"This is a shared table. If you want to sit, you don't need my permission," Riku replied with a relaxed smile.
"Hehe, that's true." Ichinose blinked, smoothed her skirt, and took the seat beside Riku.
"Let me introduce myself. I'm Ichinose Honami, a first-year in Class B," she said with a bright smile. "If I'm not mistaken, you're D-Class's homeroom teacher, Dola-sensei, right?"
"Oh? Am I that famous?" Riku teased.
"Yes," Ichinose said, beaming. "You're the only homeroom teacher who dared show up late by half a period on the very first day. Word's already spread. Well, in my view, it's also because Dola-sensei is so handsome."
"You really are straightforward," Riku said casually after a sip of milk tea. "But I like that kind of honesty. Girls like you are rare nowadays."
"Eh!?" Ichinose let out a small yelp at the almost-confessional tone, blinking as if caught off guard.
"Could it be Dola-sensei wants to develop a forbidden teacher–student romance with me?" she asked at last, tapping a finger to her lips with a mock-puzzled look. "If it's with Sensei, saying yes might be a pretty sweet deal."
"Ichinose, you're a little too straightforward," Riku sighed, rolling his eyes. He flicked her lightly on the forehead. "And your imagination's running wild."
The easy familiarity made Ichinose's cheeks colour. No boy had ever treated her quite like that.
At a nearby table, her two friends squealed softly, practically cheering her on.
"Ehehe, I am a high-school girl, after all. I like romance manga," Ichinose said, sticking out her tongue playfully. Noting that Riku's gaze was still disarmingly clear, she decided she'd read too much into it and gave an abashed smile.
"Um, Dola-sensei, could we add each other as friends? Talking with you is really fun." She took out her phone and opened LINE.
"Sure," Riku said after a brief pause, also taking out his phone.
They added each other.
Just then, Kei arrived at the milk-tea shop with a smile, only for it to vanish the moment she saw Riku chatting comfortably with Ichinose at his side. Her expression stiffened; her fingers trembled slightly.
She drew a breath, steadied herself, and walked over.
"Riku-oniichan, sorry for calling you out so late," Kei said as she reached them. Under Ichinose's surprised gaze, she sat on Riku's right, scooted her chair closer, and leaned in.
She then clung to Riku's right arm, meeting Ichinose's eyes with open wariness.
The air shifted immediately.
Riku only shook his head slightly, face unchanged.
He'd faced down gods and buddhas without blinking; a little scene like this wasn't going to rattle him. A typical soft-spined rom-com protagonist might panic, but honestly, there was no need to. Nothing had even been defined yet; panicking would only look guilty.
Kikyō Kushida slipped quietly into the shop at that moment, chose an inconspicuous seat, and watched the trio with amused interest.
"Dola-sensei, is she your girlfriend?" Ichinose asked, glancing from Kei to Riku.
So someone had already dared to cross that forbidden line? Bold.
"I'm…" Jealousy pushed Kei to answer on impulse, but uncertainty made her bite her lip and fall silent.
"She's Karuizawa Kei, from D-Class. Also, my childhood friend," Riku said evenly.
"Ah." Ichinose gave Kei a sidelong look. She wasn't low on emotional intelligence: Kei's glare and the way she held onto Riku were a clear declaration of territory.
"You two are really close," Ichinose said with a smile.
"Yeah. I watched Kei-chan grow up," Riku said matter-of-factly.
"Hmph." Kei gave a small snort and, a little flustered, let go of Riku's arm.
In a public place like this, even for childhood friends, that kind of closeness felt a bit much. She was, after all, a girl thin-skinned, and the suggestive looks from other students were getting to her.
"Well, I'll let you two talk. My friends have been waiting long enough," Ichinose said, giving Kei a quick wink to show she wasn't aiming for anything more. Then she stood naturally and headed back to her table.
Kei blinked, her gaze toward Ichinose softening. So… she really didn't mean it that way?
"Sigh, Ichinose, how can you retreat like that? That girl isn't even his girlfriend, right? You still have a chance," Ichinose's friend said, exasperated, when Ichinose returned to their seats.
"Yeah, boys like that aren't common. It's a shame to give up," another girl rolled her eyes. "Looks-wise, you're on par with her."
"Yeah, it's not what you think. I was just curious about who he was. It's not like I fell for him," Ichinose said with a smile.
As she said it, Ichinose couldn't help glancing over at Riku's table.
"All right, it's late, we should head back to the dorms," Ichinose said, shaking her head.
"Fine, have it your way," the two friends exchanged a helpless look and let it drop.
Feelings are someone else's business; even as friends, they couldn't force it.
In the end, Ichinose led her two friends out of the milk-tea shop.
Still, as she left, she couldn't help looking back at Riku once more. She gave a small shake of her head. Even if her heart had fluttered for a moment, she had no interest in "taking" someone's childhood friend.
On the other side, seeing how cleanly Ichinose left, Kei finally let out a long breath.
Looks like she misjudged that girl. She'd have to find a chance to apologise.
Kei made a quiet note to herself.
Kei went to order a milk tea, then came back to her seat.
"Riku-oniichan, what was that girl's name? Which class is she in?" Kei asked.
"Ichinose Honami, a first-year in Class B. She's got a good personality, find a chance to be friends with her," Riku said with a light laugh. Whether from the original story or from actually meeting her just now, he was sure: Ichinose was a good girl.
"Oh, I see. Got it." Kei nodded, quietly memorising Ichinose's name and class.
"By the way, Kei-chan, you called me out to help with math, right? But you didn't even bring a textbook," Riku said at last, pulling the topic back on track with a wry look.
Breathing in the pleasant mix of her body soap and shampoo, and taking in how she'd clearly dressed up for the occasion, Riku had already guessed what Kei had in mind.
"Uh, about that…" Kei's face turned awkward. She'd rushed out so fast she'd even forgotten the prop she was going to use to keep up appearances.
"Actually… I just wanted to take a walk with you," Kei said carefully, not quite daring to meet Riku's eyes.
"You're spoiled," Riku said, giving her a gentle tap on the head in mild reproof.
"I'm only spoiled with you, Riku-oniichan. I can't be bothered with other boys," Kei blurted.
The words were a bit too suggestive, and Kei's cheeks flushed.
"Okay then. Since you want to walk, let's not sit here. Let's wander a bit. The campus at night is pretty nice," Riku said casually.
He stood and headed for the door as he spoke.
"Mhm!" Kei smiled and nodded, delighted.
If it were emptier, sitting together here would have had a nice atmosphere, but too many eyes were on them, and it made her uncomfortable. She couldn't relax enough to be openly affectionate.
Once they were a little way from the milk-tea shop, Kei immediately hugged Riku's arm.
Riku didn't make a fuss; a faint smile tugged at his lips. After a busy day, strolling with Kei like this was a pleasant change of pace.
Come to think of it, had Kei grown a bit? A question worth pondering. Kids these days mature fast.
Riku's thoughts wandered. Whether it was Ichinose Honami, Sakura Airi, Horikita Suzune, Kushida Kikyo, or Kei, they all seemed surprisingly grown-up for their age.
Then he thought of the shut-ins back home, Shiro, Sora, Sagiri and the newest recruit to the MMO, Gabriel and his mouth twitched.
Was "indoor kid" its own stereotype…?
"Um, Riku-oniichan, what do you think of how I dressed today?" Kei looked up at him with shining eyes, unable to hold the question back.
Girls love it when the person they like notices their changes when they're praised. Kei was no exception.
"Looks great. This outfit really suits you. Also, did you switch shampoo? It's nice," Riku replied smoothly, social antennae fully extended.
Out of a random boy's mouth, that last line would sound creepy, but coming from Riku to Kei, it landed perfectly.
"You noticed, huh," Kei said, looking up at him with a happy smile. She'd only hoped he'd notice the clothes, but he'd even noticed the change in scent.
Before long, the two of them, walking and talking, reached the artificial riverside.
Once they were there, Kei let go of Riku's arm, clasped her hands behind her back, trotted a few steps ahead, then suddenly turned around. She leaned forward a little at the railing, her graceful silhouette on full display.
"Hey, Riku, I want to ask you something," Kei said. This time her delicate face was even redder, her tone soft but earnest. She had even changed how she addressed him. This was the first time she'd called him by his name.
"Mm? What is it?" Looking at the lovely girl in front of him, Riku couldn't help but show admiration. As she was now outfit, posture, expression, Kei was very compelling.
"Riku, do you think I'm pretty?" Kei lifted her eyes to his, watching his clear gaze, both expectant and nervous.
"Of course you're pretty. If even you didn't count as pretty, there wouldn't be many women in this world who could," Riku said without hesitation.
"Is that so… great." Kei laughed from the heart.
No matter how many others praised her, nothing matched a single word from Riku.
"Then, Riku… have you ever seen me as a woman as the opposite sex?" Kei asked, face tense. It was a naked hint.
If this were a typical teen romcom protagonist, he might have played dumb.
Riku wouldn't. Since things had come this far, there was no reason to drag it out. She'd mustered her courage; for a man to feign ignorance now would be too weak.
"Yes. I always have," Riku smiled, then answered seriously, with a hint of feeling. "Honestly, Kei-chan, you've always attracted me."
"…!" His words hit Kei hard. Her eyes widened, then filled with joy. She looked at Riku, happiness brimming over.
Today, saying it out loud has been worth it.
"Riku, I like you. I want to be your girlfriend. Is that okay?" Kei's heart pounded; her face flushed. She stared at Riku, expectant yet anxious, and finally voiced the feelings she'd held back for so long.
Riku's golden eyes rippled. He'd seen this coming, but being confessed to still stirred something real in him.
"Is it… a no?" Kei asked, uneasy, her hands trembling.
Truth be told, she'd only planned to confirm how he saw her. But as the mood built, she couldn't control the heat in her chest; all her worries fell away, and she spoke the purest feeling in her heart.
Seeing her anxiety, Riku sighed inwardly. Feelings aren't easily controlled; the unexpected can always happen.
But now that they were here, he had no thought of retreating.
So he simply stepped forward and pulled the tense, nervous Kei into his arms.
"…!" The directness stunned Kei for a beat; then her eyes turned dewy, her cheeks flushed, joy filling her face. She'd done it, she'd finally crossed that threshold.
"Silly girl," Riku said with a smile, holding her. "I've always liked you, too."
"Mhm… that's right, I'm Riku-oniichan's silly girl," Kei murmured, leaning against his chest, tracing little circles with a fingertip. "I'm happy to be Riku-oniichan's silly girl."
"Looks like… following them was the right call," someone whispered.
Not far away, behind a tree in the artificial grove, Kushida Kikyo watched Riku and Kei embrace, eyes narrowing.
Even if they were childhood friends, on top of that, Riku was their teacher. There might be no explicit regulation, but a teacher–student romance was clearly taboo. Kushida felt she'd gotten hold of leverage on Riku.
If she could, she would have liked to snap a picture, but the camera flash would give her away, so she gave up on the idea.
She didn't know Riku had already noticed her little stunt. He simply planned to handle Kei's feelings first, then deal with this restless student.
"Riku, that means I'm your girlfriend now, right?" Kei looked up, eyes shining.
"About that Kei-chan, there's something I need to tell you. Listen first, then decide," Riku said, eyes glinting slightly.
Since things had come to this, Riku would tell Kei some of the things he'd kept hidden.
"Mm?" Hearing that, Karuizawa Kei froze for a moment. Noticing the rare seriousness on Riku's face, she nodded and listened carefully.
"Kei-chan, I like you. There's absolutely nothing false about that. But at the same time, I also like Shiro and Sagiri."
After putting up a slight sound barrier here, Riku chose his words and stated it plainly.
In an age of monogamy, that sounded exactly like a "scumbag declaration."
"…" Kei's body tightened; she fell briefly silent. She had long known Riku and Shiro were not blood siblings at all. Their relationship was, if anything, even closer than hers with Riku. So she had always believed that if she truly wanted to become Riku's girlfriend and even his future wife, she would have to get past the hurdle named Shiro.
As for Sagiri, she knew about her too, but didn't mind as much as she did Shiro.
She just hadn't expected Riku to say it outright like this.
"I don't want to let go of any of you," Riku continued. He didn't bring up Sora; now wasn't the time.
"…" Kei pressed her lips together, words failing her. Feelings are selfish; no one wants to share their man.
But Kei also understood. Sagiri might be negotiable; if she tried to force Riku to give up Shiro, the result would only be that her standing in Riku's heart plummeted, and she became the loser.
She didn't want that.
"Japan is a monogamous country. But… if it's Shiro, I'm willing to stay by your side together with her. Sagiri, I can accept her too," Kei said at last, face full of conflict as she looked up. "But aside from that, you're not allowed to find any other women."
A girl agreeing to a man's "harem" in a monogamous era is enough to shock anyone.
Not wanting to leave Riku's side, Kei chose to compromise.
"Kei-chan, there's something else I need to tell you." Riku loosened his arms from around her, stepped back a little, looked at her, and spoke slowly.
"Actually, I'm not an ordinary human."
"I know," Kei said, nodding as an involuntary gentle smile appeared. She touched the white hair ribbon tying her hair. "Riku-oniichan has always protected me."
Ever since Riku had given her that white ribbon, her luck had been strangely good. When she ran into bullying, inexplicable things happened. Those who bullied her would get hurt in odd ways, then run into all kinds of bad luck, like they were cursed. Once could be a coincidence; over and over couldn't be ignored. Kei had realised there was something unusual about the ribbon.
"Monogamy is the law in Japan in this world, but it doesn't restrict me. If I wanted to, I could easily change this world's system," Riku said with a shrug, light as air.
Kei blinked, a little slow on the uptake. She had guessed Riku wasn't ordinary; she had even fantasised he might be like a character in manga, with some incredible power, but she hadn't expected this.
And yes, Kei didn't doubt he was telling the truth; Riku had never lied to her.
"It may sound unbelievable, but I'm someone from another world. To be precise, a Demon King. A Demon King from a different world," Riku said, meeting Kei's eyes and revealing one of his identities.
If he wanted to keep a harem in a modern world, he had to overturn these girls' worldviews. If they couldn't accept it, Riku was selfish enough that, once feelings were involved, he wouldn't allow them to be taken by some random man later; he'd forcibly "pack them up," take them to the Little Garden, and instil a new worldview.
Of course, if they could think it through on their own, there'd be no problem.
"Demon King…" Kei was completely stunned, staring at Riku in disbelief, her mind in knots. What she was hearing sounded just like a fantasy manga.
"Not only do I have many girls I like in this world in my world, I already have many wives," Riku went on. "If you can accept that, then be my girlfriend."
"…" Kei's lips trembled; she couldn't calm down at all. The big brother who had been by her side for seven years suddenly declared he was a great Demon King and had already opened a huge harem. It was absurd; she couldn't think straight.
"I want to know are your feelings for me are real? Or are you like those manga, Riku-oniichan, do you just like collecting pretty girls?" After finally calming a little, Kei asked, emotions in a tangle.
"I already said it, my feelings for you are real. Kei-chan, I truly like you," Riku said, resting a hand atop her head and gently stroking, speaking with all seriousness.
As expected, this whole sequence was too much of a shock for an ordinary girl. But it was all something that had to be said sooner or later; Riku didn't want to deceive Kei, the girl he'd watched grow up.