Tsundere, sharp-tongued, rebellious.
Miku knew Nino better than anyone. Nino valued their "togetherness" more than anything, which was why she had been so hostile toward Rin at first. But seeing them together on the sofa, Miku knew the ice had melted. If Rin could secure Nino, Yotsuba and Itsuki would be easy.
Miku took a deep breath and headed upstairs to Nino's room. She didn't knock; she just walked in.
Unlike Miku's traditional-style room, Nino's was full of "JK" energy—stuffed animals, cute stickers, and fashion magazines. Nino looked up from her bed, scowling.
"What do you want?"
Miku closed the door. Downstairs, Yotsuba and Itsuki immediately crept up the stairs to press their ears against the door.
"It's not about clothes," Miku said, staring Nino down. "I don't know what happened between you two, but he's Ichika's boyfriend. Secretly dating him is... bad."
"What!? Nothing happened!" Nino snapped. "You came in here just to say that?"
"Hmph... you should look in the mirror," Nino sneered, crossing her arms. "You think we haven't noticed? You like him too, don't you? Every time he tutors you, you go in with a book and come out with a red face and a stupid smile you can't hide."
Nino gave a cold laugh. "Warning me he's Ichika's boyfriend? You're just jealous, aren't you?"
"I'm not! Why would I be jealous over Ichika's boyfriend?" Miku clenched her fists, her voice wavering. "I just don't want you to ruin our relationship with Ichika! I don't care what you do with him!"
"Tsk, tsk... didn't you want to break them up before? Now you're so protective. Did you like it that much when he fingered you?"
Miku's acting was top-tier. She looked like a girl whose secret had been exposed. Outside the door, Yotsuba and Itsuki were vibrating with shock. This was way beyond stealing clothes—this was a full-blown harem war.
But at the mention of the fingering, Yotsuba's face flushed. It had felt good. Better than anything she'd ever done to herself. She'd tried to replicate his technique, but it was never the same.
"Ha... I'm supposed to believe that?" Nino saw Miku's "desperate" look and felt triumphant. "You won't be jealous? Fine, then I'll go on a date with him right now!"
"I won't be jealous, but he's Ichika's boyfriend!" Miku looked like she was about to cry.
"Then let Ichika tell me that herself!" Nino grabbed her phone and stormed out of the room, passing the awkward Yotsuba and Itsuki.
"Sorry to disappoint you two, but I'm going back out to finish our date," Nino said, sweeping downstairs and out the front door.
Once the door closed, Nino sighed. What is wrong with them? Do they really think I'd like such a boring guy? Fine, I'll stay at a hotel tonight... Wait, I don't have my wallet.
She had only grabbed her phone to look cool. No wallet, no charger, no credit card. She couldn't go back in now; she'd look like a loser.
"It's all his fault! Why did he jump on me like that!?"
She dialed Rin's number. It was his fault, so he could pay for her room.
Nino: [You haven't gone far, have you? Come back and give me some money.]
Rin: [What happened?]
Nino: [Because of you, I got into a fight with Miku. I don't have my wallet, get over here.]
Rin: [Fine.]
Rin found Nino waiting outside the building, her face illuminated by her phone screen. She looked pissed. She immediately kicked him in the shin.
"Ow, ow... damn." Rin faked the pain. "So, why the fight?"
"You showed up and made them misunderstand! I have nowhere to sleep tonight. Take me to a hotel and pay for it."
"If you have nowhere to go, why not come to my place? It's quite big... okay, okay, hotel it is."
Rin took her to the hotel owned by Karen's family. Karen had permanently reserved the suite where she and Shion had lost their virginity for Rin's personal use.
They entered the lobby. Rin didn't go to the front desk; he led her straight to the elevator.
"This place is nice... wait, how do you know the way?"
Nino was used to fancy hotels, but Rin didn't even check in. He just had a key card and knew the floor. Does his family own a wing of a luxury hotel? Is he secretly loaded?
"A friend keeps a room for me," Rin said simply, opening the door to the luxury suite.
The lights came on, revealing a room that clearly cost a fortune. "You can stay here until you and Miku make up." Rin sat on the sofa.
"What did you fight about?"
"Besides the time I pretended to be Ichika... why did you push me down on the sofa today!? And Miku! Miku likes you, doesn't she? What the hell is going on? You are Ichika's boyfriend!"
Nino was fuming, though she still couldn't meet his eyes. Rin looked at her and gave a blunt answer.
"Because I like you too."
"...Huh!?!??!?!"