Shinrabansho: Myriad Souls

2.74: Hotpot Night

The locker room was now empty.

The door shut behind us with a dull thump, and the noise of the gym faded into a distant hum. The air inside was warm and slightly damp, carrying the lingering scent of soap and detergent. Lockers lined the walls in neat rows, metal doors catching the overhead light.

I tugged off my gym clothes and toweled the sweat off slowly, my skin still warm from training. When I glanced up, Aoi-chan was watching me with that look she got whenever I was half-naked, her cheeks faintly pink.

“You did well today,” she said, in a low tone.

I smiled, folding the towel and setting it aside. “On the court or behind the gym?”

“Both,” she replied, stepping closer. Her fingers brushed along my stomach as she passed, her touch casual and lingering all at once. “You made very few mistakes.”

Warmth spread through me. I slipped back into my uniform, smoothing the fabric down, aware of her presence the whole time. When I turned, she was already close again.

Her hand slid to my hip, sure there. She leaned in, pulling me against her body, her forehead resting briefly against mine, her breath warm against my lips.

“This is your reward,” she murmured.

DOKI-DOKI

I didn’t answer because I didn’t need to.

I pressed my lips to hers in a slow, deliberate kiss that left no room for doubt that I wanted it. It wasn’t rushed, and it wasn’t shy. I leaned into it, my leg hooking around hers, my arms wrapping around her shoulders, one hand hovering over her posterior as the kiss deepened just enough to make the one knee that supported my weight go weak. My tongue caressed and danced with hers, my chest feeling heavy with a soft pressure.

When we finally pulled back, I was beaming, energized, even though I was breathing a little harder.

“Mmm.” I stretched lazily and winked at Aoi-chan. “I’m fully recharged.”

Aoi was in the same state, grinning. “Me too.”

We gathered our things and left the locker room together, stepping back into the gymnasium. Rehearsals were winding down. Students staying a little later moved between stacks of wooden flats and painted backdrops, their voices overlapping as they carried props and rolled carts toward storage.

Beyond the open doors, the front grounds of the school had greatly changed.

Temporary scaffolds for building the festival booths were being assembled near the walkway. Spotlights had been installed here and there to give people enough light to work by. Someone was testing strings of lanterns, holding them up against the light to check the spacing. The smell of sawdust mixed with laughter and casual chatter.

Groups stood together around cooking equipment as they practiced making festival foods, filling the air early with the scent of fried batter, oil and soy sauce.

“Takoyaki goes on this side, right?”

“No, that’s where the ring toss is supposed to be.”

“We still need to make the food stall signs.”

I walked my pale mint-green mamachari between us, one hand on the handlebars, our bags resting in its basket, while Aoi-chan walked at my side. The evening felt unhurried, wrapped in the low noise of voices, the sound of wood being sawed and set into place, hammers hitting nails and power tools humming loudly, the faint promise of the festival taking shape around us.

At the gate, she hopped onto the rear bolts, crouching slightly to settle in behind me. Her arms wrapped around me from behind as I got into my bike’s seat and started pedalling. I enjoyed the feel of her at my back, especially her breathing on my neck as she briefly rested her cheek against my shoulder.

“I love you.” I smiled, my heart fluttering.

“I love you too.” She kissed my neck.

I pedaled, the familiar rhythm of heading home easing the tension out of us. She leaned against me, her hold secure without being too tight. Every now and then she shifted just enough for me to feel her chest against my back, her fingers brushing me lightly as we moved.

I wasn’t sure which I preferred, pedaling or riding the bolts. They both had their perks.

“What should we do for dinner, Susu?” she asked after a while.

“We’ll drop the bento boxes off at my house first and then go to the same grocery store, get eggs for tomorrow’s bento and think of something. Maybe we should have hamburg steaks,” I suggested as we approached an intersection with perfect, lucky timing.

“Good idea,” Aoi said, nibbling at my ear. “I’m looking forward to it.”

I micro-lost control of my bike and smiled.

“Behave!” I giggled.

“Nah… it’s too hard to fight my urges. I’ll rely on you to help me control them.” She giggled with me.

I blushed and reached behind to swat her hip lightly. “Baka.”

“That’s a wife’s duty,” Aoi muttered into my ear. “You can hit me some more there later if you want.” Her tongue flicked at my ear.

“Ahhhh!” I shivered and nearly completely lost control this time.

…

After a moment, I worked to change the subject, “I’m sure that Mom intends to keep making our lunches, even though I want to make you my own tamagoyaki…”

“Don’t worry. I’m sure we’ll get around to it if she insists.” She laughed joyfully. “I feel so fortunate, Susu. A beautiful wife and homemade meals for the rest of my life. I can’t wait to try everything you’ll make just for me with your own hands,” she replied airily.

I turned crimson.

DOKI-DOKI BADUMP

It was very hard to keep up with her.

We stopped at my house and wheeled the bike inside the gate.

We walked to the front door together. I opened it, finding Dad and Haru inside, mid-conversation in the living space.

“Speaking of them…” Dad smiled at us as we entered and pulled off our shoes.

Before he could say anything else, Mom appeared from the kitchen, wiping her hands on a towel, already smiling like she’d been waiting for this exact moment.

“You’re back earlier than usual,” she said. Her eyes shifted from me to Aoi-chan and softened. “Perfect timing.”

Aoi-chan straightened instinctively, polite but not stiff. “Good evening.”

Haru’s gaze bounced between us, then lingered on the way Aoi’s hand was loosely holding mine. His mouth curled into a knowing smirk.

“You’re really going for it,” he said. “So much it looks like you’re glued to each other by the hip.”

I nodded easily. “Yeah. I like it that way.” I bumped Aoi’s hip with mine playfully.

Aoi grinned and bumped back.

Haru laughed at us and with.

Mom clapped her hands together lightly. “You’re staying for dinner, you two.”

Aoi blinked. “Oh… we were just going to drop off the bento boxes and hurry off to…”

“I insist,” Mom said, smiling without leaving room for debate. “On school days especially. It gives you more time for other things.” Her gaze flicked knowingly between us.

Dad cleared his throat uncomfortably, rubbing the back of his neck. “Uh. She’s right, my daughter’s…” He glanced at me, then at Aoi, searching for the word. “…girlfriend.”

Aoi smiled, calm and respectful. “Yes, sir.”

Haru snorted. “Wow. He actually said it.”

Dad shot him a look. “Don’t push it.”

A warm flutter spread through my chest.

I love Mom and Dad so much!

Before I could stop myself, I rushed forward and wrapped them in a tight hug, beaming.

Aoi hesitated for half a second, then bowed slightly. “Thank you. We’d love to join you.”

My eyes lit up instantly as I recognized a rich scent in the air, one that I didn’t smell every day… just on special occasions. “Hotpot?” I gasped. “That’s what you’re making, Mom?”

Mom laughed, clearly pleased by my reaction, and turned back toward the kitchen. “Yes. I picked up some good beef on sale this afternoon. Go wash your hands quickly, the both of you.”

“Good beef,” I echoed reverently, already halfway to the sink. “Yatta!”

Aoi followed, amused. “You’re that excited, Susu?”

“You don’t understand,” I whispered dramatically as we scrubbed our hands side by side. “Hotpot at home is sacred.”

“That explains your really happy expression. You might be happier than when we kiss,” she said, smiling.

“No way. You’re yummier than any meal.” I blushed.

Aoi micro-shorted out and grinned, probably remembering the last time.

By the time we returned, the table was already set. The pot sat in the center, steam rolling up in thick, fragrant waves from the clear kelp broth. Platters had been arranged all around it, neat stacks of cabbage, mushrooms, tofu, and thin slices of beef waiting to go in. The beef was marbled just enough to promise tenderness the moment it touched the savory and hot broth.

I inhaled deeply. “Smells so amazing…”

Aoi leaned in slightly, doing the same. “The broth’s really clean,” she said. “You can tell it’s been simmering properly.”

Dad glanced over, surprised. “You really seem to know your hot pot.”

Aoi smiled politely. “I’m very good at eating.”

Haru snorted.

I giggled. “She is. She gobbles up everything I feed her at lunch.”

Aoi’s lips twisted at the corner. “Susu’s even better at it than me when she’s especially hungry.”

I froze and my face turned sunset red, even though that could be taken in an innocent context.

AOI!!!

My parents looked at each other for a moment, thinking it over.

Mom giggled. Dad snorted. Haru fell out of his chair, like I wanted to.

They all got her dirty joke?! Oh no…

I suppressed an urge to cover my face.

Mom lifted the lid, checked the broth, then set it aside and reached for the trays. “All right. Everyone eat while it’s hot.”

She dropped in the first round of ingredients herself, a loose handful of cabbage, a cluster of mushrooms, a few cubes of tofu. They bobbed once, then sank into the clear broth. The smell deepened at once.

I didn’t need to be told twice. I picked up a slice of beef, dipped it into the broth, and swished it back and forth until the red turned pale pink. Then I dragged it through the sesame sauce and popped it into my mouth.

I took a bite and actually sighed. “Oh wow. Oishii ne! Yummy.”

Aoi tried a piece next, watching the color change as she moved it through the broth. Her eyes softened just a little when she ate it. “The meat’s really tender,” she said. “It’s not chewy at all.”

Haru was already reaching in with his chopsticks to rescue some of the mushrooms Mom had started. I grabbed quickly before he could steal all the good things and added another handful to the pot, then some tofu and cabbage too. The broth burbled softly around them as they cooked.

“Mom always gets the best cuts for the price,” Haru said proudly, loading his bowl with mushrooms. “Hey, Onee-chan. Leave some enoki for me.”

“Sure. They’re so good, though. In that case I’ll switch to eating the tofu,” I said, fishing some out once it had soaked long enough. “It’s even better because it soaks up the broth like a sponge.”

Aoi glanced at my bowl. “I’ll remember that you love tofu.”

I smiled and nodded.

“Remember how Megumi-chan kept going on about how it’s full of estrogen and boosts breast growth like milk?” I grinned at Aoi.

Aoi giggled. “Not like I care about that.”

Haru dropped a piece of tofu back into the hotpot that he had just fished out himself, clearly deciding it needed longer.

“Tofu’s great comfort food,” I replied, reaching for the beef and laid in a few more slices, watching them ripple in the simmering broth before I turned to Aoi. “Do you want anything more while I’m stretching?”

Aoi considered it for a moment. “More beef… and the cabbage. I love the way it turns sweet in the broth.”

I smiled and added both for her, laying the slices in one by one and nudging the cabbage under with my chopsticks like a doting wife.

Dad paused, watching us, then cleared his throat, bemused. “So, that festival prep seems to be keeping you busy.”

“It is,” I said, happily distracted by the delicious food as I fished out a slice for Aoi and dropped it into her bowl. “It’s hard work each day, but it’s fun.”

Haru pointed his chopsticks at me suddenly. “You look way happier,” he said. “Like… actually glowing.”

I blinked, then smiled. “I am.”

I squeezed Aoi’s leg warmly under the table.

He nodded, satisfied, and went back to eating.

The conversation drifted easily while the pot kept working between us. Someone added more cabbage. Mom slipped in another cluster of mushrooms. Dad fished out tofu. Haru kept a greedy eye on the enoki. Every time the broth cleared a little, something new went into it. The air stayed warm and fragrant, and the soft sounds of simmering, chopsticks, and small pleased noises filled the room.

They talked about school, about some in the neighborhood complaining about the growing noise as booths started going up at the school, about how crowded the streets would be once people put on their yukata. Aoi answered when spoken to, polite but relaxed, slipping into the family rhythm like she had always sat with us.

Every now and then, our hands touched as we reached for the same thing.

“Are you going to be able to come see our performance on Saturday?” I asked, trying not to sound too hopeful.

Dad considered it for a moment. “I don’t have overtime scheduled that day,” he said slowly. “So yes. I can come.”

My chest warmed instantly.

“Of course we’ll all be there,” Mom said, smiling.

Haru grinned. “Me too. I want front-row seats for your performance, Onee-chan!”

“You were playing a lead part, weren’t you?” Dad asked, looking between us.

“The prince,” Aoi said, grinning.

“I don’t see that,” Haru laughed.

“I’m plenty princely!” I protested, sticking my tongue out at him.

“Oh yes,” Mom said dryly. “The perfect picture of princely behavior.”

I pouted, my face heating.

Everyone laughed.

When the noise settled, I leaned closer to Aoi and murmured, “Did you invite your parents too?”

She blinked, then smiled a little sheepishly. “I… didn’t think about that. But I probably should consider it.”

Mom’s eyes lit up immediately. “Oh, good. Then we can meet each other.”

Aoi nodded, her ears turning pink. “Yes. That would be nice.”

By the time the last mushrooms had been fished out and the broth had gone cloudy and deep with everything we had cooked in it, everyone was leaning back, warm and content. Haru stretched and grinned.

“Hey,” he said, looking at Aoi. “Want to play a few matches of Tekku before you leave? Remember when Onee-chan said you’re probably really good at it. Let’s see if she’s right!”

Aoi cracked her knuckles slowly, her grin turning dangerous, like a yakuza accepting a challenge. “You’re on, brat.”

Haru’s eyes widened. “Wait, really? What did I do?”

“Something,” I said, grinning.

A little voice in my head screamed danger.

I laughed anyway. Mom and Dad did too, the sound filling the room as naturally as the last faint curls of steam rising from the pot.

Haru barely waited for the TV to finish loading before shoving a controller into Aoi-chan’s hands.

“Okay,” he said, grinning too wide. “Time for that match, Onee-chan’s koibito.” 

Aoi looked down at the controller with a lazy grin. She held it strangely too familiarly. I was reasonably sure that she didn’t own a console, but the handkerchief that she’d wiped my face with had Tekku characters on it. I hadn’t thought too hard about it at the time.

My gut instinct said that I was in for a treat. I just smirked.

“Her name is Kurobane Aoi.” I said firmly.

“Okay… but I’m not sure how I feel about using her first name.”

“You okay with this?” Aoi glanced at Haru and then turned her eyes to me. Now that I think about it, it’s not right for me to do this.” 

I didn’t hesitate responding. “Please kick his smug little ass.”

Haru’s eyes widened.

She hummed thoughtfully, then settled onto the floor near Haru and I settled down at her side. She didn’t sprawl or fidget. She sat straight-backed, one knee up, her forearms resting loosely, the controller balanced in her hands.

“All right,” she said. “Show me how you like to fight, my wife’s imouto.”

Haru scoffed. “Don’t say it like that, Kurobane-san!” He flushed. “Get fighting.”

The character select screen came up. He locked in his usual pick without hesitation, the flashy sword fighter with too many tools and that stupid sideways smirk, Rexblade. It was the one he always chose, because his moves were built to overwhelm an opponent.

Aoi scrolled calmly.

“That’s who you’re going to use? Really?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.

“What’s wrong with Rexblade? He’s cool! He kicks ass. I love his combos!” Haru struggled to defend himself.

“Mm.” Aoi shrugged.

She paused, then selected a character that made Haru blink.

“Wait—seriously?” he said. “You’re picking her?”

The character on screen was Valeria. She had no excess effects and no gimmicks, relying instead on strong defense and reliable counters.

“I like her posture,” Aoi replied. “Her style doesn’t waste movement.”

The match loaded.

The instant the round began, Haru rushed her the way he always did with me, with no probing or setup, just straightforward pressure. Aoi didn’t retreat from his attacks. His opening salvo carved through the space where she would have been, but she shifted aside at the last moment. It wasn’t a dodge so much as repositioning, and Haru frowned when he realized what she’d done.

“Huh?”

She blocked his follow-up cleanly and answered with a single, precise counter, and his health dipped.

“What—hey—!”

He surged forward, his fingers flying as he tried to drown her in a flurry of quick attacks, which was always how he reacted under pressure. Aoi gave ground half a step, then stopped. I watched her face, which plainly said, Let him come. She didn’t mash buttons, chase him, or rush in. She just watched.

I leaned forward without realizing it.

Haru overcommitted, and Aoi punished him brutally with a clean sequence of block, step, and strike. Her attack rhythm tightened, not fast but each blow inescapable. Every time he tried to claim some space to rally, she was already in his face. Every time he tried to reset, she clipped him and forced him back into defense.

His grin disintegrated.

“Hold on—wait—!”

K.O.

The announcer’s voice rang out cheerfully, and Haru stared at the screen.

“…No way.”

Aoi blinked. “That’s it?”

“Again!” Haru snapped, slamming the rematch button savagely.

The next round loaded, and he came out swinging immediately, worse than before. He wasn’t trying to play smart now, he was trying to be really annoying this time. His character bounced back and forth in an exaggerated way players used when they wanted to get in your head, then he threw out a move with a huge visual flourish. It looked impressive and sounded impressive, but it left him wide open if it missed.

I facepalmed.

“Nooooo!” I laughed.

“Huh?” he said, already grinning like he’d won. “This is the coolest move in the whole game. Like I wouldn’t have used it!”

Aoi didn’t react the way he wanted. She didn’t hesitate, didn’t go after his character, and didn’t even look impressed. She watched him as he shadowboxed at her.

I was sure she would take advantage of that glaring weakness that he was flaunting, and for a moment I wondered if she was just pitying him.

He tried a different gimmick, jumping in at her with a cheap overhead and rolling away in a showy maneuver, smirking as though it were supposed to be clever, before snapping back in with another loud, flashy tool.

“I’ve never seen this side of you,” I said, embarrassed for him. “Stop trying to impress my wife so much.”

“Ugh,” Haru muttered. “You should be intimidated by my smooth moves by now!” He glared at Aoi. “You’ve got no game! You’re just standing there doing nothing cool!”

“You’re trying to provoke me,” Aoi said calmly. “That’s real cute.”

His grin twitched, and he sneered like a little yakuza himself.

He doubled down, throwing every flashy sequence he knew at her at once, rushing her, backing off, and repeating the same loud, aggressive pattern to try to force her into committing.

I tilted my head. Good luck with that, baka.

Aoi let him squander the timer. For a moment I wondered if he was actually trying to exhaust it, but unless he landed a single hit, it would be called a tie. Then, right as he committed to the same big opener for the third time, Aoi did something that made my eyebrows shoot up.

She stepped into it.

She slipped into exactly the right position before the move fired, and Haru’s character whiffed completely. The dramatic swing cut through empty air while the screen shook like it was trying to detect a hit. Aoi tapped once, dealing the smallest possible amount of damage on him, then flipped away with a smug little smirk.

He blinked at the screen, confused, then mashed harder out of pure offense as he chased her desperately while the timer ran down.

10…

9…

8…

7…

“Hey you! Get over here!” he growled. “Stop being… so stupid! BAKA!”

Aoi’s thumbs moved more than her face did as she evaded with infuriating accuracy.

4…

The moment he tried the gimmick again, she shut it down the same way, dancing away while his attack cut through empty air.

Haru made a strangled sound.

2…

1…

Time up!

Valeria wins!

“That’s not—! That’s not how you’re supposed to win a match honestly, you jerk!”

“As though you weren’t playing for time yourself,” Aoi replied. “I was almost sure that was your plan from the start, so I decided to give you a little taste of your own medicine. How does it taste, brat?” She smirked.

I bit my lip so I wouldn’t laugh out loud, but I failed completely, ending up rolling on the floor, struggling to get myself under control. 

I don’t want to hurt his feelings… but oh, Kami! So funny!

Haru glared at me like I was betraying him.

“Don’t flop around like that, BAKA! It’s so uncool!”

That just made me giggle louder and flop more.

“Augh! She’s a dirty cheater! She’s—she’s—!”

“Yes,” Aoi said simply. “That’s what real fighting is.”

The room went dead quiet.

Haru stood up and threw a tantrum, stomping the floor. “This is bullying!”

Who does he take after? Dad? Was he like this as a kid? That thought fluttered weakly through my head.

“You asked for a rematch,” Aoi said mildly.

“…Third round,” he muttered. “No excuses.”

The third match lasted longer. I wrapped my arms around my knees, my skirt settling between my legs.

This time, Haru adapted and changed tactics, taking chunks off her health bar. I stared at Aoi-chan, extremely confused. What’s she doing now? Did she let him hit her intentionally? That’s the only way that could have happened, but why? Is she throwing this match to make him feel better?!

She kept taking damage until she had only a sliver of health left, and Haru smirked, tasting victory. My stomach twisted.

FIGHT!

Then she stopped taking damage entirely. No matter what Haru did, nothing landed. She stretched it out deliberately.

10…

Then she charged and unleashed a deadly combo, no longer playing defensively.

9…

8…

7…

Haru screamed, extremely traumatized.

6…

5…

4…

“STOP DOING THAT! LET ME MOVE!” Haru whined.

3…

2…

K.O.

Haru collapsed onto his back, staring at the ceiling as his controller dropped into his lap.

“…Okay,” he said quietly. “That was totally unfair. You cruelly played me. You… you… I’ve never been so VIOLATED!”

Aoi tilted her head innocently. “What did I do?”

“You show off,” he snapped, then abruptly rolled to his feet and stormed out of his room, slamming the door behind him.

Aoi glanced at me, her eyes warm and amused. “Did I do well?” she asked, looking at me. “What do I get as a reward for doing as told?”

I blushed and giggled. “That was amazing!”

I threw myself at her, wrapping my arms around her, and she laughed softly as she caught me and we fell backward with me on top of her.

I leaned in to kiss her, intending it to be quick, but it wasn’t and couldn’t be. A hint of tongue slipped into her mouth before I could stop it. Our tongues danced around each other and we lost track of time. Too quickly, the door clicked open, my face burning.

DOKI-DOKI

Haru stared at us with his arms crossed and his face blushed. He quickly closed the door again as we looked at each other and giggled.

I nuzzled one more time at Aoi-chan and gave her another smouldering kiss and then leaned back.

“This is his room… we really shouldn’t do too much of this here.”

“We can go to yours next.” Aoi said with an arched eyebrow.

“Sure.” I giggled and raised my voice for Haru. “You can come in.”

Haru took a bit to open the door. He’d cooled off somewhat. 

“We’re not done yet,” he muttered before kneeling to grab his controller and shove it at me. “I was thinking that I’d like to see this.” He smirked.

“What?” I blinked.

“Your turn to suffer, Onee-chan,” he said. “Fight her for my honor. I want to see what happens.”

Aoi raised an eyebrow as if to ask if I was sure I wanted to go along with what Haru suggested.

I took the controller, blushing. “No worries. I actually want to do this.”

It was always a rush when we sparred. I never really wanted to stop when we got going. Playing Tekku with her might feel as good!

DOKI-DOKI

That little voice inside me fluttered at the thought.

Hush you.

She nodded once and picked the same character as before, and I chose Asuna as always, the fighter whose style most reminded me of Aoi’s. I was honestly surprised that Aoi didn’t go for her.

The match between us began, and Aoi came at me differently than she had with Haru, not moving slower, just being really alert, like she was listening.

I moved on instinct. She pressed, and I redirected. The first exchange broke even.

“Huh,” Haru muttered.

Aoi’s eyes sharpened as she adjusted, and so did mine. We traded space instead of damage, using short strings, quick resets, and tests without committing. She caught me once, and I answered back in the split moment where she was vulnerable.

Our health bars dropped together.

Something clicked in me as I fought her like this, the same awareness I’d felt on the rooftop, on the court, behind the gym, a sense of timing and control.

I stopped pursuing her and instead waited.

The round continued like that as the timer ran down.

She smiled.

4…

3…

2…

We closed again before the last second flashed on the screen.

1…

DRAW

We sat in stunned silence. I think I surprised myself the most of all.

“Wait,” Haru said slowly.

Aoi stared at the screen, then at me.

“…Again,” she said softly.

We played another round, and it ended the same way.

DRAW

She exhaled and laughed quietly. “I see,” she said. “So this is how you fight when you’re not holding back, when you’re not worried about me getting hurt.”

I flushed but didn’t look away. “I never hold back.”

Haru’s eyes flicked between us.

“Hold on,” he said. “If you’re that even…” He swallowed. “…Does that mean you could beat Riko now?”

Aoi’s gaze snapped up.

“Riko… her?”

I nodded. “She destroyed me… in every sense… like you did to Haru. There was literally no space to move. I couldn’t even breathe!”

Aoi’s face didn’t darken out of anger at hearing that. It actually brightened.

“…Interesting.”

Haru pointed at us dramatically. “AVENGE ME!”

Aoi smiled, slow and dangerous. “I might need to buy a copy of Tekku. And a used Gamestation 5.” She glanced at me. “When I do, we’re inviting Riko over.”

I laughed, warmth blooming in my chest. The image of Aoi facing Riko and winning made my heart beat faster. I couldn’t tell whether Riko had simply been that much stronger, or whether those three brutal weeks of training had changed me as much as it felt like they had.

DOKI-DOKI

This time, it wasn’t because of something Aoi-chan did.

It was the anticipation of fighting Riko again.