On the Wednesday after the following week, Minamoto Senya politely declined the invitation from the fashionable girls in the class next door to go shopping and sing karaoke, smiling as he did so, and walked out of the school gate with Rokka and Eriri.
"Senya, it feels like it's been ages since you've walked home with us after school like this," Rokka remarked, falling in step beside him.
She held a shaved ice from the school store in one hand, as did Eriri, and as she spoke, her little pink tongue peeked out, streaked green from the food coloring.
"Has it?"
Senya knew it was true, yet he answered casually, not lifting his eyes from his phone. Right now, he had no time to engage in idle chatter. He was reviewing the work schedule Miyo Kudo had just sent him for the latter half of the week.
Although he had already successfully handled the situation with Tohka, in the grand scheme of his ambitious "life roadmap," this was merely a milestone victory.
There were still unresolved matters, and further effort would be required.
Buying a car for Riko's mother, plus the unrestrained beach trip, had significantly drained his savings. For someone at his level, these expenses were manageable, but in Tokyo, a global metropolis, he was still far from the upper echelons of society—financially, he had barely reached a comfortable middle-class standard.
Only someone naive in love would think that romance alone could guarantee happiness. Bread, after all, is just as important.
Ancient wisdom had long warned that "poverty makes for unhappy marriages," and Senya wanted to provide a bright future for them—not just with words, but with tangible effort. Love mattered, but material security needed to keep pace.
Although the Tokushima and Yukinoshita households were far from lacking in money, he still wanted to rely on his own efforts, both as a display of personal ability and to ensure he wouldn't fall behind.
"Geez, Senya, you're so dismissive." Rokka pouted, spooning a bite of shaved ice.
Senya continued scrolling on his phone, avoiding a protruding pole on the sidewalk without lifting his head. "I'm working for our future, which technically means your future too. Don't you want a life where you don't have to work and can just eat and drink comfortably?"
Rokka's eyes lit up in an instant. "I do! Big Brother!"
"Then quit complaining. Shaved ice isn't stopping your mouth from moving, right?"
"Geez… I just meant that it's been so long since we've been this close to you."
With a playful tone, Rokka looped her arm around Senya's and leaned in. Despite his often careless attitude toward school and life, Senya couldn't ignore the physical reality: her body was well-developed.
In summer, with thin clothing, he could immediately feel her warmth pressing against him in two distinct places.
"Remember, my future depends entirely on you, Onii-chan!"
"…Right."
Senya pocketed his phone after reviewing the schedule. He turned his head, meeting Rokka's sparkling gaze.
Feeling his presence, she twisted slightly, causing subtle friction between their bodies—a display of her overflowing little-sister cuteness.
Of course, nothing improper—there was no blood relation.
Yet Senya couldn't tell if his sudden stirrings were due to the summer heat, or that stolen kiss earlier that morning between Riko's mother and Tohka. Instead of satisfying him, it had only stirred more desire.
In any case, as he looked at Rokka clinging to his arm, a strange realization struck him: this little idiot, on closer inspection, was actually quite pretty.
"You're too embarrassing, Rokka. Don't you have your own dreams?" Eriri finally interjected.
Rokka proudly declared, "My dream is for Senya to work hard and become the richest man in the world, and then I'll live comfortably in his rice bin like a proper lazy girl!"
"That's only if Tohka-sis isn't around," Eriri added.
"Even if she were here, I'd still say it!" Rokka's tone, however, had noticeably softened.
"Alright, alright…" Seizing the opportunity, Senya gently withdrew his arm from her hug. This little one was not to be underestimated.
He shifted the topic. "…Seriously, Rokka, you really don't mind wearing that bandage in this heat?"
"It's a bit hot, but bearable," she said, raising her left arm proudly. "…My right arm, which seals the World-Ending Dragon, carries the fate of protecting all humanity!"
Senya regarded her like a parent indulging a child, patting her head. Cute, yes—but terminally delusional.
Earlier, he had fleetingly considered Rokka attractive in a certain way… but she was just a mascot—fun, harmless, no heroine responsibilities.
Eriri reported, "Senya, when we had lunch together, Rokka took off her bandage. Her arm was really red, and you could see a few little spots."
Rokka panicked. "Hey! Eriri! You were supposed to keep it a secret!"
Eriri shrugged with an exasperated smile. "I'm looking out for you. You'd get heat rash if you kept going like that."
And yes, tightly bandaging one's arm in summer prevents sweat from evaporating, letting it ferment under the bandage—a smell would inevitably develop. Similar to what happens with lunchbox socks.
"You know what to do now, right?" Eriri asked.
"I know! I'll take it off at home… Senya, you're just like Tohka now."
Ignoring Rokka's muttering, Senya asked Eriri, "By the way, do you have a new work coming up?"
Before Eriri could answer, Rokka piped up, "Really?"
Senya nodded. "Yes, a romance story about three protagonists, well-written emotionally, and the plot is exciting too."
Rokka's eyes widened. "I'll check it out and support your sales!"
To an outside observer, this seemed like a normal conversation—but Eriri's face flushed red, clutching her ice, wishing she could hide her embarrassment.
Yes, Senya was referring to the adult doujinshi she had published online under the name Kashiwagi Eriri, over sixty pages including settings. Naturally, the male lead was modeled after him, and the two female leads were herself and Shirokawa Shiina.
The story explored betrayal and NTR themes, with her character intervening between an engaged couple, seducing the groom and continuing a secret relationship, eventually bearing a child. Essentially, she vented all the frustration she had felt toward Shiina in real life.
"Uh… it's not that amazing. But Senya actually reading it so soon surprised me," Eriri said, flustered.
She hoped he hadn't noticed she put him into the story—though she had given her character pink twin-tails to prevent suspicion.
The previous work's popularity had drawn high praise, but some idiots had suggested swapping the roles of the female leads. Naturally, Eriri had deleted the offensive comments with authority.
Senya, of course, had no idea of the drama playing out in her mind. He only thought back to the last time Tohka had mimicked the poses in Eriri's doujinshi—his mind went slightly wild.
"Your recent work is really improving. The human expressions are vivid, almost like real photos," he praised.
"…Thanks, I've been more focused lately," she admitted.
Seeing Rokka distracted by a nearby figurine store, Senya leaned toward Eriri, lowering his voice.
"What kind of work are you planning next?"
"I… haven't decided yet."
"Why not try a maid theme? A devoted maid, willing to give everything for her master… over-the-knee socks, classic Victorian black-and-white outfit, maybe a specific apron… It's sure to hit hard. Just a short piece, see fan reactions, no need for a long story."
"…That does sound good. I'll give it a try next time."
"Show me first thing when it's done. I'll reward you."
"No need~"
After a brief visit to the figurine store, the three went to the station. They parted ways, boarding different trains.
Eriri's cheeks burned as she clutched her fists. It had been a long time since she'd talked about her doujinshi with Senya like that!
A maid theme… he liked that type of thing.
She blushed, thinking he might be hinting he wanted to see her in a maid outfit.
Meanwhile, Senya imagined Tohka mimicking the poses in Eriri's doujinshi again—bringing a big surprise.
"I'm home!"
"You're back, Senya."
"Yes, I'm back!"
"Wait, Rokka, where are you going?"
"I bought something on the way home. I'm going to put it away!"
Rokka darted upstairs, carrying something between her legs, ignoring her sister's curious gaze.
Tohka asked Senya, "What did she buy?"
"An anime-collaboration floor mat, I think." He took Tohka's backpack naturally. "Mom?"
"She's back. Bought some cakes, delivering them to neighbors. She'll be back soon."
"Did you tell her about the car?"
"Not yet. You prepared it with your heart, so you should be the one to tell her."
"Yours, mine… it's all the same," Senya said, reaching to hug her.
"Nope."
Tohka cleverly stepped back, avoiding him.
Once inside, Senya understood her reason: little Chiyo was in the living room, in the play area Tohka had carefully arranged.
The area was fenced with plastic, padded, and filled with soft toys. Chiyo was at the crawling-and-babbling stage. Tohka had agreed that no one should know about her relationship with Senya—not even Chiyo.
"Geez, it's fine at the entrance…"
Senya removed his shoes, entered, and sat cross-legged, picking up Chiyo.
Tohka smiled, resting her cheek on her hand. Normally, she'd be preparing dinner, but today they were eating out, so she had free time.
Soon, Rokka came down from the second floor. She saw Tohka cracking walnuts on the sofa, the kernels neatly plated, and tried to grab some.
Tohka's quick hand smacked her wrist. "Do it yourself if you want some."
Rokka pouted but accepted it—it was normal for a caring sister not to spoil her.
Then she saw Senya approaching, carrying Chiyo, and feeding himself three walnut kernels straight from the plate.
Her face instantly turned red.
Watching Senya stroll away with Chiyo, and Tohka unmoved, she pounded the table with both hands.
"Sis, that's unfair!"
"What?"
"Why are you giving the walnuts you shelled to Senya but not to me?"
"I didn't say I'd give them to him."
"I saw it!"
"I didn't allow it. He took them himself."
"But I…"
"I can't beat him, but I can beat you. Survival of the fittest, got it?"
"…."
Tohka's casual words left Rokka speechless. Upon reflection, it made sense… yet still felt off.
Soon, Riko's mother returned.
"Senya, Mom's back."
Tohka shouted toward the yard, then turned to her mother.
"Mom, Senya wants to tell you something."
"Something to tell me?" Riko's mother smiled at Tohka, noting little Rokka's attentiveness and the cold drink in her hand—something good was coming.
"Senya, what's the matter?"
"Well, Mom, after discussing with Tohka, we realized it might be inconvenient for you without a car. So we bought one for you. It's already arrived—we're going to pick it up now."
Riko's mother widened her eyes, loosening her grip on the drink. Luckily, Tohka's quick reflexes saved the half-full drink from spilling.