An Awa Subaru who winked from behind her mask, striking a perfect idol-style pose, made every boy around her skip a collective heartbeat.
But once they realized this masked beauty was greeting that infamous transfer student—Rinto, the super-playboy who'd already tangled with more pretty girls than anyone could count—
…The jealousy around him turned so thick it could've conjured Mara himself.
Luckily, Rinto's heart had long since grown immune to scorn.
Compared to Momoka burping alcohol fumes into his face whenever she got affectionate, this jealousy was nothing but a gentle breeze.
His full attention stayed on Subaru, puzzled.
"Why? How come you're working here? Weren't you supposed to be at the crêpe shop with Momoka this afternoon?"
"Eh? Ah… Ahh~! Right, right! I am going this afternoon—it's really busy, you know~!"
Subaru blinked dramatically, but suspicion flickered across Rinto's face.
It was obvious she'd completely forgotten she had another job today. Strange.
Sensing his doubt, Subaru waved it off with a bright laugh.
"Actually, my friend's mom broke her leg and needs to rest for a few months, so I'm just helping out~. It's just selling bread—nothing tiring. And I get to come to your school and play with you, Rinto-kun. Isn't that great?"
"I'm almost done cleaning up—just wait a bit, I'll be right over (≧ω·)~☆"
The future star idol threw another dazzling wink and cheerfully helped the cafeteria ladies tidy up, earning unanimous praise from all the aunties.
That was Subaru for you—loved by everyone, no matter their age.
Rinto sighed, smiling helplessly, and joined in to help her finish.
With his assistance, the cleanup ended quickly.
Since there was still some time left in the lunch break, Subaru got permission from the aunties and bounded happily over to Rinto.
She pulled off her mask and cap, letting her silky black hair fall like a waterfall—instantly stunning the Yoshizawa sisters into squealing in awe.
The young lady smiled with graceful composure.
"You must be Kasumi-chan and Sumire-chan, right? Rinto-kun talks about you all the time. I've seen your tournaments on TV—you're both amazing! I'm Awa Subaru, just call me Subaru."
"Nice to meet you, Subaru-neesan~! (＞▽＜)"
The sisters answered in unison, immediately taken in by her perfect charm.
In no time, the three beauties were holding hands, forming a circle and hopping around together… whatever, let them have their fun.
While eating his lunch, Rinto asked, "Subaru, are you gonna be coming here often now? Selling bread every lunch break?"
"Hmm, probably~."
The (fake) elegant, long-haired Yamato Nadeshiko smiled sweetly. "Until my friend's mom recovers, at least. The hours are short, the pay's good, and the aunties spoil me. …Or what, Rinto-kun? You don't want me here? Afraid your girlfriend will get jealous~?"
"...…I don't have a girlfriend. Stop making things up."
Rinto exchanged a glance with the Yoshizawa sisters and got their silent nod of agreement.
Subaru knew about Momoka, but not that the twins were his actual girlfriends—so her teasing was half-misinformed and fully shameless.
It only reminded Rinto how tangled his social life had become. He was lucky these girls were all so understanding.
"But seriously, you're even busier than me and Momoka with all these part-time jobs. Is school okay for you?"
Rinto's tone turned earnest. "I know you go to a performing arts school, so your schedule's different, but you still have classes, right? And commercials, auditions… can you really handle all that?"
What he meant beneath the words was: Are you in some kind of trouble?
After meeting that girl from Kumamoto who'd dropped out and run away to Tokyo, Rinto had grown sensitive about people skipping school.
He couldn't shake the feeling that behind Subaru's perfect smile lay a mountain of secrets.
"It's totally fine, Rinto-kun. Don't underestimate my time-management skills."
Of course, she brushed off his concern with practiced ease.
Resting her chin on her palm, Subaru smiled like a teasing cat, her delicate face playful and knowing.
"You're such a nice guy, Rinto-kun. Thanks for worrying~."
"But maybe save your concern for someone who needs it more? I'll be fine."
Her smile stayed soft and sweet, yet every secret stayed locked deep inside.
Even with Rinto's emotional radar on full blast, her mask remained unreadable. Truly, a future actress in the making.
That evening, when Rinto got home and opened the door—before he could even take off his shoes—a rapid patter of footsteps rushed toward him.
Iseri Nina threw herself straight into his chest, happily nuzzling in.
"Welcome back. Would you like dinner first? A bath first? …Or maybe, sleep with me first?"
"Nina-san, please clarify your wording."
Rinto's expression turned serious, like a teacher giving a biology lecture.
"When you say 'sleep,' you obviously mean the lap-pillow thing in the Palace, right? We used to take turns keeping watch and offering lap pillows. But you can't just omit context like that! Any other guy would misunderstand—be careful next time, okay?"
Nina immediately pouted. "But I wouldn't say that to anyone else, so it's fine."
Her already-round cheeks puffed out even more—too cute to resist.
So Rinto cupped her chin and gave those soft cheeks a good squeeze, fully indulging himself for a while.
Although Nina blushed, she didn't pull away.
Watching Rinto knead her cheeks with growing enthusiasm—clearly considering switching hands to keep going—
Momoka: "…Ahem."
Okay—under the subtle warning from strict-wife-mode Momoka-san, Rinto stopped at once.
He went to wash up, then started on dinner.
"Is there anything I can help with?" Nina still trailed after him, eager.
She bounced on her toes like a kid trying to prove she could be useful.
"I can make soy-sauce tofu. Mom used to let me help."
Rinto smiled. "Hmm… then, Nina, could you grab a block of tofu from the shopping street? And two cartons of milk, too—I'm making chicken-and-mushroom soup."
Unable to withstand her overflowing enthusiasm, he pulled out his wallet and handed her some cash.
Nina's face lit up. With a firm nod, she dashed out like the wind.
Morgana followed in silence, dutiful bodyguard mode on.
This girl really is adorable… Rinto couldn't hide his smile.
With the little one temporarily dispatched, Momoka leaned against the counter, giving him a knowing look.
"You and that girl are really close, huh? Anyone who didn't know better might think you two were siblings… So, what exactly did you do together? Relax, just be honest—even if you knocked her up, I wouldn't get mad."
"Of course not. I've told you a million times: my first was with you. Do you need blood as proof…? Ah, wait. We did see some that day."
"Ugh…" Momoka's face flushed scarlet; she shut up at once, digging her own grave.
A proud 20-year-old rocker dropout, letting her younger high school boyfriend catch her weak spot…
A lifetime embarrassment! If anyone in her circle found out, they'd laugh forever! ('>﹏<')
Rinto had poked her on purpose, of course.
His past with Nina wasn't easy to explain.
Skip the Metaverse, and it boils down to: he and Nina knew each other for a few days, and she dropped out and ran to Tokyo to find him—way too rock 'n roll.
So he shifted the topic.
"How did things go with Nina today? Did you check her apartment?"
"Yeah."
Momoka sprawled across the counter. "She picked up the keys from the agency. Her dad rented her a tiny one-room, but there aren't even lights yet. Honestly, living alone like that will be pretty lonely."
"We also checked out the cram school she'll attend. She's going to study on her own and aim for university, right? That's going to be seriously rough."
It was. Rinto nodded.
Because he knew exactly how brutal it is to live alone in Tokyo while cramming for entrance exams—
Truthfully, he'd rather Nina reconcile with her family and finish high school.
But with that stubborn girl, once her mind's made up, there's no turning back. Odds are she won't go home now.
This really is on me… The heavily sin-laden gentleman Rinto let out a long sigh.
"…"
Momoka had been quietly watching his profile—her younger lover.
She waited for him to take the initiative and tell her everything.
…But Rinto said nothing.
That made it clear he had secrets he was choosing not to share.
It left her a little lonely… a little uneasy.
Even though she'd said it herself—that just being his lover was enough… even though she'd accepted it—
Aware of her greedy heart, Momoka bit her lip.
"…Momoka?"
When she finally slipped her arms around him, Rinto called her name softly.
As if trying to erase Nina's scent from him, Momoka murmured, "If you don't want to talk, I won't force you. I know what kind of person you are, and I trust you. …Though you really are a shameless scumbag keeping several boats afloat."
"But I'm the one who came onto you, scumbag. I'm the one who let you become scum… So it's fine. Even if you bring that girl here to live with us, I won't mind. You can do it right in front of me, you know—need me to support you two?"
"…Momoka."
Rinto turned, pulled his lover into his arms, stroked her cheek, then gently lifted her chin.
"…"
Momoka closed her eyes, naturally accepting his affection.
She'd become completely spoiled by him.
Now she thought about Rinto all day; even her dreams were full of him holding her.
The happiness of love blew past anything she'd imagined, making all those lovey-dovey pop lyrics seem shallow—incapable of expressing even a thousandth of what she felt in body and heart.
Her chest overflowed with Rinto's love—and a fierce urge to write songs about it.
But if she let it all out, her songs would turn sticky and R18 on the spot, banned from mainstream sites.
While she was still drunk on that feeling, Rinto gently caressed her flushed cheek and met her eyes.
"Momoka, you don't have work tonight, right? Want to come with me?"
"…To the Live House where you work? In Shimokitazawa?"
She meant STARRY.
Back in her band days, she'd played plenty of Live Houses, though she'd spent more time in Shibuya than Shimokitazawa, famous for its youth-heavy girl-band scene.
But whatever… already dizzy from his affection, her brain had gone fuzzy.
"Yeah, I'll go… I want to see your workplace. Think they might hire me too?"
Rinto grinned. "Maybe. I actually think you and Seika-san would get along great."
Seika, STARRY's owner, was older than Momoka but looked similarly youthful—he really did think they'd click.
Serious talk done, the two just looked at each other.
Words weren't needed; they drifted closer, closing the distance to zero.
"…I'm back… with the things…"
Nina, who'd hurried home and was just taking off her shoes, was greeted by a scene of excellent intimacy.
Her heart tightened; her jaw set.
…The man she liked, and the idol she admired—together…
Why did two sources of happiness, combined, feel like this…?
"…Scumbag Phantom Thief… woman-stealing villain…"
Already fully aware of Rinto's many (?) relationships, Nina couldn't tell if it was jealousy or just loss.
Her nose stung; a sharp ache bloomed in her chest.
He was clearly a shameless scumbag—so why wouldn't he ever lay a hand on her…?