"More than friends, less than lovers"—that phrase perfectly described Hayasaka Ai's relationship with Sakurai Saki.
They hadn't started dating, but calling them just friends seemed too simple. From Ai's perspective, the mutual attraction was already clear—they had confessed to each other, after all.
She had even removed Fujiwara Chika from her list of [S]-rank love rivals. At least, that was what she believed… until she saw Chika walking with Sakurai Saki after school.
Standing still will only lead to self-destruction! Ai thought. Cede five cities today, ten tomorrow… ruin is inevitable!
Determined, she packed her things and headed for the music classroom—the location she had overheard about at noon.
When Fujiwara Chika arrived, Ai had already heard voices coming from the music room. It sounded like Sakurai Saki and Shirogane Miyuki were inside. Ai didn't know about Miyuki's tone-deafness, but she assumed that a student council president couldn't have such an obvious flaw. Perhaps he was trying to surpass Kaguya-sama in music before Golden Week?
After all, these two had endless rivalries, and academics were only one battlefield. If Saki needed to train with Chika-chan to defeat Kaguya-sama musically, that was a development that required immediate reporting!
Chika, after all, was a musical prodigy. Teaching someone to sing shouldn't be a challenge for her.
Still, I should go check it out, Ai decided, approaching the classroom door.
"Eh! Ai-chan~ Are you leaving so early today? Want to hang out?" a friendly classmate called.
"I'm really sorry, Suzu-chan~" Ai replied apologetically. "I have plans today, so I can't. Sorry!"
"Really? Is it with Sakurai-kun?"
Ai smiled mysteriously. "It's a secret!"
With that, she hurried toward the music classroom.
A few minutes later, Ai pressed herself stealthily against the door.
From inside came a sound like an ancient god moaning, mingled with the stench of rotten entrails. It wasn't just sound—it clawed at her ears, nose, and even her taste buds.
Ai blinked. She couldn't comprehend the song, but she knew instinctively: this was not a sound a normal person could produce.
Maybe I should leave first, she thought. This door was a gate to hell. Ordinary people like her didn't belong in the realm of geniuses.
---
"Hmm? Is someone outside the door?"
Shirogane Miyuki paused. He thought he heard footsteps just now.
He was already on edge. It was hard enough that Fujiwara Secretary knew about his tone-deafness. If more people discovered it… he might choose to disappear into a dense forest on another continent, to sing freely to primitive tribes for the rest of his life.
Indeed, Miyuki's mind was muddled. From noon until after school, he had been bombarded by Sakurai Saki and Chika in turns, leaving him utterly wrecked.
"Um, why don't we take a break?"
"We've learned enough about scales. Now it's time to work on rhythm. Hmm? Shirogane, you can't rest yet," Saki said firmly.
It didn't matter who was outside the door—anyone hearing that singing would run in terror. The question was only who it would scare.
"Rhythm…" Chika crouched on the floor, despair etched into her face. She wanted to escape, but the prison of sound offered no respite. She now longed to rip out her own ears.
"Saki-kun! We've been teaching him scales for two full days! And look at him!" Chika ran to shake Saki's shoulders, pointing at the proudly beaming Shirogane Miyuki.
Miyuki, offended, mumbled, "SoLaSi~"
The notes were… almost standard. Not quite perfect. Not bad. Yet not good enough. Three incredibly peculiar musical notes.
"He's still not convinced!" Chika said blankly.
"Although it's not completely standard, isn't it… pretty good?" Miyuki said with pride.
"Saki-kun! Let's go home together! Let's just leave him!" Chika pleaded. Why stay and suffer when she could be with Saki?
Saki took her hand. The instant her fingers touched his, her face lit up with pure happiness.
"I think Shirogane is learning quite quickly," he reassured her.
And he wasn't lying.
He hadn't expected it to be this simple yesterday afternoon. From being able to sing people to death to now only half to death, that was a huge improvement, wasn't it?
"Fujiwara Secretary, truly, I should just lip-sync," Shirogane Miyuki said, his face full of sorrow. "Since elementary school, I've always lip-synced. It's fine. Thank you for guiding me these past two days. For karaoke during Golden Week, I'll try my best to endure the loneliness… I'll just clap when you sing."
Fujiwara Chika didn't expect such a strong reaction. She stammered, "No, it's not that. Even though your singing, Shirogane-kun, is really terrible—disgusting even, like sea cucumber guts—I still truly want to teach you!"
Miyuki wiped the corners of his eyes.
Huh? Why couldn't he stop the tears from falling? Why?
"This world… living is so tiring," he muttered. For the first time in his life, Shirogane Miyuki felt that life was difficult.
"Shirogane President, don't cry. Let's work hard to clean out the sea cucumber guts!" Chika cheered him on.
Miyuki cried even harder. Even after cleaning out the sea cucumber guts, it was still a sea cucumber. Damn it!
"All right~ Don't cry! Let's continue!" Fujiwara Chika said, pulling a red ribbon from somewhere and tying it around Sakurai Saki's head while stroking his hair. The battle was just beginning.
Sea Cucumber Gut Cleaning Project—go for it!
---
One hour later, the three of them left the music classroom. Sakurai Saki and Fujiwara Chika were clutching their heads, both in slight pain. They could finally understand how Nobita must have felt attending Gian's concerts—absolute torture.
"Saki-kun, my head hurts so much. I'm going to eat sea cucumber tonight."
"Don't say it… mine hurts too," Saki groaned.
---
Having escaped the "concert" of Shirogane Miyuki, Sakurai Saki prepared to go to his part-time job for the day. He had already agreed with the Five Sisters that he might not be free after school, so the tutoring session would take place at their home.
Ichika had acting work today, so she couldn't participate. Yotsuba promised to finish her basketball club activities early; she still hadn't forgotten the trouble caused by those "scummy girls."
For now, Saki could only tutor three of them—but he wasn't too worried. During Golden Week, he would deliver Spartan-style education—if they didn't learn to death, they'd learn until they did.
Oh, and he almost forgot—regarding Ishigami Yu's grades, his test results from last week had improved significantly, jumping ten ranks from the bottom. To make such progress in just a few days was beyond Saki's expectations.
---
Riding his bicycle, Saki arrived at the Five Sisters' apartment around 5:30 PM. School ended after 3 PM, his music tutoring had gone until after 5, and cycling here took about half an hour.
He pressed the doorbell, and after a moment, a voice answered.
"Hello, is this Sakurai-kun? I'm opening the door for you now."
It was Itsuki. The automatic door opened, and Saki stepped into the elevator lobby, heading to the top floor.
Standing at the door was Nakano Nino, fidgeting nervously and twirling a strand of her hair.
Saki tilted his head. "What are you doing here? Waiting for me specifically?"
Nino's face reddened. "No way…" she muttered, then added, "…All right. I was waiting for you."
Saki raised an eyebrow. "Waiting for me to do what?"
Nino hesitated, then opened her palm to reveal a slip of paper. Wish Ticket was written across it.
A Wish Ticket—a prize ticket capable of unconditionally granting a person's wish. It wasn't given out lightly, and Nino hadn't originally been present.
"Um…" she whispered, lowering her gaze. "I traded for it with her."
Saki smiled. "It's fine. I only recognize the ticket, not the person. What… do you have a wish?"
Nino's expression became serious. "If I use this ticket… can you forgive me?"
"I'm not angry with you anymore. Are you sure you want to use it this way?"
Nino looked up at him. Liar! He's clearly still angry!
"I'm sure! This is it!" she insisted, holding out her hand.
"All right. I'll treat all of you equally from now on."
Nino's eyes widened. If I hadn't brought out this ticket, were you really planning to continue treating us unfairly?
Saki studied her for a moment before taking the Wish Ticket from her hand.
"Congratulations, Miss Nino. You've successfully transitioned from stranger to student."
If Nino didn't disrupt his work, a little kindness was acceptable—but only within the bounds of teacher and student. Work and private life must remain separate; it was better for everyone, especially since his students were all peers.
"Mm." Nakano Nino's expression softened, and she felt a small, secret thrill. His attitude toward her had returned to normal.
Following Nino, Sakurai Saki entered the living room. Only Itsuki was seated on the sofa.
"Itsuki, good afternoon. Where's Miku? I don't see her," Sakurai Saki asked.
"What would Sakurai-kun like to drink?" Nino interjected.
Sakurai Saki gave her an expressionless glance. Nino immediately stepped back, wary.
"Black tea, please. Thank you," he said softly. He had noticed there was no coffee brewing equipment, and instant coffee wouldn't do—it was worse than buying a cup from the vending machine downstairs.
"Mm." Nino blinked, surprised by his gentleness. Is the Wish Ticket really that powerful?
Itsuki stopped writing and looked up. "Miku is in her room."
Sakurai Saki placed his bag by the sofa. "I'll go call her. You can review your Japanese literature. We're having a make-up class today."
As he spoke, the shadow beneath him moved a step faster than he did. Saki froze. This was the first time he had seen his shadow act on its own.
He quickened his pace to Miku's room and gently knocked. "Miku?"
A few seconds passed. No answer.
He tried the doorknob—it wasn't locked. Probably sleeping.
He shouted downstairs, "Itsuki! Miku's sleeping! Come and call her!"
"Got it!" Itsuki replied, leaving the sofa to go upstairs.
"Whoosh~" Saki's shadow began to assist, able to manipulate objects.
Creak~ The door opened.
Against his will, Saki glanced inside—and froze.
"!!!"
He quickly grabbed the doorknob and pulled it outward. His shadow inside the door resisted stubbornly.
If Itsuki saw this, there would be no excuse. Especially since Miku wasn't properly dressed—her chest exposed, her lower half covered only by pink cotton panties. She was completely unguarded.
"Sakurai-kun, what's wrong? Why are you pulling the doorknob?" Itsuki asked, arriving just in time.
The shadow gave up, letting Saki win the struggle. He let out a quiet sigh of relief. Today was another day he had successfully avoided social death.
Itsuki turned her head decisively, pushing Saki back a few steps. Seeing one sister exposed meant all five shared a similar body type. She wasn't just protecting Miku—she was protecting herself.
Sakurai Saki complied. He had no intention of looking. If he had, his X-ray vision would have satisfied him long ago. To him, a girl's body was just skin and flesh. After death, everyone became skeletons, beautiful or not.
He listened at the door—the rustling of clothes, Itsuki's complaints, Miku's sleepy, slightly grumpy murmurs. One could almost imagine the scene with a strong enough imagination.
Ten minutes later, Miku and Itsuki emerged.
Miku's face was flushed. "Pervert~" she whispered.
"I didn't do anything at all," Saki said, rolling his eyes. His actions had been completely gentlemanly.
"So you're planning to do it later?" Miku whispered, covering her chest.
"Is she still half-asleep?" Saki asked Itsuki. She looked a little grumpy from just waking up—a strangely cute sight.
Just then, Nino's voice called from downstairs.
"Miku! Itsuki! Sakurai-kun! Come down and eat!"
The three reacted differently. Miku and Saki went immediately. Itsuki hesitated.
She had been weighing herself over the past few days and had gained a pound. Unacceptable.
What she told Saki last time—that all five sisters were the same weight—had been a lie. Luckily, he hadn't noticed.
Itsuki, despite being the most comfortable to hug among her sisters, couldn't enjoy the compliment. She didn't even have a boyfriend!
I can't eat anymore! she thought. If I keep eating, I'll get fat. I won't fit in my cute skirts! What if the school finds out at the physical exam? Too embarrassing!
With a heavy heart, Itsuki slowly walked down the stairs. Dieting started yesterday—or today.
Ten minutes later…
"Itsuki, do you really like eating meat buns?" Sakurai Saki asked, curious. He had noticed this habit many times.
"Mm!" Itsuki took a bite, her face lighting up with bliss. Super delicious.