Interlude: The Usual Girls’ Talk 1

June 5th. Wednesday.

In a custom-renovated 3LDK apartment, Karasuma Chikage, Ono Tsukasa, and Daigo Sakurako were diligently working.

Their task for the day was creating an original game for their doujin circle, Mellow. A love simulation game with an adult twist, inspired by classic galge, was their current project.

The rainy season brought sticky heat, but it was still too early to crank the air conditioning, so they were dressed in casual, comfy loungewear.

“Sakurako, your pace is kinda slow today, huh? Where’s that usual typing flair?”

“No issue. Just focus on your work, Tsukasa.”

“Hey, Kei got called out by Uzumasa-sensei. Did you two hear anything about it?”

“Nope. He just told us to head home first, that’s all.”

“Kei-kun’s so diligent, there’s no need to worry. Especially since it’s Uzumasa-sensei.”

“Totally. Okei-han’s like, totally Uzumasa-chan’s favorite.”

“…I only found out recently, but does Kei have a thing for older women?”

“Kei-kun gives off vibes that he’s got a pretty wide range.”

“Hilarious. Okei-han totally feels like the kinda guy who doesn’t care about age gaps.”

“Good news for Tsukasa’s kiddie body.”

“Mrrgh, my chest’s just small… I’m still a proper lady, y’know!”

“No way. You’re lacking in allure, Tsukasa. It’s not that your chest is small—it’s nonexistent.”

“Being flat-chested is tough, huh… I’m rooting for you, Tsukasa.”

“Are you two some kinda flat-chest-hater bots?!”

Tsukasa’s retort echoes through the room.

Chikage and Sakurako chuckle softly.

“Hmph, if having a big chest was enough to catch Okei-han’s eye, I’d have gotten implants ages ago. Looks don’t cut it, so we’re stuck agonizing over this every day.”

At Tsukasa’s sharp point, Chikage and Sakurako instinctively clutch their chests.

“…I can’t argue with Tsukasa. She hit the nail on the head.”

“…Why’d you have to say what we were avoiding out loud?”

“…I said it myself and took recoil damage. Pien.”

After a brief silence, the three rise from their seats and move to the sofa.

Sinking into it comfortably, Sakurako picks up the conversation.

“Kei-kun’s behavior patterns are shifting. During lunch the other day, he vanished somewhere with Nishida-kun.”

“Oh, you mean with Last Samurai-kun? Well, it’s just lunch, so no biggie, right? No hourly wage for that time either.”

“…Muu, should we give him a school allowance or something?”

“You both know this. The more we try to tie Kei-kun down with money, the further he drifts. That’s the kind of guy he is.”

“Sure, but when there’s no wage involved, we lose our hold on him, don’t we?”

“It’s a dilemma. Trying to chain Kei down just makes us sink deeper… What’s this called?”

Sprawled side by side on the sofa, the three sigh over the tricky problem.

“The employer-kept-man role reversal phenomenon.”

“What’s that? Like, we’re the ones being tamed by Okei-han?”

“Exactly. It’s also my fantasy. Just once, I want a domineering Kei-kun to discipline me.”

“Whoa, Sakurako, you’re into that? I’m more the type to put a collar on Kei. Hehe.”

“Hey, hold up! That kinky stuff’s the one thing Okei-han would totally freak out over!”

“““……Haa.””” Their three sighs sync perfectly.

The timing was so spot-on that Sakurako, Chikage, and Tsukasa exchange glances and let out soft giggles.

“Before strategy time, it’s show-off time. Let me introduce my treasure.”

With that preface, Sakurako pulls something from the pocket of her shorts.

It’s a palm-sized, SD-style plushie of Kei.

“I poured all the love in the world into this. Even the Pirate King would be jealous of this One Doll.”

Hugging it to her chest, her face naturally softens—a supreme masterpiece.

Its craftsmanship is so impressive that Chikage and Tsukasa can’t help but stare wide-eyed.

“W-What’s that? It’s so cool… Sakurako, where’d you get it?”

“I took an illustration of Kei-kun that Tsukasa drew and recreated it with embroidery. My pride and joy.”

“…Ugh, so that’s why you begged me for that drawing?”

Sakurako nods firmly.

“I stuffed it with Kei-kun’s hair to make it even more authentic.”

“…I-I want one. Sakurako, please, make me one too.”

“Y-Yeah, I kinda want one too.”

“No way. This is something I carry with me always—studying, sleeping, everywhere. Plus, it can do this.”

Sakurako gives the Kei plushie a quick chu kiss.

Chikage and Tsukasa swallow hard, staring at the plushie with longing.

“And there’s more. Doing this makes me feel closer to Kei-kun.”

Her I-cup cleavage, prominently outlined in her tight tank top—

“It’s like Kei-kun’s entering me. Something Tsukasa could never pull off.”

—The Kei plushie sinks zubu zubu into that deep valley.

“W-Wait, Sakurako, that’s totally crossing the line…!”

“Don’t lump Okei-han in with that! It’s too vivid!”

Their vehement protests fall on deaf ears.

Uncharacteristically, Sakurako toys with the plushie, her expression slightly dreamy, a scene oddly fitting for the humid rainy season.