The Couple's Discount Belongs to Me!

"Karaoke!?"

Chika exclaimed in surprise. T

his was because originally, they had discussed going to see a movie as part of their plan.

Aino smiled.

"I changed my mind. When it comes to high school girls, it's all about karaoke, right?"

"Y-yeah...?"

Chika tilted her head in confusion.

Aino looked at Chika with a sly glance.

"Is it not good…?"

“I’m not saying it’s not good though.”

Chika quickly shook her head. Chika, who generally had a gentle personality, seemed reluctant to reject Aino's suggestion.

Toru wasn't opposed either, but...

"I don't mind, but the thing is, I've never been to karaoke before,"

Singing in public was embarrassing for him, and he didn't have many friends to go with.

Ever since the incident where Chika was kidnapped, he had been quite lethargic at school.

Chika looked a little surprised and asked, "Is that so?"

"Toru, you really can't do without me, can you?"

"Well, when we were together, I thought I was the one supporting Chika."

"That's true, but... um, did you call me by my name?"

(Oh no...)

Due to an old habit, Toru unintentionally called Chika by her name. Chika was now calling him by his name, and it seemed like their original childhood friend relationship was slowly repairing.

While that was a positive development, it didn't sit well with Aino.

As expected, Aino pouted.

"Toru-kun, there's nothing wrong with you. You always help me and protect me, right?"

"Uh, well..."

Aino overtly appealed to Toru and moved closer to him, emitting a faint sweet scent. Perhaps she was using a special perfume for their outing, as she exuded a different, more mature vibe than usual.

Chika, feeling flustered, protested, "Wait a minute!"

Aino playfully smiled at Toru.

"The battle has already begun, you know?"

"T-that's what fighting is like..."

"A battle for Toru-kun, indeed. I'm serious about it. I'm going to defeat Konoe-san, become Toru's fiancée, and then his lover... the most important person to him."

For that goal, Aino was willing to do anything. It seemed she was also doing it to provoke Chika.

To achieve her objectives, Aino needed Chika to take it seriously.

However, Chika was overwhelmed by Aino and couldn't react.

Aino chuckled.

"Besides, I've never been to karaoke, just like Toru-kun."

"Huh? Is that so?"

"Yeah, I didn't have many friends either."

As a Finnish beauty, Aino stood out in their class.

She was a bit shy and reserved around new people. However, once she became friends with someone, she was known for her strong and friendly personality.

In that sense, Chika might have become someone Aino felt comfortable around. Otherwise, they wouldn't be having such a friendly conversation.

"So, Konoe-san, please teach me a lot."

Saying that, Aino walked lightly into the karaoke bar.

Toru and Chika hurriedly followed her.

It was a red chain bar called "Big Karaoke”.

A female student working part-time approached them, and Aino seemed flustered as she said, "Uh, well..."

(She really is shy around strangers...)

Chika intervened and smoothly explained the situation. As expected of the Konoe family's daughter and a model student who was a member of the student council.

But just when they thought everything was going well, Chika blushed.

Then, she turned to Toru. Aino also looked troubled.

"What's wrong with both of you?"

Chika shrugged.

"Um, there's a couple's discount.”

"Really? It doesn’t apply to three people. So, since there are two girls and one guy, one pair pays the couple's rate, and the third person pays the regular rate... I guess?"

The discount didn't make much of a difference, as they had plenty of money from the Konoe family for this date. But that didn't seem to be the issue.

Aino chimed in.

"The couple here is Toru-kun and me, right?"

"No, it's Toru and me!"

Aino and Chika exchanged sharp glances, sparking tension between them.

(They seem to oppose each other at every opportunity...)

While it was a bit of a delight for Toru, thinking it was all for his sake, the situation was still problematic.

The part-time worker chuckled.

"Oh my, I'm jealous. But please don't do anything inappropriate in the karaoke room."

"We won't be doing anything with three people!"

Chika protested to the employee, who chuckled and asked, "What if it's just the two of you?"

Chika blushed.

"That..."

Chika hesitated, and Aino chimed in.

"I won't do anything even if it's just the two of us."

"Eh?"

Aino's response was surprising, so Toru looked at her. Aino laughs mischievously.

"Toru-kun, were you also expecting something from me?"

"N-No, it's not like that..."

"I'm looking forward to you doing something 'inappropriate' to me.”

"Then why did you say 'we won't' earlier?"

"Because I'm living together with Toru-kun, and we'll have plenty of 'inappropriate' moments at home."

Aino said it with a teasing tone, leaving Toru wondering if she was joking or serious.

In any case, Aino seemed to be enjoying herself, teasing Toru.