(Kai POV – Yokai Academy, Swim Club)
"See? I told you there was nothing to worry about." I smile, hopping out of the pool and walking toward Moka, who's staring at the devastation with wide, stunned eyes.
"Was… was it really necessary to go that far?" She asks, worried. "The electrocuting especially…"
"Are you upset I hurt them too much?" I ask, genuinely curious. I hadn't expected that to bother her.
To my surprise, Moka shakes her head immediately.
"It's not that." She says, her expression turning uncharacteristically firm. "They tried to hurt you. It's only fair you defended yourself. I just… I don't want you getting into trouble over it. That's all."
I blink.
'…Well now. What happened to the sweet, compassionate girl who worries about everyone?' A smile tugs at my lips. 'Or is she just ironing out her priorities?'
It's a small thing, sure. But it's proof that she's growing and putting the people she cares about first. And I'm at the top of that list.
I like it.
I instinctively raise a hand to pat her head, then catch myself halfway, remembering I'm still soaked to the bone.
"Don't worry." I reassure her instead. "I'm not getting in trouble for this. The academy lets these mermaids drain life force from its own students. They won't suddenly start caring just because I fought back."
Moka opens her mouth, then closes it.
"And besides," I add, spreading my hands, "technically, I'm the victim here. I was lured into a pool by some predators. I was so scared that I overreacted while trying to defend myself." I say, poorly pretending to have been frightened, while grinning widely.
Moka glances, very slowly, at the dozen mermaids twitching and groaning inside the now mostly empty pool.
She very clearly has a lot to say… but decides not to.
"…I guess that's true." She says slowly, unconvinced. And before she can say anything else, a familiar voice comes ringing across the pool deck.
"Kai! Moka!" Kurumu jogs in, beaming and waving, until she actually sees the state of the place. Her steps slow to a stunned walk, her smile faltering as she takes in the shattered tiles, the drained pool, and the small army of unconscious fish-women. "…Wh-What happened here?!"
Then, before I can answer, her expression flips on a dime. From genuine shock to the most theatrical display of terror I've ever witnessed.
"Kai, I'm so scared!" She cries, dashing over and flinging herself to my side before latching onto my arm, sandwiching it between her boobs and pressing in close as she pretends to tremble. "Protect me~!"
'…Your scheme is both shameless and plain to see.' I think dryly. 'But I'll give credit where it's due for managing to seize the opportunity. Besides, it's not like I don't enjoy it.'
I don't bother shaking her off, but still, I keep an eye on Moka's reaction, noticing that her expression is starting to darken.
"H-Hey! Let go of Kai, Kurumu!" Moka protests, stepping closer, and then stopping, clearly wanting to grab my other arm and finding herself thwarted by the fact that I'm still wet.
Her pout is immediate and adorable.
"Don't worry, Moka." I tell her, amused. "The moment I'm dry, you can hug me all you like. No need to wait for permission, either."
Her whole face goes pink.
"That's… th-that's not what I was—" She fumbles, then peeks up at me, unable to help herself. "…Really?"
"Really. You never have to ask." I nod. "The answer's always yes, no matter the time or place."
She giggles, her irritation melting away completely.
"Ehh~? What about me?" Kurumu pipes up immediately, pressing herself even more firmly against my arm. "Can I hug you whenever I want too, Kai?"
'I'm trying to defuse the situation you caused, and you decide to pour gasoline all over it.' I think, exasperated, as Moka's eyes snap back to Kurumu, narrowing dangerously, her pout returning in full force.
"That… depends on Moka." I say immediately, shifting the responsibility squarely off my own shoulders.
"Hmph. Do whatever you want." Moka huffs, turning her head away, arms crossing over her chest.
'When has that ever been anything but a trap?' I think, deftly slipping free of Kurumu's grasp before the situation can deteriorate.
"Anyway. I'm going to grab a towel and dry off." I announce, stepping away. But before I go, I shoot Kurumu a pointed look, warning her not to mess with Moka.
She beams back at me and nods sweetly, which I can only pray means she's understood the assignment.
'…I'd better be quick.' I think, picking up my pace.
(Moka POV – Yokai Academy, Swim Club)
I watch Kai's retreating back, a tangle of feelings knotting up in my chest.
I'm not angry. I'm not even really hurt. I'm just… unsure. Unsure about how I'm supposed to feel about any of this.
I let out a small sigh.
"So~?" Kurumu sidles up beside me, her voice light and teasing. "What do you say, Moka? Can I hug Kai whenever I like?"
I press my lips together, barely hearing the question. My mind is somewhere else entirely.
'It's been a month now. Kurumu and I… we've gotten closer, and I know she's not a bad person. Even if it mostly looks like arguing.' I think. 'But…'
"…Hey." Kurumu's voice softens, and when I glance up, the earlier playfulness is gone. In its place is what looks like concern. "Are you okay?"
I hesitate to answer. But then, I take a breath, and decide to just ask the thing that's been sitting in my heart for weeks.
"Kurumu… you know Kai likes you. Don't you?" My voice is soft and uncertain, unsure how this will go.
It's something I've suspected for a long time now, ever since I noticed how gentle he always is with her and never quite pushes her away. And every time the thought surfaces, so does the fear that comes with it.
What if she takes him from me? What if, one day, he stops looking at me the way he does now? What if…?
Question like that flooded my mind every time Kurumu appeared.
And without exception, my chest would tighten. Thankfully Kai's always been right there beside me, warmly reassuring me that he likes me until I half-convinced myself that I was only imagining things.
But now, I'm sure I'm not.
'At the pool, he wouldn't even let Tamao touch him and dodged her every time. He even told me outright he wasn't interested.' The memory sits heavy in me. 'He can turn someone away completely, when he wants to… but he's never once done that to Kurumu.'
And that's what frightens me.
"Of course he likes me." Kurumu declares, planting her hands on her hips with a proud little toss of her hair. "No man can resist my charms, obviously."
Then, just as quickly, her bravado fades.
"…Of course I noticed." She says in a quieter voice. "He's not exactly subtle about it. Why do you think I've been throwing everything I have at him?" She raises an eyebrow at me. Then her expression shifts, reading mine far too easily. "…Wait. Don't tell me you're actually scared he'll get tired of you and pick me instead?"
My silence is answer enough.
"…A little." I admit, my voice small. My fingers twist together in front of me. "You're so much braver than I am. You go after what you want without hesitating. And he doesn't turn you away… so I thought…"
"Don't be stupid." Kurumu cuts in, but there's no malice in her voice. If anything, she sounds gentle. She looks away, out over the wrecked pool, silent for a few moments.
"Look… I won't lie to you. I want him to like me the most. I'd be over the moon if he did." A small, rueful smile tugs at her lips. "But if I'm being honest with myself? That's probably not going to happen."
I blink, caught completely off guard. "…Huh? Why would you say that?"
"Because he always puts you first, Moka." She says, like it's common sense. "Every single time. It's the whole reason I have to work as hard as I do." She huffs, ticking it off on her fingers. "Every little thing I want to try, he tells me I need your permission first. If you told him to keep his distance from me, he probably would, without a second thought. Not that it'd make me give up, but it's still annoying."
I stare at her, the words slowly sinking in. And with them comes a realization that leaves me stunned.
All this time, throughout an entire month of worrying about losing him… I never once told Kai to keep his distance from her.
The choice had been mine the whole time.
(Kurumu POV – Yokai Academy, Swim Club)
'What are you DOING?!' I scream at myself internally. 'That was the perfect opening to get one over on Moka, and you're throwing it away!'
I grind my teeth, baffled at my own mouth for consoling her and practically handing her the one idea that could ruin every chance I have.
I want Kai to love me every bit as much as he loves Moka. I've poured everything into it… baking him sweets, trying to spend every spare minute I have with him, showing him again and again exactly how much I like him. I even confessed.
'And every single time… he slips away behind Moka. Every time.' My chest aches at the thought. '…It hurts. It really does.'
But I won't give up. I can't.
I know he feels something for me. He wouldn't be half as patient or gentle, if he didn't. And it's painfully obvious he's quietly hoping Moka will come around and accept me on her own.
'In his own backwards way… that's him trying to be loyal.' I think, and despite everything, a fond little exasperation curls in my chest. 'The absolute dummy.'
All this time, I'd assumed I still had a real shot precisely because Moka never told him to keep his distance… only to just now discover she never even realized she could.
'…And I just went ahead, loaded the gun, and helped Moka aim it directly at me.' I think miserably. 'All she needs is to pull the trigger.'
But when I looked at her… at the worry, fear, and insecurities shining in her eyes…
After a whole month together, squabbling and competing over Kai…
'…Damn it. I don't have it in me to kick her while she's down.'
And even if I did, I know how it'd end. Kai would be sad seeing Moka hurt, and I'd have won a battle only to lose the whole war. Hurting her was never going to get me what I want.
'Aaargh! Since WHEN am I this soft?!' I scream it inside my own head, and then, with a long internal sigh, I let it go.
I calm my expression and brace myself for the inevitable… Moka finally realizing her power, and telling Kai to keep his distance from me for good.
'Fine. So be it.' My heart is racing, aching, but I meet it head-on. 'It won't change a thing. I'm never giving up on him. Never.'
Moka takes a slow breath, finally steadying herself, and I steel myself for the words I'm sure are coming.
But instead…
"Thank you, Kurumu." She lifts her head and gives me the warmest, most genuine smile. "You're a really good person."
…That's not what I was expecting, but I don't let my guard down. This is just the calm before the storm.
"H-Hmph. Don't misunderstand." I scoff, crossing my arms. "I fully intend to beat you fair and square. Besides, if you're moping around sad, Kai will be too busy fussing over you to focus on me. So cheer up already, would you?"
It's meant to sound tough, but probably fails miserably, emphasised by the way Moka's smile only softens.
Something about this whole situation feels… off. And I'm not sure why.
"Kurumu." Moka says softly.
"…W-What?" I ask warily, cautious of whatever this gentleness means.
"Let's be friends." She says, with a shy little smile.
I blink.
'…Weren't we basically friends already?' I wonder, caught off guard. 'Or is this her way of… making it official?'
"…This isn't some trick to make me go easy on you, is it?" I ask suspiciously.
Moka shakes her head immediately.
"No! I just… I wanted to make it official. So we're not guessing." She says softly, fidgeting with her fingers. "If that's okay with you."
And then, in an even smaller voice, so quiet that I almost miss it. "…And about Kai. If it's you… I think… I wouldn't mind… sharing him."
Her face is burning crimson, eyes fixed firmly to the floor. And for a long, frozen moment, all I can do is stare at her, my eyes going wide, my carefully hardened resolve instantly disarmed.
'…You idiot.' I think, feeling my eyes moisten as my fears and worries evaporate. 'You were terrified of losing him to me a few seconds ago… and this is what you offer instead?'
And of all the ways I imagined this going… being beaten by kindness was never one of them.
***************
A/N: Hello Everyone! How are you all? If you've enjoyed the chapter and book thus far, please consider leaving me some comments, reviews, or power stones. It really helps the book out.
So yeah... Tbh, feels like I'm writing myself into a corner😭. I believe that I tend to focus on good writing (okay, maybe good is an exaggeration) focused on logical character interactions. And I tried to resolve the harem thing with actual emotion, character growth, and so on. Well... This kinda things feels like it only works once, but there are more love interests, so I don't know how I'll manage💀.
As for any nonsense I've written, I tried my best 😭. I'm not well versed in love, so I'm sure there's plot holes everywhere. We ignore those 👀. Assume the best always🤣.
I've also managed to fill the Patreon chapters, so releases will become more consistent everywhere else since I won't be jumping chapters for releases.
You can also read 10 chapters ahead and support me at [email protected]/AMV_WEAKLY
But yeah, not much else to say. So hopefully you all enjoyed the chapter, and have a wonderful rest of your day/night 😁