Chapter 34: Mysterious Descartes

♢♢♢

“Why?! Why?!”

Hamanami screams.

It’s a cloudy day, inside a local bus.

The bus winds through a twisting mountain road.

“What’s all the fuss about?”

“Of course I’m freaking out! I’m stuck in the middle of the super-unhealthy quartet! This bus is headed straight for Hell’s first stop!”

Inside the bus, Yanagi-senpai is reading a book in the frontmost seat. In the middle, Hayasaka-san and Tachibana-san sit side by side in a two-seater, and at the very back, it’s me and Hamanami.

“You’re the one who asked for this, Hamanami.”

“Yeah, but……”

Hamanami’s relative is struggling to sell a Western-style mansion in a vacation area, and her father, who deals in real estate as part of his business, consulted Yanagi-senpai. To proceed with the sale, photos of the mansion’s exterior and interior were needed, so Yanagi-senpai is heading there to take them, with Hamanami as the guide.

Since the vacation area has a tennis court, Yanagi-senpai invited Tachibana-san, and with the rule of going on dates as a group of four whenever possible, Hayasaka-san and I tagged along.

“Isn’t it fine? Hayasaka-san and Tachibana-san seem to be getting along. They were even holding hands on the train.”

“You don’t get it!”

Hamanami says.

“Girls don’t get all clingy when they’re actually close! That’s just them agreeing to act friendly on the surface while fighting behind the scenes!”

“Is that how it works? They’re eating snacks together and looking like they’re having fun right now.”

“Look closer! Hayasaka-senpai’s offering a chocolate bar with a smile, but she’s practically stabbing it into Tachibana-senpai’s cheek!”

I pretend not to see the two of them, forcing strained smiles as they push against each other.

Eventually, the bus arrives, and we get off, following Hamanami toward our destination. In summer, this place would be a dazzling, green retreat with sunlight filtering through the trees. But it’s winter now, the sky looks like it’s about to rain, and somewhere, a crow caws.

Passing through a path where trees form an arch, we reach the mansion atop a hill.

It’s made of brick, with a balcony, long horizontally, and triangular roofs on both sides.

“It kinda feels like the setting for a murder mystery, doesn’t it?”

Tachibana-san says, holding her hair against the wind.

“Hamanami, why did your relative decide to sell this mansion?”

“Because it’s haunted.”

Hamanami says with a distant look, showing me her phone screen without turning to me. It’s a website collecting creepy stories, and this mansion is featured. It lists tales of past owners meeting tragic ends and a servant who went mad.

Locally—

“It’s called the Haunted Mansion.”

♢♢♢

After placing our bags in the reception room, Yanagi-senpai heads outside to photograph the exterior before it rains. Hayasaka-san and Tachibana-san, still playing at being besties, hold hands and discuss the furniture in the room.

“Wanna do a little exploring?”

I leave the reception room with Hamanami.

The mansion’s interior is as elegant as its exterior. A lofty entrance hall, red carpeted floors, a grand dining room with a chandelier, and antique wooden furniture.

We enter one of the many guest rooms lining the long corridor.

“Feels like a hotel.”

“The electricity and water are fully functional, so it could open for business right away.”

There’s a large bed and a simple desk set.

Hamanami lets out a sigh.

“This mansion…… it definitely gives off bad vibes.”

“You can sense that kind of thing?”

“I’m pretty sensitive to spirits. It gets me into trouble a lot. Not just supernatural stuff—other messes too. You know what I mean.”

“Huh.”

“What’s with that nonchalant face? I’m talking about you guys!”

Don’t let the four of us blow up here, Hamanami says.

“Everyone’s following the rules and keeping things stable for now.”

“No, it’s not stable. They’re just bottling up stress. The rotation’s already broken because Tachibana-senpai decided from the start she wouldn’t be Yanagi-senpai’s girlfriend.”

She’s right. And Yanagi-senpai definitely knows it. Is he still trying to change her mind for the rest of the period?

“Could it be…… adding Hayasaka-san to the rotation was……”

“Yeah.”

When we talked in Miyuki-chan’s room, Tachibana-san said:

Get Hayasaka-san and Yanagi-kun together. If Hayasaka-san breaks, Shirou-kun will never be able to let her go.

Tachibana-san was only thinking about being with me. She wasn’t lying when she said she’d do anything for it.

Sorry for being so awful. Just for now. Once it’s all over, I won’t do this anymore.

That’s what Tachibana-san said, sticking close to me. When Miyuki-chan came back from the convenience store, she told her, “Go home.” Tachibana-san plans to properly play Yanagi-senpai’s girlfriend for the duration.

“……If things go as Tachibana-senpai plans, the four of us could end up in a peaceful arrangement.”

Hamanami says,

“It’s pretty close to the soft-landing plan Kirishima-senpai’s thinking of, isn’t it?”

Exactly. That’s because Tachibana-san is trying to fulfill my wish of not hurting anyone while still ending up with me.

“But if Hayasaka-senpai and Yanagi-senpai get together, can you really let Hayasaka-senpai go, Kirishima-senpai?”

“If it comes to that, I intend to……”

“It depends on what Hayasaka-senpai’s thinking. The two girls decided on the rotation together, right? What’s Hayasaka-senpai’s deal……”

That’s when it happens.

Hamanami peers at my face with a puzzled expression.

“Senpai, what have you been doing this whole time?”

“What? Just looking for something that feels right around my neck. The extension cord was no good at all…… Oh, this towel’s nice. It fits perfectly.”

I wrap the towel around my neck, tighten it, and pull it from behind.

“Yeah, this feels great.”

“Kirishima-senpai……”

Hamanami looks at me with an indescribable expression.

“According to the internet, the second owner of this mansion hanged themselves with a towel.”

“…………”

“In a second-floor guest room with a view of a keyaki tree from the window.”

Looking out the window, I see a splendid keyaki tree.

“……Let’s get out of here.”

“We need to leave this room now.”

The moment we step into the corridor—

A thunderclap loud enough to shake my insides engulfs the entire mansion.

The lightbulbs flicker. It seems lightning struck nearby.

“Hamanami, you okay?”

I ask, but Hamanami doesn’t answer. She’s staring fixedly at one point.

At the end of her gaze, down the long, dim corridor—

Two maids stand there.

Their faces pale and expressionless, staring at us.

“H-Hieee~!!”

“Awa-wa-wa-wa-wa-wa-wa!”

Hamanami tries to use me as a shield, while I try to push her to the front, and we end up grappling, stumbling as we try to escape.

“Kirishima-senpai, be my sacrifice!”

“No, you do it, Hamanami!”

The lights dim, and each time they flicker back on, the maids are closer.

It almost looks like a sea of blood is surging toward us from behind them.

“Waa~aah!!”

“Gyaa~aah!!”

♢♢♢

“You didn’t have to get that scared.”

Hayasaka-san, dressed as a maid, clings to my arm.

We’re wandering the first floor of the mansion. We’ve split up to take interior photos. Tachibana-san and Yanagi-senpai are on the second floor, while Hamanami, who nearly fainted, is waiting in the reception room.

“I’m not scared now, but the atmosphere back then was intense.”

Both of their eyes were vacant, and when they spoke, their voices overlapped, like twins. They found the maid outfits in a wardrobe and talked about how cute they were, but neither Hayasaka-san nor Tachibana-san remembers changing into them.

“So? Am I cute now?”

“Yeah, you look great.”

“Ehehe~ Master~ Please order me to do anything~”

Hayasaka-san, with zero intention of actually serving as a maid, clings to me selfishly.

“It’s been a while, you know.”

I haven’t seen Hayasaka-san much lately. She got suspended after someone snitched about her part-time job. Her mom was furious and grounded her.

“You doing okay?”

“Yeah. I’ve been watching movies and videos nonstop.”

“School starts next week. You gonna be okay?”

During art class, Hayasaka-san kissed me in front of everyone and even said she wanted to “do it.” The sensational impact has faded a bit during her suspension, but things won’t go back to normal.

“I don’t care.”

Hayasaka-san says with a straight face.

“As long as I have Kirishima-kun, I’m fine no matter what happens.”

She’d rather be with the person she loves, even if everyone hates her, than play the perfect doll and not be with him.

“Oh, I got a message.”

Hayasaka-san shows me her phone. It’s a selfie of Yanagi-senpai with his arm around maid-dressed Tachibana-san’s shoulder. To prove they’re not doing anything when alone, they send photos regularly, sticking to the rules. But the arm around her feels provocative.

Tachibana-san, serious about being his girlfriend, leans her head on him properly.

“Are they really not doing anything? They could kiss, do more, and then just send a normal photo, right?”

“No, they’re probably following the rules……”

“Haha, you’re too down, Kirishima-kun!”

This feels kinda nostalgic, Hayasaka-san says.

“But you’ve got me now, so don’t make that face.”

“Can I ask you something?”

“What?”

“Why did you agree to the rotation, Hayasaka-san?”

When I ask, she answers, “Because I trust Kirishima-kun.”

“I don’t even know what’s going on anymore.”

Hayasaka-san says with a smile.

“The rotation thing? Tachibana-san suggested it, and I just nodded along. I tried to think about it, you know? Like, Yanagi-kun was my number one at first. But now, I really don’t know. I messed up at school, got called ‘lewd H-san’ all over the forums, got suspended, made my mom cry. All I have left is Kirishima-kun, but as long as I have you, I’m okay. Sometimes my brain works, but, uh, what am I even saying……”

Her eyes go vacant for a moment, but she quickly smiles again.

“Anyway, I trust Kirishima-kun, so it’s fine! Even if I’m Yanagi-kun’s girlfriend, it’s okay as long as you’re there! If something’s wrong, you’ll tell me, right? I just have to listen to you!”

With that, Hayasaka-san clings to me like a cat, being all affectionate.

“Ugh, if we were staying over, I could cuddle with you in this outfit all night.”

“There’s a hugging-only rule, though.”

“It’s not my fault if something touches when I hug you!”

Hayasaka-san says innocently.

Her wish comes true.

After finishing the interior photos, thunder roars again, and it starts pouring. Looking outside, it’s a misty deluge—a massive storm.

“The trains and buses are all stopped……”

Back in the reception room, Hamanami glares at her phone. Yanagi-senpai and Tachibana-san return as well.

“It looks like services won’t resume until tomorrow.”

Staying over isn’t an issue. Electricity and water are working, and there are beds, albeit a bit dusty. The only thing left—

“What about food? We could probably survive a day without eating.”

Yanagi-senpai says, but Hayasaka-san pulls snacks from her bag. “It’s fine!” From standard treats like Pocky and Happy Turn to more filling regional sweets like Torimon and Ajari Mochi, she’s got it all.

“You carry all that around normally?”

I ask, and Hayasaka-san nods enthusiastically. “Yup!”

“…………”

“No snacks for you, Kirishima-kun.”

“I didn’t even say anything!”

I didn’t even mention gaining weight……

Anyway, we’re set to spend the night. It doesn’t seem like a big deal at first, but a dangerous twist comes a few hours later.

The front door’s hinges are loose, rattling in the storm, threatening to burst open. We’re all working to reinforce it when—

“I have a suggestion—”

Yanagi-senpai says, wrapping a chain from the storage room around the doorknob.

“Senpai, do you really need to put a padlock on the chain too?”

I say.

“It feels less like keeping the door from opening and more like trapping the people inside……”

“Yeah, but isn’t that how it’s supposed to be?”

Yanagi-senpai’s eyes seem somehow vacant.

“That’s how it’s supposed to be.”

Hayasaka-san and Tachibana-san, both in maid outfits, say in unison. They’re holding hands again, looking like twins, their eyes devoid of light.

“Snap out of it!!”

Hamanami slaps Yanagi-senpai’s cheek and shakes Hayasaka-san and Tachibana-san by the shoulders.

“You’re all possessed by something bad!”

According to the internet, there was a murder in this mansion, and the culprit sealed the entrance with a chain and padlock to prevent the guests from escaping.

“Hah!”

Rationality returns to Yanagi-senpai’s eyes. But then—

“About that suggestion I mentioned earlier—”

Yanagi-senpai says, furrowing his brow.

“I know I brought it up, but it’s honestly pretty tough. Pursuing a girl who doesn’t even like me.”

He knew how Tachibana-san felt. Even when they went on dates or hugged, he could tell it was all out of obligation, which made it even harder for him.

“I’m sorry……”

Tachibana-san says apologetically.

“It’s not your fault, Hikari-chan. I’m the one pushing too hard. But I’m just a weak guy, and on a stormy night like this, I want to feel someone’s affection.”

His gaze lands on Hayasaka-san. He already knows she used to like him the most.

Tachibana-san’s superficial kindness must have really gotten to him.

With a pained expression, hand on his forehead, he blurts out:

I’m a weak guy, desperate for someone to love me, so—

To move the rotation forward—

“Just for one night, how about we swap partners?”

♢♢♢

That night, I’m lying in a guest room bed, holding Tachibana-san.

The room is dimly lit, with candlelight flickering on a candelabra. A lightning strike caused a power outage, so we’re using matches, candles, and candelabras found in the storage room.

The mansion feels like an otherworldly realm, cut off from the mundane world.

And maybe it’s the atmosphere of this strange place that got to us.

Swap partners?

Yanagi-senpai’s suggestion was accepted without hesitation. Tachibana-san and Hayasaka-san said in unison, “Sure.” their eyes vacant, still holding hands.

“This is scary! Scarier than any supernatural stuff! You’re just hurting each other!”

Hamanami screamed.

After that, since we’re lovers, it was suggested that spending the night together might mean sharing a bed. So we went to separate guest rooms, and now I’m holding Tachibana-san, still in her maid outfit, in bed.

We haven’t showered. The hot water wasn’t working.

Tachibana-san was embarrassed at first about not showering, but once we got into bed, she clung to me, saying, “Shirou-kun…… Shirou-kun……” like a whimpering puppy.

“This time, I’ll follow the rules properly.”

She says this, breathing warm, moist breaths, looking at me with seductive eyes, occasionally pressing her lower body against me as if she can’t hold back.

In manga, girls might press their chests against you. But real affection from a girl is far more raw.

“You’re the only one I’d do this with, Shirou-kun.”

Tachibana-san says.

“Earlier, Yanagi-kun complimented my maid outfit and hugged me over and over. He held me so tight it felt like my spine would snap, cradled my head, and kept whispering in my ear, ‘I love you, I love you, please look at me.’ Since I’m his girlfriend, I put my arms around his back.”

Reflexively, I hug Tachibana-san tightly, arching her back, cradling her head, and whispering, “I love you, I love you.” in her ear.

“I…… want to be your girlfriend forever, Shirou-kun.”

She lifts her chin but quickly lowers her face. Instead of kissing, she nibbles on my shirt repeatedly.

On this stormy night, in this dimly lit mansion, we hold each other as if melting together.

I want to go further with Tachibana-san. But I can’t.

On the table in front of the bed, there’s a candelabra and a phone propped up.

The phone screen shows Hayasaka-san, being held from behind by Yanagi-senpai in bed. Our eyes meet through the screen, and she smiles brightly.

That’s right.

Physical contact is limited to hugging. To ensure the rule is followed, we’re live-streaming our sleeping arrangements to each other.

Since Yanagi-senpai is holding Hayasaka-san from behind, both of them are facing the camera.

Tachibana-san and I are hugging, so only I’m looking at the camera. That’s the situation.

The audio is muted, so I can’t hear what they’re saying.

But Hayasaka-san and Yanagi-senpai look very close.

Since Hayasaka-san originally liked him the most, it’s more likely to work out with him than with Tachibana-san. Yanagi-senpai seems to sense that, looking happier than he did with Tachibana-san.

Someone you love versus someone who loves you.

Yanagi-senpai’s dilemma is probably one many people face. But I don’t have the mental space to think about it.

Pathetically, even with a beautiful, devoted girl in my arms who loves every inch of me, I’m jealous of what’s happening on the phone screen.

The warm, moist, soft sensation of Hayasaka-san’s body.

Yanagi-senpai is feeling that right now.

It’s a situation that could drive me insane.

To suppress the urge to do something with Tachibana-san, I look away, only to see Hayasaka-san flirting with Yanagi-senpai.

Meanwhile, Yanagi-senpai, holding Hayasaka-san, watches Tachibana-san—who will never love him—being affectionate with me.

Clearly, we’re testing our own emotions.

After about two hours, I reach my limit.

Tachibana-san is moving her body too instinctively. Hidden by the bedcovers, she’s clamping my thigh between her legs, and even through my pants, I can feel the heat and wetness. She subtly moves her hips, tugging at my sleeve with her fingers as if begging.

Having already crossed that line once, the barriers between us are lower.

I consider just going for it. It might force our four-way relationship to land somewhere coherent.

But letting Hayasaka-san and Yanagi-senpai see me and Tachibana-san like that would be too cruel. It’d be like losing myself completely, choosing Tachibana-san out of desperation, and destroying everything around me.

The fact that I’m even considering such an option shows how messed up this situation is.

“I’m gonna get some water.”

I say, leaving the room.

Holding the candelabra, I walk down the corridor to the great hall to drink from a water pitcher. But Hamanami is already there.

“Can’t sleep. You too, Kirishima-senpai?”

“Yeah, with a situation like that.”

“You don’t have to tell me anything.”

“Over the camera—”

“Ahh~! Ahh~! Ahh~! Ahh~!”

As usual, I spill everything to Hamanami. She yells, “I don’t want to hear it! It’s too scary!” but then calms down and says:

“Well, escaping here was the right move. Those three have been acting weird since we got to this mansion.”

“Right?”

“Just chat here and wait out the night.”

But the movie is heading toward its end credits.

First, Tachibana-san comes to the great hall, rubbing her eyes.

“I’m lonely without Shirou-kun……”

She clings to me, half-asleep.

“Tachibana-senpai’s so cute when she’s like this.”

Hamanami pats Tachibana-san’s head.

As we lounge on the sofa, Hayasaka-san and Yanagi-senpai show up too. They couldn’t sleep either.

So, the five of us end up spending the night in the great hall. But—

It’s when the pillar clock chimes midnight.

“Should we play a game to pass the time?”

Yanagi-senpai suggests. No one brought cards, but we might find board games like chess or Othello in the mansion.

But before that, he finds it.

“What’s this?”

On the table in the middle of the sofa set, next to the candelabra, is a folded piece of loose-leaf paper.

“It wasn’t there before—”

He picks it up. I recognize it. It was supposed to be in my coat pocket. Why is it out here?

“No, you can’t open that!”

But he unfolds the paper.

“True Love Game?”

A love game included in the True Love Notebook, given to me by Kunimi-san at the open campus.

And I heard it’s specifically designed for a four-way relationship like ours.

“Let’s play it.”

“Wait, hold on!”

This isn’t something you just decide to play on a whim.

Give-Up Game

That’s the name written on the paper.

The rules are simple: the four people in a four-way relationship form male-female pairs and sit facing each other. Each couple mirrors the other’s actions exactly.

In our case, I’m paired with Tachibana-san, and Yanagi-senpai with Hayasaka-san.

If Tachibana-san and I kiss, Yanagi-senpai and Hayasaka-san have to kiss too.

“This is pretty intense, right? You have to do whatever the other pair does, and there’s a note saying the actions are completely unrestricted.”

The hugging-only rule is obviously void.

“But you can ‘give up,’ right?”

Exactly.

If Hayasaka-san and Yanagi-senpai are about to kiss, I can say, “Stop!” and give up, ending the game.

But the penalty is that I can never pursue Tachibana-san again and must only pursue Hayasaka-san.

The logic is this:

If you have Girl A and truly love her, you shouldn’t care about other girls. If you stop Girl B from kissing another guy despite being able to kiss Girl A, it means you prioritize Girl B over Girl A. Thus, in a four-way relationship, you’re deemed to have chosen Girl B.

Conversely, if Yanagi-senpai gives up to stop me and Tachibana-san from kissing, he’s neglecting Hayasaka-san, who’s with him, and is barred from pursuing her.

“Are we seriously doing this? The actions will escalate fast.”

“Kirishima, don’t you think we’re at our limit?”

Yanagi-senpai says with an unusually serious expression.

“I know my feelings are a mess. This game could simplify our relationship a lot.”

He’s right. This game forces you to confront your true feelings externally. Which girl do you prioritize? And—

“If no one gives up, the pairings are set, right?”

Exactly.

Since the game has no limits, it goes all the way. If no one gives up, you end up fully committing to the partner you’re with, while allowing the other girl to do the same with the other guy.

So, if no one gives up, Tachibana-san and I, and Yanagi-senpai and Hayasaka-san, are locked in as couples.

“Let’s ban me and Hayasaka-san from giving up.”

Tachibana-san says. She doesn’t need to give up since she wants Yanagi-senpai and Hayasaka-san to end up together, so she has no reason to stop them, no matter how close they get. But she’s worried Hayasaka-san might immediately give up, abandoning Yanagi-senpai, who’s with her.

“That’s fine, right, Hayasaka-san?”

“Sure.”

Hayasaka-san smiles and agrees, finalizing the rules for the Give-Up Game.

It’s completely a chicken race between me and Yanagi-senpai.

If I give up, I can only pursue Hayasaka-san.

If Yanagi-senpai gives up, he can only pursue Tachibana-san.

If neither of us gives up, the current pairings are locked in.

The air in the room grows tense as we approach this final showdown.

“—I’m gonna wash my face.”

Yanagi-senpai leaves the great hall with a solemn expression. Tachibana-san, noticing the empty water pitcher, picks it up with both hands and heads to the kitchen.

“Was that okay?”

I ask Hayasaka-san. I got jealous watching her sleep with Yanagi-senpai.

If Hayasaka-san still loves Yanagi-senpai the most, I have to watch them do whatever without giving up. But—

“It’s fine.”

Hayasaka-san says with her usual bright expression.

“I just think of Yanagi-kun as Kirishima-kun. That makes it okay.”

“Wait, what does that……”

“Huh? Did you think I still liked Yanagi-kun? Come on, that’s ancient history!”

I said Kirishima-kun’s my number one, didn’t I? Hayasaka-san says, taking advantage of Yanagi-senpai and Tachibana-san’s absence to hug me tightly.

“If I’m your number one, don’t you want to avoid this game?”

“Yeah, I don’t want to play. But you want to hurt me again, right, Kirishima-kun? Let another guy touch me, show off flirting with another girl, make me miserable and broken. That’s fine, hurt me as much as you want. But in the end, you’ll be kind to me, right? Ehehe, I’ll probably end up crazily in love with you again.”

I trust Kirishima-kun, Hayasaka-san says.

“In the end, you’ll give up, right? You won’t be able to stand watching me and Yanagi-kun get close and will stop it. That means you’ll have to ditch Tachibana-san, so it’ll be a complete resolution. But poor Tachibana-san~ She got her hopes up, used just for physical stuff, then tossed aside. I’ll have to comfort her with lots of snacks later~”

“……Hayasaka-san, this is hypothetical, but if I didn’t choose you—”

“Huh? No way that’d happen. It’s you, Kirishima-kun. You’re always on my side. You’re all I have left. But if, somehow, you didn’t choose me—”

Her eyes go vacant.

“I’d give myself to whoever wants me. Anyone at all. Because I’d be worthless. If I can’t be by your side, I don’t want myself. So I’d throw myself away.”

“…………”

Hamanami, listening nearby, can’t take it anymore and shouts:

“Stop it~!! Don’t play that game~!!”

But at this point, there’s no stopping. Yanagi-senpai and Tachibana-san return.

In the reception room, around the sofa set with flickering candlelight, Tachibana-san and I face Yanagi-senpai and Hayasaka-san. Hamanami bolts.

“Shall we start?”

Yanagi-senpai says, and the three of us nod.

The Give-Up Game.

That’s how it came to this.