The first official day of the "Rui Hinamata Rotational Harem Schedule" (a name Kenji immediately coined and which I am trying desperately to ignore) dawns with a sense of impending doom. It is Tuesday. Aiwa's day.
According to the ridiculously detailed schedule Miki was forced to draft (under duress from Rina and Haruka), Aiwa is allocated "supervised companionship" during lunch and "project assistance" for two hours after school. Rina and Haruka have reluctantly agreed to maintain a strict non-interference policy during these designated times, though their glares promise swift retribution if any "treaty violations" (i.e., unscheduled hand-holding or kissing) occur.
Aiwa approaches this first official "date" (a word I refuse to use) with the nervous energy of someone about to defuse a bomb while blindfolded. She spends the entire morning blushing furiously and avoiding my gaze, making me wonder if she is going to bail.
But at lunchtime, she appears at my desk, holding her bento box with trembling hands. "R-Rui-kun," she stammers, her eyes fixed on my shoes. "Is it… time?"
"Looks like it," I sigh, grabbing my own (aggressively normal, Rina-free) lunch.
We find a relatively secluded spot on the school roof. Sitting down together, alone, without Rina or Haruka hovering nearby, feels incredibly strange. Liberating, but also terrifying. The silence stretches.
"So," I say, trying to break the ice. "Nice… roof?"
Aiwa just nods, her cheeks pink. She opens her bento. It is, of course, a masterpiece. Rice shaped like stars, tiny octopus sausages wearing little hats, and heart-shaped carrots. My stomach rumbles appreciatively, even as my brain screams DANGER.
"Y-you can have some," she whispers, offering me a piece of tamagoyaki with her chopsticks.
"Uh, thanks," I say, accepting it awkwardly. It is delicious. Of course it is.
We eat in silence for a few more minutes. The awkwardness is unbearable. This scheduled intimacy feels ten times weirder than our spontaneous interactions.
"Look," I finally say, putting down my chopsticks. "This schedule thing… it is insane, right?"
Aiwa looks up, surprised. "Y-yes," she admits softly. "It is… a little strange."
"A little?" I scoff. "It is certifiably bonkers. They are treating me like a… a shared Netflix account."
Aiwa lets out a small giggle. "With very strict viewing restrictions."
"Exactly!" I say, relieved that she finds it as ridiculous as I do. "I mean, I appreciate that they are trying to… not kill each other? But this is not sustainable."
"No," she agrees quietly. "But… maybe it is necessary? For now?" She looks at me, her expression hesitant. "It gives us… time. To talk. Without…" She gestures vaguely, indicating the ever-present Rina/Haruka storm cloud.
She is right. As crazy as the schedule is, it is the first time we have been able to sit together, relatively undisturbed, since… well, ever, really.
"So," I say, deciding to make the most of this scheduled sanity. "Tell me something that is not about cosplay, or school, or childhood promises. What do you… like to do? For fun?"
Her eyes light up, the shyness momentarily forgotten. "Oh! I love visiting art museums! And exploring old bookstores! And trying different kinds of tea! And watching documentaries about space!"
We spend the rest of lunch actually talking. Like normal people. She tells me about her favorite painters, her secret love for cheesy sci-fi movies, her dream of one day designing costumes for the theatre. I tell her about my own nerdy hobbies, my struggles with cooking, my vague, unformed plans for the future.
It is… nice. Really nice. For the first time, I am seeing Aiwa Matsuki, not LUNA, not the childhood princess, just… Aiwa. And I realize, with a jolt of surprise, that I really, really like her. Just as she is.
The bell rings, shattering the moment. We quickly pack up our lunches, the familiar awkwardness returning slightly.
"So," I say as we head back downstairs. "Same time next Tuesday?"
She looks up at me, a brilliant, hopeful smile spreading across her face. "Yes," she says softly. "I would like that very much, Rui-kun."
As we walk back into the main school building, Rina and Haruka immediately materialize, their expressions demanding a full report. But for the first time, their glares do not seem quite so intimidating.
The schedule is insane. My life is insane. But maybe, just maybe, amidst all the chaos, something real and genuinely good is starting to grow. (Which, knowing my luck, probably means a meteor is scheduled to hit the school tomorrow).