Chapter 3: Fetal Movement Of String

It was late April, and the cherry blossoms had begun to fall.

For some reason, I felt a sense of regret as this year’s cherry blossoms scattered. With Golden Week just around the corner, the atmosphere in the school was somewhat restless.

Apparently, not all schools have Golden Week as a consecutive holiday, but at Kutsuzuka High, the break runs from April 27th to 29th, and then from May 3rd to 6th, following the calendar closely.

Optional supplementary lessons, part-time jobs, mini trips, and dates.

The students’ plans for the holiday varied widely.

As for me, Kei Kyosaka, my Golden Week schedule is packed.

The first three-day weekend is, of course, dedicated to my part-time job.

The second four-day weekend is reserved for a family outing with my dad and Akari.

We’re not well-off, but camping is a way to have fun without spending much money. We’re planning a three-night, four-day camping trip on a mountain in the Hanase area of Sakyo Ward.

I’m really looking forward to it. As I was thinking this, I noticed Karasumaru-san glancing at me while I was taking notes in my Math I notebook.

When our eyes met, she quickly looked away and returned her gaze to her textbook.

She’s been like this lately. Did I do something wrong? I can’t think of anything, which makes it even more troubling. When we’re alone, she’s usually more forward.

Like in the bike parking area.

Or on the rooftop.

Or by the gym.

In secluded spots, she often joins me for lunch during breaks.

Sometimes she even brings snacks, and before I know it, the lunch break is over. But in the classroom, she just looks at me from afar with a cotton-candy-like expression.

Something still feels off.

Fourth period was homeroom, and we used the time to change seats.

From what I’ve heard, most schools have their first seat change in late April, after the new school year starts.

Right after class assignments, relationships are still forming, so there’s often tension. To avoid this, they wait a bit before changing seats.

I don’t have many friends, and I’m not the type to get worked up over seat changes. So, I watched as my classmates drew lots, feeling somewhat detached.

“Yoshioka, what number did you get?”

“Seven. It’s the seat right in front of me. Ugh.”

“Aw, that’s too bad. Well, it’s not easy to get number six. The window seat at the very back, plus seats five, eleven, and twelve—you’ve probably used up all your luck for this lifetime.”

“To think I’d burn through all my luck just being one seat off…”

Yoshioka-kun and Maruyama-kun, sitting in front of me, lamented as they compared their lot numbers.

The boys were all hoping to draw number six, so I followed their lead and glanced at the seating chart on the blackboard.

I see. Seat five is Karasumaru-san, seat eleven is Ono-san, and seat twelve is Daigo-san. The three most beautiful girls in school are arranged in an inverted L-shape around that seat, as if the gods themselves had planned it.

Well, it doesn’t matter much to me.

As they say, “Wherever you live becomes your home.” No matter where I sit, it won’t make much difference to me.

“Next, Kyosaka-kun, come up.”

Class rep Misasagi-san called me, and I walked up to the box containing the lots.

I drew a folded piece of paper from the box on the podium and opened it.

“What number did you get?”

“Uh… oh. Number six.”

“Whaaat?!”

“No way… of all people, Kyosaka?! Kyosaka?!”

I wish they wouldn’t say important things twice like that.

“You two, quiet down. Next person.”

Once everyone had drawn their lots, we started moving to our new seats.

As I lifted my desk to move, I noticed Karasumaru-san smiling slyly at me. Her masked smile was unbearably cute.

Maybe I was just overthinking it. It doesn’t seem like I did anything wrong after all.

With that, I piled my things onto my new seat, determined by the lottery.

“Okei-san, don’t stare at me during class, okay?”

Ono-san teased me from the seat diagonally in front of me.

“That might be hard—oh… sorry.”

Oops. I accidentally let my true feelings slip.

“…Don’t apologize now. It’s embarrassing…”

Ono-san fiddled with her hair, turning away shyly.

“…Okei-san, you’re such a womanizer.”

Ouch. Even my friends are calling me a womanizer now.

“I think Tsukasa’s just self-destructing. Kyosaka-kun, let’s get along from now on, okay?”

Daigo-san, sitting to my right, chimed in.

“Yeah, let’s.”

“Kyosaka, got a minute?”

Karasumaru-san, sitting in front of me, twisted around to whisper to me.

“What’s up?”

“It’s nothing major, but… you only acted sweet to Tsukasa. Only to Tsukasa.”

“Huh? What was that?”

The last part was muttered like a curse, so I couldn’t quite catch it.

“N-never mind. Anyway, can we exchange LINE IDs?”

Karasumaru-san pulled her smartphone out of her blazer pocket.

“I’m the only one who doesn’t have your contact info, and it’s been bothering me lately…”

Ah, I see. That’s why she’s been glancing at me during class.

She could’ve just asked me during break.

“I’ve been wanting to ask too, so sure. What’s your ID?”

“Really? Okay, I’ll show you my QR code, so you can—”

After exchanging contact info with Karasumaru-san, I noticed some whispering around me.

“Kyosaka’s been getting awfully close to those three lately…”

Some of the boys were glaring at me, though it wasn’t exactly out of envy. The girls, too, were murmuring things like, “Since when…?” “The only cute one…” “He’s finally where he belongs,” though I couldn’t quite grasp the meaning behind their words.

Well, there’s no point in worrying about it. I’m used to it.

But one thing that’s definitely different now is that the three most beautiful girls in school are interacting with me even in the classroom.

Also… Ishida-kun sometimes gives me a thumbs-up and looks at me with a warm expression.

(Maybe he’s accepted me as a comrade?)

As I was pondering this, my phone vibrated in my pocket.

It was a message from Karasumaru-san.

Her LINE icon was an SD illustration of the popular VTuber “Otowa Tenshi,” which hinted at her surprisingly trendy taste. I’m not too familiar with VTubers, but my younger sister is a huge fan, so I knew about her.

Does Karasumaru-san like her too? Putting that aside, the message read: “Do you have work today? Any plans after school?”

After a moment’s thought, I replied: “No work today. I promised my sister I’d make her a delicious curry, so I’m stopping by the supermarket on the way home.”

“I’d like to try your curry too.”

Along with the text, she sent a sticker of a pair of eyes staring longingly.

“I’ll make some for you next time.”

“Really? Promise?”

“Yeah, promise.”

“Thanks. I’ll look forward to it.”

A series of stickers followed, ending with one of her doing a victory pose, which made me chuckle.

From the seat in front of me, Karasumaru-san, resting her chin on her hand, let out a happy “Ehehe.”

The supermarket “Saturday” located along the Nara Road is on the way to school and has a wide variety of products.

By the way, Nara Road refers to National Route 24, which runs from central Kyoto through Fushimi and leads to Nara Prefecture. For locals, it’s a familiar highway, and if you live in the city, chances are you’ve traveled this road by bicycle or motorcycle at some point.

But let’s get back to the story.

I often find myself at “Saturday.” It’s conveniently located for a quick stop on the way home, and the prices are very affordable.

Today, I bought ingredients like onions, potatoes, and carrots. I already have frozen pork at home, and there’s still some spice and curry roux left, so I didn’t need to buy anything extra.

“Hello, Kei-chan. Oh, are you making curry today? You’re really becoming quite the homemaker, aren’t you?”

Izumi-san, a neighbor I’m quite close with, greeted me as I was browsing the vegetable section, holding an eco-bag.

“Hello. What are you making today, Izumi-san?”

After a brief greeting, I asked.

“The season for yellowtail is almost over, so I thought I’d make some teriyaki.”

“I see. It’s around 4 PM now, so you might want to wait until 5 PM. They usually put discount stickers on by then.”

“Do you think I should wait? It’s really tough with all these price increases everywhere.”

“It’s really depressing. Let’s both try to save where we can.”

After exchanging such words with Izumi-san, I headed to the checkout with a green plastic basket.

As I finished paying and stepped outside, the sky was beginning to take on the hues of twilight.

Then, I felt a tap on my shoulder from behind.

In the asphalt parking lot, shadows stretching long, I turned around to find a beautiful girl in uniform wearing a black mask staring at me.

“K-Karasumaru-san?”

I was quite, no, very surprised.

Seeing my reaction, Karasumaru-san clasped her hands together apologetically. Although her expression was hard to read because of the mask, her gesture clearly indicated an apology.

“Sorry, Kyosaka. Did I startle you?”

“Y-yeah, a bit.”

“I meant to call out to you sooner, but I lost the right moment. I was wondering when you’d turn around, and it was hard not to laugh.”

“Wait, were you following me the whole time?”

“Well, yeah… I wasn’t hiding or anything.”

“From school, all the way?”

“Yeah. I’m sorry. You just didn’t notice me at all.”

Karasumaru-san clasped her hands together again in apology.

Honestly, I was very embarrassed, but more than that, I was curious about the motive behind Karasumaru-san’s strange behavior (?).

“So, what’s up?”

When I asked, Karasumaru-san squinted her eyes and took a step closer to me.

“Kyosaka, you’re off work today, right? I know you have plans with your sister, but can you spare a little time? There’s something I want to discuss.”

“D-discuss?”

“Yeah. Tsukasa is also involved. Is that okay?”

“Uh, sure…”

“Then let’s go to Kameda. It’s a nice, quiet place.”

Kameda, as in Kameda Coffee Shop, right?

“I can only drink sweet coffee, is that okay?”

“That’s so cute. Kyosaka, you really are an adult, huh?”

“I think that’s more like a kid’s taste. Are you teasing me?”

“No, I just think it’s nice that you don’t try to act all grown-up.”

Karasumaru-san said this and then grabbed my wrist, pulling me along.

The touch of her soft, delicate hand made my heart skip a beat.

Izumi-san, who had just finished shopping and came out of the store, watched us with a knowing smile. We’re not lovers, just so you know.

The shop that Karasumaru-san brought me to was a café called Kameda Coffee, a chain that originated in Nagoya and has expanded nationwide. It was quietly nestled along the Kyoto Outer Loop Road, but as expected of a national chain, the interior was spacious.

The café was not only known for its coffee but also for its delicious meals. One of the popular menu items was the morning set, which included coffee, toast, and a boiled egg. I vaguely remember my grandparents, who live in Shiga, mentioning something like that a long time ago.

When Karasumaru-san and I reached the four-seater table at the very back, Ono-san waved and said, “Hey, Okei-han!” I raised my hand slightly in response.

“Come on, sit down.”

“Ah, yeah.”

“Kyosaka, you’re sitting next to me.”

Pulled by Karasumaru-san, I sat down beside her.

We placed the plastic bag containing curry ingredients on the red sofa and ordered drinks, then started chatting.

After a while, the staff brought us an iced café au lait, an Americano, and a “White Noir” (a dessert with soft serve ice cream on top of a Danish pastry).

“I’ll cover this. Okei-han, feel free to order anything you want.”

“I can’t let you do that.”

“It’s fine, it’s fine. Consider it a thank-you for coming along on such short notice.”

Feeling a bit guilty, I took a sip of the iced café au lait. Karasumaru-san, who was on a diet, didn’t even touch her water.

“So, Daigo-san isn’t here today, huh?”

“Oh, you noticed?”

“Sakurako has an important mission.”

“Mission?”

“Yep.”

“I’ll explain later.”

Ono-san and Karasumaru-san exchanged glances and laughed, then gave me a meaningful look.

What’s going on? I have a bad feeling about this. No, it’s not just a bad feeling—it’s a terrible one. They both have the faces of kids plotting something mischievous.

To calm myself, I took another sip of the café au lait. It tasted like nothing.

“Tsukasa, take it away.”

“Here, the bra.”

Ono-san took out a large tablet from her bag and placed it on the table.

There was a time when multi-level marketing schemes were rampant in cafés, but surely these two aren’t involved in something shady… right? I braced myself.

“Alright, let me explain.”

“Ah, okay…”

“Right now, the three of us are working on a creative project, and we’re looking for someone to help us. We wanted your sister to understand the situation, so we sent Sakurako to explain things to her.”

“Sorry, but I’m not following at all.”

“Well, to put it simply, we want your family to know about us properly so they don’t think this is some shady part-time job. We want them to feel at ease.”

I was even more confused.

‘So they don’t think this is some shady part-time job.’

That phrase alone already sounds suspicious. Ignoring my confusion, Ono-san started operating the tablet with practiced ease.

“Here, take a look. This is our circle’s monthly sales.”

“Circle?”

“It’s a doujin circle that I, Tsukasa, and Sakurako started. We haven’t told you yet, Kyosaka, but we’re actually creators.”

“Creators?”

“Yep. In this day and age, if you register a circle on a platform, it can show you your monthly sales in a graph like this. Look here.”

Karasumaru-san pointed at the numbers on the tablet as she explained.

Circle Name: Mellow

January Sales: 34.2 million yen

February Sales: 22.53 million yen

March Sales: 29.55 million yen

“This month, we’re probably looking at around 25 million yen.”

“Huh?”

T-t-t-twenty-five million yen!?

I stared at the numbers on the tablet, trying to process what Karasumaru-san had just said. I couldn’t believe my eyes or ears.

“T-twenty-five million!? T-that’s amazing…”

That was all I could manage to say.

“Nyahaha, Okei-han’s reaction is so cute.”

“Kyosaka, why don’t you quit your current part-time job and work with us?”

“Huh…?”

“You mentioned before, right? That you’re working to pay for your sister’s tuition.”

“Ah, yeah.”

“Well, that really struck a chord with me.”

“Exactly. So we were thinking if there was anything we could do to help.”

“Of course, only if Kyosaka is okay with it.”

“You’d definitely earn more with us. Let’s cut to the chase—how about an hourly wage of 4,000 yen?”

“F-four thousand yen!?”

“Tsukasa, that’s too low. Kyosaka, how about 5,000 yen per hour?”

“F-five thousand yen!?”

That means if I work ten hours a day, I’d earn 50,000 yen a day!?

In other words, if I worked full-time for a month, I’d earn 1.5 million yen.

Since Akari’s university expenses are around 4 million yen, I could reach my goal in just three months.

Ah, no, taxes would be deducted, so it’d be less than that.

Still, I’ve never seen a part-time job offer with such an outrageous amount.

I was practically drooling at how tempting this offer was.

But this doesn’t seem like something an ordinary student like me should accept.

But if I think about Akari first…

But, but.

My mind was in a whirl. But…

“Sorry. It’s a tempting offer, but I can’t accept such a large sum from my classmates. There’s only so much I can do, and I decided to earn my sister’s university fees on my own. But I really appreciate the thought. Thank you.”

I conveyed my sincerest feelings to the two of them.

I didn’t want them to think I was only getting close to them for the money, and I’m sure Akari wouldn’t want that either. I still think accepting this job would be wrong.

I’m sorry.

“I see. So Kyosaka, you don’t like us, huh?”

“N-no, that’s not…”

“Then it’s settled, right? It’s not a bad deal for you, Okei-han.”

“Well… that’s true, but…”

“Kyosaka, listen.”

Karasumaru-san leaned in close to me, her elegant features drawing near my face.

“I… if it’s what Kyosaka wants, I’d do anything for you. Anything at all.”

Her breath was so close.

Well, technically, since Karasumaru-san was wearing a mask, her breath didn’t reach me, but our noses were almost touching, and I quickly pulled back.

“…Um, excuse me. Could you please refrain from such behavior in the store?”

“Huh? Oh… s-sorry.”

The voice of a flustered staff member brought Karasumaru-san back to her senses.

Before I knew it, the other customers and staff were starting to stir, glancing in our direction.

With Karasumaru-san’s ears bright red and Ono-san sighing with a wry smile, I hurriedly left the café, feeling a sense of unease with no place to go.

What’s going to happen now? I couldn’t shake the growing anxiety.

Somehow, without really planning it, I ended up inviting Karasumaru-san and Ono-san to my house.

Although it’s technically a two-story house, its worn-out appearance clearly shows its age, and both of them looked wide-eyed in surprise.

“W-wow…”

“T-this is Kyosaka’s house?”

“Yes, it’s my home. It’s not some witch’s mansion or anything, okay?”

With that, I urged them to come inside.

“Big bro, welcome home! Wait, since when did you bring such pretty girls home… W-whaaa?! There are two more beauties now!!”

Akari, who had come to greet us, looked as if she had seen a ghost. Behind her, Daigo-san appeared, walking slowly, and bowed politely, saying, “Thank you for having me, Kyosaka-kun.”

They really came to my house. Honestly, this feels more like a horror story to me.

“I’m home, Akari. Daigo-san too.”

Akari looked at the three beauties with great interest and asked cheerfully, “Is this some kind of dream harem? What happened?”

“Well, I’m not entirely sure myself.”

“What do you mean?!”

“I’m Karasumaru Chikage. Nice to meet you, Akari-chan.”

“I’m Ono Tsukasa. Let’s get along, okay?”

“Oh, hey, thanks for looking after my big bro. Seriously, what happened?”

“Don’t ask, Akari. Let’s just have dinner for now.”

I forced a wry smile and scratched my cheek.

Just this morning, I was living a completely ordinary, background-character kind of life, and now things have taken such a strange turn. I couldn’t help but feel like this was happening to someone else.

“Alright, it’s done.”

Mine, Akari’s, and Dad’s portions.

And then portions for Karasumaru-san, Ono-san, and Daigo-san.

I never thought I’d be cooking dinner for six people, but I managed to prepare a special curry. Dad comes home late, so I’ll just reheat it for him later.

But still…

As I was preparing dinner, I tried to sort out how my feelings had changed, but I still couldn’t quite figure it out.

Everything happened so suddenly that my emotions haven’t caught up yet. In the living room, my little sister and the three most beautiful girls in school were watching a variety show together. It was a surreal sight.

“Your house feels so… traditional, huh?”

“Yeah, there’s no gaming consoles or anything. It’s like you’re untouched by modern life.”

Karasumaru-san and Ono-san were looking around my house with curiosity as they made those comments.

Of course, I know what those things are, but I’ve deliberately chosen not to have them.

You can watch streaming services on TV or subscribe to monthly services to watch anime and new movies, but I try to avoid those options because I feel like I’d just end up lazing around.

I avoid buying games for the same reason.

“The layout feels authentic, though. It’s nice.”

“It has character.”

“Sorry if it feels old-fashioned. Let’s eat, okay?”

“T-that’s not what I meant!”

“Tsukasa’s always like this. Sorry, Kyosaka.”

“Why do I end up looking like the bad guy?!”

I wonder if Ono-san is the type to tease or be teased.

“Kyosaka-kun, I’m sorry for dropping in so suddenly.”

“No, it’s fine. I heard the story from the two of them. Thank you for looking out for me and my sister.”

Daigo-san looked somewhat apologetic, so I tried to reassure her.

“We should be the ones thanking you. Thanks for preparing dinner for us.”

“Oh, no, it’s nothing.”

I felt a bit embarrassed and turned my gaze to the TV to distract myself.

A comedian was cracking jokes on a variety show, and the audience was roaring with laughter.

“Sorry, everyone. It’s a bit cramped, so let’s squeeze in.”

I served the rice.

Poured the curry over it.

Placed the plates on a tray and brought them to the living room.

We all joined our hands and said, “Let’s eat.”

“It’s delicious… It tastes like home cooking.”

“So good! Kyosaka’s got some serious skills.”

“Yeah. It’s tasty.”

All three of them were eating so happily that it made me really glad I cooked.

“Well, it’s one of my specialties.”

“What kind of response is that? Are you trying to be cool?”

“Shut up.”

The conversation flowed easily as we ate, and Karasumaru-san occasionally took off her mask, which made her look even more beautiful.

“Big bro, it’s so lively today, huh?”

“Yeah. It’s usually just the two of us eating, so it feels even more lively now.”

“Yeah. But seriously, big bro, how did you end up with three such cute friends? I’m really surprised.”

“Yeah. I think I’m the most surprised.”

I never dreamed that I’d be serving dinner to Karasumaru-san, Ono-san, and Daigo-san one day.

“Hehe, Akari-chan is cuter, though.”

“Thanks. Hearing someone as beautiful as Chikage-san say that makes me really happy.”

“…Oh, thanks. I’m happy to hear that from my future little sister.”

Huh? Akari’s my sister.

“Akari-chan, what about me? Am I pretty?”

“Tsukasa-chan, you’re the adorable type, so I think you’re probably big bro’s favorite.”

“Really? That makes me super happy. Hehe.”

“Akari, you don’t have to rate me.”

“Don’t say that, Sakurako-nee. You’re the most beautiful glasses-wearing girl I’ve ever seen. No, maybe even in the universe.”

“What a good little sister. Good job.”

Daigo-san’s glasses are just for show, though.

Still, Akari’s social skills are something else. She’s using her signature flattery to monopolize the affection of Karasumaru-san, Ono-san, and Daigo-san.

Akari’s always been good at buttering people up, and I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve benefited from it.

Well, enough bragging about my sister. It’s time to get to the main topic.

The part-time job that the three of them are currently proposing.

Since I wanted to hear Akari’s opinion too, I brought it up.

“This is a Kyosaka family matter, so I feel like it’s not right to impose on you all that much… What do you think?”

At that, Akari slammed her spoon on the table and declared:

“Listen up, big bro. In this day and age, turning down such a good opportunity would be a sin. The high Engel coefficient of the Kyosaka family is partly because you and Dad are always sharing with the neighbors. And that’s fine. Everyone says, ‘I’m glad the Kyosaka family lives next door,’ and as your sister, I’m proud of that.”

Ugh. When did Akari get so knowledgeable about our family’s finances…?

“But you need to face reality. Even if you’re good at saving money, being too nice won’t get you anywhere. You need to be a bit more selfish. Let them spoil you.”

She even had the nerve to lecture me.

“Please take care of my idiot big bro.”

“We’ll do our best, Akari-chan.”

“So it’s official with Akari’s approval.”

“Akari, you’re a lifesaver.”

“W-what about my opinion?”

“Big bro, just stay quiet!”

And just like that, the part-time job discussion moved forward smoothly.

I still don’t feel like it’s real, but since they went out of their way to propose this for my sake, there’s no reason to refuse.

Plus, my beloved little sister gave her approval.

I’m not sure how I’ll repay their kindness, but for now, I’ll just focus on moving forward. That’s what I decided.

Last night, I was restless and couldn’t sleep well, so today I ended up yawning repeatedly during class.

After school, I headed straight to my part-time job. Ono-san had art club, and Daigo-san had library committee duties, so they planned to join later. Naturally, this meant I ended up walking home alone with Karasumaru-san.

“Kyosaka, I rode my bike to school today,” Karasumaru-san said.

“Oh, really?”

“Can you guess why?”

As we walked side by side toward the bike parking area, I tilted my head in confusion.

“Ugh, Kyosaka, you’re so dense. I wanted to ride double with you.”

“That’s dangerous. You shouldn’t do that.”

“I’ll hold onto you from behind so you don’t fall. Come on, it’ll be fine, right?”

Her moist, pleading eyes made it hard to say no.

“That’s not the kind of danger I meant…”

Riding double on a bike is a clear violation of Article 57, Paragraph 2 of the Road Traffic Act. But refusing outright and making Karasumaru-san sad didn’t sit well with me either.

“Alright, fine. Which one’s your bike?”

“This one. It’s called Mii-chan.”

“Cute name.”

“You think so? I named it after my cat.”

“Huh.”

Karasumaru-san’s bike was a sleek, black mamachari. I took the key, adjusted the seat height, and got on, placing my feet on the pedals.

Karasumaru-san sat sideways on the rear rack.

“Hehe, this is my first time riding double with a guy. It’s kind of exciting.”

“Don’t get too carried away. Make sure you don’t fall off.”

“If I do this, I’ll be fine, right?”

Her slender arms reached around and hugged me tightly from behind.

A soft sensation pressed against my back, and I nearly swerved the bike.

“Kyosaka’s back is so warm… I could hug you like this forever.”

She buried her face in my back, her voice melting like a ramune candy on her tongue. Her sweet, refreshing voice was a tone lower than usual, making my heart skip a beat.

It was a shame I couldn’t see her face during this quintessential teenage moment.

Before I knew it, we arrived at our destination.

Wow… it’s huge. A six-story apartment building in a prime location in Fushimi Ward. Across the two-lane road was a convenience store with a decently sized parking lot.

The exterior looked high-end, and the rent was probably steep.

There was a bike parking space on the left side of the building. After parking the bike, I helped Karasumaru-san down, and we headed to the entrance.

We took the elevator to the fifth floor.

“…………”

Ding.

Karasumaru-san walked confidently, as if she knew the place like the back of her hand.

She stopped in front of the door at the end of the hallway, took out a key, and unlocked it.

She opened the door and gestured for me to enter. I cautiously stepped inside.

“Pardon the intrusion.”

“Come on in.”

The apartment was a 3LDK. It was supposed to be Ono-san’s home and workspace, but it felt a bit too spacious for someone living alone.

“This is amazing. It really feels like a manga artist’s room.”

I looked around curiously as I said this.

The place was cluttered, but it was filled with books, materials, and equipment for creating works, giving off a strong sense of the passion the three of them had for their creative endeavors.

“Hehe, Kyosaka, you could be a detective. Sherlock Kyosaka.”

“Wait, is this really a manga artist’s room?”

“Yeah, it used to be Tsukasa’s mom’s workspace, but now we’re borrowing it.”

Karasumaru-san took off her blazer and hung it on a hanger, then adjusted her blue tie up to the V-zone of her blouse.

“Ono-san’s mom?”

“Yep. Ono Machiko-sensei, the one who wrote Roman Sanbun no Ichi and Neko Bisha.”

“…Wow. I had no idea.”

I was stunned. She was a famous manga artist with many hit works. A family of creators, huh? It seemed Ono-san had inherited her mother’s talent.

“Hey, don’t just stand there. Come over here.”

“Ah, right.”

Karasumaru-san, now sitting on the living room sofa, beckoned me over. I followed suit.

She was close. Too close. The unfamiliar scent of her shampoo wafted over, making me feel a little lightheaded. It was a sweet, citrusy aroma.

“So, what should we do until Tsukasa and Sakurako get here?”

“Uh, well… could you explain the part-time job to me?”

“Ugh. We’ll do that when Tsukasa and Sakurako are here. I’m asking what we should do.”

“Hmm…”

“I can’t think of anything, so you decide, Karasumaru-san.”

“Hmm… Hey, can I call you Kei?”

“Huh?”

“And you can call me Chikage.”

“How did we suddenly jump to first names?”

“Who knows? Maybe it’s part of the job?”

Part of the job? You just said we wouldn’t talk about the job yet.

And it was phrased as a question, so I couldn’t tell how serious she was.

“Basically, I’m the interviewer. Well, you’re already hired, but if you can’t handle being called by your first name, you might not last long in this job.”

“What kind of unreasonable demand is that?”

“Hehe.”

Karasumaru-san—no, Chikage—curled up on the sofa, resting her chin on her knees and smiling happily. Her eyes were filled with expectation.

Thump, thump. My heart was beating so fast I thought I might have arrhythmia.

“You’ll get used to it if you say it once. Chi-ka-ge. Repeat after me.”

If I could do that, I wouldn’t be this nervous. Even if it was part of the job, calling a classmate by her first name was making me incredibly anxious.

“(This is just part of the job… part of the job…) …Chi-Chikage. Is that okay?”

I managed to say it.

“Yeah, not bad.”

Phew. If I’m going to be this nervous every time, I’ll have to get used to it quickly…

“Hey, Kei.”

“Y-yeah?”

“Nothing. I just wanted to say your name.”

That’s the worst for my heart.

“Hey, Kei, why are you looking down?”

“Ah, well…”

I reflexively looked up and met Chikage’s gaze, her brows slightly furrowed.

“…I’m not really used to being alone with a girl. I’m kind of… really nervous right now.”

“That’s so cute. What kind of reason is that?”

“Huh?”

“Never mind. Actually, I’m nervous too. It’s my first time being alone with a guy I… like.”

Chikage’s face turned slightly red, even through her mask, as she shyly played with her hair.

“Wait, what do you mean by—”

“That’s… not something you ask, okay?”

She cut me off, gently placing her index finger over her masked lips.

“Hey, Kei. To help us both relax, why don’t we practice something together?”

“Practice? Like what?”

“Hmm… how about a hug?”

“That’s… a bit too high of a hurdle, don’t you think?”

“We’ve done it before, right? Though Tsukasa and Sakurako were there too.”

“…That was different. It was to comfort everyone, you know? There were extenuating circumstances.”

“Right. So do it again. Comfort me. Hug me tight while I’m nervous.”

Chikage’s eyes sparkled with curiosity and expectation.

There was a hint of darkness in her light, a mischievous side peeking through.

Duality… or something like that. I wasn’t sure if I should go along with this, but I could tell putting on the brakes would be pointless, so I steeled myself.

“O-okay, please take care of me.”

“Alright, I’ve been asked. But, Kei, aren’t you the one who’s more nervous?”

“Well, yeah. You’re acting different from usual, Chikage.”

“Hmm… I’m a bit surprised too. I guess I get pretty pushy when I’m with someone I like.”

“Wait, what did you say?”

“Huh? Oh, never mind… forget I said that.”

Chikage waved her hands in front of her face, flustered.

Forget it? I didn’t even hear it clearly because she whispered it.

“Okay, here goes. Hug.”

Chikage adjusted her position, leaning closer to me.

It was a soft, light hug, but our upper bodies pressed together, and I could feel the softness of her chest against mine through her blouse.

Thump, thump, thump…

I could feel my heart racing like never before.

“You smell like fabric softener… Kei’s scent.”

“I-it’s that strong?”

“Kei… Kei… Kei…”

She murmured my name like a mantra, rubbing her nose against my shoulder.

Thump, thump, thump… My blood was circulating at an insane speed, making me feel lightheaded, and my body was heating up.

This is bad. My brain, nearing its limit, made the call.

“Ch-Chikage? Can you let go now… please?”

“Then kiss me, and I’ll let go.”

“Kiss? Wait, kiss!?”

“Just kidding. But I’ll do something similar, so play along, okay?”

Chikage’s earlobes were tinged with a fuzzy pink as she whispered this.

…Something’s coming. My side effects were warning me.

“S-stop, wait! Let’s calm down, okay?”

“I’m perfectly calm.”

“No, no, no! I have no idea what ‘something similar’ means, but having me as your practice partner is definitely a mistake!”

I tried to reason with her, speaking quickly in my panic.

“Hmm, I can only think of Kei, though.”

“…Sure, sure.”

“Really, you’re my only guy friend, and I’ve never had a boyfriend. I don’t have anyone else to practice with.”

“You’ve… never had a boyfriend?”

“Hey, that’s not the part to repeat.”

“Got it.”

I immediately shut my mouth.

I’d heard rumors that Chikage had turned down countless confessions, but I never imagined she’d never had a boyfriend.

I’d assumed she’d dated some handsome, future heartthrob, but apparently not.

Not that I’m one to talk, but going through middle and high school without any romantic experience is pretty rare. Not that I’m one to talk.

“So, uh, any plans for that in the future?”

“Not really. No plans. But there is someone I’d like to make a reservation with.”

“Then you should ask that person—ahahahaha!”

She pinched my cheek.

“The person I want to make a reservation with… want to know who it is?”

“Uh, well…”

“Do you?”

“Maybe… you should keep that to yourself, Chikage.”

“That’s not an answer.”

The light in Chikage’s eyes faded slightly. Her slender fingers gripped both my cheeks.

“Words are tricky, huh… What I want to say doesn’t come across well. So, I’ll do this instead.”

“Eh, ah—”

Chikage’s delicate face slowly moved closer, filling my vision.

Thump! My heart was on the verge of screaming. If she got any closer, our lips would touch through the masks… But at that moment—

Click.

“Ju-Jubei Capacitor Wave…”

“Calm down, Tsukasa. It seems like it didn’t happen yet…”

Thud. Fwip.

I turned my blazing hot face to see Ono-san and Daigo-san frozen in place, their shopping bags dropped on the floor.

“That ‘yet’ makes it sound way too real… I even went all out with my makeup in the convenience store bathroom for this. What is this situation? I’m legit shook.”

“Was that why you took so long in the bathroom? Think about how long I had to wait.”

This is bad.

“Chikage~?”

“I-it’s not what it looks like. We were just… practicing.”

“Practicing what?”

Ono-san glared at us, her eyes narrowing.

Chikage scratched her cheek awkwardly and slowly scooted to the edge of the sofa.

As for me, I could only fluster and avert my eyes.

“Kyosaka-kun.”

“Y-yes!?”

“There’s no room for excuses. The only question is who made the first move—you or Chikage.”

“We… didn’t do anything yet?”

“‘Yet’? So you were planning to do something?”

“W-we were practicing… hugging. Because I’m not used to being around girls… Chikage was helping me practice.”

“That’s not quite the right nuance… I was the one who pushed for it. Kei was just too kind to refuse.”

Chikage came to my defense.

Ono-san and Daigo-san looked like they’d been hit by a ton of bricks.

“Sa-Sakurako, are Chikage and Okei-kun calling each other by their first names?”

“One step forward. Annoying, but nice move, Chikage.”

Why are you giving a thumbs-up, Daigo-san?

As I struggled to figure out how to explain the situation…

“Anyway, you two, separate. I need to explain the job to Okei-kun.”

Ono-san brushed it off casually.

The seating arrangement ended up with me in the middle of the sofa, Ono-san to my right, Daigo-san to my left, and Chikage sitting seiza-style across from us.

In the slightly awkward atmosphere, I finally received a proper explanation about the part-time job.

Helping Out at the Doujin Circle

The work mainly involves cleaning the workspace, doing laundry, shopping, and helping out at events as a salesperson—basically, a lot of miscellaneous tasks. I was offered a trial period of about a month to see how things go, so I decided to give it a shot.

Now, onto the main topic. Before starting the job, I was asked a few questions by three people. They felt more like confirmations than actual questions:

How many days a week can I work, and how many hours per day?

Can I work on weekends?

When can I start?

Am I prepared to handle adult content? (Apparently, it’s okay for high schoolers to create such content.)

Those were the four main points. Except for the last one, the questions were pretty standard for a part-time job interview, and I answered them without much hesitation.

Eighteen-plus content, huh? Well, these days, even non-explicit erotic works are pretty common. Maybe it’s more mainstream than I thought? I found myself staring at the eco-friendly linoleum floor, lost in thought.

“By the way, Chikage said calling me by my first name is part of the job. Should I call Ono-san and Daigo-san by their first names too?”

“Huh? There’s no rule like that.”

“So I can keep calling them Ono-san and Daigo-san, then?”

I let out a sigh of relief, but Ono-san and Daigo-san twitched their eyebrows slightly.

“Wait, actually, it is part of the job.”

“Yeah, we just forgot to mention it earlier. Calling each other by first names or nicknames is part of the job too.”

“…That feels like a last-minute addition.”

“Don’t sweat the small stuff. It’s fine.”

I wasn’t entirely convinced, but if the employers said so, I had no choice but to go along with it.

“Can I call you by your first name too, Kei-kun?”

Daigo-san tugged lightly on my left sleeve as she asked.

“Of course.”

It’s part of the job, after all.

“Thank you. And I’d like you to change how you address me too.”

“Hmm, so should I call you by your first name, Sakurako?”

“Four characters are too long. That’s a no.”

“Oh, uh… then how about ‘Sakura’? Three characters.”

“That’s fine.”

Daigo-san—now Sakura—nodded in satisfaction.

“Alright, my turn.”

Ono-san stretched her arms toward the ceiling, as if warming up for something. Her pose made me feel like I was about to play rock-paper-scissors or something.

“Well, you can call me by my first name or a nickname—whatever you feel comfortable with. I’m fine with anything as long as it’s friendly.”

Being given so much freedom made it harder to decide, but it would be weird for me to set my own rules, so I just nodded.

“Tick-tock, tick-tock.”

“Wait, is there a time limit?”

“Wouldn’t that be more fun? Let’s say 20 seconds.”

“Huh? What happens if I don’t decide in time?”

“Then I’ll call you ‘Galaxy Magical Love Angel Kei-tan,’ nya-ha-ha.”

“That sounds like it’d hurt both of us.”

“I don’t mind. Come on, 10 seconds left.”

“Wait, wait!”

“Nine, eight, seven, six…”

“Wait, wait!”

“Five, four, three, two…”

“Uh, uh…”

“One!”

“…Then, how about ‘Tsukasa’? So, ‘Tsukasa-chan’!”

“Hyaaah!!”

Ono-san—now Tsukasa-chan—clutched her chest and looked down, as if her heart had been pierced.

“Wh-what’s wrong?”

“…The sudden ‘-chan.’ That’s too much.”

“Hey, Kei’s face is turning red.”

“N-no, it’s not!”

“Kei’s so easy to tease. He’s perfect for messing with.”

“Shut up! Chikage and Sakura, stop staring at me with those sparkly eyes!”

“Well, I’ll go clean so I don’t get in the way of everyone’s work.”

I didn’t really understand what was going on, but I got the gist of the job, so I decided to get started. Rolling up my sleeves, I began cleaning the room while glancing at the checklist I’d been given.

April, Late. Second Day of Work.

While cleaning, I observed the doujin circle’s work process and noticed a few things.

First, Chikage, Tsukasa-chan, and Sakura each had different roles. Second, all three of them had other jobs outside the circle. And finally, they were all incredibly skilled. Here’s a breakdown based on what they told me:

Karasumaru Chikage: The circle’s voice actor. She’s a voice actor affiliated with a certain agency and is skilled at voice mimicry. She’s played many heroine roles in galge and ASMR. She’s also the person behind the VTuber Otowa Tenshi, who has over 200,000 subscribers. Her main activities include live streaming and song covers. Her professional name as a voice actor is Oike Chikage, and her alias is Nureha Chizuru.

Ono Tsukasa: The circle’s illustrator. She’s a god-tier artist who handles everything from original characters to licensed works. She’s been a character designer for galge and has done jacket art for ASMR. She’s also the “mama” (character designer) for the VTuber Otowa Tenshi and works as a Live2D modeler. Her pen name as an illustrator is KOMATI, and she has over 300,000 followers on social media.

Daigo Sakurako: The circle’s scenario writer. She’s an active writer for galge and novel games, handling scriptwriting for ASMR and Otowa Tenshi, as well as writing lyrics and composing original songs. Outside the circle, she’s the author of the light novel series Yozakura Killing, which has sold over 500,000 copies. Her pen name is Haru Urara. Should I call her “sensei”?

In short, all three of them are well-known creators—a dream team of sorts. Balancing this much work with their studies must be incredibly demanding, both in terms of time and energy, but they manage thanks to a strong support team within the circle. By the way, no one knows the faces, ages, or genders of these support members. They go by the handle “MM,” so they’re probably online collaborators. I was told I’d be introduced to them properly later, so I’ll keep that in mind.

One Hour Later.

“Ouch, my wrist feels like pudding.”

“Are you okay, Tsukasa-chan?”

I rushed over to Tsukasa-chan, who was twitching her thumb.

“It’s fine, it’s just the usual. Job job.”

“Don’t push yourself too hard.”

“Thanks for worrying about me. By the way, are you, like, a cleaning pro or something?”

“No way, I’m not a professional.”

“But the room is, like, super shiny now.”

“Is it?”

“Definitely. Where did you learn such godly skills?”

“Hmm… I guess I just picked it up from watching videos and reading stuff online.”

“That housewife-level skill is so moe.”

I’m not a housewife or a househusband, though.

“It’s true. There’s not a single hair out of place. You’re amazing, Kei.”

“Kei’s the type who can work quietly. His calm face is nice too.”

“Is that so?”

It feels good to be praised, even if I’m nowhere near as skilled as the others. But if I get complacent, I’ll stop growing. I can’t let them get tired of me. For Akari’s sake, I’ll work even harder. I won’t get fired. Let’s do this!

April 25th, Thursday. Third Day of Work.

“This dust, this, this!”

I scrubbed the windows without stopping. The key to cleaning is to work from top to bottom, leaving no corner untouched. If I don’t make a good impression during the trial period, I might get fired. This is one of the few jobs I can do, so I’ll pour my heart into it. I need to work harder, harder…

After cleaning various rooms for about half an hour, the sun began to set, casting a reddish glow through the clouds.

“Kei, aren’t you working too hard?”

Chikage peeked out from behind her 24-inch widescreen monitor, looking worried.

“I’m fine. I can keep going.”

I wiped my face with the towel around my neck.

“I like hard workers, but overdoing it isn’t good.”

“Don’t worry. I just want to be more helpful.”

“Oh? What’s this ‘locomoco’ about?”

Tsukasa-chan chimed in, though we weren’t talking about hamburger steak.

“What do you mean by ‘locomoco’?”

“You know, like, ulterior motives or something?”

I don’t have any.

“Well, if I had to say… I’d like to be given more work. Since I’m getting paid, it’s my duty to give back through labor. I’ll do anything I can…”

Back in my first year of high school, when I was juggling multiple part-time jobs, I worked at a ramen shop under the Yamashina overpass. I learned that trust isn’t given—it’s earned through hard work. At first, I was only in charge of serving and arranging ingredients, but gradually, I was trusted with more tasks, eventually even working in the kitchen.

What I’m trying to say is, no matter the job, the more skills you have, the better your reputation. If that’s what you mean by ulterior motives, then sure.

“Huh, that’s a pretty noble ‘locomoco.’”

“Kei-kun’s drive is something I should learn from.”

“Well, if Kei wants to work harder, I’ll respect that. Just don’t overdo it, okay?”

“Thanks, everyone.”

I’m genuinely happy. I’m truly grateful for the kind environment I’m in.

“By the way, you said you’d do anything, right? Seriously?”

“Yeah, within reason.”

“Then, um… could you do that thing you did yesterday again?”

Tsukasa-chan fidgeted, pressing her index fingers together as she made her request.

“Oh, that?”

“Yeah, yeah. Can I ask?”

“Of course.”

I answered immediately, touched by Tsukasa-chan’s kindness. This was probably her way of accommodating my desire for more work. Alright, I’ll do it! I’ll do my best!

Let me know if you need further adjustments!

Here’s the translation of the provided text, with the character names adjusted based on the names you provided:

“Ah, ah, ahhh… ah! Okei-san, there! That feels good!”

“Here?”

“Hyahhn. T-there, deeper, please…”

“Got it. Deeper, right? I’ll push further in, okay?”

“Kuh… haahn. Higuuuuu!!”

As I massaged the hollow part of her wrist, Tsukasa arched her back like she was playing a tenor saxophone, trembling with pleasure.

Rub rub rub, stroke stroke stroke, squish squish squish.

“Hyah, hii, no, not there! Ah, it feels weird!”

‘Ji────’

“…Um, your stares are kind of painful, you two.”

“Kei’s hand movements are way too skilled.”

“It’s like foreplay.”

“Why does it always come to that?! I’m just giving a massage!”

“O-Okei-san… it’s too much!”

Tsukasa, please stop making those weird noises.

“Kei-kun, Tsukasa’s already reached her limit. Next is me.”

“That’s not fair, Sakurako? I want a turn too.”

“Then let’s decide fairly with rock-paper-scissors.”

“Hmm, do you know the rule where the one who suggests it loses?”

“I’m not the type to believe in superstitions or fortune-telling, unlike you, Chikage.”

While Tsukasa drooled and moaned, Chikage and Sakurako heatedly argued.

“Those who believe are blessed, you know.”

“Luck has nothing to do with rock-paper-scissors.”

‘Rock, paper, scissors, shoot!’

“Kei-kun. I’d like you to focus on my shoulders.”

“Ugh, so frustrating… how can you throw paper five times in a row?”

After the rock-paper-scissors battle, Sakurako emerged victorious.

“Alright, I’ll start massaging.”

I moved behind Sakurako and gently pressed her shoulders.

She said they were stiff, but compared to my dad’s rock-hard shoulders, Sakurako’s muscles were much softer.

“Nn, Kei-kun… you’re good at this.”

“Ah, this spot is really tight.”

“Ah, no, not there…”

“Huh? But it’s really stiff here.”

Sakurako hunched her shoulders, ticklish, and let out a small shiver with a sigh.

“Kei, that’s way too lewd.”

“It’s just a massage.”

“Kei-kun, move in a semicircle from there.”

“Like this?”

Following her instructions, I carefully kneaded the area around her shoulder blades. Sakurako’s cheeks turned cherry red as she let out a blissful “Fuaaaaaa.”

Her chest pressed against the desk, creating a rather suggestive scene. This must be what they mean by visual assault.

But this is part of the job, so I need to polish my skills.

If I clear my mind, I can handle anything.

I pushed away my distractions and focused entirely on the massage.

“Heaven…”

Sakurako, face down on the desk, seemed ready to drift off into a dream world.

I let out a sigh, and Chikage tugged at my sleeve.

“Kei. It’s my turn next, okay?”

Her smile had a hint of sharpness, and she seemed a bit displeased.

“I’d love to, but…”

“What’s the problem?”

“I mentioned this yesterday, but my dad’s coming home early today, so I need to prepare dinner.”

I subtly hinted that I had to leave.

“Ah, right.”

“Yeah. Sorry.”

“But it’s not fair if I’m the only one who doesn’t get a massage. Hey, how about this… tomorrow during lunch break, can you spare some time for me?”

Chikage proposed an unexpected exchange.

“Lunch break? At school?”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

“Sure, but what are we doing?”

“Hehe, that’s a surprise for tomorrow.”

Chikage narrowed her eyes mischievously, her smile peeking out from behind her mask.

The next day, during lunch break.

I was yawning in front of the old music room on the fourth floor of the annex, the designated meeting spot. The unlit space felt eerily quiet, and despite it being daytime, the area was dimly lit.

The frosted glass of the music room windows obscured the inside, leaving it shrouded in darkness.

In the past, this would’ve been the perfect spot for delinquents to smoke.

“Sorry to keep you waiting, Kei.”

As I stood idly by the door, Chikage appeared from down the hallway.

“You came, just like you promised. Good boy.”

“Well, yeah…”

“Hehe, follow me. This way.”

“This way?”

Lately, it feels like I’ve been losing control of the pace. Using the “part of the job” excuse, I’m being played with… but with an hourly wage of 5,000 yen, I can’t really complain.

“Is this… the old music room?”

“Yep. Go on in.”

“Ah, okay.”

Creak. The dusty room was cluttered with abandoned instruments.

“Wow. I didn’t know it looked like this inside.”

“You chose art, so you don’t come here much, right?”

Chikage closed the door behind her, her sharp eyes narrowing as she spoke.

“Yeah, that’s true.”

Even though it was an unused classroom, the soundproofing was still intact. Closing the door cut off all noise from the hallway, making it feel like we’d stepped into another world.

Click.

“Wait, was that…?”

Chikage had locked the door.

“What are you doing?”

“Maybe we shouldn’t turn on the lights.”

“What’s going on? Why did you lock the door?”

“Don’t worry, I’m not planning anything weird. I just want to continue yesterday’s massage. Come here.”

“Huh?” Chikage took my hand and led me to the window, making sure the curtains were closed before staring at me intently.

“By blocking out the light and sound from outside, doesn’t it feel like we’re doing something naughty?”

“N-no, it doesn’t.”

“It does for me. So, it’s okay if we do it here, right?”

“W-what are you talking about?” Before I could fully grasp her words, rustle.

Chikage quickly removed her blazer, leaving only her blouse and tie, revealing her beautiful figure.

“W-wait, what are you doing?”

“What does it look like? I’m getting ready for my massage. Didn’t I say that earlier? Or were you expecting something else, Kei?”

She placed her blazer on a drum stool and peered at me teasingly.

“T-that’s not it!”

“Hehe, don’t worry. I’m the type who likes to take things step by step.”

“S-so what are you planning to do?”

“That’s something a girl shouldn’t say out loud, right?”

There it is. That old line. I never agreed to that, and I don’t plan to.

“Well, I guess a massage is enough for today.”

I wasn’t entirely satisfied, but it seemed like we were just continuing yesterday’s session.

Chikage pulled up a round stool and sat in front of me, crossing her long legs.

“Alright, start with my shoulders.”

“…Ah, okay.”

“Wait, not from behind. I want you in front.”

“In front?”

“Yeah. I want to feel good while you’re looking at me.”

That’s ridiculous. Massaging her shoulders while facing her? That’s way too embarrassing.

“D-don’t be so demanding.”

“Why not? You’ve been teasing me since yesterday, and now you’re just going to give me a normal massage? That’s cruel.”

“What’s wrong with a normal massage?”

“You know exactly what’s wrong. Making a girl say it out loud… Kei, you’re such a bad boy.”

What is this flow? It feels like she’s determined to push me down the path of becoming a shady massage therapist.

“N-next time, okay? Next time, I’ll do it properly.”

I desperately repeated the meaningless promise of “next time,” which was on the verge of causing a Gestalt breakdown.

“Hmm, then I guess the massage can wait. Just stare into my eyes for ten seconds. You can do that, right?”

“W-well, I guess. But didn’t you want a massage?”

“Both are part of the treatment for me. Well, what you’re about to do is more for the heart, though.”

I didn’t understand at all. Chikage’s thoughts were always hard to decipher.

“You know… I hate my face so much. But if you can accept it, maybe I can start to like it a little.”

What did she mean by that?

“If you’re struggling with something, I’ll listen. I’ll do anything I can to help.”

Looking straight into Chikage’s eyes, I spoke firmly.

“You shouldn’t say things like ‘anything’ so lightly. You don’t even understand a girl’s heart.”

“You’re the one who doesn’t understand. If you look into my eyes, you’ll know if I’m joking or serious. I might not handle teasing well, but I’m not so dense that I’d mistake a serious confession for a joke.”

“Kei, sometimes… you say the most embarrassing things so casually…? Well, it’s not that big of a deal…”

Chikage muttered self-deprecatingly, then began to reminisce about the past.

Dysmorphophobia.

That was the diagnosis given to me by the doctor. I’m terrified of looking in the mirror. I can’t face my own reflection. Even when I put on makeup, I close my eyes and look down.

That’s why I always wear a mask. I can’t go outside without it.

The mask is a shield to hide my mouth and lower face. Taking it off feels as embarrassing and terrifying as being naked.

It wasn’t always like this. It started in elementary school when I was bullied and called ugly. I was subjected to cruel, relentless teasing. From that moment on, I began to hate my face.

The only ones who stood up for me were Tsukasa Ono and Daigo Sakurako. We’ve been friends since kindergarten, and they’re the only ones I can take my mask off around when we’re together.

Later, I found out that the boys who called me ugly actually had a crush on me. It doesn’t matter. It didn’t make my fear go away.

When I started middle school, my life changed drastically.

People began calling me the prettiest girl in class. It made my skin crawl.

Sure, the reflection in the mirror is undeniably beautiful. My skin is clear, my eyes are big, and my nose is perfectly straight. But beneath that surface, something hideous lurks. An ugly face is hiding there.

Every time I look in the mirror, I can’t help but see myself as grotesque.

But when I wear my mask, I can hide my face. That’s the only time I feel safe.

The mask is a shield to accept compliments. A facade to affirm myself. But even if people praise this superficial version of me, it doesn’t make me happy.

I hate myself so much, and I hate the inconsiderate stares from others even more.

Romance? Out of the question.

The ones who traumatized me were members of the opposite sex. To me, they’re nothing but foreign, alien creatures.

At least, that’s what I thought… until I fell for Kei Kyosaka.

I told Kei about my past, blurring out some of my feelings here and there—what I wanted, how I felt. I couldn’t bring myself to be completely transparent.

I know I’m a heavy burden. But I was sure Kei would understand me. That’s why I was able to open up to him.

After listening to Chikage’s story, I was left speechless for a while.

…It’s heavy. So heavy, and painful… My imagination can only go so far, but I understood Chikage’s sorrow and suffering all too well.

Having been the target of countless behind-the-back insults myself, there are things I can relate to.

However, the nature of the malice directed at me and the malice directed at Chikage is different.

Calling the girl you like “ugly” is a twisted way of expressing affection. It’s that childish urge to tease someone because you’re interested in them—something typical of elementary school kids.

Because they’re children. Because they’re still immature. Parents should understand more deeply how such excuses can sometimes turn into weapons.

And that’s how victims like Chikage are created.

It makes me angry. At myself, for not being able to do anything. But still, I want to be someone who thinks about those who are struggling, suffering, or in pain, and takes action.

“Thank you for telling me.”

“No, thank you for listening.”

In moments like these, I wish I could say something clever… If I were to simply sympathize and say, “That must be so hard,” I know it would only make Chikage feel worse.

I get it. When my mom died, I didn’t know what to say to Akari either. Superficial words only deepened the wounds for both of us.

“It’s so hard.” “It’s so sad.” “It’s so painful.” Every word uttered in sympathy becomes a blade that digs into the wound.

That’s why I never offer empty comfort.

“Chikage, you’re still fighting, aren’t you? Fighting against your own heart.”

“Yeah.”

Chikage’s faint smile was fragile, beautiful, and tinged with sorrow.

“Then let’s take it step by step, okay? Let’s heal together.”

“…Huh?”

It’s easy to sympathize, but I can’t let this just be some pretty words.

If no one faces it head-on, the scars in Chikage’s heart will remain forever.

“I’m not saying you have to fight alone. I’ll fight with you. I swear I’ll become a man you can rely on—enough that one day you’ll feel safe showing your true self. I promise.”

I took Chikage’s hand and made a firm vow.

Just like the day I promised Akari I’d become the coolest big brother in the world.

Of course, Akari just laughed and said, “Stop saying stupid things and go make dinner already.” But sometimes, the light that pierces through the darkness comes from something as simple as that.

“W-wait, are you… confessing to me? No way, at a time like this? I’m not mentally prepared for this…”

“Huh? N-no, that’s not it. I just want you to rely on me more…”

“But you’re holding my hand.”

“Huh? Oh, w-whoa!” I quickly let go in a panic.

“…I-I just thought words alone wouldn’t be enough… so I couldn’t help it.”

“Couldn’t help it, huh? So, Kei, if you meet a girl in a similar situation, you just can’t help holding her hand? You do this with everyone, huh? Hmmm.”

“W-why are you twisting it like that?”

“Fufu. Well, if Kei’s willing to give me a push, I might not mind taking off my mask, you know? Geez, this is really scary though.”

“Ah, sorry… I didn’t mean to pressure you. You don’t have to force yourself.”

“You’re the one who got me all fired up, and now you’re backing off? I don’t hate that about you, Kei, but it does feel a little cowardly.”

“…But I can’t just tell you to take it off so easily.”

“It’s fine. I’ve been wanting to change too. I mean, if I stay like this, I won’t even be able to kiss at my wedding, right?”

“Ah, yeah, I guess.”

“I want to have my wedding at Heian Shrine, you know? Not saying who with, but it’s so romantic and beautiful, don’t you think?”

“Uh, yeah?”

“Then let’s call this a practice run. Don’t look away, okay?”

With that, Chikage narrowed her eyes into crescent moons and smiled mischievously. She hooked her fingers under the elastic of her mask and slowly pulled it down.

Her hands were trembling.

The outline of her pale skin gradually became visible, and her lips—full, perfectly colored, and of the finest texture—were revealed. In that moment, I couldn’t help but hold my breath. She’s… beautiful.

“So? What do you think?”

“Y-you’re really beautiful.”

“Kei, you’re so unfair. You say that knowing exactly how I feel, don’t you? You’re trying to make me fall for you even more, aren’t you?”

“…Uh, what are you talking about?”

“Ah, I can’t take this anymore. This is my limit… I’m too embarrassed and scared… so…”

Chikage stood up from the stool, leaned her head against my chest, and then, as if stretching up—chomp! Ow!

“Sorry. But just stay still for a little longer.”

She lightly grabbed the collar of my dress shirt and, like a vampire, gently bit my neck.

After sinking her teeth in once, she softly pressed her lips against the spot.

“W-what are you doing?”

“Marking you as mine—mm… Okay, practice run over.”

“…Uh, um…”

“Ah, it’s so hot in here…? Sorry, Kei, I’m gonna head back first, okay?”

She quickly put her mask back on, her ears bright red, and hurried away.

Finally, my thoughts caught up. …This is bad. Really bad.

I shook my head vigorously, picturing Akari’s face to shake off the confusion.

Get it together, Kyosaka Kei. You’ve got things to do… Things you have to accomplish, even if it means sacrificing your youth. As long as that unwavering determination lives in my heart, I’ll keep pretending not to notice Chikage’s feelings—even if I have to lie to myself.

After finishing the fifth and sixth periods, only SHR (Short Homeroom) remained, creating a somewhat desolate atmosphere, as if one foot was already stepping into after-school time. With Golden Week starting tomorrow, the classmates were in a somewhat excited mood.

“Well, since breaking the rules is something you should do regularly, only breaking them during the holidays is what idiots do. If you want to dye your hair like Ono or Daigo, you should first aim to be within the top 20 in the academic tests. Got it?”

Our homeroom teacher and information science instructor, Uzumasa-sensei, gave us a roundabout warning about not going too wild during Golden Week, which made me inwardly nervous.

Could she have seen through what happened earlier with Chikage?

Of course, that couldn’t be the case. But still, not getting too carried away… huh? For me, who has work shifts packed tightly for the next three days starting tomorrow, this was a very timely topic.

“Hey… Kei. Don’t go showing off that ‘proof,’ okay?”

While sneaking around Uzumasa-sensei’s gaze, Chikage whispered to me.

I didn’t really understand, but… I nodded anyway.

Fortunately, our classmates didn’t seem to pay any attention to the small exchange between me and Chikage. Well, it’s not uncommon to sneak around and whisper behind the teacher’s back.

But it seemed that Tsukasa and Sakurako didn’t miss those few seconds of interaction.

“Chikage and Kei-kun. Did you guys… do it?”

After school. While working part-time at the apartment as usual, Tsukasa looked at us with curious eyes, causing both me and Chikage to flinch.

“D-don’t be stupid, focus on your work, Tsukasa.”

“There’s definitely something going on here, right?”

“Hiding things from your soulmates is so cold.”

“There’s… nothing going on.”

“That reaction! You’re totally lying, Karasumaru Chikage!”

“Totally.”

Tsukasa struck a famous pose while delivering her line, and Sakurako chimed in, harmonizing with her.

“Really, there’s nothing going on.”

“Objection! That reaction is way too serious, so objection!”

“It’s obvious something happened.”

“Ugh, whatever. I’m checking the script, so don’t talk to me.”

As for me, I didn’t join their circle and just silently continued wiping the walls. Or rather, I thought reacting would mean losing. Well… I figured it would come out eventually, though.

Proof, huh?

(…Chikage said not to show it off, but what kind of proof is it?)

The answer became clear as soon as I got home.

The proof that Chikage left turned out to be a hickey, which I discovered the moment I opened my shirt in front of the bathroom mirror.

My neck was discolored, and as I was panicking, Akari teased me with a smirk, “Onii-chan, that’s a hickey, isn’t it? Did you go that far with one of those three? You’re something else~” which made me drop the tie I was holding onto the floor.

…Just a little suction, and it leaves a mark like this?

Looking at the mark on my neck in the mirror, I felt my face heat up.

And finally, I understood the meaning behind Chikage’s words: “Don’t show it off.”

April 27th. The first day of Golden Week.

Of course, I still had work during the holiday. I vacuumed and changed the sheets, trying not to disturb the three of them, and by the time I finished, it was past noon.

I handled the grocery shopping and prepared lunch, taking care of various small chores.

“Thanks for the meal~”

“It was delicious.”

“It’s been a while since I had nikujaga. Thanks, Kei-kun.”

“Don’t mention it.”

“We’re starving for home-cooked meals.”

“Yeah. At this age, craving stewed dishes is a bit embarrassing, though.”

“Tsukasa and Chikage are so old-fashioned.”

“In ten years, we’ll all be in our thirties anyway. Ten years will fly by.”

“Yeah, that’s true.”

“I agree with that.”

…Are these girls really high schoolers? While the three of them were having a conversation that felt more mature than most girls our age, I quietly washed the dishes in the sink.

April 28th.

“Tsukasa’s drawings are really amazing, huh?”

Fufu~n, I guess you could say that~?”

I paused my cleaning to admire Tsukasa as she worked on her digital art tablet.

The process of creating digital art was completely foreign to me, but I could clearly see how meticulous her lines and coloring were.

“What’s this illustration for?”

“It’s for the next Hyakunin Exhibition for illustrators.”

“Wow. That’s impressive. I have zero talent for drawing, so my art teacher thinks I’m not even trying…”

I couldn’t help but let out a weak complaint. It was true that my art teacher, Baba-sensei, had given up on me, and now I was pretty much treated like air.

Even Akari, my own sister, didn’t hold back, saying, “Onii-chan’s drawings are so unique, you could become the next Picasso who never sells anything.” It was pretty depressing, honestly.

“I was terrible at first too, so don’t worry about it.”

“Really?”

“Of course. If anything, people with talent tend to slack off more. Anyone can improve if they work at it. If you’re serious about getting better, I could give you some personal lessons.”

“Are you sure?”

“Of course!”

“Then, can I take you up on that?”

As we were talking, Chikage, who had been quietly watching, suddenly spoke up.

“Hey, Tsukasa. Isn’t it a bit unfair to try and get Kei all to yourself like that?”

“Don’t be jealous. Teaching Kei-kun step by step is an essential part of the process to boost his motivation. “Tsukasa, you’re just saying that, aren’t you? To me, it just looks like you’re being a pervert.”

“Take that back! Look at my pure, innocent eyes!”

“No way.”

Chikage and Tsukasa started bickering.

“Kei-kun, can I talk to you for a sec?”

Sakurako, who had been typing away on her keyboard, called me over with a wave.

“What’s up?”

“I need your help with something at school after the break.”

“Sure, what do you need me to do?”

“Organizing the library shelves. The pay is good.”

“Wait, we’re getting paid for this?”

“Of course. I believe in fair exchange—labor for compensation.”

I was happy, but… it felt a bit like I was taking advantage of her kindness.

“Hmm, so even Sakurako is playing dirty like that.”

“Chikage, didn’t you just the other day make sure you two had some alone time during lunch?”

“Exactly.”

“You guys always team up at times like this. Well, whatever. Hey, Kei. Want to go somewhere with me now? It’ll be a good change of pace.”

“Sorry, Chikage. I’m kind of in the middle of work right now.”

“…Oh. So, who’s more important? Me or your job?”

“Obviously my job. That’s non-negotiable.”

I answered without hesitation. It might sound selfish, but my priorities are clear: family > (an insurmountable wall) > Chikage.

Of course, I’m grateful to the three of them for reaching out to me, and I want to respond to Chikage’s feelings as much as I can. But that doesn’t mean I can fulfill every one of her requests.

“Sorry, Chikage.”

“…No, I’m the one who should apologize. That was mean of me. I know you’re working hard for Akari-chan’s sake. For the sake of my future sister-in-law, right?”

Huh? I didn’t quite catch the last part, but it felt like she said something I shouldn’t have missed.

“Yeah. It’s for Akari.”

“Okay, I’ll cheer you on.”

“Thanks, Chikage.”

As Chikage and I were talking, Tsukasa and Sakurako watched us with exasperated looks.

Rokujō Keita straightened his posture and went to the entrance to welcome his father home.

“W-Welcome back, Dad.”

“Don’t call me ‘Dad,’ you good-for-nothing! Do you have any idea how much I’ve paid to silence the media and weekly magazines, including settlement money for the Daigo family and the victims? A fool like you is no son of mine!”

“I-I’m sorry…”

At his father’s angry shouts, Rokujō apologized in a trembling voice.

“Honestly, it’s because Kazuyo spoiled you too much that you grew up into such a useless, uncultured idiot.”

“P-Please don’t speak badly of Mom. It’s all my fault…”

“Are you still clinging to your mother at your age? What a pathetic fool. Your twisted desire for her love has warped your very soul. That’s what led to this incident. Of all things, drugging a woman and toying with her body? Who in the world told you to do something so despicable, huh?”

His father grabbed Rokujō by the collar and slammed him against the wall, threatening him.

Overwhelmed by the sheer intimidation, Rokujō could only tremble in fear.

The father’s merciless rage toward his failure of a son was as intense as if love and hatred were intertwined. The lack of restraint came precisely because they were bound by blood. Though, even if they weren’t related by blood, he likely wouldn’t have shown any mercy.

Rokujō Bunta, the president of a major entertainment production company, had always been that kind of man.

“There’s only one reason I haven’t disowned you yet: you’re still a student and need a guardian. Listen carefully! For the next few years, until your probation period is over, you’ll stay quiet in this house. If you don’t, I’ll throw you out! Understand the gravity of your mistakes, reflect on them, and change your ways. If you don’t, even if we share the same blood… I won’t hesitate to cut you off!”

His father shoved Rokujō away with a forceful push, then took off his shoes and stepped inside the house.

Watching his father’s retreating back, Rokujō clenched his back teeth tightly.

“That damn old man… There’s nothing less reliable than a ☆1 parent gacha…”

Rokujō muttered under his breath, a dark smile spreading across his face.

“All of this… it’s all because of those arrogant women and that brat Kyōsaka Kei who looked down on me. Hehe… I’ll get my revenge. No matter what it takes.”

Rokujō chuckled.

It was the sinister smile of a man who had resolved to walk a path of no return.