Chapter Text
All in all, it was a pretty good birthday, Anzu reflected as she changed into the outfit Saki picked out for her. Evidently Riri was busy helping Kazuki and Junta set up a surprise they had planned for her. Riri excluded, they weren’t really into surprises, so that alone was enough to pique Anzu’s curiosity. And then there was Saki’s outfit choice. Nobody would tell her where she was going, but Saki was clearly in on the secret. Her sweet but devious friend had laid out a cotton dress in a rich forest green that cinched at her waist and grazed the bottoms of her thighs. Simple and comfortable enough, but still more sophisticated than anything Anzu would’ve come up with.
Saki opened the door and ducked back into Anzu’s room as she fastened the zipper (miraculously without snagging any of her hair in it). “Oh, I love it!” Saki gushed. “That color looks amazing with your hair.”
“Aww, thanks!” said Anzu, examining herself in the mirror. She was finally getting used to her friends dressing her. And even she could admit she liked how soft and flowy the dress felt as she swished her hips back and forth.
“Let me brush your hair,” said Saki, patting a spot on the bed that Anzu gladly took. “I know you’re hopeless on your own when it comes to your hair.”
Anzu chuckled, combing aimlessly at the renegade flyaways. “Yeah, you got me there.” She leaned back, supporting her weight on her hands as she let her friend work. “So, I take it you’re not going to give me any hints about what the boys have planned?”
“Nope,” Saki giggled. “You’re just going to have to wait and find out.”
“Meanie,” Anzu huffed. “Honestly, you’re worse than Riri right now.”
“Don’t say that,” she said, shades of laughter still tickling her voice even as she worked through a particularly stubborn knot. “You know none of us like to watch you suffer as much as Riri does.”
“True,” said Anzu. “That devil probably would’ve ripped off my head trying to brush my hair. Thanks for doing that by the way.”
“Of course!” Saki reached her arms around Anzu’s shoulders to sneak a quick hug. “Can’t have you going out for your big birthday surprise with a bird’s nest on your head.”
Anzu laughed with her friend and endured her pulling until her fingers flowed smoothly through her fiery mane. Saki secured it in a long braid and ushered Anzu to the mirror, straining to contain her excitement. “I’m so happy for you,” she said, draping herself over Anzu for another hug and a playful kiss on the cheek. “I love you, Anzu. Don’t forget that you mean the world to me. To all of us.”
“What are they planning, a funeral?” said Anzu. She ran her hands along the soft fabric of her skirt, enjoying the buttery texture. “Oh! I almost forgot!” She rummaged through a small box on her dresser and pulled out the beaded cat bracelet Kazuki had bought for her on their first trip to the mall together. She slipped it onto her wrist and smiled. “There, now I’m ready!”
Saki waved Anzu out the door before she could ask where she was going. It was a perfect late afternoon in April. The sun was just beginning its slow descent to the horizon. The mild breeze carried the scent of cherry blossoms just coming into bloom. Anzu took a moment to breathe it all in.
Yeah, it was a good day.
She’d woken up to Kazuki’s homemade chocolate crepes, played Cat Ranger with Junta, and spent a few hours with Saki looking at apartments. Her mom had even sent her a stuffed cat that looked so much like Momohiki she’d burst into tears. And now she had no idea what waited for her. But if it had Saki this excited, she guessed it had to be good.
Before she could turn around to ask Saki where she was supposed to meet the others, a familiar black car pulled up to the curb in front of her.
The slate-tinted window slid down, revealing a casually aloof Hijiri. “I hear you have quite the surprise waiting for you,” he said, not bothering to look at Anzu. “I suppose I could spare a few minutes to give you a ride, not that I feel obligated because it’s your birthday.” As always, Hijiri had the hot and cold act down to an art.
“You’re too kind,” Anzu needled, opening the door to slide in next to him.
She was not expecting to slam face-first into Riri.
“I wanted a horse-drawn carriage, but Kazuki said no,” the girl-shaped wizard whined.
“Oh yes, your cousin insisted on joining us,” said Hijiri. “Rather forcefully, I might add.”
“I can’t even say I’m surprised,” said Anzu. She settled into her seat as Hijiri closed the door behind her. “Hi, Mr. Tsuchiya!” she waved cheerfully to the driver.
“A pleasure to see you again, Miss Hoshino,” said Tsuchiya, pulling the car onto the road toward their mystery destination.
“So, is anyone going to tell me where we’re headed?” Anzu asked.
“Not a chance!” Riri exclaimed in delight. “That’s the whole point of it being a surprise.” The strange glint in the wizard’s eye made Anzu suspicious. “Junta and Kazuki planned the whole thing, so even I don’t have all the details.”
“Really?” asked Anzu. “I’d never imagine them working together on something like this. At least, not without help from you or Saki.”
“Oh, we played our parts. But your two handsome housemates were the driving force behind everything.”
“Okay, now I’m dying to know what’s going on. Mr. Tsuchiya, where are you taking me?”
“Sorry, Miss Hoshino. Your cousin has sworn me to secrecy.”
“Then drive faster before the suspense stabs me in the gut with a 1 enchanted sword!” Riri laughed at her distress, which earned the wizard an elbow to the throat. Tsuchiya kept driving without comment while Hijiri failed to hide his smile.
After what felt like a thousand years, the car stopped, and Riri announced, “We’re here!” She opened the door and shoved Anzu out. “Have fun, Anzu! And happy birthday!” Before Anzu could even yell something threatening, she stumbled out onto a dirt road and the car drove away.
Anzu turned to find her two housemates standing on either side of a picnic table, illuminated by a single lantern and the waning sunlight. They’d found the perfect spot, tucked on a small promontory overlooking the floodplain. The table itself was neatly laid out with three of Kazuki’s famous bento boxes, an iron tea set, and what looked like the most delicious chocolate cake Anzu had ever seen.
The boys themselves looked equally tasty in their own way, not that Anzu would ever admit such a thing. It was amazing just how polished they could make themselves look with just simple button downs, slacks, and suede jackets to ward off the chill. “Happy birthday, Anzu,” they said with warm smiles, inviting her to sit down to their little feast.
“Aww, you guys…” Anzu sighed, holding back tears of joy as she sat opposite the two of them. “You’re the best, seriously!”
They chatted aimlessly as they ate, mostly Anzu gushing about her day. She couldn’t help but notice how nervous the boys looked. Even as she stuffed bite after orgasmic bite of the triple chocolate cake (also made by Kazuki), she noted the fidgeting hands and the knowing looks exchanged on the other side of the table.
Once she was delightedly full and had smothered her housemates in thanks and compliments, she paused for a moment to watch their faces in the soft, warm light of the lantern. Both men gazed at her with curious looks in their eyes. Junta looked like his heart was about to burst out of his chest like an alien. The flush flooding into his cheeks as his gaze softened over Anzu… it was unmistakable. Kazuki was harder to read, as always, but the emotion in his eyes was unguarded, as it had only ever been with her.
They both looked as though they’d be happy to stop time and stay here with her forever.
Anzu fought the urge to give in, not even knowing what she would do if she were to surrender to either of their stares. Her face muscles tightened into an unflattering grimace as she said, “What’s the matter? Do I still have chocolate on my face?”
Junta laughed his most nervous of laughs, the one that made Anzu want to pat him on the head and tell him everything would be alright. “It’s not that,” he said. “There’s just something we wanted to say.”
“Oh? What’s on your mind?” Anzu asked, relaxing back into caring friend mode as easily as she drew breath. “You can tell me anything you’d like.”
Junta threw a panicked glance at Kazuki, who turned to Anzu with a resigned shake of his head. “So, graduation is coming up soon,” said Kazuki, “so we had a little talk with Riri about the game they have you stuck in.”
“Oh really?” Venom seeped into Anzu’s voice. “That little devil is dead. Their wand is going straight into the nearest litter box!”
“Oh no, that’s not necessary,” Junta interrupted before Anzu could make any further threats. “It went well. See, the thing is…” He gulped, closing his eyes and bracing himself as if for a punch or a reprimand. “We really like living with you.”
“I’m glad,” said Anzu with an easy smile. “Our arrangement may be a little unconventional, but it’s been really great having both of you around.” Both boys let out audible sighs that raised Anzu’s eyebrow nearly an inch higher. “But what does Riri have to do with that? Did they try to get you to move out?”
“No, nothing like that,” Kazuki chimed in. “We just wanted to make our intentions clear to them. We don’t want you to lose anything. You…” He looked away, his face turning nearly as red as Junta’s. “You mean too much to us.”
Anzu’s limbs began to tremble. Her lungs forgot how to breathe. Mistaking her loss of functional capacity for a reaction to the night air, Junta rose from his seat across from her and removed his jacket, draping it over Anzu’s shoulders. He didn’t move as she pulled it tighter around herself.
“What we’re trying to say,” he said, voice breaking, “is that… we want to help you win.”
Heart in her throat, Anzu stopped breathing for what seemed like an hour. Could this be… She swallowed. “So you’re asking me… to choose one of you?” she asked. That wasn’t fair. That wasn’t how the game was supposed to work. She was the anti-heroine. She wasn’t supposed to give in like this.
“No,” said Kazuki, his voice suddenly at her side as he slid onto the bench next to her. “We’re asking you to let us both take care of you. Since you’ve done so much for us.”
“Yeah,” said Junta, coming back into view as he took the seat on her other side. “We l-lo-... we…” He looked like he was about to explode until Kazuki reached across Anzu and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. She’d never seen them so tender with each other before. The sight was… nice. Sweet and unexpected, like chocolate covered plums.
Apparently emboldened by the touch, both boys wrapped their arms around her and said, “We love you, Anzu.”
For three seconds, Anzu was paralyzed. Not a single muscle in her body moved. Not a single synapse in her brain fired. She was certain she’d heard them wrong. Or she was dreaming. Or Riri had done something to them (or to her) and this was all some kind of weird simulation. But then reality draped itself around her in a comforting embrace, right alongside Junta and Kazuki. They both seemed real enough. They smelled like her housemates–Junta like sweat and laundry detergent, Kazuki like soap and curry–and even though she’d only been this close to them a handful of times, their touch felt right. Both boys curled around her, one head resting on each of her shoulders, arms compressing around her back like they were afraid she’d float away if they let go.
It was surreal, but nice.
Anzu returned their embrace, breathing in the comfort of their proximity. She’d grown so accustomed to them she really couldn’t imagine going home and not finding them there.
“We’re willing to do whatever it takes to make this work,” said Kazuki. His soft hair brushed the side of her neck as he pulled away. “Nothing has to change between us unless you want it to. We’ll go at your pace, and we’ll never ask you to do anything you’re not comfortable with.”
“Of course,” said Junta, pulling back as well after a final squeeze. “Even if you just want to stay friends, we’ll cover for you with Riri. As long as you’re happy, we’re happy.”
“You guys…” Anzu smiled at her housemates, her boys. She bit back the tears stinging at her eyes. It was all so much more than she’d ever hope for since Riri’s stupid game started. As the wizard dropped gift-wrapped hotties into her lap, she never expected any of them to care for her like this, asking nothing more in return than she was willing to give. After what she’d seen happen to Saki and to Kazuki, she had her doubts it was even possible.
But it wasn’t fair to compare these two to anyone else. Time and again, they’d earned her respect, her trust, and so much more.
When she found her voice again, she said, “Thank you. Really, you’re both the best people I could ask to spend my life with. I never expected it to work out this way.”
“Yeah, you are kind of oblivious,” said Kazuki.
“You don’t have to go and say it like that!” Anzu retorted, flailing her arms in rage. With a sigh, she regained her composure. “I think it’ll take some time for me to be comfortable with it, but I’m…” She shuddered, not wanting to say the words but knowing she had to. They had been brave and vulnerable with her, so she could at least do the same for them. “I’m open to being… more than just friends. With both of you, if we could do that without hurting each other. No matter what, I’m not willing to sacrifice my friendship with either of you.”
“Of course! We don’t want that either,” said Junta. “But we’re willing to try… being together. All three of us.”
Anzu glanced at Kazuki, who nodded in agreement. “Jeez, how’d I luck out this much? Two hot roommates-turned best friends-turned potential boyfriends? Are you sure Riri isn’t mind-controlling you?”
The two boys started to laugh but froze when the devil itself appeared at the sound of its name. “Haven’t you learned anything about the power of love, Anzu?” said the wizard, gazing at them in its Rio body with that stupid grin smeared across his face. “Love makes even the most stubborn and cowardly people do the bravest things!”
Rio waved his wand and conjured an old movie screen out of thin air. With the tick and crackle of old film, the picture flared to life. Anzu raised an eyebrow. It was Junta and Kazuki on the couch in her parents’ house. The illusory film had no sound, so she couldn’t tell what they were talking about. Though that didn’t matter as a second later, Junta grabbed Kazuki by the back of the head and kissed him on the mouth. After a moment of startled hesitation, Kazuki closed his eyes and leaned in, grasping tenderly at the other boy’s forearm.
“Whaaaaaaaaaaaaa–” Anzu’s eyes nearly popped out of her head. Kazuki was screaming threats at Rio and chasing him around the table while Junta was just screaming and melting into the grass. It took her a few days to process the scene entirely, but within minutes she thought to herself, “Yeah, I think this is gonna work out just fine.”