"Whoa!"
"So big!"
"Is this seriously the beautiful place we get to stay in?!"
"There's even a pool here, Kitahara!"
"And a whole private beach with no one else around!"
The newcomers were all thrilled by the luxurious house—this felt just like a dream!
"Hahaha, yeah, but just so you know, we'll have to handle the cooking ourselves."
Seeing how satisfied everyone looked, the seniors were relieved—it seemed this training camp would be a very joyful one.
"Cooking ourselves?! Awesome! My dream of being a master chef is reborn!"
Shiro's eyes lit up—he couldn't wait to show off his cooking skills. That dream had been left on idle in the trash for way too long!
"No way!!!" ×n
Everyone except Aina voiced their unanimous objection. Let Shiro cook? That's just wasting ingredients.
Aina, meanwhile, looked completely confused. Seeing everyone react this way, she suddenly got curious—just how bad was Shiro's cooking?
"Nooo, Azusa-nee! I've leveled up! Let me show you!"
Kamishiro clung tightly to Azusa's leg. His dream of culinary stardom should be reaching for the stars—not rotting in some dark trash can!
Azusa couldn't help but feel a little pity at the sight—after all, Shiro was her little Shiro. Just this once… she could let it slide.
"Well, if you're just making it for yourself, then go ahead."
"Let that damn chef dream stay in the trash!" someone shouted.
Shiro instantly stood up. Are you kidding? He just likes cooking—he's not into poison testing!
"..."
"You're seriously trying to kill us, aren't you?" Iori and Kohei muttered.
They both felt they'd just discovered the real danger of this training camp.
Even though they really wanted to rush to the beach, they figured it was best to put their luggage away first.
"So... we're really cramming five people into this room?"
Shiro lay in the cramped space looking distressed. This was clearly a triple room—why were five people in here?!
"It's really tight in here."
"Nothing we can do, it's the biggest room, and it's still a triple meant for just three guys."
"Yeah, it can't be helped."
"I think this has more to do with our seniors' body size…"
Exactly.
The other two rooms were even smaller and had already been taken by the four girls. That left three normal guys and two beast-sized seniors in a triple.
This was pure madness!
"Anyway, the real issue now is… who's sleeping on the small bed?"
"One of us three should take it. The seniors definitely won't fit."
"Sorry about that…"
The two seniors looked apologetic. Their physiques made the small bed a no-go.
(???)
Shiro clutched his face in agony. The problem wasn't just the small bed—it was obvious someone would end up sleeping on the floor!
No way! He had to switch rooms!
But before that…
He looked around at the others. The five of them shared the exact same mischievous grin.
"We'll worry about that later. Right now—!"
"To the beach!"
"Okinawa!!!"
Five pairs of boxers flailed wildly in the cramped room. They were stripping faster and more naturally than ever!
Even Shiro found himself gradually blending in—habit…
What a terrifying thing!
Private Beach
The five-man squad had already been enjoying the water for a while. With no one else around, they could go wild and have fun without holding back!
Even when nature called (??.??‵)
Wait a sec!
Kohei, you bastard—what the hell are you doing?!
He was just joking to lighten the mood—why are you actually peeing in the ocean?! The water's turning yellow! You really need to hydrate more!
"Guys!"
Just as everyone was scolding Kohei on the importance of protecting the environment, Aina came running toward them with a bright smile, followed by Chisa and the others.
She couldn't wait to enjoy this beautiful summer retreat with everyone!
In the sunshine, on the beach—
They ran around, laughter filling the entire shoreline. Aina felt so happy. This was the college life she dreamed of.
A precious memory on the page of her youth album!
Everything was perfect—until…
She saw the five mosaic blobs…
(′?`)
"Why is every page of my youth album covered in mosaic?!"
Aina was losing it. Her youth album had turned yellow—it was done for!
Unfortunately, no one paid her any attention. Everyone was too busy relaxing.
"Man, this place is amazing."
"Totally. I'm feeling completely free now. Blissfully incoherent!"
Shiro gave a thumbs-up. He didn't know why, but it felt like he'd thrown off countless burdens.
Guess the stress of normal life had really been weighing him down? He should get out more.
School? Forget it—his school was like a delinquent haven. Even the teachers dyed their hair.
But right now, the most important thing was…
"Hey, Azusa-nee, Nanaka-nee, can I ask you guys a favor~?"
He scooted up to the two big sisters with a pitiful look, like a stray puppy.
Rub rub~
"What's up, Shiro?"
Azusa leaned on Shiro's back, roughly rubbing his head like a dog.
She didn't seem to think there was anything wrong with doing this while wearing a bikini… while Shiro was naked.
Nanaka also smiled as she gently stroked his head. Clearly, both were used to this kind of situation.
!!!
Whatever Shiro was planning to say was cut off the moment he noticed those two soft things barely covered—his blood surged south like a rocket!
(.-＿-.)
He quickly turned around. If they noticed, it'd be way too embarrassing!
Damn it—he'd seen swimsuits before, so why such a strong reaction now? Was he just letting loose too much today?
But what he didn't expect was… the real danger was behind him. His little brother brushed across Azusa's thigh, and the two of them jerked as if struck by lightning.
Way too stimulating!
This was way too much!
In front of a big sister… surrounded by half-naked men… what was he even doing?!
Feeling like he could no longer control the situation down there, Shiro knew he had to do something!
Thud!
He performed a perfect Earth Release technique—flopping face-down into the sand.
"..."
Azusa's face was slightly flushed—clearly, she had felt the hardness. Despite her usual tomboy demeanor, she couldn't help but react.
Nanaka just looked confused. Did she say something weird?
"Shiro? Azusa? Are you guys okay?"
She was a little worried—Azusa's face was red too. Heatstroke maybe?
"Ahaha… I'm just super happy to be out like this. I get weird when I'm excited."
Shiro mumbled with a mouthful of sand. He was starting to regret his earlier actions. Ouch. So hot. So salty!
(*?????)
"Nanaka-nee, can you leave a door open for me tonight? Our room's short on beds…"
He finally revealed his real purpose. If he didn't say it now, this would all be in vain—his little brother had already taken damage!
"Eh? That's no problem. But Shiro, don't you want to get up first? You've got sand in your mouth…"
(*?????)
"No need! I'm cultivating immortality. Eating sand helps form a golden core quickly!"
Damn it, why does this sand taste like seawater—so salty!
(′｀;)?
Nanaka looked puzzled.
This was the first time she'd heard of cultivation involving sand. Was it for supplementing minerals?
Azusa, surprisingly, didn't make fun of him this time. Her face was still flushed—especially after hearing Shiro ask to stay in their room tonight.
W-What the heck… Nanaka would be there too! Was her dream turning into reality?!
Damn it… why was she feeling a bit excited…?
Elsewhere
The two seniors, Tokita and Kotobuki, were facing a major decision…
"Should we go somewhere else…?"
They weren't sure why, but… they had the strong feeling that if they refused Aina's request, something very bad would happen.
Looks like Aina preferred more lively spots. Still, it's just a regular beach, right?
Guess rookies just have different priorities… Speaking of which, where was Shiro? Felt like he hadn't been seen in a while.
Was that idiot lying face down in the sand over there...?
===========================
"Looks like letting yourself relax too much isn't such a good thing after all…"
Shiro looked gloomily at the distant sea, filled with the sound of laughter. He was already wearing protective gear from his underlings…
He wasn't sure why they suddenly changed locations, but this was definitely safer.
Damn it! Why do creatures like crabs even exist in the sand?! Guess I'll have to put on some ointment when we get back to the villa.
Wait, why are those two idiots taking so long just to rent a sun umbrella?
Seeing his companions gathered around a banana boat, Shiro walked over curiously.
"Oh! Kamishiro, let's ride the banana boat together!"
Kouhei grabbed him, having just found something that could determine who would be sleeping on the floor tonight!
"Banana boat? Weren't you guys getting a sun umbrella?"
He looked suspiciously at the banana boat by his feet.
Honestly, he preferred the jet ski, but there were too many swimmers in the area, and with his lack of experience, he didn't dare try it out recklessly.
"If you rent a banana boat here, you get to use a sun umbrella for free."
(???)
Shiro squinted with disdain at this big idiot. This was clearly just a marketing tactic. Why the hell were these two suddenly so eager to try this thing?
"So what's your real goal?"
"Banana boat duel! The last man standing gets the bed!"
Their expressions turned serious—they clearly didn't want to end up on the floor.
(???)
Shiro knew these two weren't up to anything good… but unfortunately for them, he didn't even belong to that room anymore!
"Ah, I see… Well, I'll pass. You guys go ahead. I just got pinched by a crab and I've decided to sleep on the floor."
Without another word, Shiro turned around coolly, ignoring their shocked expressions.
Like hell he'd tell them now that he'd already switched rooms. If they found out, they'd never leave him alone!
"Hey! Shiro, come here quick! Help us put on sunscreen~"
Not far away, Azusa was calling out, holding a bottle of sunscreen. Beside her, Nanaka was already lying face-down on a towel, the strap of her swimsuit top undone~
"On my way!"
The moment he saw that, Shiro could barely hold himself back. He wanted to teleport straight there!
…But he seemed to have forgotten something.
SMACK!
Two strong hands clamped down on his shoulders, and the voice of a demon whispered in his ear.
"Hey, Kamishiro-kun… it's time to go!"
"Let's begin our banana boat journey!"
"You bastards! I said I'm sleeping on the floor! I'm going to put on sunscreen! You traitors!"
(´Д｀)
Tears of sorrow welled in the corners of Shiro's eyes. Did these two even know the meaning of "helping a bro out"?!
Azusa watched their receding figures with a mischievous smile and a bit of drool forming on her lips.
"Ehehe~ Looks like Shiro won't make it back. Nanaka, here I come!"
"Eek~ (〃>ω<)"
…
On the banana boat, Iori and Kouhei flanked Shiro, all three of them in full protective gear—safety first, after all.
Due to the clear advantage of sitting in the middle, they'd added a new rule: the person in the middle wasn't allowed to hold the handles and could only rely on their feet and butt to maintain balance.
ψ(*｀ー′)ψ
At that moment, flames of fury burned in Shiro's eyes. Deny him the sunscreen session?
Fine!
Those two were done! Tonight, neither of them would sleep in a bed. Shiro swore it!
"Is there a high chance of falling off?"
Shiro looked toward the guy driving the jet ski. Damn, he really wanted to drive that thing himself.
"Ha ha, not really."
The guy smiled confidently—he was a pro. He'd taken tons of customers out without a single fall.
"Then how are we supposed to determine a winner?"
"Haha, yeah. Guess we'll just enjoy the ride."
Iori and Kouhei laughed. If Shiro didn't know them better, he might've believed they were just here to have fun…
And so, amid laughter, the three of them sat down. Iori and Kouhei grabbed the side handles…
Slippery. On the seat. On their hands. Everywhere was slippery~
(???)
For a moment, all three of them had the exact same expression…
"You bastards!!"
"How despicable! Who the hell comes up with something like this?!"
"Damn it! I'm not even allowed to hold the handles, and you still pull this?!"
They glared at each other, even though they all clearly had the same idea…
Still, it didn't stop them from calling the others shameless!
"Hold tight! We're taking off!"
The driver didn't give them much time to prepare and just started the jet ski.
VROOOOM!!!
A powerful jolt pushed them back. With sunscreen all over the seat, Shiro nearly flew off, barely staying on thanks to the two human walls beside him.
"Damn it, Kamishiro, quit bumping into me so hard!"
"Not my fault! I'm already sliding off!"
Shiro's face twisted. He'd been careless—his feet weren't braced properly. Now he was practically leaning on Kitahara, and at this rate, both of them would fall off!
He needed something to grab onto!
His genius brain made an instant decision—Grab!
"YOU BASTARD, WHY ARE YOU GRABBING MY SWIM TRUNKS?!"
Kouhei screamed in terror, his legs straining. He had almost gone flying just now.
"Hmph! I'm not breaking any rules. Let's see who the real winner is!"
Shiro pulled himself back into position and held tight—with one hand on each guy's waistband. As long as he held on, there was no way he'd fall!
"You scumbag!"
Iori clenched his teeth, sweat on his forehead. He could feel his hands giving up!
He let go of one handle and grabbed a corner of Shiro's waistband. Kouhei had the same idea!
"(.;゜;:益:;゜;.)Ohhhh!!!～"
Shiro felt himself transcend. Damn it, he was going to buy only "George" brand trunks from now on!
"Time to speed up!"
The jet ski driver, blissfully unaware of the madness behind him, continued driving like a pro.
"ABABABA AAAAAHHHHH!!!" ×3
The three of them screamed. Their legs were at their limits—and so were their trunks.
Onshore, the others had long since averted their eyes. What the hell were those three doing? Weren't they grown men?
Why were they tugging at each other's trunks like grade-schoolers?!
Regardless of how stunned the others were, the war aboard the banana boat raged on!
"You bastards!"
Shiro was going crazy. And so was his little buddy. Today had been cursed—first crabs, now idiots!
Fine then…
He let go of their trunks. As long as they were still holding onto him, he wouldn't fall!
"There's Mikami-sensei, the AV actress! There's Mizuki Kaya, the voice actress!"
"What?!" ×2
Hearing those names, Iori and Kouhei whipped their heads around.
Now!
Shiro dumped the rest of the sunscreen onto their feet!
There could only be one winner—and it would be him, Shiro!
RIIIP—
PLOP—PLOP—
With no friction underfoot, they had no hope of staying on. And the only thing that could've allowed them to take him down with them—those trunks—split under the strain!
Floating—
The result: Iori and Kouhei, each holding half a trunk, flopped into the ocean. Meanwhile, Shiro rolled his eyes in pain, a sharp agony radiating from his lower half.
In that moment, he finally realized—
Why the hell had he even bothered with this stupid contest?! There was nothing to gain from this!
(´Д｀)
Oh… Pablo…
In ancient times, a man wept over his horse. Today, I, Shiro, weep over little Pablo. Damn it! These two unprincipled bastards!
"..."
The others silently looked away. For a brief moment, they thought—
Maybe having six people in one training camp wasn't such a bad idea after all.
What the hell happened that made those three go this hard over a banana boat?!
Since when was this simple water sport so full of passion and drama?!
.....................…..
"Whew..."
"Can't go on anymore..."
(?ˉ??ˉ??)
"No strength left..."
The three collapsed on the floor like dried fish.
Even though they hadn't done much, they were completely drained. Turns out pulling someone's underwear really is exhausting work.
"You three..."
Smack! Smack! Smack!
Three books were slapped onto their faces. Chisa and Nanaka came over, clearly not amused. For the club, diving was serious business—they hadn't forgotten why they came here in the first place!
"Tomorrow the diving license course starts."
"So let's review first!"
"Y-Yes ma'am..." ×3
The three replied half-heartedly. It felt just like when teachers tell you to review at school—in one ear, out the other. Straight-up ignoring it.
"Aina too!"
Even Aina, who was lying lazily on the couch, didn't escape Chisa's devilish discipline.
...
"So, how are you three sleeping tonight?"
The two senpai looked guilty. They couldn't possibly sleep on the floor or on small beds due to their size.
"..."
Iori and Kouhei went silent. Mentally, they may have won, but...
That didn't change the fact that they'd fallen into the water.
"Hey! I earned that bed! I even got injured for it!"
＼(`Δ')／
Shiro stood his ground—no one was taking that bed from him.
"Eh? Shiro, weren't you gonna sleep with us?"
{{(°△°; "}}!
Shiro froze in fear as Nanaka let his secret slip.
Big sis, why would you say that out loud!? I was planning to sneak in quietly! You ruined it!
"YOU SCUMBAG! So this is what you meant by sleeping on the floor?!"
"You sneak AND hog the bed?! Playing dirty, huh?!"
Iori and Kouhei instantly rose up, their books now rolled into clubs, ready to strike. Shiro, too, picked up a book, and the three clashed like ancient warriors.
"These were the rules! Winner gets the bed!"
"Traitors don't get to play, scumbag!"
"Think about my poor Pablo, you jerks!"
"You think you're the only one suffering?! Same here!"
The three were visibly bruised from their earlier misadventure—clearly, their little brothers were all out of commission!
(′｀;)?
Nanaka and Azusa looked at each other, completely dumbfounded. Why were these idiots suddenly fighting again?
Tokita, being the sensible one, didn't hide anything and explained the whole situation: the bet, the room shortage, and the falling into the water. Once the girls understood what had happened, they sighed in unison.
Sometimes, these three were just like a bunch of kids.
"Alright, alright~ Shiro, no more fighting. Since you're already sneaking into my room tonight, you can't go claiming someone else's bed too, okay?"
Azusa smiled warmly as she gently separated the three of them, worried that if she didn't, they'd keep brawling until morning.
"But…"
Shiro looked heartbroken. That bed was something he fought hard for—he'd even sacrificed his own comrades to get it!
poke poke~
Azusa leaned in close and whispered in his ear, "I'll make it up to you tonight~"
!!!
At those words, Shiro instantly spun around.
Of course he wasn't going to bicker with those two idiots anymore! Let them have the room—his mind was already elsewhere. And no, it definitely wasn't because of that vague and mysterious promise!
(??ω??)
"There's something seriously wrong with that guy."
"Damn it, that bastard! Why does he get to sleep with Azusa?!"
Iori's face twisted in pure rage. He was this close to becoming the next Yamamoto. Jealousy really did make people ugly.
"Well, maybe it's because he's better looking than you?"
"You traitor! Whose side are you on, Kouhei?! Why are you defending the enemy?!"
"I'm just telling the truth. And besides, I'm part of the 'good looks squad,' thank you very much."
Kouhei flashed a peace sign. Iori didn't want to admit it, but… yeah, his two best buddies were idol-level handsome.
He quietly scanned the room.
Two hot older sisters, cute Chisa, the makeup monster, two hosts, and two beasts...
Why did it feel like he was being lumped into the "beast" category!?
A single tear rolled down Iori's cheek
. Why did the club have to recruit such good-looking people? Those two punks should just go become influencers or something!
"..."
"What's that idiot thinking about now?"
"Who knows. Probably nothing good."
Aina stared at Iori with a face full of disbelief. She could feel a wave of negative energy radiating off of him just now. No need to guess who the source was...
How on earth did she ever fall for that guy anyway?
...
Though Iori was wallowing in self-pity, life had to go on. More importantly, the room issue still wasn't resolved.
Shiro's sudden retreat left Iori and Kouhei a bit off-balance. Sure, one less competitor was good, but...
It still wasn't enough!
There was only one bed left. One of them still had to sleep on the floor!
Iori and Kouhei stared each other down—this was the moment they officially shifted from allies to rivals!
"Kitahara, someone like you doesn't need a bed! Idiots should sleep on the floor!"
"Hah? You're the hopeless anime freak here! Go merge with the floor, dumbass!"
With Shiro gone, the battle became even more intense. Truly, triangles are the most stable structure…
"Alright, alright, calm down, you two. I say we settle this with footage from earlier,"
Tokita pulled out a camera—Shiro had brought it to record their fall into the water, and now it would serve as critical evidence!
"Let's see who really hit the water first!"
He turned on the camera...
And was immediately greeted by a full screen of mosaic censoring. It was nothing but Yamamoto and company's naked tragedies.
"..."
Silence. The room fell deathly quiet. Somewhere, a crow cawed overhead.
Yoink!
Shiro lunged and quickly flipped the photos to the ones showing Iori and Kouhei falling into the water!
Damn that camera! Why did it have to bring up those images first?!
For the record!
He was not a pervert! He only recorded that footage to have leverage against those animals!
Luckily, everyone collectively chose to ignore the censored madness. No one wanted to see that stuff anyway.
Except Azusa, who subtly gave Shiro a thumbs-up. Her little Shiro was finally growing up!
Perfect—now they had even more in common. Yep, her training was paying off. She decided then and there: next time, she'd show him Part 2 of that four-person film.
Poor Shiro had no idea that, because of one slip, the movies he'd be watching soon would never be the same again.
Right now, though, he was busy analyzing Iori and Kouhei's fall photos with the others.
From the pictures, it looked like their heads were at the same level, but unfortunately for Iori, the wave tilted slightly—
—making Iori's head the first to hit the water!
Meaning the winner was… Kouhei!
Ta-dah~
"The wave doesn't count! It's just margin of error!"
Iori shouted, frustrated. It was clearly the same level, dammit!
"Pathetic, Kitahara. Just admit defeat like a man!"
"No way! I demand a rematch!"
The two started brawling again. Not only had the photo failed to settle things, it only made them worse…
"Sigh, now it's even more of a mess. If they don't get good sleep, it'll affect tomorrow's class."
"Exactly. No one can sleep well on the floor…"
The others were worried. This was the crucial time for the diving license course—they needed proper rest.
"Don't worry! I'll step in!"
Shiro walked back in with a pervy grin, holding some tools he'd packed "just in case."
Being prepared never hurts!
.....................…..
Inside Chisa and Aina's room—
"Snore… Snore…"
Iori was wrapped tightly in a blanket like spring roll filling, and judging by his snores, he was sleeping soundly~
"Gulp… Chisa… are you sure about this?"
In the corner of the room, Aina clutched her blanket, her face bright red and her body trembling. This was her first time sleeping in the same room with a guy.
It's over—there's no way she's ever getting married now!
But then again…
If the guy is Iori, maybe it's not that bad…
Kyah~ (＃／.＼＃)
So embarrassing~
"It's fine. We didn't have a choice if we wanted that idiot to pass the exam. Don't worry, he's wrapped up super tight in that blanket.
Plus, with all the sleeping pills we gave him, he should be knocked out until morning.
And if that's not enough… we've got this!"
Chisa spoke seriously as she raised the stun baton in her hand!
Zzzzzt!
If that idiot really managed to break free, she'd resort to this final measure!
"..."
Looking at Chisa, armed to the teeth, Aina didn't know what to say. Honestly… wasn't all this a bit overkill?
And also…
Why the hell did that weirdo Shiro bring all this random junk on a trip!? How did that stun baton even make it through airport security!? Is Japan's public safety… okay? Can she file a report?
Yep.
Everything Chisa had on her right now had been provided by none other than Shiro. Including the idea of letting Iori—the idiot—sleep in their room in the first place.
When he first suggested it, Chisa had outright refused.
What kind of sick joke was this? It's like being trapped in a room with a cockroach! And an unknown attack-type cockroach, at that!
Until…
Shiro pulled out all that gear.
Then, with lightning speed, he drugged Iori with sleeping pills and bundled him up like a dumpling. Only then did Chisa reluctantly agree.
To be safe, she kept the stun baton right next to her.
Poor Iori never even realized what happened—one second he was upright, the next he was out cold. When he woke up, he probably wouldn't even know he spent the night in Chisa and Aina's room~
Suddenly!
Aina's eyes widened, and she reached out with a trembling hand. "Chisa! The… the electricity!"
(′｀;)?
"I know, right? The stun baton—Shiro said it works really well."
"No, not that! You just shocked Kitahara!"
Aina shouted, on the verge of tears. No wonder she thought she smelled grilled meat earlier!
Chisa was stunned. She immediately dropped the baton and turned to look. Sure enough—there lay Iori, no longer snoring, his eyes rolled back in his head as he twitched in unconsciousness.
Seeing Iori's occasionally convulsing body, Chisa actually felt a pang of guilt. She quietly added another blanket over him, then buried herself in the corner with Aina like an ostrich…
She didn't mean it! She really didn't know the voltage was that high!
…
Meanwhile—
The root cause of all this chaos, Shiro, was enjoying the life of his dreams~
"Ahh~ Finally a room big enough to stretch out in~"
"Make sure to get good rest~ We're starting our diving license training tomorrow~"
Two gorgeous older sisters were lying on either side of Shiro. At that moment, he truly felt like he had reached the peak of life!
(￣▽￣)*
"Mmhmm! I'll study super hard!"
Shiro nodded enthusiastically. This had to be paradise. Dammit, why was this room so big? Couldn't it be a little smaller?
If it were just a bit tighter, the three of them could snuggle up together! Whoever designed this room clearly had no idea how to maximize space!
"So lucky~"
Nanaka couldn't help but gently stroke Shiro's hair. Her leaning forward revealed everything to Shiro's line of sight!
!!!
Shiro's body stiffened instantly!
So white! So huge!
"Just like when you were little~"
Nanaka's warm breath drew closer. It was like everything had gone back in time.
That ten-year-old kid following behind her, pouting and asking to sleep with his big sister.
Even back then, that kid had frozen up just like now.
"Time really flies, huh…"
Hearing Nanaka'snostalgic voice, Shiro's body slowly relaxed. He could tell she was genuinely reminiscing—no hidden agenda at all.
"Yeah… it really does."
Time, like his first time, passed in the blink of an eye. Shiro may have forgotten the many girls he met along the way, but he would never forget the first time he met Nanaka—when he was just ten.
He looked into her eyes. No matter how many times he saw them, he never got tired of the warmth in her gaze. The memories from his childhood had never faded.
"But now we're back together again—with Iori too. It's so nice having everyone around~"
Nanaka smiled. Nothing beat reuniting with childhood friends.
(??ω??)
Shiro, who had just been getting into the moment, froze the instant he heard that name.
Now? NOW you bring up Iori!?
That idiot is literally sleeping in your sister's room right now! Sure, they grew up together, but come on—there's a limit to what should be tolerated between a man and a moron!
"Um… Nanaka-nee, next time, during moments like this… maybe just don't bring up that idiot Kitahara, okay?"
"Pffft~"
Azusa, who had been quietly listening to their whole conversation, burst out laughing. Just how much resentment did Shiro have toward Iori!?
Right now, Shiro felt like someone who had been reading a beautifully written poem… only for it to suddenly drop a vulgar joke in the middle.
Sure, you could keep reading the poem—but the mood was totally ruined. That one crude line stuck in your head, ruining the flow.
(′｀;)?
Only Nanaka looked confused, clearly not understanding what she'd said wrong. Being the sweet airhead she was, she had no clue she'd just derailed the entire vibe.
But speaking of Iori… she wondered how things were going over in Chisa's room. Hopefully, Iori would sleep soundly through the night.
As for their safety? Nanaka wasn't worried in the slightest. She saw Chisa take that stun baton—and she'd secretly turned the voltage all the way up!
Here's hoping Iori didn't get to experience that~
After mentally reviewing everything that had happened that day and confirming nothing went wrong, Nanaka smiled with satisfaction. She patted Shiro on the head again and closed her eyes.
"Good night, Shiro, Azusa~"
"Good night, Nanaka-nee."
"Oh! Nighty-night!"
Looking at Nanaka like this, Shiro slowly closed his eyes too. After a full day of play, he was completely drained. The scent of beautiful women around him only made him sleepier.
Sniff~
Why does the scent suddenly feel so strong? This smell…
It's wisteria?
Wait… am I dreaming of the wisteria grove again? I hope this time there are no wild boars chasing me—
Hold up!
How could I fall asleep this fast!?
And why does my body feel so heavy? Is this… sleep paralysis!?
Shiro's eyes snapped open—and he saw a pair of beautiful, violet eyes gazing at him with a smile.
Azusa was completely lying on top of him, her finger gently resting on his lips.
"Hey~ Shiro, I only said goodnight to Nanaka just now, remember? We can't go to sleep just yet. Don't forget about the compensation I promised you… or do you not want it anymore?"
Gulp…
Feeling the soft weight pressing against him, Shiro swallowed hard.
Here? Right next to Nanaka-nee!?
"Um… Azusa… isn't this just a bit too intense?"
"Intense? Not at all~ It's perfect~ I even brought your favorite accessory~"
With a magician's flair, Azusa produced a rope from nowhere.
At that moment—
The string of reason within Shiro snapped!
＼(`Δ')／
It's time to prove myself!
…
Back in Iori's room—
For some reason, he was having a weird dream. In it, he kept getting struck by lightning. At first, he could dodge and run…
But then!
Why the heck did a rope suddenly show up!?
That's cheating!
.....................…..
(???)
"Azusa-nee, I think… this compensation is a little off."
In the darkness, Shiro, wearing a dinosaur onesie, looked utterly dead inside as he stared at Azusa, who was holding a flashlight and a book.
Also, there was a string tied to his hair...
Yeah, the purpose of that string was completely different from what he thought!
What is this?
Hanging by the head?
No, that's not it either. This was just purely to pull his hair!
"Geez, how can you say that, Shiro? Everything in this notebook comes from your Azusa-nee's experience! Plus, you guys are starting lessons tomorrow, so you have to secretly study and give Iori and Kohei a big surprise! Just imagine Iori and Kohei's shocked expressions—doesn't that excite you?"
Shiro honestly didn't know if he was excited, but judging by the woman in front of him waving a flashlight in one hand and the string in the other, and nearly bursting with energy, she was definitely excited.
(???)
With lifeless eyes, Shiro stared at the crazy woman in front of him. He was sacrificing his precious rest time for this?
He already knew how slow those two idiots were—there was no need to cram like this!
Why did Azusa-nee think he was worse than those two blockheads? He was a genius!
"Alright, question one. Diving hand signals—"
"Wait!!"
Seeing that Azusa was really starting to quiz him, Shiro quickly stopped her. Was this really just diving review?
Not the kind of "plot" he was imagining?
"Azusa-nee, are you serious about this?"
Shiro was in disbelief. This was Azusa, the one full of theoretical knowledge—not some ditzy airhead like Nanaka!
"Ahahaha… of course! This is to give Shiro a head start!"
Azusa's expression looked a little guilty. That excuse was trash-tier!
"Soooga~ Then what's the real reason?"
Shiro didn't believe her one bit. Normally, sure, maybe. But now? At night? With a flashlight? To study?
Even during his makeup exams she wasn't this intense!
"...Shiro, has anyone told you that boys who are too smart won't be wanted?"
"...Azusa-nee, do you really think that's how things work in Japan?"
Let's be real, for some Japanese women in their 20s, their ideal husband is a 50-something CEO making tens of millions a year.
"Damn it! Can't you just be a little dumber?!"
Azusa angrily pulled Shiro into her arms and began mercilessly smothering him, as if trying to suffocate him!
"Ughhh… So what the heck is really going on?!"
Shiro mumbled through her arms, strangely losing all his strength again like always during times like this (??ω??)
"Well... you see, think about my preferences."
"Ah, I know. You swing both ways, right? I'm not gonna judge you, Azusa-nee."
"No! That's exactly the problem!"
She stared at Shiro with a deadly serious expression. "The ones I like are Nanaka and you. If both of you fall asleep, I'm scared I won't be able to hold myself back!"
{{(°△°;")}}!
Shiro looked at her in horror. What the hell was she saying just now?! Was that a confession?! Why did it sound as casual as talking about the weather?!
"Gulp... was that a confession?"
(′｀;)?
"Hm? Didn't I already say who I liked before? Why are you so surprised?"
Looking into Azusa's innocent big eyes, Shiro suddenly felt like he was the one in the wrong?!
"Wait, what about senior Tokita?"
Shiro had no idea how to reply, so he tried to change the subject. Honestly, Azusa-nee had said it so naturally that anyone listening would think they were already a couple, flirting like crazy!
"Mm… Tokita? Yeah, I used to like him, but... how do I put it? It was a love with no future~"
"A love with no future? Yeah, that makes sense. Tokita-senpai and Kotobuki-senpai don't seem like the dating type."
Shiro couldn't imagine those two dating girls at all. Actually, when they were together, they looked more like a perfect couple…
"Hahahaha, no, not like that. You don't know, Shiro? Tokita? He actually has a girlfriend~"
"...Tokita? You mean the same Tokita I'm thinking of?"
"Shiro, be respectful to your seniors~"
"...So Tokita-senpai and Kotobuki-senpai didn't end up together after all."
"Hahaha, no way! Those two are total straight guys."
Σ(?д?|||)!!
"Tokita-senpai's girlfriend is a female?! No way—what poor gorilla got taken advantage of?!"
"Um… Shiro, have you considered she might be a human?"
A human?!!
Impossible! No way!
Why would a human fall for that beast?!
"Is she the Oliva darling type?"
"Shiro, you're way too biased against Tokita! No, she's just a sweet, small Japanese girl. Pretty cute. Heard they met at the gym. I can introduce her to you next time~"
╭(°A°`)╮
That's not bias!
Just listen to what you're saying! Even Iori wouldn't believe this!
How could that beast have a girlfriend?! Has the taste of Japanese women gotten this unpredictable?!
Damn it!
Shiro's heart took a massive blow, and he collapsed onto the bed, motionless.
"Shiro, what are you doing?"
Azusa looked confused. She was still holding the string—didn't his hair hurt?
With tears in his eyes, Shiro gave up! It hurt, okay?! What normal person would keep yanking their own hair like this?
Still, he had to press on!
"Azusa-nee, go ahead! Don't pity me—I'm already lying down!"
He shut his eyes. If this was Azusa-nee's wish, he would grant it!
…
The air instantly grew still…
Feeling something heavy on him, Shiro cautiously opened one eye—and met a pair of seductive eyes.
"If that's the case, Shiro... shall we? Right here, you, me, and Nanaka."
Azusa swallowed hard, her mind drifting back to a dream she'd almost forgotten.
Too intense!
"Azusa-nee…"
Shiro's eyes also grew hazy. Maybe this was wrong… but after tonight, their relationship would definitely change...
Just as the tension hit its peak, and the two of them leaned in…
"Shiro? Azusa? What are you two doing?"
?!!
Nanaka's voice instantly froze them in place. They leapt apart like nothing had happened, despite having just imagined threesomes!
"Ahahaha… Shiro said he couldn't sleep and wanted to study, so I had no choice but to help him!"
Azusa scratched her head, slightly terrified. She'd almost lost herself to her desires—but why did she still feel a little excited about that?!
"Ahh… yeah, studying! I just really wanted to study. Without it, I can't sleep!"
Shiro quickly covered, grinning, though his soul was crying. They didn't know how much trauma this caused his freshly injured little brother!
Nanaka looked at the dropped book and flashlight. Aside from the suspicious string, everything backed up their story.
"Geez, Shiro, that's not a good habit~ But just this once, okay? I'll help teach too—but you can't stay up too late!"
She turned on the lights and joined them, grabbing a textbook.
As the room lit up and books were opened, tears welled up in Shiro's eyes.
If he had just gone to sleep quietly… none of this would've happened.
From a certain point of view, the relationship between the three of them really did change that night.
Into that of teacher and student!!!
Damn it all!
…
Meanwhile, in Chisa's room—
Iori, wrapped like a spring roll, opened his eyes to complete darkness. For a moment, he thought he'd gone blind.
Σ(?д?|||)!!
What the hell?
What was this?!
Iori was stunned. His memory was still from earlier that night.
He remembered... discussing room arrangements with the others…
Right! He was fighting with Kohei over who got the bed!
And then...
He felt someone sneak up behind him and feed him pills or something.
That damn squinty-eyed scumbag!
Didn't take much thought—only Kohei or Shiro would pull something like this!
But Kohei was in a meat brawl with him at the time—he wouldn't have had the chance!
Damn them!
They must've teamed up behind his back! Have they developed new secret codes or something?
Also...
Where the hell did they dump him?! And why wrap him up like this?!
As his eyes adjusted slightly, he could make out shapes…
Like a strange curve in front of him—
Iori could only move his head, so exploration duty fell to it.
Without hesitation, he gently nudged the curve with his head.
No pain. In fact… kinda soft?
Curious, he nudged again—when a blue flash lit up the room!
Eyes wide, he saw Chisa's blushing face in the lightning's glow!
Zzzap—
Lightning shattered the darkness—(??ω??)