【Good work. This conversation is getting pretty intense.】
"Ah...!"
I was currently hogging Ai-chan and Aichi all to myself—two sisters so indescribably cute it defied words—when our smartphones on the table vibrated simultaneously. Aichi, being closer, snatched them up. After scanning the messages, we both shared a quiet laugh.
"He said, 'Good work,'" Aichi noted.
"Is Sajocchi a corporate drone now?" I teased.
"Is it an occupational hazard already?"
Those weren't words you typically heard from high schoolers who weren't even in school clubs. While Aichi racked her brain trying to figure out a reply, I sent back my honest impressions.
【Sajocchi! Isn't it a bit weird for high schoolers to tell each other 'good work'!? Is that your part-time job spirit talking?】
【So you actually were doing your job properly.】
Wow. That was harsh. I glanced at Aichi, who wore a slightly bitter expression. It looked like even she realized she’d been a bit mean. That part of her hadn't changed since the day we met—it was almost like a reflex. I worried Sajocchi might actually get offended, but then—
【Thank you very much.】
This guy was incredible.
Seriously, Sajocchi was something else. He was a little creepy, but he certainly lived up to his reputation. What was even more impressive, though, was the look on Aichi's face. She was staring blankly with her mouth hanging open, looking cuter than I’d ever seen her. I wondered if I could snap a photo. A candid shot would be hard... maybe head-on? Hehehe! Wait, had she not even noticed me...?
"Wh-Why did he thank me?" she stammered.
Well, yeah. I get it.
Sajocchi was probably being dead serious. He occasionally displayed such a brutal level of devotion to Aichi that her verbal abuse likely felt like "sacred words" to him. I really couldn't compete with his brand of love. Feeling like every insult was a reward was a level of devotion I just couldn't reach. Well, he was probably just joking... probably.
I laughed and messaged him that Aichi was having trouble responding, which earned me a bashful "thank you" from her. Oh, Sajocchi? Aichi is so cute right now—what are you going to do about it? What are you going to do? I’m just going to keep hogging her for myself, okay? Nihihi.
"Ah, that's right... Airi."
"Hmm~?"
The three of us were sitting on the sofa, with Ai-chan sandwiched between Aichi and me. Aichi handed her phone to Ai-chan with a look that suggested she’d just thought of something fun.
"It's Sajoo. Why don't you say something to him?"
"Is it okay!?"
For real? Aichi, for real? I was beyond jealous of Sajocchi. If I’d known this would happen, I should have arrived a bit later too. Actually, even if I’d asked her, Aichi probably would’ve done the same for me! Alright, I’ll have to try that once I get home.
【Sajiwaya】
"Ngh...!"
She was so cute I reflexively had to suppress a noise. If I laughed and screamed in agony at the same time, my throat would probably give out. I wanted to squish Ai-chan's cheeks so bad, but when I looked over, Aichi was already doing it. Hey, weren't you going to let me have a turn today? Or maybe I should just squish Aichi instead?
【Sajoo, not yet?】
Aichi helped her send that follow-up. Sajocchi, there was no way you hadn't realized who sent such a precious message, right?
【I'm bringing all sorts of stuff now.】
"Eh! Wh-What is he bringing...!?"
"Ehehe."
I could practically feel the indescribable waves of emotion coming through his words. Nice one, Sajocchi. Ai-chan was happy. Aichi, on the other hand, was completely flustered. She was panicking as if she felt guilty, so I figured I’d better provide some backup.
【Ai-chan had kind of forgotten about Sajocchi (lol).】
【When I mentioned the person Airi bumped into, Iiboshi-san's name came up...】
【No way.】
I could perfectly picture Sajocchi slumping over in dejection. Aichi must have seen it too, because she caught my eye and laughed. I actually felt like Aichi's newfound hesitation around Sajocchi was a good sign. Until recently, she hadn't been able to keep up with how much he’d changed. To be honest, I didn't know the reason for it either, but it felt like a situation where a change of heart wouldn't be surprising...
【What did you tell her to make her remember?】
【That he had weird hair...】
【Thank you very much.】
"Eh! Why!?"
Sajocchi... you were definitely using "thank you" the wrong way. Aichi looked so troubled. She was finally feeling bad about calling his hair weird, so he should’ve just gotten huffy and stayed mad. If he’d actually gotten angry, Aichi would have listened. In fact, if he didn't act a little firm, she was never going to change.
"U-Umm..."
"Aichi, it's just because Sajocchi is an idiot."
"I-Is that so?"
Curse you, Sajocchi. I wouldn't forgive him for toying with Aichi's innocence like that. In that case, once he got here, I was going to sentence him to the punishment of being a "Sunday Dad." He could just try and handle the full force of Ai-chan! Wait, hold on—wasn't that just a reward for him? I had a feeling Sajocchi would be happy no matter what Aichi did to him.
The one chosen to be a pervert was Sajocchi.
"Sajoo, not yet~?"
"Umm, I wonder where he is..."
Yeah, exactly! We’d been chatting for a while, so why wasn't he here yet? Ai-chan was waiting for him! Wasn't it a father's duty to come running!? Wait, he wasn't the father! Aichi was my wife, damn it!!
...Okay, let's calm down. Aichi was my wife. And that made Ai-chan my sister. That was a non-negotiable fact. Huh? Even after calming down, the conclusion was the same. I could hold both of them in my arms whenever I wanted. How could I even go about having Aichi's child...? Wait, were my thoughts getting dangerous?
Ai-chan was an angel. Which meant Aichi was a goddess. Hmm, I see. Maybe I could actually understand the things Sajocchi usually said. Yeah, I suddenly felt the urge to hug Ai-chan again. No, I really wanted her. If I couldn't have Ai-chan, maybe the Natsukawa family and the Ashida family should just merge so we could all be together—
"......Eh......"
"Eh?"
Just as I was about to pounce—I mean, pick up Ai-chan—I heard a pained sound from Aichi. It wasn't just her voice; the face she made while looking at her phone was full of anxiety.
"Eh? What? What's wrong?"
I couldn't stand seeing Aichi make a face like that! What on earth happened?
I checked my own phone. There, in a total reversal of the mood from just a moment ago, was a message from Sajocchi dripping with hesitation.
【Should I come?】
"Huh?"
Huh? Did my desire to monopolize Aichi somehow transmit to him? No way. Besides, I wasn't being serious. I wanted Sajocchi to come too; I wanted the three of us to hang out together. There was no way I didn't want him here.
"...Is Wataru not coming?"
"No, he's coming. He's definitely coming."
Aichi's brow furrowed in disappointment. Seeing Aichi's face, Ai-chan reached out her hand anxiously. The sight made my chest tighten, and even though it was probably just a misunderstanding, I felt a genuine surge of irritation toward Sajocchi.
Sajocchi? The Goddess and the Angel were both worried. What were you going to do about it? You weren't actually planning to flake, were you? You were coming, right?
【Eh? Come over, what are you talking about?】
【Ah, okay.】
A flat response. No, that wasn't what I wanted. I needed a clear "yes" or "no" so Aichi would stop worrying.
I mean, really? Could he not feel it? This "I want to see you" aura Aichi was projecting? She was a mess when they met at school the other day, wasn't she? Even after seeing that, was he still like this? He was a difficult one. I didn't realize Sajocchi had this little self-confidence. I could sort of understand it since I knew how coldly he’d been treated before, but... was it really that bad? At the very least, I thought Sajocchi was a good guy. He was fun to be around, even if he was annoying sometimes.
Messaging wasn't going to cut it. He was overthinking his words, and Aichi always seemed to miss her timing whenever she tried to speak up. They really needed to talk face-to-face. If they didn't, these two were going to stay stuck like this forever.
".........Was I being a nuisance?"
"Sajocchi...!!!"
Listen here, you little—give us a straight answer or I'll wreck you!! I wasn't joking; I was about to spike him in the head with my cleats!! I was actually a little jealous that Aichi missed him so much, damn it!!!
【Eh? You're coming, right?】
【Ah, I'm coming, I'm coming. I'm heading over now.】
【Yeah, okay.】
Exactly! You should have just said that in the first place! Why was this man hesitating? He had a golden opportunity to go to the house of the girl he liked—he should have just gone without a second thought! Wait, he was still at home? What was he talking about?
Get ready in forty seconds!!!
"—39, 38, 37."
"...?"