As Rito descended the hallway, the quiet hum of the night wrapped around him—until the sharp vibration of his phone broke the stillness. He glanced at the screen and sighed softly.
"Mikan…"
Answering, he was immediately met with his sister's worried tone.
"Rito, where are you? You said you'd be back after jogging! It's already late."
He smiled helplessly, adjusting the phone between his ear and shoulder. "Yeah, yeah, sorry about that. I was helping a friend carry another friend home. Nothing weird, don't worry. I'll be back soon."
"Helping someone…? You and your good-guy acts again," Mikan muttered faintly, though her relief was obvious in her voice.
Rito chuckled quietly. "Hey, it's not like I go looking for it. It just kind of happens."
Standing beside him, Asahi watched the exchange silently, her silver hair shimmering faintly in the hall light. When she heard Mikan's name through the speaker, her brows lifted in mild surprise.
"Mikan?" she repeated softly. "As in Yuuki Mikan?"
Rito blinked at her. "Uh, yeah. My sister."
Before he could say anything more, Asahi gently reached out and took the phone from his hand. "Oh! Then let me say hi for a sec."
"Asahi—wait—"
Too late. She'd already lifted the phone to her ear with her trademark bright tone. "Hi, Mikan-chan! It's me, Amagami Asahi—from your class!"
There was a tiny pause on the other side. Then came Mikan's surprised voice, "Eh? Asahi-san? Wait, you're with Rito right now?"
"Yep!" Asahi replied with an easy smile, glancing at Rito, who stood with a resigned look. "He helped my sister get home safely after she got a little too tipsy. He's been a total gentleman."
A small breath of relief came through the receiver. "Oh, I see… thank you for saying that, Asahi-san. I was getting worried when he didn't come home."
"No problem," Asahi said warmly. "You've got a really dependable brother, Mikan-chan." Then, her tone dipped playfully. "Hehe~ I can totally see why you're such a bro-con."
"B-Bro-con?! I—I'm not!" Mikan's flustered voice squeaked through the line, and Asahi stifled a laugh.
"Fufu, I'm just teasing~ Anyway, don't worry. He's safe. I'll send him home after some tea."
There was a brief moment of silence, then Mikan sighed softly, her voice softening. "...Alright. Thank you, Asahi-san. Please… take care of him."
"Of course," Asahi said gently, handing the phone back to Rito.
Rito slipped it back into his pocket with a tired sigh. "You really didn't need to tease her like that, you know."
Asahi clasped her hands behind her back and grinned. "But she's adorable when she gets all flustered. You're lucky, you know—having such a cute little sister who worries about you that much."
"Yeah…" Rito's smile turned faintly nostalgic. "I know."
As they walked on, the sound of their footsteps echoed softly in the wooden corridor. That's when Rito felt something subtle—a ripple in the back of his mind, like a quiet whisper.
He couldn't see anything, no screen or interface, but he knew. The system was responding again.
Asahi's feelings toward him… had warmed slightly.
Sayaka's too—and even Yuna's, faintly, from earlier. Their favorability was on the hike. With Sayaka with 16 points and Yuna with 14 points, a bit reserved but real, along with Asahi with 19 points, especially after knowing he is Mikan's brother.
The awareness came like a soft instinct, the kind that didn't need numbers to be understood. Just… a sense of closeness, of connections forming.
He smiled faintly to himself. Guess that's how it works now.
But then, another subtle pulse crossed his mind—something new, with a title so bizarre it made him pause mid-step.
"...No way," he muttered under his breath, looking mildly disturbed. "Who even names these things…"
Asahi glanced up curiously. "Hmm? Did you say something?"
"Ah, nothing." He waved it off quickly, forcing a small smile. "Just thinking about something dumb."
She tilted her head, clearly unconvinced but decided not to press. Together, they continued toward the softly lit hall, where the faint clatter of teacups could already be heard from within.
As he looked at the weird title that appeared as an award, he thought about how he even got this title. Title: Lolicon Charmer.
When Mikan and Asahi were not loli to begin with.
And as Rito glanced once more at the phone in his hand—Mikan's name still lingering on the screen—he couldn't help but think that, for all the odd turns tonight had taken, maybe it wasn't such a bad detour after all.
The night air was cool and soft as Rito descended from the shrine path, the faint rustle of trees whispering behind him. Sayaka walked quietly beside him, her face half-lit by the amber glow of the streetlights.
"Asahi, that girl…" Sayaka muttered under her breath, remembering the last moment before they'd left.
It had been so sudden. As Rito was about to step out through the torii gate, Asahi had tugged on his sleeve, tiptoed up, and planted a quick kiss on his cheek—just a small, warm brush of lips that left his brain momentarily blank.
Rito had frozen in place. Yuna had gasped audibly. Even Sayaka, who'd seen her share of surprises, stood blinking in disbelief.
Now, as they walked, Sayaka still wore that same complicated expression. She glanced sideways at Rito—who was rubbing his cheek awkwardly—and couldn't help but remember what Chihiro-sensei had said earlier this afternoon: "That boy's the type who'll accidentally make hearts flutter, even when he doesn't mean to."
A quiet chuckle escaped her lips.
This boy… seriously. With that straightforward charm of his, he's bound to cause chaos among girls sooner or later.
She thought about how Rito had carried Yae without a single complaint, handled the pushy guys with calm precision, and spoke with a sincerity that wasn't forced. The kind of sincerity that made people trust him.
How many girls will this kid make cry… or maybe, how many will he make truly happy?
The thought came with a strange warmth, one she didn't care to examine too closely. Even as she waved him off at the station, she found herself lingering—her gaze following him longer than she meant it to.
Maybe this is what they call a harem-type protagonist, she mused with a wry smile. Dangerous… in the most genuine way possible.
By the time Rito reached the town's shopping street, the night had deepened. The bright neon of the confectionery shop spilled onto the sidewalk, and the scent of freshly baked pastries pulled him in.
He bought a small box of donuts and a couple of cream-filled buns—Mikan's favorite—before heading home at a brisk pace.
When he finally stepped through the door, he stopped short.
There, sitting in the hallway with her knees hugged to her chest, was Mikan. Her brown hair fell across her shoulders, her eyes glinting faintly under the hall light as she looked up.
"Sorry, Mikan. I'm late."
She didn't say anything at first—just stared at him with that expression that always made him feel like the world's biggest idiot. Then, slowly, she stood up and sighed.
"It's alright," she murmured softly, walking closer. "You did something nice, so I'll forgive you this time… baka Rito."
Before he could reply, she leaned forward and wrapped her arms around him.
Rito blinked, surprised, his hand hovering awkwardly before settling gently on her back. Her body was warm, trembling just faintly against his.
"Mikan?"
"Just… remember to come back home, okay?" she whispered, her voice muffled against his chest. "Don't make me sit here alone, waiting again."
Something about her tone tugged at his heart—that fragile thread of worry she always tried to hide behind her calm maturity. He sighed quietly and, without saying a word, crouched down before lifting her up in a sudden princess carry.
"R-Rito! What are you—?!" Mikan's face flared scarlet as she squirmed in his arms, her voice high and embarrassed.
He only smiled, carrying her toward the living room. "You looked tired. And it's been a while since I carried you like this."
"Idiot! I'm not a kid anymore!" she protested, but her hands instinctively clutched his shirt for balance, her cheeks burning hotter by the second.
Setting her gently on the couch, Rito placed the box of pastries beside her and straightened up.
"Oh right, Mikan," he said casually. "I've decided to start writing a novel. I'll show it to you tomorrow once I finish the first volume."
Mikan blinked, the shift in topic catching her off guard. "A novel? Like… a light novel?"
"Yeah," he said, grinning confidently. "A good one. I'm sure it'll be a hit."
That confidence of his—bold, almost childlike—made Mikan exhale in disbelief. He really hasn't changed, she thought, smiling faintly. Still, something in his eyes looked… different tonight. Sharper. Determined.
"I'll be rooting for you," she said softly, folding her arms. "But Rito, can you put me down now? This is getting a little embarrassing."
"Not tonight," he replied smoothly. "I was thinking of sleeping with you again, like in the old days."
Mikan froze. Her entire face turned crimson as she stared at him, her mouth opening and closing like a goldfish.
"B-Baka! What are you even saying?!" she sputtered, slapping his arm lightly before bolting up the stairs.
The sound of her hurried footsteps faded, leaving Rito standing there in amused silence. He rubbed his arm, still feeling the soft sting of her playful slap, and laughed under his breath.
"Well… maybe I did go too far with the tease," he murmured with a grin. "Still, that reaction was pretty cute."
He glanced toward the staircase, where Mikan had disappeared, and smiled softly. The warmth of her hug still lingered faintly on his chest.
Outside, the wind brushed against the window—quiet and cool. And as Rito leaned back on the couch, the thought drifted through his mind again.