When Yuigahama Yui returned home, Isshiki Iroha greeted her cheerfully at the door.
"Yui-senpai, dinner's already prepared. I was just waiting for you to come back," Iroha said with a smile.
"Thanks, Iroha-chan. You really helped out." Yui smiled softly, changing into her slippers before stepping inside.
"I'll go call Fujimiya-senpai," Iroha said quickly, walking toward Akira Fujimiya's bedroom door, with Yui following behind and knocking lightly.
A few seconds later, the door opened.
Akira looked at the two girls standing outside. He reached out and gently patted Iroha's head.
"Dinner, huh? Thank you," he said with a faint smile.
"Senpai, you're welcome…" Iroha's cheeks turned slightly red as she spoke in a soft voice.
Yuigahama Yui watched the scene silently, her expression slightly clouded with something that looked a lot like jealousy.
Akira noticed her and stepped toward her, lifting Yui's chin lightly before kissing her lips.
Yui froze for a few seconds, her eyes widening before she quickly pushed him away, her face turning a deep shade of red.
"Welcome home, Yui," Akira said with a calm smile.
"I–I'm going to change my clothes," Yui stammered and hurried back to her small bedroom, her face still bright red.
As soon as she left, Iroha turned toward Akira, her voice sweet and teasing.
"Senpai… what about me?"
Akira sighed softly. "You really don't give me a break, do you?"
He leaned forward slightly and pressed a light kiss against Iroha's lips.
A minute later, Iroha's face was glowing with happiness as Akira walked toward the dining table.
Yui returned a few minutes later, now dressed in her comfortable home clothes. The three of them gathered around the table for dinner.
Akira sat in the middle, with Yuigahama Yui on his left and Isshiki Iroha on his right.
He picked up his chopsticks, and while using one hand to reach for his food, his other hand quietly rested on Yui's thigh under the table.
Yui flinched slightly at his touch, her cheeks burning red. She wanted to say something, but she couldn't bring herself to. Instead, she silently continued eating, pretending not to notice.
Iroha, halfway through her meal, caught Yui's expression and glanced down. When she saw Akira's hand, she felt a flicker of jealousy deep inside.
Still, in front of Yui, she kept her usual cheerful expression, pretending she hadn't seen anything.
.....
After dinner, Yuigahama Yui went to the bathroom to wash up.
Akira helped Iroha carry the dishes to the kitchen. Iroha stood beside him, pouting slightly.
"Senpai, I just saw something…" she said, her tone carrying a hint of complaint.
"Come on, wash the dishes," Akira interrupted, giving her a teasing smile.
Feeling slightly aggrieved, Iroha stood at the sink and began washing the plates quietly. A few seconds later, she felt Akira's arms wrap gently around her waist from behind.
Her body stiffened for a moment before understanding dawned on her. Her face flushed red as he murmured softly, his warm breath touching against her ears.
"Did you bring pajamas or anything"
"Yes…" Iroha answered shyly, her voice almost inaudible.
....
An hour later.
Yuigahama Yui walked out of the bathroom, her hair slightly damp. Iroha was sitting on the sofa, scrolling through some papers. When she saw Yui, she smiled politely, then stood up and went into the bathroom herself.
Yui noticed the faint blush still lingering on Iroha's face and immediately felt something off.
Her expression froze for a second before her eyes narrowed slightly.
"Bad guy…" she muttered under her breath, puffing her cheeks as she glanced toward Akira's bedroom door. She didn't go there, though—instead, she went straight back to her small room and shut the door with a little huff.
A few moments later, Akira walked out of his room in pajamas. He looked toward Yui's door and smiled faintly.
She's probably talking with her friends online, he thought.
.....
Another hour passed. It was completely dark outside.
Yuigahama Yui waited for a long time, but when Isshiki Iroha still hadn't returned, she sighed and decided to step out of her room.
When she entered the living room, she saw Iroha sitting on the sofa, writing something in her notebook.
"Iroha-chan, what are you writing?" Yui asked curiously.
"Ah, Yui-senpai. I'm finishing the student council report. I didn't want to disturb you while you were reading," Iroha replied softly.
"I wasn't reading… I don't really read books," Yui said with a small laugh. "I just talked with some friends. I went to the homework tutoring too, but honestly, I don't think my grades are improving."
"Grades aren't everything, Yui-senpai," Iroha said with a sincere smile. "With your personality and figure, I'm sure that even if you don't go to college, Akira-senpai will make sure you have a bright future."
Yui's eyes softened. "I… I don't actually want to rely on Akira-kun that much," she said quietly, sitting down next to Iroha.
Iroha blinked in surprise at her honesty.
Yui paused for a moment before continuing. "Akira-kun will definitely marry Yukinoshita in the future. I already decided that I'll stay by their side. I'll help them take care of their home… and maybe their kids too."
A sad but gentle smile appeared on her lips. "That's enough for me. Yukino already agreed to let me live with them."
Iroha stared at her in disbelief, her lips parting slightly. She couldn't find the right words to respond.
"Iroha-chan… am I stupid?" Yui asked with a quiet laugh, though her eyes trembled faintly.
Iroha shook her head. "No, Yui-senpai… you're not stupid. You're actually really strong."
"Iroha-chan," Yui continued, her tone softer now, "if you want to stay with Akira-kun, neither I nor Yukino will stop you. But if you want to compete with Yukino for marriage, then I'll have to stand on Yukino's side."
"Yui-senpai, I…" Iroha lowered her head, her voice trembling slightly.
"You don't have to answer," Yui said gently. "I know you want to be first in Akira-kun's heart. I wanted that too. But I realized… Yukino was always the one he loved first. I wanted to cry, begged him not to leave me. But even then, I stayed because I couldn't give up on him."
As Yui spoke, Iroha stayed quiet, her fingers tightening around the edge of her notebook.
After a long silence, Yui finally smiled again. "If there's anything you want to say, or something you want to ask, go to Akira-kun and say it yourself. I'm going to bed."
She stood up, brushing off her skirt. "Good night, Iroha-chan."
"Thank you, Yui-senpai…" Iroha whispered, realizing that Yui had just given her permission—an opportunity she couldn't waste.
"You're welcome," Yui said softly, smiling as she walked back into her room and closed the door behind her.
....
Iroha looked at the closed door for a few seconds, then turned toward Akira's bedroom. Her heart beat faster with every step she took.
She didn't knock—she simply pushed the door open.
Akira turned slightly from his desk where he was sketching a manga panel. "Iroha?" he asked, glancing back before returning to his drawing.
"I heard from Yui-senpai that Yukinoshita-senpai is the first in your heart, and that you'll only ever marry her," Iroha said as she approached him, her voice trembling. "I think… that's really unfair to Yui-senpai."
Akira set down his pen and looked at her with mild surprise. "I thought you came to talk about your own feelings. Didn't expect you to speak for Yui."
"I listened to her story," Iroha said softly. "And I realized… I don't love you as deeply as she does. Her love—it's already at the level of devotion. I can't compare to that, and I'm not as capable as Yukinoshita-senpai either. So…"
"So, what will you do?" Akira asked, his tone calm as ever.
"I… I don't know," Iroha admitted, lowering her head.
"There's an agreement between Yui and Yukino," Akira said quietly after a moment. "After three years of marriage, Yukino will divorce me. Then I'll marry Yui."
Iroha froze, staring at him in shock.
So that's how it is…
Even so, Yui-senpai still chooses to wait for him… three whole years?
Her heart filled with admiration.
To watch the man you love marry someone else, raise their children, and still stay by his side with a smile—that kind of love was beyond her understanding.
Akira's voice broke through her thoughts. "So… are you planning to leave me?"
"Like Yui-senpai, I don't want to leave your side," Iroha said softly, "but my family…"
"I can convince your family," Akira said calmly. "As long as you want it. If you don't… then I'll—"
"Senpai!" Iroha interrupted quickly, her tone rising as she looked at him with teary eyes. "If you dare abandon me, I'll never forgive you!"
Akira chuckled softly. "I mean… to make our relationship official."
"Bad senpai!" she said again, puffing her cheeks. "You can't just pause in the middle of a sentence like that. I thought you were rejecting me."
"Alright, alright, it's my fault," Akira said, raising his hands in surrender before opening his arms. "Come here."
Iroha immediately leaned into his embrace. "Senpai… I want to stay with you forever."
"No problem," he said, wrapping his arms around her. "You're always welcome here, Iroha."
"Among my family, my brother might be the only one who'll support me," she murmured. "If my parents don't agree, I'll tell my brother first… and then, Senpai, you can find a safe place to hide me."
Akira smiled faintly and nodded, his hand brushing through her hair.
Half an hour later, Isshiki Iroha quietly left Akira's room.
The night outside was still and calm, the rain long gone—but the echoes of their conversation lingered softly in the air.
...
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Bonus Chapter:-
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6 Bonus Chapter at 150 powerstone
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Word Count — 1,665