Chapter 2 | Date or Alive

(Reflection Meeting Edition)

 

“—Well then. Shall we ask Gin-gin?”

Late that night, at the student dormitory.

After confirming that Himenokōji Akito had fallen asleep, all the other members gathered in the dining hall/meeting room.

Five faces with serious expressions lined up side by side.

Himenokōji Akiko.

Nasuhara Anastasia.

Sawatari Ginbei Haruomi.

Nikaidō Arashi.

Takanomiya Arisa.

Amid an atmosphere where they sipped tea little by little, gauging each other’s expressions while waiting for someone to speak first.

The one who spoke first was exactly the person everyone expected and hoped for.

The eldest in this group, the student council president of St. Liliana Academy—that person.

“First off, there’s something I wanna dig into. That okay with you? It’s not just me—this is the consensus of everyone here except Gin-gin.”

“…Fine by me.”

Ginbei said with a sullen yet resigned face.

“I’ll listen respectfully. Right now, I’m no different from a carp on a cutting board. Cook me however you like.”

“That’s a good attitude. Well then, I’ll take you up on that and dig in—”

She took a deep breath, paused for a moment.

Then, with eyes wide open, she shouted with all her heart.

“What’s this about one person covering seventy-five percent of the date expenses and the other covering twenty-five percent?!”

In Kansai dialect, no less.

From that Nikaidō Arashi, of all people.

“You were so smug and confident, I thought maybe you’d come up with something truly unexpected. But this is the mess we get? Sure, it might be a rational approach in some sense, but for a date, doesn’t it lack a bit too much class? Hmm?”

“…I’ll humbly accept the criticism. But I’d like a chance to explain myself.”

Ginbei said with a grimace.

“At that moment, I thought I’d had a divine revelation. Like God had whispered to me alone, granting me a miraculous idea no one in humanity had ever conceived. Looking back now, though, it was just a drowning man grasping at straws… Honestly, I can’t even understand why I thought of it at the time, but I sincerely hope you’ll consider my state of mind in that moment a little more.”

“Even considering it to the fullest, it still feels pretty off.”

Said Akiko.

“Wouldn’t it have been better to just say the winner of rock-paper-scissors gets to decide?”

Said Anastasia.

“Ginbei-neesama must’ve been exhausted! That’s why she ended up acting on an idea that was a bit too unique. It’s understandable! Everyone, please try to see it that way!”

Said Arisa.

“Mgh… Grr…”

Ginbei had no choice but to accept the comments from all three.

“Well, let’s say we let the date expense thing slide, just this once.”

Arashi continued, her tongue growing sharper.

“At the end of the day, as long as you don’t dine-and-dash or stiff the bill, payment’s fine however it happens. What matters is the content of the date. If you get results, we won’t nitpick the process. You get that, right, Gin-gin?”

“Well… Yeah. I’ll agree to that.”

“And didn’t you say something like, ‘If I stay quiet after all this criticism, it’d disgrace me as a woman. I’ll make you regret provoking me by pulling off something huge on this date!’ I heard it with my own ears, word for word, no mistake about it.”

“Ugh… Yeah. I said that. Definitely.”

“So? How’d it turn out?”

Arashi crossed her arms, pursing her lips.

“You totally freaked out just from holding hands with Himenokōji Akito, didn’t you? And it wasn’t even you who initiated it—he held your hand first, a total gift of a situation, and you still panicked!”

“Ngh… Mgh…”

“And even giving you another hundred concessions, messing up there didn’t mean you had to give up. The date wasn’t over at Federal Reserve at that point. You had plenty of time to try something else, didn’t you?”

“There… might’ve been. If you’re just looking at time alone. But by then, it wasn’t the right moment anymore…”

“You didn’t have to go all out and pin him down or drag him to a hotel—I’m not saying that. But even so, there should’ve been plenty of ways to set a good mood. Something cliché like sharing a drink with two straws, or just walking side by side along the river at dusk—simple stuff like that would’ve been fine. But you didn’t even try.”

“…Let me explain myself.”

“Sure, go ahead. I’m listening.”

“I was prepared to see it through no matter what. I told myself I wouldn’t face you all until I’d done something date-like. Yes, I panicked and let go of his hand—that’s on me—and my follow-up wasn’t exactly praiseworthy either. But I intended to turn it around somehow. Thing is, after that, the mood just wasn’t there anymore. We ended up talking about old times, it got all somber, and on top of that, Akito didn’t seem to think anything of holding my hand. It’s only natural my spirit broke a little—”

“We all knew from the start that Onii-chan’s an ironclad blockhead.”

Said Akiko.

“You, of all people, should know that best, Gin-gin, with how long you’ve known him. You went into this fully aware of that, didn’t you? That’s not an explanation—it’s barely an excuse.”

Said Anastasia.

“Um, Arisa totally gets how Ginbei-neesama feels! Arisa isn’t treated like a fiancée by Akito-niisama either, so I think Ginbei-neesama, who isn’t really seen as a woman by Akito-niisama, is kinda like me! Oh, but Arisa’s still twelve, so maybe in a few years he’ll start treating me like a woman—sorry if that happens!”

Said Arisa.

“Grr… Ngh…”

Ginbei had no choice but to accept the comments from all three.

“Well, summing up this whole thing—”

Arashi began to wrap it up.

“You managed to go on the date, but you messed up at the critical moment, proving once again that Gin-gin’s a chicken. We also had the goal of seeing how much Himenokōji Akito could act like a man during the date, but that got put on hold too. Any objections to that summary?”

“That’s how it turned out, huh.”

“No objections here.”

“Ugh, I guess that’s how it is… Sorry, Ginbei-neesama.”

“Khh…”

Ginbei gnashed her teeth in frustration, but she knew better than anyone that she had no room to argue. Despite her eloquence, she didn’t open her mouth further.

“By the way, I’ve been wondering something.”

Anastasia tilted her head slightly.

“Why did things between Gin-gin and Akki get so tangled up like that?”

“…What do you mean?”

“‘Tangled’ might not be the right word—maybe ‘twisted’ fits better. Either way, I think your relationship with Akki isn’t normal.”

“Specifically, what do you mean by that?”

“Sure, Gin-gin looks and talks like a boy, and Akki’s, well, the way he is, so it makes sense your relationship hasn’t progressed.”

Responding to Ginbei’s question, Anastasia explained fluently.

“But even so, it feels strange. Both you and Akki keep emphasizing that you’re best friends at every chance. Akki’s got his eyes only on a certain someone, so it’s understandable he’d be indifferent to Gin-gin, but still, it seems like he doesn’t treat you as a woman at all. I think there’s a reason behind that.”

“Actually, speaking of that—how did you and Onii-chan even meet, Ginbei-san?”

Akiko leaned forward eagerly.

“We’ve never heard the full story before, and neither Onii-chan nor Ginbei-san have ever told us. But something about the vibe makes it feel like it wasn’t just a normal meeting and bonding. Whether he sees you as a woman or not, it’s super clear that to Onii-chan, Ginbei-san is someone special—like war buddies who survived the Vietnam War together or something.”

“Arisa’s curious too!”

Arisa chimed in, breathing heavily through her nose.

“To be honest, I’ve always wanted to ask about it. I knew Akito-niisama had a best friend, but I had no idea it was Ginbei-neesama. Niisama would talk about his ‘best friend’ but never once mentioned Sawatari Ginbei Haruomi… So I’d really love to hear all about it this time. Pretty please!”

“Ho ho! This is getting interesting!”

Even Arashi jumped in on the excitement.

“Now that I think about it, to really understand a guy like Himenokōji Akito, we’ve gotta start there, right? You can’t get anywhere without knowing his roots, and your testimony as his best friend is essential, Gin-gin. Honestly, that might even take priority over figuring out what kind of date he’d pull off. So spill it—tell us how you and Himenokōji Akito first hit it off!”

“I respectfully decline.”

Ginbei said with a sulky expression.

“If anything, ask Akito’s little sister, Akiko-kun. She’s his flesh-and-blood sibling—she’d be the better fit, wouldn’t she?”

“Nah, sadly, we can’t count on Himenokōji Akiko.”

Arashi shook her head.

“After all, she’s basically Himenokōji Akito’s fanatic. Even if we ask, all we’d get is biased testimony. It’d just be a list of ‘Onii-chan’s the best, Onii-chan rules!’—that’s all she’d say.”

“Mmph!? How rude!”

Akiko immediately raised her eyebrows.

“I won’t let that slide! I see Onii-chan far more accurately and fairly than that. The student council president is underestimating me way too much!”

“You think so? Doesn’t seem that way to me.”

“It’s true! I’d never resort to lazy, cookie-cutter praise like ‘Onii-chan’s the best, Onii-chan rules!’ My Onii-chan is one-of-a-kind, unmatched, a peerless cosmic-level cool guy! A single wink from him could make a hundred women fall in love, and one smile could teach a thousand women what love is—at least that level of praise should flow naturally, or I wouldn’t even qualify as an Onii-chan freak—”

“No, stop. We don’t need that comedy routine.”

“Comedy routine!?”

“So anyway—”

Ignoring the shocked Akiko,

“You get why we can’t rely on Himenokōji Akiko, right, Gin-gin? You’re the right one for this. You can still look at that guy objectively.”

“Then what about Arisa-kun?”

Ginbei resisted further.

“After all, Akito lived with Arisa-kun’s Takanomiya family for six whole years. She’s seen him up close for longer than I have. Plus, she’s his fiancée. If anyone’s gonna talk about Akito, Arisa-kun’s way more suited than me.”

“No, Arisa’s totally unfit for it.”

Arisa drooped her shoulders sadly.

“It’s sad and super unfortunate, but like I’ve said a bunch of times, one reason is that Akito-niisama doesn’t treat me like a fiancée. Another is that he treats me like a little sister—a much younger one at that. And even more, he doesn’t treat me as an equal. I think even you can see that, Ginbei-neesama.”

“Mgh… Well, yeah, fair enough…”

“Niisama’s kind to me, sure, but it’s purely in a guardian-and-ward kind of way… That makes me happy in its own way, but he never shows me his weaknesses or worries. He never lets me see his truest self. So I’m not the right one to talk about him. Sorry…”

“D-Don’t make such a sad face! You’re making it look like I’m bullying you or something!”

“Also, like I’ve said before, if anyone’s fit to talk about Akito-niisama, it’s gotta be Ginbei-neesama.”

“…Why do you think that?”

“Because, if Arisa’s memory is right, it feels like Akito-niisama started changing little by little after he became best friends with Ginbei-neesama.”

Arisa’s face looked like she was sifting through sand for gold, as if trying to recall every tiny detail from distant memories.

“When Niisama first came to the Takanomiya house, he was always smiling and calm on the outside, but that was just a front. Inside, he seemed insanely angry every day—angry at all sorts of things, but especially at himself. It felt like he might explode any moment.”

“Yeah… You’re right. I get it. Back then, Akito definitely had that side to him.”

“But then he started changing bit by bit… And around that same time, I heard it for the first time—from Niisama’s own mouth—that he’d made a best friend. He looked so happy then, and from that point on, at least from what I could see, he stopped letting whatever was inside him show so much. I was glad about that, but at the same time, I was just watching from the sidelines. So it wasn’t me who changed him—it was Ginbei-neesama. If we’re talking about that part, the right person to speak is definitely Ginbei-neesama.”

“Oh ho! If that’s the case, it’s settled then!”

Arashi grinned smugly, as if she’d hit the jackpot.

“Looks like you’re the only one for the job, Gin-gin—telling us about Himenokōji Akito! It’s not like it’ll cost you anything, so how about you stop playing hard to get? Hmm?”

“I-I’m not playing hard to get! It’s just something I hesitate to talk about. It’s deeply private stuff, after all. Everyone’s got a past they keep locked away, right?”

“Exactly! That’s why we’re asking you to share it here—for all of us, including you. To crack a fortress like Himenokōji Akito, we’ve gotta find a thread to pull from somewhere like this. You get that, don’t you, Gin-gin?”

“No, I don’t. If neither Akiko-kun nor Arisa-kun will do, then just ask the man himself. You’d get way more of what you want straight from Akito… Though, I doubt that guy would spill anything easily.”

“Yeah, probably not. That jerk’s stubbornness is off the charts. He’s got that harmless face, but there’s no one with a tighter lip when it comes to himself. He hates talking about his own stuff… But seriously, how are we supposed to figure out that blockhead’s deal by asking him directly? That’s a contradiction right there. Even if he did talk, it’d probably be more harmful than helpful.”

“Then give it up. I’m not saying a word about it. Back off already.”

“…Something’s fishy here.”

Arashi squinted at Ginbei’s face.

“You’re this reluctant? That’s not normal. Unless it’s something huge, there’s no reason to be this stubborn, right?”

“It’s not as big a deal as you’re hoping. Well, it’s a bit of a mess, sure… Maybe the peak of youthful folly, you could say. For both Akito and me.”

“Oh? And?”

“And nothing! I said I’m not talking!”

“Don’t be so cold! We’re already halfway there!”

“I don’t care! What you’re trying to dig up is something priceless to me—and probably to Akito too. I’m not just gonna blab about it. Give it up. If you still try to force it out of me—”

“If we do?”

“Then that’s that. I’ll clam up completely and walk out of here. If you keep pushing even after that, I’ll have no choice but to quit the student council and leave this dorm for good.”

“Tch—what a stick-in-the-mud. Reminds me of a certain someone.”

Arashi scratched her head roughly.

Then, suddenly, she made a face like a kid who’d just thought up a prank.

She shot a glance at Akiko, then Anastasia, then Arisa, in that order.

The three exchanged looks, and it seemed like some kind of agreement had formed between them.

“…What’s that? What are you plotting?”

Ginbei caught on quick, narrowing her eyes.

“I don’t know what you’re thinking, but I’m not budging on this. I swear to the heavens I won’t. Give it up.”

“C’mon, cut me some slack, Gin-gin! This is too much of a tease! We’re already on this track—please, just—”

And then—

All of a sudden, Arashi looked past Ginbei with a shocked expression.

“Whoa! It’s Himenokōji Akito! Since when were you listening, man?”

“—!?”

Reflexively, Ginbei whipped around—but this was a simple yet cunning trap set by Arashi.

The moment she confirmed her best friend wasn’t behind her—no, a split second before that—Akiko, Anastasia, and Arisa sprang into action.

They leapt from their seats and surrounded Ginbei in a single breath.

Their movements were so perfectly synced, it was like they’d rehearsed it. Caught off guard, Ginbei could only widen her eyes, unable to react further.

“Wow, Ginbei-san, your arms are so thin!”

Akiko, grabbing Ginbei’s left arm, let out an innocent exclamation.

“Not just thin—they’re super soft! All squishy and smooth like marshmallows—I kinda wanna eat them!”

Anastasia, holding Ginbei’s right arm, showed a hint of glee despite her blank face, practically licking her lips.

“Ginbei-neesama, I’m sorry, I’m sorry…!”

Arisa clung to Ginbei’s back like a wailing old man, eyes squeezed shut, chanting apologies like a prayer.

“W-What!? What are you all doing!?”

Ginbei tried to resist in a panic, but it was too late. She might know a thing or two about hand-to-hand combat, but as the lightest of the group, she couldn’t move an inch with three people pinning her down.

“Oh ho! Nice work, you guys!”

Ignoring Ginbei’s plight, Arashi clapped gleefully.

“To pull that off with just a bit of eye contact—top-notch talent right there!”

Wiggle, wiggle.

Wiggle, wiggle.

Moving her fingers like a surgeon prepping for the OR, Arashi approached Ginbei.

“…Just to be sure, I’ll ask.”

Ginbei swallowed hard.

“What are you planning to do?”

“Ain’t it obvious?”

Arashi grinned and reached out.

“With a stubborn little kitten like you, we’ve gotta ask your body directly!”

She poked Ginbei’s side—tsun.

“Hyahn!?”

“Oh! Nice reaction! This is gonna be fun!”

“Hey, Student Council President, don’t mix up the goal here! This is about getting Ginbei-san and Onii-chan’s story, not satisfying your urges!”

“Himenokōji-san’s right. We’ve gotta stay calm, composed, and purely focused on the goal—asking Gin-gin’s body in a sacred act. …That said, Student Council President, you will switch with me later. If you don’t, I’ll stage a rebellion, no question.”

“Um, Anastasia-neesama, your words don’t match your actions. And saying it while breathing so hard kinda kills your credibility.”

“Khh—I won’t talk no matter what you do! This is a waste of time and downright inhumane—funya!?”

“I don’t see it that way. If anything, it’s not a waste—it’s just a matter of time. Look how you react to a little poke! If we get serious with the tickling, who knows what’ll happen?”

“Hmph! If you think I’ll talk just because of some tickling, you’re dead wrong! No torture will bend my will! And you all better not think you’ll get away with this—minya!?”

“Hm? What was that? Didn’t catch it.”

“Khh—I said you’ll pay for this later—kufu!?”

“Here we go! Here we go!”

Arms, shoulders, stomach, waist—

Every time Arashi’s fingers attacked a new spot on Ginbei, a yelp escaped her.

True to her self-proclaimed title of a sensual master, Arashi’s fingerwork was devilishly skilled. Ginbei was helplessly toyed with, her sensitive body twitching in their grip, her clothes gradually getting disheveled. Her cheeks flushed redder by the moment, and as her cries started mixing with gasps, the scene took on an increasingly sinful hue.

“Hey, Student Council President, this isn’t that kind of mission, okay? Cool it!”

“What can I say? Ticklish and good feelings are two sides of the same coin! To tickle efficiently, you’ve gotta go all-in on the good stuff. So I’m in the right—total victory!”

“Forget that—hurry up and switch with me, Student Council President! Letting you hog all the fun is too much to stomach! If you don’t, I’ll end up groping Gin-gin’s chest in the chaos—it’ll be full-on harassment! Hurry, before it comes to that!”

“Arisa’s gonna hold Ginbei-neesama down tight for everyone’s sake! Please, everyone, do whatever it takes to make Ginbei-neesama give in quick! As the dorm manager, Arisa approves!”

“W-Wait, stop, you guys—unyan…! Doing this—funyu—won’t help even if you regret it later—nyafu!”

“Oh ho! You’re pretty tough, huh!”

“But the longer you hold out, Ginbei-san, the more the Student Council President will get carried away with all sorts of crazy stuff!”

“And I’ve made up my mind. If Gin-gin doesn’t talk, I’ll do things to her body I can’t even say out loud—stuff that’d get me handcuffed just for mentioning! My patience has maybe a few dozen seconds left. Decide before then, or else—”

“Ginbei-neesama, I’m begging you, just give up! I don’t wanna say it, but if you don’t, even Arisa might have to help tickle you! Please, before it comes to that!”

“N-No way! I won’t talk! I absolutely, positively won’t—uhahaha, w-wait, stop, I’m gonna die—!”

 

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And so, another peaceful night passed at the St. Liliana Academy student dormitory—