After the students finished bowing, the sharp scrape of chairs echoed in chorus as they all quickly sat back down, collecting scattered pencils, pens, and other stationery,, and tidying the remnants of the previous lesson. The subtle hum of bag zippers, the rustle of papers, and the closing thuds of textbooks finally signaled the end of the school day.
Ayanokouji stacked his books, lining them neatly against the table's edge before unzipping his school bag. He slid them into the padded book compartment, their spines fitting together perfectly, like puzzle pieces. He slung the strap over his shoulder, the slight weight of the bag adding a temporary tension to his shoulders as he basked in the present moment. As he stood, he quietly looked around the class.
"Hey, hey! You guys down to go to karaoke after this?"
"Totally! We should definitely invite Shiraishi-san as well!"
"Ah, actually… I overheard her talking with a teacher. I don't think she's free to play with us today."
"Ugh, really?! What a shame…"
A group of girls standing near the classroom door buzzed with after-school plans. Talk of visiting a karaoke place gave way to a trendy cafe that just opened nearby—apparently offering limited-time discounts for their first week in business. Although Ayanokouji had no intention of barging in on their conversation and inviting himself to their hangout, he quietly took out his phone and jotted down the cafe's name in the notes app. Perhaps he should visit it on another quiet day to fully enjoy the ambiance.
When he looked over his shoulder, he noticed that Katou and Shimura's desks were already empty—their chairs neatly tucked in and bags long gone.
They must have gone ahead for soccer club practice, Ayanokouji noted.
Sliding his chair back in with a soft screech against the polished floor, he made his way towards Ohta and Tanaka, who had just finished clearing their own desks.
"You guys ready to head back?"
Although the trio didn't live in the same neighborhood, Ayanokouji and Tanaka shared the same direction for most of their walks home, and Ohta liked accompanying them. On days without errands or after-school activities, walking home together, window shopping through the backstreets, or grabbing the occasional after-school snack on the way back had become a daily routine.
"Yep, we were just about to head to you," Ohta answered, his tone a little too eager, his eyes practically twinkling with the brightness of a million stars.
He's definitely planning to take a detour and invite us out somewhere… Ayanokouji and Tanaka thought in perfect wordless sync.
"Alright, let's go then." Ayanokouji took the lead, sliding open the classroom door. It opened with a soft shfft sound, and the warm glow of the late afternoon sun greeted them like an old friend you hadn't seen in a while—or in this case, seven hours.
The hallway buzzed with the murmur of a multitude of conversations; however, unlike the invigorating clamor of the morning rush, the atmosphere was quiter, more relaxed, even sleepy—as if the school itself was beginning to wind down. The scent of cleaning solution being spread onto the floors mingled with that of lingering lunch aromas—spillage of miso soup, bread crumbs that fell onto the floor, and a citrus-like smell coming from a student's discarded juice box.
Just like the tone of the students' chatter, their steps also changed in the afternoon as they echoed more softly. The rapid squeak of sneakers could be heard as students in gym clothes thundered towards their club rooms or designated club areas. A few others lingered, slouched at their lockers with heavy sighs, complaining about makeup quizzes and remedial classes, their voices laced with despair and exasperation. Meanhile the majority—just like Tanaka, Ohta, and Ayanokouji—contributed to the clanging of lockers as the faint smell of leather shoes could be detected from the students switching their indoor shoes for their outdoor ones.
Ayanokouji opened his locker and slipped off his school shoes, replacing them with the ones he had had worn this morning. After the two had finished switching theirs as well, the trio stood up and began walking towards the school's exit gate.
Although the sky had become a bit cloudy, it was still very bright, and the weather forecast hadn't mentioned any chance of rain today, so Ayanokouji hadn't bothered bringing an umbrella. Still, it was quite a shame. Of course he would dislike it if his hair and clothes got unexpectedly drenched with rainwater. But there was something he genuinely enjoyed about walking under an umbrella on a rainy day. The gentle patter of raindrops tapping against the fabric, the refreshing coolness of the air replacing the oppressive summer heat, the faint sensation of rainwater trickling onto his shoulders—it created an atmosphere that Ayanokouji found oddly comforting.
Nonetheless, he was already satisfied with just being able to walk around freely, no longer being monitored every moment like a guinea pig. The analogy wasn't exactly far from the truth about his former life. Looking back, it was almost surreal to think he could now enjoy something as simple and mundane as walking home from school without worrying if someone was hunting him down—something that, not long ago, he could only experience through a digital screen or controlled simulation.
The walk home was filled with silence, but not a deafening or awkward one. Rather, it was the kind of silence that felt halcyon—comforting, even. While Ayanokouji understood the importance of casual conversation in building bonds and trust with others, he appreciated these moments of stillness. It was one of the main reasons why he more often than not preferred hanging out with Tanaka and Ohta rather than Katou and Shimura. He didn't feel the same amount of pressure with the latter duo than he did with the former to fill the silence with small talk and match their rapid pace of their extroversion.. He could tell that Tanaka and Ohta, too, enjoyed each other's quiet company without having to utter a single word.
As Ayanokouji finished observing the scenery around him, he reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone to catch up on anything he might have missed during school. Unlocking the screen with the passcode set up for him, he saw that he only had a few unread messages—just one contact, Matsuo, via the LINE app, a popular messaging platform commonly used by the Japanese to conveniently communicate across any distance.
As of right now, he had only seven contacts saved on his phone: Matsuo, Eichiro, Tanaka, Ohta, Katou, Shimura, and the official LINE account. While he wouldn't mind making room for contacts outside of his social circle, he wasn't desperate to make new friends. The humble group he already had was more than enough for him.
Still, he was mildly surprised that he didn't see any red circles right next to Eichiro's name—especially considering his habit of sending him rather… bizarre images that their generation called memes—supposedly humorous pictures meant to evoke laughter from viewers. The last meme he had sent was a picture of a little girl eerily smiling at the camera with a house burning right in front of her, subtly implying that she may have had a hand in that tragedy. Ayanokouji couldn't really understand what was so funny about that picture—but he digressed; perhaps he was the abnormal one and this was something commonly shared with friends with the intention of joking around.
Then again, he had seen Eichiro with unkempt hair this morning at 5 a.m., notebook in hand, with his stationery scattered across the dinner table while a pot of coffee brewed on the stove. He was probably too busy cramming and stressing out over the quiz he had today to check his phone.
He swiped back up and opened Matsuo's chat to read the message.
[Matsuo]
Ayanokouji-sama, would you be okay with having chicken katsu curry with vegetables and miso soup for dinner? ( ╹ -╹)?
[Matsuo]
If it doesn't suit your palate, I can make something else—or transfer you money if you'd prefer to eat out or order from another restaurant.
Well, good thing I didn't order the hamburg steak sandwich, Ayanokouji thought. If he had accepted Tanaka's untouched food or bought that instead of his other sweets, he might've felt a little reluctant to eat the dinner Matsuo had prepared.
[Ayanokouji]
.I don't mind. I'm not too closed-minded when it comes to food
[Matsuo]That's wonderful!
[Matsuo]
(˶◜ᵕ◝˶)
[Matsuo]
I'll make sure to prepare enough for both you and Eichiro then.
[Ayanokouji]
?Alright. Do you want me to pick up any groceries on the way back
[Matsuo]
No need to trouble yoursel;f, Ayanokouji-sama. I already have everything set out on the kitchen counter. However, please arrive when you feel the time is right.
[Ayanokouji]
.Will do
As Ayanokouji was busy texting Matsuo and Ohta walked leisurely side by side with Tanaka—until he suddenly stopped as he noticed the poster displayed on the windowpane of the bookstore they were just about to walk past.
"Hey, Ohta, Ayanokouji," he called out, pointing. "Look."
Ohta turned his head in the direction Tanaka was gesturing towards, while Ayanokouji glanced away from his phone, locked the screen, and looked up.
A brightly colored poster taped on the inside of the bookstore's windowpane, featuring an outwardly cheerful, red-haired boy with short, tousled hair, confidently holding a retro-style microphone with one hand while flashing a peace sign on the other. He was winking at the readers playfully, exuding a contagious sense of energy and optimism. His outfit—a teal V-neck shirt—added to his casual and lively demeanor.
Surrounding the boy were colorful, hyperbolic, and motivational phrases in both English and Japanese. Across the top, in a whimsical font, the words read:
"In the Story Known as Life, Everyone Can Be the Protagonist!"
Seems like an exaggerated advertisement strategy meant to draw the customers in… Ayanokouji muttered internally, eyes narrowing slightly as he shifted his attention to the other posters alongside the idol audition one on the windowpane. There were three more posters, each seemingly representing a different genre of literature.
The one on the very left featured a man drawn in a cartoonish art style, wearing a black top hat and smiling with a derpy, overly simple expression, with the title "Two Peak" displayed on both sides of the main character. Right next to it was a far more intense image—a character with wildly spiky hair, mouth wide open as if he were screaming with all his might. The title? Simply: Ball.
way
back
Ayanokouji scratched his head. Ball…? Confusion flickered on his face as he questioned the relevance of the word. The poster didn't hint at a sport- themed work, nor did it depict anything remotely related to the object or shape of a ball. There wasn't a spherical object in sight. He gave a light shrug. Well, not like I care anyway.
His eyes moved onto the final poster in the row—one that immediately exuded a strange yet intriguing aura due to the absurdity contained in the image.
"This one must be a mix of the mystery and supernatural genres…" Ayanokouji deduced silently.
The poster displayed an oversized, chubby white cat standing upright, dressed in a sophisticated business suit, its red tie neatly tucked in, and a pair of sharp glasses perched on its nose. The cat wore a smug expression, one paw confidently pointing upward as if it had just cracked the cure to cancer. Above the feline's head, in bold golden-orange gradient colors, was the title: "Detective Coban."
"...Are you interested in buying any of these books, Tanaka?" Ayanokouji asked.
"Nope." Tanaka denied, raising his right palm. "Reading manga, let alone an entire book scrambled with words, makes my eyes tired. I was just thinking… I don't even want to be the protagonist of my own life."
"Seriously?" Ohta looked at him, wide-eyed.
"Think about it," Tanaka replied, his eyes brimming with conviction as he began his argument. "Protagonists are involved in so many murder cases, or they have to awaken new abilities to fight tough enemies, or they have to be a pirate and collect all the dreams they can, until the story ends. It sounds extremely exhausting." He let out a sigh, glancing at the posters with a look of sheer disdain.
"Well, playing the active role is what makes a protagonist," Ohta muttered, not entirely convinced but not disagreeing either.
"Background characters have it easy. They basically have no lines, and in extreme cases, their faces aren't even drawn in completely," Tanaka insisted, doubling down on his anti-main-character manifesto.
Ayanokouji couldn't help but sympathize and agree with Tanaka's sentiment. After all, he'd spent his entire life under an unforgiving spotlight "that man" forced him into. From the moment he could remember, the attention from his instructors was constant—rarely giving praise, but always putting pressure. Their expectations weighed down on him like chains. Days were consumed by endless studying, rigorous physical training, mind-numbing mental exercises, and not a single moment of solace or tranquility. Sleep was never restful, not when he knew he'd have to repeat the same routine over and over again.
Actually… now that I think about it, Ayanokouji mused silently, my life story sounds like something out of a psychological thrillerl.
"That's a good thing?" Ohta asked, a hint of genuine curiosity in his voice.
As if responding directly to the question, Tanaka's face began to… vanish?
His eyes were the first to go. Not shrink in size—literally vanish. Completely. Pupils and eyelids erased out of thin air. Then his mouth followed suit, his features blurring out of existence until his face had turned into a blank canvas. Ayanokouji stared, dumbfounded, as Tanaka's presence began to dissipate entirely in front of his eyes. It was like slowly watching someone drink an invisibility potion and gradually disappear over time. His body remained, but his aura—the proof of his existence—faded away like background noise.
He had, quite literally, become a background character.
…How in the world is he doing that?! Ayanokouji's eyes widened, laced with astonishment—and maybe a trace of admiration.
All his life, he'd believed in one notion: everything and everyone could be explained through the natural laws of nature and rationale. That was the doctrine the White Room had drilled into him—even in a country as conservative and religious as Japan. Magic? Miracles? Gods? All were just means used to control the common people. But now—now—he was witnessing something that completely defied every lesson he'd learned. The doctrine instilled in him began to crumble piece by piece..
Maybe I need to take a rain check on being an atheist… Ayanokouji rubbed his temples, trying to process what in the world he had just witnessed. Of all people, of all life that was present in this world, Tanaka was the one forcing him to question his beliefs regarding religion, the supernatural, and the very concept of the divine itself.
"No, no. Don't try to master that. Though I do think you'd be a natural…" Ohta said as he placed both hands on Tanaka's shoulders, trying to ground him before he accidentally disappeared from the face of the earth. "Look, you're scaring Ayanokouji."
Tanaka blinked, stepping back into reality. He turned to see Ayanokouji staring at him, mouth slightly agape—somewhere between being impressed and completely stunned. A fly was on the verge of flying into his mouth, but Ohta casually clapped it mid-air in front of Ayanokouji's face, finally snapping him out of his thoughts.
"...My bad, I spaced out for a bit," Ayanokouji said, pinching his cheeks slightly to make sure he wasn't in a dream, "Continue with what you were saying, Tanaka."
"Basically," Tanaka resumed as three of them started walking forward again "I don't want to be relied on, play an active role, or receive attention."
Ayanokouji nodded in silent agreement.
"You'll definitely end up living alone in your old age…" Ohta remarked under his breath, worried about the future well-being of his friend as they came to a stop near a playground. "Ah, there's the crepes food truck I've been meaning to visit. You guys want some? Tanaka, I'll pay for you since you don't have any cash on you right now."
"All right," both Ayanokouji and Tanaka replied in unison as they joined the line.
While queuing, Ayanokouji studied themenu boards listing the crepe flavors on sale.
There was a savory section featuring both normal and soft crepes stuffed with things like smoked beef, tonkatsu, barbecue sauce, and other hearty fillings. But since he already had dinner being prepared, he immediately ruled those options out. He preferred his crepes to be sweet anyway.
As for the sweet section…
Chocolate cheese, Nutella peanut butter, blueberry banana, strawberry puff cream… so many options to choose from—and all equally just as tempting.
The chocolate cheese and blueberry banana crepes had a small crown icon above them, suggesting they were either customer favorites or chef's recommendations. But Ayanokouji had already eaten a strawberry custard danish earlier, so any fruit-flavored crepes didn't seem appealing to him at the moment. Chocolate cheese was a reliable option, sure, but it was the flavor he usually got from other places. He wanted to try something different this time.
He also wanted to avoid anything with ice cream—too risky. If it started melting, it could stain his uniform and make the crepe soggy, ruining the texture and entire eating experience, especially in the hot, unyielding weather. So, he finally settled for the Cookies 'n' Cream option, which featured crushed Oreos as the main filling.
He chose the normal variation instead of the soft crepe version—not only because the soft one cost extra, but also because he didn't want to impose further financial burden on Matsuo, knowing how much he likesd to generously spoil him rotten with money. Besides, he wanted to save money for tomorrow's snack time and just genuinely preferred crepes that were lightly crispy and soft, rather than purely soft.
After the chef handed him his order, Ayanokouji paid by scanning the QRIS code, then made his way over to Ohta and Tanaka. Although he'd seen them sitting on the swings just a few minutes ago, they now had more company than they had anticipated.
A light-tan, beige-furred cat was cozied up against Ohta's leg, its red collar and golden bell suggesting it was a domesticated pet—one that had perhaps slipped away from its owner's grasp. The reason it was nuzzling up to Ohta seemed obvious: it had its sights on the crepe in Ohta's hands.
"What?" Ohta looked down at the cat, raising a brow. "I can't give you this."
He tried to gently shoo it away, but the cat just kept staring at him with imploring eyes, clearly begging for a taste.
As Ohta dealt with his new admirer, Ayanokouji felt a tug on his sleeve.
"Hm?" he turned and saw a young boy wearing a long-sleeved, light green and white striped shirt. The child was looking at him with pleading eyes—but not directly. His gaze was slightly off, as if focused on something behind him.
Ayanokouji turned to look behind him and immediately understood. A soccer ball had gotten lodged in the leaves of a nearby tree, just above the swing set.
"Big Brother," the child asked him politely, "can you get that ball, please?"
Hm… what to do… Ayanokouji stroked his chin, pondering. I don't exactly want to leave this kid upset, but I also just want to eat my crepe in peace…
Just then, he noticed Ohta looking his way, curiosity evident in his expression as if silently asking if he was in trouble. At that moment, Ayanokouji made up his mind.
He crouched slightly to meet the child's gaze, startling the boy.
"Why don't you ask that tall big brother over there instead?" he suggested, trying to look friendly as he could manage, gesturing towards Ohta. "He's much taller than me, so there's a better chance he can get your ball back."
"...You're right!" the child nodded earnestly, then trotted off towards Ohta. "Thank you for your help, kind-hearted big brother!"
I didn't even really do much though…
Ayanokouji hadn't recommended Ohta out of kindness, nor because he wanted to increase the odds of the kid retrieving his ball. Frankly, he just didn't want to be burdened with the responsibility. Sure, he was perfectly capable of climbing the tree and getting the ball himself, but he didn't want to risk injury just in case the tree branches were weak or unstable. More importantly, he didn't want to attract unnecessary gazes from other people—especially with so many people passing by the park.
The child asked Ohta for help just as he had with Ayanokouji. And Ohta, ever compassionate and dependable, smiled and handed his crepe to Tanaka before heading towards the tree.
As Tanaka silently observed Ohta climbing the tree, his mind drifted back to something Ohta had said earlier:
"You'll definitely end up living alone in your old age…"
Those words didn't particularly bother Tanaka—at least, not in a romantic sense. At this point in his life, he had no interest in entertaining anyone's feelings, let alone committing to a serious relationship. He could barely take care of himself without relying on his little sister, which was already shameful enough for an older brother. What made him think he could be someone others could trust and depend on—especially a future girlfriend, if he ever had one?
Relationships just seemed… too troublesome, exhausting, and emotionally draining.
For now, he was wholeheartedly content living the familiar routine he'd grown used to: being taken care of by Ayanokouji and Ohta for the remainder of his high school days…
…Wait a minute, Tanaka thought to himself, as if struck by a groundbreaking realization. I could just marry Ohta or Ayanokouji.
Think about it.
Arranged marriages existed, even in the modern era. People didn't always tie the knot out of love or mutual feelings—sometimes it was for power, political alliances, inheritance, or plain convenience. There was no divine law that said marriage had to be built on romance. Society just liked pretending there was.
In fact, if he married Ohta or Ayanokouji, there'd be no need for him to worry about the responsibilities of life such as taxes, working a day-to-day job, or having to socialize with new people—he could just be a househusband, taking care of daily household chores—which paled in comparison to having to work overtime every day—and be taken care of. He could live out his days being fed, emotionally tended to, and reminded of when he should shower.
This is… genius! Tanaka's eyes showed a rare kind of sparkle to them, as if he was a shoujo male lead who was ready to win over the heart of the female lead—or male lead, if that's… what you're into.
However… who would be the better choice of the two?
As ideal as it would be to give them both wedding rings, polygamy was still illegal in Japan—and Tanaka, no matter how much he strove to live a completely listless life, did not have the guts to test the waters against the law. So whoever he chose today as his potential future partner would determine the outcome of his happiness, prosperity, and stability. He had to ensure he made a choice he wouldn't regret.
First, he looked towards Ohta.
Reliable was the first word that popped into Tanaka's head.
Ohta had scaled the tree with ease, knocking down the soccer ball for the kids. Considering his height and weight, Tanaka had expected him to struggle with balance, maybe even fail ,fall, and snap a branch or two. But as always, his worries were misplaced. Ohta was strong. After all, he carried Tanaka every single day without complaint, allowing him to conserve energy for his naps instead of having to walk for hours at school.
A small cheer rose from the group. Some of the kids clapped, others waved at him cheerfully like they were at a summer festival.
"Wow, thanks, big brother!" one of them beamed, stars in his eyes.
"Thanks, mister!"
"You're amazing, big bro!"
"That was so cool!"
Plays an active role… Tanaka noted mentally.
The noise drew the attention of a group of teenage girls passing nearby. A few slowed their pace, clearly intrigued by the tall, long-haired boy casually perched on a tree branch like a heroic, dreamlike prince from a shoujo manga.
"That guy is so nice," one of the girls said with a sincere smile, clearly warmed by the wholesome scene in front of her.
"Right? I wish my boyfriend was a bit more like him!"
The girls lingered for a moment—some with genuine admiration sparked by Ohta's kindness, others with lovestruck eyes enchanted by his flowing hair and towering height, and a few who gave him nothing more than a passing, mildly curious glance before continuing on with their walk.
Gets attention.
Ohta was putting up a strong fight for his hand in marriage. However, that didn't mean Ayanokouji was out of the running just yet.
Sure, Ayanokouji didn't take the initiative to help him as frequently or obediently as Ohta did—but that was fine. Despite his reluctance, he did carry Tanaka on occasion whenever Ohta was unavailable or physically couldn't do so. And more importantly, he felt like Ayanokouji just got him in a way that Ohta paled in comparison. There was something comforting in knowing someone who also wanted to live a life without unneeded fanfare, who shared his disdain for noise and attention. Their values completely aligned, and that alone gave him a good chunk of marriage points.
As Tanaka turned his gaze towards Ayanokouji, he noticed the boy was already halfway through his crepe. His face, as usual, remained blank and unreadable to the untrained eye. But throughout these months, Tanaka had gotten better at picking up subtle micro-expressions hidden in that stoic mask of his. The relaxed corners of his mouth, the slow-paced chewing, the Oreo crumbs dotted around the area of his mouth he hadn't cleaned off…
This was unusual for Ayanokouji considering how prim, proper, and self-contained an individual he was. It was like watching the innocence of a kid who'd just tasted candy for the first time without yet learning the etiquette of restraint.
Cute, Tanaka jotted down in the mental "Ayanokouji's Good Traits" list.
Just then, the beige-furred cat—clearly dissatisfied with Ohta's lack of generosity—changed his target and jumped into Ayanokouji's lap. The sudden feline ambush made Ayanokouji flinch slightly, his eyes widening in a moment of surprise. But true to his nature, he made no move to push the cat off. Instead, he regarded it silently, likely already deducing its intentions.
His hand moved as if to break a crumb and offer it, but he paused mid-motion. Ayanokouji had studied animal biology before, from books available in the school library, but that didn't make him an expert on feline digestion. Was chocolate safe? Could sugar end up messing with a cat's stomach? Could giving this cat Oreos make him an unintentional contributor to animal cruelty?
He didn't exactly want to risk becoming known as "the high school student who poisoned a cat in broad daylight". So, Ayanokouji lowered his hand and began delicately stroking the cat's head. The cat, momentarily annoyed by the lack of food and caught off guard by the unexpected act of affection, twitched its ears. But after a few seconds, began to relax and nuzzled deeper into his lap, stretching out its paws, and promptly fell asleep.
Tanaka blinked.
Calm, considerate, good with animals…
He leaned back on the swing and sighed. This was harder than he thought. Both of them were clearly good choices, considering they were also among the few people willing to tolerate his lazy antics and lack of effort.
So, heaving a reluctant sigh, Tanaka reached into his pocket and pulled out a leftover coin he had lying around. He stared at it for a moment—entrusting fate to give him the clarity he lacked.
"Ayanokouji, heads or tails?" he asked.
Ayanokouji glanced up, mid-stroke of the now dozing cat, a slight tilt of confusion in his otherwise impassive expression.
What is he up to now… Ayanokouji wondered.
Ayanokouji figured Tanaka was probably confused about an important decision he had to make, since Ayanokouji had noticed the contemplative look in Tanaka's eyes while he was petting the cat. Still, leaving something up to chance? He had thought Tanaka was the type to just delegate the burden to someone else he thought more capable.
Well, technically, he was still doing that. He was shifting the burden—you choose, Ayanokouji, so if it goes wrong, it won't be my fault.
"...Tails," Ayanokouji replied, after a beat.
Tanaka, after hearing his answer, flicked the coin into the air. It spun, glinting in the sunlight, before falling neatly back down into his palm. He slapped his hand over it and slowly peeled it back.
"...Heads," Tanaka muttered.
Ayanokouji blinked. Heads… the result echoed in his mind.
As Ohta wrapped up his little side quest of entertaining the kids, he walked back slowly towards the swings where Tanaka and Ayanokouji were seated. His gait was casual, but his presence always felt a bit larger than life.
Just as he reached them, Tanaka spoke—calmly, plainly, as if he were commenting on the weather.
"I think… I wouldn't mind giving my life to you, Ohta."
"..."
"..."
…
The breeze stopped. or, maybe it just felt that way because of the deafening silence between them
Ayanokouji froze mid-bite, half a crepe still dangling from his lips. He chewed slowly, processing Tanaka's words.
Well, that came out of nowhere… Ayanokouji muttered, then, eyes slightly widening with dawning horror, he swallowed. Wait. Was that what the coin flip was about?
He glanced down at his Oreo crepe, then back up at the two of them.
Thank God I picked tails then, he thought with a quiet exhale of relief.
Ohta blinked, the slightest hitch in his step in front of them. He looked down at Tanaka, confused and vaguely alarmed by his unexpected words. "Don't say misleading stuff like that," he said flatly, not even bothering to give him an answer to his declaration of love. He reached out and took the crepe Tanaka had been saving for him and bit into it as if nothing significant had happened.
Ayanokouji side-eyed the exchange, brushing a few crumbs off his lap.
I see… so the feeling's one-sided, he noted inwardly, feeling a bit of pity for the boy whose words went unacknowledged.
However Tanaka, undeterred by Ohta's blunt response, leaned forward slightly, his tone more inquisitive. "Ohta, do you like cooking?"
"I don't mind it." Ohta sat back down.
"Washing dishes?"
"I sing while I rinse."
"End-of-the-year cleaning?"
"Once I start, I can't stop—especially the bathtub and washing machine."
What is this? A marriage interview? Ayanokouji thought.
"I see…" Tanaka nodded, his expression thoughtful.
Tanaka turned towards him, a glimmer of mischief lighting up on his face, like a salesman about to scam his customer.
"I know a good family you can marry into—"
"Let's go home," Ohta cut him off abrupty, not even sparing that line a glance. He picked up his bag from the ground in one smooth motion and started walking, unwilling to even think about what life would be like if he became a Tanaka instead of remaining an Ohta.
Tanaka watched as Ohta's figure became distant.
What a shame… it seems Ohta isn't interested in joining the Tanaka Clan, Tanaka sighed dramatically. He turned back to find Ayanokouji still seated on the swing, finishing the last remnants of his crepe.
"Ayanokouji?"
"Yes, Tanaka?" he replied, monotone, not even bothering to look in his direction.
I feel like I know where this is going…
"Do you like cooking?"
"Somewhat. Still learning. Why?"
"Washing dishes?"
"I clean up after my mess."
"End-of-the-year cleaning?"
"I mop, I sweep, I exist, I do what I'm told."
Tanaka nodded approvingly as if updating an imaginary spreadsheet. "I see… then—"
"I know what you're about to say," Ayanokouji interjected, raising one of his hands to stop Tanaka from continuing. "And if you repeat those same words to me that you said to Ohta, please know I will not hesitate to leave you stranded in this playground to fend for yourself. No guilt, no remorse, just abandonment."
Tanaka blinked. "...Right, got it."
They stared at each other in silence.
"..."
"..."
…
"Are you looking for any potential suit—"
Ayanokouji wordlessly stood up so fast the swing squeaked as if it were the one offended. He didn't forget to carefully place the cat down on the ground first as he crumpled the crepe box, tucked it into his pocket and marched forward, eyes locked in the same direction Ohta had disappeared to—determined, silent, gone.
"Ayanokouji… hey, wait! Ayanokouji! Don't leave me here! Hey, I was just joking! Ayanokouji!"
He scrambled off the swing and chased after him, swinging his bag over his shoulder. His voice echoing faintly behind them.
---
Author's Note
Good day my fellow readers! I hope you enjoyed chappie 5 of this fanfiction.
All the pre-written chapters have now all been edited and published. YIPEEEEE!!!!
୧(๑•̀ヮ•́)૭ LET'S GO!
Chapter 6 might be released tomorrow or the day after depending on my motivation and whether or not I'm busy, but I'll let y'all know if there are any changes to my schedule. As always, thank you all for your support! Any kind of praise, criticism, or feedback is greatly appreciated!
I shall cya'll in the next chappie!
EvilNeuori, Out. ヾ(˶ᵔ ᗜ ᵔ˶)