"Aoshi, at this point, you owe us an explanation. Who exactly is Eliss, and what’s your relationship with her?" Ayane asks, her tone sharp.

The three of them — Ayane, Takuma, and Aoshi — have just left campus and are heading toward a bar in downtown Ueda.

"I-I’ve told you like a hundred times already! The cleaning company Eliss works for also offers rental girlfriends! There was a huge discount if you booked both the cleaning plan and the girlfriend option, so I went for it. You know better than anyone how messed up I was after Miori cheated on me — I couldn’t let that depression ruin my grades. So... yeah, I figured I’d get a temporary replacement until I got over her. That’s all..."

"Yeah, except rental girlfriends don’t pack you lunch with ’Aoshi + Eliss = forever’ written in ketchup."

"Well, yeah... she’s just really good at her job — she makes her clients feel like she’s actually their girlfriend, even off the clock! I told you, she’s super professional!"

Ayane sighs, shaking her head in resignation. She doesn’t say a word, but Aoshi doesn’t need her to — he already knows exactly what she’s thinking.

"Aoshi! My sweet Aoshi! I’m over here!"

Eliss waves her arms and bounces up and down like someone drowning, desperate to be noticed.

"Yeah, you’re right — very professional..." Ayane mutters, her voice thick with sarcasm and irritation.

The place they picked for their afternoon outing isn’t just any bar — it’s a maid café. Takuma’s favorite, of course. Whenever they go out, they take turns choosing the spot, and everyone already knows what Takuma’s going to pick.

The waitresses here wear outfits that are far more provocative than usual — short skirts and plunging necklines that put the competition to shame. Thanks to Takuma, the three of them have been there so many times it’s practically their second home, and they’ve even become friends with the staff.

"Welcome home, masters—"

The young, beautiful waitress greeting them freezes mid-sentence. Her eyes lock onto Eliss, and she doesn’t even try to hide it.

"Y-Y-YOU’RE GORGEOUS!" she blurts out, her eyes practically turning into hearts. "Your face is perfect, and your eyes— it’s like you’ve got emeralds instead of pupils!"

Without any warning, she lunges at Eliss with wildly unprofessional enthusiasm.

"And your body... it’s incredible! And these..."

She grabs her breasts with both hands, lifting it without the slightest hesitation.

"...they’re completely natural! You can tell instantly! Oh my god, I’m so jealous!"

Eliss doesn’t show even a hint of discomfort. If anything, every compliment only fuels her pride further. She nods haughtily at each word of praise.

Meanwhile, Ayane — though she’d never admit it — feels a twinge of envy at the sight. In three years of coming here almost every week, no one has ever fawned over her like that. Not that she ever cared about that kind of attention — no girl walks into a maid café expecting to be praised — but seeing her practically drool over Eliss... yeah, a little jealousy definitely creeps in.

"I’ve got a proposal for you!" the waitress goes on. "How would you like to work here with us? I’m sure this job would be perfect for someone as beautiful and kawaii as you! You’d make a ton of money, I promise!"

Another harsh hit to Ayane’s self-esteem.

"Oh, I’m really sorry, miss — that’s very kind of you, but I already have a job," Eliss replies sweetly, then wraps herself around Aoshi’s arm. "I work at the Moonlight Club with my beloved darling!"

Aoshi freezes on the spot.

I told Ayane and Takuma that Eliss works for that agency as a cleaner and a rental girlfriend... what the hell am I supposed to say now? That she secretly works with me on the side? Maybe that idiot Takuma would buy it, but Ayane... no way.

And sure enough, a second later, he catches her giving him a suspicious look.

"I could really use a cup of hot tea. Could you take us to our table?" Aoshi cuts in quickly.

"S-Sure... right this way, masters," the waitress stammers, still completely dazed by Eliss’s beauty.

"You guys go on ahead. I need to make a quick stop at the restroom — I’ll join you in a minute," Ayane says calmly. Then she turns to Eliss with a polite, friendly smile. "Would you mind coming with me?"

Under Aoshi’s panicked gaze, Eliss accepts with an equally bright smile.

"So, what exactly did you want to talk to me about, Ayane Tsukiwana?" Eliss asks, her tone confident, almost mocking — like someone fully in control.

"Who are you?" Ayane asks coldly, her voice sharp and cutting.

"Eliss Narkhalis. I’m pretty sure Aoshi already introduced us, didn’t he?"

"Don’t play dumb. You know exactly what I mean."

"You want to know what kind of relationship I have with him? Well... I’d say that’s already been made pretty clear."

Eliss’s expression hardens — her eyes narrowing into sharp, gleaming slits.

"He’s my boyfriend. Mine, and no one else’s."

"That’s not what he says! Cleaning lady, rental girlfriend — and now coworker at the Moonlight Club too? If you were really his girlfriend, he wouldn’t be trying this hard to hide it! There’s something off about you — I can feel it! A week ago, you didn’t even exist in his life, and now suddenly you’re his girlfriend? Give me a break! It’s obvious you’re taking advantage of his broken heart, using his pain and loneliness to manipulate him! And right now, the wounds that bitch Miori Yukinaga left in his heart are still fresh and bleeding — that’s why he can’t see it! But I’m not stupid! I kept quiet last time, when he was with Miori, even though I knew something was wrong. And because I stayed silent, Aoshi ended up as the laughingstock of the entire university. I’m not making that mistake again! Aoshi is kind, selfless, always ready to help others — but the world is full of leeches who prey on people like him, drain them dry, and toss them aside when they’re done! I don’t know what you want from him, but I won’t let you use him! I won’t let anyone mess with his feelings ever again! Am I clear?!"

"I already know Aoshi has a kind heart — trust me, I don’t need you to remind me. And as for wanting something from him, you’re right about that too. I want his love. I’m hopelessly, irreversibly in love with him — a love so strong, so overwhelming, it’s become an addiction. Something you couldn’t even begin to understand."

"Addiction..." Ayane mutters under her breath. "That’s a disgusting word to use for love. First an exhibitionist trying to get back at her ex, and now an obsessive psycho. Great."

"If loving him, wanting him more than anything else in the world, makes my love ’twisted,’ then fine. Let’s say it is, if that’s what you need to hear. Oh, Ayane Tsukiwana... why hide behind such ridiculous accusations, just because you can’t face the truth?"

"T-The truth...?"

"The real reason you dragged me here to warn me about Aoshi... is because you’re in love with him too. Isn’t that right?"

Ayane goes still. Her body stiffens, her face flushing bright red.

"I-I... in love with Aoshi? D-Don’t be ridiculous!"

"I realized it the moment I saw you two together for the first time. The way you look at him made it obvious — and now I’ve got confirmation. You’re in love with him. That’s why you can’t stand seeing me anywhere near him. But tell me, Ayane... what really bothers you? That Aoshi moved on so quickly after his last breakup... or that he chose me?"

A sly smile curls on Eliss’s lips.

"It’s obvious I’m way above the usual standards of beauty — but if I were just some ordinary girl, would you still be this shaken?"

"I-I don’t see what that has to do with your so-called relationship with Aoshi..." Ayane mutters, lowering her gaze, her voice faltering.

"It has everything to do with it! You think I’m deceiving him only because, in your eyes, there’s an impossible gap between someone like me and someone like him, right? That’s where all your suspicions come from! You’re ridiculous... you accuse me of stepping all over Aoshi’s feelings, when you’re the one who thinks he’s not good enough for a girl like me. What do you think he’d say if he knew his ’best friend’ sees him that way? And you call that love? Pathetic."

Ayane stands frozen, her eyes wide and empty, her breath caught in her throat. And then... a single drop falls onto the tiled floor.

A tear.

"I... I’m such an idiot..." Ayane sobs. "You’re right... I’m in love with Aoshi. It’s crazy how you figured it out in just a few days, while he didn’t notice in all these years... but I guess we girls are always quicker with these things. I’ve loved him for so long — too long — and still, I never found the courage to confess. I don’t even know why. Maybe I was afraid he wouldn’t feel the same, that I’d ruin our friendship. I didn’t want to admit that you managed, in an instant, to do what I couldn’t do in years. I had all the time in the world, but I hesitated, telling myself Aoshi wasn’t the type to chase after girls. But it looks like that train has already passed... and my selfishness just can’t accept it. Eliss... I still don’t fully understand it, but it really seems like you love him deeply. So please — from one woman to another — don’t make him suffer. Please..."

Ayane’s tears don’t stop. Her eyes feel so heavy she can’t even lift them from the floor. Then... a warm, gentle embrace. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

Eliss wraps her arms around her — firm, yet gentle. Ayane stiffens for a moment, then slowly hugs her back. They stay like that in silence for what feels like forever.

"I promise," Eliss whispers softly. "Aoshi will never shed a single tear because of me."

Eliss’s honesty won’t let her say something like "Don’t worry, I’ll never leave him." She knows that one day, all of this will come to an end. One day she’ll return to Elyndra and disappear from Aoshi’s life forever — and he knows it too. But just like she promised Ayane, she has no intention of making him suffer.

"Aoshi and Takuma will start worrying if we stay here too long..." Ayane says, wiping her tears. Then she takes Eliss’s hand and smiles — this time, a genuine one. "Come on, the guys are probably waiting to order."

Eliss tightens her grip, gently intertwining her fingers with hers, and nods with a bright, sincere smile.