Ichika stepped out of her manager's sleek black car, the cool evening air a welcome contrast to the stuffy confines of the vehicle. Her mind was still buzzing, replaying the lines she'd rehearsed, dissecting every nuance of her performance at the audition. Was that inflection right? Did I convey enough emotion in that last scene? She chewed on her lip, lost in thought, when suddenly, a boy's face flashed into her mind.
A jolt went through her. Shigeno Ren. The name, once a faint echo, was now deeply imprinted in her consciousness. She remembered him, the boy she liked, the one who had comforted her after her first audition rejection, the one who had spoken of a "harem" with such earnestness. It had been a month since she'd last seen him, a month of missing his quiet presence, his unexpected charm. The thought that becoming an actress would surely bring them together again had been a quiet motivation, pushing her forward.
Ichika was about to enter her apartment building, her thoughts still consumed by Ren, when her movement abruptly halted. A familiar figure stood directly in front of her, as if conjured from her very thoughts. Ren.
No time wasted. A wide, unbidden smile bloomed on her face, and she ran towards him, her heart pounding with a mixture of excitement and long-suppressed longing. Ren, seeing her approach, looked surprised, a faint smile touching his lips. He seemed to brace himself, anticipating a hug. But as Ichika reached him, her hand shot out, connecting with a soft smack against his cheek.
Ren blinked, startled by the unexpected slap. Before he could react, Ichika surged forward, her lips crashing against his. The force of her momentum, coupled with Ren's surprise, sent them both tumbling. Ren landed on his back on the pavement, the air rushing out of him, with Ichika now sprawled on top of him, her body pressed intimately against his.
Ichika's face was a furious shade of crimson, her breath coming in ragged gasps, but her eyes, wide and shining, held an undeniable triumph. "I'm your girlfriend now!" she declared, her voice a little breathless, her gaze locked with his. "Is that clear?"
Ren, still slightly dazed, managed a soft "Yes."
And then, their lips met again, a deeper, more passionate kiss this time, fueled by a month of unspoken longing and the sudden, exhilarating reality of their reunion. Fortunately, the street was deserted, the late hour ensuring no prying eyes witnessed their impromptu, dramatic confession.
Ichika, her face still burning, quickly pulled away, scrambling off Ren. "Come on!" she urged, grabbing his hand and pulling him to his feet. "My sisters might see us!" She dragged him away from the building, her urgency overriding any lingering embarrassment.
They found refuge in a quiet, dimly lit cafe nearby. After ordering their drinks, they settled into a secluded booth, the soft hum of conversation around them providing a comforting backdrop. They spent the next hour catching up, recounting the events of the past month. Ichika spoke of her auditions, her acting classes, and the relentless pursuit of her dream. Ren, in turn, shared snippets of his new life at Yuragi Inn, carefully omitting any supernatural details or his reality-altering powers.
Ichika realized, as they talked, that their secret meetings over the past year had ensured her sisters knew nothing of Ren. She had deliberately kept him separate, not wanting to share him. But now that he was her boyfriend, her mind, despite its initial possessiveness, acknowledged the reality of his "harem" ambition. She wouldn't stop him, she decided, but she needed to control the influx of new girls. The best way to do that, she reasoned, was to introduce him to her sisters first. She didn't want any awkwardness later, any uncomfortable surprises. A pang of regret hit her – she was already too late.
Reluctantly, as the cafe began to empty, Ichika announced that she needed to go. "We'll see each other tomorrow, right?" she asked, her gaze hopeful.
"Of course," Ren replied. "Meet me on the rooftop during lunch break."
Ichika's eyes lit up. "Okay! See you then!"
As they prepared to leave, Ren stopped her. "Let me take you home, Ichika," he said, his voice a low, sweet murmur. "I'd hate to be apart from you so soon after finding you again."
Ichika wanted to refuse, to maintain the illusion of secrecy, but Ren's words, his gentle insistence, melted her resolve. "Only to the outside of the building," she conceded, a faint blush returning to her cheeks.
They left the cafe, their hands intertwined, a silent testament to their newfound intimacy. They walked like true lovers, their steps in sync, neither wanting to let go. Ichika's heart fluttered, a profound sense of comfort settling over her. This feeling, this connection with Ren, was everything she had secretly yearned for.
As they arrived in front of her apartment building, Ichika turned to Ren, her eyes shining. Before she could pull her hand away, she leaned in, pressing one last, lingering kiss to his lips. It was a soft, tender kiss, a promise of tomorrow.
But as their lips parted, the main door of the building suddenly swung open.
Nino, Yotsuba, Miku, and Itsuki. All four of her sisters stood there, frozen, their eyes wide with shock. They had just stepped out, perhaps for an evening stroll or a late-night snack, and had stumbled upon Ichika and Ren, caught in the act of kissing, their hands still intimately clasped.
Ichika gasped, her face draining of color. Her heart leaped into her throat, and she immediately distanced herself from Ren, her hand flying to her mouth. The sheer embarrassment of being caught, of her sisters seeing her so utterly, shamelessly in love, was overwhelming.
Before Ichika could stammer out an explanation, Nino, her eyes narrowed and a furious blush coloring her cheeks, strode forward. She grabbed Ichika's arm, pulling her away from Ren with surprising force. "Thank you for taking her home," Nino said to Ren, her voice clipped and cold, a clear dismissal. "You can leave now."
Nino, along with Miku and Yotsuba, quickly pulled Ichika away, ushering her towards the building entrance. Itsuki, however, lingered for a moment, her gaze fixed on Ren. She looked at him with a strange mix of surprise and curiosity, a silent question in her dark blue eyes. Nino, noticing her hesitation, called out, "Itsuki! Come on!" With a final, lingering glance at Ren, Itsuki reluctantly turned and followed her sisters inside.
Now alone on the street, Ren watched the door close behind them. He sighed, a faint smirk playing on his lips. This might be a problem, he mused, but he felt no real concern. In fact, a new target had already solidified in his mind.