"Redeem a kiss?"
"An unripe little steamed bun, I have completely no expectations. It will only make me laugh, alright."
Sora was just about to play another refusal card when the door was suddenly pushed open, and a boy and a girl walked in.
"President, Vice President!"
The red-haired girl, Komari Chika, softly called out and scurried to hide behind the two of them, like a lost little animal finding its scattered owner.
There is no need to elaborate on what followed.
Upon learning the trio's intentions, the President and Vice President were both exceptionally enthusiastic, striving to invite Elf to join the Literature Club.
The second-year female Vice President quickly picked up on Elf's personality of 'loving to claim credit'. She spared no praise, flattering Elf until she was dizzy, and Elf quickly agreed to join the Literature Club.
The male President's tone was sincere as he invited Sora to join the Literature Club. He expressed that the Literature Club was on the verge of being disbanded. After joining, Sora wouldn't need to do anything; he just needed to be a "ghost member" to make up the numbers.
At the same time, he guaranteed there would be no mandatory club activities. He could come whenever he wanted, and it didn't matter if he didn't. Once he joined the Literature Club, he could borrow all the manga and light novels as he pleased.
"That sounds very interesting. I want to join too."
In the end, even Anna became interested, stating she could serve as a ghost member.
Yamada Elf went without saying. Gripping the hem of Sora's shirt with her small hand, she threatened in a low voice:
"Idiot Servant, agree quickly, or else I'll go over and night-attack you tonight!"
"..."
Faced with the invitations from Anna and Elf, Sora ultimately agreed.
After sorting out the club matters, the time was already around four or five o'clock.
The three left the club room and headed to the classroom building to meet up with Angel-sama.
"Mahiru, we're here." Anna's eyes were sparkling.
"Let's hurry back, okay?"
When they had lunch together, Angel-sama had mentioned that today was Elf's first day of school, and she was going to prepare a feast to celebrate properly tonight. Naturally, Anna wouldn't miss the opportunity to mooch a meal.
"It's still early, Anna, there's no rush." Mahiru's voice was gentle.
"...Did Elf find a club she likes?"
Yamada Elf put her hands on her hips: "I've already joined the Literature Club with Sora."
"Eh?"
Angel-sama looked up in surprise, gazing at Sora.
"As ghost members." Sora explained.
"The Literature Club was on the verge of disbanding. I'm responsible for making up the numbers."
"..."
Chatting as they went, the group walked out of the school.
Arriving at the train station, Sora kept feeling like he had forgotten something.
Strange... what exactly did I forget?
Meanwhile.
Basori Tiara was searching for someone all over the school.
"Ahhhh, where exactly is Izumi-kun?"
"Damn it!"
"Why don't I have his contact information!"
"..."
After getting off the train, the group went to the supermarket to buy ingredients, snacks, and fruit together, and then returned home.
Because she was mindful of the night run later, Mahiru had a simple cup of tea upon returning home and then got busy in the kitchen.
"Mahiru, do you need me to help?"
Sora walked to the kitchen door and asked softly.
Mahiru had already tied her beautiful hair into a refreshing single ponytail and had casually put on an apron. Hearing his voice, she looked up, her demeanor as head chef fully displayed:
"Sora, help peel the potatoes."
"Received."
"And wash the tomatoes too."
"..."
When men and women work together, the work isn't tiring.
Sora and Mahiru worked together and quickly completed the prep work.
Mahiru poured the potatoes and beef brisket into the pressure cooker, looked up, and said gently:
"Sora-kun, you can go out now. Leave the rest to me."
"Thank you for your hard work, Mahiru-sama."
Sora turned and was about to leave when Angel-sama's voice suddenly rang out behind him:
"Wait a minute."
"Hmm?"
"Sora-kun, you have a little flour on your face..."
As she spoke, Mahiru walked over and raised her hand to wipe the flour off Sora's face.
Their eyes met.
Looking at Angel-sama's delicate, tender, and pink lips, Sora's gaze quietly grew heated.
Sensing the change in Sora's gaze, a blush quickly surged onto Angel-sama's fair, jade-like pretty face. Her eyelashes fluttered, and she shyly averted her gaze:
"It's all clean now. Sora-kun, hurry up and go out."
"..."
Carrying the washed grapes, Sora walked out of the kitchen. He saw three girls playing a game. Besides Elf and Anna, Sagiri had rarely come downstairs to join the fun.
"Sora, come here quickly!"
Yamada Elf, sitting on her knees on the floor, waved to him:
"Hurry and come play the game with us."
Sora looked at the TV and saw a girl in a sailor suit walking alone in a gray mist, looking oppressive and eerie:
"What is this?"
"It's 'Silent Hill f'. I bought the game on a whim at the supermarket earlier." Yamada Elf's small face was slightly pale, but she put on a brave front.
"I've heard of the famous Silent Hill before, but I've never experienced it. Seeing it earlier, I bought it out of curiosity... I feel like it's no big deal."
"Elf was just screaming 'waaahh' in terror a moment ago." Sagiri, hugging a body pillow, ruthlessly exposed her.
Anna widened her eyes, staring nervously at the TV screen: "Sora, come quickly. A super scary scene just happened, it almost triggered my trypophobia."
Sora put down the fruit and sat beside the girls, deciding to relax for a bit.
After playing for a short while, a physically twisted monster suddenly appeared.
"Ahhhhh!"
Elf, who was already jumpy, was so scared she threw the controller right away:
"Sora, you play!"
Sora looked at his sister: "Does Sagiri want to play?"
"No way." Sagiri shook her head quickly.
"Idiot Nii-san, quickly take the controller far away."
"Does Anna want to play?"
"No, it feels so scary. I'll just watch."
"..."
Sora then sat down, leading the three girls on a journey of a horror game.
Time quietly slipped by.
The sky outside the window quietly darkened.
"What... are you guys doing?"
Angel-sama's faint voice sounded from behind the four of them.
"Ahhhhh!"
"Why does Mahiru walk without making a sound?"
"Don't suddenly talk behind people's backs!"
"..."
Sora wasn't affected, but the three girls who were watching intently were startled.
"Remember to turn on the lights when playing games, otherwise it'll hurt your eyes." Angel-sama walked over and turned on the lights. The powerful aura of the head of the household was fully displayed, her majesty evident.
"The food is ready. Hurry up, wash your hands, and let's eat."
"..."
In the blink of an eye, it was 7:50 PM.
"Mahiru, ready to head out?"
Sora turned off his computer and looked at Angel-sama.
"Okay..."
Mahiru's pretty face flushed slightly as she replied softly:
"I'll go back and get my bike first."
A moment later.
Sora and Angel-sama met at the door and rode their bikes to the lakeside park together.
The evening breeze was cool.
The moonlight was perfect.
It was perfect weather for a night run.
There were no stranded kittens today, nor did it trigger a time rewind. Sora and Mahiru ran a full hour around the rubber track by the lake, perfectly completing their training plan.
"L-Let's stop here for today..."
Mahiru's pink lips parted slightly, panting heavily, her forehead dripping with fragrant sweat:
"Sora-kun, let's grab a drink, replenish our fluids, and then head back?"
"I am indeed thirsty." Sora's breathing was also a bit rapid.
"Let's go, let's go buy drinks."
The two talked as they walked towards the vending machine. It happened to be the exact spot where the other Mahiru had appeared yesterday.
Sora bought a can of soda. His gaze involuntarily drifted toward the restroom, and the bits and pieces of yesterday's events quietly surfaced in his mind.
"...Sora-kun, don't let your imagination run wild."
Angel-sama's pretty face was slightly flushed, looking up with a shy, affectionate glare.
Sora refused to admit it: "I'm not."
Mahiru bit her lower lip: "I called you twice just now and you didn't hear. You must definitely be thinking about weird things."
Sora: "..."
After finishing their drinks, the two walked out of the park, ready to ride their bikes home.
However, after arriving at the designated parking spot, Sora quickly noticed the bike felt wrong when pushed. Looking closely, he found the rear tire was flat:
"Why is the tire flat?"
Mahiru looked down: "Could it have run over something?"
"It's also possible that the tire is old and degraded." Sora looked around.
"I can't find anyone to fix it right now, so we can only walk it back for now."
"We have school tomorrow, and it will take a long time to walk it back, won't it?"
Angel-sama's pretty face flushed slightly as she gently proposed, "How about... I give Sora-kun a ride back on my bike?"