"Haruki, open the door! Haruki, open the damn door already!"
It was Ailany's voice.
Well... guess this is it for me. It was a pleasure living these peaceful days on this tiny countryside farm.
Now what the hell am I supposed to tell her?
Kaori's still asleep too… and after everything that happened last night, I really can't blame her.
"Hold on, I'm coming... I didn't sleep well last night," I called back, trying to stall for time.
"What exactly were you two doing that kept you from sleeping?! Open up already!" Ailany shouted, her voice sharp—and trembling, like she was about to cry.
If I open that door and she sees Kaori like this… I'm dead.
"Alright, alright! Just... let me wake Kaori up first," I added. Not like that buys me much time, but still…
Please, Kaori, wake up fast. Don't make this harder than it already is.
"Kaori… Kaori, wake up. Morning's here, and I'm knee-deep in trouble," I whispered, tapping her shoulder.
"Haruki, I swear I'll knock this door down if you don't open it. I'm not joking!" Ailany yelled from the hallway.
Crap… she really would do it.
"Kaori, please! Wake up!"
"Good morning, Haruki," Kaori mumbled groggily. "What's going on...? It's barely morning... Let me sleep a bit more. I'll pay Mr. Hanabira for the stay later. Besides... it's your fault I'm so tired."
"If you don't get up, Ailany's going to bust down the door! I'm serious!"
"I'm done waiting, Haruki. Sorry, but I'm not standing out here any longer."
Her tone shifted… then I heard her footsteps walking away.
Wait… she gave up that easily? That's suspicious… but hey, I'll take it.
"What's going on?" Kaori asked, yawning, sitting up in the futon—her shirt half-unbuttoned, her bra clearly visible.
"What's going on is we're both about to get murdered if Ailany sees us like this. Do you get it now?"
"Well, that's your fault for playing with both of us. Cute or not, you shouldn't be messing around like this."
"I'm not messing around! I just… haven't figured things out yet, okay? And besides, you literally just got here yesterday and look at all this!"
"Didn't you say it was all your fault? 'It's not your fault, Kaori, I made the decisions…' What happened to all that noble talk?"
"Now's not the time! Just get dressed and let's go try to explain this!"
"I don't think explaining what happened is the best idea, Haruki," Kaori said, calm as ever.
"I mean give a fake explanation! Obviously we're not telling her what actually happened last night!"
That's the Haruki I know… not the wannabe romantic talking about 'discovering a new phase in life.'
"Kaori, please get dressed already! I'll do anything you want later!"
"Hmm… anything?" she teased. "You sure about that?"
"Yes! Please, just get dressed!"
And right then, I heard Ailany's footsteps approaching again.
She's coming back… what now?
"The door's... jammed! It won't open!" I blurted, throwing out the first excuse I could think of.
"Haruki! This is the last time I'm asking! Open. The. Door!" she shouted.
"I would if I could, but I think the lock broke! I seriously can't open it!" I lied, praying she'd buy it.
But I didn't expect her to go grab the spare key.
She opened the door before I could stop her.
"You snake! You said you were just his aunt, and now you're naked in his bed!?" Ailany screamed, her eyes glistening with tears.
Then she turned to me.
"And you, Haruki… You're such an idiot. I thought you liked me… that you cared. After everything I told you last night. But clearly, it meant nothing. I never imagined you were that kind of guy. Just get out of my house. Both of you."
"Hey! I'm not some snake! I was just uncomfortable, so I took off my clothes and borrowed his shirt! Nothing happened between us!" Kaori snapped back.
"Calm down, Ailany. She's telling the truth. And Kaori, please get dressed already," I added, trying to stay composed.
"Well, it's a little awkward with her glaring at me and yelling insults," Kaori muttered, arms crossed.
"Seriously, Haruki? You still don't see it? She's manipulating you like a puppet! She acts all innocent, puts on that 'who, me?' face, and you just fall for it!"
"Excuse me!? You've known me for one day! Who are you to say I'm manipulating him? You don't even know our story!" Kaori snapped.
"What story? Some dumb childhood promise? Come on… 'Protect her'? From what? She's rich! She could hire a dozen bodyguards. And if she's upset about her dad, she should go see Japan's best therapist."
"That's not what it's about, Ailany…" I said quietly.
"Then what is it about, Haruki? Because I don't get it. She was supposed to be your aunt… and now she's naked in your bed?"
"Just calm down! You're not even my girlfriend! I get that you're hurt, but storming in like this is too much," Kaori said.
"If you hadn't come in with your fake innocent act and interrupted us both times we were about to kiss, we'd already be a couple!" Ailany shouted. "And I know you did it because you like him! Don't even try to deny it!"
"We still can be a couple, right?" I said, panicking. "This is all just a misunderstanding..."
"You've got to be kidding me, Haruki. Are you seriously mocking me right now?"
"Kaori, why are you laughing? This isn't funny!"
"It kinda is. I mean, how could you say that right now?" she said, trying not to burst out laughing.
"You two... you'll pay for this someday. And you especially, Haruki... for playing with people's feelings," Ailany muttered, trembling with rage.
"You're not even letting me explain! You just blame me for everything. Besides, this whole setup was your grandparents' idea! I didn't even plan this!"
"Oh, now you're blaming my grandparents for the fact that you and this snake got all cozy? Seriously, Haruki? All they wanted was for you two to feel comfortable… not for you to use it as an excuse to mess around!"
"We didn't do anything! She can't sleep without pajamas, so she borrowed my shirt! That's it!" I shouted, completely out of arguments.