In the second the door clicked, Nino's hazy eyes snapped wide open. Her heart hammered against her ribs as she yanked her hand out from under her skirt and hid it behind her back. She stared at the door, breathless.
Rin walked in. Seeing Nino sitting on the sofa looking like a deer in headlights, he raised an eyebrow and scanned the room.
The TV was off. Her phone was cast aside. Her uniform and skirt were messy, her face was flushed, and—most tellingly—one hand was hidden behind her. She looked exactly like a teenage boy caught with his hand down his pants when his parents walk in.
Rin didn't call her out. Instead, he sat down right next to her. "Why so tense?"
"How do you know the code to the door...?" Nino started, then remembered he knew her father. "My dad told you, right?"
"Ichika told me," Rin said. "Your dad just told me you were headed home."
Maruo had texted Rin the moment Nino left. Rin, who had been supervising the others at Ichika's place, came over immediately. He seemed to have interrupted a "private performance."
"Since your dad talked to you, I won't repeat him. Don't tell Ichika and the others it was an act, or I'll tell Ichika you dressed up as her to seduce me. By the way, Miku told you, right? Two subjects next time."
"I know, I know!" Nino pouted.
In the past, she would have screamed at him. But now, her impression of him was vastly improved. His "threats" were just for their own good. He was doing this for Ichika's future, and his "bad boy" approach actually hit Nino's sweet spot. She hated boring, studious types.
"Good." Rin gave a wicked smirk. "So... what were you doing just now? Don't tell me you were taking advantage of being alone to... touch yourself?"
"What!? Are you brain-damaged? You think everyone is a perverted sex-fiend like you!?"
From her shifty eyes, Rin knew he was right. He wondered what she was using as mental fodder. Was she using the memory of me fingering her?
"Were you remembering how it felt when you were pretending to be Ichika?"
Nino bolted upright, her neck stiff as she turned to look at him, her eyes filled with murderous intent. "You... what did you... ah!"
The murderous look was instantly replaced by panic as Rin shoved her down onto the sofa.
"I'm saying... if you want to try it again, just ask."
Rin leaned his face slowly toward hers. Just as their breaths began to mingle, Nino pressed her hands against his shoulders, trying to push him away. But she was powerless against him. She turned her head away, unable to meet his gaze, staring at the dark TV screen.
"You... you... last time was just because I wanted to break you and Ichika up! It's not like I like you! You're Ichika's boyfriend, you aren't allowed to do this!" She paused. "And don't do it to Miku and the others either!"
Rin bit back a smile. The tsundere Nino was usually all "tsun," but her "dere" side was adorable.
He waited. He wasn't waiting for Nino to give in; he was waiting for the others to come home and "catch" them!
Rin didn't have telepathy, but he knew Miku was aware of his relationship with Nanami and the others. She had seen it from the closet. Since then, Miku hadn't grown cold; instead, she had acted like a girl in love. This confirmed she and Ichika were on the same side.
Miku probably thought Nanami, Mashiro, and the others were only allowed because Ichika had a "cuckold" fetish, but that it was getting out of hand. To keep Ichika from "losing" him, Miku likely realized she needed to pull the other sisters into the "harem" to secure him.
Rin was here to give Miku that opportunity.
Just as the atmosphere became heavy with lust...
Click.
The door opened. In this apartment, the living room was visible directly from the entryway.
"Huh? Ehhhh!?!??!?"
Yotsuba let out a high-pitched shriek. Itsuki covered her mouth in shock. They both had the same thought: Nino's 'date with friends' was just an excuse to hook up with Rin!?
Nino frantically pushed Rin off. This time, he let her, standing up calmly. Nino's mind was blank, her lips trembling as she tried to think of an explanation.
"Hmph!" Unable to find the words, Nino glared at Rin and ran upstairs to her room, slamming the door.
"Don't get the wrong idea," Rin said casually to the shocked Yotsuba and Itsuki. "Nino got some dust in her eye and asked me to blow it out. I just tripped and fell on her when you opened the door. Anyway, I'll head out."
He gave them a ridiculous excuse and walked out.
Miku watched his back. She had a plan.