Chapter 7: Dou Dizhu and the Black-Bellied Cutie

The trees outside the window flowed backward like waves.

You leaned back in his Shinkansen seat, gazing out the window in a daze. Chihaya and Mai sat across from him, talking in low voices and occasionally laughing.

He thought about the past week. It felt like a dream.

It was supposed to be the last week of high school—a memorable time of youth—but he hadn’t felt any of it. Classes, breaks, meals, sleep… the days slipped through his fingers like water, leaving nothing behind.

His mind had been occupied by two things: the hot spring trip with the Mochizuki sisters, and that fleeting glimpse of Tsukuyomi Futaba the other day.

‘If fate wills it, we’ll meet again.’

That line had popped into his head several times over the week.

When would he see her again?

A strange sense of anticipation stirred in You’s chest, but he quickly suppressed it.

He pulled his thoughts back and turned his gaze to the seat across from him.

Chihaya and Mai were deep in conversation, not paying him any attention. This was a good chance for You to appreciate the two sisters’ beauty.

As the saying goes, looking at beautiful women is good for the body and mind.

Besides, these two girls were now his fiancées. What was wrong with looking?

With that thought, his admiring gaze grew even more relaxed.

First, Chihaya.

Her eyebrows, nose bridge, lips, and face shape—every feature was exquisite. What made her even more captivating was the cool, aloof aura she carried, reminding one of moonlight. Her pale skin, lacking a bit of color, actually complemented that air perfectly.

Her black hair hung down on either side of her cheeks, swaying gently with the train’s motion. Today she wore a white shirt—the fabric looked like cotton-linen, probably cool and breathable—with her collarbone showing at the collar. She paired it with navy wide-leg pants. You bent down to glance under the table, spotting a pair of nude canvas shoes and a glimpse of jade-white ankles.

Then Mai.

As the younger sister, her facial features and shape were somewhat similar to Chihaya’s, but her contours were softer. There was a bit of baby fat on her cheeks, which, instead of detracting from her beauty, made her look cute.

Of course, the most striking part of Mai’s face was her eyes—clearly larger than Chihaya’s, yet without looking jarring; instead, they added a touch of pitiable charm. Her skin, unlike her sister’s, was a soft, powdery white.

A very specific comparison popped into You’s mind: the skin of a strawberry mochi.

Mai wore a canary-yellow short-sleeve shirt with a large Hello Kitty on the chest, paired with brown shorts that made her legs look slender and long.

Just as he was feasting his eyes, Chihaya and Mai both stopped talking.

They turned to him and spoke in unison—

“What is the Divine Child looking at?”

You’s face had thickened quite a bit after last week’s trial.

He leaned back calmly, his tone shamelessly frank.

“I’m looking at you two. You’re so beautiful, I can’t help it.”

Mai’s face turned bright red in an instant.

“The Divine Child is saying such frivolous things again… that’s not right…”

Chihaya was a bit more composed, but the tips of her ears gave her away.

“Divine Child, please don’t say things unbefitting your status. Mai and I will be troubled.”

Even though You was lacking in emotional intelligence, he could tell—they weren’t truly angry.

As for anything deeper, he couldn’t read that. Anyway, it was best to quit while he was ahead.

He casually pulled a deck of cards from his backpack.

“We still have some time before Hakone. How about a game of cards to pass the time?”

“Sure. What should we play?”

“I’ll teach you something different. I promise it’ll be fun.”

A mischievous grin spread across You’s face.

With three people playing cards, what choice could possibly surpass the quintessential Dou Dizhu, known as a national treasure?

None.

Let these two Japanese girls experience the mysterious power of Chinese culture.

Just thinking about it got him a little excited.

The game began.

At first, You thought about going easy on them—mainly to build rapport, win or lose didn’t matter.

After three rounds, he had completely forgotten his initial intention.

No kidding, when you play cards, you play to win, okay?

Giving it your all is the greatest respect for the competition and your opponent!

No matter who’s on the other side, I’ll crush them without mercy!

“I’m the landlord!”

“Bomb!”

“Joker bomb!”

“I only have one card left!”

You’s shouts grew louder with each round, his movements more flamboyant. He was completely immersed in the thrill of Dou Dizhu, his mind focused solely on the word “win.”

The faces of the two girls across from him visibly darkened.

Chihaya’s eyebrows furrowed lower and lower. Mai’s lips pressed tighter and tighter.

They glared at You.

If looks could kill, You would have been riddled with holes.

He won another round.

Just as he was about to collect the cards and shuffle, he suddenly felt a chill down his back.

It wasn’t because the air conditioning was too high—it was the feeling of being targeted by something dangerous.

This snapped him out of the “battle rush” fever. He looked up at the two girls’ expressions—his rationality immediately took over.

That expression was terrifying.

“I’m sorry, I got carried away.”

He apologized right away.

But the pressure around him didn’t ease in the slightest.

Chihaya spoke. Her voice was soft.

“No—You-kun.”

You shivered.

Oh no.

She’d started using his given name. That meant things had escalated to a point where ordinary solutions wouldn’t work.

“You’re being very rude, you know.”

Mai, too, had shed her usual shy, timid demeanor. The smile on her face was exactly like her sister’s.

“Divine Child, Mai is very angry right now.”

Chihaya took out her phone and left her seat.

About three minutes later, she returned.

Her smile was even brighter.

“I just got authorization from the Moon Princess.”

She flashed her phone screen at You. It showed Masako’s reply. You didn’t catch the details, but he clearly saw the line “Leave You to them.”

Chihaya cleared her throat and read aloud:

“‘Although You is the Divine Child, he is also my son and your future husband. I apologize for what You did. I trust you, Chihaya, to have discretion.’”

She put her phone away.

“Mai—”

The moment the words left her mouth, Mai sprang up from her seat and lunged at You.

Before You could react, the tip of his nose hit something soft.

It smelled nice.

Was it shampoo? Or body wash?

And… this texture…

His brain hadn’t even processed the information when he felt a chill on his feet—his shoes had been removed by Chihaya.

Then.

Something touched the sole of his foot.

A ticklish sensation followed!

“Hahaha! I’m sorry! Chihaya! Mai! I really am sorry!”

You laughed so hard tears almost came out, his body writhing uncontrollably. But Mai was pressing down on him, so he couldn’t dodge.

“What exactly are you sorry for?”

Chihaya’s finger traced circles on the sole of his foot. Her voice was still as gentle as ever.

“You-kun?”

Mai’s face was inches away, her smile innocent.

“Please answer directly.”

On one hand, You was flustered by Mai’s body pressing down on him—the position was really not good, and he didn’t dare think about it further. On the other hand, the torture on his foot was driving him crazy. The two forces clashed in his mind, leaving him in a state of utter chaos.

He lamented inwardly—

‘This is bad.’

So the Mochizuki sisters were pink on the outside, black on the inside?

The other passengers on the Shinkansen turned their heads, looking at the boy being pinned down and tickled by two girls, their expressions varied. An old lady even shook her head with a smile and muttered, “Ah, to be young.”

You had already stopped caring about the embarrassment.

All he wanted to know was when this punishment would end.

“I was wrong for winning so much! I’ll lose next time!”

The assault on his foot paused for a moment.

Chihaya tilted her head.

“So You-kun means you’ll let us win next time?”

“Yes, yes, yes—”

“Then that’s even more unacceptable.”

The tickling intensified instead.

“Being let win is even more infuriating.”

Chihaya’s voice was still cool, but the curve of her lips was clearly wider.

Mai, pressing down on You, laughed happily.

“The Divine Child looks so pitiful.”

“Then let me go!”

“No.”

Mai’s answer was so straightforward that You wanted to die.

He finally understood—Mai wasn’t shy, she was secretly wild. When it mattered most, she got even more excited.

You resigned himself, slumping back in his seat, letting them do as they pleased.

Outside the window, the scenery had changed from city to continuous mountains. Hakone was close.

The punishment lasted about five minutes.

When Chihaya finally declared, “That’s enough,” You collapsed into his seat, hair a mess, clothes wrinkled, and tears of laughter still at the corners of his eyes.

Mai climbed off him and returned to her seat, a look of lingering satisfaction on her face.

Chihaya helped him put his shoes back on, her movements now gentle.

She looked up at You’s eyes.

“You-kun, remember: from now on, be gentler with girls, okay?”

You nodded weakly.

He had no strength to argue.

But one thought kept circling in his mind—

‘With these two fiancées, life from now on is going to be tough.’