A soft, delicate fragrance drifted toward Haru, a gentle blend of sandalwood and sweetness that arrived along with the tender sensation on his lips. He simply widened his eyes, staring into the girl's gaze. Soyo, now this close, narrowed her smiling eyes just slightly.
It was clear she intended to press even further.
Such aggression.
Haru could definitely feel the softness of her lips. Even he was starting to sweat a little.
Doing this right in front of Anon was already more than enough of a provocation, and yet this woman seemed poised to escalate into a full-on French kiss. If she actually went through with it, Haru couldn't imagine how Anon would react.
With that in mind, he gave Soyo's back a gentle pat, a silent signal that it was time for his 'wife' to ease up.
"…"
Soyo stared quietly at her dear husband for a moment, then reluctantly took a step back.
What choice did she have? She was, after all, the considerate and obedient wife.
Their unspoken exchange gave Anon just enough time to snap out of it. Her eyes went wide, face flushed scarlet, mouth agape like she'd just seen the impossible.
This was nothing like the bashful blush she wore when cuddling. She was seething, blood boiling with rage, her shoulders and fists trembling beyond her control.
"Soyo!"
Finally, Anon lost her temper and charged forward, even forgetting the usual nickname in her fury.
But before she could get there, Soyo had already stepped back, her delicate face once again graced with a calm and elegant smile. "Let's leave it at that for today, shall we? The incense at your place is probably running low, right? I'll bring some next time."
Even if her entire plan had failed, she supposed this would be enough for now.
Too much greed always led to backlash.
With that thought, Soyo exhaled deeply and turned her head to glance playfully at Haru. "So I really am going home this time?"
Haru gave a helpless shrug and muttered, "If Miss Soyo doesn't go home soon, I might end up getting an earful from Mrs. Nagasaki."
"It's fine~ Mama's not home tonight."
Soyo clapped her hands together, smiling, her meaningful gaze making Haru's mouth twitch.
So that's why she had chosen tonight to come all the way to his place. Now he understood her true intention.
With her mother out, Soyo could pretend to be a poor, lonely girl and use Umiri's situation as leverage to guilt-trip him into letting her stay over and knowing her, she might pull it off.
But Haru was used to her little schemes. Even though he knew just how sly she was, he'd never once regretted the time they'd spent together.
If there was one thing he did find annoying...
It was probably how thoroughly she had him wrapped around her finger.
A measly little succubus like Soyo, daring to act so high and mighty. One day, he'd make her cry and beg for mercy.
"Soyo! You shameless vixen! You actually dared, right in front of me…"
Anon was livid. Seeing Soyo about to 'escape,' she lost it completely. But before she could rush forward to punish this brazen woman, Haru had already grabbed her to stop things from getting out of hand.
Seizing the opportunity, Soyo gave a cheerful wave and swiped her card to enter her luxurious apartment.
With her gone, what could Anon do?
It felt like she'd thrown her strongest punch into a pile of cotton. Even as Soyo disappeared inside, she didn't spare Anon a single glance. It was like she didn't even exist like this woman had the nerve to go after her boyfriend right before her eyes.
"Haru! Why did you hold me back?!"
Anon's eyes flashed with indignation, but Haru only rolled his eyes and deadpanned, "If I hadn't held you, you two would've been fighting already."
Sure, he liked watching women fight but not his girlfriends.
Unless they were some kind of underground monsters like Gudon and King Kong.
Anon went silent, caught off guard by how quickly he called her out. But even so, her frustration didn't fade. She pouted and let out a soft, angry whimper.
"But Soyorin… she didn't even acknowledge me! She actually did that, right in front of me! I can't stand it, I'm so mad I could explode…!"
"No way! Next time I'm definitely getting her back!"
Watching her puff up her cheeks and mutter to herself, Haru twitched slightly at the corners of his mouth. Sandwiched between two fiercely jealous girls, he reached out and gently pinched her nose.
"Alright, alright. I still need to walk you home. Your mom's probably waiting, right?"
"I mean, yeah, but…"
Anon grumbled, rubbing her pinched nose and looking down, clearly disappointed.
She had already told her mom ahead of time she'd be staying at a 'friend's' place tonight. But thanks to Soyo's interference, her plan to spend the night at Haru's had been crushed. Now she had no choice but to slink back home like a defeated little puppy.
Worst of all, she hadn't even gotten anything out of it!
How could she possibly accept that?
Her cheeks puffed like steamed buns as she sulked in silence.
Anyone could tell how annoyed she was especially Haru, who knew her better than anyone.
He sighed inwardly and slowly reached out, pulling the grumpy pink-haired girl into his arms before she could react. Her soft body squirmed slightly against him.
"Wh-what are you doing?"
Anon's voice trembled slightly, her eyes darting away. She gave a token struggle, but it was half-hearted at best.
Haru just smiled and lowered his chin onto her head, patting her back gently as he whispered, "Lady Anon, is there anything I can do to make it up to you?"
Held close, her face nestled against his chest, Anon felt her knees go weak. Her will to resist melted.
Her real frustration wasn't even with Haru, it was all because of that husband-snatching fox, Soyo. Haru hadn't done anything wrong. Once she realized that, her mood quickly softened.
Still, she couldn't just let it slide. She had to get her payback somehow.
Anon scrunched her brows, then beckoned him closer with a mischievous glint in her eye.
"Haru, bend down a little."
Curious but unsuspecting, Haru leaned down. Just as he did, she looped her arms around his neck, stood on tiptoe, and bit his neck with her sharp little fang.
A quick sting shot through him, and Haru's eyes flew wide open.
"Wait, you actually bit me?!"
"Is that a problem?!"
Anon, her little mouth still open, bared her sharp canine teeth as if to show off. Then, as if unwilling to back down, she bit down again, leaving a faint mark on his neck. But worried she might have hurt him, she gently licked the spot with her warm, soft tongue to soothe it.
The faint tickling sensation on his neck quickly told Haru exactly what she was doing.
What, are you drawing charms on my neck?
"Tell me, Anon-san, you're not seriously trying to leave a mark or something, are you?"
Haru rolled his eyes, asking in a tone that left little room for doubt. Anon's cheeks turned a rosy shade of pink, but she was the type to hold her ground even when caught red-handed.
Still nibbling on his skin, she mumbled through her teeth, "That's right. What, Haru, don't you want me to?"
How could he possibly say no? One look at those fangs and he was already surrendering.
If she was just biting his neck now, who knew what she'd bite next?
Haru immediately raised his hands in surrender. That finally earned him a satisfied nod from Anon, who took a few more playful bites before lifting her head.
Her pink lips glistened slightly, giving the already petite and adorable girl a subtle touch of allure.
The heavy frustration in her chest gradually melted into something much lighter. With her fingers outstretched, Anon raised her head with pride, as if signaling for Haru to hold her hand. With her soft hair swaying, it felt like a pair of droopy dog ears had sprouted from her head, and a fluffy pink tail wagged happily behind her.
She really was starting to look more and more like one of those affectionate dog-type girlfriends.
The most easily consoled girl in all of MyGO.
Haru couldn't help but laugh quietly at the thought.
Just moments ago she'd been sulking, and now she was smiling like nothing happened. No wonder Soyo could run circles around her so easily. But it was this cheerful, sincere, and straightforward side of her that he liked most.
Now with their fingers intertwined, Anon transformed back into her usual bubbly self. She chattered away at Haru's side, talking about all kinds of things. Her delicate face would glow with joy or pout with complaints, her voice full of warmth and energy as she shared every corner of her world.
Haru said little, simply holding her hand as they walked.
Before they knew it, they had arrived at the familiar, secluded villa.
Lush greenery surrounded them, leaves forming a perfectly trimmed hedge around the European-style cottage. It was elegant, but not overdone.
Just judging by the property alone, Anon definitely counted as a proper rich girl.
Lost in thought, Haru gently squeezed her hand, bringing the still-chatting Anon back to the present. "We're here. Let's save the rest for next time, okay?"
"Eh?! Already…?"
Anon blinked at the gate, visibly disappointed. Her cute face quickly filled with a touch of regret, though she didn't throw a tantrum or demand more time.
Instead, her cheeks flushed softly as she reached out with one hand, her clear gray eyes sparkling with hope.
She subtly tapped her chin with one finger.
"Haru, I'm going home now, you know?"
"Yeah. Good night."
"No, I mean… I'm really going home now."
"I know. Good night."
Anon stomped her foot in frustration.
Seeing that Haru was deliberately pretending not to understand, she almost said it out loud. But then she noticed the playful glint in his eyes, he had clearly understood her hint from the very beginning.
Haru, you dummy. You're teasing me on purpose!
Flustered, Anon gave him a few light punches to the chest with her tiny pink fists, then flashed her little fang in mock threat.
Realizing she was getting genuinely flustered, Haru finally chuckled and placed his hands on her shoulders, leaning in.
Feeling what was coming, Anon's petite frame trembled. Her legs weakened, and her body leaned lightly into his chest. Her eyes, fluttering like fans, slowly began to close.
At that moment...
"Anon?"
The door to the Chihaya house suddenly swung open, and there stood Mrs. Chihaya, short-haired and wide-eyed, staring at the two of them.
"Eh?! Mom?! What are you doing out here?!"
Anon's face turned bright red as she nearly jumped out of Haru's arms. Caught red-handed while practically melting into his embrace, she had no time to recover.
She scrambled away from him like a frightened little rabbit.
"Oh my, isn't that Haru-kun?"
"So you brought my daughter home yourself. Would you like to come in for some tea and rest a bit?"
Mrs. Chihaya's knowing smile made it all too clear what she'd walked in on. She greeted him warmly and extended a polite invitation.
Tea?
Haru glanced at the pink-haired girl beside him, steam practically rising from her head. He decided it was best to politely decline.
"I'm really sorry, Mrs. Chihaya. It's already quite late."
"I'll make sure to visit properly another time. I hope you won't mind."
Anon's brain was probably about to short-circuit. If he accepted and went inside now, the awkwardness would be unbearable, especially with Mrs. Chihaya clearly having fun watching them squirm.
"Eh? But it's just a cup of tea…"
"Haru, I'm going home now!"
But before Haru could even respond, Anon, her ears already flushed bright red, quickened her pace. Her eyes darted nervously as she hurried to the front door, shoved her startled mother back into the entryway, and slammed the door shut in one smooth motion.
Being caught kissing by her mom had completely fried her brain.
If she actually let her boyfriend in for tea now, her nosy, troublesome mother would be sure to start asking all sorts of questions.
"Anon-chan, I didn't even get a proper chance to talk with Haru-kun!"
"There's no need! No talking right now!"
Anon did her best to sound calm, but her flustered tone betrayed her. Her rare display of panic made Mrs. Chihaya smile faintly.
"From the looks of it, I take it you two are officially dating now, hmm? Then what's the harm in me chatting with him a bit? By the way, how far have you two gone already? Why are you acting so defensive… unless you're hiding something from me?"
"Wait, don't tell me you didn't use protection…"
"That's not it at all!! Mom, stop asking so many weird questions!"
Anon snapped, her whole face blazing red. But her flustered denial only served to reveal even more than she wanted.
Realizing what she'd just done, Anon fled under the pretense of taking a shower, leaving her mother behind, who watched her daughter's retreating figure with a sigh of resignation.
Her daughter wasn't even married yet, and she was already out of her hands.
…
At the gate, Haru let out a long breath. Only after personally walking both girls home did he finally feel a little more at ease.
But as his nerves relaxed, exhaustion surged in like a tidal wave. The events of the day had been far too intense, and now, tired to the bone, he could hardly focus. He reached up and rubbed his aching temples.
"There's still one thing left to deal with."
He recalled what Soyo had said earlier at his place. Haru closed his eyes briefly, gathering his thoughts.
He had somehow ended up in a 'relationship' with Shiina Taki without even realizing it. The shock was even greater than when Umiri had confessed to him. Taki had always denied it, always insisting stubbornly that she hadn't accepted his feelings.
"Did Soyo say something to her?"
Now that would be the ultimate support move, recruiting an enemy player to switch sides.
If he didn't know, he could let it go. But now that he did know… Haru couldn't just ignore it.
Before leaving, Umiri had reminded him to make more progress in his relationships, and Haru figured this was the best chance to get a straight answer from the always tight-lipped Shiina Taki.
Taking a deep breath, he opened Line and sent a message.
[Haru]: Miss Taki, do you have time in the next few days?
No "are you there", this was detail work.
Take notes, everyone.
Barely two seconds passed before the read receipt appeared.
[Shiina Taki]: What do you want?
[Haru]: I'd like to talk with you privately. There's something I want to clear up.
That message was also read immediately, but this time, she didn't reply for a while.
Just as Haru began to wonder if he'd come off too strong, his phone suddenly buzzed in his hand.
[Shiina Taki]: I get it.
[Shiina Taki]: I'm free in a few days. Come to my place then.
"Huh?"
Haru blinked, swallowing the words he had prepared.
It felt like he had just turned into a beam of light to fight a kaiju, only for the monster to fire a Spacium Ray right back at him. And the tone of her messages… something felt off. Had she gotten mad because of something Soyo said?
Inviting him over so easily, was this a trap?
Was he walking into Dio's lair or something? What if he started walking up her stairs and found he couldn't reach the second floor?
Haru took a moment to steady himself, murmuring cautiously,
"…Whatever. At this point, I've got no choice."
…
A few days passed in the blink of an eye.
At exactly 3 p.m., the bell rang, marking the end of the day's classes.
With the noise of club activities and chatter filling the halls, Haru packed up and walked out of school, mentally bracing himself. Today was the day of his talk with Shiina Taki. And the meeting place was… her house.
Unbelievable.
Ever since he'd confessed to her, Taki hadn't dared to be alone with him. Even saying a few words together would make her flustered. And now she was inviting him to her house?
"Hm?"
Halfway along the road, Haru suddenly stopped, his eyes narrowing.
Not far ahead stood a familiar figure with long, sleek black hair. Her elegant, cool face stared straight ahead. Her dark hair draped softly over her shoulders, and she held a wide, distinctive instrument case. When she spotted Haru, her emerald eyes shifted slightly, and she gave the KISS coffee can in her hand a little shake.
"…"
Now he understood.
Without a word, Haru walked over and took the coffee from her hand, grumbling as he did, "What, is this some kind of spy code now? Have you become a secret agent or something?"
"Isn't it fun? I think it's kind of cool."
Umiri simply raised her eyebrows with a faint smile, then began walking in a certain direction without saying a word. Even without an explanation, Haru understood what she meant and, with a small shake of the coffee in his hand, quietly followed after her.
Ever since they had officially become a couple, nothing much had changed between Haru and Umiri in how they interacted.
This cold, snow-like beauty still carried herself with the same calm detachment. Even when they walked together, she didn't reach for his hand, as if their relationship was still stuck in the same place as before.
Except when they were alone.
Only when it was just the two of them did Miss Umiri's "aggressiveness" exceed anything Haru could have imagined.
Shaking off the scattered thoughts, Haru glanced over at the black-haired girl walking beside him. His gaze slid down her cheek and rested on the broad instrument case she carried. Without hesitation, he spoke in a casual tone.
"You probably have band support work again today, right? Are you sure it's okay to come with me?"
"No problem. There's plenty of time before the performance."
Umiri replied slowly, her tone so flat it made it sound like she didn't care at all.
Yet, this cool and solitary beauty suddenly turned her head, her deep green eyes locking onto the side of his face. With the same expressionless calm, she asked, almost offhandedly, "Will I be bothering you if I come along?"
Haru shrugged and replied without missing a beat, "Of course not. But you weren't really planning on getting involved, right?"
Umiri nodded lightly, silently confirming what he said.
In truth, she had come along because she wasn't entirely at ease. She wanted to personally check on Shiina Taki and give her a little push. Once that was done, she'd naturally leave the two of them to talk in private.
Even if she didn't say anything, Haru could tell from their long-standing rapport.
Seeing how dedicated she was, Haru couldn't help but murmur, "You're really kind to Taki. As a friend, you're exceptional."
Especially compared to the girls in CRYCHIC, Umiri's reliability and quiet warmth stood out even more.
He'd just meant it as a passing comment, but the frosty girl beside him suddenly pressed her lips together. A faint, amused smile appeared on her sharp and handsome face as she teased him with a knowing look.
"What, are you getting jealous?"
"There's still a bit of time before your appointment with Taki. So for now, we still get a little alone time."
Understanding her implication immediately, Haru rolled his eyes and reflexively turned her down. "I'll pass. But thank you for the offer, Miss Umiri."
Umiri's direct personality could be terrifying. If she said she was going to do something, she would absolutely do it. If he said anything that might irritate her, she definitely wouldn't let it slide especially now that they were officially dating.
Before long, they arrived at the Shiina residence. After ringing the doorbell, they heard the sound of hurried footsteps approaching from inside.
But just as the steps reached the door, they came to an odd stop. After a three-second pause, Shiina Taki finally opened the door. One hand on her hip, she deliberately wore an annoyed expression, not even looking up as she spoke coldly.
"Just come in. I didn't prepare anything to drink... Is coffee okay?"
As long as it's not tea, Haru thought. Otherwise, he really wouldn't dare go in.
Taki's face appeared calm and cold, but in truth, her pounding heart was on the verge of knocking her out. She had to force herself to keep her trembling shoulders steady and her expression composed. That deliberate delay in answering the door had been to give herself time to act indifferent.
Still anxious, she controlled her face and slowly looked up:
"Umiri, why are you here too?"
"I came to bring you the class notes you forgot. I'll be leaving right after."
Umiri had clearly anticipated Taki's flustered state. She narrowed her eyes deliberately as their gazes met, then handed over an ordinary-looking notebook. Once that was done, she returned to her usual calm demeanor.
Miss Shiina, ever perceptive, sensed that the "class notes" were probably not that simple. Still, her expression stiff, she accepted the notebook.
"Well then, I have work to do."
With that, Umiri spoke coolly and turned away with her bass, leaving without a second thought.
She had done what she came to do. There was no reason to stay.
Shiina Taki knew perfectly well why Umiri had shown up. Her earlier nerves began to ease slightly, though her sharp violet eyes shifted away the moment she saw Haru. Her normally stern face now looked a bit awkward.
"…A-anyway, just come in already?"
"No one else is home today."