The soft sound of the door closing echoed through the quiet room.
Click!
Gojo Satoru, who had been lazily spinning in his computer chair, stopped and turned around slowly.
His clear blue eyes landed on the blonde girl standing awkwardly near the door.
"Hmm?" Gojo tilted his head slightly, his snowy-white hair falling over his forehead. "What's wrong, Marin?"
Kitagawa Marin—still wearing her casual home clothes after changing out of her cosplay outfit—didn't answer immediately.
Instead, she began to walk towards his bed silently.
Gojo blinked once as he noticed that the atmosphere had instantly became strange.
Marin sat down on the edge of the bed with an unusually obedient posture, placing both hands on her knees while smiling foolishly at him.
The two stared at each other silently.
"…?"
Gojo Satoru leaned back slightly in confusion.
Marin continued staring.
The room became so quiet that even the faint humming of the air conditioner could be heard clearly.
Meanwhile, on the desk beside Gojo, his phone screen was still glowing.
Nakano Nino was still waiting for his reply not knowing that he was alone with another beautiful girl in his bedroom!
…
At the Nakano household.
Nino lay face-down on her bed, kicking her legs in frustration while staring at the unread message screen on her phone.
"Why isn't he replying…?" Her cheeks puffed up angrily, before she question herself. "Did I say something weird?"
The more she thought about it, the more embarrassed she became.
"Ugh… maybe saying 'date' directly was too aggressive…"
Rolling around on the bed in frustration, she let out a muffled groan into her pillow.
Knock! Knock!
"Ahhhhhhh!"
A voice came from outside the room, accompanying the knocking sound.
"Nino? Are you okay?"
It was Ichika.
Nino's body froze instantly as all the frustration evaporate.
Creak~~!
Before she could answer, the door opened anyway.
Standing outside were not only Ichika, but also Miku, who looked curiously into the room.
Nino immediately sat upright, saying in distress and slight anger, "Why are you entering without permission?!"
Ichika not minding her responded with a grinned, a mischievously one. And walked inside casually before sitting on the chair near the desk, looking at her younger sister.
{T/N: Oldest to Youngest — Ichika Nakano > Nino Nakano > Miku Nakano > Yotsuba Nakano > Itsuki Nakano. Even their names are like that too — Ichi (1), Ni (2), Mi (3), Yo (4), and Itsu (5). Fun fact that I didn't know.. }
"Come on, we're sisters."
Miku nodded seriously beside her, "Un."
Nino's eye twitched violently, as she look at her older and younger sister. "You two are seriously annoying…"
Originally, she wanted to chase them out immediately.
But after hesitating for a few seconds, she suddenly thought of something.
Maybe… she could ask for advice?
Even if these two (and all the sister) had basically zero romantic experience....it wouldn't hurt to ask...right?
Nino coughed awkwardly. "Ahem! I have something to asked."
Ichika raised an eyebrow at her tone. "Oh?"
Nino crossed her arms and looked away, pretending to sound casual as she continue, "I'm just asking for a friend."
That made Miku and Ichika immediately exchanged glances.
A "friend," huh?
And who might that friend be, Miss Popular~
Nino ignored their expressions and continued in a slight awkward tone while also trying hard to sound casual. "My friend likes someone."
It cause the two good sisters wanting to roll their eyes but they stopped themselves at the last second. Not wanting to make Nino explode at night...
Nino as if not realising their reaction continue, "Then she sent him a message asking him to go shopping together for swimsuits."
"He agreed immediately.....But after she called it a date…" Nino bit her lip slightly, lowering her head, trying hard as to not show her complicated expression to her sisters. "He suddenly stopped replying."
She raised her head, looking serious as she stare at them, "What does that mean?"
But she was meant to be disappointed.
As what answer her was silence.
Pin drop Silence!
Ichika and Miku looked at each other again.
Their expressions became increasingly subtle.
"Hey, what are you two looking at each other for, answer my question." Nino rudely interrupted their silent eye-to-eye chat in an annoyed voice.
"Oh, alright."
Ichika raised her beautiful pale index finger, before resting it on her lips, she thought for a while, and said with difficulty.
"Maybe… he just got embarrassed?"
"No way." Nino instantly denied it. 'Gojo-senpai never gets embarrassed.' She added inwardly.
Miku tilted her head thoughtfully, before she said in a 'not-so-sure' tone, "Then maybe… he got interrupted by something?"
What she didn't know was that her answer was the most correct answer, but unfortunately Nino didn't buy it.
"That's impossible too!" Nino protested immediately, without hesitation. "We were chatting just fine one second earlier!"
Ichika deadpanned.
"…So basically, every answer is wrong unless it matches what you want to hear?"
Nino froze.
Miku quietly nodded in agreement as the more she thought about it the more she think that her answer was correct.
Ichika sighed helplessly before resting her chin on her palm.
"Nino."
"Yes?"
"…Is this 'friend' actually you?"
Instantly— like anyone would expect. Ms. Tsundere's face exploded red.
"I-It's not me!" She jumped off the bed in panic and waved both hands wildly. "I said it's a friend! A friend!"
Ichika and Miku stared silently.
As the atmosphere became painfully awkward.
Finally, Ichika nodded seriously with a very calm expression.
"Right. Your 'friend.'"
Miku also nodded. "Yes. Friend, we believe you."
Nino became even redder.
"Ahhhhh! Get out! Both of you get out right now!"
As she pushed the two girls toward the door while yelling furiously.
The room instantly became chaotic with the laughter and scream!
…
Meanwhile—
Back at the Gojo residence.
Inside Gojo Satoru's room.
The culprit for the chaotic situation in the Nino Resident was staring at a beautiful blonde girl, who was still sitting quietly on the bed, a little far away of course.
"…So?" Gojo asked without any change of expression.
Even that caused Marin to immediately stiffened. "So…?"
Gojo rested his cheek on his palm lazily.
"You came into my room at night and closed the door behind you."
"Shouldn't you at least tell me your objective first?"
Marin's cheeks instantly turned pink as she mutter in a low voice. "T-That sounds weird when you say it like that!"
Gojo grinned shamelessly, "Oh? Then how should I say it?"
Marin puffed her cheeks.
This guy really could destroy any romantic atmosphere instantly.
But strangely enough…
That was also one of the reasons she liked him so much....
Taking a deep breath, Marin tried calming herself down.
Meanwhile, Gojo casually grabbed his cup of black tea and took a sip.
"Did you come because you wanted more photos?"
Marin shook her head. "No. The cosplay photos from before are enough and I'm not planning to upload them online either."
Gojo nodded without any expression. "Good."
Honestly speaking, he never really wanted Marin's photos spreading around online.
Not because he disliked her cosplay.
Actually, he thought she looked ridiculously cute.
Too cute.
Which was exactly the problem.
Just imagining random strangers on the internet staring at Marin's photos made him instinctively annoyed.
Even if logically nothing would happen.
Mentally, it still felt unpleasant.
Gojo set the cup down as he again looked at the girl. "Then what are you here for?"
Marin froze again.
"…Uh…"
She couldn't say it.
How can she say that she came here to do something rebellious!
How was she supposed to confess properly?
Especially when the other person was Gojo Satoru. A teacher.
After all, the relationship between teachers and students will always be subject to public opinion.
Marin lowered her head slightly.
"I…"
Seeing her increasingly nervous expression, Gojo's gaze softened a little. Without any intention of exposing her directly, he casually changed the mood.
"Want some tea?"
"Huh?"
"Here."
Gojo passed his cup toward her with a small smile.
Marin blinked. Then her face turned red again as she look at the half filled tea cup. "T-That's indirect kissing…"
Gojo tilted his head innocently. "Oh? You care about that?"
"…!"
Marin instantly lost it.
She accepted the cup carefully with both hands before thanking him for it in a very unusually quite voice.
"T-Thank you…"
Taking tiny sips, she silently drank the tea while sitting on his bed.
Again, silence filled the room.
But unlike before, the atmosphere now felt warm instead of awkward.
After finishing the last sip, Marin quietly placed the cup down.
After finishing the warm (not warmer than her face) black tea, She suddenly stood up.
Kitagawa Marin was like a soldier who was about to go to the battlefield, her body was extremely stiff when she stood up, but she kept reminding herself of what she wanted in her heart.
It's okay, Marin.
You can do this.
You already kissed him before during cosplay accidents.
This time is just… more official.
That's all.
Gojo raised an eyebrow. "Hm?"
Marin clenched her fists tightly as she began to walk towards him, lowering their distance.
Step by step, she walked toward him.
The closer she got, the redder her face became. If it was even possible.
Even her ears had turned crimson.
Finally standing in front of sitting Gojo, Marin looked down at him nervously.
"G-Gojo-kun…"
"That's me."
"I… I have something important to say…"
Gojo looked at her quietly.
Thump-thump! Thump-thump!
Under those bright blue eyes, Marin's heart pounded wildly.
"I…"
Before she could finish, A hand suddenly wrapped around her waist.
"Eh?!" Marin's eyes widened as she felt the firm touch around her back.
Gojo pulled her directly into his lap.
"Gojo-kun?!"
Marin's brain instantly short-circuited.
This wasn't supposed to happen!
Wasn't she supposed to be the brave one tonight?!
Gojo smiled faintly while holding her securely.
"I'm not that dense, Marin."
His voice became gentler than usual.
"From the moment you walked in here looking like you were about to explode from nervousness, I already guess it."
Marin's entire body froze.
"…You did?"
Gojo nodded casually. "Pretty obvious."
"…"
Marin really wanted to argue about that.
But honestly?
It probably really was obvious.
Slowly, Gojo leaned closer.
Their silver-white and golden hair mixed together softly. As Marin's breathing became uneven.
Her heart felt like it might explode at any second.
Gojo's raised her hand as his cold, firm fingertips lightly brushed against her cheek.
"…You're shaking."
"T-That's your fault…"
Marin whispered weakly.
Gojo chuckled softly, he leaned closer slightly.
"I like you too, Marin."
Direct hit.
Critical damage.
Marin's face instantly turned completely red.
Her brain fully overheated.
Seeing her completely broken state, Gojo couldn't help laughing again.
Before it got interrupted by a soft pink lips.
Tightly.
...
Meanwhile outside the room—
A certain silver-haired girl stood silently near the hallway corner.
Shirakawa Shiroha lowered her gaze quietly.
Then after a few seconds…
She silently walked away.
Only the faint loneliness in her eyes remained for a moment before disappearing completely.
...
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Bonus Chapter:-
4 Bonus chapter at 100 powerstone
6 Bonus Chapter at 150 powerstone
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Word Count — 1,878