Episode 6 – Akari’s Debut: A New Rival Appears

A few months had passed since Ryoko and Shota started dating—

And a new employee joined the company.

“I’m excited to work with you all! Akari Yuuki, nice to meet you!”

Her voice was bright and confident.

With chestnut-brown hair just brushing her shoulders and wide, curious eyes, she gave off a warm, friendly energy.

(…What’s with this girl?)

Ryoko felt it instantly—a gut-level warning.

Akari’s gaze was sharp. Too sharp. It was as if she could sense something that ordinary people would never notice.

—And sure enough, it didn’t take long for her to set her sights on Shota.

“Shota-senpai, looking forward to working with you!”

“Huh? O-oh, sure. Likewise…”

“You’ve got a really interesting vibe, Senpai. You're super kind, but also kind of… hmm…”

“Kind of what?”

“Kind of like… you're being controlled?”

“!!!”

Ryoko stiffened.

(…She’s onto something, isn’t she?)

Shota flinched, shoulders jerking.

“Wh-What? No way, nothing like that!”

“Suuuspicious~. But…”

Akari narrowed her eyes at him.

“You really seem like the kind of guy who treasures the person he loves. But there’s this… weird vibe. Like something’s off.”

Ryoko stepped in with a bright smile.

Hehe, isn’t that a wonderful thing?”

“Ah, Ryoko-senpai!”

“Shota-kun is sweet. He takes great care of me. Isn’t that right?”

All Shota could do was nod.

(Oh no… she’s smiling, but this is the dangerous Ryoko…!)

But Akari didn’t pick up on the tension. Instead, she leaned even closer to Shota.

“Shota-senpai, are you sure you're okay? Doesn’t it feel… off?”

“Huh? I mean… not really.”

“Like… maybe you're being controlled by Ryoko-san or something?”

—The air instantly froze.

(Oh god oh god oh god—)

Shota panicked.

Ryoko was still smiling, but he could feel her preparing to do something.

(I have to stop this. If I don’t, Akari’s in trouble—!)

“…Ryoko-senpai.”

He reached out and took her hand. Ryoko blinked, surprised.

“I’ve been thinking lately… I’ve changed a lot.”

“…Have you?”

“At first… I was a little scared of you, Ryoko-senpai.”

“…”

“But now, I know—I really do love you.”

Her eyes wavered, just a little.

“You’re not controlling me…

I’m just so in love with you, I want to be controlled. I think that’s it.”

“…Heh.”

Ryoko let out a soft laugh.

“You dummy, Shota-kun.”

But her eyes glistened with something unspoken.

Still—

“Are you seriously saying that?”

Akari looked him straight in the eyes.

“Isn’t it weird? To say being controlled feels nice?”

“…Huh?”

Shota stumbled for words.

(Is it… weird? But…)

Sure, it had been scary at first.

But now, being with Ryoko made him feel safe.

He didn’t have to overthink anything.

She led him through everything.

Just hearing her voice made him happy.

(…Is that really so strange?)

He glanced at Ryoko. She was simply smiling at him.

That gentle smile gave him the answer.

(No. This is what I call happiness.)

“Thanks for worrying about me, Akari.

But honestly… I’m fine with things just the way they are.”

Akari blinked. Then—

“Ohhh! Well, if you’re cool with it, then whatever!”

She accepted it way too easily.

“…Wait, really?”

Ryoko and Shota both looked thrown off.

“I mean, hey—as long as you really love her of your own free will, I’ve got no complaints!”

“Uh… th-thanks?”

Akari laughed cheerfully.

(…Is this girl sharper than she looks?)

Ryoko finally relaxed, gently squeezing Shota’s hand.

“I love you too, Shota-kun.”

Shota’s heart skipped a beat.

It was the first time Ryoko had said “I love you” out loud.

Even if she stopped controlling him, Shota would still choose her.

There was no longer any doubt.

(…There’s nothing to worry about anymore.)

Ryoko leaned against him.

And Shota realized—he no longer needed to run.

The next day at the office—

Shota still couldn’t stop thinking about what happened.

(Did Akari really just accept that so easily?)

She’d shrugged it off like, “If you're cool with it, then no problem!”

But something about it still felt… off.

And then—

“Mooorning~, Shota-senpai!”

Akari suddenly hugged him from behind.

“Whoa?!”

He nearly stumbled forward.

“Hehe! Surprised you, didn’t I?”

“What the heck are you doing!? We’re at work!”

“You just looked kinda tired, Senpai~ I thought maybe I could help you relax a little!”

She pressed herself up against him, completely unfazed.

(Too close! And soft—!)

As Shota flailed, Akari smiled innocently.

“You’re more built than I expected, Senpai~”

“S-Stop that…!”

“Being like this… I dunno, it just feels comforting.”

As Shota tried to shake her off—

Rattle, rattle…

The pen holder on his desk started to tremble.

(Oh no—)

He turned around—and there stood Ryoko, smiling.

But her eyes were not smiling.

“Shota-kun…?”

Her voice was sweet as syrup.

“R-Ryoko-senpai?!”

“Looks like you're having fun?”

Whoosh—!

Suddenly, Akari’s body lifted into the air.

“Wha—?! Huh!? What’s going on?!”

She floated several inches off the ground, suspended by invisible force.

Shota’s blood ran cold.

“R-Ryoko!?”

“Akari-san. I don’t think it’s very polite to cling to someone else’s precious boyfriend.”

Ryoko made a small motion with her hand—Akari’s body floated sideways, swaying with the gesture.

“What is this?! Magic?! No way—what is this?!”

“Mmhm. Magic.”

“Eeeek—!!”

Akari’s face turned pale.

Ryoko, still smiling gracefully, asked—

“Now then. Can you promise me you won’t do anything unnecessary with Shota-kun again?”

“O-Okay!! Just put me down!!”

“Good girl ♪”

As she lowered her hand, Akari gently returned to the floor.

The moment she touched down, she scrambled away from Shota.

“T-That was awful…!”

“Hmm? What do you mean?”

“……!!”

She started to say something, but bit her lip and stayed silent.

(Yeah… She knows now. There’s no beating Ryoko.)

Shota watched Akari walk away, unable to say anything.

Then he turned to Ryoko.

“…Hey, Ryoko-senpai.”

“What is it?”

“Don’t you think that was… a little overkill?”

“Oh? Was it?”

Still smiling, Ryoko reached over and tugged lightly on his tie.

“Then I guess… it’s punishment time?”

“Wait—why!?”

“Because you were being too nice to another girl.”

“Come on!! I didn’t do anything!!”

“But she did cling to you, didn’t she?”

“…Guh.”

Shota couldn’t argue.

Her eyes sparkled sweetly… but with unmistakable authority.

“Hope you're ready, okay?”

“W-Waitwaitwaitwaitwait—!!”

And that day, Shota was once again thoroughly, sweetly claimed by Ryoko.