Chapter 3: Chapter 3 - School Rumors Explode

The moment Kuro Kurogane opened his eyes, he realised that he had developed a new understanding about himself:

The twins had already taken years off of his life

When Kuro yanked open his eyes, the first thing he noticed was Aoi, who stood next to him staring unblinkingly into his eyes.

"Why are you here?"

"You were talking in your sleep."

"And how is that relevant to my question?"

"You said, five more minutes."

"That’s not uncommon."

Aoi thought about his response, then nodded her head.

"I taped you."

"Why?!"

Kuro was in shock when another loud, off-balance voice opened the same door that Aoi had opened moments earlier.

"Kuro-kun! Wake up already!" Akari said, before leaping onto the bed, essentially landing on Kuro.

"KGH—"

"Breakfast is ready!"

"You’re crushing my innards..."

"Good morning to you too."

Kuro stared at the ceiling blankly.

This was hell.

Real hell.

—

Somehow, after ten minutes of living through the morning’s chaos, breakfast morphed into a different level of hell.

Shizuka sang in a cheerful tone while cooking.

Daichi stood back, holding onto the back of his neck and looking on with a ridiculous sense of pride about the complete chaos that was taking place.

"Having child(ren) with you at the table is amazing!"

Kuro drank his miso soup silently.

Akari suddenly put a piece of toast in his mouth.

"Open wide~"

"I have hands that can do that."

"But it is more romantic that way."

"WHY would that be romantic?!"

Aoi slowly shifted the cup of tea in front of Kuro to avoid Akari spilling juice all over it again. "Eat slower." "You’re just like my mom." Aoi stopped. "Uh, technically we’re family now." Kuro nearly choked on his rice. Daichi laughed loud. Shizuka smiled kindly. Kuro was the only one in pain.

Then came the real calamity. The walk to school. Kuro was trying to leave early (emphasis on trying) while wearing his head phones. "Wait for us!" Akari ran towards him and desperately trying to fix her bow. Aoi was following behind quietly carrying her book bag. Kuro frowned. "Why are you guys coming with me?" Akari looked confused. "Because we always walk together". "That was before." "Before what?" "Before this got weird". Akari smirked. "Kuro has been embarrassed?" "No, because I believe in survival". However, survival was no longer an option.

When they walked through the gates of the school, everybody saw them. Three students walking from the same way took nothing strange. Then Akari reached over and grabbed Kuro’s arm and Aoi pulled his collar straight. All the students around them stopped. One boy dropped his bag. One girl whispered, "Did they just all come together?" Another student gasped. "WAIT". "No way... Kuro lives with the Tachibana twins!?!". Kuro felt immediate danger. Akari blinked at him innocently. "Huh?"

A large amount of disorder ensued.

By lunchtime, the gossip had spun completely out of control.

Kuro sat quietly at his desk as many of his classmates attempted to sneak glances at him.

"He must be very popular with the girls..."

"I thought he was just some lame nerd..."

"I can’t believe he lives with two girls..."

"They must be his girlfriends..."

Kuro would have liked to sue this society.

In contrast, Akari sits next to him, munching away happily, acting as if nothing has happened.

On the other side of the room, Aoi sits quietly reading a book at her desk next to the window.

Neither seems to care that the room has become charged with tension.

Haruto suddenly slams both of his hands down onto Kuro’s desk with force.

"You traitor."

"Um...What?"

"You kept this from me."

"I didn’t keep anything from you."

"You’re literally living out the dream of every rom-com hero."

Kuro looks like he’s either going to pass out from exhaustion, or roll his eyes.

"This isn’t a dream."

"It’s your lack of imagination."

"I wish you would go back to ignoring me."

Haruto wipes fake tears from his eyes.

"Our boy is popular..."

"I am not."

The classroom door opens again and in walks a girl Kuro has never really talked to before.

Mina Fujikawa.

A Gyaru from 2-B who is pretty famous.

Blonde hair, oversized cardigan, and a look of confidence.

The type of girl Kuro needs to try to avoid at all costs.

Mina walks over and stands at Kuro’s desk.

The classroom was suddenly quiet again.

"Why is Fujikawa-san here?"

Mina leaned across Kuro’s desk and grinned teasingly at him.

"So you’re the famous Kuro-kun!"

"Famous?"

"Yeah! The guy who has two beauties living with him secretly."

Kuro put his head in his hands.

"I’m leaving."

Mina chuckled.

"You’re such a spoil-sport. I just wanted to see your face."

Akari moved in between them, still grinning.

And her grin was the brightest grin ever.

"But Kuro-kun is shy around strangers."

Mina tilted her head and teased Akari,

"Ohhhh? Are you being protective?"

Akari’s smile twitched.

"I see a dangerous sign."

Meanwhile, Aoi calmly opened a little notebook.

Kuro saw some writing on the inside,

With the following at the top of the page:

Potential Threats

Underneath this was:

Mina Fujikawa.

Kuro nearly stopped breathing.

"Aoi."

"Yes?"

"What is that notebook."

"Nothing special."

"That sounds like it is very special."

Mina suddenly leaned over to Kuro.

"What kind of girls do you like?"

"I don’t talk about that kind of stuff."

"Cold!"

She poked him in the cheek.

That was a big mistake.

Akari accidentally smashed her juice box.

CRACK!

Orange juice flew everywhere — all over the desk.

Silence fell over the whole classroom.

Akari continued to smile nicely.

"Oops."

Everyone moved away from Kuro and Akari in fear.

Even Mina was scared for half a second!

Aoi was sitting quietly and writing in her notebook.

Next to Mina’s name, she had written.

Physical contact initiated.

Kuro’s mouth dropped in horror.

"Aoi..."

"Yes?"

"You are absolutely terrifying."

"Thank you."

That was not a compliment.

The end of the school day did not help. Somehow, the rumors had grown worse since the beginning of the day.

Now the girls all believed:

Kuro has two girlfriends.

The twins fight over Kuro every day.

Mina is now competing against the twins.

Kuro has extensive experience with women.

None of these are true.

Kuro was so tired as he walked home.

As Kuro was walking home, Akari was walking cheerfully next to him.

Aoi was walking quietly behind them.

Akari suddenly asked, "Kuro-kun."

"...What."

"If another girl wanted to be your girl..."

She so cheerful but her tone somehow became serious.

"...What would you do?"

"Probably tell her no."

Akari blinked.

"Why?"

"...Too much trouble."

Wicked glee radiated from both sets of twins as they suddenly stopped walking.

Then they smiled at Kuro.

For some reason, the smiles were more frightening than if they had become angry.