest of the class…”
“What do you even think I am?” replied Himari, sounding slightly exasperated.
“The class boss.”
“No way! I mean, now I get along with everyone, but back then, I was bad at social stuff. I stood out too much because I looked different.” Himari gave a wry smile as she combed her fingers through her golden hair. If she’d had her fashion style even since elementary school, she must have really stood out in such a uniform environment.
“Well, I don’t dislike the way you look,” said Saito.
“Whoa, really?”
“Yeah. There are plenty of people who bleach their hair and it doesn’t suit them, but it looks good on you. You’ve got a great sense of style, and you know how to dress in a way that brings out your charm,” said Saito matter-of-factly.
“Gosh, th-thanks…”
“I mean, not that someone like me with zero sense of style has any right to say that,” Saito added with a shrug.
“No, I’m happy specifically because you said it, Saito-kun,” said Himari, her cheeks tinged pink as she smiled at him.
Saito reminded himself that such things shouldn’t be said so carelessly. Guys were simple creatures—it’d be too easy to misinterpret conversations and start wondering if they had any chance.
“You and Akane are seriously alike,” said Himari.
“How so?”
“When I was being bullied, Akane told me, ‘Your hair color is beautiful and is really becoming on you, Ishikura-san,’ and she told the ones insulting me, ‘and you bullies have no taste.’”
“She said that?”
“Mm-hm. Right to their faces, there in the classroom. It was like a declaration of war. She was so cool…” Himari spoke with the awe of someone recalling a great hero.
“She probably just blurted out what she really thought.”
Himari chuckled softly. “Probably. Since she stood up for me, Akane got bullied too—people scribbled on her desk and everything. But every time, she’d track down the culprit and bark at them full force.”
“Poor thing,” murmured Saito.
Himari nodded. “Yeah, Akane had it rough.”
“No, I meant—I actually feel worse for the culprits,” said Saito.
“What?”
“Knowing Akane, she probably made them regret even being born.”
“Um, yeah, maybe…” Himari chuckled nervously. Apparently Saito’s guess was pretty close.
“In the end, everyone was too scared to bully either of us anymore, so it all stopped. But Akane ended up more isolated than before. All because of what she did for me—she saved me… That’s why I really want Akane to be happy.”
Himari glanced at Akane from afar with the fondness of a younger sister, or perhaps an older one. Saito concluded that Akane must be a truly straightforward girl. She felt things too deeply—anger at bullies, anger at anyone who hurt others—and simply couldn’t mask it. She just charged forward with that energy, guided by the firm belief in her heart.
Akane lived up to her name—she was a reckless dragon, engulfed in a vivid red flame.
“Someone has to be by her side. Akane is the type who’s dangerous when left to her own devices,” muttered Saito.
“…Yeah,” said Himari as she stood beside Saito at the hallway window.
Meanwhile, sitting in the classroom alone, Akane furrowed her brows. Saito and Himari were standing awfully close in the hallway. Chatting, laughing, their shoulders brushing—they looked just like a couple.
What are they talking about…? From where she was, Akane couldn’t hear their conversation, and she didn’t want to interrupt Himari. She couldn’t bring herself to go over.
“Are you curious about Ani-kun and Himari?”
“Wha—?!”
Shisei had suddenly questioned Akane from behind, making Akane nearly fall out of her chair.
Clutching her pounding chest, Akane quickly sat back down. “I-I’m not curious! I just thought…this is the first time I’ve seen Himari make that kind of face,” said Akane.
A face full of longing, blushing with shyness, eyes glistening with warmth—the picture of a girl in love. Himari looked cuter talking to Saito than she ever did when talking with Akane. That must have been the look of love.
“This isn’t the first time. Himari always looks at Ani-kun like that,” said Shisei.
“She does?”
Shisei nodded. “She’s been like that since our first year. Didn’t you notice?”
“W-well…” Akane trailed off, a little bitter that Shisei had noticed a side of her bestie she hadn’t.
“Ani-kun and Himari make a good couple.”
“Th-they really don’t! Himari’s such a nice girl—she’s way too good for him.”
“Himari is kind, so she accepts Ani-kun’s arrogant side. They’re a perfect match. Have you ever seen them argue?” asked Shisei.
“Well, no,” Akane reluctantly admitted.
“Are you upset that Ani-kun and Himari make a good match?”
Shisei stared straight at her, as if seeing through her very being.
“N-not at all!” Akane denied.
“But you look kind of grumpy.”
“I do not!” Akane was genuinely happy that Himari and Saito had grown closer. She had done her part in supporting her bestie Himari and making her happy.
So why…do I feel this way? wondered Akane. That same uneasy feeling of frustration and ambiguity that had surfaced when Akane saw Saito being close to Shisei was back. Could Shisei have been right—could this be jealousy?
N-no way! It’s Saito we’re talking about! My nemesis! The person I hate more than anyone else in the world! There’s no way I’d get jealous over someone I don’t even like! Akane shook her head with all her might.
It must just be my imagination, she told herself. Digging any deeper than that was just too frightening for Akane.
Once Saito was no longer in the classroom after school, Himari came bouncing over and hugged Akane.
“Thanks sooo much! I got to talk with Saito-kun a lot again today!”
“Oh, th-that’s wonderful…” Akane congratulated her, though she felt rather crushed by Himari’s ample bosom. While Akane didn’t mind hugging her on her own terms, when Himari initiated a hug, it could feel suffocating.
Himari gushed, eyes sparkling. “Saito-kun said I was his lifesaver! He said he liked my appearance too! Isn’t that super promising? Right? Right?”
“He said he liked your appearance?” She couldn’t imagine those kinds of words coming out of that infuriating, awkward boy’s mouth.
“Yep! He said that my blonde hair really suits me, and that I have a good sense of style!” replied Himari.
Akane was speechless. Saito had never said anything like that to her before. Not that she wanted him to—but still. Akane cared about style too. She paid attention to her hair and to her entire appearance in general. Even at home, she never let herself look sloppy. She thought she had always presented herself impeccably in front of Saito. After all that, he only complimented Himari? Why not her? That familiar uneasy feeling spread inside her chest.
“Do you think this means I’ve got a chance? What do you think, Akane?”
“Uh, well… I don’t really know much about romance, but if it’s a matter of like or dislike, I think he probably likes you more than he dislikes you,” answered Akane.
“Right?! I thought so too! Aahh, I love him! I love Saito-kun so very much!” Himari hugged herself and wriggled in excitement.
“Hey, keep your voice down! People will hear you,” Akane warned.
“Oh, sorry. I got a little carried away,” said Himari, giving an embarrassed laugh and lowering her voice. For someone so wholesome, it was rare for Himari to lose her composure like that.
“You helped me out so much, Akane—I’ve gotta do something to pay you back.”
“No need. I didn’t do all that much.”
“No, really! This is all thanks to you! I’ll go get one of those strawberry tarts from Philia, and we can hang out at your place for a nice long chat!” Philia was Akane’s favorite sweets shop, and their strawberry tarts were out-of-this-world exquisite.
She responded instinctively. “Sounds good! I’ve been wanting to hang out with you too, Himari—oh—” Akane slapped a hand over her mouth. No good—she lived with Saito, after all. Maybe Akane could ask him to take a walk outside while Himari was there, but if Himari saw his belongings, it’d all be over. Inviting Himari to Akane’s parents’ house wasn’t an option either—there was no trace that she lived there. If Himari saw the empty room, she’d definitely suspect something.
Wh-what do I do?! Akane panicked. When her emotions ran high, her usual logic crumbled away. All her scholarly wit became inaccessible under pressure.
Backed into a corner, Akane blurted out the first excuse she could think of. “Um… My place is a bottomless swamp right now, so I can’t possibly have anyone over…”
Himari was stunned. “How do you even live like that?!”
Akane hadn’t thought that far ahead. She desperately racked her brain. “A…barrel…” blurted Akane.
“A barrel?”
“I split a barrel in half and I float on it like a boat…” said Akane in a faint voice.
“Okay, you’re going a little too far now!”
Akane’s head was spinning. “It’s true. When it rains, water collects inside the barrel and I almost sink.”
“You don’t even have a roof?! You should really think about moving!” said Himari.
“I’ve grown attached to it over the years…even if I’m forced out, I won’t ever give up…” Akane muttered. She had obviously completely lost the plot.
Himari looked down sadly. “It breaks my heart to hear that it seems like you really don’t want me to come over. Even Shisei-chan was bragging about how she got to visit your place…”
Akane’s face paled. “Wait, what?! S-so did she tell you about him, too…?”
“Him?” asked Himari.
“That is…um…”
“What Shisei-chan told me was that you moved to a new place, and that she had a really delicious meal there.”
Akane let out a sigh of relief. At least even Shisei, for all her antics, hadn’t spilled the beans about her and Saito being married.
“I’m really sorry. It’s not that I don’t want to invite you. It’s just…the house is still really messy, and the living room is the only place that’s decent. We’ve been redecorating the rest, so it’s a bit embarrassing,” said Akane.
“I’m not being a burden, am I?” asked Himari, looking worriedly at Akane. At this rate, their friendship could end up strained.
“You’re not a burden at all! I’d love to hang out with you! The kitchen and living room really are the only usable rooms right now, but if you’re okay with that…” said Akane.
Himari’s face lit up. “Of course! Let’s go grab the strawberry tart on the way over!”
“Um, I’ll send you my address by phone. Is it okay if I head home first?”
“Sure, no prob,” replied Himari.
“Thanks, that really helps!” It was imperative that Akane get home before Himari, explain the situation to Saito, and conceal everything. If Akane ordered Saito to hole up in his study, he and Himari wouldn’t run into each other.
It’ll be fine. I can make this work, somehow.
Akane clenched her fist and tried to gather her resolve.
“What?! Himari is coming over to our place?!”
When Akane got home and told Saito the news, he looked like he couldn’t believe his ears.
“I couldn’t turn her down… Himari and I haven’t hung out much since the marriage, and I don’t want her to think I’m avoiding her or that I hate her or something…” Akane explained.
“Do you even realize how much of a risk you are about to take on? You could trigger the apocalypse,” said Saito.
“It’s not that big of a deal, right?!”
“To our world, it is,” said Saito. “Himari has a ton of friends. If even a whisper of our marriage slips, the rumor will spread all over the school instantly, like wildfire.” Saito didn’t think Himari would go blabbing—she wasn’t the gossiping type—but people make mistakes. If she accidentally let something slip, there’d be no taking it back.
Akane clutched the hem of her school skirt tightly. “Himari looked so jealous after Shisei-san bragged about coming to our place… I can’t treat Shisei-san specially and not do the same for my bestie…”
Saito let out a sigh. “If this all started with Shise, then I’m responsible too. I should’ve done a better job silencing her.”
Akane gulped. “Y-you’re going to kill her…?”
“I won’t do anything that extreme. I can probably bribe her with one steamed meat bun a day.”
“You think Shisei-san can be bribed with just one…?”
“Yeah, actually, that might be a tough sell.” Shisei’s stomach was bottomless. She might very well demand ten thousand steamed meat buns a day. Saito would go bankrupt just trying to keep up.
“I’ll clean up all your stuff from the living room so she doesn’t suspect we’re married. I’ll even meticulously deodorize the place so there’s no trace of your smell.” Akane steeled her expression.
Saito felt a little hurt. “Do I really stink up the place that much?”
“Ideally, I’d like you to go out while Himari’s over, but we don’t know when she’ll leave… If Himari ends up staying the night, that’d mean you’d have to sleep outside,” said Akane.
“I’m not going to do that. If it comes to that, I’ll stay at Shise’s place,” said Saito.
Akane gave him a reproachful glare. “Shisei-san’s place? Where you’ll be taking baths and sleeping together?”
“If Shise’s parents ask me to, I can’t really refuse them.”
Shisei’s parents were completely powerless against their beloved daughter’s requests. As long as he was relying on their hospitality, Saito would always be at a disadvantage in negotiations with Shisei.
“Then it’s a no-go! Sleeping in the same room with a little girl is a crime!”
“She’s in the same grade as us,” Saito countered.
Akane bristled with frustration, her voice sharp. “Even if she is, small is small! No overnight stays! You’ll just have to hide out in the study upstairs until Himari leaves!”
“Got it. The only snag would be if I have to use the bathroom if she stays long, but…this should work,” said Saito, picking up the empty plastic bottle of a drink he had just finished.
“Wait. What exactly are you planning to do with that?”
“Obviously, it’s in case of emergency…” Saito began to explain, but Akane covered her ears.
“I don’t want to hear it! Just give me a signal when you need to go to the bathroom. I’ll do my best to distract Himari.”
“I’m counting on you. The success of this mission rests entirely on you. If you fail…” said Saito.
“I won’t fail!” Akane’s expression was deadly serious. She seemed genuinely terrified of what Saito might do if things went sideways.
She snatched the plastic bottle from him and hurriedly threw it into the trash. “Himari said she’d be here around seven, so we still have some time. If we start cleaning up now…” Akane began.
But before she could finish her thought, the doorbell rang.
Saito and Akane froze, clinging to the faint hope that maybe, if they didn’t move, the impending doom would pass them by. But the doorbell rang again, cruel and insistent.
“Shouldn’t…someone go answer that?” said Saito.
“Y-you go!” Akane hissed.
“What if it’s Himari? That’d be a disaster!”
“R-right…” Trembling, Akane pressed the front door monitor’s talk button. The screen lit up with Himari’s beaming smile.
“I was too excited, so I got here early! Is that okay?”
“Copy…that,” Akane’s answer came out in a robot-like monotone before she hurriedly ended the call.
Silence fell over the living room. Saito and Akane looked at each other. They were dumbstruck, mouths agape. At that time, the brains of the number one and two ranked students in the grade had completely shut down in the face of this unexpected development.
Moments later, Akane bolted into action in a panicked fury. “H-have to erase all traces of Saito! I have to erase his entire existence!”
“Don’t go that far!” yelled Saito. He began frantically gathering the books he had left on the table. Akane, in her frenzy, ran straight into the wall on her way to the sink. Rebounding off of it, she stumbled back and tried to grab Saito’s cups and rice bowls from the cupboard, only to knock the whole shelf over with a crash-clatter-bang.
Letting Akane continue in this state of total panic was clearly dangerous. At this rate, she might destroy the entire house.
“I’ll handle the cleanup! You just deal with Himari!” Saito shouted.
“Copy that!” With that, Akane dashed toward the front door.
From the entryway, Saito could hear Akane and Himari talking. Meanwhile, Saito was grabbing everything that would seem out of place if this was Akane’s actual parental home—his clothes, his gaming console, his wallet, anything that screamed “Saito.” There was no time to make multiple trips upstairs, so he started tossing things one after another into the living room closet.
Himari’s voice came from the hallway. “What a beautiful house! It’s just been built, right?”
“Y-yeah,” Akane answered.
“Your mom and dad really worked hard, huh?”
“M-my grandparents…helped out with the money…”
Their voices were approaching.
Why did she take Himari in beyond the foyer? Saito was in shock. Had Akane thought he had finished cleaning already? Or had she simply been unable to hold Himari off at the door? To get to the study on the second floor, Saito would have to pass through the hallway—which would mean a head-on collision with Himari.
He could try escaping into the backyard, but if Himari had bolted the front door after letting Himari in, he’d be locked out for good. As he scrambled to think of an escape route, Akane and Himari’s footsteps were growing louder.
The living room door handle began to turn. In desperation, Saito hurled himself into the closet with all the incriminating items. He smashed into all the clutter as he landed, but there was no time to worry about self-preservation. Pulling the closet door shut from inside, he held his breath in the darkness. His only option now was to wait to make his escape when Himari left the living room. Through the narrow gap in the closet door, he could peep into the room.
Himari walked in and placed a white box on the table. “Here you go, the strawberry tarts from Philia! For once, there wasn’t a queue. That means I get to spend even more time with you, Akane! Today’s my lucky day!”
“Maybe it’s because of your consistently good behavior,” said Akane, her smile stiff. Akane’s expression, however, clearly showed to Saito how stuck and worried she was feeling. She busied herself in the kitchen—boiling water, making tea—but all her movements were oddly stiff and awkward. Even someone less perceptive than Himari would sense that something was off.
But when Akane took a bite of the gifted strawberry tart, her expression softened. “It’s just as good as ever!” Akane swooned.
Himari beamed. “Right?”
“The whipped cream is the best,” said Akane, smiling. “It’s rich and sweet but still fluffy, so it doesn’t overpower the strawberries. Plus they use really good strawberries. You can taste the love for the fresh produce,” Akane gushed.
“You’re always so particular about strawberries,” said Himari, eyes sparkling with amusement.
Akane lifted her chin with pride. “Of course. Strawberries are the foundation of all sweets—no, of all cuisine. It wouldn’t be a stretch to say every single one of our cells is made from strawberries!”
“Yup, I totally get it,” said Himari, nodding.
The living room was suddenly filled with an easy, cheerful mood. Saito, hidden in the closet, wanted to object to Akane’s remark. Well, I for one am definitely not made of strawberries.
Himari sipped her tea, gently set the cup on its saucer, and said, “I’ve been thinking…maybe it’s time for the next step.”
“You mean…him?” Akane asked, frowning slightly.
“Yeah. We’ve gotten pretty close, and I don’t think he dislikes me. I was wondering if I should try asking him out on a date,” said Himari shyly.
“W-well… I guess that’s not a bad idea.”
Out of nowhere, the conversation had turned into a full-on love talk. Apparently, neither Himari nor Akane had realized Saito was hiding in the closet. It made Saito feel guilty, like he was eavesdropping on something he absolutely shouldn’t be hearing.
Himari began fidgeting bashfully. “This kind of thing’s totally new to me, and I’m scared to ask him myself. So I was wondering, could you ask Saito-kun for me…if he would be interested in going out on a date with me on his next day off?”
Saito almost gasped out loud from his hiding spot in the closet. He hadn’t seen that coming at all. He’d never imagined Himari actually had a crush on him. Sure, she talked to him a lot, but he figured that was just due to her outgoing nature.
His body began to heat up. Maybe it was due to the confined space, or maybe it was due to the rush of emotions, but it was getting hard for him to breathe.
Akane’s gaze dropped to the floor. “I’m sorry. I don’t think I can be the one to ask him for you,” she said softly.
“No, it’s totally fine! I’m the one who should apologize for asking such a weird favor! I’ll try to muster the courage and do it myself!”
“I’m really sorry…”
“Seriously, it’s okay! You’re fine, Akane. Jeez!” said Himari.
The two of them fell silent, gently holding their teacups. A faint, uncomfortable tension hung in the air.
Just as Saito tried to quiet his breathing in the closet, his ringtone started sounding from his pocket.
Crap! I forgot to set it to silent! He frantically pulled out his phone. On the screen was a text message from Shisei: Apparently, humans blink about seven million times a year.
The information couldn’t have been more irrelevant right now. As Saito hurriedly silenced the phone, a second text message from her came through: I want to study exactly how many times humans blink in a year, using you as my test subject.
Being monitored twenty-four seven for a year would be unbearable, even if it was by Shisei. With no time to reply, Saito shoved the phone back into his pocket.
“Wait, did you hear something? It sounded like it came from the closet,” said Himari, tilting her head.
“Huh? Really? Are you sure?” asked Akane.
“It totally sounded like a phone going off,” said Himari.
“I-it must’ve come from outside!” Akane insisted, now in full panic mode. “Yeah, for sure!” Her face had gone pale—she had clearly just realized that Saito was in the closet.
“I guess…” Himari murmured.
“Yeah, definitely!”
Another silence followed. Though they were close friends, both girls sat quietly, heads down, and the seconds dragged on awkwardly. Finally, Himari lifted her face and looked straight into Akane’s eyes.
“Um… Just to be sure, you’re okay with me asking Saito-kun out, right?”
“Wh-why are you asking me that?”
“Because…ever since first year, I’ve wondered if you had feelings for him,” said Himari.
Akane shot back immediately. “I don’t!”
“If you do, I won’t get in the way. I have a crush on Saito-kun, but I love you too, Akane. I just…I want to make sure this is really okay with you.” Himari’s gaze was steady, as if she was determined to read even the smallest flicker of emotion from Akane’s eyes.
“Of course it’s fine,” said Akane, her eyes darting away evasively.
Himari wanted to make sure she understood things crystal clear. “So you don’t have a crush on Saito-kun, right?”
“I already told you, I hate him!” snapped Akane, her cheeks flushed, shoulders squared in defiance. “I hate that arrogant, lazy, insensitive jerk!”
A sharp pain pierced Saito’s chest. It lasted only for a moment, but Akane’s words cut him like a knife, stabbing his heart deeply and suddenly—enough to make him grit his back teeth instinctively.
What…what was that just now? Why does my chest hurt?
Still hidden in the dim closet, Saito clutched his chest in confusion. He had heard Akane say “I hate you” hundreds—no, thousands—of times before. And he’d said it back to her just as often. The words had lost their edge, dulled to the point of numbness. So then, why did they taste so bitter to Saito now?
Relieved, Himari let out a deep breath. “I’m so glad. I would’ve hated to end up being rivals with you, Akane.”
“Th-there’s no way that would ever happen. Saito is my enemy!”
Himari laughed. “Right? I was just overthinking it! I’m such an idiot!”
“You’re not an idiot…I don’t think,” said Akane, shifting uncomfortably.
With a bright smile, Himari reached out and held Akane’s hand tightly. “I’ll ask him out on a date myself, so will you help me out? I want to know what kind of clothes he likes girls to wear for dates, or where he’d be interested in going!”
Akane nodded stiffly. “Y-yeah…sure.”
The next morning, Saito overslept.
He was rushing down the school hallway, barely on time for the start of class, when Himari came running up to him, her face glowing.
“Morning, Saito-kun! You’re late today.”
“Y-yeah. I had trouble falling asleep last night.”
“I thought you might’ve taken the day off. I’m glad you’re not sick or something.”
It was a perfectly ordinary exchange, the kind of casual conversation they had all the time. And yet, Saito found himself nervous. She was happy he wasn’t sick. He now knew those words of hers weren’t just polite concern. He realized—at long last—that the way Himari looked at him wasn’t the same way she looked at everyone else. Until now, he’d been too dense about romance to notice the warmth behind her gaze. Saito feared that Himari might realize he knew what was going on. Even if it wasn’t intentional, he didn’t want her to think he had been eavesdropping.
“You should probably get to your seat. The bell’s about to ring,” said Saito, trying to enter the classroom—only for Himari to follow him.
“Um, hey!” Himari started. “Could you come to the empty classroom over there during lunch? There’s something I want to talk to you about!”
“Sure, I don’t mind,” said Saito.
She didn’t say what she wanted to talk about specifically, but he wasn’t so oblivious that he needed to be told.
“Yay! Promise? I’ll see you there then, okay?!” With that, Himari turned on her heel, her ponytail bouncing behind her as she dashed to her seat. Saito spotted her whispering excitedly with Akane, who kept glancing toward him.
From that moment on, all through the morning, Saito couldn’t concentrate. He knew it was only proper to show up now that he’d been asked, but that didn’t make it any easier. He had no idea how he was supposed to react in this situation. He glanced over at Himari’s seat and saw her wave at him with an embarrassed little smile—which only made his nerves worse.
Fourth period ended with Saito trapped in a haze of restless thoughts. Skipping lunch, he headed to the empty classroom.
It was quiet, removed from the buzz of the rest of the school. Sunlight streamed through a gap in the curtain, causing dust motes to glitter in the air.
Moments after he entered, the door swung open again. Standing motionless in the doorway was Himari, her face pale and stiff with tension.
“Hi—Hima…” Saito started to speak, but Himari abruptly shut the door in his face from the outside.
Huh…? Didn’t she say she wanted to talk? What the heck was that?
As he stood confused by the window, the door opened again. This time, Himari entered with her trademark bright smile and wave. “S-sorry for the wait, Saito-kun! I didn’t think you’d already be here!”
“Did I get here too early? I don’t mind if you want to eat first—”
“Nope! I didn’t have much of an appetite today anyway, so I figured I’d wait for you here!” said Himari. “What about you? You okay not eating?”
“I’m not really hungry either…”
“Ha ha, guess we match today.” Himari’s voice was cheerful as always, but there was a noticeable tremble to it. Her gaze flitted around, and her fingers were shaking slightly. Her nervousness began to rub off on Saito, who swallowed hard. With one hand behind her, Himari closed the classroom door. As she stepped closer, Saito’s heartbeat picked up. The color of her lipstick—fresher and more vivid than what she had worn that morning—caught his eye, and he had to avert his gaze. Himari stood in front of Saito, trying to catch her breath, even though she hadn’t been running. Her moist and plump lips parted as if to speak, then hesitated and closed again. Saito struggled for air, feeling like his lungs were filled with honey. He was suffocating under the weight of the moment.
“U-um…”
“Uh, well…”
They both began speaking at the same time.
“Ah—s-sorry! You go first, Saito-kun!” said Himari, flustered.
“Uh, no, I didn’t really have anything to say,” replied Saito.
“You were about to say something, though, weren’t you?”
“Just your imagination. You’re the one who wanted to talk in the first place, right, Himari?” Saito deflected.
Himari’s voice quivered. “I—I, um… I just wanted to ask…” She clenched her hands tightly, as if afraid she’d collapse if she didn’t. “Wh-what do you usually do on your days off?” she asked timidly, studying his expression.
“I just read, play games, stuff like that.”
“I-I see… You don’t really go out, then?”
“If Shise wants to go somewhere, then…”
Himari finished his sentence for him. “You take care of her—family duty, right?”
“Yeah…pretty much.” The conversation was incredibly awkward. Saito became acutely aware of how dry his throat felt.
“…Do you ever go out with girls who aren’t your family?” Himari asked, barely audible.
“No. Not really.”
“Th-then…maybe…” she murmured, voice so soft it nearly disappeared. “Would you…maybe like to go on a date with me?”
It was a lighthearted-sounding question, but Himari’s knees were trembling. Her earnest eyes were locked on Saito, filled with resolve. Saito’s heart thudded loudly in his chest.
“A date? Do you like me like that?” asked Saito.
Himari flailed in a panic. “Huh?! Gosh! D-did you just ask me that straight up?”
“Oh, sorry…” Saito realized too late how tactless his question was. He wasn’t used to situations like this.
“I-it’s not like I’m saying I love you or want to start dating right away! I just thought…maybe if we went on a date, you could get to know me better. That’s all,” Himari elaborated. Her cheeks turned bright red as she cast her gaze downward. The popular, easygoing girl who could get along with anyone was completely flustered in front of Saito. Her lips pursed, her shoulders hunched in embarrassment.
Saito felt his own face heating up.
“W-well, maybe this is a bother for you… You probably don’t want to go on a date with me, right?” said Himari.
“It’s not a bother at all… I think most guys would be thrilled to be asked out by you.”
“Well, what about you, Saito-kun?”
“I’m no exception. Of course I’d love to.”
Himari let out a long, relieved breath. “Thank goodness…”
Akane couldn’t stop herself from following Saito and Himari when they left the third-year Class A classroom. She didn’t even know why she did it. She’d been told in advance about Himari’s plan to ask Saito out during lunch. Akane thought maybe she just wanted to see whether it would go well. She wanted her bestie’s love to succeed.
That must be it. There’s no other reason.
Telling herself that, Akane stayed hidden outside the empty classroom. From inside the empty classroom, she could hear their voices. The vibe between them seemed good. Then came the all-important question from Himari.
“Would you…maybe like to go on a date with me?”
To that, Saito’s answer was “Of course, I’d love to.”
Obviously he would. Himari was kind enough to be Akane’s bestie, and she’d been close to Saito since their first year.
Akane thought she should be celebrating them. She wanted to support Himari as a friend. And yet, something murky swelled stronger and stronger inside her chest. It coiled deep within her body, thickened, and wrapped tightly around her heart. Akane couldn’t bear to stay there any longer.
Just as she turned to leave, Akane found Shisei standing in her path.
“Are you okay with this?” asked Shisei.
Akane averted her gaze. “What are you talking about?”
“You know what I mean. About Saito and Himari. Aren’t you going to stop them?”
“Why should I stop them?”
Shisei couldn’t believe her ears. “You still don’t get it?”
“I repeat, what are you…”
Shisei stared at her with clear, unwavering eyes. “Should I just say everything you’re feeling and thinking out loud?”
“Don’t say anything to Himari!” blurted Akane. “I want her to be happy! No matter what I feel—it doesn’t matter! I don’t want Himari to be hurt!” She clenched her teeth tightly. If Akane let this uneasy feeling growing inside her come to light, she feared her cherished friendship with Himari, her hatred for Saito, all of it might come crashing down.
“No, I don’t mean to tell Himari,” said Shisei. “I’m talking about you, Akane…the truth about you. Do you want to hear?” Shisei’s small frame suddenly looked far bigger to Akane.
Akane didn’t know what to say. She had become scared—of Shisei, of Saito and Himari, and of herself.
And so, she turned and fled from all of them.
As soon as dinner ended, Akane stood up to leave the living room.
Lately, Akane and Saito had been spending more time together—playing games, watching movies, or simply doing different things in the same space. It had started to feel like a family, however faintly. But tonight, Akane was acting distant.
Saito called out to her. “You’re not going to study here?”
Akane stopped walking but didn’t turn around. “I can concentrate better in the study room,” she responded.
“I see…”
“Is there a problem?” asked Akane curtly.
“No…no problem.” Scratching his head, he added, “I just wanted to talk a bit. Actually…Himari asked me out on a date.”
“I know,” said Akane coldly. “Good for you. She’s sweet, cute, has a better figure than me, and a much nicer personality. You’re not good enough for her.”
“Yeah, I suppose you’re right.” Himari was popular with both boys and girls—she could have anyone she wanted.
Akane crossed her arms in clear irritation. “So? What exactly is the point of this conversation? I’m busy prepping for tomorrow’s classes.”
The atmosphere bristled like it had during the old wartime days between them. But something felt different this time.
“Is it okay with you if I go on the date with her?”
“Why are you asking me? If it’s about grocery shopping, I’ll handle it alone.”
“No…that’s not it. I mean…we are married, after all,” explained Saito.
“Our marriage wasn’t for love! We were forced into it! We only joined hands to pursue our own goals! Who you date or fall for has nothing to do with me!” Akane shouted it all at once, and by the end, she was breathing hard, her fists clenched, eyes blazing at him with resentment.
Saito let out a quiet sigh. “Got it. I wanted to check, just in case,” he said.
“Um…” Akane started to say something but thought better of it.
Trying to dispel the oppressive mood, Saito forced a lighter tone into his voice. “I’ve never been on a date before, so…where do you think I should take her? What kind of place would Himari enjoy?”
“How would I know? Don’t ask me,” muttered Akane, forcing a twisted smile.
“…Sorry.”
Neither of them moved. The silence between them was bitter and suffocating, pressing down on Saito’s shoulders with relentless weight.
During lunch, Saito sat on a bench in the school courtyard reading a book, but not a single word was sinking in. A scorching sense of impatience and an indescribable feeling of unease swirled in his chest.
“You haven’t turned the page in a while,” said Shisei, who was sitting next to him.
Saito gave up the ruse and closed his book. “I’ve been thinking…”
“It’s about the date with Himari, isn’t it?”
“I don’t know how you know that, but yeah.”
“When it comes to you, Ani-kun, I, Shise, know everything,” she boasted, puffing out her chest proudly.
“Honestly, I’m honored that Himari asked me out. I don’t dislike her. We get along, and she’s a good person. I’m sure the date with her will be fun.”
“Then there’s nothing to worry about,” assured Shisei. “Just go on the date and have sex.”
“Wha—?!” Saito flinched, flustered.
“Himari wants that too, you know. Everyone wins,” she added without a single hint of embarrassment.
“Right… Akane did tell me the other day in no uncertain terms that she hated me.”
Shisei’s shoulders twitched at his words. “Does that bother you, Ani-kun?”
“It’s not that it bothers me…”
“If Akane hadn’t said all that, would you still be unsure about what to do?”
Saito didn’t have an answer for her. The truth was, even Saito didn’t understand why he was this conflicted. The Saito from just a short time ago would have accepted Himari’s invitation without hesitation. Spending time with Himari had always been comfortable—unlike Akane, Himari made every effort to match Saito’s pace. She wasn’t fond of difficult books, and yet she pushed herself to read them just to have something to talk about together. Himari shared her feelings wholeheartedly—there was no way Saito would regret dating someone like her.
And yet, Akane’s sorrowful expression kept surfacing in Saito’s mind.
“Ani-kun.”
“Ouch!”
Shisei had poked Saito’s throat right in the Adam’s apple.
“What the hell, Shise! That’s a vital spot!”
“I thought it might wake you up.”
“Well, it did, but I felt like I was going to choke.” Saito rubbed his neck.
“Words aren’t always the truth. Sometimes they’re a mask serving to protect the inner self,” said Shisei.
“What do you mean?”
“Akane is hard to read. You might think you understand her, but there’s a chance you’ve misunderstood everything. If you want this marriage to be a happy one, you should confirm how she really feels.”
Shisei then rested her head on Saito’s lap and lay down on the bench. She lightly pinched his school uniform like it was a blanket and began to snore softly in sleep.
“You know, Shise, you’re the one who is most cryptic of all,” Saito muttered, gently stroking her hair.
One weekend morning, a shrill alarm rang through the bedroom.
Saito sluggishly reached out to turn it off, then sat up in bed, his head still foggy from another night of restless sleep. There was no sign of Akane. She must have gotten up from the bed long ago—there wasn’t even a trace of lingering warmth left on her side of the bed. Since dinner yesterday, the two of them had hardly exchanged any words.
The drowsiness still clung to him, but today was an important day. He had to follow through, just as he had planned. Saito slapped both of his cheeks to snap himself awake, then got up from bed.
He entered his study and began choosing an outfit from the closet: a knit top, a neat jacket, and slim pants. Saito didn’t care much for fashion, but his wardrobe happened to be well-stocked with stylish date-appropriate brand-name clothes, courtesy of his grandfather Tenryu. He’d never expected them to actually come in handy.
Once dressed, Saito headed downstairs and washed his face in the bathroom. Using the hair wax he’d bought the day before, he gave the ends of his hair a bit of a tousle.
Passing by in the hallway, Akane caught sight of him in the mirror. “I’ve never seen you style your hair before,” she said, her tone laced with reproach.
“Is that a problem?”
“Not really. I just thought you’re oddly fired up today,” said Akane.
“Can’t afford to make my date uncomfortable,” he answered plainly, rinsing the wax off his fingers.
“…You never do your hair when you’re with me.”
“Do you want me to?”
“Of course not! It doesn’t suit you at all! You’re just creepily full of yourself when you try to act cool!” This morning, Akane’s thorns were sharper than usual—at least 50 percent more so.
Saito was aching to ask her why she was in such a foul mood. He wondered if doing so would make her angrier, as he assumed it would.
After finishing his preparations, Saito slipped on his leather dress shoes at the front door.
Akane wasn’t studying as usual. Instead, she stood there, clearly restless. “You’re really…going?” she asked hesitantly.
“If you want me to stay, I’ll stay,” Saito offered.
At that, Akane folded her arms and turned her face away. “I’m not stopping you! We’re just in a marriage of convenience! If you want to go on a date with Himari or whoever, go right ahead!” Her voice was dripping with open hostility.
“I hate that arrogant, lazy, insensitive jerk! I hate him!”
The words he’d overheard from the closet echoed in his ears, stabbing into his heart like a knife once again. To Akane, Saito really was just someone to despise. Since they had reluctantly started this marriage, they had fought, compromised, and gotten to know each other. Saito had hoped, maybe, just maybe, things were changing. But nothing had. The book he longed to open remained sealed tight.
That was fine by Saito. As long as he got his grandfather’s company, a sham marriage should be enough. So…why did his heart hurt so much?
“Well… I’m off. I’ll be late, so eat dinner without me,” said Saito, opening the heavy front door to leave.
Just then, something slammed into Saito’s back.
“I don’t know why…but I don’t want you to go!”
It took Saito a few seconds to realize Akane was clinging to him. The softness of her touch, the sweet scent of her hair—it all slowly spread warmth across his back.
She was trembling. Her fierce and clumsy soul was shaking. Even without seeing her face, he could tell she was sobbing.
Akane cried out, pouring her heart into her words. “I don’t even know why I feel this way, but I don’t like it! The thought of you being out shopping with another girl breaks my heart! Even if it’s just for show, you’re still my husband!”
Saito could feel her pain through her touch. The truth was, Saito never really understood his own feelings. Forced into marriage without knowing what love even was—he was supposed to hate Akane. And yet, her words still made him hesitate. If she didn’t matter to him, he shouldn’t have felt anything at all. So how could she shake his heart like this?
Saito let out a small breath and turned around.
“I was hoping to hear you say that.”
“Wha…?” Akane looked up at him, eyes brimming with tears, utterly bewildered.
Saito continued. “I already cancelled the date with Himari a long time ago. It turns out you didn’t actually hate me, then, did you?” he asked.
Akane’s face flushed red like a strawberry. “Whaaat?!”
Akane began lightly pounding on Saito’s chest—out of anger, out of embarrassment, or perhaps a mix of both. “You conned me! You tricked me! I do hate you! Hate you, hate you, I totally hate you!”
But there was no force behind her punches. No venom in her words. Akane’s true feelings were hard to read, but at this moment, even Saito could tell what they were. He chuckled as he caught her fists.
“Ha, even though you don’t actually hate me?”
“Ugh.” Akane clenched her fists and glared up at him. “If you cancelled the date, then why are you dressed up like that?”
“Weren’t we originally planning to go shopping together today?”
“Not exactly…I mean…it’s just groceries…” Akane mumbled.
“Well, how about taking a detour? It’s our day off, after all.”
“But…” Akane was hesitant.
Saito took her hand gently. “Let’s go.”
“Um…” Akane looked surprised but didn’t pull away. The usual fire in her demeanor had softened as she let Saito take the lead.
“W-wait, Saito—I’m not dressed for this at all!”
“You look great,” said Saito.
“Ugh! Th-then you’re buying me whatever I want today, as an apology!”
“Sure. Maybe I’ll get you a ring?” teased Saito. He thought she looked so cute when she was flustered.
Her cheeks bright red, Akane panicked. “R-ring?! Isn’t that a bit premature?!”
The soft warmth of her palm made Saito’s heartbeat quicken. He didn’t know if this could be called a date, but Saito felt certain that today would be a wonderful day off.
Epilogue
Epilogue
IN CLASS 3-A, HIMARI CAME DASHING OVER TO Saito’s desk.
“Good morning, Saito-kun! Hey, hey, look at this! I found a really weird mushroom on my way to school! You must know what it’s called, right?” Her voice was bright and bouncy as she held out her overly decorated smartphone for him to see. Himari was her usual cheerful self. Very normal for her—but something about the situation felt off to Saito. He leaned in, lowering his voice so the other classmates wouldn’t hear.
“I might just be imagining things, but…you asked me out on a date, didn’t you?” said Saito.
“Yup!” answered Himari.
“And if I remember correctly… I turned you down, didn’t I?”
“Yup!” Himari nodded energetically.
“So why are you acting as if nothing has happened?”
When he turned her down, Saito had braced himself for an awkward relationship with her moving forward. He’d figured Himari would never talk to him again. But her attitude hadn’t changed one bit. Even Saito, who had little experience with romance, knew this wasn’t normal.
Himari rested her chin on his desk and smiled without a care. “Oh, that doesn’t matter. Just because you turned me down doesn’t mean my feelings for you changed. If you say no, I’ll just ask again!” she said with a grin.
“…You’re incredible,” he said sincerely.
“Huh? Was that a compliment? Yay!” She raised both hands in celebration.
She really is amazing. Saito couldn’t help but be impressed by Himari’s courage to boldly pursue relationships with others, not to mention her resilience in the face of rejection.
“You know, I did the same thing when I wanted to be friends with Akane. Even though she kept brushing me off, I kept at it until we became besties.” Himari leaned in close, locking eyes with Saito. “So I won’t give up on you, either. I’ll definitely make you fall for me some day.”
“Oh…uh…” Her generous sharing of these bold and honest feelings made the back of Saito’s neck grow warm. Being liked by someone as charming as Himari—it wasn’t unpleasant at all. If only Akane could be this straightforward…
Saito scratched his cheek, brushing the thought aside. “Hey, keep it down. If the rest of the class hears, it’ll be a pain.”
“Why? I don’t mind even if everyone knows! I mean, you already know how I feel,” said Himari.
“I mean, I’m the one who’ll have trouble.”
“Ohh, right. You might get stabbed or something, huh,” quipped Himari.
“I-I won’t get stabbed…right? Probably?” Saito couldn’t be sure.
“I get confessions all the time, you know. I’ve turned them all down because I only have eyes for you, Saito-kun, but…those boys might have a lot of resentment.”
“Stop trying to scare me,” said Saito.
Himari laughed playfully. “Ha ha, you got me!”
Just then, Shisei strolled over to Saito’s desk. “I won’t give Ani-kun to anyone except for someone who meets Shise’s standards.”
“Whose perspective are you even speaking from?” asked Saito, exasperated.
Shisei tilted her head. “Father’s, maybe?”
“Aren’t you supposed to be my ‘little sister’?”
“I’m your cousin, but also both sister and father. I, Shise, exist within all beings,” she declared.
“So you’re a spirit or something?” said Saito wryly. Somehow, that assumption didn’t seem all that far-fetched.
“Do I meet your standards, Shisei-chan?” asked Himari with a serious face.
“That depends on your efforts. For starters, I’d like you to give me about a hundred thousand melonpan as a token of sincerity,” said Shisei.
“A h-hundred thousand?! Okay, I’ll do my best!”
Saito tried to put an end to Shisei’s madness. “Stop extorting people.”
“It’s fine! I’ll do anything for Saito-kun!” Himari declared with an unshakable smile.
From the corner of the classroom, Akane was watching the group. She was relieved to see that things weren’t awkward between Saito and Himari.
However, seeing these two being so close still made her restless. Perhaps asking Saito out once had made Himari a little bolder. Now she was clasping Saito’s hands in both of hers, enthusiastically chatting away. Saito must have been happy, too, being loved by Himari—someone Akane trusted more than anyone. Someday, Himari would probably win him over. That was how it should be. That was what she should be rooting for.
“I won’t lose.”
The words slipped out before Akane realized it. She quickly covered her mouth.
“What am I even saying?”
A burning heat stirred deep within her body. Something long dormant had awakened. And though this girl didn’t yet know what it was, its name would one day become clear.
Bonus Story: I Ended Up Being Kind to the Girl I Hate Most in Class
Bonus Story:
I Ended Up Being Kind to the Girl I Hate Most in Class
TONIGHT, HIS WIFE SEEMED DIFFERENT THAN usual.
Saito was reading a book in bed when his wife Akane, fresh out of the bath, entered the bedroom. Her cheeks were flushed a soft pink, and she knelt beside him on the mattress, which creaked under her weight.
“Sorry to keep you waiting. I’ve been dying to sleep with you tonight, Saito,” she said.
“Me too, yeah, I’m dying to sleep with you too, Akane—wait, what the hell are you saying?!” Saito exclaimed. He couldn’t believe his ears—he thought she just said she’d been looking forward to sharing a bed with him.
Akane smiled. “What? I’m just being honest. When I’m snuggled up in bed with you, Saito, I’m the happiest I’ve ever been.”
“Are you okay?! Did you eat something weird?!”
“Nope, I didn’t eat anything weird. Oh…except, maybe I ate up all of your affection, honey,” answered Akane with a wink as she shyly covered her face with both hands.
“‘Your affection’?! ‘Honey’?! Has there been a serious error in your language processing function?! Reboot! RE-BOOT!”
Saito patted Akane’s head like he was an old man hitting a busted TV. Akane put her hands to her head, then looked up at him with upturned eyes. “Oh, honey… When you pat my head like that, it turns me on…”
“PEMDAS! Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally!” said Saito, beginning his chant. “FOIL! First, Outer, Inner, Last! SOHCAHTOA! Sine, Opposite, Hypotenuse, Cosine, Adjacent, Hypotenuse, Tangent, Opposite, Adjacent!”
A critical error had occurred in Saito’s information-processing function.
“Shut up and give me your arm,” coaxed Akane sweetly.
“…Are you going to brand me or something? That’d be so you, Akane.”
“What are you talking about? You always give me your arm to sleep on, right, honey?” said Akane, snuggling up to him.
“I absolutely do not do that! Who do you think I am? More importantly, who are you? Who took over the real Akane?”
“I am Akane. Your wife! Your! Wife!”
Saito was in utter disbelief to hear those words coming from Akane’s mouth. He seriously began to wonder who the girl in front of him really was. He scanned her head in search of possible extraterrestrial antennae, but he found no such things.
Akane closed her eyes contentedly and shifted slightly. “Hun…if you keep petting me like that, I’ll start to get…frisky…” she moaned.
“F-frisky…?”
“I get it now. You were making such a fuss tonight because you didn’t want to go to sleep right away. You should’ve just told me,” said Akane, beginning to unbutton her pajamas.
Akane’s glowing sacred cleavage appeared before Saito, as if to suck his whole soul in, and he hastily grabbed her hands to stop her. “Wait! Let’s not rush into anything!”
Akane looked up at him, puzzled. “I’m not rushing. Since we’re married, it’s a matter of course that we do some baby-making tonight, right?”
“It’s not a matter of course for us!” said Saito firmly.
“…I’m sorry. I got ahead of myself,” said Akane, pulling her hands away from the buttons.
Saito let out a sigh of relief. “Thanks…”
“You wanted to undress me yourself, right, Saito?”
“I did not!” Saito shouted, but his words fell on deaf ears.
Akane lay down on the bed in a lascivious pose. Her flushed face held a shy smile as she reached both arms out toward Saito invitingly.
“Please…be gentle with me…” Akane whispered sweetly.
“This is wrong…this has to be a dream…”
Saito let himself be pulled toward her, now leaning over her body.
Morning light streamed into the bedroom while birds chirped outside.
I knew it, it was a dream!
Saito had woken up and was now sitting in bed with his head in his hands. Of all people, why did he have that kind of wet dream about the girl he hated most in class?
Do I actually want to do something like that with Akane? Was that a dream showing hidden desires? Did I just sexually objectify her in my imagination? A wave of mysterious guilt and embarrassment burned through his whole body.
“Hun… Saito… Good morning…” Next to him, Akane woke up. Still hazy from sleep, she smiled innocently at Saito—adorably, even.
So adorable. That just made Saito feel even guiltier, and he couldn’t bear it.
With a face twitching like a rusty tin robot, Saito raised a stiff hand. “G-good morning, Akane-san. The weather’s great today, huh?”
“‘Akane-san’?! What’s with you all of a sudden?!” Akane looked at him wide-eyed.
Saito gently lifted the blanket and covered her with it. “It’s nothing, ma’am. I’ll make us breakfast, so you should relax in bed a bit longer. I shall take care of the trash and washing the dishes too.”
“You’ve been speaking very politely. Why are you suddenly being so nice? Did you eat something weird?” Akane was clearly suspicious.
“Nope, I didn’t eat anything weird. You just stay here, don’t worry.”
Saito rushed out of the bedroom. He couldn’t look Akane in the eye; even being in the same space was unbearable.
Akane immediately chased after him. “You’re being shady! You’re planning to poison my breakfast, aren’t you?”
“I’m not you, Akane! Poisoning isn’t really my style!”
“I’ve never put poison in anything—yet!” exclaimed Akane.
“Yet? So you’re planning to in the future?!”
Still arguing, the two raced into the living room. They glared at each other from across the table.
“There’s no doubt something’s wrong—you have something to hide. You’ve got such a guilty-looking face!”
“N-no, I don’t feel guilty at all!”
She’s sharp, thought Saito, secretly sweating.
Akane suddenly covered her mouth with her hand and gasped.“Don’t tell me you robbed a bank while I was asleep?” questioned Akane.
“If you’re about to cook breakfast like a normal person assuming that’s true, that’s pretty savage!”
“I-I have to report you… I don’t have any proof, but…”
“Without proof, it’s a false report!” said Saito. “Don’t waste the police’s time!”
Akane dashed toward the phone, but Saito jumped in her way. She folded her arms, thinking hard.
“For Saito to be this flustered…it must be something really serious. Something that would make Saito feel guilty, something that would make me mad… I got it!”
Saito swallowed nervously. “Wh-what is it…”
If she ever found out that he had a dream about having a night of marital intimacy with Akane, it’d be the end. Sure, they were technically married—but that wasn’t the point. If she knew he thought of her that way, even subconsciously, she’d be furious. She might start avoiding him—or worse, realize she had the upper hand and start using it to her advantage. Either way, it’d be a disaster.
“Your crime is…this! You ate all my strawberry pudding, didn’t you?!”
Akane flung open the fridge door with a flourish. The strawberry pudding sat untouched. It rested elegantly on the fridge shelf, whipped cream and strawberries adorning its pink base.
Akane was stunned. “This…isn’t it? What kind of mortal sin could be greater than stealing my strawberry pudding?”
“Uh…plenty of things…”
“I didn’t buy strawberry shortcake. I already ate the strawberry cream puffs last night. I just can’t think of anything else…” said Akane.
“Is your brain just one big strawberry field or something?” Saito was secretly relieved to learn Akane was surprisingly bad at guessing.
Akane, still fuming, grabbed ahold of him. “This is driving me crazy! What did you do? What are you plotting? Spit it out already!”
“W-wait—”
Akane lunged at Saito and the two began to wrestle. Trying to calm her down, Saito grabbed both her wrists and pinned her against the table to stop her from flailing. They were both panting by the time he got her under control. Akane’s cheeks were flushed, her chest rising and falling with each breath.
“I-it’s still…morning…and we’re already being…physical…” Akane’s moist lips trembled as she spoke in a shaky voice.
“…!” The position—the expression—it was exactly like the dream Saito had. The moment flashed back into Saito’s mind. His blood boiled red, and his guilt hit its peak.
“I—I am so terribly sorry!” Saito shouted. He slammed his hands on the table and bowed his head with all his strength.
“Huh? What? Why are you apologizing?! I don’t get it, but… I won! I beat Saito!”
Akane, confused but delighted, patted Saito’s head over and over in celebration.
Bonus Story: Grandchildren Video Viewing Party
Bonus Story:
Grandchildren Video Viewing Party
IN THE DEPTHS OF THE ABYSS, SHADOWS writhed.
“Hee hee hee… I suppose it’s time to begin…”
Houjou Tenryu. Head of the Houjou Group, the puppet masters pulling the strings of Japan’s financial world—a cold-blooded man who eliminated his enemies without mercy.
“I’ve been waiting for this moment… I’m truly looking forward to it.”
Sakuramori Chiyo. Proprietress of a high-class Japanese restaurant frequented by the political elite—a steel-blooded empress who could make even the most powerful men tremble with a single glance.
The two of them sat shoulder to shoulder, visibly delighted, in a secret room where even their closest subordinates were forbidden to enter and see what was about to happen.
“Here we go!” announced Tenryu. “Our grandchildren video viewing party!”
Tenryu pressed the play button on the remote. A big screen lit up with footage from their grandchildren’s new life.
Akane was clinging to Saito, crying. “…But I don’t like it! The thought of you being out shopping with another girl breaks my heart!”
Chiyo let a single tear roll down her cheek. “Akane… Well said! That’s the spirit! You truly are my granddaughter!”
Tenryu sighed. “Back when you were her age, you could never have said anything like that. If you had, things would’ve gone much more smoothly between us.”
Chiyo cleared her throat in embarrassment. “That was just…the folly of youth, on my part,” she said apologetically.
“Oh, here comes another great scene,” said Tenryu, pointing at the screen.
“Maybe I’ll get you a ring?”
“R-ring?! Isn’t that a bit premature?!”
As they watched the sweet, bashful exchange between Saito and Akane, Chiyo clenched her fist and yelled, “It’s not too soon, Akane! Just have him buy it already! It’ll be something you treasure for the rest of your life!”
“Should we stake out the jewelry stores they might visit and slip in a custom ring in advance?” suggested Tenryu.
“No, honey, that won’t do. It has to be something Saito-san chooses and gives her himself. That’s what makes it meaningful.”
As Tenryu and Chiyo deliberated, the door to the room suddenly burst open.
“I heard your entire little scheme.”
“You!”
“It’s you…”
Standing tall in the doorway, arms crossed and wearing a smug expression, was Shisei, another one of Tenryu’s grandchildren.
“Security let Shisei through again?” lamented Tenryu.
“There’s no helping it. Shisei-san is just way too cute,” said Chiyo.
Tenryu and Chiyo both looked resigned.
“Watching the secret footage of Ani-kun and Akane’s private moments like this? If they found out, who knows what would happen. Don’t even try to bribe Shise to keep quiet,” she solemnly declared.
“We have sweets. Want to watch with us, Shisei?” Tenryu proposed.
“Very much so.” Shisei was instantly bought off, nestling herself between Tenryu and Chiyo and happily munching on rice crackers.
Afterword
Afterword
EACH OF US CONTAINS A VAST UNIVERSE within ourselves. It’s as expansive as the universe outside, and no matter how many years pass on this planet, we seem never to be able to fully explore it.
What is it that I truly hate? What is it that I truly love? What is it that I truly crave? Even when we think we understand ourselves, we are often mistaken, due to the vastness of our universe. But when we truly come to know ourselves—and fulfill our deepest desires—that’s when we can begin to approach real happiness.
If Volume 1 was the story of Saito and Akane beginning to learn about each other, then perhaps Volume 2 could be called the story of Saito and Akane beginning to learn about their own selves.
Himari’s wishes, Shisei’s wishes, Tenryu’s wishes…I would be so happy if you continued to follow the story, imagining the different hopes and intentions each character carries within their own universe.
In bringing this book to you, I’ve received the help of many wonderful people. To my editors, K-sama and N-sama—thank you for your meticulous support in so many areas, from promotional efforts to collaborations, many of which even I, as the author, couldn’t keep up with.
To everyone at the MF Bunko J editorial department and all of my colleagues in the publishing industry—thank you for backing this work with your full strength.
To the Angel Neko Oka YouTube channel that serializes the video adaptation—thank you as well.
To the illustrator, Narumi Nanami-sensei—when I first saw the rich, atmospheric illustrations, just like scenes from a movie, I was truly moved. Your characters truly feel alive, imbued with spirit and soul.
To everyone reading this book—thank you.
Volume 1 sold out at an unusually fast pace, and I sincerely apologize for any inconvenience that caused. To those who shared your thoughts and recommended the story to others: your voices helped it reach far and wide.
Thanks to your enthusiastic support, the book saw four reprintings within its first month of release, and a manga adaptation is now underway. The manga will be handled by Mosskonbu-sensei, who also brought the characters to life in the YouTube videos. Since the novel serves as the foundation, the manga will delve even deeper into the story than the anime version. I hope you’ll enjoy both formats together.
From here on, Saito and Akane’s married life will be filled with new challenges. How will the two of them grow closer, take each other’s hand, and overcome what lies ahead together?
It would mean the world to me if you continued to watch over their future.
With the coming of spring,
March 12, 2021
Amano Seiju
About the Creators
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Seiju Amano
A writer/scenario writer based in the Kanto region. Born on July 20.
Author of 10-year-old Supreme Mage (Hero Library) and Do You Like Being Romanced by Cute Girls? (GA Library), among others.
Creates stories that bring happiness to those who read them.
FROM THE ILLUSTRATOR
Nanami Narumi
I always eat white rice with something on top—first it was egg, then natto, and now it’s chili oil with toppings. I wonder what I should put on it next…?
FROM THE ORIGINAL CHARACTER CONCEPT/MANGA ARTIST
Mosskonbu
Nice to meet you. Things I like: moss. Things I dislike: centipedes.