Watching Kei Shirogane freeze up at the invitation—like she'd turned to stone—Rei Ao rubbed his chin.

He deliberately pulled a face that was part sudden realization, part mock "oh no."

"Hmm… a grown guy suddenly inviting a junior over to his place—kinda sketchy, isn't it?"

He stroked his chin and looked at Kei with a teasing glint.

"Kei, you don't think I'm some shady 'creepy uncle,' do you?"

That self-deprecating joke washed through the mush in Kei's head like a splash of cold water.

Seeing him pretend to be troubled, a sudden, inexplicable courage—and a mischievous streak—bubbled up in her. Before she could think, she blurted:

"Haha, you do kinda look a teeny bit like a creepy uncle!"

The moment the words left her mouth, she stared at the exaggerated look of shock he put on—and froze too.

Then a tidal wave of mortification slammed into her.

Oh no!

What am I saying?!

Did I just call Rei Ao-senpai a creepy uncle?!

I'm done for!

Her brain blanked again. The secondhand embarrassment was so intense she wanted to flee on the spot.

Kei's cheeks went as red as ripe tomatoes. She didn't even dare look at Rei Ao's face. She bowed hard and babbled in a rush: "I—I'm going to class!"

"S-see you after school, Senpai!"

Then she bolted like a startled fawn.

Her silver hair drew a frantic arc behind her and, in a blink, she vanished into the stream of students heading for the classroom building.

Rei Ao stayed where he was, watching the girl's retreating figure with an expanding, amused smile.

Creepy uncle?

Heh… the kid's getting bold.

…

The final bell rang at last like a gospel of salvation.

But for Kei, gripping the straps of her bag in front of the shoe lockers, it sounded more like a bugle calling her to the execution ground.

Her heart pounded like a drum, palms slick with sweat.

She drew a deep breath, trying to steady her too-rapid breathing,

and headed, as promised, toward the unmistakable figure at the school gate.

However—

when she saw what was around Rei Ao, her steps halted on the spot.

She froze as if struck by a binding spell.

He was still in that eye-catching tracksuit, lounging with lazy ease against the stone pillar by the gate.

But he wasn't alone like she'd imagined.

Cool as the moon and poised as ever, Yukinoshita Yukino stood a bit behind his left shoulder, arms folded. Her ice-blue eyes swept the area, trailing a natural chill.

Kasumigaoka Utaha—sultry and statuesque—had claimed the closest spot.

Wine-red eyes curved with a languid smile; her red lips moved as if she were saying something to Rei Ao. She covered her mouth to chuckle now and then, sending ripples of allure with each glance.

On the other side stood Sawamura Spencer Eriri, blond twin-tails and doll-like features. Hands on hips, cheeks puffed, she looked like she was in the middle of a spat with Utaha. Her blue eyes kept darting daggered looks at Rei Ao, as if lodging a complaint.

And what truly took Kei's breath away—

even the dazzling, idol-like Mai Sakurajima-senpai was there.

She stood slightly behind Rei Ao on the right, graceful and composed, wearing a perfectly measured, spring-breeze smile.

W-what… what is happening?!

Kei's mind blue-screened.

She'd imagined countless versions of walking home alone with Rei Ao-senpai—nervous, shy, hopeful…

Just not this one—him like prey ringed by apex predators (or more like a sun encircled by stars).

How was a plain little underclassman like her supposed to fit into this "beauties all around" tableau?

Kasumigaoka Utaha seemed to notice Kei, who was frozen not far away. Her red lips curved in a meaningful arc, and in a voice pitched just right for Kei to hear, she said to Rei Ao:

"My my, looks like our little bunny kouhai is here. Rei Ao-kun, you're so popular—you won't even spare such a cute kid?"

Eriri followed her gaze. Seeing how obviously spooked Kei looked, she huffed in displeasure.

"Hey! You! Even a tiny kouhai like this—"

"Eriri. Utaha."

Rei Ao cut her off mildly. He turned his eyes to Kei and beckoned. "Kei, over here."

The sound of her name made Kei jolt.

Under a flurry of gazes—Yukinoshita's cool scrutiny, Utaha's playful amusement, Eriri's simmering annoyance, and Mai's warm, inquisitive smile—

she forced her leaden legs to move, inch by inch.

Every step felt like treading on cotton… or red-hot coals.

"S-senpai…"

Her voice was barely a mosquito's hum, her head nearly buried in her chest.

"Mm. Let's go."

Rei Ao took her hand lightly and turned, setting off at an easy pace.

The others traded glances, half-exasperated.

So Rei Ao really does like this kouhai.

Yukinoshita Yukino and Mai Sakurajima fell in behind them. Kasumigaoka Utaha and Sawamura Spencer Eriri shot each other a glare, then followed as well.

…

And so, in the after-school crowd, an odd and eye-catching scene unfolded:

a boy in a tracksuit walking in front, hand-in-hand with a girl,

and half a step behind, four stunning girls with wildly different vibes.

All the way, Kei—brain at processing capacity zero—felt like she was being roasted alive.

The barrage of looks from classmates—shock, envy, jealousy, curiosity—stabbed at her like needles, making her want to crawl out of her own skin.

Utaha's occasional mischievous glances, Eriri's periodic huffs, Yukinoshita's faintly frosty aura, and Mai's warm, all-seeing smile… every bit of it set her on edge.

Halfway there, Utaha and Eriri seemed to reignite a mini "war" over something about "bust sizes" and "manga paneling," each tugging on Rei Ao to arbitrate.

At a fork in the road, the two apparently reached a "truce."

With matching snorts—disdain for each other and "displeasure" at Rei Ao in tow—they stomped off together in another direction.

The group instantly shrank by half.

Only Rei Ao, Yukinoshita Yukino, Mai Sakurajima, and Kei—still halfway out of her body—remained.