"Yami-kun, is it delicious? This is a bento my mom made."
On the rooftop at lunch break, Eriri and Utaha had Yami Tsukishiro pinned between them from left and right.
Eriri leaned in, eyes sparkling, clearly waiting for his answer.
"Well… yeah, it's really good."
Yami wasn't exaggerating. Her mom's cooking really was on another level.
"Tsk tsk, then you should try mine too. This one's handmade—by me."
Utaha casually picked up a piece of food with her chopsticks and held it up to his mouth, her lips curving in amusement.
The smugness in her voice made Eriri's temple twitch.
"Kasumigaoka Utaha! What are you even trying to do? Why do you have to compete with me over everything?"
Utaha tilted her chin proudly, eyes gleaming.
"Why not? Even if we're both Yami-kun's girlfriends, shouldn't we find out which of us is the better one?"
"Ha! Keep dreaming! Yami-kun's obviously going to kick you out first!"
Her little fang flashed as she puffed her cheeks, looking like a golden retriever ready to bite.
"Pfft, you think you can beat me?"
Utaha chuckled, then leaned in closer, looping her arms around Yami's. Her chest pressed against him softly and deliberately.
"I—!"
Eriri's eyes darted to her own chest, then to Utaha's… and immediately her shoulders slumped.
The difference was… brutal. She clenched her fists, furious and frustrated.
But watching the two so close, a surge of panic rose in her chest.
Wait… what if it's true? What if he actually prefers her…?
Her face reddened. She didn't want to end up being the real golden retriever.
Biting her lip, Eriri glanced down at her legs. Then, gathering all her courage, she slapped her hand against her thigh.
"Th-then how about this! Compared to her… mine's way better, right?!"
The words tumbled out with such obvious shame that her ears burned crimson.
Yami stayed silent.
As the one enjoying both sides, the last thing he wanted was to actually judge.
Because why would he? So long as he never picked sides, he'd always be the winner.
On his left arm: soft and warm.
On his right arm: smooth and silky.
Truly… a paradise.
"You—!"
Utaha was about to call Eriri a shameless cheater.
"Mm?"
But Yami's gaze suddenly sharpened, and without thinking, his right hand twitched.
"Eh?!"
Eriri squeaked as she felt a sudden squeeze against her thigh.
Seeing Yami's sudden movement, Utaha's lips curved slightly.
"…Yami-kun, were you just trying to explore a… restricted zone?"
Her voice dripped with teasing mischief.
"Eh?! W-what are you talking about?!" Eriri's face exploded red, panic written all over her.
But Yami suddenly stood up, expression sharpening.
"I have something urgent to take care of. If you two don't want to wait, go back to class without me."
And before either girl could react, his figure vanished from between them, leaving only the sound of the rooftop breeze.
The air between Eriri and Utaha seemed heavier now that Yami was gone. They locked eyes across the gap.
Utaha narrowed her gaze, smirking.
"…So, did he put it in just now?"
"Ah?"
Eriri blinked, completely lost.
"W-what do you mean by that?! He just pinched my thigh out of nowhere—it hurt!"
She yanked up her skirt to check. Sure enough, there was a faint red mark, just above her pale thigh.
"..."
Utaha froze. Realization hit. Oh. So I was just… too dirty-minded.
"Wait—WAIT! That's not what I meant at all?!"
Eriri's face turned crimson as she stared at her.
"What on earth is inside your head, you perverted cow?!"
"Oh, please. You're the one who jumped in to tempt him first." Utaha crossed her arms, looking down at her with eyes full of disdain.
The red mark was dangerously close to Eriri's underwear. Just a centimeter more and—well, anyone would've gotten the wrong idea.
"Hmph! Says the one who shamelessly started it first!"
Eriri tossed her ponytail with a huff, folding her arms tight. Her cheeks puffed in frustration.
If Utaha hadn't taken the lead with all that teasing, Eriri never would've gone this far in the first place. Normally, she would've hidden behind her tsundere act, pretending not to care.
But no, this was definitely Kasumigaoka Utaha's fault. Absolutely.
Neither girl noticed the quiet footsteps approaching. Just a short distance away, a girl stood holding her own lunchbox.
Watching the two like she was enjoying a drama, eyes sparkling as if she'd paid for front-row seats to some lunchtime soap opera.
---
Meanwhile, elsewhere…
Far away from rooftop love triangles, Yami's figure materialized inside the tower's dungeon. He had rushed there immediately, abandoning the sweet chaos of lunchtime.
"Ella, what happened?"
He had felt her call through their link.
The black-clad girl raised her hand respectfully, presenting a small object.
"Master, the task you entrusted me with… is complete."
"…The Cow Talisman?"
Yami's eyes widened slightly at the glowing charm in her palm.
That could only mean one thing—Ella had succeeded. And if the Cow Talisman was here, then Jade and the others had reached the fifth floor.
But his brief relief froze when he glanced at their soul signatures.
One by one, their lights were flickering out.
"…They're dying."
The sight shifted to the fifth floor of the dungeon.
Surging hordes of undead flooded the narrow corridors. Leading them were three heavily armed mourners—monsters of nightmare strength.
Their onslaught cut through the group mercilessly. Viper, Shinobu, and Busujima Saeko had already fallen.
Kanroji Mitsuri and Miyamoto Rei, after putting up a desperate struggle, were dragged down within moments.
Blood sprayed. Screams echoed. And yet, the undead tide only grew stronger.
It wasn't even a battle.
It was a massacre.
Six people wiped out… and almost no monsters slain.
"...Tch."
Yami clenched his fist. This situation… was far worse than he had anticipated.
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