Chapter 6 | Charge! Sturmangriff!

 

Coming home to a family. A family that celebrates your special day.
Whether you think that’s special or just ordinary—
To me, it was special.
No, more than special—it was impossible.

Returning from school to an empty house, I’d head straight to my room and boot up the computer. Then I’d dive into the only world where I felt seen—online gaming. That was my routine, ever since I was four. Naturally, every birthday was spent in the game. From my parents, I’d get a casual “Happy birthday” at best. All they ever gave me was money—far too much for a kid. As a young boy, barely able to do simple math, I’d clutch a 500-yen coin in my small hand and shuffle to the convenience store alone to buy a cheap bento.

That was my childhood.

For someone as ordinary as me, nothing felt special. In the truest sense, I was empty. No hobbies beyond gaming, no interest in anything else, no desire to find any. I didn’t even realize I was lonely. Through elementary and middle school, I buried myself in games to forget everything. And so, the empty days repeated.

But looking back now, I think it was fine being empty. Because that emptiness left room for a girl who showered me with boundless love. Just as my existence supported her, her presence became my pillar. That was true even before we met in real life.

☆

“Um, Rinka-san. Could I borrow your computer for a bit? I want to play the game.”
“No.”
“Come on, just a little—”
“No.”

Rinka ignored me completely, turning away with a huff to focus on her textbook. After lunch, Nonoa-chan had gone out to play with friends, leaving me with nothing to do. So I wandered into Rinka’s room, begging to use her computer for gaming, only to be met with a flat “No.”

Since summer break started, I hadn’t touched the game. It wasn’t intentional, but once I realized it, the craving hit hard—like withdrawal symptoms. My hands were practically trembling with the urge to play.

By the way, Rinka was off today, apparently.

“Is it because you don’t want anyone touching your computer?”
“Not at all. I don’t mind if it’s you, Kazuto. There’s not a speck of anything embarrassing on my computer.”
“Then why not?”
“…It’s punishment.”
“Huh?”
“You were ignoring me yesterday to play with Nonoa, weren’t you?”
“I’m really sorry about that. Nonoa-chan was just so cute… Are you still mad?”
“I’m not mad. I just want you to understand how important your wife is.”
“I do understand.”
“Do you really?”
“I swear. So, about the game—”
“No.”
“Why!?”
“Have you been doing your summer homework?”
“Ah.”

Rinka’s gaze shifted from her textbook to me. Come to think of it, I hadn’t touched my homework at all.

“I knew it. Shall we study together now?”
“…Yes.”

And so, our study session began.

☆

We moved to the tatami room, spreading our summer homework across a folding table just big enough for us to sit side by side. I started with a math workbook. What a pain. The moment I gripped my mechanical pencil, my focus began to waver.

“Hey, Rinka. How about we play the game first—”
“No.”
“Come on—”
“You’re being persistent, Kazuto. To achieve anything, you need discipline… self-control. Hold back and finish your homework.”
“Yes…”

Sitting so close our shoulders brushed, I endured a harsh scolding from Rinka.

“I want to play too, you know. It’s my day off, after all. But looking ahead, now’s the time to exercise self-control.”

As expected of a popular idol, she was a master of discipline.

…Wait, hold on. Was I the weird one here? I’d been acting like Rinka was the odd one, but if you stripped away her “wife in real life” mindset, she was pretty normal. No, extremely normal. In fact… I was the weird one!

I’d never thought much about my lifestyle, treating it as normal. But looking at it objectively, wasn’t it kind of messed up? If I had free time, I gamed. For meals, I basically just ate eggs. Never going outside, living like a monk staring at a computer screen all day. Sure, there were probably others like me these days, but it wasn’t normal by general standards.

Rinka, on the other hand, was different. To become a popular idol, she must’ve practiced dance and singing tirelessly, valued her fans, and put in endless effort. There was a gap—a huge gap between me and Rinka. I wasn’t being self-deprecating, but I couldn’t help wondering: was this okay? A part of me was questioning myself. Being around someone who worked so hard had an impact. That’s what it felt like.

“Rinka, I’m going to try hard.”
“You’re suddenly motivated. What’s up?”
“I got some energy from you. I’ll at least tackle this homework.”
“I don’t really get it, but… I’ll cheer you on. Do your best.”
“Thanks.”

I turned my eyes to the math workbook and started on the first problem. I solved them in a trance, but eventually hit a problem I couldn’t figure out, and my hand stopped. As I racked my brain, Rinka peeked at my workbook.

“If it’s okay with you, Kazuto, I can teach you.”
“No, you’ve got your own homework, right? Don’t worry about me. Use your time for yourself.”

Getting taught by a popular idol classmate would be exciting. Some people would pay for that privilege. But this was exactly when self-control was needed. Rinka’s time was precious, and I didn’t want to waste it here.

“You’re kind, Kazuto. But it’s fine.”
“Huh?”
“This amount of work? I can finish it quickly. It’s just a matter of writing it out.”

Rinka picked up a printout listing the summer homework, saying it like it was no big deal. I didn’t quite get it, but it sounded like something a genius would say.

Come to think of it, I’d never talked to Rinka about academics. I’d completely ignored the final exams before summer break. One reason was that Rinka seemed busy. The other was that I didn’t bring up tests with others. My grades weren’t good enough to brag about, so I avoided academic topics as much as possible. I’d rather game than study, so my grades were slightly below average. I barely studied outside of class and homework. Actually, during class, I was mostly thinking about games or staring at Rinka’s back.

Now that I thought about it, I really didn’t study at all. My life was all-in on gaming.

I wondered how Rinka did. She was probably smart. But as a busy idol, she shouldn’t have had much time to study. Maybe her grades were above average at best? But based on what she’d just said, she must have the brains to breeze through homework.

I was curious. I’d never cared about others’ grades before, but I was dying to know about Rinka.

“…So, out of nowhere, but what’s your class rank, Rinka?”
“Around tenth from the top. I’m usually around that range.”
“That’s amazing… When do you even study?”
“During class or in spare moments when I read the textbook.”
“…That’s it?”
“If I read the textbook once, I pretty much remember it. It doesn’t take much time.”
“You’re a legit monster…”
“To make time for gaming, I had to cut study time. Somewhere along the way, I got good at remembering textbook content after one read.”

So that’s what a genius was like. I was honestly jealous. If she studied seriously, she could probably be first in our grade. I’d wondered a few times if I could rank higher if I used my gaming time to study.

“I wanted to make time to hang out with you, Kazuto.”
“O-Oh, really…”

That was kind of embarrassing. She’d become a genius to make time for me. I didn’t even know anymore.

“Here’s an idea to make studying more fun. For every three problems you solve, you get to pat my head.”
“Wait, I don’t get patted, I have to pat your head?”
“Exactly. You’ll be granted the right to pat my head. So hurry up and solve them.”
“That doesn’t sound fun for me… Or, wait, is it fun?”

Patting a popular idol’s head… That was something you’d never get to do at an idol event. Thinking about it, patting her head for just three problems was a steal. But it still didn’t sit right, since she was always asking me to pat her head anyway.

“And we need to set the mood. Studying with a relaxed vibe isn’t as effective as having a bit of tension, an atmosphere where you can’t slack off.”
“Set the mood? Like how?”
“I’ll be the teacher. You can’t slack off in front of a teacher, right?”
“O-Oh…?”

What did she mean by becoming a teacher? While I sat there confused, Rinka left the tatami room and returned a few minutes later in a different outfit. Gone were her casual shirt and shorts; now she wore a teacher cosplay—a white blouse and a slightly long black skirt, complete with glasses exuding an intellectual vibe.

“…Rinka?”
“Calling your teacher by her first name? Call me Rinka-sensei properly.”
“You’re really into this, huh? You even have a cosplay outfit like that.”
“This is Onee-chan’s stuff. I borrowed it without asking.”

Without asking, huh. Kasumi-san had left that morning, so I guess it couldn’t be helped. Still, between the white dress Nonoa-chan wore and this, why did Kasumi-san have so many clothes? Was collecting them a hobby or something?

Rinka noticed my confusion and explained simply.

“Onee-chan used to aim to be an idol too.”
“What, really!?”
“She says it’s a past she’d rather forget. This outfit is a remnant of that. She’s got other cosplay costumes too.”

Considering the size of the white dress Nonoa-chan wore, Kasumi-san must’ve dreamed of being an idol since first grade. I never would’ve guessed she had that kind of past.

“But what’s the connection between idols and cosplay?”
“The cosplay’s probably just her hobby. She doesn’t seem interested in it anymore, though.”
“I see.”

Aiming to be an idol and having a cosplay hobby… It was hard to imagine with Kasumi-san’s current image.

“Anyway, shall we get back to studying? And I’ll add another reward.”
“Reward?”
“Finish a whole workbook, and you’ll get the right to hug me.”
“Got it, so no hugging until then…”

When I muttered that, Rinka’s face froze in realization before going blank.

“If you want, I can do that workbook for you. I’ll finish it in twenty minutes.”
“Hey, Sensei, your self-control’s completely shot!”

☆

“This is impossible, it’s too hard…!”

I stumbled on the third problem, the one that’d earn me the right to pat Rinka’s head. Times like these made me wish I’d studied bit by bit. As I groaned and glared at the math problem, someone poked my shoulder.

I looked over, wondering what was up. For some reason, Rinka was whispering “Kazuto, Kazuto” while pointing her mechanical pencil at her notebook. And there, in her notebook, was the answer to the problem!

“Rinka-sensei!?”
“A teacher’s role is to guide students to the right path… Sometimes, that means showing the answer.”
“That’s cheating! It’s wrong, you’re leading me down the wrong path!”
“But… I want you to pat my head soon.”
“What’s with the ‘but’…?”

Despite her cool, unreadable expression, Rinka pouted slightly. Huh? This popular idol had less self-control than me.

“Taking so long on the third problem is practically harassment. You’re teasing me, enjoying making me wait, aren’t you? Mean Kazuto.”
“That’s a misunderstanding! I’m just bad at this! …Don’t make me say that!”
“You said it yourself… Besides, is there even a point to learning math? In life, what matters is fitting in with your environment and relationships. Honestly, you can succeed in life by being good at socializing, even if you’re not the brightest.”
“Hey, that’s not something a teacher should say.”
“No, it’s exactly what a teacher should say. Most stress in adult life comes from relationships. It’s hard to live purely in the real world. In fact, the biggest headache in my idol work is dealing with adults.”
“…There are relationship issues in games too, though.”
“…You’re right.”

As if recalling something, Rinka closed her mouth and stared at her notebook. In the end, since humans played games, some kind of problem always arose. That was an unavoidable fact. For Rinka, who sought pure relationships, that might be hard to accept.

While I could relate to her feelings, I also thought the light connections possible online were fine. In the real world, building relationships was seen as justice. You were forced by society to get along even with people you didn’t click with. That created a culture where having lots of friends was a status symbol.

But in games, that wasn’t the case. You could become friends based on your feelings, and as a last resort, you could reset relationships by making a new account. …Well, I didn’t think that deeply when I acted. Just living naturally, I made friends like Tachibana and Saito, who I could hang out with without overthinking, and I connected with Rinka in the game.

Why was Rinka so fixated on pure relationships? That might just be who Mizuki Rinka was, but there was always a reason behind someone’s obsession.

“Kazuto, what’s wrong? You’re spacing out.”
“No, it’s nothing…”

I wanted to know more about Rinka. I wanted to understand her deeper self. But right now, I knew exactly what I needed to do. I might be a cowardly, passive guy, but I was still a man. I couldn’t keep showing my pathetic side to the girl I liked.

“If I’m going to do this homework, I’ll do it myself.”
“Kazuto…”
“It’s my meager pride. Even if it’s just a little, I want to show you my good side.”
“That’s fine, but could you hurry up and pat my head?”
“You totally ruined my motivation!”

Well, it was just homework. No need to overthink it. I’d just do my best. As I gripped my pencil again, the intercom rang, signaling a visitor.

Rinka said, “I’ll go check,” and stood, but at that moment, her phone rang. Bad timing—both a visitor and a call at once.

“I’ll handle it.”
“Thanks.”

It was probably better if I dealt with the visitor. I left the tatami room and checked the intercom monitor. …No one was there. A prank? Just to be sure, I decided to check properly. I headed to the front door and opened it. As expected, no one was there—or so I thought.

“Nya.”
“…Huh?”

A black cat sat there, looking up at me. Its slightly plump body and glossy fur showed it was well-fed. Its round eyes held no trace of wariness. And it wore a brown collar, proof it was a pet. …It was Sturmangriff. No matter how you looked at it, it was Sturmangriff.

“What are you doing here? Did you escape again?”
“Nyao.”

Sturmangriff gave a short meow and rubbed against my leg. So cute. I decided to pick it up, slipping my hands under its sides. I expected some resistance, but it was completely relaxed, almost melting into my arms. The brown collar had a name and phone number—probably Nana’s precaution since it escaped so often.

“Kazuto, big trouble. I just got a call from Nana—Sturmangriff escaped from her house.”

Rinka called from behind as I turned around, holding the adorable black cat.

“Uh, escaped cat… captured.”

☆

“Nana said she’ll come pick it up this evening. She asked us to look after Sturmangriff until then.”
“Got it… Oh, you’re so cute. There, there.”

Rinka finished her call with Nana and spoke to me, but I was too absorbed with Sturmangriff. It was only natural for a human to react this way. The moment we returned to the tatami room, Sturmangriff rolled over, showing its belly and acting all clingy. It was so cute I couldn’t help but rub its belly, and it let out happy “Nya, nya” sounds. Its silky fur, its springy belly… everything was perfect.

“You really love cats, Kazuto. You’re making a super sloppy face I’ve never seen before.”
“That much? Oh, but when I was little, I begged my mom to let me have a black cat…”

Well, she brushed me off with “Maybe next time,” and that “next time” never came. As I messed up Sturmangriff’s fur while rubbing its belly, it let out a slightly louder “Nya!”

“It probably came to see Nonoa-chan. Sturm—er, this one comes to our house sometimes. It sneaks into the apartment and even presses the intercom.”
“That’s pretty impressive… And it has a wide range. It was at school the other day.”
“Oh, so it wasn’t your first time meeting.”
“Yeah. While I was talking to Kotone-san at the school gate, Sturmangriff came up and rubbed against me. It was super cute.”
“…Can you tell me more about that?”
“Sure. It showed its belly and was all clingy… It was the best.”
“I see. That woman, doing such shameless things while I wasn’t around. Seducing my husband is unforgivable…!”
“Wait, what are we talking about? I’m talking about the cat.”

A weird misunderstanding. Rinka glared into the void with sharp eyes, looking like she was about to chant a curse. Scary.

Putting Rinka aside, I felt some kind of connection… a bond with Sturmangriff. Our first meeting was at the school gate, the second over the phone, and now the third at Rinka’s house. It could just be a string of coincidences, but I wanted to believe it was fate. Especially since black cats were said to bring good luck. Not that it mattered much.

“Sturm… Sturmangriff, it’s been a while. We met a few times when you were a kitten… Do you remember me?”

Rinka spoke in a gentle tone, like she was talking to a baby, and reached to pat its head. But Sturmangriff turned away with a huff.

“N-No way… Why…!?”

Rinka was visibly shocked. Her right hand, stretched toward Sturmangriff’s head, trembled. I thought it was a friendly black cat, but maybe not. Ignoring Rinka’s sadness, Sturmangriff slipped between my crossed legs. It was way too attached to me. What was going on? Well, it was friendly with Kotone-san too, so maybe it was just cold to Rinka.

“Well, it’s cute, so whatever. There, there.”
“…What do I call this feeling? To put it plainly, I’m dissatisfied.”

Watching Sturmangriff cuddle up to me, Rinka pouted, clearly unhappy. I couldn’t help it. Until Nana came, I’d let Sturmangriff heal me to the max. I kept patting its head and body. It responded with short, pleased “Nya, nya” sounds without any resistance.

“There, there. Why don’t you just become my cat?”
“Nyaoo.”
“Enough playing with the cat, Kazuto. Time to study.”
“Can’t we put studying off? I want to cherish this time with Sturmangriff.”
“But—”
“I’ll do it properly later. There, there.”

Without looking at Rinka, I kept doting on Sturmangriff, nestled perfectly between my legs. Studying with such a cute creature around? That was practically a crime. When there was a cat, you petted the cat—that was the right thing for a human to do, wasn’t it?

Tug, tug. My shirt was pulled from behind. It was Rinka. I knew without looking. My eyes stayed glued to Sturmangriff.

“Hey, Kazuto. Look at me too.”
“There, there, you’re so cute. Look, Rinka, it’s adorable.”

I kept petting Sturmangriff, lost in the moment. Then my shirt was yanked harder.

“Fine… I’ll let you play the game, just this once. How’s that? Happy?”
“Nah, I’m good.”
“Kazuto—!”
“There, there… Oh, it licked my hand! Did you see that, Rinka? It just licked me!”
“…”
“Rinka…?”

No response, so I turned to look at her. Oh no, this was bad. She’d turned into a squirrel. Rinka’s cheeks were puffed up, and she was letting out a cute “Muu!” growl.

“Uh, Rinka-san?”
“Ignoring your precious wife… for a cat…!”
“N-No, it’s not like that, it’s just…”
“What’s just!?”

This was seriously bad. She was genuinely mad. Her usual cool face had completely crumbled. Her angry expression somehow looked sulky, yet still cute because it was Rinka.

“Sure, Kazuto doesn’t show interest in other girls. But that’s only for humans… You’re all over female animals!”
“What!? No way! I just like cats!”
“See, I knew it!”
“Knew what!? No, wait, how do I explain this?”

As I clutched my head, Rinka stood abruptly and pointed dramatically at Sturmangriff.

“This… this thief cat! Give Kazuto back!”
“Nya!?”

Startled by Rinka’s shout, Sturmangriff’s eyes widened, almost human-like.

“Kazuto is my husband. Don’t cozy up to him so casually. I haven’t even had my belly petted yet… Just my head…!”
“Nyaaan.”
“What a seductive meow. I know what you’re up to. You came here for Kazuto, didn’t you!?”

No way. …I think. But Rinka had lost all composure. She’d once gotten jealous of a light novel cover heroine, saying, “Well, Kazuto-kun’s wife is me. No matter how charming you are, our bond as husband and wife won’t waver. Laugh while you can.” It wasn’t surprising she was openly jealous of a black cat.

“Get away from Kazuto. I’m the only one allowed to cuddle with him.”

Sensing Rinka’s hostility, Sturmangriff left my legs and faced her. And so began the ultimate showdown: Sturmangriff (black cat) vs. Mizuki Rinka (cool-type popular idol), a battle across species…!

“Nyao! Nyao!”
“Yes, Kazuto’s obsessed with you right now! But that’s temporary… It won’t affect our marital bond! A female who only knows how to flirt will get boring fast!”
“Nya nya! Nyaaan!”
“Tch… No way…! Absolutely not!”

A cool-type idol was seriously arguing with a cat right in front of me. What were they even talking about? It’d been a while since I’d seen Rinka’s crazy side. But watching this was kind of fun.

“Nyaaan!”
“Ugh…! I’ve lost…!?”

Somehow, it seemed the fight was over. She lost!? The cat meowed proudly with a “Nya!” while Rinka hung her head. I had no idea what was going on. If I did, that’d be a problem.

“Goodbye… Kazuto…”
“Huh!?”

Rinka, face down, left the tatami room. Left behind were me, the black cat… and emptiness. It all ended before I could process what happened.

“Where are you going, Rinka?”

Honestly, I was completely lost. But I knew I’d made Rinka sad. …Was it my fault? It was probably my fault. I got too caught up with Sturmangriff and treated Rinka carelessly. She was probably back in her room. I should go apologize.

Just as I stood up, Rinka reappeared.

“Nya, nyaaan… I-I’m back…”

In a black cat cosplay—

☆

Apparently, Rinka had gone to Kasumi-san’s room to change into a cosplay. A knee-length black dress, a black cat-ear headband, a black choker… Even Rinka seemed embarrassed, her face bright red. Still, she mimicked a cat’s paw with both hands and muttered, “Nyaaan…”

“…Rinka? Possessed by a cat ghost or something?”
“N-No, this is my choice… If Kazuto’s smitten with a black cat, I’ll just become one. As your wife… I won’t lose…! Nyaaan.”
“As expected of Rinka, your ideas are completely out there.”

Her “nyaaan” sounded forced and unnatural. Obviously, a cool-type idol like Rinka, who’d built her career on that image, wouldn’t know how to act like this. She probably had zero experience or knowledge of it.

“Maybe… we should stop?”
“My husband’s heart… was stolen. I can’t hold back… nya.”
“Can you hold back a little? It’s kind of painful to watch…”
“I-Is it that bad…? I know cute cosplay doesn’t suit me, but… to say it’s painful… nyaaan.”

Rinka’s voice grew quieter, like she was on the verge of tears, her vibe fragile.

“N-No, I didn’t mean it like that. It’s more like… you’re too cute to look at directly.”

Tachibana once went on about how “cat-ear girls are the best! Cat ears are a man’s dream!” I thought it was ridiculous and brushed it off, but… yeah, this was a dream. No, it was the charm of a cool-type idol. I’d never seen Rinka in cosplay, let alone in frilly, cute outfits. Not just me—no one in the country had. Her embarrassment was honestly a big part of the appeal.

“You’re really cute. I’ve never seen anything this cute in my life.”
“You don’t have to force it. As an idol, I can see myself objectively… This black cat cosplay doesn’t suit me at all.”
“That’s not true! You’re seriously cute!”
“…Really?”
“Yeah!”
“Then will you pamper me?”
“Of cour—wait, what?”
“Pamper me more than Sturmangriff.”

Rinka, cheeks flushed red, stared into my eyes. She was gripping her hands tightly, likely holding back her embarrassment.

“Look, it’s not like I like Sturmangriff more than you.”
“I know.”
“Oh, you do?”
“But I still hate seeing you so absorbed in something else… I know it’s heavy. I know, but I want you to only look at me…”
“—!”

Her pleading tone tightened my chest… from how adorable she was. The girl I liked cosplaying as a black cat to get my attention. That alone was cute, and then she said, “I want you to only look at me…”!

“I can’t call myself your wife if I keep losing to a cat. And as a popular idol… a cool-type idol, I can’t let it end like this…! Nya.”

She said it coolly, burning determination in her eyes, but she was still just in a black cat cosplay. At this point, I couldn’t stop her. Going with the flow was the best option.

Rinka sat next to me, cross-legged, and didn’t stop there. She gently took my right hand, brought it to her face—and nibbled my index finger.

“…!”

Sure, cats bite, but for Rinka to choose that action was so her. Her unpredictable moves threw my brain into a mini-panic.

“Kazuto… mm…”

Hesitantly, Rinka rubbed her head against my chest. So cat-like. Her uninhibited affection was adorable. It started as jealousy toward Sturmangriff, but now it felt like we were just flirting.

“Pet me… please, nya.”
“You’re cute, but the phrasing’s off. ‘Please pet me, nya’ might be better.”
“…Mm.”

She pressed her head harder against me, as if saying, “Just pet me already.” It kind of hurt my chest, physically. Right now, Rinka felt genuinely cute, but I also felt like I was stepping into forbidden territory. Specifically, a new world inside me… a door… a fetish awakening…

From the corner of my vision, Sturmangriff meowed “Nya nya,” but I didn’t care. I was focused on Rinka, who was cuddling up to me with her whole body.

“…Mm, Kazuto…”

Getting impatient with my stillness, Rinka took my right hand and—licked the back of it. This was too much. We were beyond wholesome dating…! Was she serious, Rinka-san? She’d shown hints of being forward before, but… She’d come a long way from the girl who blushed and froze just holding hands. Jealousy really changed people this much…! It was still daytime, but she was acting like it was night.

Surprised but gentle, I petted Rinka’s head, careful not to knock off her cat-ear headband. She narrowed her eyes contentedly, her face dreamy. Rinka relaxed completely, leaning back against me. Naturally, I ended up holding her from behind.

“Rinka…”

The thin fabric of her black dress let me feel her warmth directly. That wasn’t all. I realized her body, which looked larger on stage, was actually small and delicate. She fit perfectly in my arms. I worried she might break if I hugged too tightly, but her soft, feminine body had just the right amount of flesh, probably toned from her idol activities.

“Kazuto, your heart’s pounding…”
“Yours is too… You’re warm.”

It was playful just a moment ago, but now it was like this. Looking back, we slipped into flirting mode whenever we were alone. And it was always Rinka who started it. What hit me most was how she was both bold and shy. Her desires peeked through her embarrassment, making her irresistibly cute.

“Between me and Sturmangriff, who’s cuter…?”
“No contest.”
“…Who? Say it clearly.”
“Sturmangriff.”
“…I’m going to go die for a bit.”
“Sorry, I was kidding!”

I tightly hugged Rinka as she tried to stand, stopping her. That was my bad. Wrong time to joke.

“You’re cuter, Rinka. Really.”

No response. Seems I upset her. I was wondering what to do when Rinka gave me a chance.

“If you want forgiveness… pet my belly.”
“Your belly?”
“Like you did with Sturmangriff, gently pet it.”

With the girl I liked pushing me this far, my rationality was melting away. My vision blurred with heat, and Rinka’s warmth became all I felt.

“…Kazuto. Pet… my belly, please, nya…”

This was it. This was pushing the age rating from 12 to 15. Rinka, no longer cool or rational, breathed heavily, begging for belly pets. Her flushed cheeks and glistening eyes stirred something in me. Everyone in the room was lost in the heat. A popular idol mimicking a cat and acting clingy, a black cat with a weird name, and a gaming addict on the verge of a nosebleed…!

If this went further, we might go all the way. With that thought, I cautiously placed my hand on Rinka’s belly. Before I felt anything, she let out a soft “Mm.” I gently rubbed her belly clockwise. Through her clothes, I felt soft yet firm flesh.

“Ah, mm… f… mm…”

Rinka let out oddly suggestive sounds, making me feel weird too. Hugging her from behind and rubbing her belly—a situation I’d never experienced. Somehow calmly, I wondered if this was what couples did.

“Mm… mm…”
“Should we stop? The belly petting.”
“No… Don’t stop petting…”

She sounded like a sulky kid. …What was this feeling? It was beyond just being too cute. I kept petting her belly. Rinka let out sweet, feverish sounds intermittently. I felt like I was doing something wrong, but if I paused, she called my name anxiously, “Kazuto…?” It was so cute it was infuriating.

Time felt eternal, and about five minutes passed.

Suddenly—

“Nyaaan!”
“What! Sturmangriff!”

Sturmangriff leapt at my face! Shocked, I fell backward.

“Nyao… Nyaooo.”

The black cat stepped on my face… In a cat video I’d seen, a neglected cat jumped on its owner’s shoulder or meowed for attention. Maybe Sturmangriff was doing something similar. Surprisingly, getting my face stepped on by paw pads felt kind of nice.

“Kazuto… you like having your face stepped on? You look happy every time it happens.”
“Stop making me sound like a total pervert! It’s just the paw pads.”
“I’ll step on you too. I can’t lose to Sturmangriff…!”
“What kind of rivalry is this!? Stop, I don’t want to awaken to some weird fetish!”

Rinka snorted and steeled herself. Was she seriously going to step on me!?

“Don’t worry. Even if you have slightly odd tastes, I’ll gladly accept them.”
“That’s sweet, but can you stop assuming I’m a masochist?”
“What… does that mean you’re a sadist? I don’t like pain, but I’ll try for you.”
“Can we drop this topic!? It’ll get awkward later!”
“No, we should talk about it. As husband and wife, we need to know these sides of each other.”

Talking, Rinka blushed and looked away, fiddling with her hair. She was probably imagining all sorts of things.

“Anyway, I get that you’re a guy who likes his face stepped on.”
“You’re not getting it at all. This is divorce-level misunderstanding, Rinka-san.”
“Divorce!? Don’t say that, even as a joke…! Sniff…!”

Rinka covered her face with both hands, letting out soft sobs. No way! Affected by Rinka’s sadness and despair, Sturmangriff started yowling loudly, “Nyao! Nyao!” It was pure chaos. Everyone had lost their cool, swept away by emotions…!

With Sturmangriff stepping on my face, I could only stare at the ceiling in a daze. Then my phone rang. It was Nana—

“Hello!?”
“Oh, Kazu-kun. Rinka-chan didn’t pick up, and I’m in front of the apartment—”
“Please come quick! I’m begging you!”
“…Huh?”

☆

“What do I do about this…?”

I stared at Rinka, in her black cat cosplay, sitting in the corner of the tatami room in a fetal position, and I almost sighed. Her head was tucked between her knees, radiating gloom. A heavy atmosphere filled just that corner of the room.

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen Rinka-chan like that…”

Nana, also watching Rinka from a distance, said this while holding Sturmangriff. We were observing her from the entrance of the tatami room, keeping some space. By the way, Sturmangriff seemed to be in bliss being held by its owner, purring constantly. …It was super friendly with everyone except Rinka. It was cuddly with Kotone-san, me, and Nana, but wouldn’t even let Rinka touch its head. Was it a compatibility thing?

“It’s been a while since you’ve seen her like this? Has she done this before?”
“Yeah. When she fails at something or gets really down, she sits in a corner like that.”
“…Seriously?”
“I haven’t seen it recently, but… Being told ‘divorce’ by Kazu-kun must’ve been a huge shock.”
“I didn’t mean it seriously.”

Pointing out we weren’t actually married would be unhelpful right now.

“Even if it’s not serious, some things hurt to hear. You’d hate it too, right? If Rinka-chan said she hated you, even as a joke.”
“…I’d die. The moment she said it, I’d spit out my heart and die.”

As I said that, Sturmangriff meowed, “Nya.” I didn’t know what it meant. Anyway, I needed to apologize to Rinka. I approached her, still motionless in her corner, and crouched to meet her eyes.

“Um, sorry, Rinka. The divorce thing wasn’t serious… I just said it in the heat of the moment.”
“…Saying it in the heat of the moment means it’s likely your true feelings.”

Without looking up, Rinka muttered. She was spiraling into negative thoughts. When people were down, they fell into an anxiety loop. One worry spawned another… Rinka was no exception, was she?

“No way that’s my true feelings. I… like you, Rinka.”
“…Prove it.”

Rinka looked up, staring into my eyes.

“Prove it? How?”
“…Tch, there are lots of ways.”
“Like what?”

Blushing, Rinka answered haltingly.

“F-For example… patting my head, hugging me… w-whispering your feelings in my ear… lots of things.”
“…”
“W-What?”
“I’ve thought this before, but the things you ask for are so couple-like.”
“…Not a couple. Husband and wife.”
“No, a couple.”
“…A newlywed couple.”

She compromised a bit. Smiling fondly, I patted Rinka’s head. I was always petting her. It was because she asked, but still…

“…Touch my cheek.”
“Cheek? Got it.”

I touched Rinka’s cheek with my right hand. It was smooth, soft, and warm. I didn’t know why she was making me do this, but she seemed satisfied, letting out a content sigh. …Kind of cat-like. Even without the cat act, she felt like an animal.

“Don’t say divorce until you truly hate me. Just imagining it makes me want to cry…”
“Got it. I promise.”

Divorce was off-limits. I’d keep that in mind. I felt curious eyes boring into my back… I turned and addressed the person.

“Uh, Nana-san? How long are you going to watch us?”
“Eek!? Oh, uh, haha… It’s my first time seeing a couple’s interaction… It’s so lovey-dovey.”

Nana’s face was bright red, completely engrossed in our exchange. But Rinka put a stop to it, changing the mood drastically.

“Wait a second. Since when… did you start calling Nana by her first name, Kazuto?”
“Since the phone call the other day… No, it’s not what you’re thinking! It’s definitely not cheating!”
“…You’re awfully panicked, Kazuto. I don’t think you’d cheat… but what about Nana?”
“R-Rinka-chan!? You’re doubting your best friend!?”
“Normally, I’d never doubt my best friend. The thought wouldn’t even cross my mind… it didn’t. But things are different now… because of that cat!”
“Nyao!”

Rinka stood and pointed at Sturmangriff in Nana’s arms. What was this situation?

“I know it’s a ridiculous idea. But there’s a possibility… Nana, who’s fallen for Kazuto, used Sturmangriff to weaken the wife and steal her husband!”
““No way!””

Nana and I shouted in perfect sync. I was impressed by her vivid imagination, but it was also a weakness…

“I’ve heard that husbands and their wife’s best friends are prone to affairs.”
“…Who told you that?”
“Satoko-san.”
“Satoko-san… I’ve heard that name from you before… Anyway, that’s some soap opera nonsense! It doesn’t happen in real life!”
“…It was her real experience, apparently.”
“O-Oh…”
“As expected of Satoko-san, with eight divorces under her belt, a veteran of every kind of breakup… Her words carry a heavy weight that resonates.”
“Y-Yeah…”

I had nothing to say… It was too tragic to even joke about.

“That’s how it is! You and Nana are drawn to each other!”
“No way! You’re wrong, Rinka-chan! Kazu-kun and I aren’t like that! I’ve been cheering for you two… giving Kazu-kun tons of advice…!”
“True, you’ve been supportive, and I believe your feelings were genuine. That’s why I didn’t say anything when you two got close or met secretly at school. That was my mistake.”
“Wait, Rinka-chan! Listen to me!”
“It’s common in love, apparently. You start liking someone while giving them advice… Especially since Kazuto’s cool. It’s not strange that you’d fall for him.”
“Please, just listen to me!”

…This was bad. A small conversation was turning into a huge deal.

Wait, was I the cause? Did I create a rift in their bond? Were we heading into an unprecedented mess…?

“Then tell me, Nana, do you really feel nothing for Kazuto?”
“…N-No, I don’t.”
“Really? You don’t think he’s cool or find him attractive as a guy?”
“…Ugh.”

Nana, face red, glanced at me. She was gripping Sturmangriff so tightly it let out a pained “Nyaooo!” The cat was gonna die! Stop it!

“Nana?”
“Uh, um… I-I think he’s cool… sometimes he’s mean, but he’s kind… he listens to me, even if he grumbles… he acknowledges me…”

Nana mumbled shyly, her voice soft. I wasn’t fatally dense. I might be a bit slow, but I wasn’t clueless about affection directed at me. …Seriously? From Nana’s reaction, did she actually… like me?

And Rinka—

“No way… Really? You’ve never acted like this before…”

She was shaken. Wait, wasn’t she the one suspecting it? Was it a “No way, haha” kind of thing?

“Nana, what do you like about Kazuto?”
“Eek!? Uh, well, um…”
“Just so you know, Kazuto’s a sloppy guy. Left alone, he’d only eat eggs, and no matter what you cook, he’d just say it’s delicious… He’s a mining maniac in the game.”
“Mining’s fine!”
“See, like that. And he blushes just from me holding his hand… but then he gets bold out of nowhere… Kazuto’s just… ugh.”

It was turning into her gushing about me. Nana was floundering, her face worryingly red.

Did Nana really like me? Thinking back, she’d shown signs of it. And even now… As a guy… shouldn’t I step up? It was easy to just watch and stay out of it. But that didn’t feel right for Rinka or Nana. If Nana liked me… but I liked Rinka. I needed to express my feelings, like I did with Tachibana.

“Nana.”
“Huh, Kazu-kun…?”
“I like Rinka. I can’t return your feelings.”

I didn’t apologize. The fact was, I was rejecting Nana.

“““…”””

A painful silence filled the room. Even Sturmangriff stayed quiet. The first to speak was—Nana.

“Um, Kazu-kun, Rinka-chan. You’re both misunderstanding.”
“Misunderstanding? You like Kazuto, don’t you?”
“No! Like I said, listen to me!”
“So you’re going to tell me how much you like Kazuto? Using Sturmangriff to torment the wife and steal her husband—a soap opera-level scheme!”
“It’s not clever, it’s absurd, Rinka-chan!”
“Then what is it!?”
“The one I really like is you, Rinka-chan!!”
“See, I knew—wait, what?”
“I! Like! Rinka-chan!”

…Huh?

☆

The one I really like is Rinka-chan—

Nana’s words echoed in my head. Rinka seemed just as stunned, staring wide-eyed at Nana, unable to speak.

“N-No! I mean, I don’t like Rinka-chan like that anymore! Well, I do, but not like that! Not in a romantic way, I mean! I’ve sorted it out in my head! It’s not weird, so don’t worry! I just want Rinka-chan to be happy—!”
“Calm down, Nana. You’re talking too fast to follow.”
“Ugh…”

Soothed by Rinka, Nana faltered. What a shocking turn of events.

“So, since when? When did you start liking me?”
“I don’t know… Probably since we were little. Before I knew it, I liked you.”
“I see… So you’re a girl who likes girls.”
“N-Not exactly… It’s probably because it’s you, Rinka-chan. I think I’d have liked you even if you were a boy.”
“…”

Wasn’t that what Rinka would call a pure feeling? Nana was saying her heart was drawn to Mizuki Rinka as a person. I suddenly recalled Rinka saying, “Boy or girl, it doesn’t matter! Love doesn’t care about gender!” But something else bothered me more.

“Uh, Nana? You don’t like me?”
“Yeah. I think you’re cool, but…”
“But didn’t you act like you did earlier? And you blushed when we held hands before…”
“T-That was just embarrassment…”
“Embarrassment?”
“You’re like a benefactor to me… kind of someone I look up to… It’s not romantic, but you’re special in a different way.”

—What the heck.

So I misunderstood and thought she liked me, then rejected a popular idol. Someone kill me. Her reaction made it easy to misinterpret. But I knew Nana’s sensibilities were a bit off from most people. It was hard to wrap my head around, but I could just about accept it.

“Oh, don’t worry. I’ve moved on… I’m looking forward! Sorry for saying weird stuff in the heat of the moment! Bye!”
“Wait!”

As Nana turned to run, Rinka hurried after her and grabbed her arm. Sturmangriff jumped from Nana’s arms, landing neatly on the floor.

“Nana. Let’s talk properly.”
“N-No… There’s nothing to talk about. I just want things to stay the same…!”
“If you mean that, look me in the eyes and say it.”
“—!”

Nana avoided Rinka’s gaze, refusing to turn around. Her arm was caught, but her feet were already out of the tatami room. Sturmangriff rubbed against my leg, meowing “Nya.”

Rinka glanced at me. Our eyes met, and I instantly understood what she wanted. I quietly passed by Nana and headed to the front door. Without looking back, I reached the entrance and grabbed my keys from the wall hook. The ring held my house key and Rinka’s. I’d gotten her spare key recently. Even though her dad, Mikio-papa, and her mom approved, I still felt hesitant owning it.

Thinking this, I put on my shoes and stepped outside. Summer heat hit my skin, but a gentle breeze caressed me. The sky was still bright. Late afternoon, maybe.

A “Nyaoo” came from my feet. Sturmangriff had followed me. Taking it back inside felt wrong, so I’d look after it.

“Nana… liked Rinka, huh.”

Leaning against the door, I slid down to sit. The shock still hadn’t left me. What had I been hearing all this time? Looking back, I realized Nana’s words hinted at it. She was oddly obsessed with Rinka’s happiness. I thought it was her responsibility for getting Rinka into idol work, her care for a dear friend, or just her kindness… but it wasn’t just that.

“What was she feeling while supporting us?”

I could say with certainty there was no deceit in Nana’s support. She genuinely wanted us to be together. That showed how much she cared for Rinka. …Was she hiding her feelings? Suppressing her love and acting for our sake. I couldn’t imagine the bright, energetic Nana pulling off such an act.

But then I recalled what Kasumi-san told me. During tough times in her idol career, Nana cried every night, wrestling with her struggles… No one at school, or even nationwide, would imagine that side of her. Everyone had struggles. Even the seemingly pure, energetic idol was no exception.

Nana’s past words played in my head.

“I want Rinka-chan to be happy, both as an idol and as a girl. I don’t want her to give up either.”
“I want Rinka-chan to be happy. I want Kazu-kun to be happy too, to repay you. For helping me, for helping us—my gratitude.”
“Love can happen without knowing someone’s looks or status… No, maybe love doesn’t need those things at all. I finally get what Rinka-chan meant by ‘pure connections.’”

Knowing the answer, I wanted to kick myself for not seeing it. Even her best friend Rinka didn’t notice. That’s how good Nana was at hiding her feelings.

“Is this… another kind of duality?”

Rinka was the same. Seen as a cool idol by the world, but I knew her many sides… because she showed them to me. Even Kasumi-san had practical worries. …“Surprising” might be rude. Thinking back, didn’t she say multiple times she was jealous of Rinka?

If I were someone who could read hearts, would I have noticed Kasumi-san or Nana’s true feelings?

Nana, who loved Rinka and felt indebted to me, chose a path that hurt her, all while smiling brightly.

“Nyaoo.”

Worried about me, Sturmangriff rubbed against my leg. …Animals were so innocent. You couldn’t judge people by their surface. To truly know someone, you’d need to live in a world stripped of excess information. Was that the world Rinka sought, finding her answer in games? Of course, games were still human societies; not everyone showed their true self. Rinka said as much.

“Guess solo play’s the most carefree, huh.”

To Nana, I was a love rival. Could she hold hands with, call by first name, and genuinely support her rival? …She could. The energetic idol, center of a massively popular group, Kurumizaka Nana, could.

“Everyone’s amazing…”

For someone like me, who’d only gamed, this felt refreshing. I’d never been so touched by people’s hearts. Since meeting Rinka in real life—my world was becoming more real.

I was angry at myself for not noticing Nana or Kasumi-san’s true feelings. Not noticing meant… I hadn’t been truly listening to people. I heard, but I didn’t take it in. That’s why I couldn’t sense the emotions behind their words.

“Nyaoo.”
“Let’s go, Sturmangriff.”

There was nothing I could do. Rinka and Nana needed to face and resolve this themselves. And I was sure those two would be fine. I locked the door, picked up Sturmangriff, and headed home. Even if I was outside, staying near them right now felt wrong.

☆

“Taking Sturmangriff home. I’ll be back at Rinka’s around 8 PM.”

I sent that message to Rinka as I neared my house. Disappearing without notice would worry her, so I let her know.

“Been a while…”

Since summer break started, I’d been staying at Rinka’s, so it’d been about two weeks. Feeling nostalgic, I opened the door and stepped inside. Guess I’d play some games. I took off my shoes and headed to the kitchen to get water for Sturmangriff. Passing through, I saw the living room—

“Huh?”

From the sofa’s position, I could only see their back, not their face. But sitting at the table, unmistakably, was—my father.

☆

Shocked by the unexpected encounter, my body froze. Normally, I’d say something. What did I even say? I noticed him scribbling in a notebook on the table. Something felt off about his appearance. Messy, unkempt black hair and a wrinkled shirt he’d probably worn for days… His look screamed he didn’t care about appearances.

Thinking back, my father never cared about others’ opinions. He was obsessed with efficiency, unwilling to waste time on choosing clothes or appearances. A man who pursued only practicality. That was the image I had of him.

He was so focused on his notebook, he either hadn’t noticed I was back or was ignoring me. …Didn’t matter. We’d run into each other like this before, but we’d always ignored each other. This time was no different…

“Nyaoo.”
“…?”

—What the?

Sturmangriff jumped onto my father’s shoulder. But what shocked me most wasn’t that. My father glanced at Sturmangriff, then immediately returned to his notebook. Was this incredible focus or complete indifference to everything else? Maybe it was a kind of genius. No, a weirdo. A strange black cat in his house, jumping on his shoulder, and he ignored it. That wasn’t normal. He was a total eccentric.

“Nyaoo… Nyaooo.”

My father kept ignoring it. He stopped writing, freezing like a statue. Was he even alive? Sturmangriff returned to me, meowing softly. Taking the chance, I picked it up. Let’s get out of here. Maybe kill time at a park. As I turned to leave, I recalled something recent.

“…If I don’t talk, I won’t understand how people feel.”

Just listening to words wasn’t enough. You needed to feel the emotions behind them… sense their feelings. That was probably what conversation was. I was sure I was influenced by Rinka’s desire for pure connections. How long had it been since I last spoke to my father? I couldn’t even remember the last time. Steeling myself, I opened my mouth and called out to his back.

“Uh… when did you get back?”

A long silence followed. Maybe ten seconds. Those ten seconds felt like crushing pressure on my heart.

“Uh, that person… she’s not with you, right?”

That person meant my current mother. He should understand. But no words came back. Being ignored hurt more than being rejected. Not having your existence acknowledged felt like death. Humans maintained themselves by being recognized. Those not recognized either retreated into their own world or propped themselves up by criticizing others.

“You can hear me, right? Could you… say something?”

Can’t I spark his interest somehow?

“I sent a message, but I got a girlfriend. I’m staying at her place now.”

“I’m even thinking about marrying her… What would you do? Haha…”

A normal parent would say something. Even if they didn’t speak, they’d show some reaction. But my father didn’t turn, staying frozen.

“Hey…?”

He didn’t even look back. Despite my nervous attempts to gauge his reaction, anger surged inside me.

“Got it… You really don’t care about me.”

“Oh, I remember now! Why I stopped talking to you! Because you ignore me… You never respond!”

Sparks flew in my head. My breathing was rough. My body shook. Despite my first outburst in years, my father stayed silent.

“Damn… Damn it!!”

I couldn’t take it anymore. I turned my back on him and ran to the front door. I slipped on my shoes messily, kicked the door open, and burst outside.

Uncontrollable anger filled my body. To let it all out, I started running through the city.

☆

How do you connect with someone you can’t even talk to? I wasn’t just rejected—my existence was ignored.

“Ha… ha…”

I stopped to catch my breath. My sweat-soaked shirt clung to my skin. I noticed the sky was dark—it was night.

“…Where am I?”

I’d wandered into an unfamiliar residential area. The houses were new to me. I checked my surroundings by the roadside, wondering what to do. Well, I could use my phone’s map to avoid getting lost.

“I knew it’d be like this…”

I knew what kind of person my father was. Still, I held a sliver of hope. That was my mistake.

“Nyaoo!”
“…Sturmangriff?”

Hearing a meow, I turned to see the black cat sitting a few steps behind, staring at me. Sturmangriff… followed me? No, I was glad it did. If I’d lost it, I couldn’t face Nana.

“Let’s head back to Rinka’s apartment.”
“Nya!”

As I approached, Sturmangriff stood and darted off.

“You’re running away now…!?”

Wiping sweat from my forehead, I started running again. Sturmangriff ran at a steady pace, occasionally looking back to check on me. It was playing with me. Like we were racing.

☆

Chasing Sturmangriff, I ended up at a small park in the city. It was getting dark, and no kids were around. Of course not. The entrance sign listed rules like “No ball games!” and “No shouting!” Kids wouldn’t come here. The playground equipment was gone, leaving only a swing. Even the swing was rusty and worn out…

“Nyaoo.”

Was this park Sturmangriff’s playground? It walked in confidently, hopping onto the swing’s seat. I followed. The park was empty except for me and the black cat.

“I’ll sit next to you.”

I felt a bit silly talking to a cat. But Sturmangriff’s eyes seemed intelligent, like it was smarter than the average cat, as others had said. I couldn’t help but talk to it. I sat on the swing. There were two seats. The chains holding them smelled faintly of rust. It was really old.

The park’s scenery from the swing was lonely. With the equipment gone, it was just a patch of short weeds. The sun had set, and darkness enveloping the park added to the loneliness.

“…Ah.”

A spark in my brain, like a puzzle piece clicking into place. A small laugh escaped. I covered my face with both hands.

“Haha, no way? Without the equipment, I didn’t recognize it… but I remember now. This park… it’s where my mom… my real mom, first took me.”

Not my current mother. The one who gave birth to me… When I was in third grade, I begged and begged, and she finally played with me. We went out and wandered the city, ending up at this park.

“Back then, I sat on this swing… and she pushed me from behind… I’d completely forgotten…!”

My eyes grew hot. Why did I end up here?

“Nya.”

Sturmangriff, on the next swing, jumped onto my lap. Without doing anything else, it curled up on my knees.

“…Sturmangriff…”

Black cats were said to bring bad luck or good luck, depending on who you asked. I believed in the good luck theory. Partly because I just liked black cats…

“Is this… considered good luck?”

If I hadn’t chased Sturmangriff, I’d never have remembered this park. I didn’t want to.

“It’s just… ridiculous, right? I don’t have anything. No memories with my parents, none at all. Coming to the park with my mom… What else is there?”
“Nya.”
“…‘I’m home,’ ‘Welcome back’… I’ve never even said those normal greetings…”

Sturmangriff’s image blurred and distorted in my eyes. How did things end up like this? Just hours ago, I was happily studying with Rinka… An unbearable loneliness hit me. I’d felt lonely before. But this loneliness was on another level. It was an emptiness like my body was hollowed out.

Had I become weak to loneliness? Was it because I’d been staying at Rinka’s house? …No, that wasn’t it. I’d always felt this loneliness. I just hadn’t noticed. Maybe I was hiding it with my gaming hobby. I was probably trying to suppress my emotions. To ease the loneliness, even a little. A kind of defense mechanism.

That explained one of my doubts. Why I couldn’t recognize my feelings for Rinka. I didn’t kill my heart, but I dulled my emotions as much as possible. If Nana hadn’t pointed it out… if she hadn’t named my feelings, I probably wouldn’t have noticed. I’d have kept hurting Rinka, unable to sort out my emotions.

…You really don’t know yourself sometimes.

“Let’s go back.”

I wondered if those two had sorted things out. Nana said she’d already moved on. Whether that was true or not… I was a bit worried. Either way, I should get back to Rinka’s apartment.

☆

“…Rinka?”

Rinka was standing in front of the apartment entrance, waiting for me.

“Rinka, what are you doing out here?”

As I called out and approached, Rinka smiled with relief.

“Oh, Kazuto. You’re late. I’ve been waiting.”
“…A popular idol waiting for a guy seems kind of risky.”
“It’s fine. No one passes by at this hour. Even if someone does, I can just act like we’re acquaintances. If talking to a guy was a scandal, no one could be an idol.”
“Fair enough…”

If Rinka said so, it was probably fine. Still, being too chummy in public wasn’t great.

“Nya.”

Sturmangriff jumped from my arms and walked up to Rinka.

“Oh, you were so standoffish before… Suddenly so friendly.”

Rinka looked pleased, crouching to pet Sturmangriff’s head.

“It’s Sturmangriff, but Nana’s coming to pick it up tomorrow night.”
“Got it…”

After replying, I couldn’t help but ask what was on my mind.

“What happened with Nana?”
“Nothing special.”
“Nothing?”
“Yeah. Like Nana said, she seems to have sorted it out herself.”
“…She’s strong.”
“Of course. She’s my best friend.”

Guess I didn’t need to worry. It was their issue, not mine to meddle in.

“I think Nana and I can keep going as we always have.”
“Good…”
“The bigger issue is you, Kazuto. It’s 9 PM. You said you’d be back by 8… What were you doing?”
“Oh, I went home… and stopped by a park.”
“The whole time?”
“Well, yeah.”

Rinka stopped petting Sturmangriff, stood, and looked into my eyes, as if searching my emotions. I couldn’t help but look away.

“…I’m just glad you’re back safe. Welcome home, Kazuto.”
“…Huh?”
“What’s with the ‘huh’? Did I say something weird?”
“No, it’s just…”

What was up? Rinka was staring at me, like she was waiting for something…

“Your response?”
“Response?”
“When someone says ‘welcome home,’ there’s something you say back, right?”
“Oh, right…”
“Welcome home, Kazuto.”
“I-I’m home… Rinka.”

It was oddly embarrassing. Even if she was my girlfriend, saying “I’m home” to a classmate made my face burn. Trying to hide it, I passed by Rinka to enter the apartment when she grabbed my arm.

“Rinka?”
“Kazuto, crouch down. To my eye level.”
“Like this?”

I crouched as told. Rinka grabbed my head and pulled it to her chest, hugging me tightly. For a moment, I was confused. Then came panic and a racing heart. Her tight grip on my head made it hard to speak.

“Uh, w-wait, this… outside’s not the place for this…”
“Something happened, didn’t it?”

I froze.

“I can tell from your face. Something sad happened, right?”

Hearing Rinka’s gentle, calm voice, my shaken heart started to settle. …She saw right through me. I wasn’t trying to hide it. I thought I was back to normal.

“If you don’t want to talk, you don’t have to. Tell me when you’re ready.”
“…Yeah.”
“But remember this.”

Rinka added in a kind voice.

“Where I am is where you come home to.”

“We’re husband and wife, so we’re each other’s home. Of course, where you are is my home too.”

“Even if you feel alone, remember you have me, your family, your wife.”
“Rinka…”

Her earnest words warmed my heart. Normally, I’d retort at the “husband and wife” thing, but this time, I couldn’t. I accepted her words as they were. I let myself be enveloped in her warmth.

“Rinka… I want you to stay with me forever, until I die.”
“No way.”

I learned you could die from words alone in that moment.

“I’ll be with you even after death. I can’t imagine a life without you.”
“…Isn’t that a bit heavy?”

 

 

“…It’s mutual, isn’t it? You fell for me in the game, and even in real life, without knowing who I was, you were drawn to me. That’s almost an overwhelming kind of affection.”

“…Now that you mention it, maybe you’re right…”

Reflecting calmly, I realize I’m utterly captivated by Rinka. I’m pursuing her both in the game and in reality. …It’s almost like I’m some kind of stalker.

“A couple who love each other so deeply… I think that’s perfectly fine.”

“…Yeah.”

“It’s not just love… it’s a bond where being together feels effortless, natural. Kazuto, I love you more than anyone else in the world.”

All I can manage is a dry laugh, but a gentle warmth spreads through my chest.

Rinka often says she’s grateful for my existence, but the truth is, it’s the other way around. I’m the one who’s been saved by her presence.

That realization hits me anew.

The one who brought vibrancy to my monotonous, game-filled life was none other than Rinka.