Yukino's invitation came out of nowhere.
Not only did it catch Shizuka off guard, but even Haru hadn't seen it coming.
But having seen the way those two had coordinated just moments before, he quickly pieced it together.
It was obvious—Shizuka had just suffered yet another matchmaking failure right at the start of the New Year. Judging by her mood since they met, her emotional state was clearly unstable.
Yukino knew her well. Now that she'd figured out the cause, there was no way she'd just sit back and do nothing.
Haru cooperated immediately and reached out a hand toward Shizuka.
"O believer in the light, would you like to follow me, the great Ultraman Zero?"
Shizuka gave a small laugh and smacked his arm away. "Don't make me laugh. If you really want to invite me over, at least take off that suit first. Trying to talk to you while you're wearing Zero's face is just... too much."
"Hey! That's discrimination against Ultraman! Don't tell me you're a hardcore Kamen Rider fan?"
"You're one to talk, throwing labels like that! Since when did liking Ultraman mean I can't support Kamen Rider too?"
Haru folded his arms again. Because of the suit's poor visibility, he had to tilt his chin up to see them clearly. "Ah, I see. So you're a believer in love for all. A true pacifist."
The way he puffed his chest out in that "noble" Ultraman pose made Shizuka laugh even harder.
Even Yukino tilted her head, puzzled by his stance. "Wait… are you seriously in character right now?"
"No," Haru sighed helplessly. "The visibility in this suit is so terrible, I literally have to keep my chin up to see anything."
"Oh?" Yukino's interest was piqued.
She'd been more focused on snapping pictures and videos ever since Haru first wore the suit—completely uninterested in how the suit itself worked. But now, seeing him stand like a real hero on TV, and hearing that explanation, her curiosity began to stir.
Shizuka leaned in too. With one taller and one shorter, the two women loomed in close.
Unlike the more refined Yukino, who simply observed with her eyes, Shizuka didn't hesitate to go hands-on.
She gently touched the mask, fingers brushing over Zero's face. "Wow, the field of vision is really this narrow? Just down at the bottom of the eyes?"
Yukino noticed it too.
But what caught her attention even more was something else.
"Amamiya, when the eye lights are on like that, does it affect your vision?"
"Definitely. If you two take even a few steps back, I can't see a thing. Here, let me turn them off."
As he spoke, Haru reached up and turned off the glowing eyes.
Shizuka let out a low whistle. "Those suit actors must have it tough. Performing all those action scenes with such limited vision... it's amazing."
Yukino nodded in agreement.
Thanks to Haru's silly interruptions, Hiratsuka's mood had improved considerably.
She wasn't oblivious—Shizuka had always been sensitive and warmhearted. She knew full well that Haru and Yukino were worried about her. They were afraid she might do something drastic out of frustration.
She had intended to keep her failed date a secret, but those two younger friends had already seen through her and were now showing their concern in the most thoughtful way.
Her heart felt genuinely touched.
And so, she didn't turn down Yukino's invitation. She agreed to head back with them.
"There's a spare room at Haru's place," Yukino offered warmly, speaking with a gentle grace that only showed around people she trusted. "You can take it easy tonight. If you get tired from playing, just crash right there."
Shizuka smiled sincerely. "Well then, I'll gladly impose for tonight."
Seeing her smile, Haru finally relaxed.
As usual, he tried to sneak Yukino a triumphant look, wanting to show off his contribution.
But unfortunately, he was still in the suit. Tilting his head to see and raising his chin, he ended up looking ridiculous again.
Yukino stifled a laugh. "If you've got something to say, wait until we get home and you're out of that suit. I just can't have a serious conversation with Ultraman staring at me."
Shizuka cracked up beside her. "Right? I felt the same. Every time he looks at us, he has to tilt his chin. Anyone watching would think he's striking a pose!"
Haru: "..."
Alright, fine. This heroic, handsome Zero suit… completely wasted on these two.
I won't forget this injustice.
On the way back, perhaps because her mood had truly lifted, Shizuka splurged at the shops—buying snacks, treats, and even grabbing three cans of beer from the convenience store.
Even Yukino, who usually avoided alcohol and disliked the smell, graciously allowed it this time.
Recalling their last hot springs trip, where Shizuka got tipsy after just a few drinks, Haru couldn't help but voice his concern.
"Don't overdo it, Sensei."
Shizuka blushed at the memory and tried to act cool. "Relax. I'm an adult. I can hold my liquor."
Haru wasn't convinced, but decided not to poke the hornet's nest.
Once they arrived, Yukino gave Shizuka a mini tour of the place, with the older woman following behind in curious delight.
Meanwhile, Haru returned to his room, peeled off the suit, cleaned it inside and out, and hung it carefully before pulling out his phone to message Furukawa.
Haru:Thanks again for the suit.
Furukawa replied almost instantly.
Furukawa:No problem. If you want to wear it again, no rush returning it.
Haru: I probably won't need it anytime soon. I'll drop it off at your place tomorrow.
Furukawa:Cool. Oh, and if you took any photos or videos today, send me some. I want them for my collection.
Haru:Sure thing.
When Haru came back out, Shizuka waved him over enthusiastically. "Come on, eat! I picked up a bunch of drinks too. Wasn't sure what flavors you liked, so I just grabbed a few."
He smiled and nodded, his eyes drifting toward Yukino, who was quietly stroking her orange cat. She met his gaze and offered a small, knowing look: She's still feeling a little down.
Got it.
Haru understood it was his time to step up again.
The three of them munched on snacks in front of the TV. The atmosphere was warm and lighthearted.
After a while, Haru got up to grab a bathrobe and toiletries for Shizuka.
As soon as he was out of earshot, Shizuka —now a little tipsy—leaned over to Yukino with a sly grin and lowered voice.
"So, do you two usually sleep in the same room?"
Yukino's face turned red, though her voice remained calm. "That's not something you should be concerned about, Sensei."
Shizuka giggled. "Oh? You're blushing and dodging the question."
Yukino sighed and looked over. "Rather than prying into my business, maybe you should be thinking about what you want to do next."
Shizuka chuckled again, catching the hint. "Wanna play cards?"
"Cards?"
"Yeah, nothing fancy. Just remembered I had a blast playing poker with some coworkers last time."
"Alright."
Yukino agreed without hesitation.
Once she'd made up her mind to help Shizuka shake off her gloom, she was determined to see it through.
So when Haru returned, she took the initiative to bring it up with him.
Naturally, he had no objections—after all, it was just a way to pass the time.
There were plenty of card games suitable for three players. At first, the plan was just to play casually, nothing serious.
But even with Haru deliberately going easy, Yukino managed to win four consecutive rounds in a row. Shizuka, being the consistent loser, quickly came to the conclusion that cards were not fun at all.
"…Let's just play something else," Haru said, struggling to hold in his laughter.
He couldn't help it—Shizuka's flustered yet resigned expression was just too funny.
If the mood were a little less delicate, he might've even taken a picture to commemorate the moment.
"I'm fine with that," Yukino calmly placed the cards down with the composed confidence of a reigning champion.
As Shizuka helped tidy up the deck, she let out a sigh. "If I'd known you were this good, I would've teamed up with Haru ahead of time."
Yukino remained unfazed. "How would that help? Were you planning to team up against me?"
Shizuka gave an awkward little laugh. "I mean, you're just so good at this. One-on-one, I never stood a chance."
Yukino coolly revealed the deeper truth. "Wouldn't matter. Even if you two ganged up on me, Haru would still throw the match for me. Either way, you'd lose."
Shizuka blinked and turned to Haru in disbelief. "Wait… so you really were going easy on her?"
"Yup," Haru replied without hesitation.
"Hey! That's a bit much, don't you think?"
"Which is exactly why I suggested we switch to a video game," Haru said, utterly unapologetic.
Helping Yukino win was only natural in his mind.
Shizuka gave in with a sigh—but perhaps spurred on by the alcohol, or maybe just swept up in the fun, she suddenly spoke with a childlike spark in her voice.
"So, what game are we playing next? I suggest we add penalties for losing. It'll make things more exciting!"
Haru and Yukino exchanged a glance—and responded in perfect unison.
"No problem."
Shizuka froze, startled by their eerie synchronicity. A bad feeling settled in her stomach. Why does it feel like I just signed up for torture?
And sure enough, her instincts were spot on.
Originally, Haru had planned to suggest a co-op survival game, something like Raft or Sons of the Forest, where the three of them could build and explore together.
But since Shizuka herself had requested punishments for losing… he decided to switch it up.
And so, they booted up Fall Guys.
Haru had both a desktop and a laptop at home, and since Yukino had moved in long-term, she'd brought her own laptop too. They had all the hardware they needed.
The game's adorable visuals and bouncy soundtrack quickly drew Shizuka and Yukino in.
But once they started playing in earnest, Yukino adapted to the controls in no time. Fueled by a competitive streak, she charged toward each finish line with focused determination.
Meanwhile…
"Haru! What the hell are you doing?! This is a party game, not a battle royale! You keep pushing me and blocking me—are you trying to win or not?!"
"Sensei, don't get worked up. Games are meant to be enjoyed with a smile."
"I CAN'T SMILE LIKE THIS!"
Between Haru's playful sabotage and Yukino's quiet efficiency, and with no cheaters showing up in their lobbies, Shizuka finally learned what it really meant to smile while gaming.
She sat in front of the monitor, her face flushed and she gnashed her teeth in anger.
And yet, round after round, even as Haru kept messing with her, Shizuka slowly realized something.
She was having fun.
She was laughing.
Somewhere along the way, she'd let go of the heavy weight in her chest. It had been a long time since she'd felt so light. So… at ease.
Her heart softened. Her eyes grew gentle.
She turned her head, about to thank the two seated beside her.
But before she could even open her mouth, Haru and Yukino once again spoke in sync—
"You lost. Time for your penalty."
Shizuka: "..."
Give me back my feelings, you two devils!