Chapter 5 – The Ceiling and the Spending Limit

A girl shouting something outrageous at the top of her lungs.

Her hair is dyed brown and tied into a side-tail, and she’s about the same height as me. Maybe a little shorter than Watase-san.

And her chest is incredibly huge. Very huge. Because of that, my eyes naturally get drawn there… well, actually no. I’m way too distracted by Watase-san, who is glaring in the direction of those two with eyes that look like she’s staring at her parents’ murderer.

I mean, come on, right? Watase-san is plotting revenge against Ayane-san, and now this other girl just said “Leo-kyun,” right?

What exactly is going on here, Leo-kyun? You’re playing around way too much. I’m jealous. And a bloodbath is absolutely unavoidable now.

Look, Watase-san is already approaching the busty tomboy.

“You… you just said ‘Leo-kyun,’ didn’t you?”

“Huh? I did, but who are you?”

“I’m Miori Watase. The woman who had her Leo-kyun stolen by that woman right there.”

See, this is bad, this is bad. Someone needs to stop them!

“…So it happened to you, too. Does that mean we’re comrades, then?”

“Yes, exactly. We’re both women who had the same man stolen by the same woman. Let’s join forces.”

“Yeah, sounds good. I’m Itsuki Fujimiya. Nice to meet you, Miorin.”

“Nice to meet you, Itsuki.”

Why? Seriously, why? Isn’t this usually where we enter a three-way carnage route? Why are you two instantly hitting it off? Just who the hell is this Leo-kyun?

“So, what did that woman do to you?”

“It hurts even to remember, but I’ll tell you. I was supposed to meet up with Leo-kyun at Anime Saito on Sunday at 10 AM. And yet… that woman suddenly showed up and snatched my Leo-kyun right out from under me. And she did it while hugging him tightly, right where I could see, as if to show it off!”

“How awful… Ayane, what is the meaning of this? Is that true?”

Meeting up at a place called Anime Saito is a bit weird, but I’m much more concerned about Ayane-san’s reaction. Wondering how she’d answer, I shifted my gaze — only to see Ayane-san give a small, silent nod.

No way… You mean it’s true? Ayane-san has also fallen prey to Leo-kyun’s demonic hands?

“I’ve stared at the ceiling with Leo-kyun so many times. And yet…”

“I understand. I understand that feeling perfectly. I’ve used all my allowance and New Year’s money to stare at the ceiling with Leo-kyun, too.”

“Even when I was told, ‘You can’t do any more than this,’ I still tried my hardest the next month, all for Leo-kyun’s sake…”

Please stop with the gritty, realistic talk first thing in the morning.

Also, Leo-kyun is the absolute worst. Doing those kinds of things while even taking their money.

“By the way… how long have you been dating him, Itsuki?”

“Me? I’ve been with him for about seven months. For our 200-day anniversary recently, he gave me 100 pieces of candy.”

“Y-You’re a grand senior! I’m going to have to call you, Itsuki-san, from now on…”

“N-No, don’t do that. What matters isn’t the length of time, it’s the strength of your feelings, right? Leo-kyun said so himself, didn’t he?”

“Ah… right. He certainly did say that. Goodness me. To think I’d forgotten Leo-kyun’s words…”

The candy made another appearance.

Leo-kyun really gives candy to everyone, huh. Are his pockets just stuffed full of candy? It sounds cute when you say it out loud. What he’s actually doing is the worst, though. I wonder how many candies you get when you’ve been dating for two years — I feel like you’d have to buy them by the box at that point.

It sounds like he said something cool, but clearly, to Leo-kyun, what matters isn’t the length of time or the strength of feelings — it’s the amount of candy.

“That’s right. Hey, Itsuki, are you free after school? Want to chat about all sorts of things regarding Leo-kyun, just the two of us?”

“I was just thinking the same thing!”

“Let’s exchange contact info while we head to class, then. Ah, wait here for a second.”

Saying that, Watase-san starts walking toward me.

Don’t come over here.

“Akasaka-kun.”

“What?”

“It’s a shame, but I’ll be holding a Leo-kyun gathering with Itsuki after school today.”

“Looks like it.”

Not that I care.

“So today’s strategy meeting is canceled. I’m sorry.”

“That’s totally fine.”

“Thank you. I’m looking forward to it.”

“I see.”

You got NTR’d, yet you’re looking forward to it? I definitely won’t say that out loud. Don’t worry, I won’t throw water on the two of you when you look so happy.

If I ask anything more about this, I feel like I’m going to go crazy. Me, that is.

“See you later, then.”

“Yeah.”

And with that, Watase-san and Fujimiya-san walked off side-by-side, getting along perfectly.

Watching them go is Ayane-san. Hmm? Ayane-san?

Eh? Did those two really just hurl all those complaints at Ayane-san and then abandon her here!?

The students who had been watching from a distance were starting to walk away too — the only ones standing still were Ayane-san and me.

I wonder what this is, this feeling… It’s like an air of sorrow is drifting around her.

And I wonder why. Why has she been glaring at me this whole time?

I’ve been glared at so much lately that it’s starting to feel normal.

“…………”

Ah, she started walking. I should go too. I’ll wait a little first. I’d hate for her to think I was following her.

…………And so, I was late. I was told to clean the windows after school before going home.

Man, this sucks. And today is the day my older brother — who left the house declaring “I’m going to become a voice actor!” — is supposed to come home, too…

◇◇◇

After school. Inside the girls’ restroom.

Standing face-to-face are Miori Watase and Itsuki Fujimiya.

With a serious expression, Miori questioned Itsuki.

“So… that Leo-kyun you were supposed to meet up with on Sunday — you mean that, right?”

In response to the question, Itsuki crossed her arms, lifting her massive breasts in the process, and answered.

“Of course. The limited-production Leo-kyun Reversible Dakimakura Cover. Two patterns: a school uniform and a blushing, half-naked dress shirt version. A true test of our love, sold on a first-come, first-served basis with no reservations allowed, and the stock at each store was completely random — yes, that.”

“I knew it… So that’s why Ayane’s futon was bulging so unnaturally…”

“Unforgivable… According to the intel I gathered, there were supposed to be exactly two of him in stock at that store…”

“How awful… I had given up on it since I offered up all my funds for the New Event, but to think Leo-kyun actually came to the room right next to mine…”

“I stared at the ceiling, trying to get that limited outfit for the New Event.”

“That’s amazing. With my allowance, I could never…”

“I sacrificed my entire part-time job paycheck.”

“A part-time job! I never thought of that.”

“When I used up all my New Year’s money, the ‘credit limit reached’ message popped up, so I couldn’t go any further. If only one more of him had come home, I would have gotten the limited CG…”

“I’m sorry. I feel a bit guilty saying this, but… I collected every version of Leo-kyun just using the freely distributed candies…”

The moment Miori said that, Itsuki collapsed to her knees.

“S-So my love still isn’t strong enough…”

“That’s not true! Your love for Leo-kyun is genuine, Itsuki! Oh, that’s right — I have a great idea. I was plotting my revenge against that woman. You know what happened to me? She forced me to look at the half-naked, blushing Leo-kyun CG in the PE equipment room — one I hadn’t even seen yet! She just left her screen on and casually placed it on the living room table! Do you understand? The sheer despair of being forced to see it not through your own love, but by someone else’s hands!”

“I understand! I completely understand, Miorin! Whenever I see people smugly posting their screenshots on social media, it makes me want to end them!”

“Right!? In that case, lend me your ear.”

Miori brought her mouth close to Itsuki’s ear and muttered something under her breath.

And upon hearing it, Itsuki—

“Let’s do it.”

Smiled brightly as she agreed.