All the Heroines Who Showed Their Overwhelming Emotions on Me Have Mentally Broken Down and Gone Insane, so Now My Only Choice Is to Pamper Them Endlessly to Avoid Total Chaos — Sweets Work Best on Lovesick Heroines - Chapter 22: Monday, Raimu Tendo Day

Chapter 22: Monday, Raimu Tendo Day

A week had passed since then.

The apartment that Yami Ayakura had prepared for me was a luxury property with auto-lock security, and it was just a five-minute walk from the station.

The layout was a 1LDK, which was more than enough for a high school student like me.

She covered all the rent and living expenses. I was completely her kept man.

Anyway, after finishing the preparation period last week, today marked the start of the full-fledged rendezvous with the four of them—no, the menhera rehabilitation program for the four of them.

It was Monday, the start of the week. As I got ready for school in my still unfamiliar new place,

the intercom rang at 7 a.m.

Ding-dong.

The monitor showed the entrance before the auto-lock and Raimu Tendo in her uniform.

“Yes?”

“Aotori! Good morning! I came to pick you up!”

She beamed with a full-face smile. She must have been really looking forward to today.

I asked her to wait a few minutes at the entrance, hurriedly finished getting ready, and went outside.

On the way to school, Raimu Tendo naturally hooked her arm through mine.

“Hey. Don’t stick so close.”

“But it’s Monday, right? It’s my day, isn’t it?”

“Yeah, but…”

“So no problem!”

Jeez…

Well, I had to spend the whole day with Raimu Tendo anyway. Complaining about this much wouldn’t help.

“Oh, right!”

As we walked, Raimu Tendo opened her school bag.

“I made a lunch for you, Aotori! Let’s eat together at noon!”

Oh, that might actually help.

Since starting to live alone, Kokoa no longer made lunches for me. I’d been eating at the school cafeteria last week, so it was nice to have someone prepare one.

“Thanks.”

“Ehehe~”

When I thanked her straightforwardly, Raimu Tendo grinned from ear to ear.

It had been a while since I’d seen a face that hid her joy so little.

*

Lunch break.

Raimu Tendo and I sat side by side behind the special building, picking at our lunches.

The handmade lunch from Raimu Tendo had the wieners shaped like little octopuses, and cute picks stuck into the cherry tomatoes. It looked more like something for elementary school kids than high schoolers, but the taste was amazing.

The side dishes were arranged with color in mind, and just opening it up made my mouth water.

“Hey, hey, Aotori.”

“Mm?”

“Want to go on a date after school?”

“A date?”

“There’s a movie I want to see!”

Well, it was Raimu Tendo’s day today. No reason to say no. Plus, a movie after school was still within the bounds of a normal high school life.

This was a step toward rehabilitation, too.

“Sure. Especially since you made lunch for me.”

“Yay!!!”

So, after school that day, Raimu Tendo and I headed to the movie theater in front of the station.

The lobby, filled with the smell of caramel, buzzed with couples and students.

It was just before 5 p.m., but there were still quite a few people even at this hour. Most of them looked like college students.

Raimu Tendo and I headed to the ticket machine together.

That’s when it happened.

“Ah.”

Raimu Tendo and another male college student we brushed past both exclaimed at the same time.

They were a pair, just like us—a guy and a girl.

They wore uniforms from a different high school. I’d seen that uniform a few times on the train.

The guy had short hair and a medium build. He had decent features, but he gave off a sleazy vibe. Next to him was a girl with her hair in a ponytail and somewhat flashy makeup.

They had their arms linked. They were obviously a couple.

“…Kota.”

Raimu Tendo murmured the name.

That’s when I remembered.

The guy was the one from that day—the one who’d heartlessly dumped Raimu Tendo when she clung to him at middle school graduation.

Our middle school had over 300 kids per grade, so I had no connection to the guy.

“Someone you know?”

His date tugged at Kota’s sleeve.

“Well… sort of, from middle school.”

“Hmm.”

The girl sized Raimu Tendo up like she was appraising her.

Then she said in a slightly sulky tone,

“She’s cute.”

“Cut it out. This girl’s seriously crazy.”

Kota jerked his chin toward Raimu Tendo, not hiding his contempt at all.

Raimu Tendo looked down painfully. Her trembling fingertips gripped my sleeve.

“That’s rough for you, man. Getting targeted by Raimu Tendo.”

Kota continued, sounding sympathetic toward me.

“You’d better dump a girl like that quick. It’s for your own good.”

“Stop…”

Raimu Tendo let out a small voice.

She kept her head down, biting her lip.

“If you’re gonna run, do it fast. Seriously. See ya.”

Not wanting to get involved, Kota said whatever he wanted and started walking again.

He probably meant it as a kindness, to some extent. In fact, Raimu Tendo’s behavior was insane. The stalking, the unhealthy obsession—all of it was true.

But his attitude, spelling it out in public like that and mocking her, really got under my skin.

Bragging about looking down on an ex in front of his new girlfriend to feel superior.

…I didn’t like it.

“Wait.”

I spoke up on impulse.

My voice clearly carried hostility, I think.

Kota turned back.

“What?”

“Yeah, Raimu Tendo’s weird. She does stalker-ish stuff, and common sense doesn’t get through to her.”

Raimu Tendo’s body jolted.

“But at least I chose to face her. I’m not gonna shove her away irresponsibly like you did.”

“Huh? What’s with the seriousness?”

Kota’s face twisted in annoyance.

“Raimu Tendo’s trying to change now. She’s properly facing her issues.”

“Don’t make me laugh. Raimu Tendo changing? No way in hell.”

“Don’t assume.”

“Well, Raimu Tendo’s got a pretty face, at least. You’re just after her body, right? Like some hookup goal.”

A creepy smirk floated on Kota’s twisted face.

The more I talked to him, the more unpleasant he got. He treated Raimu Tendo like an object through and through.

“Stop it, Kota… Let’s go.”

In the awkward atmosphere, his date pulled at his arm.

Her boyfriend might be sleazy, but she seemed to have some sense.

“Tch.”

Kota clicked his tongue and disappeared into the theater with her.

Raimu Tendo stayed bent over, not moving.

Her shoulders shook. I couldn’t see her face.

“Well, whatever. Don’t let it get to you. It’s in the past, no need to feel down—”

As I tried to comfort her, Raimu Tendo suddenly looked up.

I’d thought she’d be down in the dumps, but instead of tears, her face showed a melting bliss.

Her dilated pupils. Her flushed cheeks.

This was bad. Déjà vu.

“Hawawaaaa♡♡♡♡♡”

Ignoring the people around, Raimu Tendo hugged me.

“Hey…”

“Aotori! I love you! I love you so much!”

“Oi. People are watching…”

“But I can’t hold back…! I love you so much it hurts…!”

Raimu Tendo’s energy had gone off the rails.

Damn. I’d meant to save it for emergencies only, not use it otherwise…

I’d used the candy again, apparently.

―――――――――――――――――

[Raimu Tendo] (Change)

Dependency: ★★★★☆ → ★★★★★

Danger: ★★☆☆☆

Menhera: ★★★★☆ → ★★★☆☆

[Yami Ayakura]

Dependency: ★★★★☆

Danger: ★★★★☆

Menhera: ★★★★☆

[Iori Ototsuka]

Dependency: ★★★★☆

Danger: ★★★★☆

Menhera: ★★★★☆

[Kokoa Aotori]

Dependency: ★★★★★

Danger: ★★★★☆

Menhera: ★★★★★