“Ryouya-kun is finally checkmated. After all this, it’s moving.”
“Long road.”
“Yeah, we’ve been at this a while.”
Riona and I were home, sitting in front of an A4 sheet of paper, and we were pleased. The play-and-accounting timing — when Ryouya was depleted to the point of mental autopilot — had been perfect.
Normal-state Ryouya-kun would have read the contents before signing. We’d been waiting for the right moment.
“It’s clearly Ryouya’s handwriting, signed. No way to walk it back.”
“Borrowing his math homework as cover was crucial.”
“Nee-chan, bad woman.”
“You’re as bad, Riona.”
The plan was Riona’s design, with me as executor — full co-conspirators. The proceeds, of course, split between us.
“Now the question is whether Ryouya behaves as planned on the day.”
“That part is on me. I started the confession-contest rumor specifically to rattle him.”
The rumor had required some logistics, but it had worked. It reached Ryouya despite his loner status — full success.
And the fact that Ryouya had asked Riona whether I was doing something at the after-party meant our pressure was applied effectively. The plan was on rails.
“Everyone attending the after-party will be witnesses. Ryouya can’t run.”
“By now Ryouya-kun probably wouldn’t try to run, but.”
“Even if Ryouya tried to run, we’d chase him to the ends of the earth.”
The perimeter was fully secured by our prior groundwork. The day Ryouya-kun made me and Riona fall in love, his future had narrowed to a single path.
“This piece of paper is the win condition.”
“With this, Ryouya is mine and Nee-chan’s.”
I was genuinely not patient about the after-party arriving.
———
Chapter 6 ends. Next chapter, festival arc — the finale.
I wonder what grand plan Reona and Riona could possibly be cooking up. (Innocent whistling.)
10 stars from 1000 — please consider a ★rating if you haven’t.