Fast forward to the end of the classes. I head out the school gate alone and go towards the new crepe place that opened near Shinjuku Station.

  “Hmm…I heard it’s really good. The line is not too long…yeah, let’s hit it.”

  I queue up in the line, wait for about 10 minutes and here comes my turn. It was a small shop.

  The menu was varied: Pistachio cream crepes being their speciality. I decided to give it a try.

  “One Pistachio cream crepe please!”

  The cashier smiled.

  “Sure! One Pistachio cream crepe coming up right now!”

  I look around a little while waiting. I see two people from the class next to us sharing an indirect kiss via the crepe they just bought.

  I guess that’s what being a couple is all about...

  It wasn’t long before I received it. It was looking sensational, green cream overflowing from it

  "Thank you for the meal!"

  Then, just as I am about to bite into the delicious dessert…out of nowhere, Kaguya and Mai appear.

  “What are you doing here, Kaito?”

  "Wait, what are you doing here?"

  "We decided to hang out and we came here to the new shop. Is that a crepe from the new location we were heading to?"

  I show it to both of them, putting it in front of their faces.

  “Hey, I wanted to try this new dessert!” said Kaguya with her mouth watering.

  “Wow, looks great! Kaguya, let’s get some!”

  Kaguya looks directly at my crepe. Without any second thoughts, she bites into it.

  “Nom-nom. Tasty!”

  I was looking devastated. My soul left me.

  “Wait…KAGUYAA! I waited all week to try out that new crepe.”

  “Sorry…I couldn't help myself.”

  “It’s not like you to be so impulsive…”

  She puts her hand in her hair and smiles.

  “Te-hee.”

  Mai looks curious at my crepe.

  “Can I have a bite too?”

  “No, you can’t. I want to eat it.”

  “You meanie…Kaguya, let’s go buy some for ourselves!”

  Still feeling somewhat sorry for casually taking the first and best bite out of the crepe, she lets out a muttered reply, “Sure…”.

  And so, the girls go towards the Crepe Shop while I go towards my place and savour my treat. But something was strange.

  “Kaguya biting that casually into my crepe? Well, I don’t mind it but…”

  Just as I said that, she catches up to me. Mai was nowhere to be seen.

  ”Kaito! Here, bite into my crepe so we can be equal.”

  This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

  “Oh…Kaguya. But I already ate mine.”

  “Come on, you’re going to make me feel bad.”

  I look hesitatingly at her kindness but choose to embrace it.

  Who knows when I will get this chance again?

  “S-Say ahh…”

  My soul leaves my body once again:

  HUH?! WHAT?! ISN’T THIS LIKE A COUPLE’S THING?

  She was all red and embarrassed.

  To not make the scene take any further embarrassment, I open my mouth and she feeds me like I’m a little chick.

  “Thanks…I guess.”

  I could see she was happy.

  “You’re welcome!”

  I did it! Yay, let's go! Now he won't be mad at me anymore! It even felt good to feed him!

  Then she bites into the same spot.

  W-WHAT?! Isn’t that like an…indirect kiss?!

  But before I could say a word…she ran away like nothing happened.

  Meanwhile, i'm still shaken by the earlier event.

  Well, I can’t say I didn’t expect it. It’s a natural reaction after all…but did she really not think anything of that…indirect kiss?

  “Whatever…let’s just go home and call it a day.”

  Kaguya looks at her crepe and just eats it, like casual.

  “Indirect kiss with Kaito, huh…?”

  She smiled. She didn’t blush or anything, she was just happy.

  She goes on to her house, while enjoying every bite of the pistachio delight.

  As the sun sets in a beautiful orange show, I approach my house.

  I'm already tired from the past days. I just want a moment to relax.

  But then, I see Akane in front of my House gate.

  “Hey, what are you doing here? Were you waiting for me?”

  Akane was blushing hard.

  “Y-yes. I wanted to apologize for falling a-a-asleep on y-y-you last night. I was so tired that I literally passed out. Sorry. Don’t get the wrong idea! It’s not like I wanted to do it on purpose!”

  I am confused but I decide to respond calmly.

  “Um…okay, no big deal. I went to sleep in my room anyways.”

  “Then, if it’s clarified, I’m going home. Have a good evening.”

  “Thanks! You too.”

  Uh, what a pain. She started her cold tone again. I guess she really depicts a tsundere character out of a bestseller rom-com manga. Speaking of which…I wonder if that new volume appeared. I’ll check it out tomorrow.

  I get home, take a shower, and head downstairs to prepare my dinner.

  “Now…let’s see. Katsu Chicken and Curry. Should be pretty simple. Onions, tomatoes, garlic, chicken, pank-…”

  And there was my door busted open by Mai. It was bound to happen since it didn’t happen this morning.

  “Kaito!”

  “Yes? How can I help you? And stop kicking my door open like you’re from the special forces.”

  “Let’s have dinner together!”

  “Hmm…okay? But you don’t really like Curry…do you?”

  “I can manage it. I forgot to tell Mizuki I’m getting home early today, so the door’s locked. I might have to spend the night at your place again.”

  “Not really a problem…you can sleep again on the couch.”

  Mai looks smug: Hehe…I have a better plan.

  “Well, dinner’s almost ready. Could you help with the dishes?”

  “Sure thing.”

  I plate out the rice, katsu, and curry in a Michelin-star style.

  “Wow, looks amazing!”

  We start to eat, enjoying every bite. It’s the first time I've seen her enjoy my food this much.

  “It was so good! Thanks for the meal! Can I borrow some of your pajamas?”

  “Eh…sure. You can go on and use the bathroom and take a shower. There should be a spare toothbrush too, and some skincare products in the bathroom.”

  She goes on to do her things while I dress up and head to my bedroom. I fall asleep before she gets out of the bathroom.

  Mai peeks out of the bathroom after she’s done.

  “Hehe…just what I waited for. He will be so surprised when he wakes up in the morning.”

  Without a second thought, she enters Kaito’s bedroom.

  Mai lies next to Kaito in his bed and hugs him tightly. He doesn’t even feel it, due to how exhausted he was.

  I like this so much…sleeping next to you…it feels cozy and warm, something that I missed all my life...

  She fell asleep.

  I’m awoken by the bright sun outside. I noticed something weird. Someone was hugging me.

  I turn slowly. And for the third time this week, my soul left my body.

  “M-MAI-CHAN?! W-W-W-W-WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!”

  Mai wakes up from the noise.

  “Ehhh…good morning Kaito. What do you mean? Oh…why did I sleep next to you? Well…we haven’t done that for a long time! Got your heart pounding?”

  “GET OFF ME! And stop teasing me. This is the reason you don’t have a boyfriend yet.”

  Mai looks angry and says to herself: You’re the reason why I don’t have a boyfriend. I turn down everyone in hopes of you catching feelings for me.

  “I’m plenty cute, you know? Many boys would die for me!”

  “Go dress up. We’ll be late for school.”

  We both get dressed up in our school uniforms and head towards class. Akane left early, so she couldn’t join us.

  We sit in our classroom, waiting for the class to start.

  The teacher enters the classroom. I’m looking out the window, thinking about what our high school football team did at the prefecture tournament.

  We were playing against Oyonawari High School this round...I wish I was called up to the squad.

  The classroom’s door slides open. I turn to see who came.

  “Students, we have a new student among us from today. Her name is Mizuki Shinobu. Please be kind to her.”

  “Nice to meet everyone. Especially you, Kaito-kun…”

  “HUH?!”

  I stand up and the whole classroom goes silent.

  “W-WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?!”

  “Well, I transferred here just for you! Let’s get along now, shall we?”

  Just when I thought my life couldn’t get more complicated…here it was. Another chaos factor.