"Hiss!"
Far away at the ramen shop, Chihaya Anon suddenly shuddered as a chill ran down her spine. She glanced around nervously with a confused and uneasy look in her eyes.
What was this strange, weighty feeling coming out of nowhere?
Feeling inexplicably nervous, Anon instinctively leaned into Haru, taking advantage of the fact that she was seated right beside him. That seemingly casual motion drew the attention of quite a few people. Still, to those present, this sort of behavior had already become something of a routine.
As long as there wasn't any kissing or anything further, most of them would just blush and pretend not to notice.
Except for one person.
"Come to think of it, why isn't Soyorin here yet? Everyone's already started eating."
Anon's gaze shifted suspiciously toward the private room's entrance. She had been the first one to send a message in the MyGO Line group, and just to provoke her, she had even messaged Soyo directly afterward.
The message had already been marked as read, but there was still no reply.
Something about it felt off, though Anon couldn't quite put her finger on it.
"I'll send her a message and ask."
Seeing this, Haru began to feel a bit concerned too. He opened his Line chat with Soyo.
[Do You Wanna Be Fertilizer?: Soyo, where are you? I'll head out and bring you over.]
The message had barely been sent when his phone buzzed with an immediate reply.
[Nagasaki Soyo: I really appreciate you offering to come get me, Haru… but I've still got a few things to take care of. I won't be able to make it to the gathering this time.]
[Nagasaki Soyo: Could you do me a favor and apologize to Tomori and the others for me?]
Haru paused for a moment, then slowly furrowed his brows.
Wakaba Mutsumi, who had been watching him closely all along, noticed his hesitant expression the instant it appeared.
Perhaps because it involved "Nagasaki Soyo," a faint ripple broke across Mutsumi's otherwise impassive face. She leaned forward slightly and asked softly,
"Haru, is something wrong with Soyo?"
Sitting next to him, Tomori simply stared wide-eyed in silence. Still, the subtle furrow in her brows made it clear that worry had taken root in her heart.
Seeing this, Haru let out a faint sigh and laid his phone on the table, showing everyone the messages.
"Soyo said can't make it today, she asked me to apologize to you all on her behalf."
"Eh? So she really was just ignoring my message on purpose... Ugh, I was totally ready to show off in front of Soyorin!"
Anon pouted, her lovely face scrunching up like a bitter melon. She had managed to claim the seat beside Haru through sheer luck, and was all set to smugly flaunt it once Soyo arrived, hoping to savor the sight of that sly brown fox wearing an envious, helpless look.
But who would've thought Nagasaki Soyo would just flat-out say she was too busy to come?
So frustrating!
Haru raised his eyebrows at her reaction, then calmly stepped in to explain, "There's nothing we can do if Soyo has something important to take care of. We can't force her to come. We'll just have to find another time when everyone's free."
Of course, Haru wasn't naive enough to believe that his clever, calculating ex-girlfriend actually had pressing business.
To him, it seemed clear Soyo had simply come up with an ordinary excuse, choosing not to show up for reasons of her own. She had probably guessed ahead of time, smart as she was, that even if she came, she wouldn't be able to sit next to Haru.
And more than that, she'd have to watch that infuriating pink-haired girl acting all smug.
Or maybe she had her own reasons entirely, perhaps something to do with "Sakiko" or "Mutsumi." Either way, there was definitely more going on. That clingy girl wouldn't have missed a gathering like this without something serious going on.
Still, Haru had no doubt she wasn't going to let this go.
"..."
Mutsumi stared at the message on the phone, then quietly looked away, her thoughts unreadable.
As the one who knew Nagasaki Soyo best, she was thinking the exact same thing as Haru.
With Soyo's personality, if she realized another girl was getting close to Haru, there was no way she'd sit back and let it happen. Her seemingly gentle and refined demeanor was something she reserved only for her "husband."
The Soyo Mutsumi knew harbored very different thoughts beneath the surface.
Eyes thoughtful and distant, Mutsumi slowly closed her eyes, as if quietly resolving herself.
…
A lit phone screen rested on a table, showing a chat interface labeled "Dear Husband."
"Phew…"
The brown-haired girl took a deep breath, her cheeks faintly flushed as she lay on Haru's bed, clutching his blanket to her chest.
Her soft, finely textured hair was slightly tousled around her forehead, but she didn't seem to care, burying her nose once more into the soft pillow.
"…It smells familiar, but it still doesn't compare to being in the real thing's arms."
Her eyes glistened for a moment. Soyo looked again at the message on her screen.
She had her reasons for turning down the dinner gathering.
Earlier that afternoon, after spotting that annoying pink-haired girl's SNS post, she rushed to Haru's apartment, hoping to lie in wait.
But then Anon had suddenly dragged everyone off to dinner. In an instant, her entire plan became a joke. It was like she had become some foolish clown waiting in vain, powerless and fuming.
A rush of bitter regret and frustration flooded Soyo's heart. She had been so close to snapping, her anger nearly dizzying, her composure fraying, and she almost stormed off to the restaurant on the spot.
But she quickly calmed down.
"Even if I go now, that annoying pink-head has probably already taken the seat next to Haru… If I show up now, I'll just give her more reason to gloat and since this gathering includes the Kessoku, Ave Mujica, and MyGo!!!!!! band members, it makes sense that Haru would invite Mutsumi too, doesn't it?"
"Rather than going and getting grilled by Anon and Mutsumi until I lose my mind, it's better not to startle the flock at all… If I just stay here in Haru's apartment, eventually, he'll have to come home."
Soyo twirled a few strands of hair around her finger, a sly smile curling on her lips. Her soft, elegant grace had a way of making her instantly likable.
Soyo was very confident in her own charm.
She was certain that, as long as no one else interfered tonight, there was a 90 percent, no, a 100 percent chance that things between her and Haru would spiral into something more. As long as he showed the slightest sign of letting his guard down...
She would seize the moment and make it impossible to turn back.
If he went along with it, great. If not, she still had her "girlfriend" rights to rely on.
"As long as I get to be the 'first,' then Haru will be mine, completely."
Soyo took a deep breath, suddenly remembering that she hadn't bought any "battle gear."
Knowing Haru's personality, she knew he took such matters seriously.
Without any proper defenses in place, her plan's difficulty level would definitely spike. Just as she was getting ready to run to the convenience store, there came a crisp knock at the door.
"…?"
Soyo blinked, puzzled. A flicker of suspicion crossed her mind.
By now, the dinner gathering should be nearly over. But her darling Haru didn't know how to teleport, so no matter how fast he was, he shouldn't be back yet.
"Haru-san, are you home?"
An unfamiliar voice. Soyo's expression froze for an instant, but then she reached straight for the doorknob without hesitation.
As the door opened, her face blossomed into a warm, elegant smile. Wearing an apron, she brushed a strand of brown hair behind her ear and spoke in a sweet, gentle tone.
"Hello there. May I help you?"
"Eh?"
The blonde girl standing at the door, wearing a mask and sunglasses, was clearly stunned. But she quickly gathered herself.
"Na, Nagasaki-san? Why are you at Haru's place at this hour…"
"I'm Haru's lover, of course. Isn't it natural that I'd be here?"
Soyo's pale blue eyes narrowed as she responded slowly, her tone calm and unhurried. The blonde girl looked away guiltily, lowering her head.
Seeing Misumi Uika's awkward expression, Soyo offered her sweetest, most tender smile. In the gentlest voice, she asked,
"But what about you, Uika-san? What brings you to Haru's place at this hour?"
Wearing a baseball cap, Uika hesitated. She hadn't expected to run into Soyo so late at night, especially with the girl dressed like a new bride and openly asserting her status as Haru's girlfriend.
That unapologetic smile threw Uika off completely, stirring up a mix of jealousy and loss she could barely conceal.
"W-well, I actually came to see Haru-san."
"He originally invited me to the band dinner tonight, but I had to decline because of work… After finishing, I really wanted to rush over, but by now the gathering's probably wrapping up, so I figured I'd come here to apologize in person…"
Soyo nodded meaningfully, though a flicker of something unreadable passed behind her gently narrowed eyes.
"Sorry to intrude so suddenly!"
Uika spoke as she slowly removed her cap and mask, revealing a face with the kind of breathtaking beauty fit for an idol. Even though Soyo had steeled herself, she couldn't help but feel a jolt of surprise, no matter how many times she saw that face, its stunning allure never failed to impress.
But as Haru's girlfriend, Soyo could sense something different about Uika this time.
Back when she'd met her alongside Sakiko, Soyo hadn't felt particularly threatened. But now Uika had come straight here after work just to apologize, which clearly meant her relationship with Haru had progressed beyond casual friendship.
Haru really does attract all kinds, doesn't he?
Even as jealousy stirred quietly in her heart, Soyo's expression remained soft and pleasant. After a moment of quiet consideration, she responded with a sweet smile, "Haru should still be on his way back... If you don't mind, Uika-san, would you like to come in for some tea?"
From what she could tell, Uika and Haru hadn't yet reached the level of lovers.
Still, for someone to come straight over like this after finishing work, if they weren't officially together, then they were at least well on the way. Soyo decided to take the opportunity to get a better read on the situation, and if possible, discourage it before it bloomed.
There were already too many girls orbiting Haru, and this one was a top-tier idol.
"Thank you, then I'll take you up on that."
Uika gave a polite nod and stepped out of her canvas shoes with a touch of awkwardness.
Yet all the while, she was subtly observing Nagasaki Soyo.
From their very first meeting, Uika had felt there was something a little off about this gentle, elegant girl.
Back then, Soyo hadn't even been confirmed as Haru's girlfriend, yet even Sakiko had seemed somewhat overshadowed in her presence. Uika hadn't interacted much with her, but the impression stuck.
"So, Nagasaki-san, what brings you to Haru's place at this hour?"
"Well, I'm waiting for him to come home, of course. That's what a girlfriend does, right?"
Uika faltered for a moment at that, then gave a small nod.
From the start, Soyo had been carefully sizing her up. Her smile was warm and graceful, but Uika could sense no real warmth behind it.
As an idol, she was highly sensitive to "smiles", her job required the polished, professional kind.
"Uika-san, are you and Haru very close?"
"Even though we haven't known each other for that long, I consider him a very, very important friend. I'm not sure how he feels about me... but I think we get along well. Sometimes we even have meals together."
Just to be safe, Uika kept her true feelings to herself.
"I see…"
Hearing that, Soyo had her answer. This gentle and good-natured idol clearly valued Haru deeply.
If those feelings were allowed to grow unchecked, friendship would eventually turn into love.
That thought sent a subtle wave of unease through her. Still smiling, Soyo continued in a soft voice,
"That makes me happy too. Haru doesn't have many friends, and close ones are even fewer."
"But as an idol from 'Sumimi,' isn't it a bit... risky to visit a man's home alone at this hour? If a reporter saw you, things could get pretty messy, don't you think?"
Uika blinked. Honestly, she wasn't too bothered.
If she ever did end up in a relationship with Haru, she'd be willing to leave the idol world behind without regret.
"It might be a little risky, yes. But I've already prepared myself."
"If I have to give up spending time with someone important to me just because I'm scared of backlash, then I don't think I can do this."
Soyo's internal alarms began blaring the moment she heard that, and she found herself speaking up in spite of herself, voice tinged with urgency, "But even so, isn't that going a bit far? You're such a beautiful and charming girl, Uika-san. Surely, it's best to keep a little distance from the opposite sex."
Something about that struck Uika as odd, though she kept her expression polite and smiling.
"Why would I need to keep a distance? Haru doesn't seem to mind spending time with me."
"Nagasaki-san, are you saying you don't like me being around him?"
Uika tilted her head slightly, deliberately showing a hint of uncertainty, testing Soyo's reaction.
From what she knew, every girl Haru dated had been someone who genuinely supported him from behind the scenes.
If he really started to like her, they might not be thrilled, but surely they wouldn't object outright.
Still, from the start, Soyo had been subtly giving off a kind of "stay away" signal. Uika could understand jealousy from a girlfriend, but something about Soyo's behavior just felt... off.
Seeing Uika's faintly uncertain expression, Soyo began to sense something as well.
As Haru's girlfriend, that gave her the initiative, and with careful calculation, she let a slightly firmer note creep into her tone.
"Of course I mind, as Haru's girlfriend. I don't want my partner getting too close to other girls."
"Since you know he already has a girlfriend, shouldn't you be keeping a bit of distance out of respect?"
Uika raised her eyes, those dazzling violet irises glowing with elegant brilliance. Lowering her head just slightly, she spoke with a trace of sorrow,
"Is that what Haru thinks too? That he doesn't want to get too close to any girl besides you, Soyo-san?"
Soyo hesitated. Seeing that forlorn, almost abandoned expression on the girl's face, her naturally soft heart wavered.
She had no choice but to gently soften her tone.
"...That's right. Haru would want to keep a little distance from other girls too."
"Even from... Saki-chan?"
Uika slowly widened her eyes. The fragile softness in her voice was gone.
The air around them stilled. The girl who had seemed so delicate and subdued now exuded a striking force of presence.
Her golden hair tumbled down her back as she raised her head, those noble, deep-purple eyes now tinged with a murky gray-black. Even just being stared at by those eyes made Soyo feel a chilling sense of dread she couldn't quite explain.