Rei's mother brought us tea and snacks with the enthusiasm of someone feeding long-lost relatives.
Meanwhile, Rei sat beside me, stiff as a statue—very unlike her usual composed self.
Her mother took one look at Rei's awkward posture…
then at me sitting calmly in the middle of five girls…
and I could feel something dangerous form in her mind.
"Oh my," she said sweetly, "Kaito-kun, you're sitting next to Rei."
Rei jolted.
"M-Mom, it was the only open seat—!"
"It wasn't," her mother replied instantly.
Rei visibly died inside.
I tried to be diplomatic.
"Rei sat down first, I just followed—"
"Ohh? Following my daughter already?"
Rei choked on her tea.
"MOM—!!"
The others tried (and failed) to hide their reactions.
Akane smirked.
Hana stared at her knees, red.
Mika made an excited "ooooh~" face.
Naoko blinked slowly, analyzing.
I just sipped my tea, pretending this was normal.
"Rei never brings boys home," her mother continued.
"You must be special."
"I'm really not," I said honestly.
"Humility too?" She sighed dramatically. "Rei, you should marry him."
The room EXPLODED.
"M-M-MOM!!" Rei sputtered, nearly knocking over her cup.
"Whaaat? I'm just saying what I see," her mother sang.
I held up my hands calmly.
"I appreciate the compliment, but we're just friends."
Rei's mother smirked.
"That's how it starts."
Rei dropped her face onto the table.
Her father cleared his throat.
"…Kaito. A word."
Everyone froze.
Oh.
So this is happening.
He walked toward the hallway without looking back.
I stood up immediately.
"I'll be right back."
As I followed him, I heard Mika whisper:
"Is he gonna interview Kaito like a future son-in-law—"
"Mika," Akane whispered sharply, "stop narrating everything!"
Rei's father finally stopped near the end of the hall.
He didn't speak for a few seconds.
Then:
"…You're surprisingly composed."
"Sir?"
"With my wife teasing, and those girls around you," he replied.
"You maintain order without forcing it. Rei's been surrounded by strong personalities. I can see why she keeps you close."
I blinked.
"I… just try to make sure everyone gets along."
He nodded once.
"I noticed. You handled yesterday's chaos well too."
Huh. Rei's parents really do pay attention.
He continued, voice low:
"Rei's very independent. Too independent sometimes. She struggles when people get too close."
A pause.
"But she doesn't push you away."
I felt a small jolt in my chest.
"I don't… overthink it," I said carefully. "I just want her—and everyone—to feel comfortable around me."
He studied me for a moment.
Then he put a heavy, approving hand on my shoulder.
"…Good."
That was it.
No threats.
No "hurt my daughter and I'll bury you."
Just a firm acknowledgment.
When we headed back to the living room, Rei's father walked with a faint smile.
And I could feel the girls' eyes immediately lock onto us.
Rei sat straighter than a soldier when I returned.
"O-Oh. You're back. W-What did you two… talk about?"
"Just a conversation," I replied calmly. "Nothing dangerous."
Rei's ears turned pink.
She clearly imagined the worst.
"D-Dad, you didn't—"
"I merely spoke with him," her father said.
"And I like him."
Rei nearly fell out of her seat.
The girls stared.
Akane whispered, "Bruh."
Hana froze like a statue.
Naoko looked impressed.
Mika gasped dramatically.
"HE PASSED THE TEST!?"
Rei's face was on fire.
"I—I'm going to get more snacks."
She stood up—
Too fast.
Her foot caught the rug.
"Rei—"
I moved on instinct and caught her wrist before she fell.
She blinked up at me, stunned, cheeks bright red.
"…T-Thanks," she whispered.
My grip loosened, gentle.
"Be careful. The rug edge sticks out."
Rei nodded quickly, unable to look directly at me.
Her mother, watching from the kitchen, whispered loudly:
"Look at them… they're so cute—"
"MOM PLEASE STOP—!!"
When the daughter and mother were arguing.
Mika sat beside me with sparkling eyes.
"Kaito, what did Rei's dad tell you? Was it scary? Did he glare? Did he ask your grades?"
"Nothing dramatic," I said. "Just a chat."
Mika pouted.
"Aww, I wanted a movie moment."
"Not everything has to be a movie."
"That's what Rei said before you arrived," Mika muttered.
Huh?
Naoko stepped closer next.
"…Kaito."
"Yeah?"
She hesitated, fingers tapping lightly against her sleeve.
"You're… really good with parents."
"I just treat them like normal people."
"But most people get nervous. You don't," she said softly.
Her eyes lowered slightly.
"…It's reassuring."
Before I could respond, she stepped back—
calm, but cheeks faintly pink.
Rei returned with snacks she definitely didn't need to bring.
She placed the tray down carefully…
Too carefully…
And when she sat back beside me—
Her hand brushed mine by accident.
She froze.
So did I.
"…S-Sorry," she whispered.
"It's fine."
She kept her eyes on her lap, trying so hard to stay composed.
But her mother whispered loudly:
"Oh my, they're so close again—"
"MOM!!!"
...The room finally calmed down after Rei's parents stepped outside for a moment.
The door closed softly behind them, and for the first time today, it felt like the six of us were truly alone.
I cleared my throat lightly.
"Alright," I began, "since we're all here, let's talk about the Kawaguchiko trip. We need at least a rough rundown."
They all turned toward me.
…A little too quickly.
Akane was the first to lean in, a grin tugging at her lips.
"Ooh, look at you, Leader Mode Kaito," she teased—voice playful but softer than usual.
"Alright then, boss. What's the first place you wanna visit? Somewhere romantic, maybe?"
She said it lightly, but there was a glint in her eyes.
Before I could answer, someone suddenly scooted closer on my left.
Mika.
She slid in like a cheerful missile with zero hesitation, her shoulder bumping mine.
"Kaito, Kaito! How about we go to the Kawaguchi Sengen Shrine first?" she chirped, eyes sparkling.
"It looks suuuper pretty in autumn! And maybe there'll be leaves falling, and then—oh! Maybe we can take pictures!"
She leaned even closer, practically glowing with excitement.
Akane clicked her tongue softly.
"Tch—Mika, don't cut in like that."
"Huh? Cut what?" Mika blinked innocently.
"Were you saying something, Akane? I didn't hear."
Akane looked personally attacked.
Meanwhile I just nodded calmly.
"Sengen Shrine sounds good. With the season changing, the colors should be beautiful."
Mika lit up instantly like I'd just given her candy.
"You agree!? Yes! I knew you had good taste!"
She clapped her hands… and then suddenly realized how close she was, pulling back with a gasp.
"A-ah—s-sorry! I didn't mean to—uh—invade your space!"
I smiled lightly.
"It's fine."
Her face turned pink.
She hid behind her hands.
Cute.
Before Akane could reclaim the momentum, a quiet voice spoke from my right.
"…There's another place."
We all turned.
Naoko.
Normally reserved, calm, and subtle to a fault—
but right now, she was leaning forward slightly, eyes clearer than usual.
"If we're visiting in autumn," she said softly, "Chureito Pagoda is… beautiful."
She hesitated for a moment, fingers brushing the hem of her sleeve.
"The view of Mount Fuji with red leaves… I think everyone would like it."
Her voice was steady, but her expression…
It was the kind of gentle earnestness that made the room fall silent for a second.
Even Akane blinked, thrown off.
Rei lifted her brows slightly.
Hana froze mid-sip of tea.
Naoko wasn't trying to compete.
She was just… speaking from the heart.
And somehow, that stole more attention than any of the others.
I rubbed my chin thoughtfully.
"That's a great idea," I said honestly. "It would be a waste to skip it during autumn."
Naoko's eyes widened a fraction—barely noticeable—
but enough to show she hadn't expected me to agree so quickly.
"O-oh… I'm glad," she murmured, voice small.
Akane coughed sharply, trying to regain control.
"W-well! If Naoko has a suggestion, then—"
But I spoke up again before she could finish.
"We can visit both," I decided.
"Sengen Shrine in the morning, Chureito Pagoda in the afternoon. That way we don't rush either spot."
Mika raised her arms happily.
"Yes! Two beautiful places!"
Naoko lowered her head slightly in a small, satisfied nod.
Akane… looked mildly defeated.
Hana sighed quietly, brushing her hair behind her ear.
"Sounds… perfect."
Rei, still flustered from earlier, adjusted her glasses and avoided eye contact altogether.
And me?
I just watched all of them react in their own ways.
The discussion had gotten lively—lively enough that I barely noticed how cramped Rei's living room suddenly felt. Everyone was talking at once.
Akane's soft teasing.
Mika's explosive enthusiasm.
Naoko's surprisingly bold suggestion.
Yeah… I was managing chaos again. Somehow.
But in the middle of the chatter, a strange shiver crawled up my spine.
…Someone was watching us.
No—two someones.
I didn't turn my head, but I could feel it clearly. Auras. Heavy. Parental. Peeking through the slight opening of the doorway like they were observing a suspicious wild animal.
Naturally, the girls noticed absolutely nothing.
I exhaled quietly and pressed my hands against the floor to stand.
And that was when my foot caught the edge of the rug.
"—Ah."
I tilted.
Straight forward.
Right into Rei.
"HY—!? K-Kaito!?"
We toppled together, practically nose-to-nose before I even realized it. Rei's face turned bright red instantly, her body completely freezing up as my hands accidentally boxed her in.
And of course…
Her parents were definitely watching that.
Perfect.
"KAITO, YOU DOG!!"
Mika pointed dramatically at me like she'd just witnessed a scandal.
"H-Huh!? I—I didn't—!!"
"Hey! Don't steal the lead in the romcom without warning!" Akane shouted, flailing her arms.
Meanwhile:
Hana looked away with a tiny pout, pretending she suddenly found the wall very interesting.
Naoko covered half her face with her sleeve, whispering a barely audible, "…Unfair…" before quickly pretending she didn't say anything.
I tried to push myself up—slowly, carefully—doing my best not to make the situation worse.
But before I could escape—
BAM
The door burst open.
Rei's mother rushed in like a detective catching criminals on the scene.
"Ara ara… and WHAT exactly are you two doing?"
Rei practically shrieked.
"N-n-nothing!! Mom!! Hayashi-kun tripped!! That's all!!"
Her father peeked from behind her mother, arms crossed, eyes narrowed—examining me like I was under interrogation.
I raised both hands calmly.
"It really was just an accident, Asagiri-san. My apologies for startling Rei."
Next to me, Rei looked like a malfunctioning robot—face red, mouth opening and closing, brain long gone.
Rei's mother narrowed her eyes suspiciously… then her expression shifted into something teasing. Dangerously teasing.
"Mouu, Hayashi-kun~ You're remarkably composed for someone who just fell on top of a girl."
Fantastic. Just what Rei needed to hear.
Behind her, Rei's father nodded approvingly.
"…Good composure. Solid recovery. Hm."
Rei smacked her hands over her face.
"D-dad!? Why does that even matter!?"
Akane was already raising her hand like she was giving testimony.
"Asagiri-san, actually, just now—"
"—was pure fate," Mika declared dramatically.
"Mika!! Don't improvise!!"
I lifted my hand again, still calm.
"I promise it was an accident. We were just discussing our Kawaguchiko trip plan."
Rei's mother's smile softened.
"Of course, dear. We trust you. Just… no more falling on my daughter, okay?"
Rei visibly disintegrated.
Her father added flatly, "Unless necessary."
"DAD!!"
The room instantly exploded with teasing, embarrassment, complaints, laughter—everything at once.
And somehow… I ended up sitting straighter, speaking politely, naturally taking control of the conversation again.
Rei's parents exchanged a quick look.
And I could tell.
Their impression of me definitely improved.
Which only made Rei even more flustered.
As for the girls—
Akane was smirking with silent satisfaction.
Mika was plotting her next move.
Hana was quietly sulking.
Naoko was muttering "…lucky…" again while covering her cheeks.
Yeah.
This was going to be a long, chaotic afternoon.
Rei's living room was still chaotic behind me when her father suddenly cleared his throat.
"Hayashi-kun. A moment."
His tone was low enough to silence even Mika's chatter. He didn't raise his voice—he didn't need to. The weight alone was enough.
He looked at me once, then nodded toward the hallway.
Ah.
So this was it.
He still wasn't done evaluating me.
(What evaluating?)
I stood up immediately. "Of course, Asagiri-san."
The girls all blinked in confusion.
"Eh?"
"Why just Kaito?"
"Is he in trouble?"
"Ah… interrogation arc," Akane whispered dramatically.
Rei, already dying from earlier embarrassment, stiffened.
"Dad… don't be weird…!"
But her father had already turned around, walking with slow, heavy steps like a general leading me to a battlefield.
I followed behind him.
And instantly felt it.
The hallway temperature dropped by at least five degrees.
His aura was… intense.
Like the kind of pressure only a father who raised a perfect honor-student daughter could emit.
Was I scared?
…No.
I just straightened my back and matched his pace.
He opened the door to his study.
A quiet room lined with books, documents, and a faint scent of cedar.
"Enter."
I stepped inside.
He closed the door behind us with a soft but final click.
Then he sat down, hands folded, expression unreadable.
"Hayashi-kun," he began.
"Regarding your suitability for her."
Ah.
So this was about trust.
Good.
I'd expected something like this.
I nodded seriously. "I understand, Asagiri-san. You want to know whether I'm capable of protecting them."
His eyebrow twitched.
"…'Them'?"
"Yes," I said firmly. "The girls."
He stared at me.
Very still.
I continued, confident.
"I know I'm not much, but… I'll protect all five of them. No matter what happens."
A long silence filled the room.
Inside that silence, my thoughts began spiraling.
Five people.
Five different personalities.
Five different ways of getting into danger.
Akane—who always charges ahead without thinking twice.
Hana—who panics at the smallest emotional surprise.
Rei—who looks composed but collapses the second her feelings overwhelm her.
Naoko—quiet, unreadable, but too kind for her own good.
Mika—who might accidentally die chasing a butterfly if no one stops her.
Protecting them sounded less like a promise and more like a lifelong job.
But the moment that thought formed, an old memory surfaced.
A small living room.
A little sister crying because she scraped her knee.
Me—7 years old—trying to act calm even though I wanted to cry too.
Wiping her tears.
Bandaging her with hands that wouldn't stop shaking.
Telling her it didn't hurt anymore, even though I was the one panicking.
But that wasn't the only memory.
There was another one—
the one I never wanted to remember,
the one that always crawled back when I thought about "protecting someone."
It was late afternoon.
Dark clouds.
The smell of rain that hadn't fallen yet.
I was in the kitchen, reaching for a cup, when the door suddenly slid open—
and both my younger siblings stumbled in.
Covered in blood.
Not theirs, not all of it, but at the time I didn't know that.
I just saw red.
On their arms.
Their clothes.
Running down their legs.
My body froze, refusing to move.
My throat closed up.
My mind blanked.
My little brother tried to speak, but only a broken, trembling sound came out.
My little sister was shaking so hard her teeth clattered.
For a split second—
just one second—
I broke.
My knees almost gave out.
My vision blurred.
My heart slammed so hard it felt like it would tear out of my chest.
The fear was suffocating.
The thought that I had failed them before even realizing they were in danger—
it crushed me.
I wanted to scream.
I wanted to run.
I wanted to disappear.
But then—
my sister called my name.
Very quietly.
"…Kaito… nii-chan…"
That snapped something inside me.
Pulled me back.
Forced me to breathe.
My hands moved before my mind caught up.
Grabbing towels.
Pressing down wounds.
Checking if anything was deep.
Calming them down even though my whole body was shaking worse than theirs.
Later I found out they got caught in a fight between older kids.
Wrong place, wrong time.
But the image never left me.
Blood.
Fear.
Their small hands clutching my clothes.
The helplessness of being unable to stop it before it happened.
That day carved itself into me.
The day I decided—
I won't let anyone around me end up like that again.
I wouldn't break again.
Not when it came to protecting someone.
After that day, I swore something quietly to myself:
I won't let the people I care about get hurt again.
Maybe that's why I always step between arguments.
Why I always take the lead when things get messy.
Why I get nervous when the girls drift too far ahead.
Why I instinctively put myself in front without thinking.
I don't know if I'm good enough.
Or strong enough.
Or smart enough.
But I know how it feels to fail someone once.
And I won't let that happen again.
Even if it means protecting five different disasters waiting to happen.
Even if Rei's father is staring at me like I just asked for his daughter's hand.
Alright… whatever he says next, I should be ready.
He'll probably say something like:
"Are you capable?"
or "Can I trust you?"
or maybe—if he's really worried—
"What makes you think you can do it?"
I inhaled slowly, bracing myself.
Okay, Hayashi Kaito.
No backing out now.
Rei's father stayed silent for a long moment after I said those words.
The kind of silence that wasn't awkward—just heavy, deliberate.
Like he was weighing my entire being before speaking again.
Finally, he leaned back slightly in his chair.
"…Alright," he said quietly. "Then let's continue our agreement, Hayashi."
I straightened my posture.
"Yes, Asagiri-san."
The man clasped his hands together, elbows on the desk. Everything about the room screamed order—neatly stacked books, not a speck of dust on the table, the faint smell of ink and wood polish. The warm light from the desk lamp cast a sharp glow across his face.
"If you're truly going to protect her…"
I nodded immediately—assuming he meant all five of them.
"…then there's one thing you must remember."
His gaze was steady, unreadable. But there was something underneath it—concern, buried deep beneath the steel exterior.
"Don't try to do it alone."
I froze.
"E-Eh?..."
He continued, voice low, calm, and heavy with the weight of experience.
"Boys like you… have a tendency to take on everything themselves. Especially the ones who've been through something that made them think it's their duty to protect others."
My breath hitched for a second.
Those words hit closer than I expected.
He looked down, almost to himself now.
"I don't want my daughter relying on someone who's already breaking himself trying to protect everyone else."
I frowned slightly, confused by the phrasing—because in my head, 'my daughter' still translated to 'them'.
Asagiri-san exhaled slowly.
"If you truly intend to protect her, then allow others—me, my wife, your friends—to protect you as well."
His shoulders softened. For a brief second, I saw not the stern, intimidating father, but just… a man who cared deeply.
"No shield can block everything alone, Hayashi. Not even the strongest one."
His words cut deeper than I thought they would.
Because they reminded me of a memory I'd buried long ago.
A small house near the forest.
Where my little siblings crying because of their injuries.
Me—7 years old—pretending to stay calm even though my hands wouldn't stop shaking.
Wiping their tears. Treating their wound with my small hand. Telling them it didn't hurt anymore, even though I know it was a lie.
And then—
That day.
When both of my younger siblings came home covered in blood.
They cried hysterically, and seeing them like that…
It broke something in me.
That helplessness burned itself into my chest.
I swore I'd never let anyone close to me get hurt again.
No matter what it took.
I blinked, coming back to the present.
Asagiri-san was still watching me—calm, patient, expectant.
"…I understand, Asagiri-san."
My voice came out steady.
"I accept."
He studied me for a moment longer… then gave a small nod, the kind that meant approval.
"Good," he said.
"Then we have an agreement."
He reached into his desk drawer, pulled out a sealed envelope, and placed it on the table.
"This is your compensation."
I picked it up—and nearly dropped it.
It was thick.
Way too thick.
"250.000 yen…?" I muttered under my breath.
"It should be enough on your trip.." he said it with a calm tone like giving me 250 yen.
Before I could even think of returning it, he spoke again—tone sharp, almost intimidating.
"But remember this, Hayashi."
He leaned forward slightly.
"If you fail to protect her…"
I straightened instinctively.
"…you will return that money in full."
A pause.
"And you are not ABLE to see her again."
I met his eyes squarely.
That same sense of conviction—the same one I felt back then—rose inside me again.
"I understand, Asagiri-san," I said firmly.
"I'll protect her. No matter what happens."
For a long second, he didn't move.
Then, slowly, the corners of his mouth lifted—just a fraction.
Relief, pride… and maybe, respect.
"…Good," he said quietly.
"I'll keep your word, Hayashi."
I stood up and bowed to Asagiri-san.
"Thank you so much, Asagiri-san."
After that, I left the room. I didn't know what I would do with this much money. But one thing was clear...
Asagiri-san had placed his trust in me. I wouldn't let him down.
The living room of Rei's house had finally quieted down.
The pillow war was over, but its aftertaste lingered—awkward smiles, leftover laughter, and something no one wanted to name yet.
"Thanks for hanging out today," Rei said as she walked us to the door.
Her smile was small, but her eyes looked like they were still processing everything.
Akane slipped on her shoes.
"We're heading out! Don't oversleep tomorrow, Rei. We're leaving early!"
Rei nodded. "I won't… have a safe trip home."
Hana stepped outside first, Mika following with a lazy wave. Akane trailed behind.
When I moved to leave, Rei gently tugged my sleeve.
"…Kaito."
I stopped. "Yeah?"
She didn't answer right away.
She just looked at me—quiet, searching, like she wanted to say something but wasn't sure if she should.
"If you're ever tired… or if something's bothering you," she whispered, "you can tell me."
I blinked. "I'm fine, Rei. Really."
She took a slow breath, like she wasn't convinced.
But then she offered a tiny smile.
"Tomorrow… don't be late. I'll be waiting."
"…Alright."
She stepped back, staying in the doorway as the rest of us started walking down the path.
The porch light framed her silhouette—calm, warm, yet clearly holding something she didn't say.
When I glanced back one last time, Rei was still there.
Watching.
Waiting.
Tomorrow, everything would begin again.