“Do you hear me? Respond. This is Mob = Mariko. I’ve arrived at the target location. Over.”
“I hear you. This is Mob = Mari-ko. I’ve also just arrived. Listen carefully… don’t let your guard down. If you do… you’ll die.”
In my mind, I can hear soldiers talking in the middle of a fierce battlefield.
Amid a storm of bullets, one of them says:
“Once this war is over, I’m going to marry her.”
Mob = Mari-ko says that.
Idiot—that’s a death flag! Take it back right now!
And then, from the radio, I hear her scream:
“Y-you’re…! Aaahhh!!”
“Mari-ko! Mari-ko! Respond!”
…but only static answers me.
…Why? Why did it come to this…?
I’m the only one. I will survive no matter what.
Declaring this dramatically, I raise my gun and expose myself from behind the wall, stepping into the enemy’s sight.
“UOOOOOOH! I’m not going to die!”
I shout and fire wildly.
But the enemy in front of Mob = Mariko only smirks.
“…Hurry up and come closer.”
Those words strike my heart like a bullet.
“Guhh—!”
My body collapses. The gun I never let go of slips from my hands and rolls across the ground.
Lying on my back, I stare up at the sky.
It’s annoyingly clear.
What a beautiful sky… so this is it… I guess I’m done for…
And so, Mariko died.
At the hands of her formidable enemy—
Tooga = Saiz = Oshi.
~END~
My body was being dragged along the ground again.
Today, just like always, Tooga dragged me into his room.
I thought I’d try to walk on my own this time… but it was impossible.
My oshi is too strong. I can’t win. No, I knew that from the start. This was a losing battle.
But still, didn’t I think I’d improved a little? Nope. Not at all.
Honestly, just going to Tooga’s house is already a heart attack waiting to happen. Instant death.
And his outfit is unfair. Seriously, what is that armor?!
Today as always, he’s dressed in black—his signature color.
His shirt is unbuttoned down past his collarbone, exposing the hollow of his chest in a way that’s basically illegal.
Don’t mess with me, I’m going to lick that collarbone—too sexy.
And those jeans… what is that, runway fashion? Paris Fashion Week?
I swear I could see Paris.
What are you, a whale-level whale spender?
Meanwhile I’m free-to-play. Apologize to me.
And that face of yours—how much money did it cost?!
…Wait, no money? Free? Huh? What? Impossible.
Inside the room, like last time, I tried to prostrate myself in full five-body surrender—but Tooga grabbed my legs and stopped me before I could complete the ritual.
He stripped off my shoes effortlessly and carried me away before I could even attempt dignity.
Like a mother cat carrying her kitten.
Hello, I am a parcel delivered by Yamato Transport.
I’ve come to breathe the freshest air in the world.
In the living room, unlike last time, he dropped me near the sofa instead of the floor.
Before I could process anything, I heard the sofa sink slightly behind me.
There’s only one person here.
So yes. That’s Tooga.
Which means I’m currently sitting on the floor between his legs.
My brain stopped functioning immediately.
Wait—think about it.
I’m alone in my oshi’s room.
And I’m literally between his legs.
If I touch him I might die.
This is probably the happiest place I’ve ever been in my life.
And also the most dangerous.
I’m so nervous I might combust.
Actually, I already am.
The TV turned on via Tooga’s remote, filling the room with a daytime variety show.
A host happily commented, “That cake looks delicious!”
Yeah… it does look good…
—No! Focus! I’m about to die here!
If a fortune teller looked at me right now, they’d say:
“I’m sorry… there’s nothing we can do.”
That’s how obvious my death flag is.
I have to do something.
Mission 1: Escape from between my oshi’s legs.
Alright. Plan is simple.
Crawl forward without touching either side, carefully moving on all fours.
Then I’ll retreat to a safe distance and apologize properly about yesterday.
Perfect. Genius.
I placed my hands on the floor and slowly began to move.
Carefully… quietly…
Yes… good… good…
I was praising myself internally when—
“Why are you trying to run away?”
His legs suddenly trapped me.
“WHY?!”
I screamed.
Sorry neighbors. I really am sorry.
His legs locked around me and pulled me back.
“No no no no! Your legs are alive! My oshi’s legs are alive!”
They’re wrapped around my waist… I’m doomed…
Why is there muscle definition… why is this so erotic…?
I’m going to die from exposure to peak human design.
“Why do you keep trying to escape?” he asked.
“B-because this situation is impossible! I’m trapped between your legs with you behind me—that’s like death on all sides!”
“…You’re surprisingly talkative.”
“I tried really hard!”
“Anyway, that cake looks good.”
“Yeah, I thought so too… wait, listen to me!”
But he completely ignored me.
Truly impressive technique.
Please release me.
“…About yesterday,” I finally said.
His legs tightened slightly.
“Yesterday I apologized over the phone, but I wanted to say it properly in person. I’m sorry.”
I bowed my head.
From my angle, it probably looked like I was apologizing to the TV.
Silence filled the room.
Only the sound of the television remained.
It was heavy.
But I didn’t run.
“You know…” he finally said.
“Why don’t you get angry when I tell you not to talk to other guys?”
“Huh?”
“…Why do you accept it so easily from someone who isn’t your boyfriend?”
“Well… anything you say goes for me.”
“Idiot.”
“Yes, I am an idiot.”
“You never say anything back. You just accept everything.”
“I could never say anything to you!”
“What if I slept with another woman? You wouldn’t say anything?”
His brow furrowed.
“…No. I wouldn’t.”
“…You really are stupid.”
“I’m fine with that.”
Then his restraint disappeared.
Before I could relax, his hands grabbed my shoulders and pulled me back.
I fell into him.
I ended up leaning against his chest on the sofa.
My face tilted upward.
And his face was right there above me.
My brain froze.
“W-wha—?!”
Before I could move, he held my face in place.
Firmly.
Too firmly—my neck hurts!
Then he leaned in closer.
Time stop.
Wait wait wait—
Help—
What is happening—
His face is too close—
His eyes are too beautiful—
I’m going to die—
I’m actually going to die—
Tears started spilling out on their own.
But he didn’t react.
He just looked at me.
At my eyes.
Like he was reading something inside me.
“…Even if I were using your feelings after realizing them?”
His voice was quiet.
Uncertain.
Sad.
I couldn’t look away.
Those gray eyes held me completely.
Not as something I saw as eyes—but like gemstones, glass marbles reflecting me.
And then I understood.
Why he said those things.
Why he looked at me like that.
He wasn’t loved properly.
So he wanted someone who would look at him without conditions.
Someone who would stay.
Someone he could keep close so he wouldn’t lose them.
Like a child afraid of having something taken away.
There was no romantic love in that gaze.
I reached out and gently touched his cheek.
“If I can stay by your side like this…”
I smiled weakly.
Even if he doesn’t love me that way, it’s fine.
If I can be something that eases his loneliness, that’s enough.
If he needs to be called, I’ll call his name as many times as he wants.
Even if he never calls mine.
His face twisted slightly in pain.
Then he leaned forward.
Our foreheads touched.
Warmth transferred between us.
That alone made me feel full.
“I love you,” I whispered.
“I love you so much, Tooga. More than anyone. More than anything. Just being with you makes me happy. Thank you for making me happy. I’ll always love you.”
Even if his love isn’t returned, that’s fine.
Being able to see him, talk to him, say these words—that’s happiness enough.
If fans heard me, they’d call me unfair.
Sorry. I can’t help it.
I love him too much.
After a while, he moved.
Our foreheads separated, and cold air brushed the place where we had touched.
I let go of his cheek at the same time.
“You really are a strange girl,” he said with a troubled smile.
“Only when it comes to you,” I replied.
His hands finally released me.
I moved away and sat beside him, just a short distance apart—close enough to reach if I stretched my hand.
He looked surprised for a moment, then laughed softly.
That smile made me smile back.
“I guess you can look at me now.”
“I sacrificed my heart. It’ll take time to regenerate.”
“What does that even mean?”
“Do you understand how much damage I’ve taken?”
“I can’t see it.”
“Use your heart’s eye.”
“Impossible.”
“You’re so cool, Tooga.”
We talked like that, pretending nothing had happened.
Most of it I don’t even remember.
But I remember it was fun.
Time passed quietly.
Eventually, the conversation faded.
Not awkward.
Just… naturally ending.
The TV changed from sweets to the news.
Then to the weather forecast.
Spring was ending.
Summer was coming.
Summer vacation.
But before that, exams.
I’ll probably cram the night before.
I’m not smart anyway.
Summer meant events in the game.
Fireworks. The beach. And Tooga’s birthday.
A triangle event where the heroine invites a love interest, and the three of them go together.
But one of them leaves early… and the fireworks are just for two.
The beach route is different—just the heroine and the chosen character.
Right now, none of that has even begun.
We’re still just friends.
Real romance starts in autumn.
After the sports festival in September.
If I don’t raise affection levels by then, I’ll get the bad ending.
I glanced at Tooga.
He was looking at his phone, serious expression on his face.
So handsome.
Even if he’s just thinking about a game.
I wondered what he was talking about with Hanamiya-san.
Is this really following the game?
Or is something different happening here?
My thoughts tangled.
I sighed and buried my face in my knees.
Then—
A hand touched my head.
Gently.
Slowly stroking my hair.
I couldn’t look up.
I didn’t want him to see my tears.
But he already knew.
Why am I crying…?
Because his hand is too kind.
That must be it.
The room was filled with TV noise.
And my muffled sobs.
And the sound of my breathing breaking apart.
