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V4 Chapter 34: Love is War
🕑 Added 2025-06-07 11:21:43 +0000 UTCJiiiiii… (Stare)
Holding his ice cream, Kazami Haru gave the silver-haired girl in front of him a puzzled look. After finishing the ice cream he'd bought her, she kept gazing at his face. But then, as if conflicted, she furrowed her brows and lowered her eyes, misty with emotion.
Wait, what's going on?
Had he done something weird without realizing it, something that triggered a negative emotion in her?
Tomori was a delicate and introverted girl. Even a playful joke from him might make her feel guilty and if it hit too hard, she might shut herself off for days, burying herself under the covers in the middle of the night to silently sulk.
But as Haru looked more closely, he noticed her eyes drifting occasionally to the ice cream in his hand. Considering how fast she had eaten hers… maybe she was just sad that his ice cream wasn't finished yet?
Crap, he really couldn't read her anymore.
His brain launched into full analysis mode, trying to match her wavelength. From life philosophy to the meaning of existence, to whether McDonald's or KFC fries were better, and then spiraling into "should spaghetti be mixed with grade 42 concrete"—
"Haru, can I… can I touch your hand?"
Wait, no—
"Can you pat my head?"
Haru: ???
"I-I didn't mean anything by it, I wasn't trying to do anything weird… I just suddenly thought about it, and then before I realized it, I blurted it out."
Realizing what she had said, Tomori shrunk her neck like a penguin. Her hands twitched nervously, unsure where to go.
It was like she had suddenly been struck by the impulse, bravely said it, and then immediately regretted it.
Was she… momentarily love-drunk?
"Me?"
"Head pats?"
Haru was caught completely off guard by this combo of request + flustered explanation.
Normally, he was the one patting her head to comfort her. This was the first time she had ever asked for it.
He froze for a second.
Wait, why was he even hesitating?
Tomorin was so cute, he should just do as the Penguin Queen commanded—
"H-Haru… I'm sorry!"
"I must've made you uncomfortable. Please forget what I just said…"
Tomori started apologizing in a panic, her eyes darting everywhere. The uneven gray fringe on her forehead trembled from how tense she was. She clenched her fists and gently pressed them into her lap, looking incredibly nervous.
She'd just remembered, Haru wasn't the same as he used to be.
There was a time when he'd come over and gently pat her head when she looked troubled. The warmth of his palm and his familiar scent would always calm her.
But recently, those pats had become fewer and fewer.
She'd gotten so used to them… that now, she was beginning to feel insecure without them.
"…So it was just a head pat?"
Haru sighed quietly, finally understanding.
Without waiting for her response, he leaned in and gently placed his hand on her head. Her silky, soft hair felt like French mousse, like he could melt it with a single touch.
He'd hesitated before because of everything going on, but the moment Tomori asked for a head pat herself, all of that hesitation vanished.
Maybe no matter what, he'd never be able to turn her down.
Tomori's tense expression softened instantly, a faint smile curling on her lips.
"…So warm."
The gentle, reassuring motion made her whole body relax.
Haru smoothed her slightly messy fringe, calming the storm in her heart even as it sent her pulse racing.
If this request got accepted… could she ask for something more next time?
The moment that thought crossed her mind, her breathing stopped for a moment. A soft blush began spreading across her porcelain skin, creeping up her cheeks like ripening fruit.
"Tomori-san, is this pressure okay?"
Haru teased gently, and to his surprise, the little penguin actually paused to seriously think about it. Pressing her hands to her chest, she replied in a soft, low voice—
"…It's… very, very comforting."
"I want it to stay like this… forever."
Crap. How could even her casual words hit this hard?
Haru found himself slowly sinking into the bottomless pool of Tomori's cuteness. He didn't even notice her already pink face growing redder, or the way her snow-white ears were now tinged a vivid peach.
Tomori simply smiled quietly.
Being gently patted again by Haru didn't just make her feel safe, it made her feel something else, something unspoken yet unmistakable. She knew what this emotion was.
And yet…
She wanted to ask Haru what he thought of everyone in the band.
Even if she'd already come up with a way for them to all stay together, she needed to see things from his side too. Haru's opinion was just as important.
If he didn't want that kind of outcome—then it would all be meaningless.
"Haru…"
Just as she gathered the courage to speak, a strange sound interrupted her.
"Nom-nom."
Her bravery instantly crumbled.
Haru turned his head and locked eyes with a pair of stunning mismatched golden and blue eyes. A girl with short snow-white jellyfish hair was crouched beside the bench at some point, she'd started eating his ice cream.
Meow~
The kitten she held purred softly, like it was announcing an attack. With that, Kaname Raana took a few more bites, stealing bigger spoonfuls now.
But because she ate too fast, the sneaky kitten clutched her head, clearly in brain-freeze pain.
"Raana-chan…?"
Still dazed, Tomori looked toward Raana in shock.
This stray cat girl who appeared out of nowhere… had just taken a full bite out of Haru's ice cream? Tomori clearly remembered he had already eaten several bites from it.
If Raana ate it straight like that, didn't that mean…
"Wait, that was mine…"
Haru stared down at the now-empty cone in his hand, his expression slowly going stiff.
Wasn't this basically an indirect kiss?
If this little cat could casually steal his ice cream, what might she try stealing next? He didn't even want to imagine.
"Tasty~"
The white-haired girl stood up slowly, licking the last bit of ice cream from the corner of her mouth with a satisfied little sigh.
Her mysterious heterochromatic eyes remained fixed on the interaction between Haru and Tomori.
It seemed she had picked up on something "interesting." Her cat-like lips curled into a mischievous smirk. She gently set her kitten down and plopped herself directly between the two of them.
Sniff, sniff…
The cat-girl inserted herself like a wall right in the middle.
Haru opened his mouth to say something, but before he could, Raana leaned in close with curiosity. Her petite nose twitched as she sniffed near him.
"You have… such a complicated scent."
Raana scrunched her delicate brows, seemingly trying to get even closer to sniff more deeply.
"Hey! Wait, wait, Raana, you're getting ice cream all over me!"
Haru, alarm bells ringing in his head, quickly pulled out a handkerchief and started wiping her mouth carefully, using the moment to subtly shift away.
His awkward movements didn't go unnoticed, Tomori watched with a puzzled expression.
"Raana-chan… does Haru really smell that strange?"
"It's like… the sweet smell Soyo has, but mixed with a bunch of other…"
Before the cat could finish, Haru cut her off with a nervous smile and a hand gently covering her mouth. She might start listing things like the lingering scent of Anon's perfume or even something from Kita's side.
If he let Raana keep talking, who knows how much of his laundry she'd air out?
Wait, how could she actually smell that stuff?!
"Mmm…"
Raana wiggled her head in protest under his hand. But suddenly, as if struck by a fun little idea, she stopped resisting and narrowed her glittering eyes at Haru.
What's with that look? That gleam in her eyes?
Haru had a bad feeling.
In the next instant, something soft and damp brushed his palm—realizing what it was, he instantly pulled away.
The white-haired stray cat looked up at him with a smug expression.
"You stole my ice cream and still have the nerve to look so smug?"
Haru narrowed his dark eyes, a little exasperated. He reached out and pinched her cheek lightly. Her skin was so soft and springy, it sank in like mango pudding. The texture was so satisfying, he got carried away and gave it a few more squeezes.
Better take advantage before she reacts.
"Mmm—"
Face puffed out and slightly smushed, Raana wriggled in his grip like a kitten held by the scruff of the neck, offering only light resistance.
Tomori giggled as she watched the scene in front of her.
Without realizing it, her hand, which had been clenched near her heart, slowly relaxed. The bright blue sky overhead seemed to grow more vivid with color. Her heart, lighter now, made her whisper softly—
"…Everyone really likes Haru, huh."
She felt like she'd found a way to protect the bond between everyone. Though the idea was still immature, she didn't yet know how to carry it out.
Maybe… she'd need help from someone else?
…
"Uika, I have something I'd like to ask of you."
Walking down the road, Togawa Sakiko suddenly stopped in her tracks. There was a mix of complexity and determination in her gaze as she slowly turned around.
Her sky-blue hair fluttered as she moved. Once vibrant and radiant, her beautiful face was now marked with seriousness. Even the gentle look in her eyes had turned resolute.
Misumi Uika, walking behind her, had still been lost in thoughts about Kazami Haru. Togawa's sudden formal tone caught her off guard.
But it was the first time she'd seen her childhood friend, who she hadn't seen in years, wear that kind of expression. Her initial confusion gave way to quiet tension.
In that moment, she had a faint idea of what Sakiko might be thinking.
"Sakiko… what is it?"
Uika quickly composed herself, her surprise vanishing as her flawless, professional smile returned.
"I'm going to start a new band."
A band?
Uika blinked.
"I want you to be my guitarist."
The directness of the invitation left Uika genuinely stunned.
Sakiko, who had disbanded CRYCHIC so abruptly, now suddenly wanted to form a new band and was inviting her, specifically, to play guitar. It was so unexpected that she wasn't sure how to respond.
Uika's guitar skills were undoubtedly pro-level. And as a singer who had already debuted as an idol under the name "Sumimi," she had vocal talent well beyond the average. Even as a band frontwoman, she'd have no problem performing professionally.
But now, she couldn't help wondering, what exactly was Sakiko's goal?
Did she want to form a new band because of seeing the former CRYCHIC members again? Or was it because of him... Kazami Haru, the boy she had feelings for?
"The band I'm forming is going to debut professionally as fast as possible."
"Everyone in it is at a pro level and each member will perform wearing a mask, so you won't need to reveal your identity as [Sumimi], the idol."
As Sakiko explained her plan with focused seriousness, she didn't notice that her childhood friend's thoughts were elsewhere. She simply continued, matter-of-factly:
"I've already lined up a suitable talent agency. We can register the band as official artists under their label anytime."
"Then..."
The girl's voice suddenly paused, her sky-blue hair lifting slightly with her movement.
"Uika… would you entrust the rest of your life to me?"
Those gentle amber eyes locked intently onto hers. The girl stood with a posture full of grace and quiet dignity.
It was just a single sentence, short and soft, but it carried an overwhelming weight. In that moment, Misumi Uika realized just how serious and resolute her childhood friend truly was about forming this band.
This "band" could very well change the entire course of her life.
The beautiful blonde girl froze briefly, but soon regained her composure. A faint smile bloomed in her bright, violet eyes.
Faced with Togawa Sakiko's invitation, she responded without hesitation:
"I understand."
"I'll join your band, Sakiko, as long as I don't have to reveal my identity, my agency won't care."
Uika had no issue being in a band, especially when she saw no reason to refuse Sakiko.
"That's wonderful~!"
"I hope you'll also write lyrics. I really trust your lyric-writing skills!"
A delighted smile finally bloomed on Sakiko's alluringly beautiful face.
As if unable to contain her excitement, she eagerly showed Uika some of the band plans on her phone. Uika only skimmed the screen briefly before nodding gently.
She trusted her childhood friend's eye—Sakiko wouldn't involve some shady talent agency.
Uika gave a breezy smile and asked casually, "By the way, Sakiko… you said every member of the band is at a professional level. Can I ask who the other members are?"
"And since I'll be handling lyrics, does that mean you're in charge of composing?"
At the mention of "composing," a subtle flicker passed across Sakiko's face. But she quickly adjusted her expression and smiled as she answered softly—
"No, I already have someone else in mind for composing."
Someone else?
Uika's eyes narrowed slightly. She already had a guess as to who that composer might be.
"The lead guitarist is Wakaba Mutsumi, daughter of Mori Minami. The bassist's skills are far beyond most Live-performing bands. And for drums, I've found a very suitable candidate."
"But just like the composer, I still need to go invite them myself."
A hint of firm determination crossed Sakiko's face, her grip on her phone tightening.
No matter what, it had to work. This band would debut.
She would make a name for herself the right way, in the field she was best at. As long as she kept moving forward in the professional band world, the path of "Togawa Sakiko" would stretch ever onward.
She refused to lose.
She wouldn't give up and she couldn't.
She had to prove her value through her own strength. She had to secure a greater voice within her family and she wouldn't give up on getting closer to him.
There was no way she could accept becoming a pathetic, abandoned dog who gave up on everything she held dear.
"…"
A strange heaviness began to settle in Uika's chest. A quiet unease took root.
This wasn't just about forming a "band." Even though Sakiko had been the one to disband CRYCHIC, here she was forming a new group for some reason.
There's no way this wasn't about Kazami Haru.
If Sakiko had truly moved on, Uika wouldn't have believed it anyway.
It was too suspicious, Sakiko could easily compose the songs herself, but instead, she wanted to bring in a "composer." It was hard not to guess who that "composer" was.
She's doing all of this for him…?
If possible, Uika genuinely hoped Sakiko wouldn't go down this path.
If she tried to fight for him, it would end in blood and when it did, her heart would suffer even worse than before.
…
Silence was tonight's Cambridge.
Nagasaki Soyo and the pink-haired tsundere beside her walked shoulder to shoulder.
Normally, they were talkative and sharp but tonight, neither could say a word.
Because both of them knew what the other was thinking.
They were both constantly on guard, watching every move the other made.
Meanwhile, the energetic and sunny Kita Ikuyo didn't seem to notice the tension. From the very beginning, she had been dragging them along to shop all over town.
And strangely enough, the more time they spent together, the more Soyo seemed to warm up to this radiant redhead, who always had an endless, dazzling smile and an energy that never ran out.
It wasn't until Kita Ikuyo cheerfully waved goodbye and left that the two girls turned to face each other, sharing a look that was neither entirely friendly nor hostile.
"Kita-chan really is full of energy, huh~"
The silence was finally broken by Nagasaki Soyo , who spoke in a soft, almost breezy tone.
"She is. Kita-chan seems like the kind of person who can talk to just about anyone."
Chihaya Anon's brow twitched slightly at the layered meaning behind those words. She'd had a gut feeling from the start that this fox of a woman wasn't as harmless as she seemed and now this comment, was it as innocent as it sounded?
Or was this bad woman planning to use Kita as a pawn in her strategy to capture Haru?
Given Soyo's history of manipulation and deceit, Anon had every reason to be suspicious. She'd seen firsthand how fake Soyo's smile could be—always hiding a darker, more cunning side beneath that gentle facade.
Everything she said could very well have an ulterior motive.
But this time, she was dead wrong~
Right now, Kita Ikuyo was Anon's ally. At least for now, they stood on the same side. If Soyo really thought she could use Kita, she'd inevitably slip up and expose her hand.
And when that happened, Anon and Kita would strike from inside and out—
"Anon-chan."
Just as Chihaya Anon was caught in her internal scheming, Soyo folded her hands behind her back and spoke quietly:
"I like Haru."
Anon: ?!
The pink-haired girl's mouth dropped open in shock, her little fangs gleaming in the light.
She stared at Soyo's smiling face in disbelief. She never expected this sly fox to ditch the mind games and come right out and admit her feelings for Kazami Haru.
It was so abrupt, it completely threw her off.
But if this bad woman was going to go ahead and "declare her intentions," there was no way Chihaya Anon could just let her walk all over her!
"Ehh~? Is that so?"
"Well, I've liked Haru way longer than you have, Soyo~ Way, way longer!"
Still smiling sweetly, Anon's tone turned lively and playful but behind her cute exterior, a storm was brewing. Her bright and innocent grin clashed sharply with Soyo's gentle, composed expression. The tension between them sparked like clashing thunderbolts.
It was as if two phantom figures 'one violet, one gold' rose behind them. You could almost hear the echoes of Ora ora ora! and Muda muda muda! crashing through the air.
This was it. Love is War.
"I knew that already. So let's compete fair and square."
"From now on, we each use our own charm to win Haru's heart. Whoever wins, the other has to offer their blessing. No clinging, no drama."
Soyo smiled sweetly as she said "fair and square," but when Anon heard that phrase, she almost burst out laughing, furiously.
Her temple twitched visibly.
If we're talking about dirty tactics in love, Nagasaki Soyo would take second place and even Kita would hesitate to claim first!
Fair competition? Against you?! What a joke!
"Fine then. We'll play fair~"
"No tricks allowed. May the best girl win."
Anon's voice was just as bright and cheerful as Soyo's, but there was a sharp edge behind it now. Somehow, saying it out loud made the tension between them ease a little.
Now that everything was laid bare, the two rivals had come to a mutual understanding. Yes, they were enemies in love but they also respected each other's strengths and weaknesses.
And Chihaya Anon had an ace up her sleeve that guaranteed she wouldn't lose. Thanks to her superior intel, she was almost unbeatable, aside from one unfortunate weak point… her figure.
Meanwhile, all Soyo had going for her was that infuriatingly curvy body and seductive aura.
After tossing their challenge into the ring, the two girls said their goodbyes and walked their separate ways.
On her way home, Soyo's smile gradually shifted into a pensive expression.
The reason she came clean to Anon wasn't just to clear the air—it was to assert dominance, and maybe shake her up a little.
As for fair competition?
There's no such thing as "fair" in love.
"Kita-chan is probably on Anon's side… or maybe she has her own plans? Looks like I'll need to give her a warning…"
"If it's just me, I might not be enough."
Confessing outright definitely wouldn't work.
Anon was already hyper-alert around her. Any attempt to get Haru alone would immediately set off alarms. And besides, Haru himself might not even accept a confession right now.
She needed an accomplice.
As she walked, deep in thought, Soyo's eyes suddenly lit up.
She remembered someone, someone who Anon didn't know about, Someone who could be… her secret weapon.
