Since that day I stayed over at Toa’s house.

Just like I told her, on days when I had time, I started going to Toa’s house together with Renka and Shiori.

And while watching the three of them happily work on house chores together, I helped the twins with their studies.

As a result—on the morning of the week after the twins finished their exams.

“Souma-kun! Thank you so much!”

Out on the connecting hallway, Toa bowed her head to me.

“Thanks to you, neither of them failed! It looks like we can go on our family trip now〜!”

“Really!? That’s great!”

I had been worried, considering I was the one who agreed to tutor them, but I was relieved to see it paid off safely.

“It’s all thanks to you, Souma-kun! If I had kept teaching them on my own, who knows what would’ve happened……”

“No. It’s the twins’ hard work that paid off. I just made a few small adjustments so they’d feel motivated.”

“Adjustments? Like what exactly?”

“I brought them study guides where anime characters explain the lessons. The ones I used before my entrance exams.”

“Ohh, I see! That does sound easier to study with.”

The reference books, where popular anime characters clearly explained formulas, really struck a chord with the easily-bored twins. Thanks to that, our study sessions after the first one went far more smoothly than expected.

“As expected of you, Souma-kun〜. Whenever we’re in trouble, you always help.”

“No, I’m not some kind of hero.”

“Eeh〜? You are〜. You helped me a lot too! And thanks to you, I got even closer with Shiori-chan and Renka-chan!”

“Oh yeah?”

“While we were doing chores together, we started noticing little things about each other’s personalities! Renka-chan has this challenger side—whenever she cooks, she always adds some kind of twist! And Shiori-chan is careful and thorough, but sometimes she can be a little airheaded──”

Toa chattered on happily about the two of them. The sight was heartwarming. Her affection for them overflowed in every word.

“Being able to enjoy doing chores together with them was also thanks to you bringing them over, Souma-kun! Really, truly, thank you!”

“N-no…… it’s nothing like that.”

Being thanked so earnestly like this made me feel a little embarrassed.

But it was a good thing that their bond had deepened. I wanted the three of them to keep providing me with high-quality yuri content from now on. And, if possible, I hoped they’d forget about me as soon as they could.

“Shiorinー wait up, that hurtsー!”

“It’s your fault for oversleeping, Renka. We have to go apologize to Toa.”

Suddenly, I heard Renka’s voice from outside. Looking through the open window, I saw Shiori pulling Renka along as they walked through the courtyard.

It seemed Renka had overslept again today. That was probably why Toa had come to school first.

“Ah! Renka-chan! Shiori-chan!”

“Go on. You want to thank them too, right?”

“Yeah! I will!”

Toa dashed down the hallway energetically. The way she moved, as if she couldn’t wait to see them, was incredibly adorable and heartwarming.

“Ah, right! Hey, hey, Souma-kun!”

Toa suddenly came back toward me. Then she spread her arms out in front of me.

“Is there anything different about me today?”

“Different……?”

Was this that thing women often do—the notice something about me appeal? The one where a boyfriend gets mercilessly criticized for not realizing she cut her hair.

Wait. Why was Toa doing that to me? It would make more sense if she did it to Shiori.

“Ahaha. I guess you wouldn’t notice right away〜. The hint is my uniform.”

Toa gave me a mischievous smile.

I looked over her uniform carefully. But nothing seemed different. A beige blazer and a black mini skirt. Just the usual school uniform. The skirt length hadn’t changed, and she wasn’t wearing it differently either.

“You can’t tell? Then I’ll tell you!”

Perhaps seeing how confused I was, Toa stepped closer to me.

Then she leaned near my ear and whispered.

“Actually, my necktie…… is your necktie, Souma-kun〜.”

“Huh……?”

“When you all stayed over before? I secretly switched it with mine.”

What was that supposed to mean……?

I couldn’t process it. So that meant I was currently wearing Toa’s necktie? But why would she go out of her way to switch our ties……?

More confused than ever, I stared blankly at Toa’s face.

And then she──

“Swapping neckties is proof that two people are close, right? You’re the one who told me that, Souma-kun.”

“……Ah!”

Now that she mentioned it, I had said that. Back when Renka and Shiori had gotten into a fight.

That if they swapped neckties and wore each other’s, they’d get closer.

“Don’t tell me you remembered that……?”

“Ehehe…… that means we’ve become close too, right?”

Instead of answering, Toa just smiled at me with a bright red face.

That smile alone made my heart rate skyrocket.

Her necktie was wrapped around my neck. I was wearing the tie Toa herself had been using.

The moment I became aware of that, my whole body started to feel strangely ticklish. Just a moment ago, I’d been wearing this tie without a second thought. But now I couldn’t stop being conscious of it.

As I swallowed nervously, trying to steady my shaken thoughts—

“Ei!”

Toa suddenly leapt at me.

And for just a brief moment, she squeezed me in a tight hug.

“—!”

It happened so suddenly that my heart thumped loudly in my chest.

She pulled away almost immediately, but I was left standing there in a daze. I couldn’t even raise my voice. I just stared at her like an idiot.

Meanwhile, Toa smiled shyly.

An unbelievably cute expression—the face of a girl in love.

“See you later〜, Souma-kun!”

Right after that, Toa ran off toward Renka and Shiori.

Watching her small back as she hurried away like she was fleeing, I nearly staggered.

“You’ve got to be kidding me……!”

I’d always thought Toa had the makings of the aggressive type.

But I never imagined that aggression would be directed at me…! I just wanted to stay a wall quietly watching yuri. This is a complete misinterpretation!

It’s supposed to be a misinterpretation……!

“──Then why is my heart pounding like this……?”

A tightness in my chest stronger than anything I’d ever felt before. Heat spreading through my body.

As if trying to avert my eyes from those feelings, I reached up and stared at the necktie in my hand.