Episode 23 - Ryoko's Rulebook—and the Hidden Proposal

[Prologue: Living Together, Round 2]

Shota and Ryoko had been living together for a while now.

Thanks to their Valentine’s Day incident and White Day surprise, their bond had deepened even more—emotionally, physically, and occasionally… paranormally.

But today, Ryoko had a new declaration to make.

“Shota-kun ♡”

She held out a thick, ribbon-bound stack of paper.

“I made something for you. It’s called...『Rules for Living with Ryoko』♡”

“…Excuse me?”

“Let’s call it the R.L.R. for short! It’s 108 articles—just like Buddhist worldly desires!”

“You made 108 rules!?”

Ryoko beamed proudly.

“Of course! Now that we’re living together, it’s important to set some ground rules.”

“Why do I feel like I just got handed a cursed grimoire…”

[Article 1: You Must Say 'I Love You' at Least 3 Times a Day]

“Wait, what!?”

“Morning, lunch, and bedtime—I need at least one 'I love you' per meal course ♡”

“That's not how meals work!”

“If you miss even one, I’ll assume you’ve fallen out of love, and I’ll cry forever ♡”

“You’re weaponizing tears!?”

[Article 12: No Hiding Sweets in the Closet]

“Oh come on, I only did that once!”

“And yet I found three emergency chocolate stashes last week. Shota-kun, do you know what that means?”

“…That I was... prepared?”

“It means—you’ve learned nothing from the Chocolate Curse!”

[Article 33: Ryoko Is Always Right (Even When She's Wrong)]

“I refuse to accept this one!”

“Then I’ll have to use… the Curse of Absolute Obedience ♡”

“That’s not a house rule, that’s just mind control!!” “Not quite—it’s a curse. My kind of curse. One filled with love... and just a little humiliation ♡”

[Article 51: Always Tell Me When Other Women Flirt With You]

“That one’s... actually fair.”

“If you don’t, I’ll know anyway ♡”

“Right, because hormone radar.”

[Article 64: No Keeping Secrets (Except Birthday Surprises)]

“So I can keep secrets?”

“Only if it ends with me crying tears of joy, not betrayal ♡”

“That’s... a dangerous gamble.”

[Article 88: When Ryoko Gets Sleepy, Drop Everything and Cuddle]

“Mandatory cuddle time, huh...”

“My batteries don’t last forever, Shota-kun.”

(Note: Ryoko refers to physical contact as 'charging.')

“Guess I’d better clear my schedule...”

[Article 108: When I Say 'I Love You'—You Must Say It Back, No Matter What]

“Even if I’m on the toilet!?”

“Especially if you’re on the toilet ♡”

“…This is getting oddly specific.”

“I put a lot of thought into these, okay?”

[Epilogue: The Proposal Hidden in Article 109]

Shota lay back on the couch, dazed, the R.L.R. clutched in his hands.

“So… I have to follow all of these?”

Ryoko leaned in with a sweet smile and whispered:

“You can break every rule, Shota-kun… if it’s because you love me.”

“…That’s not fair.”

“Love isn’t fair ♡”

And so, Shota’s life under Ryoko’s rulebook began—a life filled with love, mischief, and just a little bit of supernatural enforcement.

Note: Article 109 is rumored to exist… but Shota has yet to find it.

—Until that night.

Ryoko had fallen asleep on the couch, the rulebook still in her arms. Shota gently pulled it away, flipped to the last page, and scribbled something in his clumsy handwriting.

Article 109: If Shota Proposes, Ryoko Must Say Yes.

The next morning— Ryoko blinked at the added page. Her eyes widened. Her mouth opened.

“Shota-kun… what is this...?”

Shota knelt down on one knee, holding out a simple velvet box.

“It’s not a rule. It’s a wish. Will you marry me, Ryoko-senpai?”

For a moment, Ryoko froze. Then she burst into tears—again.

“...You idiot... of course I will!!”

And with that, the Rulebook of Love gained its most important article of all.

(Confirmed: Article 109 does exist.♡)