For the first meal to celebrate the move, it naturally had to be an extravagant one.
By the time Haru placed the final dish on the table, the dazzling array of colorful cuisine shimmered beneath the lights, almost glowing. With his Level 5 cooking skills fully unleashed, every dish he had prepared radiated an irresistible allure in both appearance and aroma.
At the very least, the cat was already reaching her limit.
"Haru, can we eat now?"
Kaname Raana leaned in with her soft, pudding-like cheeks almost touching the table, her mesmerizing heterochromatic eyes locked onto the dishes. A faint grumble grumble echoed from her stomach, and it was almost as if you could see the invisible cat ears on her head twitching with excitement.
Maybe her words voiced what everyone else was thinking, because the other girls all turned toward him with pitiful eyes.
Seeing them stare at him like that made Haru chuckle, and with a wave of his hand, he replied casually.
"No need to look at me. Before the food gets cold, dig in."
"Itadakimasu!"
Their voices rose in perfect unison, and in the next moment, each girl launched a full assault on the dishes they had been eyeing.
Sitting beside Haru, Anon curled her lips in a sly smile. She picked up a piece of braised pork belly with her chopsticks, then narrowed her silvery-gray eyes and leaned in, speaking with playful flirtation.
"Haru worked hard to make all this today. So it's only right that he gets to take it easy while we eat."
"And since I'm sitting right next to him, it's my responsibility as his girlfriend to take care of him."
Totally valid. What Anon was doing was totally within reason.
Even if hardly anyone followed it to the letter, the "girlfriend pact" everyone had secretly agreed upon stated that as long as a romantic move was made in front of everyone, it was fair game.
As long as everyone could see what you were doing with Haru, it didn't count as sneaky or cheating.
My heart and actions are clear as a mirror. Everything I do is justice.
"…"
Haru, already quite used to being fed, didn't hesitate at all. He opened his mouth and took the piece of pork belly directly from Anon's chopsticks, eating it in one bite.
And in that exact moment as he swallowed, he felt it... waves of intense stares coming at him from every direction.
Maybe it was Tomori's dazed gaze. Maybe it was Mutsumi's cold, unreadable stare or maybe it was Taki, sneaking glances while trying not to raise her head.
But one thing was clear: all the "girlfriends" had their eyes locked on him.
Naturally, the instigator—Miss Pink-Hair—noticed this, but instead of backing down, she giggled and doubled down.
"Hehe, then I'll feed you another~"
After wrestling with herself internally for a long while, Taki, who sat next to Tomori, pressed her lips together.
Seeing the others staying silent while that pink menace kept pushing forward, Taki couldn't take it anymore. She suddenly spoke up.
"Haru, you should try this dish too."
Her heart pounded in her chest, the flush on her ears spreading rapidly across her cheeks. She carefully picked up a meatball with her chopsticks and held her other hand underneath it for balance, offering it to Haru.
Wait a second, what's happening here?
Haru had a very bad feeling. But when a girlfriend feeds you food like that, there's no way to say no. So he opened his mouth and accepted the meatball from Taki, which made a faint smile appear on her face.
"Haru, the cucumber's really good too."
"I think Haru should eat more…"
It was as if a signal had gone off. The previously silent Mutsumi and Tomori both picked up food and leaned in to feed him, at the exact same time.
They glanced at each other, clearly surprised, but neither of their hands stopped.
Haru: !
Good grief, this was getting intense.
Under normal circumstances, he might have found a way to avoid it. But since Anon had already set the precedent, he couldn't treat anyone unfairly. If his girlfriends offered him food, even if it stuffed him to bursting, he had to chew and swallow every bite.
"…"
Haru's expression stiffened.
They usually act so reserved, but now they're all coming at me like a boss battle?
Was he… being treated like a raid boss?
There was no escape. All he could do was power through and accept the endless wave of girlfriend-fed service. Thankfully, the hungriest little glutton was too busy eating on her own to join in the feeding frenzy.
"Haru, this."
Kaname Raana stretched her back and handed over her bowl along with some smoked duck, her mismatched eyes sparkling with open expectation.
With a deep breath, Haru opened his mouth and accepted all the food offered to him, then instinctively glanced over to Nagasaki Soyo, who sat not far away.
She was the only one sitting quietly.
Usually the most "sly" of them all, Soyo was now staring off into space. But the moment Haru's gaze landed on her, she snapped back into focus and quickly picked up a piece of braised pork.
With a gentle smile on her lips, she spoke with the warmth of a mother.
"Tomori was right. We still need to unpack everything from the move. Since Haru worked so hard to cook for us, he has to eat plenty too."
Haru couldn't help noticing something off.
Even earlier, when Soyo came to help in the kitchen, she had seemed out of sorts. Normally so quick with teasing remarks or suggestive glances, she had been oddly reserved today. Even while alone with him, she hadn't made a single move.
He figured it probably had to do with the last "gathering." That day, Soyo had broken down nearly in tears right in front of him. Since then, she'd been behaving strangely, like she was trying to hide something.
Soyo was clearly keeping something from him.
"You're right. I'll eat more then."
But just as he had promised back then, whatever Soyo was thinking or planning, he would take responsibility for it all. From the moment he confessed to her, he had already decided that he would accept everything about her, good or bad.
Still, before that could happen, she had to open up to him completely.
"…"
Sitting beside him, Soyo had no idea what was running through Haru's mind. Her gaze was entirely focused on Mutsumi, seated next to Tomori.
Her instincts as the "wife" told her that Mutsumi was hiding something. And until she figured out what it was, she wouldn't be able to sleep peacefully.
Right now, Soyo had a theory.
Across the table, Mutsumi slowly lifted her doll-like face, still void of emotion. Her golden eyes flicked toward Soyo's profile, then she quietly returned to eating her meal, as if nothing had happened.
But behind that calm mask, her brilliant golden irises shimmered with something strange and unreadable.
…
In the blink of an eye, it was a new day.
"Soyo-chan, good morning. Heading to band practice today too?"
The sudden voice snapped her out of her thoughts.
Sitting in a chair, frowning deeply in thought, Nagasaki Soyo quickly came back to herself. In an instant, her face brightened and she lifted her head, pressing her hands together softly beside her cheek.
"That's right. We've had a lot of practice lately."
This gentle, approachable smile was something she had long since turned into instinct and muscle memory. No matter the situation, she could adjust her mask in an instant.
"Eh? Did practice suddenly ramp up because you're preparing for a live show?!"
"I'm so excited, so excited! If MyGO's going to perform live, you have to let me know ahead of time, Soyo-chan! I'll definitely come cheer for you!"
The refined young ladies surrounding her chirped with excitement and anticipation. Even in their enthusiasm, they maintained the grace and elegance expected of highborn daughters. Nagasaki Soyo had long been familiar with these polished social cues.
She maintained her usual gentle and approachable smile throughout, confident that she wouldn't show a single crack in front of others.
"…Did you hear? About Mutsumi-san from the Wakaba family?"
"It's really surprising. You'd never guess from how she usually is."
Soyo's smile froze.
These days, just hearing the name "Mutsumi" was enough to pull her attention. She couldn't help but tune in whenever someone brought her up.
Even these impeccably mannered ladies couldn't resist discussing surprising gossip. It was a deep-seated instinct among girls.
"…"
Soyo narrowed her light blue eyes, focusing intently on their conversation about Mutsumi.
Even while whispering about such "scandals," the girls of Tsukinomori kept their composure. Their words were laced with curiosity and admiration, not a trace of malice. Not one of them spoke ill behind anyone's back.
No matter how closely Soyo listened, she couldn't catch the specifics of the gossip.
What were they talking about just now?
"Soyo-chan? Are you alright?"
The shift in her expression didn't go unnoticed by the girls around her.
"Ah... are you feeling unwell? Do you want to take a break?"
Snapping back to herself, Soyo quickly regained her usual smile. Without a hint of flaw, she gave a casual, curious reply.
"Sorry, I spaced out a bit."
"I thought I heard someone mentioning Mutsumi just now. We've known each other for years, so hearing her name caught my attention. Do you know what happened with her?"
The girls beside her blinked in surprise, then spoke up with a hint of wonder.
"Oh, so Soyo-chan didn't hear yet?"
"Eh?"
Soyo's eyes widened slightly.
"I heard Mutsumi-san from the Wakaba family has already been arranged into an engagement!"
"I wonder what kind of boy it is. I'd love to see what he's like!"
"Kyaa, how romantic!"
Buzz—————!
It felt like an explosion rang in her ears. All other sounds began to fade away.
The sudden bombshell left Soyo completely frozen, her eyes wide with disbelief as she stared at the smiling faces of her friends.
Given that Tsukinomori belonged to the world of the elite, arranged engagements and family alliances were nothing unusual. Among these girls, such things were perfectly normal.
Most of the Tsukinomori girls had been attending since before middle school. And being an all-girls school, they had very little contact with boys their age, which only added to their fascination.
"Mutsumi… is engaged?"
Soyo's fingertips trembled. She stood up without thinking.
"Eh? Soyo-chan?"
"Sorry, everyone! I just remembered our band has an early rehearsal today. I need to head out now!"
Barely holding her smile, Soyo bowed slightly to her friends, then turned and left the classroom without hesitation. Her mind was in chaos, but she still kept her pace measured. Even without knowing where she was going, she moved without delay.
Why would Mutsumi suddenly be engaged?
If it was the Wakaba family's doing, then it wasn't surprising. Mutsumi had never once defied her family's expectations. But if she was now officially engaged to someone else, what did that mean for Haru, who had been dating her?
Her thoughts spun wildly, leaving her no room to breathe. She instinctively made her way to the Gardening club.
The temperature had dropped dramatically with the arrival of December. Naturally, Tsukinomori Academy had already switched to their winter uniforms. A thicker silk jacket now paired with the skirts that still reached the knee. Many girls had also started wearing thicker black tights.
Even in the cold, they maintained their poise and smiles, stepping lightly in round-toed black shoes across the campus. But Soyo's hurried footsteps couldn't be hidden.
She dashed past elegant Western-style gazebos, crossed carefully maintained flowerbeds, and rushed over expensive stone paths. Though not particularly athletic, she arrived at the horticulture club breathing heavily, on the verge of exhaustion.
But there was no sign of the girl she was looking for.
Frantic, Soyo approached another club member.
"Wakaba-san?"
"She already went home today. Actually, she hasn't really been coming to club much these past few days."
Soyo automatically smiled and thanked the girl, then turned toward the school gate.
At that moment, one thought echoed in her mind: If Mutsumi really was engaged through a family arrangement, she might be forced to step away from Haru. And in that case, Soyo would suddenly find herself in a massively advantageous position.
No matter how she looked at it, it was good for her… wasn't it?
At that thought, Soyo quickly shook her head.
She was soft-hearted and kind by nature. Even if she selfishly wanted to monopolize Haru, watching a friend step aside this way would leave her feeling terrible. It clashed entirely with her desires.
For now, she pushed those conflicted thoughts aside. Whatever the case, she had to find Mutsumi and hear it directly from her.
"…"
And finally, not far from the school gate, Soyo spotted her.
A petite girl in the Tsukinomori winter uniform walked calmly along the sidewalk, her hands holding her schoolbag without a hint of hesitation. Her long, light green hair swayed in the sunlight, shimmering softly with every step.
There she is!
But now that she had actually found Mutsumi, Nagasaki Soyo couldn't bring herself to take another step.
"Why is it that today of all days, Mutsumi not only skipped the Gardening club, but even the way she's leaving school feels… off?"
"Where is she planning to go?"
The strangeness surrounding Mutsumi had only grown more obvious. The shock Soyo had felt upon hearing the word "engagement" was now tangled with her mounting suspicion, forming a tense knot of unease and anxiety that filled her mind.
Though she had been prepared to march right up and confront her, Soyo now clenched her fists tightly, unable to tear her eyes from the girl's back.
After a long moment of inner conflict, she finally chose to hold back.
No, she couldn't confront her directly just yet...
Remembering all the signs she'd noticed during the move, Soyo began anxiously twirling a strand of her slightly wavy brown hair around a slender finger. Caught in a swirl of tension and doubt, she bit her lip and quietly began to follow.
There was a theory in her head now, one she had to confirm no matter what.
"…"
Up ahead, Mutsumi seemed to notice something, her head turning ever so slightly. But in the next second, she simply continued walking, her steps light and steady, not a trace of hesitation in her movement. She was clearly heading somewhere specific.
Having been groomed as a "child star" from an early age, the Wakaba heiress would never fail to notice someone watching her.
But Mutsumi made no attempt to acknowledge the presence trailing behind her. Her gaze remained calm, fixed ahead.
The cucumber-shaped keychain dangling from her bag swayed gently as she walked. Her flawless, delicate face now seemed drained of some of its usual liveliness.
The pale fingers gripping the strap of her schoolbag had turned slightly white from how tightly she was holding on.