Chapter 1 | The Popular Idol’s Night at Her Boyfriend’s House

“…Aaaaah—huh?”

The moment my eyes fluttered open, a computer screen filled my vision. A live performance video of the wildly popular idol group Star☆Mines played on an endless loop. I was in my room, slumped at my desk, the glow of the monitor casting soft light across the familiar clutter.

“A dream, huh…” I murmured, the realization hitting me instantly. The vivid glimpse of daily life thirteen years in the future—a life I’d just experienced—had been nothing but a dream.

I glanced at the corner of the screen to check the time. Sunday, 19:58. So, I’d dozed off while watching the video. My hands, slick with sweat, trembled slightly as I stared at them. “My hands are crazy sweaty,” I muttered. That dream had been unnervingly real, its unsettling plausibility still lingering like a chill.

There’s no way Rinka would ever harm me. Absolutely impossible. Yet the scenario felt just convincing enough to make my body shudder. “No way! Rinka’s not a yandere or anything… It’s definitely impossible!” I shook my head, trying to dispel the thought. Time to lift my mood. I clicked back to the live video. “…Rinka really is cute, isn’t she?”

On the screen, Star☆Mines shone in their prime—five high school girls at the peak of fame, led by the radiant Nana Kurumizaka at the center, their synchronized dance captivating the crowd. My eyes, though, were drawn to the cool-type idol, Rinka Mizuki. Her long, flowing hair framed a face both adorable and striking, universally acknowledged as stunning. But it was her aura that truly stood out—those large, resolute eyes radiating unyielding conviction, her expression devoid of even a hint of a smile. Never pandering, always dignified, she was the epitome of a cool-type idol. Rinka Mizuki commanded admiration from fans of all kinds.

“To think a girl this amazing is my girlfriend,” I said softly, a wry smile tugging at my lips. Life’s unpredictability never ceased to amaze me. Who could’ve imagined that the friend I’d married in an online game would turn out to be a wildly popular idol in my class? A miracle, plain and simple. “She’s really something, Rinka…”

But the most incredible part? She genuinely considers us husband and wife. According to Rinka’s logic, an online game—where appearances, status, or titles mean nothing—is a pure world where hearts connect. If we married there, we’re married in real life too, right? Her reasoning was wild, to say the least, but I’d grown to find it oddly endearing.

As I watched her performance absentmindedly, a sharp ping♪ broke my reverie—a notification from my smartphone beside the keyboard. A chat message. I grabbed the phone and opened the gaming chat app. The sender was Rin, and the message read: “Kazu! You’re late again!? I wanna see you already~”

“Oh, crap! It’s already past our meeting time!” My phone showed 21:05. Our meetup with Rin was at 21:00—I was undeniably late. Another screw-up. I hurriedly launched Black Plains and logged in.

My character, Kazu, a warrior-like figure, materialized in a bustling fishing village. A quick glance at the minimap in the bottom right corner revealed a green dot nearby—Rin. Sure enough, a blonde elf in green ethnic clothing zoomed toward me with a skill’s high-speed movement. Black Plains was a deeply immersive online game, its realistic graphics and boundless freedom hooking me since my second year of middle school. I’d even skimped on meals to fund in-game purchases—that’s how obsessed I was.

“Kazu, seriously! How many times have you been late now!? If you don’t shape up, I’m gonna get mad!” Rin’s chat message popped up, her tone sharp. My fault entirely. Time to own up.

“Sorry! I was watching Rinka’s live video and lost track of time.”

“You think I’ll forgive you just because you say that!? I’m not that easy, you know!”

“I’m really sorry. You were just so beautiful and cute…”

“That much?”

“Yeah. Like I’ve said before, when I’m watching you, I just forget about time.”

“Well… I’ll forgive you just this once!”

Too easy. Though, to be fair, I was only speaking the truth. “But only this time, got it!” On the screen, Rin’s blonde elf puffed out her cheeks in a cute, mock-angry expression. Her gestures and speech were nothing like the cool-type idol she was in public. For some reason, Rinka’s in-game personality was worlds apart from her real-life demeanor, but pointing that out felt like breaking an unspoken rule, so I kept quiet.

“It’s been two weeks since we last met like this, you know…?”

“Yeah, you’re right.”

“Ever since you confessed to me, we haven’t been able to meet at all. I’ve been so lonely…” On the screen, Rin’s character began to sob softly.

In the two weeks since we’d officially started dating, we hadn’t had a proper conversation. Rinka, being a wildly busy idol, was often absent from school, her schedule packed to the brim. No wonder Rin was upset, even if I was only five minutes late.

“You finally decided to step up as a husband, and yet…!”

“I’m still not thinking of myself as a husband, you know. Plus, I’m seventeen, so marriage is kinda impossible.”

“We’re a married couple bound by deep love… This is just too painful!”

“We’re still just dating, though. You’re getting way ahead of yourself.”

“I want to see you right now… My beloved husband, Kazuto-kun!”

“Hey, are you muting me? This conversation’s been one-sided for a while…!”

We were officially a couple, but to Rin—to Rinka—we were already husband and wife. I, on the other hand, wasn’t quite there yet. “Wanna go fishing?”

“That’s a quick subject change, huh.”

Rin’s mood brightened as she headed toward the sea, pulling out a fishing rod. I followed suit, and we began fishing. In Black Plains, it was daytime, sunlight filtering through the ocean’s surface to create a breathtaking view. The maxed-out graphics probably helped, but to me, this scenery rivaled reality itself.

“Hey, Kazu. If you’re late again, I’ll block you—no way! I can’t talk to Kazu if I do that! No blocking!”

“What are you even saying to yourself…?” I sighed, exasperated by Rin’s chaotic energy, as usual.

“I wanna go on after-school dates with Kazu every day. And then, at night, we play the game together!”

“That sounds like the perfect plan.”

“But it’s impossible, right…?”

I could almost see Rinka’s sad expression in my mind. Yeah, it was impossible. A popular idol walking around town with a guy was a recipe for trouble. Even our first date had been risky. We continued fishing, chatting about mundane things, until around 22:00 when Rin suddenly went quiet, the chat window falling silent.

“What’s up? Got something to do?”

“…I want to see you…”

“Huh?”

“I want to see Kazu! I can’t take it anymore!” Her words erupted with the intensity of a volcano. What was with her all of a sudden!?

“We’re seeing each other right now, aren’t we?”

“Not like that! In real life! I want to see you! I want to hear Kazuto-kun’s voice!”

“Wanna switch to voice chat then?”

“I want to hear it in person! You’re saying that on purpose, aren’t you!?”

Being hit with that so suddenly put me in a tough spot. It was late, and we had school tomorrow. Meeting in person now would be tricky in a lot of ways.

“Don’t you want to see me, Kazu?”

“Of course I want to. I watch your live videos whenever I have free time, you know.” I’d even dreamed about our married life, complete with a daughter. The ending was… well, unsettling.

“Really? I’m always thinking about you too, Kazuto-kun.”

“Oh, yeah?”

“Like, when I wake up in the morning, I look at your poster and say good morning, right? I pray for good things to happen today, right? I give thanks for your existence, right? And then I finish with a prayer!”

“That’s a religion! You’re straight-up religious! You’re a devout believer!”

“I’m not a believer, I’m your wife! The wife who loves Kazuto-kun more than anyone in the world!”

“Your love’s practically turned into faith…!” Imagining a popular idol praying to my poster made my mouth twitch.

“Can I come over to your house right now?”

“It’s late, and we have school tomorrow, so…”

“I know. But even if it’s just for a little bit… I want to be by your side.”

“Rinka…”

“…Is that okay?”

Her voice, even through text, carried such earnest longing that refusing felt impossible. I wanted to see Rinka too. We were finally dating, yet we hadn’t done anything truly couple-like. I could handle the loneliness, given her position, but Rinka clearly couldn’t. “It’s just me at home right now, so it’s fine… But is it okay for you? It’s dangerous to be out this late.”

If anything happened to Rinka, I’d never forgive myself. “I’ll take a taxi, so it’s fine! So, can I stay over?”

“You just casually slipped in staying over, huh?”

“It’s the only time I can see you… I wanna stay over~”

I hesitated. My instincts leaned toward no—I was genuinely worried. But with Rinka pleading like this, a flat-out refusal felt wrong. She’d promised to take a taxi for safety, so it should be fine… right? “…Alright. Come over.”

“Yay! I’m heading there now!” The chat window flashed Rin-san has logged out. She moved way too fast.

“…Seriously?” In the blink of an eye, a sleepover was happening. A popular idol coming to stay at my place—something I’d never have imagined in a million years. “Should I, like, prepare something…?”

I swiveled in my chair, surveying my room. Manga, light novels, snack wrappers, and empty plastic bottles littered the space. No way I could invite my girlfriend into this mess. “Alright, it’s decided. First, cleaning.”

☆

“And this is the result of your hard work cleaning, huh.”

“Yes…” I mumbled, shame creeping into my voice.

Rinka, surveying my now even messier room, let out a deeply exasperated “Haa.” How had my attempt at tidying made things worse? I’d started by trying to store a ten-volume light novel series I’d borrowed from Saito, only to pull out a twenty-five-volume manga series already in the storage box. That’s when I realized, Wait, isn’t this worse? From there, momentum took over, and somehow, old light novels and manga I hadn’t touched in years ended up scattered across the floor. It was beyond saving.

For now, I focused on clearing a path to walk, pushing the scattered books to the room’s corner under Rinka’s exasperated gaze. “I’ve thought this for a while, but you have some serious issues with basic life skills, Kazuto-kun.”

“N-Not really. I can make boiled eggs.”

“Did you think I’d praise you for that?”

“No… sorry.” Her sharp, piercing eyes sent a chill through me. This was supposed to be a thrilling, youthful moment—how had it turned into this?

I’d welcomed Rinka, who arrived by taxi, into the house with barely contained tension. We stepped into my room, and… well, here we were. The sweet, romantic atmosphere had vanished entirely. “As expected, I need to come over regularly. At this rate, you’re probably eating haphazardly too, aren’t you?”

“Tonight’s dinner was katsuobushi rice. I’m eating properly.”

“That’s it? What about yesterday?”

“Katsuobushi rice.”

“…” Rinka didn’t even bother responding, her silence louder than words. Why? Katsuobushi rice was delicious, wasn’t it?

A brief, awkward silence hung between us, but Rinka spoke again, as if to reset the mood. “This makes it clear, doesn’t it? You need me, Kazuto-kun. Honestly… having a husband who’s so careless about himself is such a hassle. You really can’t manage without me.”

“Am I imagining that you sound a little happy about this?”

“I’m just strongly reaffirming that I, as your wife, am the only one who’ll take care of you.”

“Take care of me, huh…”

“I won’t let anyone else take care of you.” A hint of possessiveness laced her words, though I could sense genuine concern beneath it. Still, as someone my friends called a “gaming addict,” I couldn’t deny being “careless about myself.” Rinka had me pegged.

“So, are you going to clean now?”

“It’s late, so cleaning can wait. Right now… I want to cherish my time with you, Kazuto-kun.” Saying that, Rinka sat on my bed. Almost instinctively, I sat beside her. Her scolding session seemed over, and a quiet moment settled in.

Not a sound stirred in the room, save for the faint hum of cars passing outside. “Just the two of us, huh…”

“Yeah…” Our voices softened, the usual carefree banter replaced by a charged silence. We were hyper-aware of each other, the weight of our new relationship undeniable. Rinka might insist we were husband and wife, but my confession had clearly shifted something in her. She fidgeted with her hair, stealing nervous glances at me, the air thick with tension.

I was flustered too, seeing Rinka in casual clothes for the first time in a while—a simple yet slightly mature dress paired with a cardigan. Usually, I only saw her in her school uniform or idol costume, so this new vibe sent my heart racing even faster.

“…Say something, Kazuto-kun…” Rinka murmured, her voice tinged with a nervous edge, as if trying to mask her unease.

I paused, catching the faint floral scent drifting from her glossy, long hair. Shampoo, perhaps? “Uh… you smell really nice, Rinka.”

“…Pervert?” Her half-lidded stare pierced through me.

“Sorry,” I blurted out instantly. Yeah, that came out way creepier than I meant. Desperate to recover, I tried steering the conversation. “Have you already taken a bath?”

“Yes. So what?” Her tone was curt, guarded.

“Nothing in particular…”

“Okay…”

Silence. My mind blanked. What do we even talk about normally? A guy like me, who’s spent most of his life glued to online games, clearly lacked the skills to keep a conversation flowing. Frustration gnawed at me, but before I could spiral further, Rinka’s trembling voice broke through.

“C-Could it be… you wanted to take a bath with me, Kazuto-kun?”

“W-What?” I choked out, caught off guard.

“I mean, we’re husband and wife, so it’s not strange, but…!” Her cheeks flushed a vivid red, and she averted her gaze, staring intently at the floor.

Did she misunderstand something? “K-Kazuto-kun’s a boy, so you’re interested in a girl’s body, right?”

“Hold on! That’s not what I meant. I was just trying to make conversation…”

“It’s fine, you don’t have to force it. I understand boys… or at least, I think I do.”

“I don’t need that kind of understanding!”

“But, you know, I think we’re not at that stage yet. Showing each other our skin is still too soon.”

“Wait, you’re the one always calling us husband and wife!”

“Tch, that’s unfair, Kazuto-kun. Bringing up the husband-and-wife thing only now… You’re such a perv. Perverted Kazuto-kun.”

“It’s a natural question…!” I protested, but Rinka’s logic was clear: husband-and-wife talk was fine, but anything physical was off-limits for now. I didn’t get it, but arguing felt pointless.

“…”

“…”

Silence settled over us again, heavy with mutual awareness. Two weeks of dating, and we still hadn’t found our rhythm. Two weeks of stilted conversations. How could such a short time throw us off this much? Things felt so natural back when we were just gaming together.

“Sorry, I guess,” I mumbled.

“What are you apologizing for?” Rinka asked, her voice softer now.

“You came all this way, and I can’t even do anything for you…” My room was a mess, and I felt like a lousy host.

Rinka’s response was direct, unguarded. “You don’t need to worry about that. Just being close to you is enough for me.”

“Rinka…” Her words warmed me.

“If I could, I’d want to be with you all the time—morning, noon, and night, feeling your warmth by my side. Ever since you confessed, this feeling’s been growing endlessly.”

“I see…” A normal person might find her intensity overwhelming, but to me, it was heartwarming, quintessentially Rinka. When I promised to accept all of her, it wasn’t just a whim—it was the truth, straight from my heart.

“Shall we go to bed soon? Tomorrow’s early,” she suggested.

“You’re going to school from my place?”

“No, I’ll head home first, then go to school. Which means I need to wake up early.”

It was a hassle, but she wanted to see me that badly. The thought made my chest tighten with happiness, painting Rinka as the devoted, earnest girl she was.

“Sorry, but could you step out of the room for a bit?” she asked suddenly.

“Why?”

“…Because.” Her voice was barely audible.

“Sorry, I didn’t catch that.”

“…I need to change,” she whispered, clearly embarrassed. Her gaze flicked to a large, oddly bulky bag in the corner—likely holding her change of clothes.

“Kazuto-kun?” she prompted, snapping me out of my thoughts.

“Oh, yeah… I’ll step out.” I hurried out, closing the door behind me, then tilted my head in confusion. We’re dating, right? And she calls us husband and wife… so why the shyness? Rinka, who blushed at just holding hands, was pure in the strangest ways. Changing in front of me was clearly too much for her.

But what about sleeping? Were we really sharing a bed? The realization hit me like a freight train. “Seriously…? This is intense.” We were hormonal high schoolers, after all. It was only natural I’d be hyper-aware of her. But Rinka, who thought showing skin was too soon—what did she expect from this?

“No way. With Rinka, anything could happen,” I muttered. Even after years of knowing her, she always managed to surprise me.

☆

“You can come in,” Rinka called softly. I stepped back into the room and froze. Rinka in pajamas was… breathtaking. A simple navy button-up short-sleeve shirt, white shorts, and a thin cardigan—no frills, no cutesy designs. Yet the simplicity only amplified her charm, perfectly suiting her pure-hearted nature.

“W-What do you think…? These are my usual pajamas, but they’re not weird, are they?” she asked, fidgeting.

“Not weird at all. They’re cute. Really cute.”

“C-Cute…! Th-Thanks…” Rinka blushed, touching her hair as if to steady herself. That small, girlish gesture was perfect. I was probably the only guy who’d ever seen this side of the cool-type idol, and the thought sent my spirits soaring.

“You’re really cute, Rinka,” I repeated, unable to help myself.

“Tch, you’re saying too much… It’s embarrassing when you say it like that.”

“Why?”

“When you call me cute, Kazuto-kun… it hits me too hard…”

“Then I want to say it even more.”

“…That’s not fair. You only get bold at times like this, don’t you?” she pouted, her lips pursed adorably. Even that caught me off guard, stirring my heart.

“I’m not being bold,” I said, feeling a bit sheepish. “You’re so open with your feelings, Rinka, so I’m just being honest too…”

“I-I see…”

“Yeah…”

My cheeks warmed, probably matching the faint flush on hers. The air between us had shifted since we started dating, charged with something new.

“Hey, Kazuto-kun, I have one request… Is that okay?” Rinka’s voice was hesitant, her anxious, upturned gaze suggesting something big.

“Sure. You don’t need to hold back with me. Say anything.” We’re a couple, after all, I thought, though I didn’t say it aloud, knowing she’d counter with “husband and wife.”

“Really? Then…” Rinka moved to her bag and pulled out… a Kazuto-kun doll! Then another, and another—five in total! She began lining them up on my bed, one even dressed in pajamas and lying down. I stared, dumbfounded. What was happening, Rinka-san!?

“Uh, w-wait, Rinka?”

“I’ve always wanted to do something in your room.”

“Line up Kazuto-kun dolls on my bed?”

“That’s just the first step… My request is to sleep in your room, surrounded by Kazuto-kun dolls, with the real Kazuto-kun next to me.”

“Sorry, I don’t know how to respond to that.” I’d expected something more romantic, but this was just… confusing. Rinka’s heart was too pure.

“…Is that okay?” she asked, her eyes anxious, as if bracing for rejection.

“Yeah, it’s fine,” I agreed instantly. How could I say no to that look?

Rinka climbed onto the bed, arranging three dolls near the pillow and propping the other two against the wall. I watched, still stunned, until she leaned forward, lightly tugged my sleeve, tilted her head, and said, “Kazuto-kun… shall we sleep?”

“――!” My heart took a critical hit. That wasn’t just cute—it was devastating, beyond moe, yanking my soul right out of my body. The destructive power of my cool-type girlfriend was unreal.

Rinka lay down, pulling the blanket up to cover all but her face. As I moved to join her, she stopped me. “Wait, Kazuto-kun.”

“W-What is it…?”

“The lights… turn them off.”

“Huh?”

“It’s… embarrassing with the lights on…” She hid up to her nose under the blanket, her eyes peeking out shyly.

My heart was pierced again by her overwhelming cuteness. She was so forward usually, yet so shy in moments like this. Maybe because we hadn’t talked properly in two weeks, she felt even more precious.

I used the remote to switch off the lights, and darkness flooded the room, leaving only Rinka’s faint silhouette on the bed. “Uh, excuse me, I’ll be right next to you.”

“Y-Yes… We’re husband and wife who’ve bared our hearts and souls, so there’s no need to hold back.”

“Then should I turn the lights back―”

“That’s a no.” Her refusal was instant, almost comically fast.

I couldn’t help but smile as I slipped under the blanket beside her. My shoulder brushed hers with a soft thump, and we both let out a quiet “Ngh.” In the pitch-black, my senses sharpened—I could feel Rinka’s warmth, hear her gentle breathing, and catch that faint floral scent tickling my nose.

“…”

“…”

Silence stretched between us, filled only by the sound of my racing heartbeat. I stared at the ceiling, acutely aware of Rinka’s gaze on my cheek. She was about to say something, and sure enough…

“Kazuto-kun.”

“Hm?”

“I have one more request.”

“What could it be?” I turned to face her, her presence close even in the dark.

“I want you to… pat my head.”

“Your head?”

“Yes. Gently, like a soft pat-pat…” Her voice was warm, sweet, utterly girlish in a way I’d never heard, sending a tingle through my brain.

“Was Rinka always the type to act this spoiled?”

“Only with you, Kazuto-kun…” Her voice melted me, and then I felt a soft sensation against my chest—Rinka’s face, lightly pressed against me. The darkness must have given her the courage to be this vulnerable.

Taking a deep breath, I began patting her head. Her soft hair glided smoothly under my hand, not a single snag. So this is a girl’s hair, I thought, savoring the moment.

“…N, fu… ngh…” Each pat drew soft, content sounds from Rinka, her murmurs like a quiet melody.

I kept stroking gently, lost in the rhythm, wondering how long this could last. “So happy… ngh… Kazuto-kun…”

“…”

“I love you… I really love you… love you…”

“…”

“…Closer, even closer…” Her murmurs continued, endless and fervent, as she gripped my shirt tightly with both hands, refusing to let go.

“Kazuto-kun… stay by my side forever… By my side…”

“Yeah…”

“As long as you’re here… I…” Her voice softened, replaced by steady breathing. She’d fallen asleep, still clutching my shirt.

I wanted to see her sleeping face, but with her pressed against my chest, I couldn’t. “Suu… suu… suu… Kazuto-kun…” Even in her dreams, she was thinking of me.

In this moment, Rinka didn’t seem like the cool-type idol rumored to dislike men. Her vulnerability, her openness—it was just for me.

“…”

Her breathing became a lullaby, syncing with mine as my eyelids grew heavy. The thrill of having the girl I loved so close mingled with a strange calm, filling my heart. Tonight, we’d only talked a little and slept together, but for us, who couldn’t meet freely, this time was precious.

“…If only those Kazuto-kun dolls weren’t here…” In the darkness, the five dolls loomed faintly, their beady eyes staring with an inorganic glint, leaving me with a bittersweet pang.