The sun had barely set, but Ren already felt like he'd aged ten years.
"Can I use the bath first?" Emi asked, her voice soft but firm.
"No way! I sweated like crazy during Just Dance with Rika!" Yui pouted, flopping onto the couch dramatically.
Rika casually munched a rice cracker. "You weren't sweating. You were flailing."
"I call second!" Haruka suddenly declared. "No one peek—or I will kick you into next week."
Ren held up both hands. "Why are you all acting like we only have one bath? Also, I didn't agree to any of this!"
Mei simply walked past them all, towel draped over her shoulder. "Already running the water. Fifteen minutes. You're all loud."
It was at that moment Ren realized something terrifying:
This is no longer my house.This is enemy territory.
Scene: Chaos Outside the Bathroom
While Mei bathed in peace (and won everyone's respect by leaving it perfectly clean), the rest of the girls formed a queue—one that rapidly devolved into passive-aggressive remarks and territorial towel defense.
Yui tried sneaking peeks at everyone's choice of pajamas.Emi blushed and hugged her bag tight.Rika threatened to "accidentally" unplug the water heater.Haruka sat silently, sharpening her glare in case of surprise incidents.
And Ren? He was stuck doing laundry and praying to all anime gods above that no one slipped and fell into him by accident.
Scene: The Unthinkable Happens
Just as Ren finally thought he had a chance to bathe in peace, the door creaked open—
"REN! DON'T LOOK!!"
Splash!Crash!Thud!
...
Five minutes later, he sat outside the bathroom with an ice pack on his head, his soul floating somewhere above his body.
Yui giggled.Haruka looked like she'd murdered someone (and maybe she did).Emi couldn't stop apologizing.Mei handed him a fresh towel, her face unreadable.Rika whispered, "Well… now it's officially a rom-com."
Closing Scene: A Moment of Peace
That night, after the storm had passed, Ren lay on his futon. The room was dim, quiet, and filled with soft breathing.
They were all asleep.
He glanced around at the five sleeping forms — sprawled on the floor, heads close, faces peaceful.
"I don't know when it happened," he thought,"But this chaotic life... kind of makes me happy."
And then…
"Ren... are you awake?" a voice whispered.
He turned to see one of the girls sitting beside him in the dark, her eyes shimmering in the moonlight.
To be continued...