"It's okay, right, Ryouta-kun?"
Despite there being karaoke bars and a Bowling Alley near the school, of all the places Kuroki could have picked, she had specifically suggested my house. Her words were so sudden and unexpected that I just sat there, completely stunned.
"It’s... okay, isn't it?"
"……!"
(What in the world is going on here?)
Judging by the flow of our conversation, the only two logical choices on the table were karaoke or bowling. Yet Kuroki had manifested a third option out of thin air and was now aggressively pushing it.
"Naturally, we'll stop and pick up some snacks and drinks on the way. That’s okay, right?"
She kept repeating that "It’s okay, right?" with all the relentless force of a rugby scrum.
(If this keeps up, these three beauties are actually going to end up at my place because of Rui Kuroki's sudden proposal... Wait, hold on!)
"T-There’s no way that’s okay—"
As I tried to object, Kuroki’s eyes widened, and she fixed me with a silent, unwavering stare. In an instant, the light drained from her pupils, leaving her gaze as dark and consuming as a black hole. The sheer pressure radiating from her was practically screaming, Just shut up and nod already.
"Guh..."
N-No, I couldn't afford to cave to her pressure here. Ryouta's Room was a literal minefield of items that no high school girl should ever lay eyes on.
Voice actress photobooks, oppai mousepads, body pillows, more oppai mousepads, adult games, yet more oppai mousepads... The list was endless.
(And even if I managed to keep them out of Ryouta's Room, if I brought them into the Great Room, my shitty sister might decide to wander in naked, or Ryouta's Parents—who were already mourning my apparent path toward lifelong virginity—would catch us and jump to all sorts of wild conclusions.)
There was absolutely no way I could let these three inside!
"I-I mean, you two wouldn't even want to come over, right? My place is probably smelly and filthy!"
Deflecting Kuroki’s gaze, I turned to Miyama and Yuria, practically begging for a lifeline. Please, both of you! Say something like "I'd hate to visit an otaku's house" or "No way, it probably reeks of squid!" Give her some reason to change her mind!
"Hmm... Airi wants to go to Ryouta's House! It sounds like it’d be fun!"
"What?"
"M-Me too. I'm with Airi. I've always kind of wanted to see what an otaku's room is like, anyway."
Miyama was just being her usual airheaded self, and Yuria was treating my home like some kind of museum curiosity.
(Both of you... please! Pick up on my SOS!)
"See? Since they both agree, it's okay, right?"
"...Guh."
That final "It’s okay, right?" was the killing blow that forced my head into a reluctant nod.