"…Thank you for having me tonight. I really appreciate your hospitality."
It was a quarter past nine in the evening.
For a guest, it was indeed getting late—time to leave.
At the Minamoto household's entrance, Minamoto Senya had already changed into shoes appropriate for going out. Maintaining her polite, composed persona, she gave a slight bow toward Takanashi Junko.
But when she said the word "hospitality," her eyes unconsciously flicked toward Minamoto Senya, who was also changing his shoes, and her cheeks flushed ever so slightly.
It was a tiny gesture, barely noticeable to anyone else.
"No need to be so formal. Come by anytime—treat this place like your own home."
Takanashi Junko tilted her head slightly, holding her cheek in her hand. Her long hair, loosely tied with a simple hair tie, fell past her shoulders and chest in a classic image of a Japanese housewife.
She had just noticed the time was late and had even suggested that Senya stay the night, as the guest room was free and convenient, with pajamas available courtesy of Takanashi's eldest daughter. But Senya politely declined for practical reasons—she had school the next day, and her uniform and backpack were at home. It wasn't a matter of manners; staying over just wasn't convenient tonight.
"Thank you, Aunt Junko."
She bowed her head slightly again before speaking to Takanashi Toka:
"Toka, dinner tonight was amazing as always. You went through a lot of trouble. Next time, I insist on treating you instead."
Toka returned the smile.
"All right, I'll be waiting."
Senya had finished changing his shoes and, as usual, pulled a disposable mask from the drawer by the entrance.
"I'll walk Senya home, then."
"Okay. Be careful on the way."
He nodded, falling into step beside Senya. Their hands waved briefly as they stepped out into the evening.
Once they were gone, Takanashi Junko covered a yawn with her hand and reminded her daughters to get to bed soon. Having a long day with Senya and errands at the shop, she usually went to bed early and quietly returned to her room.
After Junko left, Toka went to the bathroom, intending to shower before bed. That's when she noticed Rikka approaching the front door. She had a serious expression, pushing it open slightly to peer out at the street like a sneaky little thief.
"What are you up to now? Didn't you hear Mom? Go wash up already."
"Don't pull me away, big sister! I need to check something extremely important!"
"Stop it. You're not going anywhere. Do you even know what time it is?"
Toka noticed her little sister slip into sandals and quickly pulled her back into the house, shutting the door securely behind them.
"Big sister!"
Rikka's protest was weak.
Toka raised a fist.
"Don't scream, or I'll knock your head a few times."
"Ugh… it's your constant banging on me that made me this dumb in the first place!"
Seeing her sister's threatening glare, Rikka had no choice but to hug her head in defeat and retreat.
After helping with the dishes earlier, Rikka had rushed upstairs, restless about what she had seen between Senya and Senya-senpai earlier—something unusually intimate.
As expected, Senya's door was firmly closed. Earlier, she had barged in without thinking, but that was an accident, so she felt no guilt.
Now, driven by her curiosity, she couldn't justify being so rude, but her desire to find out what was really happening didn't let her rest.
She tapped on the door, only to be told Senya was "busy" and shouldn't be disturbed.
Busy? With what, exactly?
The response only fueled Rikka's imagination. Late at night, a boy and a girl alone in a room, having just claimed to "recreate a scene for research." Her heart fluttered uncontrollably.
Unable to enter, Rikka returned to her room and stepped out onto the balcony.
The long balcony on the second floor was shared by three rooms, but as if anticipating Rikka's move, Senya had already closed the sliding door and drawn the curtains tight.
All she could see were faint lights behind the curtains—no useful information.
She had also considered following them secretly to the train station earlier, but that path had been blocked by her sister. She would have to wait until Senya returned to ask directly.
Something about Senya and Senya-senpai felt off. Their story of "just research" didn't add up. Rikka's sixth sense screamed at her.
The walk to the train station wasn't far.
Senya and Senya-senpai, however, took their time, walking slowly and without hurry.
Their shadows stretched under the streetlights, overlapping and then separating as they moved—repeating the pattern over and over.
Senya-senpai faced forward, satisfied with the evening's accomplishments.
Her smile reached her eyes, sparkling like morning stars, radiating joy and contentment.
"You didn't have to walk me all the way, you know."
"How could I not? You're a girl, after all."
Senya had thought about taking a taxi recently, given the recent spate of street crimes, but Senya-senpai refused. She appreciated his care and wanted to balance his effort, so this compromise—walking her to the station—worked perfectly.
"Ever since I first met you, you've always been so kind."
Senya simply shook his head with a smile.
"And… did what we just did help you?"
"Of course it did!"
Senya-senpai answered without hesitation. At this moment, there was no room for ambiguity—Senya needed to know his actions had made a tangible difference.
"I already have so many insights and a clear direction now. It's nothing like before, when I was staring at the blank page wondering how to continue my story. It feels amazing!"
"That's great. I'm glad it helped. Looks like your method of immersive research works wonders."
"My method is secondary. The main reason it worked is you, Senya. Your performance was perfect—total boyfriend material—and it let me truly immerse myself in my character's emotions."
"Really? Maybe I have a future as an actor, then."
Senya joked.
Senya-senpai's heart fluttered. She stepped closer, linking her pinky with his.
Senya tilted his head toward her. His inscrutable gaze made her hesitate for a moment, ready to explain this was all "research." But before she could, he firmly grasped her hand, intertwining their fingers tightly.
Not good…
Senya-senpai's cheeks burned. She had seen him grab a mask earlier and should have asked for one too, but it was too late now.
Her small, playful test had earned a more proactive response from the future father of her children.
She thought: this is just the beginning; everything else will follow step by step.
"Senya… I'm sorry. I might bother you like this again sometimes." She tried to keep up her innocent persona.
"You don't need to apologize. It doesn't break your immersion, right?"
"Pft."
"What's so funny?"
"Just… got you, darling~"
She leaned closer, pressing against him and whispering seductively in his ear.
Every stage had been carefully set. Repeating tonight's actions would eventually make them real, even if it wasn't yet.
At the station, they embraced like a real couple.
Just before parting, Senya-senpai took a step back, then quickly returned, wrapping her hands around his neck, standing on tiptoe to pull down his mask, and gently kissed his cheek.
"Good night. Only think of me—no other girls."
Her heart raced, yet her feelings were pure. She had barely given him time to react before retreating like a startled cat, hand over her flushed face, quickening her steps away.
Senya stood frozen, hand to his cheek, savoring the warmth and softness of the kiss.
It felt as though the train of events had left the station, and the pace would only accelerate from here.
The next morning at Kawaan Middle School, Rikka sat at her desk, tapping her toes against the floor in rhythm.
"Ugh…"
She rested her head on her hand, gazing out the window, still frustrated. Last night, she had tried questioning Senya about what happened, but got nothing. Even appealing to her image as "the adorable little sister who loves Senya" failed.
Senya had simply claimed it was just research to recreate a scene from a novel—a pure, reasonable explanation.
But Rikka wasn't convinced. She wasn't stupid. If it were truly just research, would they have been so intimate?
Not to mention, after dinner they went to his room and closed the doors and windows tightly. It was too suspicious to be innocent.
Were they secretly dating? Could she be getting a new sister-in-law? The more she thought about it, the more her imagination ran wild.
"Morning, Rikka."
Eriri arrived at the classroom. With some time before class, she greeted her friend cheerfully.
Rikka's eyes lit up but quickly darkened, a frustrated expression on her face.
"Hey, what's wrong? Why the weird look? Did you eat something gross again?"
"Do I look like a stray cat? And what's with the 'again'? Are you picking a fight?" Rikka pounced, tickling Eriri's side mercilessly.
Eriri laughed uncontrollably before Rikka finally relented.
"I just wanted to tease you because you looked so down." Eriri rubbed her eyes, still damp with laughter.
"I'm not in the mood for jokes!"
"What's wrong?" Eriri asked seriously.
"It's… complicated…" Rikka felt like a fox in a melon field—surrounded by treasures but unable to share them.
She had promised Senya not to tell anyone. But Eriri was her lifelong friend, so… maybe a hint.
Rikka scooted over slightly, making room on the bench and patted it, signaling Eriri to sit.
"It's like this—I really, really, really want to tell you something super important!" She stressed "really" three times, accentuating her seriousness.
Eriri sat, nodding. "Then tell me."
"But I promised I wouldn't."
Eriri's cat-like eyes narrowed. "…Are you messing with me?"
"No! I promised not to tell, but if you guess it on your own, I can't stop you, right?" Rikka explained.
Eriri went silent, realizing how complex it was being made.
"Well, even if I guess, give me a range! Like a teacher gives a test scope. Otherwise, I have no idea where to start."
"Sorry, I really can't say. But it's not that hard—you're smart. You'll figure it out."
"Uh… okay."
Thinking carefully, Eriri guessed: "Is it about Senya?"
Rikka's eyes lit up instantly. No words—just vigorous nodding.
"Really about Senya…" Eriri thought for a moment, then speculated: "Did he get sick? Did something happen at work? Or is he trying something new?"
Rikka shook her head at each guess, maintaining suspense.
By the time the first class began, Eriri gave up.
"I'm done guessing! Just tell me, or I don't care anymore!"
Rikka encouraged her: "One more try, Eriri—you're very close!"
"No! I only know it's related to Senya, I can't guess anything else!"
Rikka added a crucial hint: maybe the main character wasn't just Senya alone.
Eriri paused, thoughtful, looking at Rikka's encouraging expression.
"Is it related to you?"
Shake.
"Me?"
Shake.
Just as suspected.
When Eriri mentioned "Senya-senpai," Rikka finally nodded excitedly.
They arrived at the restroom.
A stall had freed up.
"Eriri, you go first. I need to go a little…"
Rikka didn't notice Eriri's unusual expression and quickly entered the stall.
Just as she was about to close the door, Eriri placed a hand on it and came in as well, closing it behind her.
"Well, that's fine—girls being girls."
"Eriri, turn around, I'll be quick."
As Rikka removed her skirt, Eriri helped lift it back on.
"Stop fooling around, Eriri—uh…"
Rikka looked up, seeing her friend's expression dark and cold—like a black hole.
Eriri, stepping closer, put one arm around Rikka's waist, the other on her lower stomach, pressing gently.
Her voice turned sharp, almost yandere-like:
"Rikka, what's going on between Senya and Senya-senpai?!"
"Uh… Eriri, calm down! I promised I wouldn't say—ugh~"
Rikka's voice wavered, legs shaking. Eriri's pressure made it even worse—she could barely hold it in.
"Eriri, don't… I really can't hold it anymore…"
"Then tell me! What's going on between Senya and Senya-senpai?!"
…
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