Another night passed.
It was finally Friday—the day everyone had been waiting for.
Rinto woke up feeling refreshed, greeted by the sight of an impossibly cute Momoka beside him.
Momoka was always extra sweet in bed. Whenever he hugged her, she'd go soft and clingy—utterly irresistible.
Even now, she was sleeping peacefully, resting on Rinto's arm as if she planned to crush it just to make him skip school.
Such a cunning, rock 'n' roll onee-san clearly deserved punishment—namely, a morning kiss attack.
"Mmm… mmmnn~!"
Momoka gasped for breath and woke up fast, whimpering for mercy.
Since she was awake anyway, Rinto asked cheerfully, "Morning. Aren't you on shift at the convenience store with Subaru today? Can you get up?"
"…Mmgh… Yeah, I'm up now… ('-﹏-')"
Even though her waist ached and her legs were like jelly, the hardworking Momoka still upheld her adult pride—earning money came first.
As she got up to dress, she caught sight of the plastic wrappers in the trash and blushed with a complicated look.
Ever since they started dating, there'd been a new kind of expense.
They both worked part-time at convenience stores and drugstores, and thanks to Rinto's charm, they often got friendly discounts from the managers—but still, it wasn't free. And lately, Rinto had gotten so energetic that even buying in bulk barely kept up. Momoka felt she might actually collapse at this rate.
The 20-year-old muttered under her breath, face red, "At this rate, I'll have to give up drinking just to cover those costs… Seriously~! Dating a high schooler who's like a hyperactive monkey—this is totally my fault~."
Such shameless bragging.
Secretly pleased, she kept dressing while sneaking glances at Rinto's back.
Just looking at him made her heart skip a beat.
"Hey, Rinto," she blurted before she could stop herself, "have you started working out lately?"
"Huh? You mean our nightly sessions don't count?" Rinto asked, dead serious.
Momoka went bright red, grabbed a pillow, and threw it at his face. "I meant actual exercise! You really look different lately."
She made him stop dressing for a second and snapped a photo with her phone.
The picture clearly showed how defined his back muscles had become—stronger, sharper than before.
He was already tall—over 180 cm—and naturally active, but he'd never had visible muscles before. Now, even his waist and abs were tightening up, to his own surprise.
Momoka compared the photo to the real thing and started openly drooling.
"This butt… is perfect. Can I take a picture?"
Rinto grinned. "Only if I get to smack yours ten times. Deal?"
They exchanged a look—mutual understanding, plans confirmed for tonight.
Anyway.
Rinto still couldn't figure out why his body had changed so much, though he had a vague guess.
"Lately my stamina's been crazy. I can pull all-nighters with no problem. Even four hours of sleep feels like plenty. I've got too much energy, honestly."
"Maybe that's the power of love? So it's all thanks to you, Momoka?"
"Flattery won't get you anywhere. I've been more exhausted lately, actually… What are you grinning at, you perv~!"
His three-years-older girlfriend glared, but to him she only looked more adorable.
Each day, Rinto found himself more drawn to her.
Later, while showering, he took a mirror selfie of his upper body and sent it to Kasumi and Sumire.
[What do you think?]
…Ding ding~
Two minutes later, both replied.
[Kasumi]:Already tried it—super smooth. Great for sensitive skin. Thanks for the treat!
[Sumire]:Senpai, you're playing with fire. I'll have to discipline my indecent senpai who sends reckless selfies. Meet me in the subway bathroom later.
"These girls are hopeless."
Rinto sighed. Clearly, the athletic twins were not the people to ask for objective feedback.
With no other choice, he sent the photo to his reliable bro, Sakamoto Ryuji.
Ryuji took a bit to open it—probably just woke up—but replied fast:
[Bro, that's badass!!] followed by a string of thumbs-up emojis. A true middle-aged jock at heart.
Praised by his bro, Rinto felt oddly satisfied.
After finishing his shower, he started making breakfast as usual.
Momoka yawned and took over the bathroom, while Nina shuffled out of Rinto's room, still half-asleep.
She leaned gently against his back, soaking up some of his "lifelong" energy.
Careful to avoid hot oil splatters, Rinto wrapped one arm around her smaller hands at his waist.
"…Morning~"
"Mm. Morning."
Once fully awake, Nina greeted him properly.
Rinto plated the fried eggs, turned off the stove, and asked seriously, "Hey, Nina, do you think my body's changed lately?"
He lifted his shirt casually, showing off his toned abs and lean waist.
He wasn't a gym rat, but with his broad shoulders, tanned skin, and clear muscle lines, he definitely stood out now.
Nina froze, eyes wide—then screamed at the top of her lungs.
"~~Seeeeeeexaaaaaaahhhhhh~~('>﹏<')"
Too much stimulation for such an innocent girl. Screaming in panic, she bolted back into her room.
Rinto was left completely baffled.
Morgana hopped up onto the counter, tail flicking in disapproval.
"O mighty Trickster… you're hopeless with girls, meow. You need punishment."
The cat pressed one soft paw onto Rinto's stomach, leaving behind a perfect paw print.
Still confused, Rinto muttered, "What's going on in girls' heads?"
Hopeless. He honestly thought girls didn't care about a guy's body.
In reality, they definitely did.
Just as guys have their preferences, women had theirs—and good looks plus a toned build were always a hit.
With his current physique and 182 cm height, Rinto was exactly the kind of guy who'd get scouted in Shinjuku for a host club gig.
But under Morgana's disapproving gaze, Rinto still didn't get it.
"Whatever. I'll just send it to Ann and Shiho—they'll give me an honest opinion."
And with that, another carefree, clueless day began.
...
…Later.
Rinto barely made it to class five minutes before the bell.
"…Pervert."
The moment he sat down, Ann whipped around, glaring furiously.
"Eh? What did I do?" Rinto asked, honestly confused.
Ann bit her lip, cheeks flushed, and snapped, "You were late. What were you even doing?"
"…Nothing much. Just wasted some time in the subway bathroom."
Rinto kept it vague, which only made Ann's face twist in disgust.
He obviously couldn't admit he'd been dragged there for "discipline." And yeah, using the mother-baby restroom was wrong—he wouldn't do that again.
Ann sighed and switched topics.
"Seriously, what was with that selfie you sent? If anyone else did that, I'd have blocked them instantly! This is exactly what's wrong with you! (.oˇ^ ˇo.)"
She looked completely done with him.
By now, everyone knew their Phantom Thieves leader was dense…
…But sending a shirtless pic to a classmate first thing in the morning? That was a new level.
Finally realizing his mistake, Rinto apologized at once.
"Sorry. Kasumi and Sumire already scolded me too. I won't send random photos anymore. I just thought my body changed a lot lately, so I wanted your opinion. It's only the upper half—nothing indecent, right?"
"…And that right there is your problem!"
Ann sighed deeply.
She knew this blockhead hadn't thought it through—he genuinely had no idea how much a girl's imagination could run wild over something like that.
Blushing faintly, she pointed her slender finger right at his nose.
"Think about it from my perspective. If I suddenly sent you a selfie like that, how would you feel? Even if I hid the risky parts and just showed my stomach and abs—what would you think?"
"Oh…"
Rinto's gaze dropped subtly, lingering on Ann's trim waistline.
Yeah, I'd probably think it's super hot. Like, really hot.
But somehow, the topic had already veered off course.
Feeling a sudden scholarly curiosity—like a kid discovering something new—Rinto raised both hands earnestly.
"You bring up an interesting point, Takamaki-san. I agree—a girl's stomach is amazing, I'd love to see it. But actually, lots of girls wear crop tops in public, right?"
"That means it's naturally a healthy thing to admire. Same goes for girls in short skirts—they choose to show off their legs. Wouldn't it actually be rude if guys didn't at least look?"
"…Hmm, you kind of have a point."
Ann frowned thoughtfully, realizing his logic wasn't completely wrong.
Encouraged, Rinto kept going.
"By the same logic, when guys go shirtless, that's fine too. On sports fields, players tear off their shirts after scoring goals, right? So men's bodies aren't exactly sacred either—everyone sees them."
"So if I send you selfies and you send me selfies, where's the actual line? Honestly, if I got one from you, I'd be excited—just imagining it gets my blood pumping. But if you wore a crop top, I'd probably just think it's pretty, nothing weird about it. What's the difference?"
Ann blinked rapidly. "Uh… when you put it that way, even I'm confused… huh? …Wait—wait a second???"
Our lovely but occasionally slow Ann suddenly realized something crucial.
She'd just heard something she definitely couldn't ignore.
"What did you just say? Repeat that. One more time, please."
Rinto tilted his head. "Huh? I said if you wore a crop top, I'd think you're really pretty—"
"No, before that!"
"Oh, that was: 'If I got a selfie from you, I'd be excited. Just imagining it gets my blood pumping.'"
Ann: "......"
Our confident, magazine-cover-ready Ann turned beet red in seconds.
Her fair skin made it impossible to hide; the blush spread all the way to her ears.
"…Pervert."
Before Rinto could say anything, Ann bit her lip, huffed softly, and turned away, refusing to speak again.
…Why?
Rinto honestly had no idea why his front-row buddy was mad again.
But since the bell rang right then, he decided to ask later.
Maybe I really shouldn't send selfies so casually… lesson learned.
As soon as class ended, Ann bolted from the room before he could say a word.
She sprinted straight to the next classroom and dragged her best friend Shiho into the girls' restroom.
Like any high-school girl would, she immediately began venting.
"Do you think that blockhead act of his is fake?! No one can be that clueless!"
"He actually said he wanted to see my selfies! Who says that to a friend?!"
"I mean, I'm not mad—well, not really mad, and sending one wouldn't even be a big deal, but—aaaaaaaahhh! (〃＞目＜)"
Shiho smiled gently. "Mm, mm, I get it, Ann. Take a breath—I totally get it."
Unlike her flustered bestie, Shiho stayed calm and amused.
She'd gotten Rinto's selfie too this morning—and honestly, it had been impressive.
His unexpectedly toned physique had caught her off guard, stirring something she couldn't quite name.
He really did have everything going for him. Even Shiho's heart had skipped a beat.
And she knew Ann's had too.
Ann's outrage was just camouflage. Deep down, she was thrilled—and Shiho saw right through it.
It reminded her of little boys teasing the girls they liked. Same energy, different age.
More mature and composed, Shiho giggled softly.
After all, she had promised Rinto she'd secretly help him get closer to Ann. (Rinto: No, that's not what I meant!)
And now, the perfect chance had arrived—he'd finally made a move!
Shiho tugged Ann into one of the bathroom stalls, pressed a finger to her lips in a playful "Shhh~," and waved her phone with a mischievous grin.
"It's only fair, right? Since Rinto-kun sent us a selfie, we should return the favor."
"…Huh? …Ehh???"
Wait, what?! Ann's brain instantly short-circuited.
But before she could stop her, Shiho had already shrugged off her blazer and unbuttoned her blouse.
She revealed a taut, athletic stomach with faint abs—proof of her volleyball days—a figure worthy of a magazine spread.
Ignoring Ann's panicked squeaks, Shiho tugged up her shirt too.
"Come on, quick! Let's show off those abs~ You don't have an ounce of fat anyway. No reason to be shy."
"Get closer—we'll take it together. And make a peace sign… yeah, perfect—cheese~!"
Why am I lifting my shirt in a school bathroom to send a stomach selfie to a classmate…? Ann's brain completely crashed.
Shiho, meanwhile, hit send without hesitation, adding a cheerful caption:
[For Rinto-kun's eyes only, okay~? (^_^*)]
A few moments later, Rinto replied:
[I swear on my idol roommate's beer belly I won't show it to anyone else. Thanks—you really helped me reflect.]
Perfect. Shiho smiled triumphantly.
She waved her phone in front of Ann.
"See? He gets it now. He definitely won't send random selfies anymore… Though if he stops, you won't see them either. How about volunteering as his personal trainer—make him send you progress pics?"
"~~~Shiho!" ('>﹏<')
Even the usually carefree Ann finally exploded, face blazing red as she tried to strangle her best friend.
Shiho laughed so hard her eyes watered—but she was genuinely happy.
When Rinto saw the girls' selfie, he was hit with immediate, earth-shattering guilt.
I really, really shouldn't be sending selfies to my female classmates… it's way too much stimulation!
Still, despite the guilt, he couldn't bring himself to delete it. He quietly saved it instead.
The rest of the day, he couldn't even look Ann in the eye—she still seemed mad.
Around lunchtime, the school store was packed again.
To his surprise, Subaru Awa was there, selling bread as usual.
Confused, Rinto walked over. "Weren't you supposed to be working at the convenience store with Momoka this morning? Won't skipping out get you in trouble?"
"Ah~" Subaru blinked innocently.
Even behind her mask, her smile sparkled as she winked.
"I just snuck out for a quick lunch gig~ Keep it secret, okay? Here's a love-filled bread, baked with my true heart~."
It still had a price tag: 128 yen.
So much for "true heart." But of course, Rinto still thanked her earnestly.
To make up for the selfie fiasco, he handed all the meatballs from his lunchbox to Ann and Shiho as an apology.
After such a chaotic day, Rinto headed to the Light Music Club completely satisfied.
He had considered showing his selfie to Bocchi and Sakiko, but quickly thought better of it.
Instead, he grinned and announced, "Anyone free after school, come with me! I'm treating everyone to a show at the Live House."
Today was Kessoku Band's performance.
He'd arranged with Bocchi and Sakiko to go together.
The Yoshizawa twins had curfew and practice, so they couldn't come, but the two kouhais looked thrilled.
Especially Bocchi—she clutched her guitar and giggled to herself in the corner.
"Going out with classmates after school… just like real high schoolers… I'm finally one of them… hehehee~"
Sakiko smiled politely. "Bocchi-san, we actually are high schoolers."
Even Sakiko had started calling her "Bocchi" naturally—what a heartwarming milestone.
Rinto beamed, proud of how well she'd settled in. Hopefully she still remembered Bocchi's real name… probably.
"Oh, two more friends are joining," Rinto added. "Bocchi, have you heard of Kawaragi Momoka? She used to be in a well-known band—guitar and vocals."
Bocchi's head shot up instantly, nodding at light speed.
"Mm-mm! Mm-mm-mm! Diamond Dust—I love them! I can play all their songs!"
Delighted, Rinto smiled. "Oh, so you're Momoka's fan too? She's actually my roommate. I'll introduce you later—Bocchi? Bocchi?! Don't die, Bocchi!"
He rushed to help as Bocchi twitched, foamed at the mouth, and nearly disintegrated into dust.