Chapter 30: The Forever Chaos (Finale)

It has been three months. The Happiness Competition has no clear winner, mostly because their attempts to "make me happy" usually result in near-death experiences via suffocation, drowning in affection, or literal food comas.

We are sitting in the living room when my phone rings. It's Mom again.

"Takeshi! Good news! Your Uncle Hajimate's project in America finished early. He wants Azuwa and Inoue to come join them in Los Angeles next week!"

The room goes dead silent.

Inoue drops the controller she was holding. Azuwa freezes mid-page turn of her book.

"Leave?" Inoue whispers.

"But... we just got settled," Azuwa says, her voice uncharacteristically small.

Ayumi, who should be thrilled that her rivals are leaving, looks devastated. Hina actually puts down her phone.

"You can't go," Ayumi says suddenly. "Who am I going to fight with over who gets to do Onii-chan's laundry?"

"And who will I compare aesthetic notes with?" Hina adds.

Izuwa nods. "It wouldn't be the same without you two breaking something every day."

I look at them. They are a disaster. They are loud, messy, invasive, and have absolutely zero respect for my personal boundaries. My life has been miserable since they arrived.

And I don't want them to go.

"Mom," I say into the phone. "Tell Uncle Hajimate they can't go. They have... important career stuff here. In Japan. They have to stay."

"Really? Oh, well, if it's for their career! I'll tell him. Bye honey!"

I hang up. The five of them stare at me.

"You... you want us to stay?" Azuwa asks, her eyes shimmering slightly behind her glasses.

"Don't get a big head about it," I grumble, looking away. "I just got used to the noise, that's all."

"OPPA!" Inoue screams, launching herself at me.

It's the signal. They all attack.

I am tackled onto the sofa. Ayumi on my left, Inoue on my right, Azuwa somehow straddling my lap, Hina leaning over the back of the sofa with her arms around my neck, and Izuwa kneeling on the floor, hugging my legs.

"We're staying forever!" Inoue cheers, rubbing her cheek against mine.

"You can never get rid of us now, Onii-chan!" Ayumi declares, kissing my cheek loudly.

"I suppose it is logical to remain where we are most... wanted," Azuwa murmurs, burying her face in my shoulder to hide her intense blush.

"More time to work on you," Hina purrs in my ear.

"I'm just happy we're all together," Izuwa smiles softly, squeezing my knee.

I can't move. I can't breathe. I am drowning in a sea of girls who are determined to make my life a living, chaotic, wonderful hell.

"Someone... help..." I wheeze, but I'm smiling. Just a little bit.

My peaceful life is dead and buried. Long live the chaos.

-The End-