A week after the festival ended. The festival energy was gone, normal life had returned. Some classmates wore vaguely-bored expressions; the two big events were over.
I had — through the after-party — gotten my first girlfriend, plural. My life had not, however, fundamentally changed. The pre-dating distance between us had already been unusual, so adding the dating label didn’t shift much.
That said — once we got home that night, things were rough. Mio had clearly seen everything, the story had flowed to Dad and Mom, and a family meeting had been triggered.
“Reona and Riona had been around my parents enough that the acceptance was smooth — small mercy.”
My dad has lines like if a beautiful woman approaches you, assume it’s a honey trap. If he hadn’t already known the twins, explaining alone would have been a nightmare. Yes, my warped personality is paternally inherited.
“Morning, Ryouya-kun, you have your standard exhausted face again today.”
“Your girlfriend showed up — try looking happier.”
“This is my default.”
There’s no version of me looking happy before school. And Saturday was far away — worse.
“Want to skip school today and do something fun? Just us.”
“No one will be home for a while — no interruptions.”
Reona-and-Riona had casually invaded my bed and were tempting me. Since we’d become a couple, they propositioned me constantly.
“If we did, I would be killed. Pass.”
“Aw, no one would have to know.”
“Our secret.”
“Mothers are not to be underestimated. If something’s off, she’d know.”
Yes — Reona and Riona’s parents Kaito-san and Eren-san had approved the relationship, with one condition.
Until we graduate from high school, our relationship is to remain clean and chaste. No physical advances either direction.
The twins were visibly dissatisfied, but with that condition met, the parents had committed to non-interference. The twins had grudgingly accepted. I was the last line of defense holding back the casual breaches.
“Fine, I’ll spare you for now.”
“Although — the restraint is only for now.”
The image of me getting immediately tackled after the high school graduation ceremony was very clear, but I would think about that when the time came.
We had our morning routine and walked to school. The pair rings were on — daily wear since the birthday party.
Reona-and-Riona said the rings are to keep off the rival cats. I’d said I don’t think any such girl exists, and Reona had replied you already trapped me and Nee-chan, what are you talking about, and I’d had to shut up.
At school, fourth period was world history with our calm, elderly teacher whose voice was a narcoleptic-tier monotone. I fought sleep — and lost, because my late-night gacha dungeon runs had left me already deficit-state.