The apartment door slammed shut, cutting off the cool night air and plunging Ichika into the suffocating heat of her sisters' collective gaze. Nino, her face a mask of furious indignation, still gripped Ichika's arm, her knuckles white. Miku stood silently beside her, her expression unreadable, but her eyes, usually soft, held a sharpness Ichika rarely saw. Yotsuba, ever the innocent, bounced slightly on the balls of her feet, a confused frown on her face. Only Itsuki, at the back of the group, seemed less overtly confrontational, a thoughtful, almost curious, look in her dark blue eyes.
"Ichika!" Nino's voice was a low, dangerous hiss. "What was that?! Who was that boy?! And why were you kissing him?!"
Ichika flinched, her cheeks burning even hotter. Her mind raced, desperate for an explanation, but her tongue felt tied. "I… I can explain, Nino!" she stammered, trying to pull away.
"Explain what?!" Nino demanded, tightening her grip. "That you've been secretly seeing some boy and didn't tell us? That you're just going to kiss him in front of our own building like that?!"
"He's… he's my boyfriend!" Ichika blurted out, the words tumbling out before she could stop them. The admission, while true, only seemed to fuel Nino's fury.
"Boyfriend?!" Nino scoffed, her voice rising. "Since when do you have a boyfriend, Ichika?! And why haven't we met him? Why were you sneaking around?!"
Miku, usually reserved, finally spoke, her voice quiet but firm. "Ichika, is this true? Have you really been hiding him from us?"
Ichika's shoulders slumped. "I… I didn't mean to hide him. It just… happened." She glanced at Yotsuba, who looked genuinely bewildered, then at Itsuki, whose gaze was still fixed on her, a silent question in her eyes.
"This is unacceptable!" Nino declared, releasing Ichika's arm only to cross her own, her stance challenging. "You're our sister! We share everything! How could you keep something like this from us?"
The interrogation continued, a barrage of questions and accusations that left Ichika feeling cornered and overwhelmed. She tried to explain about Ren's unique personality, about their accidental meetings, about her own feelings, but every word felt inadequate against Nino's righteous anger. She couldn't, wouldn't, reveal the "harem" part. Not yet.
Meanwhile, back on the deserted street, Ren watched the apartment door close. He chuckled softly to himself. "Well, that was… eventful." He rubbed his cheek where Ichika had slapped him, a faint smile on his lips. It was a good slap, he mused, a sign of her passion. The subsequent kiss, however, had more than made up for it.
His mind immediately shifted to Itsuki. Her lingering glance, that subtle curiosity in her eyes as Nino pulled Ichika away. Yes, she was definitely next. The 'Ticket of Talent' he had used, making him naturally charming to any woman, was already working its magic, even on the seemingly unapproachable Nakano quintuplets. This would be a challenge, a delightful game of cat and mouse, and he relished it.
The next morning, Ren woke early, the familiar routine of Yuragi Inn a comforting backdrop. He completed his chores with his usual efficiency, earning his daily Reality Ticket. He decided to save it for now, preferring to rely on his natural charm and strategic planning for his next move.
At school, the atmosphere in the Nakano sisters' class was noticeably tense. Itsuki, though outwardly composed, found her thoughts constantly drifting to Ren. She tried to focus on her studies, but the image of him and Ichika kissing, the way Ichika had looked so utterly smitten, kept replaying in her mind. It was unsettling.
During the morning break, Ren found himself surrounded by a small group of classmates, their faces alight with curiosity. "Hey, Ren," one of them began, "we saw you walking with Ichika Nakano yesterday. Are you two… dating?"
Ren smiled with a casual, charming shrug, but inwardly he was surprised that some students had seen them together. "We're friends," he replied, carefully choosing his words. Ren wanted to admit that she was indeed his girlfriend, but he needed permission from Ichika to decide whether to expose their relationship or not. Ren didn't really care about society, but he needed to get along with them to survive in this small world called school. "Just catching up. She's a new transfer, so I was showing her around a bit." He deftly steered the conversation to other topics, his 'Ticket of Charm' working its subtle magic, deflecting their curiosity without raising too much suspicion.
Itsuki, overhearing the conversation outside of Ren's classroom, felt a strange mix of relief and disappointment. Friends? So it wasn't serious. But then, why had Ichika looked so… in love? The conflicting information only deepened her confusion.
Lunch break finally arrived. Ren made his way to the rooftop, the crisp air a welcome change from the bustling hallways. Ichika was already there, leaning against the railing, gazing out at the city skyline. She turned as he approached, her face still a little flushed from the previous night's confrontation.
"Ren-kun!" she greeted, a soft smile touching her lips. "I'm glad you came."
"Of course," Ren replied, settling beside her. "So, how was the interrogation?"
Ichika sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Nino was furious. She demanded to know everything. I told them you were my boyfriend, but… I couldn't tell them about us meeting a year ago. It was too much." She paused, then looked at him, her eyes serious. "Ren-kun, I know you want a harem. And I'm okay with that. But… I need to introduce you to my sisters. Properly. Before anyone else falls for you."
Ren raised an eyebrow. "You want to introduce me to them?"
"Yes," Ichika affirmed, her resolve firm. "It's better this way. I don't want things to be awkward between them and you, or between them and me. They're my family. And I… I want them to accept you." She paused, a faint blush returning. "And maybe… maybe it'll make it harder for them to fall for you if they know you're already with me." She knew it was a long shot, but she had to try.
Ren chuckled softly. "Alright, Ichika. I understand." He didn't comment on her last statement, knowing the futility of it. Ren has his reality tickets, so the stage is already set. The Nakano sisters were destined to fall for him, one way or another. But he would play along, for Ichika's sake, and for the sheer enjoyment of the unfolding drama.
"So," Ichika continued, "how about we have dinner together tonight? All of us. You, me, and my sisters."
Ren considered it. This was an excellent opportunity. He could observe them, learn their personalities, and begin to subtly work his charm. "Sounds like a plan," he said, a confident smile on his face. "Just tell me where and when."
Ichika beamed, a wave of relief washing over her. "Great! I'll text you the details." She then leaned in, pressing a quick, soft kiss to his cheek. "See you tonight, Ren-kun."
As Ichika left the rooftop, Ren remained for a moment, gazing out at the school grounds. His gaze drifted to the classroom windows below, specifically to Itsuki's section. Tonight, he will meet all of them. And Itsuki, with her thoughtful eyes and quiet curiosity, would be his next focus. The game was on.