(Kai POV – Yokai Academy, Swim Club)
'Things should still be fine… right?' I think hopefully, stepping out of the changing room dry and back in my uniform. 'I'm sure Kurumu behaved herself after my warning, and Moka's a sweetheart, so she wouldn't cause problems. How badly could things possibly deteriorate in a few minutes?'
I walk back to the pool, and the moment I actually see them, I stop dead.
I'd braced for a lot of possible outcomes. Shouting, sulking, and even a more damaged area, but tears weren't on my list.
Much less for them to be Kurumu's tears.
She's standing, looking sad and pitiful as liquid pools in her eyes, and beside her, Moka is smiling sheepishly, scratching at her own cheek like a child caught with her hand in the biscuit tin.
'Moka… who taught you to do bad things?' I think, genuinely shaken. '…No. This is definitely a misunderstanding.' I correct myself immediately. 'This is Moka. She couldn't be mean, even if she tried. It'd only end up cute.' With that reassurance, I finally reach them.
"…What happened?" I ask carefully, and both girls turn to me. "Kurumu? Are you alright?"
Kurumu jolts, then hurriedly scrubs at her eyes with the back of her wrist and beams at me, much to my confusion.
"Never better!" She declares cheerfully, before stepping even closer and latching onto my arm. "From now on, I get to hug you whenever I want. How could I possibly not be happy?"
I blink in confusion, then look at Moka.
"…You actually agreed to that?" I ask, disbelief creeping into my voice.
Sure, somewhere down the line, in a distant, optimistic future, I'd hoped things would end up this way given enough time… but not in the few minutes it took me to change.
Moka nods, shy and pink-cheeked. Then, gathering herself, she steps up and takes my other arm, mirroring Kurumu with far less confidence and considerably more embarrassment.
"Kai." She says softly, looking up at me. "From now on… you can treat Kurumu the way you treat me. You don't have to hold back for my sake anymore." She smiles. "I don't mind."
A chill crawls straight up my spine.
'I can't say I'm super smart.' I think nervously. 'But I'm not that dumb. This has to be a test, right? Or some kind of trap? Has Moka been possessed? Replaced? Is this a doppelgänger???'
I quickly stop myself before my thoughts spiral out of control.
"Okay. Hold on." I say aloud, taking a slow breath. "Before I say anything, can someone please explain what happened while I was gone."
"Gladly~!" Kurumu chirps, eager to share, and starts recounting the story.
From Moka asking whether I like Kurumu, who could've used that insecurity to her advantage, but chose to tell the truth instead. That she'd never win, because I always put Moka first. That all Moka had to do was say the word and I'd keep my distance. And then, how after all that, Moka chose to share me and offer friendship instead.
By the time Kurumu finishes, I don't know what to say as numerous emotions well up inside me.
Guilt for making Moka feel this way. Shame for not realising her feelings all this time. I feel the same feelings towards Kurumu, because no matter the reason, I've been neglectful of her feelings.
And mixed in, is love and warmth toward Moka, who made this choice despite probably wanting me for herself… and she did it for my sake. Behind it is pride, at seeing her grow… and I can't help but find myself smiling warmly at her.
'…You've come a long way, haven't you.' I think.
"Thank you, Moka." I say quietly. Then I lean down and press a kiss to her cheek.
The reaction is instantaneous. Moka freezes, then floods red from her collarbone to the tips of her ears, both hands flying up to cover her face.
"Oh—! Huh?! I-It's nothing! It's no problem at all!" She squeaks, fanning frantically at her own cheeks.
I can't help chuckling.
"Kai!" Kurumu tugs on my other arm excitedly, eyes shining and expectant, cheek already offered. "Where's my kiss?"
"Hm?" I watch her in amusement. "And what did you do to deserve one?"
Her face immediately crumples into an adorable pout.
"Wha—?! What about all the snacks and desserts I made?" She begins listing off everything she's ever done, hoping that one of them would earn her a kiss.
And as she's speaking, I give her a peck on the cheek too.
"I was just teasing you." I shrug, but she probably didn't even hear me as she grins, lost in her own world after that, making me sigh helplessly.
"We should probably get going." I suggest, acutely aware of the dozens of hateful gazes drilling into me from every direction.
"Stealing Moka wasn't enough for him…" Someone mutters, followed by the audible grinding of teeth.
"It should've been me!" Another wails, slamming a fist against the tiles as tears stream down his face.
"Let's jump him—" Another tries, only to be interrupted by a crisp smack to the back of the head.
"Don't be an idiot! Didn't you see what he just did to the mermaids?!"
More conversations in the same vein erupt around the pool. I couldn't care less about any of their opinions, but with my hearing, the sheer volume of concentrated male despair is genuinely grating.
"Where to?" Moka asks brightly, oblivious to every single one of those stares.
"We could go check out the other clubs." I offer. "It'd be fun. And I suppose we could consider it a date."
Moka's steps falter.
"A-A date—?!" She squeaks, going pink once more. Then, after a moment of frantic internal negotiation, she gives a tiny, determined nod. "…Yes. Let's do that."
"Ooh, a date~!" Kurumu practically sings, tightening her grip on my arm. "With both of us. Our first one, too. Aren't you lucky, Kai?"
'Somehow, that makes it sound like I'm the one being taken out.'
"By the way." Kurumu tilts her head up at me. "Which club were you actually planning to join? Have you decided already, or are we just window-shopping?"
"Oh, that?" I see no reason to hide it. "The Newspaper Club. I figure it'll be the best fit once a few things get sorted out."
Moka blinks. "…Sorted out? What things?"
"Nothing worth worrying about." I say smoothly. "What do you two think?"
"If you're there, I'm happy with any club." Moka says.
"As long as I get to spend time with you, I don't care where we end up." Kurumu says at the exact same moment.
The two of them lock eyes, and for a second, familiar competitive sparks crackle between them, but they're a shadow of what they used to be, and both girls end up dissolving into giggles instead.
'…I'm glad they're getting along.' I accept it without question.
"Then let's go." I say, and we begin walking, both my arms still occupied.
We leave the swim club behind us and eventually drift back into the crowded halls, wandering with no particular destination. The corridors are still packed with booths and banners, upperclassmen shouting themselves hoarse over one another.
We don't have time to properly inspect all the clubs, so we stick to the mainstream ones and whatever catches our eye.
The Tennis Club. The Game Club. The Reading Club. All startlingly ordinary, and practically indistinguishable from human ones, apart from the occasional monster body part visible from flawed transformations.
What does stand out, though, and honestly, what I probably should've expected at a school full of monsters, is the sheer number of martial arts clubs.
"They've got one for practically every discipline. Judo, Sumo, Kenjutsu, Karate, Kicking…" I sigh, scanning the row of banners. "The list just goes on. Remembering them all is exhausting."
Unfortunately, I can't help but find them interesting. Something in my blood urges me to check it out.
At the first club, I make the mistake of stopping to watch their practice for a few minutes. That's all it takes. With both Moka and Kurumu by my side, it's impossible not to offend someone and a challenge follows moments later, backed by every hateful glare in the room.
Naturally, I don't refuse. Mainly because after watching them practice, the techniques practically embed themselves inside my mind, and I can't help but itch to try them out.
And as one would expect, after all my training, as well as the Hanma bloodline, I dominated even after disabling my Heavenly Restriction.
When I beat one person, another would challenge me, then another, and another, until eventually, I'd square up against the club president and come out victorious.
This happens at each martial arts club.
The Judo club's captain gets a lesson in why leverage means very little against overwhelming strength, before being flipped over and slammed into the ground. The Sumo club's entire starting lineup goes out of the ring in sequence, like a very slow row of dominoes. The Kenjutsu club's ace fails to even land a single hit on me, before being defeated.
I make sure to use their own techniques against them each time, as well as just my base strength. And despite that, I didn't lose a single challenge.
"They even started begging you to join their club!" Kurumu giggles as we walk away from the sixth devastated club. "As expected of my Kai!"
"You were really cool." Moka adds shyly. Then she peers up at me, curious. "Are you sure you don't want to join one? You seemed to be enjoying yourself."
"I could tell you were good after our fight, but not this good." Kurumu says, narrowing her eyes suspiciously. "Are you sure you're a beginner like you claimed?"
"Haha… it really was my first time." I cough into my fist. Which is technically true. The Hanma bloodline and all my traits just make it a spectacularly unfair first time.
"This is what it means to be talented." I say, sighing exaggeratedly. "It's so lonely at the top."
"Be for real." Kurumu rolls her eyes, hitting my arm playfully. "What's the real reason you don't join them?"
"I do enjoy fighting…" I admit. "But I'd rather be in a club all three of us can enjoy together. Besides… it got boring pretty fast."
There isn't much satisfaction when no one can challenge you, nor is there anything left to learn. I've already learned plenty, so joining the club would be a complete waste of time.
The afternoon light filtering in through the windows has gone orange by the time we've had our fill, the end of the school day creeping up on us.
"Alright." I say. "We should track down Ms. Nekonome and let her know we're joining her club."
Both girls agree, and a short trip to the teachers' lounge allows us to easily make our applications.
Given how late it was, Ms. Nekonome simply told us where to gather tomorrow for our first club meeting. With that settled, we took our leave and headed back to the dormitories together.
'Usually it's just Moka and me.' I think, listening to Moka and Kurumu chatter away beside me, heads bent together, whispering about something I respectfully choose not to eavesdrop on. 'It's a lot more lively now.'
The walk back is peaceful, and we separate at the dorms as I head up to my room alone.
And then, for the first time in a month, I lie down on my bed and close my eyes.
Not because I'm tired, since Natural Restoration removes the need for sleep entirely.
'But a lot happened today.' I think, letting my eyes fall shut. 'And I'm satisfied with all of it. Even if I don't need the rest… sleep is still nice.'
And it doesn't take long before I drift off.
(Moka POV – Yokai Academy, Dorms)
[You cannot possibly be serious about this.] The Rosary at my chest speaks up again, voice sharp with indignation, as Kurumu and I make our way down the dormitory hall. [Have you lost every scrap of decency you possess?]
"…It really does talk." Kurumu mutters, staring at the cross with wide eyes. Then she gives a full-body shiver, and wisely says nothing further. I don't think she's forgotten what the other me is like.
"It's… it's not that bad. Right?" I ask with more uncertainty than I'd have liked, my face feeling like it's on fire. "Kai would be happy. He said so himself."
"Exactly!" Kurumu spins to face me, walking backwards down the corridor. "He asked for this. All we're doing is being considerate and fulfilling his wishes!"
[He did not beg.]
"He implied it very strongly." Kurumu adds.
[He was teasing her, you weren't even there—]
"Details." Kurumu waves a hand airily. "Besides, Moka, it's not like we're doing anything weird. It's just showing some skin. People see skin everywhere."
…When she puts it that way, it does sound perfectly reasonable.
[Do NOT let a succubus define what's 'reasonable' for you.] The other me's voice climbs. [Other me. Listen to me carefully. You are being led by the nose by a girl whose entire species specializes in exactly this!]
"I did think about it." I say quietly, pressing a hand over the cross. "I thought about it a lot, actually. And I'm sure it'll make Kai very happy."
He's done so much for me. He's protected me, reassured me, told me over and over to put myself first… and he's never really asked me for anything in return.
So when he finally did ask for something, even jokingly… I want to give it to him. Even if my heart is beating hard enough to hurt.
[…You can still turn back, you know.] Other me tries again. [It isn't too late. Simply think on it a while longer. A week. A year. Preferably forever.]
"…I've already decided."
There's a long, weighty silence.
[…Fine.] She says at last, in the flat tone of someone washing their hands of the entire affair. [Do as you like. But I refuse to be a part of this.]
And with that, she goes silent.
"Is she gone?" Kurumu asks, delighted.
"I… think so." I mumble.
"Perfect. No chaperone." She grins. "Come on!"
Before I can lose what little nerve I've built up, we reach Kai's door. My hand trembles slightly as I fish out the spare key he gave me, and unlock the door, before slipping inside.
The room is quiet and dim, the lights turned off. And sprawled on the bed with one arm flung over his stomach, is Kai, fast asleep, his breathing slow and even.
My heart lurches straight into my throat.
"H-He's asleep." I whisper frantically, already halfway to backing out the door. "M-Maybe we should come back another—"
"Nope." Kurumu catches my sleeve without even looking. "He's already starting to wake up. Trust me, I can tell." She leans in, whispering right against my ear, practically vibrating with glee. "Now hurry up and take it off before he opens his eyes!"
"E-Eh—?!" I squeak, but Kurumu is already shrugging out of her uniform.
My face burns so hot I'm genuinely worried I might pass out. My fingers fumble at my own buttons, clumsy and shaking, as I slowly work my uniform loose.
'Kai said he wanted to see me like this.' I think, hugging my arms across myself, cheeks burning, heart hammering against my ribs. 'So this will make him happy… right?'
**************
A/N: Hello Everyone! How are you all doing? If you've enjoyed the chapter and book thus far, please consider leaving me some comments, reviews, or power stones. It really helps the book out.
I believe there's a term for this specific kind of cliffhanger, but language is diverse, so I won't dive into it. To be fair, it does seem out of character, and like things are moving very fast... But trust in me, the author! Have I ever fumbled the bag that badly😭 (actually, don't answer that. I'd prefer blind faith of I could get it🫠).
So, let's pretend it'll all make sense soon, and trust the process 👀. Beyond that... This chapter was hard for me, mainly because I didn't know how to treat Moka and Kurumu and the sudden shift in dynamics. But, I figured it part way through, hopefully.
You can also read 10 chapters ahead and support me at [email protected]/AMV_WEAKLY
Anyway, it's late, and I don't have much else to say, so hopefully you enjoyed it, and have a wonderful rest of your day/night 🌃