When the Sun Sets,
Isshiki Iroha and Akira Fujimiya could be seen walking along the road toward the station.
"Senpai, you really beat me in singing" Isshiki said softly, lowering her head.
"Kouhai, I'm a genius," Akira replied with a small grin, reaching out to pat her head.
"Any tricks you can teach me?" Isshiki looked up curiously.
"Listen carefully, and practice carefully." Akira's answer was calm, typical of him — a universal response that could mean everything or nothing.
Isshiki puffed up her cheeks and turned her head away, in resentment.
Akira seeing her act took her hand gently.
He knew she wasn't really angry.
Because Isshiki Iroha's favorability toward him was…
[60%].
Normally, he doesn't use system to check other person favorability. But he can do it for people that are mark by the system — Yukino, Yumiko, Iroha.
Iroha's rate (60%) was a very subtle stage.
A little higher, and it would become love woth a slight push.
"Senpai, we…" Isshiki began, her voice hesitant, as she felt his hand holding her's.
"Kouhai," Akira said quietly, "our relationship depends on you. If you want to be friends with me, then we're friends. If you want to take it a step further, then…"
He paused there, leaving the sentence hanging — as he pulled back his hand.
"Senpai, you're so cunning," Isshiki muttered after a moment of silence.
"Kouhai, you're the one holding my hand right now." He said teasingly, as he look at his hand that was now being held tightly by Iroha.
"Can't I hold Senpai's hand? Wouldn't you be happy to be held by such a cute girl like me?"
"I already have a girlfriend. If she sees us like this, she'll definitely misunderstand."
"Thinking about your girlfriend at a time like this? Senpai, you're terrible! No, you're a bad senpai!"
"You're calling me a bad senpai?" Akira smiled faintly. "Then I'll show you what a bad senpai really is. Kouhai, see that hotel over there? Want to take a look?"
"I–I'm not going! You bad senpai!" Isshiki's face turned bright red as she immediately let go of his hand and ran ahead.
Akira followed at an unhurried pace.
Isshiki ran a few steps before realizing that Akira hadn't caught up. She turned around and waited for him.
When Akira reached her, she extended her hand once more.
"Even if I ask you to hold my hand, please don't misunderstand. I just…"
"I understand, my proud kouhai," Akira said gently, as he took her hand.
.....
When they reach the Train station—
Isshiki didn't enter immediately.
She lingered near the entrance, looking at him as if she wanted to say something.
"...Are you asking me to come to your house?" Akira asked, looking at her.
"I… I want you to take me home, and stay at my house," Isshiki said quietly.
"Kouhai, isn't that a bit fast?" Akira raised an eyebrow.
"Senpai, don't think strange things!" she replied, blushing furiously.
"Forget it. If I send you home, I'll probably have to stay too. What if something happens…"
"T-Then… if there's a chance, can I invite you to go shopping?" Isshiki asked, lowering her head.
Hearing that, Akira reached out and patted her head again.
Isshiki looked up at him, her eyes filled with hope.
"If you treat me, I'll go."
"No problem. I'll treat you to lunch."
"Kouhai, when you go on a date, make sure you bring everything you need and be prepared." He said with a teasing smile.
"Bad Senpai, I'm leaving now. See you tomorrow."
Isshiki's face was completely red as she turned and walked into the station.
Akira watched her until she disappeared inside before turning to leave.
.....
When he returned to Sakurasou,
Saori Tsurumi was preparing dinner.
Akira greeted her with a nodded and went upstairs, opening the door of his room, as he got inside, he noticed that there was only one pair of shoes in the entryway.
"Welcome back, Akira-kun!" Yuigahama Yui called out, running from the living room.
"They didn't come?" Akira asked as he changed his shoes.
"Yumiko and Hina took the train and left with the others," Yui replied.
"I see. But why are you dressed like that?" Akira looked up — Yui was wearing one of his oversized T-shirts and a pair of shorts, giving her a relaxed, homey look.
"Hina said that dressing like this would attract Akira-kun's attention, so I… tried it," Yui said shyly, her face turning pink.
"Ebina's not wrong," Akira said, smiling faintly. "But you can only wear that in front of me."
"I only wear this at home," Yui said happily, her tone soft.
"Yui," Akira said with a teasing tone, "lets save water tonight." As he got walked towards her, closing their distance.
Yui froze, her face instantly burning red. She leaned her head against his chest, speechless.
Then—
Akira scooped her up in a princess carry and walked toward the sofa in the living room.
When they reached it, he gently set her down and leaned in, kissing her slowly.
Yui closed her eyes and responded back.
Time passed.
Then — the doorbell rang.
Ding-Dong!
Dinner was ready.
Akira glanced at the flustered Yui, whose face was still pink.
"Let's eat first," he said. "We can talk after you're full."
"Mhm" Yui nodded, shyly. She can still feel the warmth of his lips.
.....
After dinner,
Akira and Yui went back to their room.
Akira went straight to the bathroom, while Yui picked out pajamas for both of them.
An hour later, Akira came out in pajamas, holding Yui in his arms.
He laid her gently on the bed, covered her with a blanket, and sat down at his desk to work.
Yui's blush still hadn't faded. She watched him quietly, her lips curved in a gentle smile.
Then, her phone buzzed.
She picked it up — it was a message from their three-person group chat.
Hina: "Yui, does Akira-kun like the outfit I suggested?"
It was from Ebina Hina.
Yui looked over at Akira shyly, then typed back, quoting his earlier words.
Yui: "Akira-kun said Hina was right."
Hina: "Hehe, seems like Akira-kun really liked it. Congratulations, Yui. When you finally make him lose control, then…"
Hina added a teasing emoji.
Yui: "Hina, you're… really something…" Yui replied, her face hot.
If Hina knows what stuff they were doing, will she still say that, Yui thought.
Hina: "Yumiko, you should step up too."
Yumiko: "I'm preparing a song to sing…" Miura Yumiko replied almost instantly.
Hina: "Being an idol gives you an advantage. Akira-kun will definitely notice. Want me to teach you my method?"
Yumiko: "I… I just want to become better. Let Yui have her turn."
Yui's fingers hesitated. Her expression dimmed.
Yui: "Yumiko, I really envy you. You're talented… I only know how to do my best."
Yumiko: "Yui, don't forget about our project," Yumiko reminded her.
Yui blinked, then quickly typed back.
She sent a message to Yukinoshita Yukino.
A few minutes later, Yukino replied with several screenshots and a short note:
Yukino: "The game will be completed within this week. After that, it will move into the promotion phase. Akira-kun will probably decide the release date."
Yui's face lit up. She immediately forwarded the message and screenshots to the three-person group.
Hina: "Yui, please don't invite Yukinoshita to our group. It'll affect our plans with Akira-kun."
Yumiko: "I think it's fine if Yukinoshita-san joins. After all, she's Akira-kun's…"
Yui: "Don't worry. I won't invite Yukino. She's not used to this kind of chat."
Hina: "Yui is so thoughtful." (sent with a clapping emoji 👏)
Yui smiled faintly.
She wasn't refusing out of pride — she just didn't want to distract Yukinoshita Yukino from her work.
Given their current relationship, Yukino already saw Ebina Hina and Miura Yumiko as friends.
But if Yui invited her into the group…
Yukino would probably overthink things.
She'd notice every word, even the talk they had before becoming friends— and that might affect her mood or even her work.
Even if she didn't dwell on it during the day, she might misunderstand things later.
Sometimes, bringing people closer isn't always a good thing.
Especially for someone like Yukinoshita Yukino — who takes every word seriously, even a joke.
Yuigahama Yui understood that — she understood Yukino, Yumiko, and Hina better than anyone.
.....
At his desk, Akira Fujimiya glanced briefly at Yui, who was still smiling at her phone.
Then, he turned back to his drawing tablet.
He already knew who she was talking to — Ebina Hina and Miura Yumiko.
He can also guess what they were talking about.
It was about him.
Or perhaps… about Yukino.
...
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Bonus Chapter:-
4 Bonus chapter at 100 powerstone
6 Bonus Chapter at 150 powerstone
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Word Count — 1,478