Chapter 12: Something Feels a Little Off

After the commotion just now, the izakaya wasn’t far.

A few dozen more steps forward and around a bend, and they arrived.

Futaba stopped walking and let go of You’s arm.

Almost at the same time, Chihaya also released her grip.

They didn’t exchange a word, but their movements were perfectly synchronized.

The moment both arms regained their freedom, You felt a wave of relief—at least he wouldn’t have to be sandwiched between them anymore.

He didn’t dare imagine what the shop’s owner and customers would have thought.

Then, immediately after, a sense of loss crept up.

Being flanked by two girls, one on each side, felt wonderful.

And if he hadn’t been mistaken, Futaba’s figure was on par with Chihaya’s—both just the right size.

He quickly suppressed that thought.

‘Can’t think about that. Too dangerous.’

They pushed aside the noren curtain and stepped inside.

The izakaya was small, with seven or eight tables.

The menu on the wall was handwritten—clearly an old establishment.

The air was thick with the savory aroma of grilled skewers.

There weren’t many customers; a few sat quietly in the corner, eating.

Futaba greeted the owner with practiced ease.

You clicked his tongue inwardly.

‘As expected of Futaba. This is her first time here, yet she can greet the owner so familiarly, and the owner doesn’t seem annoyed. Damn it, what’s wrong with this world? Can pretty girls really get away with anything?’

The owner nodded and led them to a semi-private room in the back.

He slid open the door to reveal tatami mats and a low table in the center.

They took off their shoes and sat down.

Futaba naturally took the seat at the back, Chihaya beside her, You across from them, and Mai next to You.

The menu was handed over.

Futaba skimmed it quickly and started ordering.

“Two orders of the grilled skewer platter, one sashimi platter, one fried chicken, and one salted grilled mackerel.”

She glanced at Chihaya.

“Chihaya said she can’t drink, right? Then let’s have four glasses of oolong tea.”

The owner noted the order, smiled, and withdrew.

The food came quickly.

The skewers were still sizzling, the sashimi beautifully arranged, and the mackerel grilled to crispy skin and tender flesh.

You picked up a piece of fried chicken—crispy on the outside, tender inside, with a slightly tangy special sauce.

Delicious.

Futaba really had good taste.

The meal was calm.

They chatted while eating—about fun spots in Hakone, which shop had the best onsen manju, what the weather would be like tomorrow.

Chihaya and Futaba stopped their rivalry, and Mai spoke a bit more.

You thought, ‘This is what a normal outing should feel like.’

He started focusing on the food, since traveling meant tasting local cuisine.

After dinner, the sky was completely dark.

The lanterns on the street were all lit, casting a reddish glow on the stone pavement.

There were far fewer tourists than during the day.

Occasionally a couple in yukata passed by, their geta clacking on the stones.

Futaba’s eyes darted around.

‘Just letting them go like that won’t do. I need to observe this Lord Divine Child a bit more.’

She smiled sweetly and spoke.

“Lord Divine Child, which inn are you staying at for this trip?”

You instinctively started to answer.

“Futaba.”

Chihaya cut him off, her expression serious.

“That has nothing to do with you. Didn’t you promise not to set your sights on You-kun?”

Futaba’s smile didn’t waver.

“But just now, Lord Divine Child said I was his girlfriend.”

She tilted her head.

“And Chihaya didn’t object, did she?”

Chihaya was shocked by Futaba’s shamelessness, her expression starting to crack.

“That was an emergency measure. You-kun already apologized to you. What are you playing dumb for?”

Futaba widened her eyes, feigning innocence.

“Oh, is that so? Futaba doesn’t remember.”

Chihaya’s brow furrowed.

Seeing the atmosphere about to slide into dangerous territory again, You sensed trouble and intervened.

“Futaba, that was indeed an emergency. Even if you don’t know where we’re staying, we can still hang out tomorrow.”

Futaba looked at him, her expression shifting to one of slight regret.

“Lord Divine Child is so heartless.”

She took a step back.

“See you tomorrow, then—Lord Divine Child, Chihaya, and little Mai.”

With that, she turned, waved her hand, and walked away without looking back.

Her steps were light, and her silhouette quickly vanished into the glow of the lanterns.

You let out a sigh of relief.

‘Good, good. Futaba didn’t keep pestering.’

Otherwise, it would definitely turn into a shuraba again.

He walked back slowly with the Mochizuki sisters.

There were few people on the road.

The night breeze blew from the mountains, carrying a chill.

You walked in the middle, Chihaya on the right, Mai on the left.

No one spoke.

After a while, Mai suddenly broke the silence.

“You-kun, what do you think of Hakone?”

“It’s nice. Cooler than Tokyo.”

“Yeah. The air is good too.”

Mai was talking more than during the day.

She started actively finding topics—asking what You liked to eat, what he usually did after school, whether he’d been to other places.

Each question felt a little forced, as if she was trying hard to keep the conversation from dying.

You didn’t think much of it.

‘Maybe she’s still upset about being treated like a child on the street earlier.’

He answered casually as they walked, occasionally asking her a question in return.

Chihaya threw in a word or two, but mostly listened quietly.

As Mai talked, she noticed You was just going through the motions, not really paying attention to her.

Especially the way he looked at her—it was different from how he looked at Chihaya, and even more different from how he looked at Futaba.

It wasn’t a gaze of attraction… it was like an adult looking at a child.

Mai felt very unhappy inside.

‘Fine. You-kun really does see me as a child. But I’m the same age as him.’

‘Is it a difference in… hardware?’

She stole a resentful glance at her sister’s chest.

Chihaya was wearing a white short-sleeved shirt.

From the side… it certainly had a presence.

Then Mai looked down at herself.

Calling it a flat plain would be an exaggeration, but it was only slightly undulating.

Mai had to admit a cruel truth in her heart:

There was a gap between sisters.

Her mood sank.

But she quickly revived.

Even if there was a gap in hardware, her cuteness was an advantage.

And she wasn’t trying to steal the spotlight from her sister—she just wanted You to look at her too, alongside her sister and Futaba.

She still had a chance.

She clenched her fist secretly.

Walking beside her, You had no idea what was going through Mai’s mind.

He was thinking about something else.

A vague unease was building in his chest.

As they got closer to the inn, the feeling grew heavier.

No.

Thinking carefully, was Futaba really the type to let things go?

He didn’t know her well, but connecting today’s events with earlier ones—

The bold confession at their first meeting.

The ambiguous provocation when they met again.

And just now, pretending not to remember.

Someone like that…

A word popped into his head, tailor-made for her.

A troll.

Futaba’s behavior pattern was definitely that of a troll.

Someone like that definitely had more plans in store.

Ah.

So tired.

Thinking back, ever since that night his father said “Go fall in love and procreate,” his life had been nothing but trouble.

Every girl he met was a little off.

He had thought Chihaya was a composed, proper lady, but she was a snake in the grass.

Cold on the surface, but ruthless when it came down to it.

As for Futaba, needless to say.

She was behind all the dangerous situations, always wearing that smile, completely unreadable.

This Hakone trip—there was definitely more headache to come.

Sigh.

Come to think of it, Mai was the best.

Simple, innocent, without all those scheming thoughts.

Thinking that, he looked at Mai with relief.

Clearly, our protagonist, Yuejianye You, had selectively forgotten how Mai had eagerly helped her sister pin him down on the Shinkansen.

Or maybe it was because Mai’s body had been so soft that his memory had “slightly” romanticized the experience.

Just as Mai was rebuilding her confidence, she suddenly felt a gaze on her.

She looked up.

You was looking at her with a relieved expression.

Mai’s heart skipped a beat.

‘Could it be that You-kun has finally noticed me?’

She immediately put on a sweet, innocent smile, ready to strike up a conversation—

“Oh my.”

A light, pleasant voice came from ahead.

Mai’s smile froze.

They all looked up.

At the entrance of the inn, beneath the red glow of a lantern, stood a figure.

White short-sleeved shirt, gray skirt, twirling a room key card in her hand.

It was Futaba.

Futaba smiled at them.

“Lord Divine Child, what a coincidence.”

She spun the key card, its white surface reflecting the lantern light.

“What a coincidence—I happen to be staying at this inn today too.”

The night breeze blew from behind her, lifting the ends of her hair gently.

The lantern light flickered on her face, casting faint shadows from her lashes.

And that perfect, flawless smile.

You groaned inwardly.

‘I knew it. Things were never going to be that simple.’