During lunch, Nino wandered outside with no particular destination, a bottle of milk tea loosely held in her hand. Perhaps she simply needed a breath of fresh air. Though naturally sociable, even she required moments of solitude.
That was when she saw it.
The boy who always hovered around Miku like an irritating fly was standing far too close—holding her hand in both of his. And Miku… didn't look against it.
But the real blow came next.
"Let's start dating. I'll be in your care from now on."
Those words didn't come from him.
They came from Miku.
The plastic bottle slipped from Nino's grasp, clattering softly against the ground as the milk tea she hadn't yet swallowed nearly spilled out of her mouth. It was an uncharacteristically inelegant reaction—something utterly unlike her usual demeanour.
She stood frozen.
Miku… dating that guy?
No matter how much trust Miku placed in him, Nino couldn't bring herself to do the same. An ex-delinquent—how could she possibly accept that? What if his kindness was nothing more than a carefully crafted façade? What if he had ulterior motives? Their family was wealthy… could he be after their money?
Doubt swirled endlessly in her mind, tightening like a vice around her chest.
And in the end, only one thought broke through—
"Miku… you can't be serious!!"
Hearing Nino's voice, Miku instinctively turned toward her—and the faint blush on her cheeks deepened into a vivid crimson.
"N-No…!"
Her breath hitched. Her confession… had been witnessed by her sister.
Before either of them could react further, the sharp chime of the bell rang out, signaling the end of lunch.
"You—" Nino's finger shot forward, pointing directly at Ren. "Meet me after school."
With that, she turned on her heel and walked away without waiting for a response.
Ren exhaled a quiet sigh, his gaze drifting back to Miku. She stood there, visibly flustered, still processing everything that had just unfolded.
Neither of them realized it yet—Their hands were still gently intertwined.
"Hey, what's going on? Something changed between you two, right?"
The moment Ren took his seat, his deskmate, Kundo Shiraki, leaned in with a knowing grin. They weren't particularly close—just occasional small talk—but that didn't stop Shiraki from prying.
"What do you mean?" Ren asked, feigning innocence.
"Come on, man, it's painfully obvious. The air around you two when you walked in together just now? Totally different. And it's not just me—others noticed it too," Shiraki explained, his grin widening.
"Is it really that obvious?" Ren asked, his expression unusually serious.
"totally," Shiraki shot back, mimicking his tone.
For a brief moment, silence hung between them.
Then, without warning, Ren buried his face in his hands.
Shiraki blinked, utterly dumbfounded. "Wha—dude… why are you acting like a girl?!"
------
I took a steady breath, bracing myself for what was to come, before pushing open the door to the rooftop.
"You're late," Nino remarked irritably, her impatience evident. A gentle breeze swept across the open space, causing her long, silky, salmon-pink hair to sway gracefully to the side.
I offered a small bow. "My apologies."
Just as she had demanded, I had come to meet her after school—alone.
"Let's cut to the chase," she said, waving a hand as if brushing aside my apology. Her gaze sharpened, piercing straight through me. "What do you really want?"
I offered a faint smile. "I'm not sure I follow."
She clicked her tongue in annoyance. "Don't play dumb with me. You've never even met her before—what could you possibly know about her to fall in love at first sight? This isn't some movie. So tell me, what's your real motive for getting close to her?"
Her voice dropped, laced with a quiet but unmistakable threat.
"I'm warning you… if you're thinking of doing anything funny to her, I'll make you regret ever being born."
I listened to her calmly, not interrupting. As expected, she doesn't trust me—and honestly, her suspicion was justified.
Still…I don't know anything about her?
That thought drew a quiet chuckle from my lips.
"What's so funny?" she snapped.
"It's nothing," I replied lightly. "I was just wondering—why did you assume I've never met her before?"
Nino faltered, clearly caught off guard. "W-What? Then where did you meet her?"
"During your childhood," I said evenly. "You all used to live in Kyoto, didn't you?"
Her eyes widened in shock. "H-How do you—"
"That's not important," I cut in, raising a finger to my lips, a deliberate hint of mystery in the gesture. "Let's address your second point—you think I don't know anything about Miku."
I took a step forward.
"For starters, she's introverted, but incredibly gentle and kind at heart. She is very supportive. She struggles with confidence, yet she's far more intelligent than she gives herself credit for. She may be quiet, but she knows when it matters—and when it does, she stands her ground. Her preferences might seem unusual to others… but that's just part of her charm."
With each word, I moved closer.
Nino, who had been so fierce moments ago, fell silent—her earlier intensity wavering as if she'd been cornered.
"Miku doesn't always understand emotions perfectly," I continued, my voice steady, "but that doesn't mean she doesn't feel them. Around people she trusts, she shows sides of herself most would never see. She might appear naive, but in truth… she reads people better than they realize."
I stopped just before her.
"Miku Nakano is a wonderful girl… someone I love, and can never love enough."
I looked down at her. The once-dominant lioness now seemed almost like a startled rabbit—but I knew better. Nino wasn't someone you could handle with hesitation.
"And it's not just her," I added quietly. "I know quite a lot about you as well."
A brief pause.
"In the past, I could do nothing but watch from afar. But now that I've been given this chance…"
My gaze hardened slightly.
"I won't let anything stop me."
Nino looked up at the boy standing before her, a faint unease creeping into her chest.
Something is wrong with this guy.
There was a pressure in the air—subtle, yet unmistakable. It wasn't aggression in the usual sense, but something far more unsettling. This boy… he was dangerous, though not in any way she was initially worried about.
Still, Nino forced a smile, refusing to yield.
"So, you're just a stalker," she said coolly. "I can't exactly allow someone like that to stay around my sister, can I?"
Ren brought a hand to his chin, as if genuinely considering her words.
"A stalker… I suppose that's one way to put it," he admitted. "However—let me make one thing clear. I have no ill intentions toward her… or any of her sisters."
His gaze remained steady.
"And tell me—what's so wrong with wanting to know more about the person you like?" he continued calmly. "As long as it doesn't make them uncomfortable… as long as no harm is done… isn't that perfectly acceptable?"
There was truth in his words—an uncomfortable kind.
Even ordinary people, in their own way, "stalk" the ones they like. Scrolling through their social media, learning their habits, wanting to see them every day… the desire to know more, to feel closer—that much was normal.
What made a stalker "dangerous" wasn't the act itself, but the intent behind it. A warped sense of love. Possessiveness. Obsession twisted into something selfish, something immoral.
In that case—Which one was Ren?
Nino had no desire to control her sisters or dictate the paths they chose. Their lives were their own, and she respected that more than anyone.
She only wanted to ensure one thing—
That nothing bad would ever happen to them.
And for that, she needed to know exactly what kind of person Ren Hayama is.
"You…" she began, steadying herself, her voice firm despite the lingering unease. "You seem to think very highly of Miku."
A brief pause followed before her gaze sharpened once more.
"Then let me show you something."
She walked past him, then muttered under her breath, "Follow me."
I didn't question it and simply trailed after her. But the moment she opened the door—
Three girls tumbled forward.
"You guys—!" Nino exclaimed, eyes widening. "How long have you been standing there?!"
"Since the beginning…?" Ichika replied sheepishly.
I let out a quiet sigh.
So they'd been eavesdropping.
Though… considering how far we were from the door, I couldn't help but wonder—How much did they actually hear?
-------
I couldn't quite wrap my head around it. The place she actually led me to… was their apartment.
Wasn't that a little strange? She didn't trust me, yet she brought me straight into their home?
"Ahh~ finally home. I'm exhausted," Ichika sighed, casually tossing her bag onto the couch as if nothing unusual was happening.
"You—sit there and wait," Nino ordered, pointing toward the couch. "Miku, come with me."
Miku blinked in genuine confusion, glancing back at me once before quietly following after her.
…I am confused too.
What exactly was she planning?
"Hey, hey—is it true you're dating Miku now?"
Ichika's voice came from behind as she leaned over the backrest of the couch, resting her weight against it with casual curiosity.
I glanced around.
…Wait, we were alone?
I hadn't even noticed when the other two slipped away, probably heading to their rooms to change.
"Haha…" I let out an awkward laugh. "It just sort of… happened. Honestly, I can hardly believe it myself."
She rested her cheek against her folded arms, studying me with a faint, teasing smile. "Heh~ lucky you."
Then, after a brief pause, her tone softened.
"As her older sister, I'll only ask one thing of you—treat her well. Take good care of her."
I met her gaze and smiled.
"That goes without saying."
Ichika headed upstairs to change, and not long after, Yotsuba and Itsuki came down, now dressed in comfortable casual clothes.
…Ah.
I had to avert my gaze for a moment. Somehow, it felt a little too much for my eyes to handle.
I remained seated, waiting obediently for Nino and Miku to return. Meanwhile, Itsuki settled onto another couch, already absorbed in a small notebook in her hands.
She really does study a lot…
"Hello!"
Yotsuba's cheerful voice suddenly rang out as she plopped down beside me.
"Hello," I replied. "Sorry for intruding like this."
She waved it off immediately, her bright, carefree smile unfading. "It's fine! Anyway—what color do you like?"
…That was random.
"Blue, I guess," I answered anyway.
"That's a great color," she said with an approving nod. "Is there any specific reason you like blue?"
"Not really," I replied with a small shrug. "But if I had to be specific… I like the shade of your eyes. They're really beautiful."
It wasn't meant to be flirtatious—just an honest observation. All five of them shared those striking blue eyes, deep and clear like the ocean. Maybe that was the real reason I'd grown to like the color so much.
"I see… thank you," Yotsuba said with a gentle smile, taking the compliment in stride without reading into it.
"What are you two talking about?"
Ichika's voice chimed in as she rejoined us. I glanced at her—she'd changed into something more comfortable as well.
…I quietly offered a word of thanks to the heavens for my eyes.
"Listen, Ichika! Ren said our eyes are beautiful!" Yotsuba announced cheerfully, as if it was the first time someone complimented her eyes.
"Oh ho~ what's this?" Ichika smirked, her teasing gaze locking onto me. "I'm sensing a bit of disloyalty here."
"You're reading too much into it," I replied calmly. "It was just an honest compliment."
Moments later, Nino and Miku finally emerged, each carrying a tray with a lid covering it. Miku's face was slightly flushed, her embarrassment evident.
I let out a quiet sigh.
I think I know where this is going…
"You should feel honored," Nino said, placing her tray on the table before lifting the lid.
The moment it was revealed, a rich, fragrant aroma of egg fried rice filled the room. The presentation alone was immaculate—elegant enough to rival a dish served at a high-end restaurant.
Following her lead, Miku reluctantly set her own dish down and lifted the lid.
In stark contrast, a burnt smell immediately spread through the room.
The difference was impossible to ignore.
On one side sat Nino's egg fried rice, glistening like gold—each grain perfectly cooked, its aroma rich and inviting. On the other was Miku's… a charred, blackened attempt that looked just as disastrous as it smelled.
The others could only offer awkward smiles. Everyone here knew that cooking was far from Miku's strength.
"Now," Nino said, crossing her arms, her tone firm, "eat both and tell us which one you like more."
I glanced at the two dishes before me, then back at them.
I didn't know what she was trying to prove.
But… did that really matter?
All I had to do—
Was answer honestly.