Some people believe fate moves in mysterious, elegant ways—like sakura petals on the wind.
Those people have never been ambushed by three girls and a nerd with a backpack full of snacks.
It started innocently. I was getting ready to leave the Minami household after barely surviving a "script rehearsal" that nearly gave me a heart attack. I had my shoes on, my excuses lined up, and my brain halfway out the door.
That's when Misaki Minami casually said, "Oh, you're staying over, right?"
I blinked. "I'm sorry—what?"
"You and Koharu still have rewrites to go, and I've already prepared the guest futon. Rena said you might need a cold shower, though."
Koharu died on the spot. "MOM!"
Misaki just smiled and hummed while walking away. Rena gave me a thumbs up from the hallway.
That's how I ended up sitting in Koharu's living room again, a blanket over my lap, trying not to think about the fact that there was only one futon.
Koharu sat on the opposite side of the room, hugging a pillow like it was a bomb. "This isn't a date," she muttered.
"Clearly."
"This is... a hostage situation."
"That tracks."
Then the doorbell rang.
Noa Hoshizuki stood outside with a box of cookies and the world's most innocent expression.
"Senpai~! I baked for you! I heard you were working on something at Koharu's house, so I thought I'd bring snacks!"
Koharu opened the door halfway. "Why do you know where I live?"
"I asked Makki-senpai!"
"Why would Makki—"
"Because I'm a generous information broker," came Makki's voice from down the hall. He popped into view with a peace sign and a bag of instant ramen. "Yo! Is this the group event flag? Did I walk in at the bath scene?"
Koharu shoved them both inside. "Fine! Sit down! Eat cookies! Just—don't breathe too loud!"
As if summoned by tension, the doorbell rang again.
Mina.
She looked tired. She also looked like she'd been dragged by someone.
Behind her? Yuki. Holding a bento box.
"This," Yuki said, walking in, "is why I never bet against romantic escalation."
"What is happening?" I asked the ceiling.
Yuki sat on the armrest beside me. "Group sleepover. Unexpected. Implied harem dynamics. I give this three episodes before someone ends up in someone else's blanket."
Mina sighed. "I just came to make sure Koharu didn't self-destruct."
Koharu threw a couch cushion. "You guys are the ones causing the self-destruction!"
And then Rena reappeared, wearing pajamas and holding two toothbrushes.
"Okay," she said. "Bathroom slots are as follows: Noa, then Mina, then our resident brooding love interest. If anyone sneaks into the hall naked, please do it photogenically."
Everyone blinked.
Koharu exploded. "WE ARE NOT DOING A CO-ED SLEEPOVER!"
Rena sipped her tea. "You already are."
Eventually, the room was dimly lit with futons and chaos. The girls settled in various corners, Makki passed out holding a plush rabbit, and I ended up between Koharu and Noa.
Because fate is cruel.
I closed my eyes. Breathed. Focused on the ceiling.
"Senpai," Noa whispered. "If you need help falling asleep, I read that cuddling helps."
Koharu sat bolt upright.
"Go to sleep, Noa."
"I'm just saying—warmth promotes comfort!"
Yuki murmured from her corner, "This is better than live-streamed dating shows."
"I WILL END YOU ALL," Koharu yelled into her pillow.
Mina rolled over. "Kuroda, if you kiss anyone tonight, you die."
"Understood," I replied.
Rena appeared again just to snap a photo.
"Souvenir for the wedding album," she said.
I gave up.
I surrendered to chaos.
And somewhere in the middle of the madness, I felt Koharu's hand brush against mine beneath the blanket.
She didn't say anything.
Neither did I.
Because sometimes, in the middle of absurdity, the story still moves forward.
And this one?
This one was just getting started.
But the chaos wasn't done with me yet.
It was only midnight when someone suggested a game.
Of course it was Makki. Somehow he had woken up, probably sensing the potential for narrative disaster.
"Let's play Truth or Dare," he said, holding up a soda bottle like it was the Holy Grail of cringe.
"No," Yuki replied immediately.
"Yes," Noa countered, already grinning. "Let's go!"
Mina groaned. "Someone's going to cry."
Koharu glared at Makki. "If this turns into one of those dares that involves underwear, I'm kicking you out the window."
Makki beamed. "No underwear! Unless it's plot relevant."
We all gathered in a circle. The bottle spun. I accepted my fate.
First dare?
Noa had to hug someone and whisper something embarrassing in their ear.
She picked me.
"I dreamed of you once," she whispered. "You were wearing glasses and nothing else."
Koharu made a noise like a dying computer.
Yuki raised an eyebrow. "That's oddly specific."
Next, Makki had to sing the Sailor Moon theme. He did. Loudly. Off-key. With dance moves.
Then it was Koharu's turn.
"Truth," she said.
Makki grinned. "Do you like Kuroda?"
Silence.
Koharu turned red. "...I like that he's not a complete idiot."
"That's not an answer," Mina said.
"It's all you're getting!"
My turn.
"Dare," I said.
Makki's eyes sparkled. "Steal someone's underwear and return it like a gentleman."
"OUT."
Koharu actually threw a pillow at his face. Mina hit him with a rolled-up magazine. Rena from upstairs yelled, "Only if you film it!"
I sighed. "I'm choosing a new dare."
"Fine," Makki said. "Then... kiss someone on the cheek."
I froze.
Everyone looked at me.
Koharu stared at the floor.
Noa sat up straight.
Even Yuki blinked slowly, curious.
I stood. Walked over. Bent down.
And kissed Koharu on the cheek.
Soft. Quick. Not dramatic. Just… real.
She didn't move. Just stared.
Then buried her face in the pillow again.
"Why do you do this to me," she muttered.
Later, when the lights were off and everyone pretended to sleep, I felt her shift beside me.
"You're... really messing with my story, you know?"
"Isn't that what stories are for?"
She didn't answer.
But her fingers found mine again.
And I didn't let go.