The warm orange light in the entryway gradually flickered on, and the echo of the iron door closing rang in their ears.
Haru, having returned home, gently shut the door behind him. Looking ahead, he saw Mutsumi, who, as if it were second nature, took a pair of cucumber slippers from the shoe cabinet, slipped them on, and then unhurriedly pressed the button for the heater.
The hum of the heater starting up blended with the sudden glow of warm light that filled the house, and the cold and empty atmosphere of the residence transformed, slowly taking on the warmth that belonged to a home.
"At last, we're home. The weather's really getting colder lately."
Haru let out a long breath as the tension in his exhausted body loosened. With his eyes closed, the woman beside him, the ever-composed ice beauty, glanced at him with a flicker of surprise in her gaze. She turned her head toward the living room in thought, then slowly looked back at him.
After a brief pause, she asked quietly,
"Can I just walk straight in now?"
"If you want me to carry you inside, that works too."
A teasing smile tugged at Haru's lips as he spoke, his tone playful.
He half expected Yahata Umiri to blush like a shy girl, but instead, her dark green eyes narrowed with interest. She raised her chin slightly, adding a touch of cold allure to her expression.
"I see. Then I'll trouble you to carry me inside."
Her cool words fell softly, and without hesitation Umiri stretched out her arms toward him.
The icy beauty's impassive face clashed so sharply with the childlike gesture of asking to be held that the contrast struck Haru like a blow. The move was disarmingly sincere, too effective, and he actually found himself stepping back.
Where did my brother pick up a move like this? I should send Taki to study it too.
"You're serious?"
"Why not? I could carry you in instead."
Umiri tilted her head slightly as she spoke, her calm voice carrying no hint of a joke. It was as if, the moment Haru dared to agree, she would act on her words without hesitation.
The thought alone made the corner of Haru's mouth twitch uncontrollably.
No way. No way that could happen.
"Sorry, I was just kidding."
"Hmm? I wasn't kidding."
Her smile carried a teasing edge as she looked at him, her eyes playful.
Their back-and-forth flowed so naturally that they didn't even need words anymore. A glance alone was enough to read the other's intent. Clearly, Umiri had no plans to hide her thoughts, and Haru could only draw in a heavy breath.
Go on, be smug while you can. Once you're inside my house, there'll be no escape.
Watching from the entryway steps, Mutsumi paused for a moment. The interaction between Haru and Umiri didn't feel quite like that of a typical couple. Their politeness toward each other was striking, yet their chemistry was undeniable.
After a moment's hesitation, Mutsumi simply stood quietly to the side.
Umiri had moved in with surprising speed. The moment she heard from Haru that she could move in, she packed two changes of clothes, picked up her bass, and showed up at his house that very night.
She hadn't brought much with her, but fortunately Haru had prepared ahead.
He had long foreseen that this mansion would eventually be filled with "guests," so he had made sure the living necessities were stocked for housemates, ready for a brother to move in at any time.
"…"
What surprised Haru, however, was that after putting on her slippers, Umiri seemed a little reserved. In a way, this was her first time staying at someone else's house but more than that, at her boyfriend's home. No matter how straightforward her personality, some hesitation was natural.
She didn't say anything, but Haru quickly noticed the small differences in her mannerisms.
"Just treat this place like your own home, Umiri. Think of it as getting a taste of newlywed life in advance."
"The room I prepared for you is the second on the right upstairs. If you need anything, just tell me and I'll get it for you. For now, you and Mutsumi should take a break. Maybe a bath to ease the fatigue."
Although his words might have sounded a little tacky, to Umiri, they had a surprising effect.
"Newlywed life?"
The words slipped from her lips, and the slightest blush spread across her normally calm, strikingly beautiful face.
She glanced toward Mutsumi beside her, only to find that the "cucumber" was also blushing, head bowed.
She had never imagined herself connected with the word "marriage," and yet, hearing such innocent words made the reality of her romance hit her all at once. Keeping her usual composure was suddenly difficult.
"I see. Then I'll go take a bath first."
Umiri felt the heat in her cheeks rising. She thought she should wash her face and calm down before Haru noticed her flustered state. Otherwise, it would be far too embarrassing.
Setting her bass aside, she quickly disappeared into the bathroom. At the same time, Mutsumi, still expressionless but with a faint blush, lifted her gaze.
"I'll make tea."
The doll-like girl tossed out those words and then, wearing her cucumber slippers, pattered off into the kitchen. In the blink of an eye, the spacious entryway was left with only Haru.
His gaze lingered in the direction the two had gone, and a strange expression crept onto his face.
What is this, the feeling that I'm the only one left out.
"I didn't expect this… Umiri actually fell for that kind of line?"
Normally, she acted without the slightest hesitation in romantic gestures, often the one to take the initiative with kisses, always composed like the perfect ice beauty. Yet the word "marriage" had struck her with surprising force.
Haru raised his eyebrows in surprise, a hint of delight sparking in his chest.
Seeing Umiri in this shy state was rare, almost impossible on an ordinary day. Her reaction was more than welcome.
Wait, shouldn't I press the advantage now?
What if I barged into the bathroom while she's bathing? Though she might just snap and retaliate… If Umiri truly lost her composure, she would become a force of nature, tossing aside all restraint.
"…"
Lost in thought, Haru slumped onto the sofa in the living room. Something about it all felt wrong.
He used to throw everything into work, with no relationships to speak of, weak in matters of the heart. A little slow growth was understandable then. But now, after everything he and Umiri had already shared, why was he hesitating over something like this?
Was all that effort for nothing?
Now was the time to strike with full force!
Buzz!
Just as Haru considered storming the bathroom to see Umiri's flustered yet angry face, his phone buzzed on the table. Picking it up, he saw a Line message from Anon.
[Super High School Level Guitarist ANO: Haru, you're so sneaky! At today's Ave Mujica concert you hid so many tricks, and you didn't tell me a thing!]
[Super High School Level Guitarist ANO: Deliberate_sucker_punch.JPG]
Sneaky?
Haru blinked, puzzled. He had already explained everything after the live show. Why was Anon popping up now, acting like she was ready to argue her case?
What else could he possibly be hiding, the Unseen Hand of Sloth?
[Future Fertilizer: Eh, Anon, don't go around making false accusations.]
[Super High School Level Guitarist ANO: Hah?! I'm only telling the truth! You played such an amazing guitar solo at Ave Mujica's live, and I had no idea you could do that. I thought you were only a little better than me!]
[Super High School Level Guitarist ANO: I don't care anymore! It's been ages since you last taught me guitar. MyGO has an important live coming up, so you have to make time to teach me that trick!]
[Super High School Level Guitarist ANO: I already called Kita-chan and Bocchi too. Better to squeeze in as much practice as we can before the live!]
Haru arched an eyebrow. He didn't have much work beyond drawing lately, so he wasn't exactly busy. But Anon, wanting him to come teach guitar now, felt… suspicious.
Since when was she this eager to learn?
"Something feels off. Could it be..."
Recalling Anon's usual personality, Haru immediately understood. Her excuse of "guitar practice" was flimsy at best. The real motive was obvious.
It wasn't about a date either. Only "guitar practice" could justify meeting indoors. A little thought was enough to lay the map bare in front of him.
"This doesn't sound like something Anon could plan herself. Maybe she has an accomplice?"
Then he remembered her mention of Bocchi and Kita. The three were close friends. If Haru's guess was right, it was one of them or maybe both.
Still, when your girlfriend makes a request, there's no refusing.
Even if it meant a storm of blades, or the bite of '87, he'd go.
With that thought, Haru shook his head and quickly typed a reply.
[Future Fertilizer: Tomorrow then. Same place as before, your house?]
[Super High School Level Guitarist ANO: Haru~ Daisuki~!]
Anon immediately bombarded him with stickers until his phone buzzed nonstop, making Haru chuckle and shake his head as he set it aside.
…
At that same time, in the Chihaya household.
A pink-haired girl in floral pajamas lay sprawled on her bed, her long cherry-blossom hair scattered around her. Staring intently at her phone, her crystal-clear gray eyes suddenly lit up.
"Yes! Success~"
Chihaya Anon sat up in excitement, quickly screenshotting Haru's reply and sending it to Kita Ikuyo on Line. The response came instantly.
[Kita Ikuyo: The plan worked perfectly! On that day Bocchi and I will pretend to be busy and skip it. With so many girls around Haru now, it's only natural others might have the same idea as you.]
Anon pressed her lips together, reading, then fired back eagerly.
[Chihaya Anon: I know that! I… I'm just in a hurry. Soyorin definitely hasn't made a move yet, but she's surely looking for the right chance.]
[Chihaya Anon: I refuse to fall behind her!]
[Kita Ikuyo: I'll do my best to help you. In this area… I, I do have a little experience.]
This time Kita didn't reply instantly. She must have been embarrassed, typing and deleting again and again before finally sending the message.
Thinking that made Anon herself feel shy, a restless heat rising in her chest.
It was thanks to those prophetic "dreams" of future memories that she had plenty of theoretical knowledge. Without them, she'd be a nervous wreck. Still, Anon's practical experience was zero.
When the time came, how would it actually unfold?
Her heart racing, Anon abruptly sat up straighter, phone in hand, her fingers tapping rapidly.
[Chihaya Anon: Kita, how did it feel for you back then?]
[Kita Ikuyo: Eh?! Do I… do I really have to say that? Panicked.JPG]
[Chihaya Anon: Of course it's necessary!]
Her message sent, the chat fell silent. No reply came back from Kita Ikuyo.
Just as Chihaya Anon began to wonder if her question had been too much, her phone, silent until now, suddenly buzzed again.
[Kita Ikuyo: At… at first it hurt a little… but then my head got kind of hazy, and also...]
The moment Kita opened that door, the chat between the two radiant, popular girls veered into dangerous territory. The more they talked, the more Anon found herself burying her flushed face into a pillow, rolling back and forth on her bed until she could calm down.
Th-there's really something like that?
The pink-haired girl, who had been lying stiff as a board, suddenly bolted upright. Peeking out from behind her pillow with wide eyes, she let out a silly laugh, then coughed into her hand, her face bright red. The laugh died abruptly, and she scrambled to her feet to throw open the wardrobe.
"Wait, I don't even have a 'decisive outfit'?!"
Her small mouth hung open in shock, her little tiger teeth gleaming faintly.
"No way, tomorrow… tomorrow I have to prepare one in advance!"
Impatient to the point of desperation, Anon snapped to attention. She longed to dash downstairs and hit the boutiques right away, but with the late hour she could only grit her teeth and give up. Even so, she couldn't calm herself down.
All she could do was flop back onto her bed, hugging her pillow and rolling around in torment.
…
Haru felt like Kakyoin facing Dio, straining to spread his Emerald Splash over a fifty-meter radius, only to be ambushed head-on by an unstoppable little puppet.
"So, this is your idea of 'spoiling me,' Mutsumi?"
Holding a cup of tea, Haru's face stiffened. Before him, the expressionless doll-like girl knelt on the sofa, her small, soft hands kneading his shoulders, lips curved in the faintest smile.
Mutsumi quietly massaged his shoulders, nodding her head.
"Because… I want to fulfill more of a wife's responsibilities."
Her voice was as soft as ever, which only left Haru feeling helpless.
"Mutsumi? When I said you could 'spoil me,' I meant I should be the one doing something for you, not the other way around. How did it end up with you massaging my shoulders?"
Her hands paused briefly, then she lifted her golden eyes, gleaming gently. Her voice was as soft as cotton when she murmured,
"Because Haru never refuses me anything."
"But Haru also never lets me overexert myself. Even chores, you only give me the lightest ones."
"So this is my version of 'spoiling you.'"
The usually quiet cucumber spoke at length for once. Her tone was still even, but her striking golden eyes held a rare seriousness.
As if to prove her resolve, her hands pressed into his shoulders with greater strength.
"…"
Haru opened his mouth in astonishment, at a loss for words.
Reasonable, well-argued, impossible to refute.
Right now Mutsumi resembled Emiya Shirou in his desire to be a "Hero of justice." No matter what Haru said, she would cling to her conviction, determined to do more for him.
And by labeling it "spoiling," she had left him without any way to refuse.
"So that's another way of using it?"
A calm voice came from nearby. Umiri had returned from the bath, now dressed in loose sleepwear. Her long, jet-black hair was still damp, her delicate face made even lovelier by the touch of warm water.
"Yes, Haru already said so."
"Right now, Umiri and I can 'spoil' him however we like."
Mutsumi's cheeks were faintly flushed as she met Umiri's gaze. The clever little puppet tilted her head, her cutely vibrant face shining with unusual liveliness. Umiri, in turn, gave a meaningful smile.
"…I practiced on the little cucumber."
"I see."
The corner of Haru's eye twitched as he looked at the two expressionless girls beside him.
At the very least, could they let him go wash up first?