Chapter 2 | A Heroine Showdown?

“Please, Ayanokoji! Just one… let me punch you just once!”

“Why!? Calm down already!”

“As if I could! T-To think, a popular idol is staying over at your place…! Damn it, I’m so jealous!”

In the morning classroom, where students usually passed the time in a lazy hum, the three of us were tucked into a corner. It was supposed to be our usual idle chatter, but…

“Damn it! Why don’t I have a cute girlfriend!?”

“According to my calculations, Tachibana-kun’s odds of getting a girlfriend are 0%! You’ll be single for all eternity!”

“Alright, that’s it! It’s war, Saito!”

Tachibana’s shout carried the weight of mock tears, his hands seizing Saito by the collar. You guys are way too lively… I’m not in the mood for this energy.

“W-Wait, Tachibana-kun! I didn’t mean it like that! My perfect brain just predicted the accurate future—”

“You bastard! That’s your last will and testament!?”

Fuming, Tachibana grabbed Saito’s shoulders, shaking him violently. The clear difference in strength left Saito helplessly rattled. After a while of this absurd back-and-forth, Tachibana finally calmed, releasing Saito and catching his breath.

“Haa… haa… So, Ayanokoji, keep going. What happened after you two slept together? Did you flirt again in the morning? I’ll kill you!”

“I haven’t even said anything yet. Just chill…”

To be fair, I didn’t start this. Tachibana just blurted out, “Yo, Ayanokoji. How’s it going with Mizuki lately?” So I mentioned last night. And this is the result. So unfair.

“Calm down, Tachibana-kun,” Saito interjected. “I also want to hear Ayanokoji-kun’s story. What happened after you woke up?”

“…Nothing special. We just woke up together… that’s it.”

“Really? Your face is awfully red for ‘nothing’!” Tachibana leaned in close, shouting—oi, watch the spit!

Is my face red? I had a feeling it was. Memories of last night in bed kept flashing through my mind, my chest pounding. We didn’t cross any lines, but… didn’t we flirt a bit? Rinka was just too cute, so clingy… Before, she’d insisted we were a couple, but it never went beyond that, I think. But last night, even in the dark, she nestled close, openly affectionate. Argh, no good. My face is burning. I was stroking Rinka’s hair, caught up in the moment.

Saito pushed up his glasses. “Ayanokoji-kun. We’re friends, right? No secrets between us.”

“…You really want to hear about the morning that badly?”

“I do.”

“I’ll give you a bell pepper, so spill!”

“No more bell peppers… Anyway, really, nothing happened.”

After waking, Rinka and I could barely look at each other. We turned our backs, mumbling, “M-Morning,” “…Morning, Kazuto-kun,” our greetings steeped in awkwardness. After that, we spoke only the bare minimum, and Rinka left early.

When I explained, Tachibana’s body trembled—then he exploded. “Gah—! That’s so sweet! Isn’t that the best part of a new relationship!?”

“Is it…?”

“It is! I mean, to think that cool idol would get so lovey-dovey… No way I can picture that.”

Tachibana’s gaze drifted to the front of the classroom, landing on Rinka at the frontmost desk. As always, she sat with elegant posture, engrossed in a book. Being alone was normal for her—not isolation, but a kind of aloofness. Glancing around, I noticed several students, guys and girls alike, stealing looks at Rinka. Yet no one approached, likely intimidated by her cool idol aura. The Rinka I know and the one others see are worlds apart.

“Damn it. I’m so jealous of Ayanokoji!” Tachibana declared. “…Alright, I’m gonna get a girlfriend too! I’ll confess to Shiikura-chan!”

“Shiikura-chan…?” Saito’s face paled. “You’re confessing to that Shiikura-chan!? Stop, Tachibana-kun! My calculations give you a 90% chance of rejection!”

Tachibana’s eyes blazed with determination as Saito shook his head in dismay. “That’s a pretty hopeless probability…” I muttered.

Grinning confidently, Tachibana turned to me. “But don’t high walls make you burn hotter?”

“I guess… By the way, who’s Shiikura-chan?”

“Huh? You don’t know? She’s the homeroom teacher for Class 2, first year.”

“A teacher!? No way that’s happening!”

The fact there’s even a 10% chance is a miracle.

“By the way, Shiikura-chan is married and has a middle school daughter.”

“A mom!?”

“I don’t care! It actually excites me more!”

“Care a little, you pervert! You’ll definitely fail if you confess!”

“You won’t know unless you try! There’s a 10% chance of success!”

“That’s just Saito’s nonsense calculation!”

“That’s harsh!”

“It’s the truth!”

“Shut up!”

After yelling, Tachibana cleared his throat, adopting a cool, serious expression. “Anyway, I’m doing it. A real man doesn’t give up before trying.”

What he’s saying sounds cool, but what he’s planning is completely unhinged. When Tachibana gets like this, there’s no stopping him—like a wild boar charging blindly. Maybe I should just let him crash and burn…

Resigned, I half-glared at the fired-up Tachibana.

☆

After school, as students trickled out of the classroom, Rinka, busy with idol activities, hurried out too. But just before leaving, she glanced back at me for a fleeting moment. Less than a second, our eyes met.

Normal couples might walk home together or go on after-school dates. For us, that’s impossible. Even our first date was risky—we nearly got caught. We probably can’t pull that off again without a plan. Is Rinka’s disguise enough?

I checked my phone for a message from Kurumizaka-san, sent during lunch: Meet after school at the usual spot! A summons, as expected. Kurumizaka-san, the self-proclaimed commander of me and Rinka’s get-along strategy, always calls me out to dig for details or hatch wild plans.

“Guess I’ll go.”

Kurumizaka-san, the center of a popular idol group, is probably swamped, so I shouldn’t keep her waiting… though, despite her schedule, she always makes time for this.

☆

At the landing before the rooftop, the energetic idol was already waiting. “Kazu-kun! Thanks for coming! I’ve been waiting!”

Kurumizaka-san hopped up from the stairs, flashing a bright smile as she gripped my hand tightly. Her open, innocent cheer is probably why she’s so popular. For guys not used to girls, it’s heart-stopping. Not me, though—I’ve got Rinka. Plus, I know what kind of girl Kurumizaka-san is: a bit unfortunate in her tastes. Her bright charm is cute, but her enthusiasm can leave everyone in the dust. Her online game character, a muscular beastman gorilla named “Sturmangriff,” is a tongue-twister. Even odder, it’s the name of her pet cat. Why?

“It’s been a while since we talked like this, Kazu-kun!”

“Yeah… So, how long are you gonna hold my hand?”

“Ah! Sorry! I got carried away…”

Realizing only when I pointed it out, Kurumizaka-san let go. “So, Kazu-kun! I heard about last night from Rin-chan~ Mufufu.”

“Mufufu…?”

She approached with a knowing grin. Stop that. “Rin-chan was super happy! You’re not just close anymore—you’re totally in love!”

“Uh, how much did she tell you?”

“That she fell asleep while you stroked her head, I guess. Huh, was there more?”

“Nothing else.”

“You got all formal suddenly, Kazu-kun…”

Seems Rinka didn’t mention the Kazuto-kun doll thing. I’ll keep quiet too. No point in saying anything.

“So, I have something important to say!”

“Important?”

“Yup. As of today… I’m ending Rin-chan and Kazuto-kun’s get-along strategy!”

“That’s… why?”

“I think you don’t need my help anymore. Any more would just be meddling. The rest is up to you young lovebirds… mufufu.”

“You sound like an old lady.”

“So blunt! But you don’t want me butting in too much, right? So, the strategy’s over!”

Kurumizaka-san declared with her usual energy. As I stayed silent, she gave a gentle smile. “Thanks, Kazu-kun. Be happy with Rin-chan, okay?”

“I’m the one who should thank you… Thanks, Kurumizaka-san. I’m really grateful.”

“N-No, it’s… I didn’t do much. When I think about it, I just stirred things up…”

“Yeah.”

“You’re agreeing!? Isn’t this where you say, ‘No, that’s not true’!?”

“Kidding. I’m here because of you. I’m truly grateful.”

“…Really?”

I nodded confidently to the anxious Kurumizaka-san. “If you hadn’t been there, I’d still be a useless, moping online-game addict.”

“…Are you holding a grudge over that?”

“I don’t hold a grudge, but I’m still a bit hung up on it,” I admitted quietly.

“I’m really grateful to you, Kurumizaka-san. Words can’t express how much you’ve helped me.” My voice carried the full weight of my sincerity.

Kurumizaka-san scratched her cheek, a shy flush creeping across her face. “Tch, you’re making me blush…”

I meant every word. Without her final push, I wouldn’t have found the courage to face Rinka. I’d been agonizing over so much—whether Rinka’s feelings were just ordinary affection, or something deeper. If they were, I could’ve let myself think, Nice, is this for real? But the reality of calling ourselves a couple brought heavier concerns. Rinka’s status as a popular idol, my own insecurities—those weren’t light matters.

“Thanks to you, Rinka and I are together. Thank you.”

“U-Uh, you’re welcome… I guess?” Kurumizaka-san’s embarrassment caught me off guard, her cheeks now a deeper shade of red. She kept stealing glances at me, only to look away just as quickly.

“Uh… well, see ya, Kazu-kun! Let’s game together sometime, the three of us!” Wrapping up the moment almost forcefully, she turned and left, her light footsteps echoing down the hall.

Did I overdo the gratitude? I wondered. Still, objectively speaking, Kurumizaka-san’s help had been monumental in giving me the resolve to act. I wanted to find a way to repay her someday.

☆

Ending the get-along strategy left a faint pang of loneliness. It felt like my connection with Kurumizaka-san had been cut off, and I hoped we could stay good friends. Lost in that thought, I made my way toward the school gate. The area was quiet, the after-school rush already faded. I’d spent so much time with Kurumizaka-san that I’d missed the usual crowd. Still, being alone wasn’t so bad. Walking in silence, letting my thoughts wander, could be its own kind of fun.

Just past the gate, a sharp cough—“N-Ngh!”—cut through the quiet, aimed directly at me. I turned slowly, curious. Leaning against the gate’s wall was Kotone-san, her usual half-lidded, unreadable gaze fixed on me. She called herself a mob character, but to me, she was anything but—vivid in her own enigmatic way.

Our eyes met, and she raised a hand in greeting. I mirrored the gesture. “Yo, the guy who chased his fave idol despite being just a fan (lol).”

“That hits way too hard, so knock it off!” I shot back, flustered. “Just so you know, I love idol Rinka, but I love Rinka herself even more.”

“…………Tch. Damn lovebird,” Kotone-san muttered, her tone dripping with mock disdain.

“What’s that supposed to mean? Did I do something!?” Her jab stung, especially since it had been a while since we last talked—back when Kurumizaka-san dragged me to her, if I remembered right. To think this was our reunion…

“So, Ayanokoji Kazuto. Happy, huh?”

“Uh, about what?”

“Having a cute girl wait for you like this. Gotta be thrilled, right?”

“You were waiting to ambush me? That’s not thrilling, it’s suspicious. Besides, I’ve got a girlfriend.”

“…………Tch. Damn lovebird,” she repeated, unfazed.

“Aren’t you in the same boat? Don’t you have a boyfriend?” I recalled Kotone-san mentioning she was dating someone. It didn’t surprise me. She wasn’t flashy, but her delicate features and quirky charm made her the type plenty of guys would fall for.

“Yup. Got a cool boyfriend. Smart, athletic, aiming to be a rock singer.”

“Sounds like a picture-perfect guy. Same school?”

“Nope, sadly. But I can see him whenever I want, so it’s not too lonely. Wanna see him?” She tilted her head, offering casually.

Curiosity piqued, I nodded. From her description, he sounded like a high-spec guy, and I was genuinely interested in what he looked like. Kotone-san pulled out her phone, tapped a few times, and held up the screen. “This is my boyfriend. Cool, right?”

“Uh, yeah… he’s, uh, cool.” My response came out flat.

“Kinda lukewarm reaction,” she noted, raising an eyebrow.

Well, yeah, it was bound to be lukewarm. The guy on the screen was a visual-kei pretty boy, straight out of an otome game—a literal 2D character. Picture-perfect, sure, but not in the way I’d expected. Struggling to find words, I faltered, and Kotone-san snorted with a smug “Hmph.”

“Come on, call me out! Don’t leave me as the cringey one!”

“I can’t tell if you’re serious or joking!”

“Duh, I’m serious!” she insisted, her expression unwavering.

“For real—wait, seriously!? Guess I was right not to call you out!” My head was spinning. Her deadpan delivery made it impossible to tell if she was messing with me. Struggling to respond was the only normal reaction.

“Just so you know, 2D beats 3D. 3D ages, but 2D stays beautiful forever.”

“I get that, but on the flip side, 3D lets you grow old together with someone you love.”

“…………”

“…………”

“…Sorry, say something, or I’ll get embarrassed,” I mumbled, realizing how cheesy my words sounded the moment they left my mouth.

“You say some cheesy stuff, huh, Ayanokoji Kazuto,” Kotone-san teased, her half-lidded stare somehow piercing.

“Ugh…” I winced, feeling the sting of her words. Then, a soft “Nyao!” broke the moment. A black cat rubbed against my leg, its glossy fur catching the light. It looked healthy, well-fed, wearing a brown collar—a pet, clearly.

“Hmm, that’s Sturmangriff,” Kotone-san said.

“Sturmangriff…? Oh, Kurumizaka-san’s cat.”

“Yup. Nana’s black cat. Maybe it came to pick her up?”

“It’s not her mom… though that’d be weird too.” I crouched down, petting Sturmangriff’s head. “There, there.” The cat squinted happily, nuzzling my hand. Too cute.

“Does Kurumizaka-san let her cat roam free?”

“Nah. That one’s an escape artist. Times when Nana’s out, opens the window, and slips out.”

“That’s incredible. Is it a genius cat?”

“Genius or not, it’s a former stray. Chases freedom like crazy.”

“That’s way too cool. But it goes back home, right?” I asked, still petting Sturmangriff.

“Well, yeah. Back by midnight, apparently,” Kotone-san replied.

“With a name like that, anyone’d want to escape.”

“Nana’s a good kid, but her taste…” Kotone-san’s words echoed Rinka’s sentiments. Seems everyone around Kurumizaka-san agreed on this.

“Nya!” Sturmangriff let out a short meow, flopping over to show its belly. My heart melted at the sight. “Guh, cute… too cute, you…!”

“Even Ayanokoji Kazuto’s charmed by the cat overlord, huh. That one’s a girl… I’m telling Mizuki Rinka.”

“Go ahead, but even Rinka won’t care about a cat.” I laughed, though a small part of me wondered—Rinka once got jealous over a light novel cover heroine. A cat might not be safe either.

“Alright, confiscating the cat overlord. Let’s go back to Nana’s place.” Kotone-san scooped up Sturmangriff, who purred happily in her arms. “Nyao… purr purr.” The sight was so soothing.

“I’m stopping by Nana’s place. See ya, Ayanokoji Kazuto.” Without breaking her expressionless stare, Kotone-san walked off, cradling Sturmangriff. I couldn’t help but wish I’d petted the cat a bit longer. Would I see Sturmangriff again?

“Wait, why was Kotone-san waiting for me?” I muttered, realizing I’d probably never know the answer. That was just the vibe she gave off.

☆

The next morning, I stepped into the classroom and headed for my seat but froze, sensing something off. “…Tachibana?”

For some reason, Tachibana was slumped over my desk, his shoulders trembling slightly, like he was crying. He looked utterly defeated.

“Ayanokoji-kun, got a sec?” Saito approached me at the classroom entrance, ready to explain.

“What’s with Tachibana…?”

“Looks like yesterday after school, Tachibana-kun confessed to Shiikura-chan.”

“For real? I mean, I figured he’d actually do it, but… for real?”

“The result… well, you can see.” Saito gestured toward Tachibana’s miserable state.

“Could be happy tears from success,” I suggested weakly.

“You seriously think Tachibana-kun’s that kind of guy?”

“…………” I didn’t. If he’d succeeded, he’d have called me last night, bragging, “Yo, Ayanokoji! I finally got a girlfriend! Jealous, huh!? Gwahahaha!” all smug. Or he’d have sprinted through town like a maniac until he collapsed.

“Why’s he at my desk?”

“Dunno. Maybe he wants you to cheer him up.”

“…I feel like he’d eat me alive if I got close.”

“Well, as friends, let’s support him. I’ll grab a milk bell pepper for him.”

“Got it—wait, what did you say?” I blinked, but Saito was already halfway down the hall. Milk bell pepper? Curious, but friends came first.

I cautiously approached Tachibana, who was still moping at my desk. “Uh, Tachibana? You okay?”

“…………Does it look like I’m okay?” His voice was muffled, face buried in his arms.

“Nope.”

“Damn… why, man? There was supposed to be a 10% chance!” he groaned, referencing Saito’s baseless calculation.

Saying that wouldn’t help now. I gently placed a hand on his shoulder. “Well, uh, move on. There’s gotta be girls more charming than Shiikura-ch—Shiikura-sensei.”

“Other… girls?” Tachibana’s voice trembled, and he snapped his head up, his face a mess of tears and snot. “You jerk, Ayanokoji…! Shiikura-chan’s an amazing woman who’s kind even to a guy like me! She explains stuff I don’t get, and if I look troubled, she gently says, ‘Come talk anytime,’ you know! But… she said teachers and students can’t date, and she’s got a husband and daughter, spouting nonsense…!”

That was just standard teacher behavior, not nonsense. “Hey, Tachibana—”

“Damn it—! I’ve liked her since first year…!” He slumped back onto the desk, sobbing.

…………

He was serious. Tachibana was usually quick to flare up and quick to cool off, but in all our time as friends since halfway through first year, I’d never seen him this broken.

Unsure what to say, I stayed quiet. Then, Tachibana stopped crying and let out a creepy “Guhehe.”

“Tachibana…?”

“Ha, haha! Laugh, go ahead and laugh at me for getting dumped so pathetically!”

“…”

“Come on, Ayanokoji! Laugh! Laugh!”

“As if I’d laugh,” I said firmly.

“…Huh?” He froze, caught off guard by my serious tone.

“You mustered the courage to confess your feelings, right? That’s admirable. It’s not something to laugh at—it’s something to respect.”

“Ayanokoji…!” His eyes widened, misty with emotion.

My confession to Rinka had been almost guaranteed to succeed, but I knew how hard it was to bare your heart. Confessing to a teacher took guts most people didn’t have. Tachibana had his goofy moments, but he was a good guy at heart. He never spilled about me and Rinka, despite claiming to be jealous, and our friendship never wavered. In his own way, he was straightforward and bright.

“…Ayanokoji. You’re really a good guy, huh.”

“W-What’s that all of a sudden…? That’s embarrassing.”

“You don’t stand out much, but you’re kinda handsome… You’re a real catch, man.”

“Stop it. Something’s off with you.” I noticed his eyes were faintly misty, his cheeks slightly flushed, as he turned away shyly, almost like a lovesick maiden.

“I’ve been thinking,” he said slowly.

“About what?”

“I’ll probably never be popular. No matter how hard I try.”

“That’s not true. It’s too early to give up.”

I tried to lift his spirits, but he shook his head. “Hear me out. I’ve been thinking. If I can’t win with girls, maybe I should go for guys.”

………………

Huh? I doubted my ears.

“Uh, do you realize what you’re saying?”

“Of course. No, I just realized. My destined partner was right beside me.”

“What?” My stomach dropped as Tachibana locked eyes with me, his gaze burning with an unsettling fire. Every instinct screamed danger.

“Hey, Ayanokoji… Instead of Mizuki, choose me.”

“—!” No way.

☆

“Ayanokoji… Nice weather today, huh.”

“My heart’s cloudy, so stop with the intense stares,” I muttered.

Lunch break. The Tachibana rampage that started this morning hadn’t let up. As I sat at my desk, trying to stay calm, Tachibana approached, cheeks flushed. It wasn’t unusual for him to come to my desk—me, Tachibana, and Saito always hung out together. But today, his behavior was anything but normal.

“If your heart’s cloudy, I’ll clear it with the blazing fire of my love.”

“Wah, I’m gonna get roasted!” I yelped.

“Lemme sit next to ya…” Tachibana grabbed a chair and set his bento on my desk, as did Saito. The three of us gathered for lunch, but Tachibana was acting bizarre, trying to play it cool in a way that felt… directed at me.

“Ayanokoji, that bento… Mizuki’s homemade, huh?”

“Yeah.”

“Actually, I can cook too.”

“So what?”

“I can clean, and I get your hobbies.”

“What’s with the sales pitch? It’s creepy, stop it…!”

“Oh, Ayanokoji-kun. About that light novel I lent you last month—” Saito cut in, casual as ever.

“How can you talk so normally!? Did you hear me and Tachibana!?”

“Of course. Tachibana-kun’s fallen for you, right?”

“You heard and understood!? What’s with your adaptability!?”

“Hey, don’t flirt with him and ignore me…” Tachibana pouted, lips pursed in a way that was decidedly not cute.

To escape, I focused on Rinka’s homemade bento. She wasn’t joining us for lunch today, but she always insisted, “Making lunch for my husband is a wife’s duty,” preparing it whenever she came to school. I’d love to eat with her, but sneaking off to the old school building too often risked rumors. So, sometimes, we spent lunch apart like this.

I tried to lose myself in the bento, but Tachibana wasn’t done. “Hey, Ayanokoji. We’ve known each other a while, right?”

“Y-Yeah… Since first year.”

“Right? So, I was thinking, maybe it’s time we called each other by nicknames.”

“Nicknames?”

“My calculations say that means nicknames!” Saito chimed in, smirking.

“Did we need that clarification? Stop with the smug face,” I groaned. Also, help me. How is Saito so chill about this?

“What do ya think, Ayanokoji?”

“Hmm, well… that’s fine, I guess.”

“Nice! Then call me ‘Tacchan’ from now on!”

“T-Tacchan…?”

“And I’ll call you ‘Ayatan’!”

“Guhh!! N-No! Seriously, stop! That gave me goosebumps so bad I feel sick!”

“What’s that? Then… ‘Kazutan’ okay?”

“No, that’s not it! I’m saying drop the ‘-tan’!”

“No way…!” Tachibana looked like he’d been rejected by his soulmate.

Saito pushed up his glasses. “‘Ayatan’-kun, I think it’s a great nickname.”

“Okay, Saito, you’re having fun with this.”

He leaned in and whispered, “When Tachibana-kun gets like this, he won’t stop. Let him do what he wants, and he’ll snap out of it.”

………For real? I got it, but as the target, I was just anxious.

“Ayanokoji… You hate me that much?”

“It’s not hate… I’m just, uh, confused?”

“I get that. I was thrown off at first too… wondering if this is true love.”

“You don’t get it at all. Sorry, but I’m only choosing Rinka.”

“Damn! I can’t beat a popular idol…!”

“It’s not even about that!” I snapped, exasperated. Even if Tachibana were a stunning beauty, I’d pick Rinka. It wasn’t about choosing—she was the only one for me.

“…………?” A sharp, cold sensation prickled my neck. Killing intent? I’d never felt it before, but it was the only explanation. I looked up and locked eyes with Rinka at the frontmost desk. Her glare was razor-sharp, radiating fury so intense it felt like manga sound effects—GOGOGOGO! Her anger was so vivid, her hair seemed to stand on end. It reminded me of my worst nightmare.

“Ayatan… Here, say ‘ahh.’” Tachibana held out a piece of bell pepper.

“Stop, I’ll die!”

“What’s that!? You saying my bell pepper’s poisoned!?”

“No! I’ll get stabbed with a knife!”

“What’re you talking about…?”

Piroron♪ A notification chimed from my pocket. Swallowing hard, I checked my phone. It was Rinka.

[Are you cheating!? And so openly in class!?]

Oh no—! I hurriedly typed back.

[No! There’s a reason for this!]

[I can’t believe it! You said you loved me… and now you’re with someone else!!]

[It’s not a girl, it’s a guy! …Not that I’m with a guy either!!]

[Girl or guy, it doesn’t matter! Love has no gender!]

I froze. Love has no gender… What a line. I must be losing it to think that.

[Kazuto-kun! After school, come to the old school building! And bring that homewrecker!!]

Oh, man. This is getting insane. What was going to happen after school!?

“Ayanokoji-kun! My calculations say this is a heroine race!”

“Shut up! One of them’s a guy!”

☆

“So, Mizuki! Do you know whether Ayanokoji washes his head or body first!?”

“His head, obviously! And by the way, he sings the Black Plains opening while washing his body!”

“Not bad! Also, Ayanokoji half-remembers it and hums ‘fun-fu~’ to fake it!”

“How do you know that!? I’m calling the police!” My shout echoed through the old school building’s classroom.

Tachibana and Rinka were locked in a heated argument, completely ignoring me. How did it come to this? After school, Rinka had summoned me, and I’d dragged Tachibana to the old school building. We entered an unlocked classroom, waited for Rinka, and when she arrived—“You homewrecker! Stay away from my husband!” “Tch! Sorry, but the one who deserves to stand by Ayatan is me! …Wait, husband?”—this bizarre showdown began.

“Kazuto-kun and I have been together for four years. There’s no room for a random guy like you to butt in,” Rinka declared, her voice icy.

“But your real-life relationship’s barely two months! Meanwhile, me and Ayatan go back to first year… There’s a gap Mizuki can never fill!” Tachibana shot back.

“Is that so? Online relationships trump real ones. Kazuto-kun and I built a pure, untainted bond in a world free of excess noise and got married. What’s real-life got on that?”

“Real life’s better! Also, what’s this husband stuff!?”

“Kazuto-kun and I are married.”

“Huh? You’re high schoolers!”

“Yes. But we’re married in the game. That means we’re a couple in real life too, right?”

“…………Makes sense!” Tachibana nodded, somehow convinced.

He bought it!? Why!? Rinka’s logic was absurd—no one could follow it that fast. I’d accepted all of her, but this was next-level.

Tachibana grimaced. “For real…? If you’re married, my odds are slim.” No, your odds are nonexistent.

“Got it now? The one who belongs by Kazuto-kun’s side is me, Mizuki Rinka. …Soon to be Ayanokoji Rinka.” Rinka tossed her hair, radiating confidence.

Even Tachibana seemed ready to concede, but then he smirked, spotting an opening. “Mizuki’s Ayatan’s wife, right?”

“Yes, don’t make me repeat myself. I hate wasting time and words,” Rinka snapped, her tone cutting.

If she spoke to me like that, I’d be depressed for a week. But Tachibana was unfazed, pressing forward. “So, you’ve kissed Ayatan?”

“Uh, um… kissed?” Rinka faltered.

“Yeah, a kiss!”

“…We kissed when we got married in the game.”

“In real life?”

“…No, we haven’t.” Her cool idol facade crumbled, and she stared at the floor, her usual poise gone.

Tachibana, smug with victory, leaned in. “So, how far’ve you gone with Ayatan? In real life!”

“…We’ve held hands…” Rinka mumbled, her face crimson.

“What!? Just holding hands? And you call yourself his wife!? Normally, couples do way more, right!?”

“Way more… like what…?”

“You know, all sorts of stuff! Beyond kissing!”

“—!” Rinka’s eyes widened, her imagination clearly running wild. Her face flushed deeper, steam practically rising from her head in a manga-like panic. She tried to retort, but all that came out was a trembling, “…Ah, n-no… ugh.”

“Heh, game over! I win! Yo, Ayatan!”

“…What? And stop with Ayatan.”

“Go out with me!”

“No way.”

“Why not!”

“Do I need to explain? Really?”

“I’ll treat you to bell peppers every day!”

“What’s the benefit there!? Enough with the bell peppers!”

“Bell peppers… annoying…!” Tachibana collapsed to his knees, as if my rejection of bell peppers was the final blow.

Rinka, still red-faced, muttered, “I mean, Kazuto-kun and I are married, right? But I’m not mentally ready… And I haven’t greeted Kazuto-kun’s parents yet…”

What is this situation? I couldn’t keep up with this chaos, and I didn’t want to. But I needed to put an end to it.

“It’s not that you’re bad, Tachibana. Rinka’s the only one for me. No matter who confesses, I won’t look at anyone else.”

“That far, huh…!” Tachibana’s eyes widened, stunned by my sincerity.

Rinka’s eyes sparkled, touched. “K-Kazuto-kun…!”

This absurd situation had gone on long enough. “Tachibana, I respect you as a friend, but I can’t see you romantically.”

“…………” He stared at the floor, silent, then looked up with resolve. “Ayatan… no, Ayanokoji. I get your feelings. I’ll back off cleanly.”

“O-Okay…”

“But to move on… I wanna see you two kiss!”

“…Huh?”

“Like, seeing you two flirt might help me look forward.”

What kind of logic is that? I wanted to groan, but going along with Tachibana might end this fastest. So, I’d kiss Rinka? Seriously…

“Yo, Mizuki. That cool?”

“N-No way! Kissing now…!?” Rinka’s blush deepened, her eyes darting to me shyly.

“You’re married, right?”

“Y-Yes. Married.”

“And the game’s a purer world than real life, yeah? You kissed there, so can’t you smooch in real life too!?”

“T-That’s—”

“If you can’t kiss, you’re not a couple!”

“—!” Rinka’s eyes widened, as if struck by a revelation.

“Well? Can’t kiss?”

“I-I can… We’re married. A kiss is nothing…!” Egged on by Tachibana’s taunts, she tried to sound tough.

Holding hands is our limit, you know. Well, maybe in private, we could do more. I glanced at Tachibana. Our eyes met. He shrugged and shook his head with a “Tch, fine.”

“Heh, I’m totally beat,” he said, his tone softening. “Seeing that cool idol make a face like that, I’ve gotta admit defeat. Only you can make Mizuki look that cute, Ayanokoji. And only Mizuki can move your heart.”

“Tachibana…”

“…Tch, looks like I never had a chance,” he muttered, scratching the back of his head.

“I told you from the start,” I replied firmly. “It’s only Rinka.”

“Invite me to your wedding, yeah? I’ll stick the finest bell pepper on the cake,” Tachibana teased, his grin wide and unapologetic.

“That’s just sabotage,” I shot back, narrowing my eyes with a half-lidded glare. He only grinned brighter, undeterred.

“Girls are cute, huh. Gotta go for girls. I’m awake now,” he said, as if some grand revelation had hit him.

“I’m the one waking from a nightmare,” I muttered, my unfiltered truth slipping out.

“See ya, Ayanokoji. Forget today. I’ll keep at Shiikura-chan a bit longer.”

“I can’t exactly cheer for that,” I said, shaking my head.

With that, Tachibana sauntered out of the classroom, leaving me to wonder what even just happened.

“N… Kazuto-kun…?” Rinka’s soft voice pulled me back. Her eyes were still shut tight, lips slightly pursed, as if waiting for a kiss that hadn’t come.

What do I do…? I wanted to savor this moment, the quiet buildup, just a little longer. Kiss-ready Rinka was so cute, I could’ve kept staring forever.

“K-Kazuto… kun?” she murmured again, her eyes fluttering open, blinking with curiosity. Her expression seemed to ask, No kiss yet?

Before I could respond, her phone buzzed sharply, shattering the moment. Rinka glanced at it, her face shifting to a mix of frustration and resignation, and she hurriedly gathered her things to rush home. Popular idols, it seems, don’t have the luxury of free time.

And then… there was one more thing.

A rumor started circulating at school: Mizuki Rinka and Tachibana fought fiercely over Ayanokoji Kazuto. An unbelievable story, yet somehow true. Thankfully, most people dismissed it as a joke, but still…

Guess I’ll be more careful from now on… seriously (crying).