[Umiri: Taki, are you home yet?]
"Huh?"
Taki stared blankly at the message. But she quickly recovered from her surprise and, still leaning against her bedroom door, rapidly typed her reply:
[Taki: Umiri, did you find out?]
[Umiri: Your stalking technique is way too clumsy. Haru noticed you from the start.]
Flushing, Taki scratched her head in frustration. Even though it was just a simple line of text, she could almost picture Umiri smirking quietly behind her screen, lips curved in a faint smile. Taki blinked.
Then she realized something was... off.
Umiri had just referred to him as Haru?
As someone who knew both of them well, Taki was fully aware that before today's date, Umiri had always addressed Kazami by his surname. Even she herself had only recently switched to calling him by his first name.
To think that just one date had pushed their relationship so far forward...
So, did it mean they'd... succeeded?
Taki's feelings were a swirl of emotions she was happy for her friend, but also couldn't help the subtle pang of envy in her chest.
"…Tch. What am I even thinking? That's not the point right now."
She gave her head a hard shake and stepped away from the door, walking over to her soft bed.
As she lay down, her silky dark hair spilled across the sheets. Her eyes, tired and tense, now held a quiet vulnerability.
After a moment of hesitation, she replied:
[Taki: So... how did it go?]
What she most wanted to know now was whether her hard-headed, steel-willed friend had finally pulled it off.
She'd gone through all that effort to stop Nagasaki Soyo, that smiling fox, from sabotaging the date, just to give Umiri and Haru a fair shot. The last thing she wanted to hear now was the word failure.
The result was immediate and clear:
[Umiri: Just like you said, I've already got him.]
"…Wait, what did I say?"
Taki blinked, staring dumbfounded at the screen.
What do you mean, "I've already got him"?! Wasn't Haru the one who was supposed to be pursuing Umiri?
[Umiri: Didn't you say it yourself? If I like him… then why haven't I done anything? Why haven't I made a move?]
[Umiri: This date made me realize, I can't keep playing dumb anymore. So I figured I might as well take the initiative and confess to him. And before he had time to process, I confirmed our relationship.]
[Umiri: It's getting late anyway. I might just take him to a hotel tonight.]
Taki froze.
She stared at the wall of text in stunned silence, each ordinary word somehow delivering a shock like a lightning bolt.
"…Huh?!?"
Her entire body shuddered. A flush spread across her delicate features, turning her snow-pale skin bright red. Her head spinning, she grabbed a pillow and buried her face in it, leaving only her trembling violet eyes peeking out to stare at the glowing screen.
She couldn't stop reading the same message over and over again.
"This… This is way too fast, isn't it? Even if they're together now, someone like Umiri wouldn't… wouldn't just… be that forward…"
"Wait, no. Knowing Umiri, how honest and direct she is, maybe she really would…"
Her usual stern, sharp expression was nowhere to be found.
Right now, Taki looked every bit the blushing, flustered schoolgirl brimming with youthful hormones. Even her voice, normally firm and no-nonsense, had softened to a gentle murmur. Her ears burned bright red in the dim light of her room.
No way. Did Umiri actually step onto the "grown-up" ladder already…?
Just imagining the scene made Taki's whole body feel hot. Her heart was racing, and she didn't need any tools to measure how fast it was going.
[Taki: Umiri, are you joking?]
[Umiri: If you don't believe me, want me to send a picture of our current situation?]
A p-picture?!
Even though Taki had never been in a relationship, having spent her entire life in all-girls schools and rarely interacting with boys, that didn't mean she was some complete fool when it came to love and relationships.
Especially after meeting that guy Kazami in the band, he had a habit of openly staring at her legs. Even someone like Taki couldn't ignore that, and it had gradually forced her to start learning certain "things."
But when Umiri dropped that line on her, all her rational thought flew out the window.
As Taki sat there, her mind spinning with wild speculation, Umiri suddenly initiated a video call, as if she had predicted her reaction. The unexpected ring made Taki's eyes go wide in panic.
She glanced around like a guilty thief, terrified someone might see her in this state.
Wait, why was she panicking?
She hadn't clarified things with Haru yet, but for now, she was technically his girlfriend.
Summoning a strange surge of courage, Taki brought her gaze back to the screen, gulped hard, and with trembling fingers, hit the "answer" button.
Umiri's smirking face filled the screen.
[Umiri: I was just joking. Haru already went home.]
"You jerk, Umiri!"
Taki shouted, cheeks red with rage and embarrassment. Even a statue would've been pissed off, let alone someone as hot-headed as her.
[Umiri: Don't get mad just yet. Yeah, that part was a joke... but the fact that Haru and I are now officially a couple isn't.]
They hadn't actually gone to a hotel, because Haru hadn't agreed.
But hearing that did ease some of Taki's anger. She narrowed her eyes and asked, "You're not messing with me this time?"
[Umiri: I swear on my life, we're together now.]
Umiri's expression returned to its usual cool and straightforward calm. Seeing that, Taki finally let out a long breath of relief. As a friend, she was genuinely glad Umiri had found someone and this confirmed something she'd long suspected...
Umiri had definitely been lying before.
Back then, when she had chosen to hide her feelings, maybe it had been because of Taki. Maybe it was something else. But whatever the reason, it didn't matter anymore.
Taki had now paid back the debt she owed.
"So... Umiri, you really do like Haru, huh?"
[Umiri: Yeah. A lot.]
Still expressionless, Umiri nodded slowly. Her composed demeanor made her true feelings difficult to read.
[Umiri: …About that, I wanted to thank you, Taki.]
"Huh? What does this have to do with me?"
"You and Haru liked each other from the start. You were bound to end up together."
Taki huffed, turning her head aside with a pout.
Even now, she was still a little bitter about how Umiri had acted so indifferent back then. She couldn't stand seeing a friend give up on happiness because of her. It might not have been a huge deal, but it still left a sour taste.
Umiri on the screen silently shook her head. Seeing Taki's pouty, conflicted face, she closed her eyes, and when they reopened, she was once again the poised, razor-sharp ice beauty.
She and Taki were alike in one way: they only knew how to face things head-on.
Umiri didn't bother reacting, she simply said, like it was the most natural thing in the world:
[Umiri: Taki, now it's your turn.]
"…What?"
Of course Taki knew exactly what she meant. But with her face burning red, she put on a stubborn act and pretended not to understand.
But now that Umiri was officially dating Haru, there was no longer any room for indirect nudging.
She had made up her mind and her tone was calm, but unrelenting:
[Umiri: Your window of opportunity is closing fast. The number of girls around Haru is only going to increase.]
[Umiri: Human energy has its limits. Eventually, he'll have to divide his attention and emotions between too many people. When that happens, he won't have the time or space to deal with you.]
[Umiri: Even if there's some future 'limit' to how many people can be involved with him, you don't know what that limit is.]
Umiri was guessing it would be twelve, maybe fourteen. Somewhere in that range.
But since she had decided to force Taki to confront her own feelings, she wasn't about to leave her with any room for hope or hesitation.
[No matter who it is… as long as they're still human, their patience will eventually run out. You can choose to stay where you are, keep dragging this on endlessly with him...]
[But even Haru, someday he might decide to give up on a relationship with no clear end.]
Umiri had lied before, and this was no different.
Although she had only just confirmed her relationship with Haru today, few people likely understood his personality and nature better than she did. In Umiri's mind, even if it took ten years, twenty years, Haru would never give up on Taki.
Because that's just the kind of person he was.
But Umiri didn't want to see such a drawn-out future.
If Taki had been the one to force her to confront her feelings, then Umiri would do the same in return.
"…"
Just a few lines of Umiri's cold, calculated lies were enough to make the blunt and serious Shiina Taki grit her teeth.
Umiri was about to press harder with her trademark provocation tactics when the ever-prickly Taki suddenly shot upright, face burning red, biting her lip as if to swallow her shame.
After a deep breath, she spoke with cold determination:
"Of course I know that already…!"
"I'll have Haru come over to my house in the next couple days. That's enough, right?!"
With fists clenched in embarrassment and frustration, Taki recalled what she had blurted out to Soyo earlier. From that moment on, she'd already thrown herself into the fire. She had no choice now but to force herself to admit it.
Even if she was dying of embarrassment, there was no turning back.
Umiri blinked, clearly caught off guard by Taki's sudden boldness.
She had expected to have to push and prod Taki much harder, working in tandem with Haru to slowly close the distance. But now? This felt like things had flipped into a full-on mutual charge.
A proper two-way pursuit.
With a slight nod, Umiri relaxed a bit and replied at a calm pace:
[...If you've already made up your mind, then I have nothing more to say.]
[But if you need help, my fee is one box of panda milkshake jellies.]
Seeing Umiri still ramble calmly, expressionless as always, Taki's trembling lashes twitched violently. Finally, as if to release her embarrassment, she burst out:
"I don't need your help! I—I can handle this myself!"
The video call finally ended.
Taki could still feel her heart pounding against her ribs like a drum. Her cold, sharp exterior had completely vanished. Her skin, once pale and flawless like snow, now glowed with the blush of heat and emotion. Her once-serious face now held a hint of otherworldly charm.
"…Confess to him? Take the lead?"
For someone like Taki, taking the initiative was ridiculously difficult. Just standing next to that teasing idiot made her overheat and lose all sense of rational thought. If she had to confess outright, she'd probably stammer the whole way through.
If she couldn't confess herself, then she had to make Haru confess again.
But saying that was easy. In reality, Taki had no experience in love.
Getting him to fall for her again and confess a second time... that would be hard.
With all those girls around him now, things like holding hands and kissing were probably just routine. Taki, who lacked confidence in her own charm, couldn't imagine sparking that kind of excitement in him again.
"Force a kiss...? But even that might not be enough. Would I have to do something even more intense…?"
Her face too red to ask Umiri for advice, she hung up in a flustered panic and immediately regretted it.
…
The hallway lights clicked on.
Having finally returned to Yokohama from Shinjuku, Haru rubbed his temples, exhausted, stepping onto the asphalt walkway leading to his apartment.
Nestled in the Yokohama ward, this cozy little complex, dubbed "Chaos Coop Apartments," still glowed with warm lighting even late at night. It had a hominess that a massive mansion simply couldn't replicate.
Maybe that was why Haru hadn't bothered moving, even after gaining financial independence.
He glanced at the time on his phone and muttered, "Almost nine already?"
Today's date with Umiri had taken a lot out of him and when they parted, she still hadn't been willing to let him go easily.
Truthfully, Umiri had changed completely since their relationship began.
Once a calm, unshakable ice queen, she now burned with unrestrained intensity. No matter the moment, she always wanted the upper hand with Haru even their kiss was aggressive, but still subtly sweet.
"It's late… Guess I'll shower and head to bed."
Normally, Haru would've tried to push forward with his illustrations, preparing new work for an upcoming gallery.
As a recently debuted artist, he was still unknown, and most of his events were for new-generation talent competitions between rookies who had debuted in recent years.
While completing a masterpiece might take more time and energy, Haru's technical skills had long since reached "veteran" level.
Competing against those praised as child prodigies or hyped by the media still made him feel... weird.
He stepped onto the rust-stained metal stairs, each creak echoing as he climbed to the second-floor hallway, now relaxed. He headed for the room at the far end.
But before he could reach the door, he stopped.
Voices, familiar ones, echoed from the hallway.
"You told me on Line that Haru was at your place, Soyo, but when I got there, he wasn't even home! And then you blocked me right after?!"
"You weren't even there, where were you?!"
"Hmm~? Why should I have to tell you? Sneaking around doesn't count if no one catches you... Didn't you say that yourself, Anon-chan?"
The bickering voices got louder.
Haru, who'd been exhausted just moments ago, instantly sobered up. As soon as he recognized the two voices at his door, his mind went into overdrive and he immediately understood what was happening.
So Soyo didn't come find me earlier because she was waiting here all along, huh?
Chihaya Anon stood outside his door, breathing heavily, glaring with sharp little fangs at the sweet-smiling, deceptively innocent-looking Nagasaki Soyo.
Anon had trusted Soyo's lie, taken a train to her place, only to find neither Soyo nor Haru there.
She had believed Haru would never ignore her calls just because of Soyo but it had all been a classic misdirection.
"Good thing I caught on in time. I came here to Haru's place and waited. Otherwise, who knows what shady stuff you were planning."
"You totally planned to wait for Haru to come home, and then say something like 'My mom's not home tonight, I'm scared' just to weasel your way into spending the night, didn't you?!"
Soyo actually let out a breathy laugh at Anon's accusation. Sure, Anon turned into a total lovestruck idiot around Haru, but the moment she caught someone in the act, her intelligence spiked. Even if Soyo had tried to hide her intentions, Anon had guessed them all.
Now that her rare opportunity had been completely derailed, Soyo's mood couldn't be worse.
"Anon-chan, you really have the nerve to say that? Are you telling me you were waiting outside just to catch me?"
"Ugh!"
Called out in an instant, Anon was left speechless, her sharp little fang frozen mid-air.
"Don't treat me like I'm that shallow. My feelings for Haru are pure, okay? Unlike some people whose heads are full of nothing but those things."
One of Anon's greatest assets was her impossibly thick skin. Even when she was clearly in the wrong, she'd brazen it out like a champion. Once cornered, she could flip the whole situation and claim the moral high ground with stunning ease.
"Anon-chan, you really do say the wildest things."
Soyo's voice was syrupy-sweet and soft, but the dead-eyed, cold stare she fixed on Anon said otherwise. Her fake smile didn't reach her eyes at all, and it made Anon shiver, a wave of unease and cold climbing up her spine.
But she knew, if she backed down here, she'd lose her place as the official girlfriend.
"You two mind explaining what's going on?"
Haru's voice came from around the corner, calm but loaded with meaning. Both girls froze on the spot.
"Ha-Haru?! You're already back?!"
"…"
The transformation was instant. In the blink of an eye, both girls' hostile glares softened into sweetness. Their aura of animosity vanished so quickly Haru almost doubted what he'd just heard.
Of course, he didn't bother asking what they were arguing about. He'd heard every word from nearby.
The fact was, Soyo and Anon were oil and water by nature, completely incompatible.
Given their history, like that one fight during the training camp, Haru had reason to be genuinely worried things might escalate to physical violence. That's why he stepped in quickly this time.
"Anyway, come on in."
…
A tiny sofa, how could it possibly carry the weight of these two goddesses?
Haru sat stiffly in the middle, staring straight ahead as the weight of both girls' gazes bore down on him from either side. His shoulders felt like they were being crushed by invisible pressure.
Especially since Soyo, blank-faced as ever, had silently reached out and started tracing circles on the back of his hand with her finger.
This wasn't flirtation, it was her subtle way of showing she was pissed.
"So, first things first… why were you two arguing outside my door?"
"If you were waiting for me, you could've just called. I would've come straight home. It's not great to keep you both standing out in this weather."
Both Soyo and Anon flinched. Their eyes darted toward the corners of the room.
Truthfully, both of them had their own little schemes. If they were going to wait outside the door, they certainly didn't plan to ruin the surprise by calling him ahead of time. But when they ran into each other at the door, everything turned into a mess.
They both already knew there was a spare key to Haru's place hidden under the cucumber planter.
If the other hadn't been there, either one could've used the key, let herself in, and set up a surprise. If Haru asked later, they could just claim they were checking the plant and accidentally found it.
But with the other present, neither dared expose the secret.
Haru had no idea what they were thinking. He just sighed and said tiredly:
"If this happens again, just come inside next time. The spare key's under the cucumber planter. I'd hate for either of you to catch a cold waiting outside."
"…"
They already knew that.
Neither spoke for a long while, and the silence became as heavy as a damp rehearsal room after rain.
Eventually, the more impulsive Anon couldn't hold back anymore. She puffed up her cheeks and pouted pitifully:
"You're the one who hung up on me, Haru! You said you'd explain later, but I waited forever and you never called! So I had no choice but to come find you!"
A flawless excuse, airtight.
"Sorry, sorry. I was planning to call you as soon as I got home."
"…"
Soyo, on the other hand, was eerily silent, her face emotionless. That unusual calm made Anon uneasy.
Normally, Soyo would've already hit her with a passive-aggressive remark or flashed that annoyingly sweet smile that proved she was the perfect "girlfriend."
But today, nothing.
That alone made Anon suspicious.
Perhaps sensing how pissed Soyo was, Haru gently ran a hand through her hair, trying to soothe her. He softened his tone and asked:
"So, Soyo-san, is there something I can do for you?"
"You should explain something to me, Haru. Who was that woman?"
Soyo played with the curled end of her hair, her voice flat as if discussing something trivial.
Anon blinked.
Woman? What woman?