The train ride to Atami was supposed to be relaxing.
It was not.
First, Yui forgot her charger and stole Ren's. Then Rika spilled milk tea on Haruka's bag and blamed "the laws of harem gravity." Emi accidentally fell asleep on Ren's shoulder, and Mei quietly moved her hand off of his leg… without a word.
By the time they reached the platform, the emotional tension was thicker than the sea fog.
The inn was old, elegant, and smelled faintly of tatami and nostalgia.
Their teacher clapped. "Alright! Rooms will be divided—boys in one, girls in another. No sneaking, no switching!"
"Too bad I already bribed the staff," Rika whispered to Ren, her breath hot in his ear.
He jumped. "You WHAT—"
"Shhh," she said, placing a finger on his lips. "Let's see who visits your room first tonight."
The shared dinner was chaos.
Yui sat next to Ren and fought him for the last gyoza.Haruka didn't touch much but kept glancing at his plate and then at her own.Mei quietly replaced the wasabi in Rika's sushi with toothpaste.Rika ate it and smiled.Emi… accidentally dropped a napkin. When she bent to pick it up, Ren caught a peek.Of everything.He choked.
After dinner, they changed into yukata.
The boys were dismissed early.
Ren entered his room, sighing in relief… until he realized there were two futons, not three. His classmates had ditched him for "reasons."
Now he was alone.
"Perfect," said a voice behind the sliding door.
It was Emi.
She stepped in, closed the door, and sat beside him—just like that.
"…You okay?" she asked softly.
Ren nodded. "I think so. Barely."
She smiled, but it faded fast.
"...Do you know Rika's planning to kiss you tonight?"
Ren turned red. "Wha—what?!"
"She told Yui. Yui told Haruka. Haruka glared at Mei. Mei put tape on her own mouth."
Ren blinked. "That's… a lot to unpack."
"She's trying to win," Emi whispered. "And the others are watching."
Ren stood. "I need air."
On the inn balcony, the sea sparkled under the moonlight.
Footsteps.
Mei.
She joined him, silent.
"Are you here to warn me too?" Ren asked.
She shook her head.
"No. I'm here to listen. Everyone's pressuring you again, and you're pretending you're okay with it."
He sighed. "I want to understand what I feel. But they keep dragging me into moments where I can't think—can't feel. It's just reaction."
She nodded.
Then, softly:
"I don't need you to choose me tonight. I just don't want to be another noise in your head."
That line stayed with him even after she left.
Back in his room…
He opened the sliding door…
To find Haruka, Yui, and Rika.
In his futon.
"Choose who sleeps next to you," Rika grinned. "Or we draw lots."
Yui folded her arms. "This wasn't my idea."
Haruka held up a pillow. "Let's fight for it."
Ren froze.
"…Can I sleep on the roof?"
"No!" they all said at once.
By midnight, Ren lay between Yui and Haruka.
Rika took the window side, smug.
Mei stayed in the girl's room, but he saw her shadow pause outside his door.
Emi never came.
And somehow…
That hurt more than anything.