[Chihaya Anon: Soyorin! Soyorin! Is HaruHaru with you right now?!]
The message on her phone screen made Soyo frown. Just to be safe, she didn't open the message to trigger a "read" receipt but checked it from her lock screen. After reading it, she simply turned off her phone and pretended she hadn't seen it.
But no sooner had she done that than a call came in from that same pink-haired girl.
Texting and then immediately calling? Looks like the little fuzzball's in a panic.
"But… why would she say Haru's with me?"
Soyo lowered her head, a gleam flashing in her eyes.
If anyone would sneak off to see him without telling the others, it would be that shameless little cat, Chihaya Anon. Soyo guessed the pinkie must've tried something sneaky like slipping over to Haru's apartment or texting him for a secret meetup.
But something must have gone wrong.
Knowing Anon's pride, if she had succeeded in meeting Haru, she'd shamelessly say it was her right as his girlfriend. If she'd failed, she'd keep her pride and just stay quiet.
So the fact that she's panicking now, messaging Soyo for confirmation that's highly unusual.
"She couldn't find Haru or he declined her call, so she just assumed he's with me?"
Soyo gently twisted a lock of her light brown hair, a faint smile growing on her refined features. The dazzling blue of her narrowed eyes shimmered with a sharp edge, and a chill seemed to rise from her otherwise sweet expression.
"So… who is it?"
"Who's the sneaky little cat today?"
With several "official" girlfriends already circling her beloved husband, Soyo knew who to suspect. Aside from the pink menace and the docile little penguin, that left only Wakaba Mutsumi and Kita Ikuyo.
But since pinkie is clearly panicking and excluding Kita, that leaves one real suspect.
"Mutsumi…?"
Soyo frowned, recalling how Wakaba Mutsumi had once stood before her, boldly calling herself Haru's girlfriend.
Could she really be the culprit this time?
When Soyo had first met Mutsumi, she'd thought of her as a silent doll terrible at expressing herself, overly serious, and guilt-prone. Easy to predict, easy to control.
But ever since Mutsumi started getting close to Haru, something had shifted. She'd begun showing a firmness Soyo had never seen, calmly resisting manipulation and refusing to be swayed.
Most importantly...
Without anyone noticing, that "doll" had gotten ahead of her and confirmed a relationship with Haru.
As someone who always tried to keep herself in check, Soyo couldn't help but seethe at the memory.
But now wasn't the time for resentment.
"No matter who this little sneak is… I can't just sit back and do nothing."
Her murmur turned into a calculated smirk as she unlocked her phone.
…
The warmth from the scarf wrapped around his neck crept beneath Haru's skin. The scarf still carried Umiri's faint scent of shampoo, and because of the way it was wrapped, shared between them, they couldn't help but walk close together, shoulders brushing.
He never imagined being this close to Yahata Umiri. It stirred feelings even he couldn't ignore.
But beside him, Umiri remained calm, expression poised, as if the intimacy meant nothing. Her composed, dignified face showed not a flicker of discomfort. Her steps were steady and confident.
Trying to stay composed, Haru said lightly, "Yahata-san, this is a date, right?"
"It is."
"We've known each other a while now, but why do we still call each other by our last names?"
That question gave Umiri pause. Her dark lashes fluttered ever so slightly.
"I thought you preferred it that way," she replied softly, as if genuinely puzzled.
Haru blinked, slightly dumbfounded.
He thought she preferred keeping emotional distance, so he just followed suit. Besides, except for Taki, Umiri never used anyone's first name.
"I didn't think you'd mind," she added with a small shake of her head.
Looking at her calm face, Haru sighed.
Umiri was always polite and distant with most people, even in the band Ave Mujica. She kept emotional space from everyone, even him never giving off the slightest whiff of intimacy.
Watching her now, Haru tried: "So… should we change that today?"
The red scarf curled around her swan-like neck as she tilted her head.
"If it makes you happy, you can call me whatever you like."
Wait… why does this feel backwards?
Haru was struck by the odd sensation that he was the one being romanced. All this time, Umiri hadn't wavered for a second calm, unreadable, untouchable.
…Maybe she really doesn't have feelings for me?
As that thought crossed his mind, Haru let out a breath and let himself relax a little.
"Then starting today, I'll call you Lord Safurin."
Yahata Umiri blinked, slightly confused, and responded calmly, "That's a strange name, but like I said before, you can call me whatever you want."
Even with such an odd title attached to her, her refined face showed no hint of surprise. She accepted this new label from Kazami Haru without a blink, her expression and gaze remaining perfectly steady.
Always calm and aloof, she seemed like the type who wouldn't get mad no matter what happened.
"Lord Safurin, are you interested in arcade games?"
"...?"
Umiri followed Haru's gaze and saw that, without realizing it, they had wandered to the very end of the shopping street. In front of them stood a brightly lit arcade, glowing even in the middle of the day. From the entrance, they could already see rows upon rows of colorful game machines.
Having never stepped into a place like this before, Umiri was momentarily stunned. Before she could say a word, Haru gently took her wrist.
He wore a smile that could be described as beautiful. Though she knew his strength wasn't particularly impressive, her hand, once caught by his, felt strangely powerless. She didn't even try to resist as her body gave up before her mind could decide.
"If this is a 'go-with-the-flow' kind of date, then let's just play wherever we end up."
"Umiri, stay with me a while, won't you?"
The warmth of his fingers traced through her wrist as he spoke with a hint of smugness in his eyes.
Yahata Umiri didn't resist. She simply narrowed her eyes and let herself be led into the glimmering lights of the arcade by the handsome black-haired boy. This might very well be the first time in her sixteen years of life that she'd entered such a place.
The sudden shift in environment, paired with the unexpected nickname, caused subtle changes in the usually blank expression of Umiri. Her dark green eyes, capable of seeing through all illusions, glimmered with something new. Her soft, glass-like lips curled almost imperceptibly.
All of this happened just out of Haru's view.
"Huh?"
Watching from afar, Taki's eyes widened in disbelief. Of all the things she expected, Haru dragging Umiri into an arcade wasn't one of them.
She had just been cursing him under her breath for being too smooth with the scarf move, and now he was pulling Umiri into... an arcade?
It was so sudden, Taki hadn't even had time to react.
"Why an arcade? That's not a typical date spot!"
Weren't they supposed to be working out whether to take the next step in their relationship? Shouldn't Haru be pulling out all the stops to win Umiri over, break through her diamond-hard shell and force her to admit her feelings?
"Shouldn't he be taking her shopping, or to an aquarium, or watching a romantic movie, then finishing it all off with a dramatic wall slam?"
"I can't just sit back and watch this disaster..."
Taki pulled out her phone, ready to text Haru a warning, but then her fingers froze mid-gesture.
Everything she'd just imagined, those romantic date scenes, were things she learned from shoujo manga.
And while Haru often seemed unreliable, she had to admit he was the one person she truly trusted in these situations. His way with girls was proven. Maybe this weirdly spontaneous date plan had a deeper purpose?
"..."
She put her phone away and let out a slow breath.
She'd already decided to leave Umiri to him. Now she had to follow through with that trust. Besides, if she texted him now, she'd be outing herself as a stalker.
Buzz!
Her phone vibrated suddenly, and Taki frowned. It was a message from Nagasaki Soyo.
"Soyo?"
The confusion on Taki's face was obvious, she hadn't expected Soyo to contact her directly. Even after MyGO had reformed, Soyo's attitude toward everyone remained distant. She barely posted in the group chat, let alone reached out privately, especially not to someone she'd once butted heads with like Taki.
A bad feeling crept into her chest.
[Nagasaki Soyo: Taki, do you know where Haru is?]
"Huh?"
That one line froze Taki in place. Her bad feeling had just become reality.
"What the hell is she up to? Don't tell me she sensed something…"
If Soyo was asking that, she must have caught wind of something. If she found out Haru was on a date with someone else, she absolutely would not take it lying down.
Without hesitation, Taki responded coldly:
[Shiina Taki: No idea]
[Nagasaki Soyo: ...I see. Sorry to bother you then.]
After that, nothing more came from Soyo. It really did seem like she was just casually asking.
Even though Taki felt like something was off, she let it go for now. She couldn't see anything in the message that revealed what Soyo knew.
And even if Soyo did know Haru was with someone else, what could she do?
It's not like she could find them in a place as big as Tokyo.
…
Umiri's hands were truly something else.
Haru had assumed he'd dominate the arcade games, maybe even go easy on her, since she looked like the type who'd never touched a controller.
But she picked up the mechanics faster than he expected, and before he knew it, she was pulling off complex combos with an emotionless face.
Haru's expression went from relaxed to focused, then gradually turned into a sweat-soaked grimace.
They stopped talking altogether as their teamwork evolved into pure instinct. Without needing words, they jumped from one machine to the next fighting games, racing, arcade shooters, tennis sims, and more.
Before long, they'd played through more than half the arcade.
Exhausted in both body and mind, Haru sat down and rubbed his temples. He looked at the composed, ever-dignified girl standing nearby and spoke with a hint of disbelief.
"...Umiri, have you really never played arcade games before?"
"Never."
There was a faint smile playing at the corners of Kazami Haru's lips, so subtle it was almost imperceptible. Still, it was clear that he was in a decent mood.
"This game's a lot more fun than I expected. It's a great way to blow off steam."
He had just returned from the vending machine, holding two cans of KISS coffee. Before Haru could even reach out, she had already popped open the pull tab with one finger and, under his surprised gaze, handed the open can to him with a half-smile that hovered between mischief and amusement.
Haru's mouth twitched as he accepted the drink, his expression a little odd. "Umiri, if I ever make you mad someday... could you maybe not beat me up right away?"
He was genuinely afraid she'd snap his skull open with her bare hands.
"That would depend on what you did."
The dark-haired girl lifted her can and gave it a gentle shake. As she took a light sip, the sweet flavor of the coffee filled her mouth. This brand catered more to younger tastes, the kind that left behind a fruity sweetness that lingered pleasantly on the tongue.
Before meeting Haru, she never would've touched a drink like this.
"So, what do you think? Any thoughts or suggestions about our 'date' so far?"
"Surprisingly, it's been pretty fun."
Umiri didn't hesitate to answer. This date had definitely taken her by surprise.
[If you still give me a half-hearted answer like that when this date is over, then I'll just give up clean and simple.]
She recalled the words Haru had once said to her with a smile. The quiet weight pressing on her chest grew heavier. From the very beginning, this date between them had been a deliberate step toward honesty. The moment they met, their private contest had already begun.
Haru was trying his best to make Umiri's heart flutter, to push her into admitting what she really felt inside.
But so far, this handsome, soft-featured boy hadn't launched any kind of meaningful "offensive." Since the start, all he'd done was take her to play arcade games and unwind. Their so-called date felt more like a pair of friends hanging out over the weekend, nothing that hinted at anything deeper.
Had he given up already? But if he hadn't... what was he planning?
Umiri took another small sip of coffee, thoughts swirling, just as Haru's phone rang again.
"Hm?"
When he saw the caller ID [Nagasaki Soyo] his expression froze.
If the call earlier from Anon had been a "featherweight," someone who'd cool off with a proper apology and a bit of coaxing, then Soyo was the complete opposite. A "heavyweight" in every sense.
When her emotions boiled over, Soyo's destructive power was ten times that of Anon.
"..."
This was trouble. Soyo was not someone you could just hang up on.
Knowing her as well as he did, Haru understood that if she called her boyfriend and the call got cut, and he tried to smooth it over with a text the way he had with Anon, it would only make things worse. With Soyo, even a white lie could trigger a full meltdown.
So, what to do?
Haru was still hesitating when Umiri gave him a small nod.
Seeing this, Haru raised an eyebrow, then answered the call. "Soyo, what's up?"
[Do you have time today, Haru?]
[I wanted to talk to you about something~]
Her soft, calm voice drifted through the receiver, gentle as ever. It sounded no different from usual. But Haru, who knew his "ex-wife" all too well, took a deep breath and replied in a slower tone.
"I'm a little busy today. Can we talk later instead?"
[Ah! Now that I think about it... didn't you say you were heading to Shimokitazawa today?]
Shimokitazawa?
Haru frowned faintly, confused. He had an excellent memory and was sure he'd never told Soyo he had plans to go there today. That meant this was bait, Soyo's way of probing him.
His ever-smiling girlfriend was trying to draw him out without making it obvious.
Even though he knew she was fishing for information, Haru couldn't lie to her.
"I don't have any plans to go to Shimokitazawa. I'll be in Yokohama all day."
[...Is that so~? Then I must have remembered wrong. In that case, I won't bother you anymore. But you owe me next time, alright?]
"Got it. I'll make it up to you, okay?"
He exchanged a few more polite words before hanging up.
He could tell from her tone that she was strangely cheerful at the end. Something about it felt a little off.
If he wasn't wrong, she probably wouldn't just sit back and wait. In about thirty minutes, she'd likely show up in Yokohama to "catch" him herself.
Still, Haru would never lie to Soyo. Even a harmless little fib was something she couldn't bear, so no matter the situation, he would always be honest with her.
Umiri, who had watched the whole thing while sipping her coffee, stayed silent for a moment before speaking in a neutral tone.
"You sure you don't need to go be with your girlfriend?"
"Of course I need to, but I already promised I'd be with you today."
Even if Soyo did come, there was no way he'd leave now.
One way or another, he had to take responsibility for his choices.
"...Is that so?"
Umiri responded casually, but her gaze, fixed on the distance, couldn't hide the subtle shift in her emotions.
…
"So he really is in Yokohama, huh~"
Having arrived near the Yokohama shopping district, Soyo lowered her phone. Now that she knew her dear husband was with some thieving little cat, the date couldn't possibly be happening in Shimokitazawa, it had to be somewhere near the Rabbit Hill shopping arcade in Yokohama.
As his long-time partner, of course she could read Haru's general intentions.
At first, Soyo had suspected he might be with Taki, but after checking with her on Line, it seemed unlikely. Taki wasn't the type to sneak around if they were actually dating.
"Well then, time to have a look around…"
Soyo narrowed her eyes as she stepped into the arcade. She had already tricked Anon into going elsewhere, so there was nothing holding her back now.
Just to be safe, she'd even replied later to Anon with a few vague messages, some misleading intel that probably sent that gullible pink-haired girl off to her place by now.
"..."
She hadn't gone far before she spotted a familiar figure.
Not far away, Haru was walking shoulder to shoulder with a black-haired girl whose expression was completely unreadable. They seemed to be chatting as they strolled along the street. At a glance, Soyo immediately recognized her as Umiri, and her brows began to knit together.
Of course she knew Umiri. That girl had nearly taken her place once.
"When did she get to know Haru?"
These surprise "stray cats" were piling up far too quickly. One after another, women were setting their sights on her husband without her even noticing. As his wife, Soyo had no choice but to start filtering and eliminating them appropriately, of course.
That deadpan bassist type? No way she was any good.
She couldn't allow the number to grow any further.
Just dealing with Wakaba Mutsumi and Chihaya Anon was already enough of a headache. If even more rivals appeared, not even someone like Soyo could keep up.
She quickly adjusted the warm smile on her face, preparing to greet Umiri with all the poise of a rightful girlfriend. But just as she was about to step forward, a hand suddenly grabbed her arm and yanked her behind the signboard of a McDon*ld store.
Alarmed, Soyo turned to see who had pulled her, only to meet the scowling face of Taki.
Even with the disguise: a baseball cap, sunglasses, and a mask that tried-and-true "stalker" combo, the waist-length, night-sky-colored hair gave her away immediately. Soyo recognized the sneaky figure in a single glance.
"Taki? What are you doing here dressed like that... what are you planning?"
"I should be the one asking that! Why are you here?!"
Taki, her sunglasses still on, glared fiercely at the maturely dressed Soyo. From her point of view, the woman's sudden appearance, and that strange, calculating smile she had aimed at Umiri, made one thing very clear.
She was up to no good.