Chapter 7

The summer vacation, stretching nearly four weeks, had dwindled to its final days, the end looming just ahead. Next year, I’d be a college entrance examinee, so I doubted I’d be able to spend my days as carefree as this year. Would I even manage to become a university student? Such thoughts swirled in my mind as I wandered the shopping mall alone.

There was a good reason for my unusual solo outing today. Tomorrow, August 21st, was Reona and Riona’s birthday. To secretly buy gifts for them and surprise them tomorrow, I’d even lied about visiting a relative’s house to carve out some time alone. That’s why I’d gone out of my way to a distant shopping mall, one they’d never show up at, just in case my fib unraveled.

“Hmm, I’m kinda stumped on what to get them…”

As a loner with no friends, I’d never given a gift to anyone besides my little sister, Mio. I had zero clue what kind of present would hit the mark. Mio had offered some advice beforehand, but since the final call was mine, I wasn’t making much headway.

“…Maybe I’ll take a break.”

After two hours of searching since morning, I felt stuck and needed to rest my brain. At the food court, I slipped in my earphones, let music fill the background, and dove into grinding dungeons in my mobile game. To pull the swimsuit gacha, I needed the gems from clearing dungeons, so I kept at it relentlessly. I was deep in my runs when someone tapped my shoulder from behind.

Looking up, I froze. Reona and Riona stood there, their smiles dark and knowing. Why were they here? Unless they were tracking me, there was no way we’d cross paths like this.

“What’s Ryouya-kun, who’s supposed to be at a relative’s house, doing in a place like this?” Reona asked, her tone sharp.

“W-Well, I was planning to go in the afternoon…” I stammered.

“You said yesterday you were going in the morning,” Riona countered.

“My plans changed last minute, okay?”

“Really? I’m not sure I can trust you, Ryouya-kun,” Reona said, her eyes narrowing.

I tried to brush it off, my words tripping over themselves, but their suspicious stares pinned me down.

“If Ryouya-kun tells us the truth right now, we might let it slide,” Reona offered.

“But if you keep lying, we’ll give you the harshest punishment yet,” Riona added.

“Sorry, today’s promise was a lie,” I admitted, realizing there was no point hiding it anymore.

The two sat across from me, their expressions signaling the start of an interrogation. “So, why don’t you tell us slowly why Ryouya-kun lied to us?” Reona prompted.

“We won’t forgive false reports,” Riona warned.

“…Look, tomorrow’s your birthday, right, Reona and Riona? I wanted to buy you surprise gifts. Well, since I just spilled the beans, it’s not a surprise anymore.”

“Oh, so that’s what it was,” Reona said, her face softening.

“In that case, we’ll let you off the hook this time,” Riona added, a smile breaking through.

Their moods brightened instantly, and I let out a relieved breath, grateful to be forgiven. “So, what were you planning to get us, Ryouya-kun?” Reona asked.

“To be honest, I’ve been pretty stumped and haven’t decided yet…”

“Yeah, picking gifts can be tough,” Reona sympathized.

“By the way, is there anything you two want? Limited to stuff I can actually afford, though,” I said. Since the surprise was ruined, I figured asking them directly was the safest bet.

“Well then, I want a daughter,” Reona declared.

“If Onee-chan’s saying that, I want a son,” Riona chimed in.

“No, no, how am I supposed to prepare that!?” I shouted, their absurd requests catching me off guard. Kids as birthday presents? That was beyond anything I could’ve imagined. Were they seriously suggesting I kidnap someone?

“Well, obviously that was a joke,” Reona clarified, laughing.

“It’s still too early for that,” Riona added with a grin.

“I mean, Reona and Riona could pick any marriage partner they want, so I bet you’ll have one or two kids in the future,” I said.

“Yup, I’m looking forward to it,” Reona replied.

“I bet our kids would be super cute,” Riona mused.

With their genes, their kids would probably be stunning, no matter the other parent. I didn’t know who they’d marry, but I envied whoever it was.

“So, what do you actually want? If you don’t have anything in mind, I’ll figure something out,” I said.

“In that case, I’ve been wanting some new accessories for a while, so maybe that,” Reona suggested.

“I want accessories too,” Riona echoed.

“Got it, accessories, huh?” Mio had mentioned accessories, but I’d ruled them out, thinking I had no sense for picking them. Still, it seemed that’s what they wanted.

“Oh, this time, Riona and I will pick them out,” Reona said.

“Ryouya, you just need to buy what we choose,” Riona added.

“Alright, I’ll leave the picking to you two.” I’d expected them to make me help choose, but this was more convenient—quicker, too.

We headed to an accessory shop in the mall, and I wondered what they’d pick. Then they lifted a pair of matching rings from the display.

“Hold on, you’re not seriously telling me to buy those, right?” I asked, my voice rising.

“That’s exactly what Riona and I are thinking,” Reona confirmed.

“We want you to buy them, Ryouya,” Riona insisted.

“No, no, that’s a bit too much, don’t you think?” Rings were technically accessories, but giving them felt far weightier than necklaces or earrings.

“…Okay, they’re for Reona and Riona to wear, right?” I ventured. Their bond was tighter than most sisters, so matching rings wouldn’t seem odd. For a moment, I’d thought they meant for me to wear one, but surely not.

“What are you talking about? They’re not just for me and Riona—they’re for us and Ryouya-kun to wear,” Reona corrected.

“Onee-chan and I aren’t gonna leave loner Ryouya out,” Riona teased.

“Wait a sec, there’s so much to unpack here I don’t even know where to start!?” First, how were three people supposed to share a pair of rings meant for two? But they anticipated my question.

“By the way, we’re buying two sets—one for me and one for Riona—so Ryouya-kun will have to wear two rings,” Reona explained.

“So it works out for all three of us,” Riona concluded.

I saw their logic: two sets meant the three of us could wear matching rings. Except, to everyone else, I’d look like some sleazy guy flaunting two pairs of couple rings.

“So, that’s why we want you to buy these,” Reona pressed.

“Yeah, but…”

“Didn’t you say ‘alright’ when we asked if you’d buy whatever we picked? Or was that a lie too?” Riona challenged.

Cornered, I had no comeback. Resistance was futile. Reluctantly, I took the two sets of rings they’d chosen, and we headed to the counter. At nearly 15,000 yen for both, it was a hefty hit to my wallet.

“Excuse me, we’d like engravings on both sets,” Reona said to the clerk as I reached for my wallet.

“Please fill out this form with the text you’d like engraved,” the clerk replied, handing over a slip.

Reona took the form and scribbled on it with purpose. When she handed it back, the clerk’s cheerful smile faltered, a gasp escaping her lips. The form read Ryouya & Reona and Ryouya & Riona. Her shock was understandable—who wouldn’t find it odd for both sets of couple rings to bear the same name? I’d have thought the same in her shoes.

The clerk’s thoughts likely swirled, but she quickly regained her composure, her smile snapping back into place. “The engraving will take about 15 minutes,” she said before retreating to the back.

“I bet this is gonna be gossip among the staff,” I muttered.

“Well, it’d be weirder if it wasn’t, right?” Reona replied, unfazed.

“Hardly anyone would engrave the same name on two sets of couple rings,” Riona added with a smirk.

At least they knew this wasn’t normal. Knowing them, they’d probably planned it that way. “What about the gifts?” I asked. “Since we picked them together, it’s not a surprise anymore. Should I just give them to you today?”

“Pre-celebrations are bad luck,” Riona said. “Tomorrow would be better.”

“Really?”

“They say it reminds people of funerals, so it’s not good,” she explained.

“Got it, I’ll do that,” I said, nodding at Riona’s wisdom. Since I was invited to their birthday party at their house tomorrow, I’d hand over the gifts then. After collecting the engraved rings, we left the accessory shop.

“What are you two planning to do now, Reona and Riona?” I asked.

“Since we’re at a mall we don’t usually visit, I wanna do some shopping,” Reona said.

“Cool, have fun, you two.” I turned to leave, but they each grabbed an arm, their grips unyielding.

“Hey, hey, where do you think you’re going, leaving us behind, Ryouya-kun?” Reona teased.

“You’re not escaping,” Riona declared.

“Look, you said I could have today to myself, so I was just heading home.” I’d spent nearly every day of summer vacation with them, and for once, I craved some time alone to unwind.

“Oh, the moment you lied, that deal was off,” Reona shot back.

“So you’re sticking with us today too,” Riona added.

“I only lied to surprise you with gifts, so cut me some slack here.”

“Nope, we’re hurt from the shock of being lied to by Ryouya,” Reona said, feigning a pout.

“Yeah, we’re not letting you go home until you satisfy both me and Riona,” Riona insisted.

Their resolve was ironclad—they weren’t letting me off. Another day of being dragged around by Reona and Riona it was, then. We began wandering the mall, their energy pulling me along.

“Today, as a special treat, we’re gonna coordinate an outfit for Ryouya-kun,” Reona announced.

“It’s a thank you for picking out swimsuits for us last time,” Riona added.

“I don’t need you to do that,” I protested.

“Come on, it’s fine! Let us pick something for you,” Reona urged.

“We wanna make Ryouya our style,” Riona said, her eyes gleaming.

It sounded like a hassle, and I tried to refuse, but their excitement was palpable. Past experience told me stopping them in this mood was futile, so I resigned myself to being their dress-up doll. We entered a clothing store, and I tried on the full outfit they’d chosen.

“Yup, a white summer knit top with black skinny pants is simple but looks great,” Reona said, nodding approvingly.

“It changes your vibe and makes you look more stylish than usual, Ryouya,” Riona observed.

“…I’ve never worn summer knits or skinny pants before, so it feels super weird.” Fashion was a mystery to me—I stuck to patterned T-shirts and straight-cut denim. Summer knits felt too flashy, and skinny pants were uncomfortably tight, so I’d never bothered.

“Don’t worry, you’ll get used to it over time,” Reona reassured.

“Can you try on this jacket?” Riona asked, handing me a short-sleeved tailored piece.

“Like this?” I slipped it on, and Reona’s eyes lit up.

“Wow, it actually suits you pretty well,” she said, impressed.

“The jacket gives Ryouya a more mature vibe, so I think it works with this outfit,” Riona agreed.

“Oh, what if we put fake glasses on him to make him look more intellectual?” Reona suggested.

“Ryouya in glasses doesn’t sound bad either,” Riona mused.

For a while, I played dress-up doll, trying on various combinations until they were satisfied. They seemed most taken with the jacket, summer knit, and skinny pants combo.

“Alright, we’ve got a solid outfit, so let’s buy it!” Reona declared.

“We want you to wear the clothes we bought today to tomorrow’s birthday party,” Riona added.

“Sorry, but buying’s not happening. I spent almost all my money on the rings earlier.” The 15,000 yen had gutted my wallet, leaving it depressingly empty.

“Oh, don’t worry, Riona and I will cover it,” Reona said.

“No, no, that’s too much. It’ll cost a lot to buy everything.”

“Onee-chan and I are buying it because we want you to wear it, so don’t sweat it,” Riona insisted.

“Think of it as thanks for getting us those pretty wild birthday gifts,” Reona added.

With them insisting, I couldn’t refuse, so I let them buy it. Lately, I felt more and more shaped by their influence—at this rate, they’d be woven into every corner of my life. As we continued shopping, Reona suddenly stopped, her gaze catching something.

“Oh, look! A cat café!” she exclaimed.

“Wow, it’s pretty crowded,” Riona noted.

“Everyone looks like they’re having fun,” I said, peering through the glass walls at people interacting with cats roaming freely inside.

“Since we’re here, wanna go in?” Reona suggested.

“I’m in. I wanna pet some cats,” Riona said.

“If you two are up for it, I’ll tag along.” We paid the entrance fee, ordered drinks, and entered the cat area. The drinks would be served when a buzzer signaled, and we’d pick them up ourselves.

“It’s my first time at a cat café, but this is what it’s like inside, huh?” I said, taking it in.

“Really?” Reona asked.

“Onee-chan and I just stole another one of Ryouya’s firsts,” Riona said, grinning.

For some reason, they looked thrilled. I didn’t get why my “firsts” mattered so much, but I let it slide. “A tip for first-timer Ryouya-kun: approach the cats with a low posture,” Reona advised.

“If you’re too tall, it can feel intimidating or scary to them,” Riona added.

“Got it, so there’s a trick to interacting with them.” Following their advice, I crouched and approached a nearby cat. When I petted it gently, it seemed to enjoy it. I kept at it until the buzzer in my pocket went off, signaling our drinks. As I sat down to sip mine, the cat I’d been petting hopped onto my lap.

“Huh, they’ll just climb up on their own like that?” I said, surprised.

“It’s pretty rare for them to do that, so I think you’re pretty lucky, Ryouya-kun,” Reona said.

“Yeah, I’m jealous,” Riona added, eyeing the cat.

Glancing around, I noticed I was the only one with a cat on my lap—pretty lucky indeed. As I marveled, Reona returned with a capsule from a gacha machine in the café.

“I’ve been curious, but what’s that gacha machine for?” I asked.

“Oh, it’s for giving treats to the cats,” Reona explained, pulling a treat from the capsule. Instantly, cats swarmed her feet, drawn by the scent.

“Whoa, they’re coming in droves!?” I exclaimed.

“Yup, figured this would happen,” Reona said calmly.

“Cats are weak to food,” Riona noted.

While I gaped at the scene, they remained unfazed, likely expecting it. Oddly, the cat on my lap didn’t budge, ignoring the treats entirely.

“…Isn’t that one getting a bit too attached to you?” Reona asked, her tone sharp.

“I don’t know why, but it’s super clingy,” I admitted.

“I can’t quite forgive Ryouya flirting with another girl besides me and Onee-chan,” Riona said, glaring.

“Flirting? It’s a cat, not a human. Wait, is this one even a girl?” Their reaction to me getting along with a female cat was absurd. What would they do if I ever flirted with a human girl? Not that I could imagine that happening.

To escape their accusatory stares, I gently set the cat down and moved to another seat, but it followed and climbed back onto my lap. No matter how many times I switched seats, it chased me, reclaiming my lap each time, and their glares grew harsher.

“Ryouya-kun was super popular, huh?” Reona teased as we left the café.

“Looked like you were about to take her home,” Riona added.

“It came to me on its own—I didn’t do anything! And like I keep saying, it’s a cat.”

“But it’s still a girl,” Reona pointed out.

“Ugh, to think our Ryouya-kun would turn into a womanizer,” Riona sighed.

Their grilling made me feel like I’d been caught cheating. I didn’t know why they were so grumpy, but the mood was downright oppressive. Then Reona’s eyes lit up with an idea.

“Oh, I know! Let us sit on Ryouya-kun’s lap too.”

“Eh? Isn’t that, like, a bad idea…?” I stammered.

“Tell us why it’s okay for a cat but not for me and Onee-chan,” Riona demanded, her face dead serious.

They meant business. If this continued, they’d definitely sit on my lap. “Come on, cats and humans are totally different,” I argued.

“That’s not much of a reason,” Reona countered.

“We’re not letting you go until you let us overwrite the scent of that female on your lap,” Riona declared.

Yup, this was hopeless. Unless I let them sit on my lap until they were satisfied, I wasn’t escaping this.

“Alright, looks like Ryouya-kun gets it, so I’ll go first,” Reona said, a mischievous glint in her eye as she moved toward me.

“…Can we at least move somewhere with fewer people?” I pleaded, my face already burning.

“Nope, this is part of your punishment,” Riona replied, her tone unrelenting.

With that, they made me sit on a bench in a bustling section of the mall, and they took turns sitting on my lap. The stares from passersby were relentless, and I thought I’d die of embarrassment, but at least Reona and Riona’s moods visibly lifted.

“It’s almost 2 p.m.,” Reona said, glancing at her phone. “How about some lunch? Ryouya-kun, Riona, anything you want to eat?”

“I’ll leave it to Ryouya and Onee-chan,” Riona replied.

“Hmm, I don’t really have anything in mind…” I paused, then added, “Oh, but please spare me any couple-only menus.”

“Aww, I was totally planning to order one today too,” Reona teased, her lips curling into a smirk.

Apparently, they’d nearly roped me into another couple-only menu like at Tokyo Inclusion Square. I’d barely dodged that disaster—too close for comfort. After some back-and-forth, we settled on lunch at the fast-food chain Wakudonald’s and headed to the food court.

Wakudonald’s was a staple in big shopping malls, always convenient. With summer vacation in full swing, the place was packed when we arrived. We grabbed our orders and found an empty table.

“Man, aren’t those two girls insanely cute?” a guy nearby whispered.

“Totally, they’re tall and have perfect figures,” another added.

“If only a girl like that could be my girlfriend,” a third sighed.

As usual, Reona and Riona drew attention, their presence sparking murmurs from guys around us. Then the comments turned to me.

“Who’s that guy with them? No way he’s their boyfriend—he’s totally not on their level.”

“Probably just a bag carrier or a wallet.”

“They’ll ditch him once he’s no longer useful.”

The jealous glares and snide remarks were nothing new. It happened everywhere we went, so I’d grown numb to it. Human adaptability is a scary thing, I thought, when suddenly Reona grabbed my wrist, pulled my hand toward her, and took a bite of my teriyaki burger.

“Hey, what was that for?” I asked, startled.

“Your teriyaki burger looked so good, I couldn’t help it,” she said with a grin. “Here, have a bite of my bacon lettuce burger in return.”

She held out her half-eaten burger, and without thinking, I took a bite.

“Wow, you used to be so shy about indirect kisses, but now you’re totally fine with it, huh?” Reona teased.

“Well, it’s not a big deal anymore,” I admitted.

“Then it’s my turn,” Riona said, taking a bite of my teriyaki burger and offering her cheeseburger in return.

With everything that’d happened lately, my sense of normalcy had definitely dulled. The jealous stares from nearby guys intensified, no surprise there. After finishing our meal, we left Wakudonald’s and headed to the planetarium.

I’d chosen this mall for its distance, but it happened to house one of the country’s rare planetariums, so we decided to check it out. Inside, we settled into reclining seats, gazing at the starry sky projected across the ceiling and walls.

“That’s Deneb in Cygnus, Altair in Aquila, and over there is Vega in Lyra,” Riona explained. “Connecting those three stars forms the famous Summer Triangle.”

“Wow, Riona, you really know your stuff,” I said, impressed. “I wasn’t that interested, so I only knew the names, honestly.”

“Yeah, I’m the same as Ryouya-kun—I only knew the names,” Reona admitted.

Riona’s clear explanations added depth to the narration, her knowledge shining through. “I’ve always loved looking at the night sky, so I used to stargaze with Mama a lot,” she said.

“Wait, Reona, you didn’t join them?” I asked.

“Onee-chan always said she was sleepy and not interested, so she never came along,” Riona replied.

“Hey, Riona, don’t just spill that!” Reona protested.

“But it’s true,” Riona said, unfazed.

I’d always pictured Reona and Riona doing everything together, but this made sense. Honestly, I couldn’t imagine Reona quietly stargazing—it didn’t suit her vibe. Before we knew it, an hour and a half had passed, and the planetarium show ended. Exhausted from our morning adventures, we decided to head home. Reona and Riona seemed content, offering no objections to calling it a day.

“…By the way, I forgot to ask earlier, but how did you two know I was here, Reona and Riona?” I asked as we walked.

“That’s a maiden’s secret, so I won’t tell you,” Reona said with a sly smile. “But no matter where you go, Ryouya-kun, we’ll always know.”

“Even if you disappear from our sight, we’ll chase you to the ends of the earth,” Riona added.

They said it so casually, but it sounded like straight-up stalker talk—did they even realize? No, they probably knew exactly what they were saying. I used to think their fixation on me would fade, that they’d drift away someday. But would that day ever come? Part of me wondered if their passion might burn forever.

◇

Today, August 21st, I was getting ready for Reona and Riona’s birthday party. I swapped my pajamas for the outfit they’d bought me yesterday and was taming my bedhead in the bathroom when Mio spoke up.

“It’s so weird seeing you in clothes like that, Onii-chan,” she said, eyeing me.

“Tell me about it. I feel weird too,” I replied.

“Anyway, once you’re ready, let’s head out.”

“Yeah, sounds good.”

Mio was invited to the party too, so we were going together. Apparently, their birthday was usually a family-only affair. I’d initially declined, not wanting to intrude, but their insistence wore me down, and I agreed to join. According to Reona and Riona, Mio and I were practically family, which was why they wanted us there. I’d met their parents before, so it shouldn’t be too awkward.

“I wonder what Reona-san and Riona-san’s house is like,” Mio mused.

“Actually, this is my first time going there too, so I have no idea,” I admitted. They loved hanging out at our house, so even study sessions usually happened there. I’d never been to their place.

I finished fixing my hair, and we set off, stopping to buy pudding as a gift on the way. When we reached the address they’d given, a grand mansion loomed before us.

“…Is this really the right place?” I asked, doubting my eyes.

“The address matches, so it should be,” Mio confirmed.

“Are Reona-san and Riona-san, like, crazy rich or something?” she added, wide-eyed.

“Maybe…” I muttered.

The Yagami family was solidly middle-class, but the Tsurugi family was clearly in a different league—upper-class and wealthy. We were from entirely different worlds. We stood frozen at the gate until the front door swung open.

“Morning, Ryouya-kun, Mio-chan!” Reona called out.

“You guys weren’t ringing the intercom, so we came to get you,” Riona added.

Since they’d come out, this had to be their house. They guided us inside, and we stepped in nervously. The interior was as lavish as the exterior, making us feel wildly out of place.

“You two have been super quiet since you got here—are you okay?” Reona asked.

“Just a bit nervous,” I admitted.

“Oh, right, it’s Ryouya-kun’s first time in a girl’s house, huh?” she teased.

No, that wasn’t it at all. The old me would’ve been flustered, but my senses were too numbed for that now. I didn’t say it aloud, knowing they’d pounce on it. “It’ll take a bit for Papa and Mama to finish getting ready, so let’s head to my room for now,” Reona suggested.

“Sure, sounds good,” I said.

“Thank you for having us,” Mio added politely.

We followed them to Reona’s room, which was neat and tidy with a cute, girly vibe. “So, what’s it like being in a girl’s room for the first time in your life?” Reona asked.

“It’s cleaner than I expected,” I replied honestly.

“…What do you mean, ‘cleaner than expected’?” she asked, her tone sharp.

“Exactly what I said.”

She looked dissatisfied, but I meant it—Reona could be messy sometimes. Before I could elaborate, Riona chimed in. “Until we cleaned up this morning, Onee-chan’s room was pretty cluttered.”

“Hey, Riona! Don’t ruin my cool image in front of Mio-chan!” Reona protested.

“It’ll come out eventually,” Riona said calmly.

“Besides, with your habit of taking off clothes in your sleep, there’s not a shred of coolness in you, Reona,” I added, joining Riona’s teasing.

Big mistake. Mio’s eyes widened. “Wait, how does Onii-chan know about Reona-san’s habit!?”

You wouldn’t know someone’s sleep habits unless you’d shared a bed. I’d gotten so used to casually sleeping over with them that my sense of normalcy was warped, but guys and girls who weren’t dating didn’t typically do that. Realizing the trouble brewing, I scrambled for an excuse, but Reona and Riona beat me to it with a bombshell.

“We can’t hide it anymore, so we’ll tell you the truth, Mio-chan,” Reona said, her voice laced with mischief. “Riona and I are already in that kind of relationship with Ryouya-kun.”

“Ryouya and I have seen each other’s most embarrassing parts,” Riona added, her tone equally teasing.

Mio froze, her eyes wide. With phrases like “that kind of relationship” and “embarrassing parts,” the implication was unmistakable. “No way… Onii-chan, you made a move on Reona-san and Riona-san…?” she stammered, her voice trembling with disbelief.

Thanks to their words, Mio had completely misunderstood. I wanted to clear things up, but would it even work? Before I could try, a knock at the door interrupted, and Reona and Riona’s mother, Ellen-san, stepped in. She looked youthful enough to pass for someone in her twenties, despite being in her forties.

“Sorry for the wait, everyone. We’re ready now,” she said with a warm smile.

“Alright, let’s go!” Reona said, her enthusiasm infectious.

“This year’s gonna be fun too,” Riona added, her eyes sparkling.

Mio and I followed them out of Reona’s room, but as we entered the dining room, a loud pop from a party cracker echoed. “Reona, Riona, happy birthday!” their father, Kaito-san, exclaimed, holding the cracker.

“Papa, isn’t the cracker a bit early?” Reona asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Normally, you’d pop it when you say ‘happy birthday,’ right?” Riona pointed out.

“Sorry, sorry, got a bit carried away,” Kaito-san said, scratching his head with an embarrassed grin.

Reona and Riona gave him deadpan stares, and I couldn’t help but smile at the playful family dynamic as we took our seats. The dining room was beautifully decorated for the birthday party, with a large, clearly homemade cake at the table’s center, a testament to their parents’ love.

“Alright, everything’s ready, so let’s start the birthday party!” Kaito-san announced.

“Once we light the candles, we’ve gotta sing the usual song,” Ellen-san added.

“I’ll light the candles. Onee-chan, can you get the lights?” Riona asked.

“Got it,” Reona replied.

Riona lit the number-shaped candles for 1 and 7, and Reona dimmed the dining room lights. We all began singing “Happy Birthday to You,” though Reona’s wildly off-key rendition confirmed her tone-deafness. “Reona, Riona, happy birthday!” I said, clapping alongside Mio, Ellen-san, and Kaito-san as the song ended. “Happy birthday, you two!” Mio added. “Congratulations!” Ellen-san and Kaito-san chimed in. Surrounded by applause, Reona and Riona blew out the candles with matching smiles.

We dug into the food, a spread that felt straight out of a foreign drama’s home party—delicious, as expected. “Reona and Riona are already seventeen, huh?” Ellen-san said, her voice tinged with nostalgia. “Thinking about them becoming adults next year makes it feel like time’s flown by.”

“Right? To me, they’re still those little kids in my memories,” Kaito-san added.

“That image is way too outdated,” Reona said, rolling her eyes.

“Time to update to the latest version,” Riona quipped.

Ellen-san’s words drew slight exasperation from the twins, but the four of them laughing together painted a picture-perfect family scene. As someone likely doomed to stay single forever, I couldn’t help but think it’d be nice to have a family birthday party like this someday. Since Mio, who’s cute enough to seem unrelated to me, will surely get married, I’ll just crash my future nephew or niece’s parties.

“Still, I was surprised that Reona and Riona invited non-family to their birthday party,” Kaito-san said.

“They never showed any sign of doing that before, so it was honestly unexpected,” Ellen-san added.

“Ryouya-kun and Mio-chan are practically family to us,” Reona said warmly.

“In me and Onee-chan’s minds, you’re not outsiders anymore,” Riona agreed.

“Wow, for Reona and Riona to say that, you two must be really loved,” Ellen-san said, her expression bright.

Was it okay to say that in front of their parents? They probably felt it was fine, which is why they did. “By the way, Yagami-kun, what exactly is your relationship with Reona and Riona?” Kaito-san asked, his tone curious. “I know you’re their lifesaver, but it feels like there’s more to it than that.”

“Well…” I hesitated, searching for words. Any father would be curious about his daughters’ close friend. Before I could answer, Reona dropped a bombshell.

“Ryouya-kun and us are close enough to get matching rings as birthday gifts,” she said casually.

“Eh, seriously!?” Kaito-san exclaimed.

“Onii-chan, for real!?” Mio gasped.

“Ooh, I want to hear more details, Mama’s all ears,” Ellen-san said, leaning in with intrigue.

Saying that was guaranteed to cause a misunderstanding! I tried to clarify, but Riona piled on. “Ryouya and us are exactly the kind of relationship Papa and Mama are imagining,” she said, her voice steady.

“No way, for real? You two didn’t even have a hint of guys around you until recently, and now this…?” Kaito-san said, stunned.

“Both arms full of flowers, huh? Ryouya-kun’s quite the catch,” Ellen-san teased.

“…To think a shy loner like Onii-chan would have his springtime,” Mio muttered, her voice laced with disbelief.

The misunderstanding was painfully clear, and I saw no way to untangle it. I was checkmated. What followed was a barrage of questions from Ellen-san, protective grumbling from Kaito-san about not giving his daughters away, and Mio interrogating me like a detective. By the time we finished eating and wrapped up the conversation, I was exhausted. Mio and I stood to leave.

“Alright, we’re gonna head out now,” I said.

“Wait, Ryouya-kun, aren’t you forgetting something?” Reona asked.

“Something…?”

“You’ve got something to give me and Onee-chan,” Riona prompted.

“…Oh, right, I haven’t given you your birthday presents yet.” The chaos had made me forget entirely. I reached for the rings, ready to hand them over and escape.

“Just receiving the gifts as is feels kinda boring, don’t you think?” Reona said, her eyes glinting.

“Since it’s a special occasion, we want Ryouya to put the rings on us,” Riona added.

“Eh, that’s…” After all that mental stress, they still weren’t done. Reona and Riona took the rings from the box on the dining table.

“Since we suggested it, Riona and I will start by putting the rings on Ryouya-kun’s fingers,” Reona said.

“Just stay still,” Riona instructed.

“…Ah, oi.” Before I could protest, they each grabbed a hand and slipped the rings onto my right and left ring fingers in one swift motion.

“Now it’s your turn, Ryouya-kun,” Reona said.

“Put them on our left ring fingers,” Riona directed, holding out her hand.

They extended their left ring fingers casually, but with Ellen-san, Kaito-san, and Mio watching, the pressure was suffocating. I had no choice but to quietly slip the rings onto their fingers. Reona and Riona beamed, but was this really okay?

“Oh, and you’d better wear those rings every day,” Reona warned.

“We won’t forgive you if you take them off without our permission,” Riona added.

“Even at school…?” I asked, dreading the answer.

“Yup, of course,” Reona confirmed.

Our school’s lax rules allowed accessories outside gym class, but I had a sinking feeling the rings would draw all the wrong attention. “Can you at least spare me that?” I pleaded.

“Nope, it’s already decided,” Riona said firmly.

“We’ll check every day to make sure Ryouya-kun’s wearing them,” Reona added.

When they got like this, arguing was pointless. I gave up. School after summer break was already going to be grim, and now it’d be twice as bad. Thanks to this exchange, the misunderstanding had only deepened. At this point, I was beyond saving. What was I going to do?

◇

“Onee-chan, your face is all smug,” Riona said, glancing at me as we cleaned the dining room.

“And you look happier than usual, Riona,” I replied, a grin creeping onto my face.

After seeing off Ryouya-kun and Mio-chan, we were tidying up, both of us in high spirits. It was only natural—our plan to make Ryouya-kun ours was progressing perfectly. By slowly numbing his senses over time, we’d gotten him to a point where he’d go along with even our wildest requests. That’s how we managed to get him to put matching rings on our left ring fingers in front of Papa, Mama, and Mio-chan. The old Ryouya-kun would’ve never agreed to that.

We’d also made steady progress on the outer defenses, winning over Ryouya-kun’s papa, mama, Mio-chan, and grandma. During today’s party, I was sure Papa and Mama had picked up on our feelings. Mama was totally on our side, so no issues there. Papa might grumble, but he’s easy to handle, so it’s not a big deal.

“Still, Ryouya-kun didn’t confess to us, huh?” I said, rinsing a plate.

“A guy like Ryouya with low self-esteem wouldn’t confess in the first place,” Riona replied, drying a glass.

“A normal guy would’ve confessed ages ago,” I pointed out.

“Ryouya’s not normal,” Riona said with a small smile.

With everything we’d done, most guys would’ve assumed we liked them and confessed by now, but Ryouya-kun hadn’t budged. That was exactly as we’d predicted, so it wasn’t a problem. If he wouldn’t confess to us, we’d confess to him. The idea that guys had to confess first was outdated nonsense.

With the outer defenses secured, all that remained was waiting for the right moment. We’d already decided when, where, and how we’d confess to Ryouya-kun. We’d create a situation where he couldn’t say no, ensuring he couldn’t brush it off as a misunderstanding. The perfect opportunity was coming soon, and that’s when we’d strike.

“Finally, Ryouya-kun will be ours,” I said, my voice brimming with anticipation.

“Yup, no matter what, we’re not letting anyone else have him,” Riona agreed, her tone resolute.

Just a little more patience, and Ryouya-kun would be ours for good. “Wait for us, Ryouya-kun,” I murmured.

“We’re never letting you go,” Riona added softly.

A bit more time, and he’d be ours completely.