Chapter 6

“All done!” I exclaimed, slumping back in my chair.

“Great work, Ryouya! You too, Onee-chan!” Riona cheered, her voice bright with relief.

“Finally, we can kick back,” Reona sighed, stretching her arms above her head.

“No kidding. This sense of accomplishment is unreal,” I added, grinning.

Nearly a week had passed since our trip to Okayama, and we’d spent every day holed up in my room, grinding through summer vacation homework. But today, at long last, we’d conquered it all.

“If I’d been tackling this solo, I’d probably still have more than half left,” I admitted, scratching the back of my neck. “You guys seriously saved me.”

“Riona’s the real MVP here,” Reona said, nudging her sister with a teasing smile. “I’ve learned having a brilliant little sister is the way to go.”

“Flatter me all you want, it won’t get you anywhere,” Riona shot back, though a faint, pleased flush colored her cheeks.

The grind had been brutal, but now that it was over, a strange nostalgia settled in. Not that I’d ever wish for more assignments, of course.

“Since we’re finally free, how about grabbing lunch and hitting up somewhere fun?” Reona suggested, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.

“Let’s go all out and have a blast!” I agreed.

“I vote karaoke!” Riona piped up.

“Nice, that sounds perfect!” Reona nodded.

As Reona and Riona buzzed with excitement, I hesitated. Being the friendless loner I am, I’d never gone to karaoke with anyone outside my family. The idea made me a bit nervous, but with Reona and Riona, it’d probably be fine.

Just as we were getting ready to head out, Mio bounced through the front door, back from hanging out with her friends. She’d been gone all morning but looked as energetic as ever.

“Oh? Onii-chan, going out with Reona-san and Riona-san?” she asked, tilting her head.

“Yeah, Riona suggested karaoke,” I replied.

At that, a flicker of envy crossed Mio’s face. Come to think of it, Mio loves singing, doesn’t she? Before I could say anything, Reona and Riona jumped in.

“Why don’t you come along, Mio-chan?” Reona offered warmly.

“It’ll be way more fun with all four of us,” Riona added.

“Huh, really? Is that okay?” Mio asked, her eyes widening.

“Totally! After all, Mio-chan’s gonna be our ‘little sister’ someday, right, Riona?” Reona teased, winking.

“Hey, stop trying to steal my sister!” I protested. “Mio’s mine.”

As usual, those two were dead set on adopting Mio. I get it—she’s adorable, way too cute to be my sister—but no way was I handing her over.

“Ryouya’s such a siscon,” Riona said, smirking.

“Onii-chan’s always been like this,” Mio sighed, shaking her head.

“I totally get loving your little sister, though,” Reona said, nodding sagely.

Mio and Riona shot me exasperated looks, but Reona’s agreement only made me feel slightly vindicated. With that, the four of us left the house and headed to the karaoke place near the station.

August’s brutal heat hit us like a wall, making us sweat just from walking. The moment we stepped into the air-conditioned karaoke lounge, all four of us visibly relaxed, tension melting away.

“How long should we book?” I asked, glancing at the others.

“Two hours sounds good for now,” Reona suggested. “We can extend if we want more.”

“I’m with Onee-chan,” Riona agreed.

“Same here,” Mio chimed in.

With the time settled, we checked in at the front desk. The room we were assigned was cramped, forcing the four of us to squeeze in close together on the couch.

“Alright, what should I sing today?” Reona mused, scrolling through the song list on the tablet.

“Picking the first song is always so tough,” I said, frowning at my phone.

“Yeah, just choosing takes forever,” Mio agreed.

“It’s tricky,” Riona added, her brow furrowed in concentration.

I had no idea what songs would go over well and was completely stumped. Deep down, I wanted to belt out some hardcore anime tunes, but if I picked something Reona and Riona didn’t know, they’d probably just stare at me blankly.

While I agonized, Reona made her choice. She grabbed the mic, stood up, and the song started. But as she began to sing, disappointment hit me like a brick.

“No way, seriously…?” I muttered under my breath.

Reona had picked a trendy love song, but to put it bluntly… she was awful. Like, catastrophically bad. Off-pitch, no sense of rhythm—everything was a mess. Mio’s awkward expression told me she was thinking the same thing.

“Onee-chan’s always been like this, even when we were kids,” Riona whispered to me.

“Got it,” I replied, still reeling.

“…That was surprising,” Mio mumbled.

According to Riona, Reona’s tone-deafness was a lifelong trait. With her singing as background noise, Mio and I booked our songs on the tablet. Reona finished her performance, looking oddly refreshed.

“Karaoke’s just the best, isn’t it?” she beamed.

“Y-Yeah,” I managed, forcing a smile.

“You looked like you were having fun,” Mio added, her tone diplomatic.

Neither of us could bring ourselves to tell Reona the truth, so we nodded vaguely.

“My turn!” Riona declared, grabbing the mic.

“Go for it!” Reona cheered.

Unlike her sister, Riona stayed seated. After Reona’s disaster, I braced myself, but Riona blew me away—in the best way possible. She sang the theme song from a popular drama, and she was incredible, far beyond what I’d expected.

“Riona-san, that was amazing…” Mio gasped, wide-eyed.

“No way, that’s too good!” I exclaimed.

“Riona’s always been praised for her singing,” Reona said, pouting slightly. “Meanwhile, I never get any comments for some reason.”

The gap in talent between identical twins was staggering. Also, Reona was completely clueless about her own tone-deafness.

“Guess I’m up,” I said, feeling the pressure.

“Wait, Onii-chan’s picking something other than an anime song? I’m shocked,” Mio teased, peeking at the screen.

“Hey, don’t say stuff that makes me sad!” I shot back.

“But it’s you, Onii-chan,” she said, shrugging.

Mio’s jab stung, but I brushed it off. Reona and Riona’s encouraging nods helped ease my nerves. Singing in front of non-family was terrifying, but once I started, the anxiety melted away.

“Hey, Ryouya-kun, you’re actually pretty good!” Reona said, clapping.

“Yeah, that was solid,” Riona agreed.

I’d chosen a safe, popular song everyone would know, and it seemed to land well. Setting the mic down, I let out a relieved breath.

“Singing in front of Reona-san and Riona-san is kinda nerve-wracking,” I admitted.

“We’re basically family, so no need to be nervous,” Reona said warmly.

“Yeah, let’s hear Mio-chan next!” Riona added.

As usual, they were treating Mio like family, but I knew arguing was pointless, so I let it slide. When the intro started, Mio grabbed the mic, stood up, and began to sing.

She chose the theme song from a massively popular animated movie. Her skill was average, but she was just so darn cute. No way she’s my sister, I thought, shaking my head.

“Mio-chan’s adorable!” Reona squealed.

“Yup, I wanna take her home to our room just like this,” Riona said, nodding.

“Hey, don’t say weird stuff in front of Mio!” I protested. “What if you corrupt her pure heart?”

If Mio got tainted by their influence, I’d be devastated for days. I want her to stay innocent forever.

“Ryouya’s such a hardcore siscon,” Riona said, rolling her eyes.

“You worry too much,” Reona added. “Middle school girls are way more mature than guys think.”

“Onii-chan, you’re gross,” Mio muttered, glaring.

Outnumbered and outgunned, I clamped my mouth shut. After that, the four of us kept singing—sometimes solo, sometimes together—and an hour flew by in a blur.

“Wait, we got so caught up we forgot to eat lunch,” Reona said, pausing mid-song selection.

“Oh, right, we were supposed to grab food,” I realized.

“I’m starving,” Mio groaned.

“Let’s order something from the tablet,” Riona suggested.

We placed our orders between songs, but when the food arrived, a small issue cropped up.

“Huh? There’s only one pair of chopsticks…” I said, frowning at the tray.

“You’re right,” Reona noted. “Mio-chan and I got pizza, so we’re fine, but Ryouya-kun and Riona need chopsticks.”

The staff must’ve messed up. I was about to call the front desk when Riona dropped a bombshell.

“Then we can just share these chopsticks,” she said casually.

““Eh!?”” Mio and I yelped in unison.

“That’s a great idea,” Reona said, completely unfazed.

Those two were on another planet, weren’t they?

“No, no, that’s definitely not okay!” I protested, my face heating up.

“What’s wrong with it?” Riona asked, tilting her head.

“W-Well, it’d be like an indirect kiss…” I mumbled, embarrassed.

Riona’s next words hit like a sledgehammer. “You already kissed Onee-chan, so what’s the big deal?”

“Wait, Onii-chan, you kissed Reona-san!?” Mio gasped, her eyes wide with shock.

“Yup, Ryouya-kun and I had a pretty passionate smooch,” Reona said, grinning mischievously.

“…I can’t believe my introverted, loner Onii-chan turned into a playboy,” Mio said, her gaze dripping with disdain.

That look from my precious little sister was too much to bear.

“So, Ryouya-kun, just share with Riona,” Reona said, waving a hand. “It’s annoying if the staff keeps coming in.”

“It’s settled, and Ryouya doesn’t get a say,” Riona declared.

Trapped with no escape, I gave in. The indirect kiss with Riona left me so flustered I barely tasted the food.

Before we knew it, two hours had passed. Satisfied, we left the room.

“There’s a movie theater nearby,” Reona said as we stepped outside. “Wanna catch a film together?”

“Oh, there’s a movie I really wanna see!” Mio said, her face lighting up.

“What’s it called?” I asked.

“Love Triangle,” Mio replied.

“Oh, I know that one! It’s been a big topic in my class,” Reona said.

“I’ve been curious about it too,” Riona added.

I had no clue what it was, but Reona and Riona seemed familiar with it. We paid at the karaoke place, left, and headed to the nearby theater. The show was about to start, so our timing was perfect.

We bought tickets at the machine, grabbed drinks at the concession stand, and settled into our reserved seats.

“As expected, it’s mostly couples here,” Reona observed, glancing around.

“Guys like Onii-chan would never come to a movie like this, right?” Mio teased.

“That makes it sound like I’ll never get a girlfriend,” I grumbled.

“Do you think you can get one?” Mio asked, raising an eyebrow.

“…Yeah, probably not,” I admitted, deflating.

It was depressing, but a guy like me was likely doomed to stay single forever. The happy couples around us only deepened my resentment. Normies, just explode already.

“Don’t worry,” Reona said, patting my shoulder. “If poor, unwanted Ryouya-kun gets left on the shelf, Riona and I will take you in.”

“And if we snag Mio-chan too, it’ll be perfect,” Riona added with a grin.

“Hey, don’t talk like I’ll never find someone!” I protested. Also, stop dragging Mio into this! At this rate, they might actually make her part of the Tsurugi family.

After some trailers and ads, the theater darkened, and the movie began. The first half followed a plain high school girl who wins over two hot twin transfer students, sparking a love triangle. Midway through, she struggles with both guys pursuing her and, after much anguish, chooses the older twin. This causes a rift between the brothers, though they reconcile for a happy ending. Still, I wasn’t fully satisfied.

Maybe it’s personal taste, but I related to the younger brother, so his ending left me frustrated.

“I didn’t really like that ending,” I said as we left the theater.

“It didn’t feel like a true happy ending,” Reona agreed.

“Same,” Riona said, frowning. “Since we’re twins, our tastes tend to align—probably DNA or something—so the story hit close to home.”

“Yeah, total twin vibes,” Reona nodded.

“My friends were split on it too,” Mio said. “Makes sense.”

As twins, Reona and Riona probably felt the movie more deeply than I did. We chatted about it all the way to the exit, the day’s fun lingering in the air.

“By the way,” I asked, curiosity getting the better of me, “what do you two do if you both want the same thing and there’s only one of it?”

“If it’s something we can split, we divide it. If not, we share it,” Reona replied matter-of-factly.

“Yeah, that’s how Onee-chan and I handle it,” Riona added with a nod.

“Huh, so you don’t fight?” I said, surprised. “Mio and I used to bicker all the time.”

Their answer caught me off guard. Normally, you’d expect a tug-of-war, right?

“When we were kids, we fought a lot over stuff like that,” Reona admitted, a nostalgic smile tugging at her lips.

“Yup, Mama used to scold us constantly,” Riona said, chuckling.

“Really?” I blinked.

“That’s surprising,” Mio chimed in, her eyes wide.

I’d always pictured them as inseparable, so imagining them fighting felt bizarre.

“But we realized that if we kept arguing, someone else might swoop in and take it while we were distracted,” Reona explained.

“Yeah, being identical twins, I started thinking Riona and I are practically the same person,” Riona said, her tone thoughtful.

“My stuff is Onee-chan’s, and Onee-chan’s stuff is mine. Once we reached that mindset, we stopped fighting,” Reona concluded.

So that’s how they see it. Unlike regular siblings like Mio and me, this perspective felt unique to identical twins, their bond shaped by a shared essence.

“That’s why, if it was Riona and me in that movie, it definitely wouldn’t have turned out like that,” Reona said, her voice firm.

“Wait, you don’t mean…?” I trailed off, a sinking feeling in my gut.

“Onee-chan and I would both date the same person,” Riona declared.

They said it with such conviction, their expressions deadly serious. No doubt they meant every word. So, whoever dates one of them basically gets official permission to two-time. My mind reeled at the thought.

◇

“Ryouya and Mio-chan looked so shocked,” I said, laughing as Onee-chan and I walked home after parting ways with them.

“Saying we’d both date the same person would get that reaction from most people, right?” Reona replied, grinning.

If I were in their shoes, I’d probably feel the same. We know our mindset is pretty out there by society’s standards. But even if people disapprove, we have no intention of changing.

“If Riona and I fought over Ryouya-kun, it’d be like that time with the birthday plushie—someone else might snatch him up, and that’d be pointless,” Reona said, her tone resolute.

“I don’t want to repeat that tragedy,” I agreed, shuddering at the memory.

We’re both super possessive. As kids, we’d bicker endlessly over toys when there was only one. So, on that elementary school birthday when we went with Mama to pick out a present, we fought over the last plushie in stock.

But while we argued, someone else bought it, and it ended up belonging to neither of us. We wailed as it was taken, and Mama scolded us, saying it wouldn’t have happened if we hadn’t fought.

That’s when we learned. Fighting over something we both want just gives someone else the chance to swoop in. From then on, we stopped arguing over single items. We’d secure it before anyone else could and share it.

“I’m so glad we’re identical twins,” I said, smiling. “Sharing feels totally natural, no discomfort at all.”

“If we were just regular sisters, it wouldn’t be like this,” Reona agreed.

I hate lending my stuff to friends or even Mama and Papa, but with Onee-chan, I never feel that way. We came from a single egg that split into two, so we’re like halves of the same being, our DNA nearly identical. If that egg hadn’t split, we’d be one person, so sharing feels effortless. Onee-chan feels the same, clearly.

That’s why sharing Ryouya hasn’t caused any issues, and I’m sure it never will.

“Now it’s just about figuring out how to make Ryouya-kun ours,” Reona said, her eyes glinting. “No girls seem to be after him now, but someone might notice his charm out of the blue.”

“If some sneaky cat shows up, we’ll just have to take her out,” I said, smirking.

“For now, let’s start by locking things down at the fireworks festival and the birthday party,” Reona suggested.

“We’ll block every escape route Ryouya might have,” I agreed.

Ryouya will belong to Onee-chan and me alone. No matter who it is, we won’t let anyone take him.

◇

A few days after our group outing, Obon season arrived, signaling summer vacation’s end. Normally, I’d be scrambling to start my homework now, suffering for my procrastination. But thanks to Riona, I’d finished everything early this year. For once, I felt no late-summer pressure.

Today, I was headed to a fireworks festival in Kisarazu, Chiba, with Reona and Riona. We were on a bus crossing the Tokyo Bay Aqua-Line. Why Chiba? Apparently, Reona and Riona had attended all the famous Tokyo fireworks festivals in recent years and wanted something new.

As a normie shut-in who usually spends summer holed up at home, I lived in a different world from them. Though, this year, I was kinda acting like one of those normies I secretly wished would explode.

“They say 13,000 fireworks are going off at today’s festival,” Reona said, her voice buzzing with excitement.

“I haven’t seen any fireworks this year, so I’m pumped,” Riona added.

“It’s been, like, three years for me,” I said.

Last year, Mio dragged me to a local summer festival, but there were no fireworks, so it’d been a while. Reona and Riona’s reactions were immediate.

“What, really? That’s like missing out on nine-tenths of life!” Reona exclaimed.

“A summer without a fireworks festival isn’t a summer,” Riona declared.

“Nine-tenths? That’s practically everything!” I protested. “Fireworks festivals don’t weigh that much.”

Their values were so alien to mine, I couldn’t wrap my head around it. This must be the gap between main characters like them and a Mob Character B like me. Just then, the view outside the window brightened.

“Oh, we’re out of the Aqua-Tunnel!” Reona said, leaning toward the window.

“The sunlight feels so calming,” Riona murmured.

“I’m looking forward to the view from the Aqua-Bridge,” I said, perking up.

“Then, as promised, let’s stop at Umihotaru,” Reona suggested.

“Yeah, that’s why we left in the early afternoon,” Riona agreed.

Umihotaru, with its five floors of facilities, sounded like a destination in itself. After getting off the bus, we headed straight to the fifth-floor observation deck. The 360-degree view was breathtaking, and with the clear sky, we could even see Mount Fuji. Reona and Riona snapped photos with their phones, their excitement infectious.

“Let’s take a picture together, the three of us!” Reona said, waving me over.

“I’ll pass, you two go ahead,” I said, backing away.

“No way, Ryouya, you’re joining us,” Riona insisted, grabbing my arm.

Reona took the other, and before I knew it, I was sandwiched between them for the photo. This wasn’t the first time, and I’d never once escaped their insistence.

“By the way, what do you do with these photos?” I asked, a sudden unease creeping in.

“Oh, I post all the pics with Ryouya-kun on my SNS,” Reona said casually, showing me her phone.

My stomach dropped. There were tons of photos—Tokyo Inclusion Square, the Bikan District, every place we’d been. Considering Reona’s extrovert status, her SNS probably had a massive following. I was being put on display!

“Don’t worry, this account is private, so only my friends can see it,” Reona reassured me.

“Just Onee-chan’s friends,” Riona clarified.

“That’s not reassuring at all…” I muttered. Reona’s friends were mostly top-tier extroverts, and being seen by them was mortifying.

“Oh, look, Ryouya-kun! Mio-chan just liked the post!” Reona said, holding up her phone.

“Mio’s one of your followers too!?” I groaned.

“I liked it too,” Riona added, smirking.

I didn’t use extrovert-friendly SNS and had no plans to, but leaving Reona’s posts unchecked felt dangerous. I seriously considered making an account just to monitor them.

After the observation deck, we hit the fourth floor to browse souvenirs. I bought a keychain of Umihotaru’s mascot for Mio. We wandered a bit more, but then noticed our bus was about to leave.

“Should we head back to the bus stop?” I suggested.

“There’s one more place I want to visit first,” Reona said, her eyes gleaming.

“Yeah, that was a big reason we came to Umihotaru,” Riona added.

Curious, I followed them. When we arrived, a large bell stood in a scenic area, its presence almost serene against the backdrop of the sea.

“I see, so this was the goal,” I said, eyeing the large bell before us.

“Yup, I really wanted to ring the Bell of Happiness,” Reona replied, her voice brimming with excitement.

“They say if you ring it with someone special in mind, your feelings deepen and reach their heart,” Riona added, her tone softer but equally earnest.

“So let’s ring it together, the three of us, with our wishes!” Reona urged, grabbing the rope.

Every person ringing the bell was part of a couple, so it was clearly that kind of spot. Still, we’d come this far, so I went along with it. The three of us gripped the rope and pulled, the bell’s clear chime resonating through the air, soothing in its simplicity. Reona and Riona’s expressions were unusually serious—what could they have wished for?

After soaking in Umihotaru’s sights, we boarded the bus to Kisarazu. The journey from Tokyo to Umihotaru had taken us through an undersea tunnel, but now, above water, the view was spectacular, sunlight glinting off the sea.

At Kisarazu Station’s west exit, we made a beeline for a yukata rental shop we’d researched. Reona and Riona insisted on wearing yukatas for the fireworks festival, so here we were. I’d expected them to go for red and blue again, but they surprised me.

“So, Reona’s in pink, and Riona’s in light blue this time,” I noted, glancing at their choices.

“Wearing the same colors every time gets boring,” Reona said, adjusting her obi.

“Exactly. We figured Ryouya-kun would get tired of seeing the same thing too,” Riona added with a teasing smile.

Needless to say, pink and light blue suited them perfectly. Honestly, with their looks, they could pull off any color. As in the Bikan District, they nagged me into wearing a yukata too, so I went with a simple black one. As we walked toward Kisarazu Port, the festival venue, a shrine caught my eye.

“Hey, Riona, do you know that shrine over there?” I asked, pointing.

“That’s Yatsurugi Hachiman Shrine, one of Chiba’s power spots,” Riona replied promptly.

“Wow, you know a lot. What kind of blessings does it offer?” I asked, intrigued.

“I don’t recall everything, but it includes safe childbirth, protection from bad luck, exam success, and wish fulfillment,” she said, counting off on her fingers.

“Since we’re here, let’s stop by,” Reona suggested. “We’ve got plenty of time before the fireworks.”

No one objected, so we detoured to the shrine. Passing through the torii gate, we headed to the hand-washing station to purify ourselves. Reona and I were casual about it, but Riona moved with precise etiquette, clearly familiar with the ritual.

At the main shrine, we each tossed a five-yen coin into the offering box and prayed. Two bows, two claps, one bow, right? I finished quickly, but Reona and Riona lingered, their prayers intense.

“…Did you need to pray that long?” I asked, raising an eyebrow as they finally stepped back.

“There’s something we really want right now, so we were praying hard for it to be ours,” Reona said, her voice unusually serious.

“If we don’t get it, Onee-chan and I will be in trouble,” Riona added, her expression mirroring her sister’s.

“If you prayed that hard, it’ll probably work out,” I said, curious but supportive. “Let me know if I can help.”

I couldn’t imagine what they wanted so desperately, but I was sure they’d get it. As the thought crossed my mind, a sudden chill ran through me. It was nearly evening, but still warm—strange.

Leaving Yatsurugi Hachiman Shrine, we headed to Kisarazu Port, just a ten-minute walk away. Guys passing by shot me jealous glares, no doubt because I was flanked by two stunning girls in vibrant yukatas. I’d grown so used to it that it barely registered anymore. At first, those looks were torture, but now? Nothing. Habituation is terrifying—my senses were numbing, but with Reona and Riona around, it felt inevitable.

“Tons of food stalls,” Reona said, scanning the bustling rows. “Let’s grab something to eat.”

“Good idea. Lunch was early, so I’m starving,” Riona agreed.

“There’s so much to choose from, it’s hard to decide,” I said, overwhelmed by the options.

With about 500 stalls, you could find almost anything unless it was super niche. We settled on takoyaki, but as I reached for a piece, Reona held one out on a toothpick.

“Ryouya-kun, say ‘ahh’!” she said, grinning.

“Unlike when I had a cold, I’m fine today and can eat on my own,” I protested.

“Ryouya-kun, say ‘ahh’!” she repeated, undeterred.

“No, really, I’m good.”

“Ryouya-kun, say ‘ahh’!”

Her insistence was like an RPG NPC stuck in a dialogue loop, waiting for me to pick the right option. She’d probably keep going until I caved, so I reluctantly ate it, my face burning with embarrassment. Then Riona held out a piece.

“Ryouya, say ‘ahh’!” she said, mimicking her sister.

“Come on, give me a break,” I groaned.

“Ryouya, say ‘ahh’!”

No use—Riona was just as relentless. I was starting to realize I’d gotten tangled up with some seriously troublesome sisters. Their “ahh” attacks kept coming, and desperate for a breather, I pointed to a non-food stall.

“I’m tired of just eating. How about we try shooting at that stall over there?” I suggested.

“Ooh, that sounds fun!” Reona said, her eyes lighting up.

“I wanna try it,” Riona agreed.

“Alright, let’s do it,” I said, relieved they took the bait.

The shooting stall wasn’t crowded, so we could play right away. The rules were simple: knock down targets to earn points, with higher points for smaller, trickier targets. Prizes depended on your total score.

“How about we make it a competition?” Reona proposed, a mischievous glint in her eye.

“If we do, the winner gets to give one order to the two losers,” Riona added.

“Uh, that’s a bit…” I hesitated, wary of what crazy demands they might make. If I won, I’d be safe, but losing meant obeying Reona or Riona’s whims—a risky deal.

“Of course, if Ryouya-kun wins, we’ll obey any order you give,” Reona said, her tone teasing.

“Even if it’s something naughty,” Riona added, winking.

My heart raced. Sad to say, as a teenage guy, I wasn’t immune to that kind of temptation.

“Alright, looks like Ryouya-kun’s on board, so let’s get started!” Reona declared.

“Hey, I didn’t say I agreed!” I protested.

“If you didn’t agree, you would’ve said so earlier. Not denying it means you’re in,” Riona said, smirking.

“…Seriously?” I muttered, realizing I’d been suckered by temptation. Pathetic. Even without the bait, the outcome probably wouldn’t have changed.

To save myself, I had to win. We paid, grabbed the cork guns, and started shooting.

“Man, the corks really don’t fly where I aim…” I grumbled, aiming for easy, low-point targets to rack up points safely. But the corks veered off course, making it a struggle. Reona was having similar trouble, her shots going awry.

Meanwhile, Riona picked up a cork, aimed, and paused. I wondered what she was doing until she finally fired.

“Whoa, she hit that one!?” I exclaimed, stunned.

“Riona, that’s amazing!” Reona gasped.

Riona’s cork had flown straight, knocking down the tiniest, highest-point target. Probably a fluke, I hoped, but her second and third shots hit high-point targets too, each one precise. My hope crumbled—she was unstoppable.

She nailed every shot, crushing Reona and me by a mile. We collected our prizes, left the stall, and slumped onto a bench.

“…What was the trick back there? Almost all your corks flew straight,” I asked, still reeling.

“No way that was just luck,” Reona added, eyeing her sister.

“Here’s the trick to making the corks fly straight,” Riona said, pulling a tube of hand cream from her pouch.

“The corks don’t fly straight because of their bumpy surface. So, I used hand cream to smooth them out,” she explained.

“Wow, that’s quite a trick,” Reona said, impressed.

“Is that even allowed…?” I muttered, floored.

Riona had devised a method I couldn’t have dreamed up. No wonder she’d taken her time before shooting. She wasn’t done, either.

“Also, I loaded the cork after pulling the lever. That way, it gets more pressure and flies better,” she added.

“Riona, you’re seriously amazing,” Reona said, shaking her head.

“We were doomed before the competition even started,” I sighed.

“The one who controls information wins the game,” Riona said with a smug grin.

I’d learned the hard way how crucial information was in a competition. I might stand a chance against Reona, but Riona? Untouchable.

“So, since I came in first, I get to give one order of my choice,” Riona said. “I don’t have anything in mind yet, so I’ll think about it.”

“Please go easy on us,” I pleaded.

“I’m begging you, make it a gentle order,” Reona added.

“I’ll consider it positively,” Riona replied, her tone suspiciously familiar.

I vaguely recalled Reona using a similar phrase before—a classic dodge from someone who wasn’t really planning to reconsider. We wandered the stalls a bit more, and soon, the fireworks launch time approached. We spread a sheet on the grass in the paid viewing area, secured in advance by the twins, ensuring a prime view.

As the pre-show announcements ended, the festival began. A single firework shot into the night sky, followed by bursts of colorful flowers blooming one after another.

“Fireworks really are the best,” Reona said, her voice soft with awe.

“Yeah, maybe because it’s been so long, I’m kinda moved,” I admitted.

“This is what a Japanese summer feels like,” Riona said, her eyes reflecting the vibrant bursts.

We chatted, watching the fireworks scatter vibrant flashes across the sky before fading. No matter your age, fireworks always spark excitement.

“They’re really beautiful,” I mumbled, caught up in the moment.

“By the way, Ryouya-kun, which is prettier—fireworks or us?” Reona asked, her tone teasing.

“Whoa, what kind of question is that out of nowhere!?” I sputtered, thrown off.

“I want to hear Ryouya’s answer,” Riona said, her gaze expectant.

Their sudden bombshell question left me cornered. With both staring at me, I had to answer.

“…Reona and Riona, I guess,” I said, after agonizing.

“I see. So, to Ryouya-kun, Riona and I are prettier than fireworks,” Reona said, smiling slyly.

“I’ll never forget those words,” Riona added, her eyes glinting.

I’d agonized over my answer, but now I felt I’d chosen wrong. If I’d said fireworks, they’d probably have gotten mad, so that wouldn’t have worked either. This was a no-win question, and I’d be teased about it for ages. As we watched the fireworks, an hour and a half passed in a flash.

“That went by so fast,” I said, folding the sheet.

“Yeah, it felt like maybe thirty minutes at most,” Reona agreed.

“My first time at the Kisarazu fireworks festival, but it was really fun,” Riona said, satisfied.

We chatted as the crowd began to move, the area packed. Waiting before leaving seemed smart, but Reona, checking her phone, suddenly frowned.

“We’ve got a bit of a problem…” she said, her tone uneasy.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, leaning in.

“Look at this,” she said, showing me her phone.

The screen displayed the Nambu Line’s status, our planned route home. A person-related accident had stopped the trains, with no word on when they’d resume. We were stranded.

“…Seriously? This is a real hassle,” I groaned.

“With the trains down, the buses will probably be packed too. We might not even get on one,” Riona said, frowning.

“Taking a taxi would cost over 20,000 yen,” Reona added.

“That’s steep. Even splitting it three ways, it’s painful,” I said, wincing. The train would’ve been about 2,000 yen per person, so a taxi was at least three times pricier.

“Counting on a bus we might not get is risky. Guess we’ll have to take a taxi,” I said, resigned.

“How about we just stay somewhere tonight and head back tomorrow?” Reona suggested brightly.

“That’s a great idea,” Riona agreed instantly.

“No, no, that’s obviously a bad idea,” I said, shaking my head.

“Huh? Did I say anything about the three of us sharing a room?” Reona asked, tilting her head.

“Wait, is Ryouya planning to stay in the same room as us?” Riona teased, smirking.

“Th-That’s…” I stammered, flustered. I’d assumed we’d share a room, a reflex from being dragged into their ideas all day. Normally, guys and girls who aren’t dating wouldn’t even consider it.

“Well, staying with anyone but Ryouya-kun is out of the question,” Reona said, her tone casual.

“Onee-chan and I are nice, so we’d never leave Ryouya out,” Riona added, grinning.

As usual, they were in full-on chaos mode, toying with my poor virgin heart.

“Anyway, wouldn’t staying overnight be even more expensive?” I asked, grasping at straws. “I doubt cheap places have vacancies.”

“Oh, don’t worry,” Reona said with a mischievous grin. “It’s a love hotel, so it’s not that pricey.”

“About 5,000 yen for three people,” Riona added casually.

“That’s the last place we should stay!” I exclaimed, my voice cracking.

I couldn’t fathom how they came up with such wild ideas. Reona and Riona were definitely missing a few screws.

“Then I’ll use my winner’s order here,” Riona declared. “Tonight, the three of us are staying at a love hotel.”

“I believe Ryouya-kun isn’t the type to break a promise,” Reona said, her tone teasing but firm.

“…Fine,” I muttered, defeated.

The vibe made refusal impossible. It’d be my third time staying over with them, so it’d probably be fine, right? After returning the rented yukatas, we headed to a love hotel near the station.

“We’re here,” Reona announced, stopping in front of a garish building.

“This is our lodging for tonight,” Riona said, unfazed.

“…Hey, can’t we reconsider?” I pleaded. “Staying at a love hotel feels like a bad idea in a lot of ways.”

“Sorry, that’s not happening,” Reona replied, shaking her head.

“The winner’s right is absolute,” Riona added, her expression unyielding.

I tried resisting, hoping to derail this plan, but their resolve made it clear I was fighting a losing battle.

“Wait, can high schoolers like us even get in?” I asked, clutching at one last hope.

“Technically no, but you just pick a room at the entrance panel, so it’s fine,” Reona explained.

“No age checks, so nothing to worry about,” Riona said.

Arguing further was pointless. Three teens loitering in front of a love hotel was drawing too much attention, so we hurried inside. We fumbled with the electronic panel at the front desk, unfamiliar with the system, but eventually selected a room.

We took the elevator and slipped into the room quickly, avoiding any awkward encounters in the hallway.

“Huh, the room’s not that different from a business hotel,” Reona remarked, looking around.

“More normal than I expected,” Riona agreed, setting her bag down.

As they chatted casually, I dropped my stuff and, without thinking, pressed the power button on the TV remote. Instantly, a loud adult video scene blared from the screen.

“Eh!?” I yelped, fumbling to shut it off.

“R-Ryouya-kun, what are you doing!?” Reona gasped, her eyes wide.

“…Did Ryouya do that on purpose?” Riona asked, smirking suspiciously.

“No, I swear I had no idea!” I protested, my face burning.

If I’d known an adult video would play, I’d never have touched the remote. It was a total blindside.

“Really?” Reona asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Kinda suspicious,” Riona added, her smirk widening.

“A-Anyway, I’m gonna go prep the bath,” I stammered, bolting to the bathroom to escape.

It was a flimsy excuse, but I set up the bath to avoid suspicion. The tub was massive, clearly meant for two, so it’d take a while to fill. When I returned, Reona was holding something that made my heart stop.

“Oh, welcome back,” she said cheerfully.

“I’m back… Wait, Reona, what’s that you’re holding!?” I asked, my voice rising.

“What? It’s exactly what it looks like,” she replied, waving an adult toy.

“A pervert like Ryouya should know,” Riona teased.

I opened my mouth to retort, but then remembered we were in a love hotel. As the realization hit, I recalled something critical.

“…Oh, right. I need to let Mom know I can’t get home,” I said, reaching for my phone.

“Oh, we already contacted Ryouya-kun’s mom, so it’s all good,” Reona said.

“We got her permission, so no worries,” Riona added.

“Is my mom seriously that easy…?” I muttered, exasperated.

It felt like she’d agree to anything Reona and Riona asked. The Yagami family’s gullibility was no surprise, though.

“Alright, let’s hit the bath,” Reona said, heading toward the bathroom.

“I’ve been all sweaty and gross, so I wanna get in quick,” Riona agreed.

“Yeah, have fun,” I said, hoping to dodge what was coming.

“What are you talking about? You’re joining us, Ryouya-kun,” Reona said, turning back with a grin.

“Nothing less than all three of us together is acceptable,” Riona declared.

My bad feeling was spot-on. Refusing was futile, so I followed quietly, my stomach churning.

“…Wait, the bathroom’s totally see-through from the changing area!” I said, noticing the glass walls.

“It’s a love hotel, so yeah,” Reona replied, shrugging.

“That’s just how it is,” Riona said, already undressing.

Most people here were couples, so they probably didn’t mind being seen naked. We weren’t most people, though. As expected, Reona and Riona skipped towels, exuding confidence. I kept my eyes averted, trying to stay calm.

“Ryouya-kun, sit there. Riona and I will wash you,” Reona said, pointing to the bath chair.

“I can wash myself, I’m fine,” I protested.

“No need to be shy,” Riona said, grabbing the shampoo.

Despite my objections, they forced me onto the chair. Reona and Riona started washing my hair, their hands moving with surprising care.

“Guys’ short hair is so easy to wash,” Reona remarked.

“Mine’s short, but Onee-chan’s long hair is a hassle,” Riona said, chuckling.

I was too tense to respond, but they seemed to be enjoying themselves. After my hair, they moved to my body, even reaching for my lower half.

“I’ll wash down there myself, thanks,” I said, my voice tight.

“We’re close enough, Ryouya-kun. No need to be embarrassed now,” Reona said, undeterred.

“Tell us why you don’t want us to,” Riona pressed.

“I-I just…” I trailed off, unable to admit that their touch might push my barely-contained urges over the edge.

“If you don’t say anything, it means it’s fine, right?” Reona asked, smirking.

“Then we’ll wash it. Stay still,” Riona said.

“Hey!?” I yelped, but they ignored me.

I tried to zone out, enduring the torture as every second stretched into eternity. When they finally finished, I exhaled in relief, but the ordeal wasn’t over.

“Now we want Ryouya to wash us,” Reona said, handing me the sponge.

“…Can you please let me off the hook?” I begged.

“Oh? You let us wash you but won’t return the favor?” Riona asked, her tone accusing.

“No, no, I feel like I was forced to be washed. And don’t say it like that—it makes me sound like a jerk!” I protested.

They closed in, unrelenting, and I ended up washing them. I started with Reona’s long hair, lathering it carefully. It took time, but I managed.

“I’m gonna rinse with the shower, so close your eyes,” I said.

“Got it, go ahead,” Reona replied.

I sprayed water, washing away the foam until her hair gleamed.

“Ryouya-kun, you seem pretty skilled at washing girls’ hair,” Reona said, her tone teasing.

“Yeah, I thought so too. Is Ryouya experienced?” Riona asked, narrowing her eyes.

“Well, kinda,” I said, distracted by my focus on staying calm.

“Oh? So we’re not your first,” Reona said, leaning closer.

“I want details on who you washed and how it happened,” Riona demanded.

Their pressure hit like a tidal wave, and I realized my mistake. “I-I just washed Mio’s hair when she was little, that’s all!” I blurted out.

“Really? If you’re lying, who knows what we’ll do to you,” Reona warned.

“You’d face a punishment worse than death,” Riona added, her voice ominous.

“If you doubt me that much, call Mio later and ask her yourself,” I said, desperate.

Balancing my urges and watching my words was excruciating. “Can you let me off already…?” I pleaded.

“What? You’re not washing our bodies?” Reona asked, feigning shock.

“Now’s the main event,” Riona said, smirking.

“I’m seriously about to lose it here,” I muttered, a rambling mess.

They didn’t relent, and I had to wash their bodies, though I convinced them to skip the most sensitive areas. Their dissatisfied looks told me they’d fully intended for me to wash those too. How did they even think to push a classmate this far?

“…It’s cramped, so I wanna get out,” I said, eyeing the tub.

“We finally got to bathe together, so let’s enjoy it a bit more,” Reona said, scooting closer.

“We don’t get chances like this often,” Riona added, pressing in.

“I’d be in trouble if we did get chances like this often…” I muttered, squeezed between them in the too-small tub.

Seizing a chance, I bolted from the bathroom. They didn’t chase me, so maybe they were somewhat satisfied.

“…I’m so exhausted, I just wanna sleep,” I said, roughly drying my hair with a towel. I threw on a bathrobe and collapsed onto the sofa, my consciousness fading fast. Little did I know, falling asleep first would lead to a merciless grilling in the morning.

◇

“Hey, Ryouya-kun. Why’d you go to sleep first?” Reona asked, her voice sharp.

“I-I was exhausted…” I stammered, barely awake.

“And you just left Onee-chan and me hanging?” Riona said, her glare piercing.

“…Well, yeah, I guess that’s what happened,” I admitted, shrinking under their stares.

It was morning, and I was being interrogated. Waking up to Reona and Riona looming over me, their dangerous aura snapped me alert instantly.

“Ugh, I was so looking forward to sleeping together, but I never thought Ryouya-kun would betray us,” Reona said, pouting dramatically.

“We were so shocked that neither Onee-chan nor I could sleep well,” Riona added, her tone accusing.

“That’s a bit of an exaggeration, isn’t it?” I said, skeptical.

“We stayed at a love hotel and nothing happened. It’s so sad, I can’t tell anyone,” Reona sighed.

“No, no, if something did happen, we couldn’t tell anyone either!” I shot back.

Their frustrated looks baffled me. For a split second, I wondered if they meant that, but no way would sparkling stars like Reona and Riona see a nobody like me romantically. Their attention was just a phase. Once their Ryouya Yagami craze faded, they’d forget I existed. Yet, a nagging feeling told me I was missing something crucial.

“Ryouya-kun, you’ve been zoning out. Are you even listening?” Reona asked, snapping me back.

“…Oh, sorry,” I said, wincing.

“Since you weren’t listening, we can’t forgive you without a punishment,” Riona said, her eyes glinting.

“This time, it’ll be extra harsh,” Reona added.

It was my fault for drifting off, but now that I’d angered them, I dreaded what they’d demand. With my punishment decided, they finally eased up, and we moved to breakfast. I called the front desk from the bedside phone to order food, which arrived through a small window, sparing us from facing staff directly—a thoughtful touch for a place like this.

“Huh, so you receive it through a little window,” I noted, grabbing the tray.

“Seems like they’re considerate for people who don’t want to be seen,” Riona said.

I doubted I’d ever return to a love hotel, but it was good to know. After eating leisurely and packing up, we paid at the automatic checkout machine and left.

“Nice and sunny,” Reona said, stretching as we stepped outside.

“Weather this good really lifts your mood. What should we do today?” Riona asked, her enthusiasm undimmed.

“Since we’re in Kisarazu, let’s do some sightseeing,” Reona suggested.

“…Hey, sorry to interrupt your excitement, but can we at least move from here?” I pleaded.

Three teens at a love hotel entrance were drawing intense stares, especially hateful glares from passing guys.

“Aww, it’s shady here, so I wanna keep talking,” Reona said, unbothered.

“The stares are seriously intense right now,” I said, my voice tight.

“Onee-chan and I don’t mind,” Riona replied, shrugging.

“But I mind a lot…” I muttered, feeling the weight of every gaze.

“If you care, you lose. Let’s show off even more!” Reona declared, striking a pose.

No point arguing with them—it was a waste of time. I endured the public execution for nearly twenty minutes, my life points plummeting into the negatives. Finally freed, I thought the worst was over, but they dragged me around Kisarazu for sightseeing without mercy. By the time we got home that evening, I was so exhausted I could barely stand.