Takakai felt the pressure mounting.
To his left stood Maki—short twin-tails swaying as she glared daggers.
To his right was Chika—long hair tied with a black ribbon, humming cheerfully.
A date.
At least, that had been the original plan.
Though "date" might not describe one man sandwiched between two women.
How did it come to this?
Am I really turning into some light novel protagonist?
This development feels way too otaku-pandering!
Takakai's thoughts raced uncontrollably.
It began when Chika asked him to accompany her shopping for war game miniatures.
Yes—the pink-haired girl wanted collectible figurines from a new release. Takakai knew from the manga that Chika's strict upbringing barred video games, hence her board game hobby. But war games? That was unexpected.
Wait, didn't she once boast about memorizing DND and COC rulebooks? Those things are thousands of pages! Since when are anime girls this unreasonable?!
He might have dwelled on this, but the sensation of Chika pressing against his arm derailed all critical thought.
"Of course," he'd agreed instantly.
Maki's explosion was immediate—or rather, she'd been simmering since Chika's initial request, but Takakai's rapid assent detonated her completely.
"You—! Takakai-san, you're not going! I need you for something later!"
Maki grabbed Takakai's left arm, shooting Chika a possessive glare.
"Then let's all go together! Great chance to bond as friends~"
Chika's unflappable response thus created their current three-person parade.
Honestly, Kaguya had left looking shell-shocked.
And the stares from passersby were relentless.
Inevitable, really—with both girls physically attached to Takakai. The only difference being Chika's bold full-contact approach versus Maki's slightly distanced (but still firm) grip on his sleeve. Their formation blocked pedestrian traffic enough that people had to detour around them.
"Uh... weren't we supposed to lay low? At this rate I'll be trending on 2ch by tomorrow," Takakai finally muttered.
Simultaneously, both girls released him—falling into step beside him with eerie synchronicity.
"Ehehe~ It just feels nice and natural this way," Chika giggled, hands clasped behind her back.
"..."
Maki turned her face away, lips pressed tight to hide her expression.
"So where's this store? Oh, Maki, you thirsty? Want a drink?"
Takakai's strained attempt at small talk fell flat.
"Almost there~" Chika sang.
"I'm fine..." Maki muttered stiffly.
I hate this.
Maki's downcast eyes darkened.
Being with Takakai used to feel so... easy. Fun.
Now this Fujiwara girl had ruined everything.
"Hiya, shopkeep~!"
Chika's cheerful greeting at the storefront contrasted sharply with Maki's frozen stance.
"Damn, these are high-end. Kinda want some myself," Takakai admired the display cases.
Maki didn't follow them in.
Why...?
What did I do wrong?
Takakai acknowledged she'd saved his life—he wouldn't lie about that.
Of course he'd grow attached to someone who sacrificed herself for him. And that girl could express her feelings so openly, unlike useless, dishonest her...
Maki's head drooped lower.
Chika's animated chatter with the clerk and Takakai's occasional comments floated past her.
They sounded... happy.
Naturally. According to Kaguya-obasan, Fujiwara loved games just like Takakai. They had endless common ground—unlike their dates where he constantly accommodated her.
Almost like... they were better suited for each other.
The thought made Maki's chest tighten.
Her nose tingled suspiciously.
She stood rooted in place.
It wasn't fair.
Why did this happen to her?
Why had she even tagged along?
What a complete idiot she was—
"...Got it! Takakai-san, I'll head out first now~"
After ensuring Maki's devastated state left her oblivious, Chika tugged Takakai aside.
"You're leaving already?"
Takakai blinked at the abrupt announcement.
"Mhm~ Any longer would hurt team cohesion."
Chika glanced meaningfully at Maki, her smile tinged with something... resigned.
Stronger reaction than expected. She's more fragile than I thought—I'll have to yield ground.
Leaning in, she rose on tiptoes until her face hovered inches from Takakai's.
"Takakai-san."
Her whisper carried startling intensity.
"Cherish those who truly care for you."
"These situations... they hurt more than you realize."
"Nobody happily shares what they treasure. So... be gentle with the girls who make that choice for you."
With a playful tongue-out peace sign, she turned—the pink-haired figure soon swallowed by the crowd.
Her floral shampoo lingered on Takakai's shirt.
The mixed emotions swirling in his chest defied description. He understood Chika's message perfectly—his careless "harem protagonist" fantasies now bore terrifying plausibility.
Yet the joy came laced with guilt, especially recognizing the pain beneath Chika's words.
"Never thought I'd become such a sinful man," he murmured.
Approaching Maki, he abruptly grabbed her hand and stuffed it into his jacket pocket.
"E-eh?! What about Fujiwara-san—?"
Maki's startled face cycled through shock, fleeting delight, then forced composure as she scanned for Chika's presence.
The sight reminded Takakai of an abandoned kitten reuniting with its owner—a comparison that deepened his emotional turmoil.
"Chika's already gone home. It's just us now. Where would you like to go?"
With a forced grin, Takakai firmly grasped Maki's hand and led her away in the opposite direction.
"What's with this nonchalant act? Weren't you completely bewitched by that woman earlier? Let me go! I don't need your company!"
Maki's protest came out as a muffled grumble, every syllable saturated with unmistakable resentment.
Yet her resistance was purely performative.
The difference in their enhanced physical abilities meant she couldn't break free unless Takakai permitted it.
Maki recalled Chika's words during their meeting:
As a team, Takakai-san must be our absolute center. We must all revolve around him.
Was this what she meant? It seemed... she truly couldn't bring herself to let go.
"Letting go isn't happening. I've learned to interpret everything you say as the opposite of what you mean."
Takakai maintained his grip, injecting playful sarcasm into his tone.
"You... you idiot... ugh... fine, whatever. I don't have anywhere in mind. Do what you want... it's not like I have a choice anyway..."
Maki's voice dwindled to an inaudible whisper by the end.
"Then let's revisit that place from last time."
Takakai proceeded undeterred, their joined hands swinging slightly as they walked.
Is this really okay?
The question looped in Maki's mind as she matched his strides.
The bitterness still churned inside her.
Yet walking away remained impossible.
How pathetic I've become...
But for now, she could steal a few more moments of this.
It's not my fault anyway—this jerk won't release me...
They drifted from district to district.
Shared street food from roadside stalls.
Tried various arcade games.
Caught a newly released film.
Just like before—ordinary dates where they'd wander hand-in-hand.
The kind of effortlessly joyful moments that always left her smiling without realizing.
"Hmph, seems I'm still superior."
Maki smirked after defeating Takakai at indoor tennis, her smug expression radiant.
"Yeah yeah, you're amazing. Thirsty? Want a drink?"
Takakai collected the stray balls as he asked.
"Whatever. You know my preferences. Let's check out the next place."
Removing her cap, Maki spontaneously linked arms with him, laughter bubbling forth.
As evening painted the sky amber, their earlier tension had dissolved completely—until the impending separation sobered her mood. She halted abruptly on the sidewalk, staring up at Takakai with conflicted eyes.
"Feeling better now?"
Noticing her shift, Takakai raised an eyebrow.
"I... I'm not happy at all."
Maki stepped closer and delivered a sharp jab to his chest—hard enough to sting but not injure.
"Because of you... I'm never happy anymore..."
Still incapable of honesty, she buried her face against him.
The dam broke then.
Why must I love such an idiot?
Why get dragged into this death game?
Why live this nightmare?
Sobs wracked her body as she clung to Takakai, who quickly maneuvered them into a nearby alley for privacy.
This guilt... cuts deeper than expected.
But I won't regret my choices.
Watching the sunset through the alley's gap, Takakai steeled his resolve.
Thirty Minutes Later
After seeing Maki home—her spirits noticeably lifted despite lingering uncertainties—Takakai turned toward his own apartment.
Kaguya's going to feel increasingly isolated at this rate...
The thought preoccupied him as he approached his building's entrance, only to halt in astonishment.
There, curled up by his doorstep and fighting sleep, sat Chika.
"Yaaawn~ So slow, Takakai~"
Stretching like a cat, she greeted him with a sleepy smile.
"Why are you here?!"
The unexpected sight short-circuited Takakai's brain.
"Ehehe!"
Her trademark giggle made a reappearance.
"Don't 'ehehe' me! It's almost dark—wait, don't tell me..."
Realization dawned as Chika's smirk widened.
"My family thinks I'm staying at Kaguya-san's tonight~ So~"
She leaned in, fingers playfully covering her mouth.
"I can stay until morning~ Excited?~"
The devilish lilt in her voice sent an undeniable thrill through Takakai.