Having spent all this time with Ai Hoshino,
Mai Sakurajima had come to understand certain patterns in how she behaved.
Different forms of address meant different ways of positioning her.
The distant, formal "Miss Sakurajima" showed that Ai Hoshino considered her a rival in love.
But when she used "Miss Mai," that was the relationship of a fan toward an idol.
Either way,
Ai Hoshino had accepted her framing of things, which meant that on this particular matter, Ai Hoshino had conceded. Mai had won.
Mai Sakurajima felt pleased with herself, body and soul.
After all this time trading blows with Ai Hoshino, the two of them had always been evenly matched. But now, finally, she'd won a round.
"Then let's all go together!"
After saying this, Mai Sakurajima turned to look at Sayaka Maizono.
She couldn't leave this sweet girl out of the invitation — otherwise Sayaka would probably feel awkward about it.
"Miss Maizono, join us for dinner tonight. Four of us — that's just right."
Since Mai Sakurajima herself had extended the invitation,
Sayaka Maizono had no reason to refuse.
The uncertainty in her heart settled into something more ordinary.
After all, it wouldn't have been appropriate for her to suggest joining them herself — even if none of the other three minded, she herself would have minded.
As for everything else,
well... she decided not to dwell on it for now.
"Thank you," Sayaka Maizono said, expressing her gratitude.
The four of them set off toward the amusement park's front gate.
They boarded a train and headed toward tonight's destination.
On the train, the three women discussed and debated, eventually settling on hot pot.
Lin Ye had no objections, of course.
Accompanied by the clatter of the train, after a little over half an hour, the four of them got off and walked toward the hot pot restaurant.
At this hour,
since the area wasn't in the central business district, there weren't many people around.
Streetlights lined both sides of the road, lighting their way forward.
Mai Sakurajima looped her arm through Lin Ye's, her smile radiant with happiness.
Every so often she glanced sideways at the girl behind them, watching for Ai Hoshino's reaction, but seeing that Ai Hoshino showed little response, she'd look away again and focus on the boyfriend beside her.
Her boyfriend was good in every way — except for the fact that he had far too many women lingering around him in ambiguous relationships. He was simply too much of a flirt.
She wasn't worried that Lin Ye had any feelings for Sayaka Maizono, but she did worry that Sayaka Maizono might develop feelings for her boyfriend.
That wasn't impossible at all.
If Sayaka Maizono spent more and more time around Lin Ye, who knew — she might end up falling for him, might even start throwing herself at him.
And when that happened, how would Lin Ye respond?
He'd refuse, that much was certain — but whether he could refuse thoroughly enough, that was something even she couldn't be sure of or guarantee.
A dozen or so minutes later,
the four of them arrived at the hot pot restaurant.
Lin Ye specifically chose a private room.
It would cost extra in service fees, but money wasn't an issue.
Having a private, enclosed space was a basic requirement.
Led by a staff member, the four of them walked into the private room.
"Here's the ingredient menu," the server said, holding out the menu.
Since there were three women present, she chose to hand it to Lin Ye, the only man among them.
Lin Ye took it and immediately passed it to Mai beside him.
Mai Sakurajima was quite pleased.
This was exactly the treatment she deserved as Lin Ye's girlfriend.
She glanced toward Ai Hoshino and smiled lightly, letting her good mood show.
Mai Sakurajima's mood right now was genuinely excellent.
Lin Ye's gesture had fully demonstrated the treatment and status she was entitled to.
Ai Hoshino's expression stayed calm — she'd mentally prepared for this moment — but now that it had actually happened, she still felt a small twinge of unhappiness.
She'd been hoping Lin Ye would hand the menu to her. Even though that hope had been almost impossible to begin with, she still felt a little hurt.
She'd hoped for too much.
She was overthinking things.
Mai Sakurajima thought it over, then turned to Ai Hoshino and said, "Miss Hoshino, why don't you order first — you're our guest."
A guest?
She was a guest?
Since when had she become a guest?
Ai Hoshino felt a flash of irritation.
She didn't take the menu — instead she reached over and handed it to Sayaka Maizono beside her. "Sayaka, why don't you order?"
Sayaka Maizono swallowed. The atmosphere right now felt thick and frozen, and it weighed heavily on her.
Refusing felt wrong, accepting felt wrong — either way brought pressure.
"Okay," Sayaka Maizono said quietly, nodding as she took the menu, then turned her attention to it.
Looking over the ingredients and their prices, all she could think was how expensive, how expensive everything was.
What tier of hot pot restaurant even was this?
Why were the ingredients so pricey?
But then she reminded herself that Lin Ye wasn't short on money, so there was nothing she needed to hold back for.
Just order — order whatever she wanted, no need to be polite about it.
"All right, I'll order then,"
Sayaka Maizono began.
If it had been just her and a friend eating hot pot, she'd never have come to a place at this level — it was simply too expensive.
But since Lin Ye was paying,
even though her wallet still ached a little at the thought, she went ahead and started ordering after some thought.
"I'm done ordering. Anything to add?"
But seeing that none of the other three responded, Sayaka Maizono called the server over and placed the order officially.
The ingredients arrived quickly,
and the broth was already steaming.
Lin Ye added the ingredients in,
and one by one, they all began to eat.
"Try this, Lin-kun,"
after cooking it, Mai Sakurajima dipped a slice of beef in sauce first, then held it out to Lin Ye.
Lin Ye opened his mouth without hesitation and ate the beef. "It's delicious."
"If you like it, eat more,"
she said with a smile, glancing sideways at Ai Hoshino.
There was a certain edge of showing off in it.
Mai Sakurajima was competing.
Ai Hoshino kept her smile in place, her expression calm — but under the table, where Mai Sakurajima couldn't see, she'd already slipped off one shoe, and her bare foot was lightly rubbing against Lin Ye's ankle.
There was a thrill to it.
Ai Hoshino liked this feeling — there was something in it that felt like teasing, like getting one over on Mai Sakurajima.
The boyfriend Mai Sakurajima adored was, at this very moment, lost in her touch.
Ai Hoshino felt something like a thrill of illicit excitement — she almost thought that if this could go on until dinner ended, how exciting that would be.
Mai Sakurajima, completely unaware of what was happening under the table, focused entirely on chatting with Lin Ye and feeding him.
What surprised her, though, was that Ai Hoshino hadn't struck back at all — she just watched with that faint smile, which left Mai frustrated and confused.
Could it be... that she'd really given up on the competition?
Aside from that,
she really couldn't think of another explanation.
Mai Sakurajima pressed her lips together and quickly set the doubt aside.
Meanwhile, Sayaka Maizono, sitting beside Ai Hoshino, had noticed everything — but she couldn't say a word, absolutely couldn't. All she could do was pretend she knew nothing and keep eating her hot pot.
Still...
"This is so good,"
Hot pot broth tasted more or less the same everywhere, but the freshness and quality of the ingredients really did make a difference in how good it tasted.
Sayaka Maizono suspected that the next time she ate hot pot, she'd probably be pickier than before — after all, she'd already tasted this level of quality.
Following Lin Ye and Senpai Ai Hoshino around let her experience a world she'd never had access to before.
But,
if this kept going, she worried she might find it hard to return to her old, ordinary world.
It's easy to go from frugal to extravagant, and hard to go back from extravagant to frugal!
She knew all too well that if she kept this up, it would become very, very hard to pull herself away.
And if that were the case, what should she do going forward?
Sayaka Maizono's gaze drifted slowly back and forth between Lin Ye and Ai Hoshino.
In the end,
she suspected she'd really end up agreeing to Senpai Ai Hoshino's proposal.
Realizing this,
Sayaka Maizono sighed inwardly.
Her feelings had changed so quickly.
Just the night before, she'd been firmly refusing — yet today, things had turned out this way.
If she wanted to stay true to herself, she should stay away from Lin Ye, and even from Senpai Ai Hoshino.
But,
it really was... too hard.
Once she faced the reality of her situation, she found it genuinely difficult to fully give up this opportunity. She knew that if she let it go, there would never be another chance like it.
And staying away from Senpai Ai Hoshino was even less realistic.
If she really tried to distance herself from Senpai Ai Hoshino, even if Senpai wouldn't do anything to her, others certainly might.
A large part of her current situation existed because of her connection to Senpai Ai Hoshino. If she cut that tie, then... everything would be over.
Sayaka Maizono's head ached. She didn't dare think too deeply about it, and finally decided to just focus on the dinner in front of her for now.
Hot pot with premium ingredients like this was a rare treat.
A restaurant like this —
unless she suddenly struck it rich, she'd probably never have the chance to come back. She was fairly confident about that.
The meal went on slowly.
There weren't many exchanges between Mai Sakurajima and Ai Hoshino, which made Mai think Ai Hoshino had given up trying to stir things up.
She gradually let go of her own provocative edge and settled back into her usual calm demeanor.
Since Ai Hoshino was behaving well, she'd be friendly in return.
"Student Hoshino, eat more,"
her tone toward Ai Hoshino turned noticeably warmer.
"Thank you, Miss Mai," Ai Hoshino said sweetly in return.
The two of them gradually grew friendlier in conversation.
But under the table,
Ai Hoshino, feeling the sensation against her foot, unconsciously tightened her left hand around Sayaka Maizono's thigh beside her.
This made Sayaka Maizono clench her teeth hard.
What exactly was going on?
Why was Senpai reacting so strongly?
Sayaka Maizono realized the situation under the table had flipped — now it was Lin Ye teasing Senpai Ai Hoshino.
This... was thrilling!
If Mai Sakurajima ever found out about this, there was no telling how she'd react.
She couldn't even imagine it.
Sayaka Maizono pressed her lips shut and silently endured it all.
Time ticked by, minute by minute.
The hot pot meal was winding down.
All the ingredients had been finished off, and now Lin Ye alone was eating what remained, savoring it.
When possible, not wasting food was one of Lin Ye's habits.
The four of them didn't leave right away — they rested a while, chatting to pass the time.
"Mr. Lin, what are your plans after this?" Sayaka Maizono asked. "Tonight is..."
"I'm heading back to Chiba."
He still hadn't told Yukino he wasn't coming back. Knowing that girl's personality, she was probably already waiting at the apartment, maybe even with the ingredients already prepared.
Since that was the case,
he really did need to go back, so as not to leave her waiting for nothing.
"I see," Sayaka Maizono said, nodding.
This didn't affect her much, but it was different for the other women.
Mai Sakurajima had been hoping Lin Ye would stay the night and leave in the morning.
But now that Lin Ye had made his decision, it meant she'd have to part with him soon.
A twinge of reluctance settled over her.
Ai Hoshino, meanwhile, felt both happy and sad — happy that Lin Ye wouldn't be staying the night with Mai Sakurajima, but sad that she too would have to part with him.
Who knew when she'd see Lin Ye again after this.
Ai Hoshino had actually harbored a small hope — that Lin Ye would come back to her apartment with her tonight.
Men, after all, had certain needs.
She'd already helped him with that before — surely he'd enjoy and look forward to it again.
But Lin Ye's answer had dashed that hope.
She really had been hoping for too much.
Of course Lin Ye wouldn't go back with her.
Wouldn't going to Mai Sakurajima's place be a much better option?
Ai Hoshino had known, ever since she first met Lin Ye, that he liked — no, deeply liked — Mai Sakurajima. This trip to Tokyo was for Mai Sakurajima too.
Coming to see her was really just incidental.
A strange sadness washed over her, but she could only bear it and accept the fact.
Ai Hoshino didn't know how far things had progressed between Lin Ye and Mai Sakurajima, but she knew her own relationship with him had made some breakthroughs, at least.
It had gone deeper than where things had started.
Next,
she decided she'd push this relationship further still, take it to the next level.
That was Ai Hoshino's plan.
"It's about time. Let me see you all home,"
"Sayaka and I can get back on our own,"
Ai Hoshino offered to lighten Lin Ye's load.
If he saw the two of them home first, he'd still need to take Mai Sakurajima back, and then head to Chiba after that — he wouldn't get home until deep into the night.
Ai Hoshino wanted Lin Ye to be able to rest earlier too.
"Let Lin-kun take you home," Mai Sakurajima spoke up.
She made her position clear.
"Then Miss Mai, you..."
"I'll come along, and then Lin-kun can take me back to my place afterward."
Mai Sakurajima had no intention of returning to her apartment alone.
She wanted to make the most of the little time they had left.
Who knew when she'd next get to see Lin Ye.
Mai Sakurajima could only cherish what little time remained.
"Let's go,"
Lin Ye answered, meeting Ai Hoshino's questioning look.
A little extra time wasn't a problem.
Besides,
he decided to take a taxi.
A single taxi could solve this whole logistical puzzle neatly.
The four of them left the restaurant and stepped out onto the street.
Night had fallen over Tokyo, and gusts of evening wind carried a real chill.
Mai Sakurajima instinctively pulled her coat tighter around herself.
Ai Hoshino did the same.
As for Sayaka Maizono, she didn't do anything, though she did feel a slight chill too.
But she knew this wasn't the moment for her to seek warmth.
She didn't have that right.
Seeing this, Lin Ye took off his own coat and draped it over Mai Sakurajima's shoulders.
Mai was his girlfriend.
In terms of their relationship, Mai always came first.
And since tonight had originally been a date with Mai, that made it all the more necessary to take care of her first.
"Thanks," she said.
More than the warmth the coat brought, what mattered more to Mai Sakurajima was what this gesture meant.
It showed that Lin Ye's care and attention for her came before Ai Hoshino's.
Her place in Lin Ye's heart was far, far higher than Ai Hoshino's.
How could that not make her happy?
"Lin-kun, I'm cold," Ai Hoshino immediately said, wrapping her arms around Lin Ye's arm and pressing close against him.
This gesture was far more direct.
Ai Hoshino was using this to openly express her feelings and intentions toward Lin Ye.
Her earlier composure during dinner seemed to have been nothing but a mask.
"All right, dress warmer when you go out from now on,"
"I'll remember! But with Lin-kun around, there's really nothing to worry about at all! Haha, with Lin Ye by my side, I can handle any cold or heat with ease!"
Ai Hoshino went on about the perks of having Lin Ye around.
Sayaka Maizono grew anxious, worried that Mai Sakurajima might not be able to hold back and end up arguing with Senpai — maybe even coming to blows.
But in the end, she'd been overthinking it.
There was no way Mai Sakurajima would actually raise a hand.
When girls argued, however heated it got, they wouldn't actually fight, right?
No,
that kind of thing really could happen.
But between Senpai and Mai Sakurajima, it wouldn't.
If actual violence broke out, Lin Ye would probably drop them both.
No man wanted a girlfriend who got into physical fights.
She really didn't think Lin Ye would like a girl who resorted to fighting.
At this point, Lin Ye let go of Ai Hoshino's hand and walked a few steps forward, waving down a taxi.
The taxi slowed to a stop.
Lin Ye sat in the front passenger seat, while Mai Sakurajima, Ai Hoshino, and Sayaka Maizono sat in the back.
"Driver,"
Lin Ye gave an address,
and the taxi pulled away.
About twenty-some minutes later,
the car arrived.
Ai Hoshino and Sayaka Maizono got out.
Lin Ye walked the two of them to the entrance of their apartment building.
"Lin-kun, goodbye,"
Ai Hoshino said with a smile, waving.
"Goodbye,"
The moment Lin Ye finished speaking, Ai Hoshino closed the distance in three quick steps, threw her arms around him, rose up on her toes, and pressed her lips to his.
Their lips met, soft and warm.
It wasn't the first time, but it still left him wanting more, unwilling to let go.
If it weren't for the impropriety of it, Lin Ye would have liked nothing more than to savor that softness a while longer.
"Get some rest,"
"You're the one who should get some rest, Lin-kun,"
Ai Hoshino laughed softly.
"Next time..."
She leaned in and murmured something in his ear.
Then, without another word, she turned and walked into the building, pulling Sayaka Maizono along by the hand.
"This girl,"
Such a blatant temptation.
Was he really the kind of man who could be swayed by that?
Clearly not.
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