I open my eyes slowly as the morning light slips through the gap in the curtains. Ahhh… morning again. Another day, another headache.
I stretch a little, my back cracking in protest. Last night was one hell of a circus thanks to that idiot Junpei.
After work, he bombarded my phone with calls and texts. Seriously, I think my phone has PTSD now. He kept demanding—no, begging—me to set him up with Ruka. I sighed just remembering it.
How the heck am I supposed to do that when my current standing with Ruka is... let’s just say, somewhere between “stranger” and “unwanted mold on bread.”
I grab my phone, my face still half-buried in the pillow, and see a new notification. Yup. It’s from Junpei. Again.
[From: Junpei]
‘Yo bestie! Don’t forget my Ruka mission! I’m counting on ya love ya mwa mwa~’
“Ughhh...” I groan aloud, unaware of just how dramatic it sounded in the quiet room.
And then — like some horror movie jump scare — I feel a presence. I turn, only to find Keiko… peeking at me silently from behind.
I nearly jumped out of my skin when I saw Keiko quietly peeking at me from behind, her face so close and silent like some kind of adorable ghost. I could’ve sworn she was still asleep — my heart skipped a beat.
“H-Hey! M-morning… sorry if I was too loud, but why are you sneaking up on me like that? I almost died!” I clutched my chest dramatically, still panting from shock.
Keiko just let out a soft, sleepy, “Hmmm…” like it was the most natural thing in the world. Then, without missing a beat, she tilted her head slightly and teased, “Eh… why so defensive? Are you hiding something?”
I panicked, shaking my head so fast it probably looked cartoonish. I could never tell if Keiko was serious or just messing with me — her face was unreadable, always that calm, flat expression that gave away nothing.
Then she scooted back a little, narrowing her eyes, and said, “Really? You sure you’re not cheat—” I shot up like a lightning bolt, cutting her off before she could finish. “N-No! Of course not! Look — here, see for yourself!” I shoved my phone toward her in a blind panic.
I was terrified she’d get the wrong idea, terrified of making her feel hurt, even by accident. But to my surprise, Keiko’s face softened, her lips curling up just a little as she took my phone. There was a hint of shyness in her eyes, something I rarely saw.
I didn’t realize it, but maybe for her, this small moment meant a lot — seeing me so open, so unguarded, so quick to prove there was nothing to hide. She was secretly amused, a little flustered even. It wasn’t just a phone to her, it was a tiny, clumsy proof that I cared, and it made her heart skip in the gentlest way.
“T-then… why were you yelling like that?” she asks, stuttering a bit.
Wait—stuttering? Keiko? Why? Oh hell, she’s cute when she does that. I try not to laugh because I value my life, but man… her slightly red ears betray her cool façade.
“Oh… uh… well, it’s Junpei,” I say, clearing my throat.
“Junpei? What now?”
I groan again, grabbing my pillow and smashing my face into it before turning back to Keiko. “You remember last night, right? How that moron practically fell in love at first sight with… um… Ruka’s… uh…”
Keiko raises a brow. “Ruka’s…?”
For a split second, my mind shamefully wandered to Ruka’s boobs — damn it, focus! I quickly shook my head to clear the image out.
I gulp. “Ruka. Just Ruka.”
God. I almost said her boobs. Close call. I glance at Keiko’s face, but she doesn’t seem to catch my near slip. Thank you, universe.
“Anyway,” I continue, “this morning I wake up to, guess what? More texts. All from Junpei. Asking, no—ordering—me to set him up with Ruka. The guy’s relentless.”
Keiko’s lips curve into a small smile. “So what’s the problem? Just introduce them. They’re adults, let them figure out if they like each other.”
I sigh. “That’s easy for you to say. You don’t know Junpei like I do. He’s… well, imagine a pervy golden retriever who can’t keep his mouth shut. And Ruka? She’s more like a cool, lone wolf who’d probably stab you if you got too close. Not exactly a match made in heaven.”
Keiko laughs softly, and I swear my heart did a somersault.
“But there’s a bigger issue,” I mutter.
She tilts her head. “What now?”
I scratch my head awkwardly. “I’m not in the best terms with Ruka right now… after she found out about me being Ryusei, y’know… the whole ‘I’m Keiko’s lost husband’ bombshell. Ever since then, she’s been keeping her distance like I have rabies or something.”
Keiko lets out a little “ahh” and nods, finally understanding.
“Well, in that case…” she grins, “I’ll help you.”
My eyes widen. “Huh? Help me how?”
“I’ll talk to Ruka,” she says casually, like it’s the simplest thing in the world.
“W-wait, hold up!” I sit up straight. “Thanks, Keiko, I appreciate it but… do you have any plans for this? Y’know, like a strategy?”
Keiko blinks. “Plans? Why would I need plans? I’ll just get them to meet up, the rest is up to them.”
I bury my face in my hands. “Keiko… it doesn’t work like that. You don’t just toss two people together and hope for the best. You gotta… set the mood, ease them into it, maybe plan an activity, conversation topics—ugh, you need a plan for this kinda thing.”
Keiko frowns thoughtfully, then nods. “Ohh… okay, I think I get it now.”
“Good,” I sigh in relief.
She gives me a sheepish smile, and I don’t know what came over me, but I reached out and pulled her into a hug.
“U-uhm…!” she lets out a tiny surprised sound.
“Sorry, you’re just too cute sometimes, y’know?” I chuckle.
Her face goes redder than a tomato. “I… I’m not… c-cute…”
“Sure, sure. Keep telling yourself that,” I tease, tightening the hug.
She lets out a small grumble but doesn’t push me away. If anything, she awkwardly patted my back. Man… this is nice.
After a moment, I pull back and grin at her. “Okay, so what’s our move, partner?”
Keiko coughs and composes herself. “Double date?”
I freeze. “W-what?”
“A double date. Me, you, Junpei, and Ruka.”
I blink. “Keiko… you realize how dangerous that sounds?”
She shrugs. “It’s what Junpei suggested in his text last night. You didn’t read it?”
I quickly grab my phone, scroll through the messages and, sure enough…
[From: Junpei]
‘Bro let’s do a double date! Me, Ruka, you, and wifey. C’monnnn pls pls pls I’ll owe you one big time.’
I groan. “I tried to erase that from my memory.”
I sigh in defeat. “Alright, alright. But first you must convince Ruka to agree. And if I get murdered during the date, I’m haunting that idiot Junpei.”
Keiko giggles. “Okay.”
God help me.
After that fun little morning of emotional whiplash, we both got ready for work. I could already feel today was going to be chaotic. But weirdly… with Keiko around, it felt like one of those chaotic days I didn’t really mind.
Even if it meant babysitting a lovestruck Junpei and playing Cupid.