I_LOVE_RICE+

V6 Chapter 27: Such Aggressive Pressure!

"Taki, you like Haru, don't you?"

Yahata Umiri's cold and emotionless voice pierced through the air like a sudden flashbulb, making Taki's heart seize.

The mercenary girl, who had never openly expressed her own thoughts before, now abruptly dragged out every hidden feeling Shiina Taki had been trying to bury deep within.

Seeing the sharp frown on Umiri's face, Taki blinked in disbelief. Holding her chocolate milkshake, she fell into a short silence.

"...How could I pos...

V6 Chapter 26: What Does Kissing Haru Feel Like?

Snap~

Mutsumi stepped out of the bedroom with an expressionless face, having already regained her composure. She checked her bangs multiple times to make sure they weren't messy before heading back to the living room.

But the moment she entered, she locked eyes with two other girls.

Takamatsu Tomori's eyes darted nervously, her mouth slightly open like she wanted to say something but hesitated.

Next to her, Raana had woken up at some point and was now ...

V6 Chapter 25: Little Mutsumi’s Combat Power

The warm light of the entryway flicked on.

It wasn't a long trip from Café Ahnenerbe to Haru's apartment in Yokohama. By the time the dusky evening glow had fully faded from the sky, they were already home.

Haru casually unlocked the rusted iron door with his worn apartment key. Behind him, Tomori hesitantly peeked her head inside.

This was only Tomori's second time visiting Haru's place.

The last time had been for a group "study session." But everything had ...

V6 Chapter 24: Who Could Not Be Confused?

A different time, but the same late evening.

Tokyo in autumn felt just a bit different this year. The sun sank sooner into dusk, tinting the world in a somber hue, and the bustling crowds of summer were nowhere to be seen on the streets and alleyways.

Which meant that even walking boldly down the middle of the road felt perfectly acceptable, letting the autumn wind wash over them with its crisp, refreshing chill.

Maybe it was the sudden drop in temperature, but Kazami Haru f...

V6 Chapter 23: Now That’s Not Something You Should Just Say

Uh-oh.

The moment he saw the change in Ryo's eyes, Haru sensed something was off.

Ryo had already made it clear when they laid everything on the table: she wanted him to break things off with all the other girls. So of course she wouldn't be in a good mood seeing the stray cat snuggle up to him like that. What was truly unnerving, though, was that she didn't say a single word.

Yamada Ryo simply gave the cat a cold glance, then lowered her eyes and returned to her usual langu...

V6 Chapter 22: To put it bluntly, it's just idleness.

The so-called Annual Japan Young Artists Collective Exhibition was, at its core, a public showcase where young artists in their teens and early twenties debuted and made a name for themselves.

Precisely because it was a public exhibition, submissions were open to all. Anyone could send in their work without passing any kind of threshold.

And because there were no barriers, an overwhelming number of low-quality, filler submissions flooded in. Some art school clubs even opted t...

V6 Chapter 21: I’ll Definitely Make You Fall for Me

Sincerity and honesty are the most powerful weapons.

Countless misunderstandings and regrets are born from the absence of communication and the inability to face one's feelings honestly. Just like in the well-known example from non-zero-sum game theory, the Prisoner's Dilemma.

All suspicion and mistrust stem from a lack of true dialogue.

For Kazami Haru, it was enough to simply speak his heart.

He had just brought Anon back home from the airport, and now he rubbed his ...

V6 Chapter 20: Love Rival

(OST: Shorekeeper Deep "Astrum Unicum" OST)

"Haru…"

Chihaya Anon froze in place the moment she realized she had been caught by Kazami Haru in a place like this. Clutching her suitcase tightly, she looked at the dark-haired boy before her in disbelief. That familiar smile, one she had come to rely on so deeply, was once again right there in front of her.

Th...

V6 Chapter 19: Shhhhh

(Music Rec: OST)

Clothing stores in the shopping district were usually swarmed with young women, and today..

Haru, completely going along with his date's whims, had somehow been pulled into one by the girl at his side.

Kita Ikuyo, who had never experienced picking out clothes for someone else before, was bursting with excitement. In her left hand, she held a vibrant floral shirt; in her ...

V6 Chapter 18: She Probably Wouldn’t Have the Guts

The sweltering heat of midsummer had quietly faded.

Crisp, yellowed leaves floated down like they had ridden the tailwind of summer's end, gently landing in Kazami Haru's palm.

As the temperature gradually dropped, he donned a pitch-black long coat suited for the season. With shoulder-length black hair to match, his entire presence exuded a calm, refined air. The flowing lines of his silhouette made him the natural center of attention.

"Autumn's here, huh…"

Kazami Ha...

V6 Chapter 17: Maybe I've Liked Haru All Along

"Ancestors! This is urgent, my bloodline ends with me..."

Kazami Haru, whose head was spinning with a chaotic mess of thoughts, made no attempt to resist as Shiina Taki grabbed him. Just moments ago, Taki had shown a soft, almost bashful side, but now her demeanor had flipped completely. In an instant, she had turned into a bristling hedgehog, sharp and unyielding.

Her twilight-colored violet eyes were sharp as a hawk's.

This was bad.

After confirming his relationship ...

V6 Chapter 16: “Rikki–nie, you’ve got some serious strength!”

The final bell rang at Hanasakigawa Girls' School, and the classroom erupted in noise. Students packed up and shuffled toward their next destinations. But Shiina Taki , still in her uniform, didn't seem to notice. She lay face down on her desk, waist‑length black hair draped over her shoulders and thighs, oblivious even as classmates streamed out around her.

Yahata Umiri rose slowly and stood beside Taki. Expressionless, she pulled a can of KISS coffee, decorated with anime art, from ...

V6 Chapter 15: "Be Direct!"

For Soyo, being with her beloved husband had already become a non-negotiable part of her life. She couldn't even imagine a future where she wasn't by Haru's side.

Even after hearing his outrageous "harem" declaration, the kind of thing only a shameless womanizer would say, Soyo's feelings for him didn't falter in the slightest. Instead, her jealousy and possessiveness surged to new heights.

Because, in that moment, she had heard the one word that mattered most.

"…Soyo, wha...

V6 Chapter 14: To Become His Only One

"Anon, go take a shower already!"

Her mother's voice drifted faintly from downstairs. Chihaya Anon, drained of all energy, didn't even try to hide the sorrow in her eyes.

She managed to squeeze a bit of strength from her aching body, slowly dragging her unsteady steps toward the bathroom.

Warm water poured gently over her pale cheeks. Her long, sakura-pink hair, vibrant and romantic, was already soaked by the rising steam. Beads of water slid down her smooth neck and across ...

V6 Chapter 13: "Forget-Me-Not"

Kazami Haru gently stroked the soft, smooth gray hair of Takamatsu Tomori. Her adorably anxious expression made it impossible for him to leave her be. If they weren't surrounded by people, he would've kissed her then and there.

Apparently, the little penguin could tell what he was thinking. Her cheeks flushed, and she gave a small, earnest nod.

Dammit, at this rate he was going to die of cuteness.

"Alright already~ Haru, you're being way too sappy!"

Unlike Tomori, who ...

V6 Chapter 12: The Heart That Believes Is Your Magic

Forget-Me-Not?

When Chihaya Anon heard the title, a strange look flickered through her eyes.

The new original song from Kessoku Band… why did the name sound like a ballad? But before she could react further, the electric guitar on stage had already begun its long, drawn-out intro. The soft, undulating melody made her raise an eyebrow.

"I didn't expect the song Haru wrote for Kessoku Band to be this mellow…"

"That's not it at all~"

Anon's musing was suddenly i...

V6 Chapter 11: Hero vs. Dragon Quest?

"I saw Tomori standing by the door with Ryo, so we just brought her in~"

Nijika bounced in with the grace of a jiggling pudding, clutching a stack of flyers and maps. Flashing her small white teeth in a bright smile, she waved the flyers in greeting. That's when Kazami Haru noticed Takamatsu Tomori standing just behind her, clutching Nijika's hand.

The little penguin peeked out from behind her shyly. When she realized Haru had seen her, she looked down and muttered softly, "I-I ju...

V6 Chapter 10: Could It Be Written for Someone?

As time marched on, the cultural festival at Haneoka was finally about to begin.

The past two weeks had given the students plenty of time after school to prepare and decorate, and the day before the festival officially opened was left entirely free for final setup. Kazami Haru's class was no exception; they had already been buzzing with activity.

It took less than half a day of full-scale effort for the class to finish setting up their "Maid and Butler Café."

Ordinarily, so...

V6 Chapter 9: Yahata Umiri Can Make You Break Out in a Cold Sweat

Today, Yahata Umiri seemed a little different from her usual calm and easygoing self. Dressed in a sleek black leather jacket, she stood beside Kazami Haru without a trace of emotion on her face.

Her sudden appearance left Shiina Taki, still slightly flushed, momentarily stunned. Frowning, she asked with a hint of unease, "Umiri? What's going on?"

"I need to talk to Haru. I'll borrow him for a moment."

With that, Umiri gave Haru's shoulder a light pat, then turned and gestur...

V6 Chapter 8: I’m Sorry, Sakiko

"Saki-chan! Wait a minute…"

A familiar voice from childhood called out from behind. The blue-haired girl turned slowly, unhurried, facing the breeze that swept toward her. The cold night wind lifted her pale blue twin tails into the air.

Her fingers tightened around the hem of her skirt. At some point, her delicate brows had already drawn together in a frown.

The dim night sky shimmered faintly with stars that seemed almost intoxicating. For a moment, it felt like they had...

V6 Chapter 7: Always Running Away Won’t Help

"…!"

Already emotionally shaken, Sakiko's pupils contracted the moment she heard those words. Clenching her fists tightly, she gritted her teeth but couldn't say a single word in return.

Because, if she looked at it from Nagasaki Soyo's perspective, there was really nothing wrong with what she had just said.

Regret and guilt surged like a dark tide from the hollow aching in her chest. With her head lowered, Sakiko stood there like a lifeless statue, unable to move.

S...

V6 Chapter 6: What Do You Take Haru For?

She had truly thought that way at first.

Togawa Sakiko frowned slightly, her delicate brows knitting together as she cast a glance toward Nagasaki Soyo, who wasn't far away.

Even though they had already "said goodbye," they somehow ended up walking the same path. From the moment they turned that corner, their routes had matched perfectly. It was almost as if they were headed to the exact same place, what a coincidence.

No, no, no. That couldn't possibly be.

Today, Toga...

V6 Chapter 5: Now the Tables Have Turned

"You okay?"

The voice at her ear jolted Ijichi Nijika out of her thoughts. Steadying the box in her hands, she turned slightly and saw who had caught her, it was Kazami Haru.

The realization sent the little horns on her golden headband twitching in place. She instantly broke into flustered apologies, her tone full of panic.

"Sorry, Haru-san… I was in a bit of a rush and didn't watch where I was going!"

"Good thing I happened to be passing by, or that fall could've be...

V6 Chapter 4: Do You Even Need to Hesitate?

Maybe, just maybe, Kazami Haru could admit this simulator had its upsides.

Even though this so-called "Ultimate Romance Simulator" forced him down a pure solo love route, through the simulations with Hitori Gotoh, Haru had come to understand the emotional states of both Chihaya Anon and Ikuyo Kita in depth.

These two radiant girls were not only inseparable best friends, sharing everything, but also love rivals who completely understood each other's feelings and intentions.

W...

V6 Chapter 3: Power Is Limitless

"This shop... how about I leave it to you?"

Those words, vague in meaning, came from the silver-haired woman before him, her eyes curved in a smile. She gently lifted the cup of coffee from the table and took a small sip, eyes closing in contentment as if savoring the taste.

"Aunt Shiki… what do you mean, leave it to me?"

Come to think of it, wasn't he basically already running the place?

Aside from occasionally stepping in for coffee bean procurement, Aunt Shiki, wh...

V6 Chapter 2: A Truly Fair Competition

Maybe it was the atmosphere of the upcoming cultural festival, but time seemed to slip by especially fast.

Every day when the 3 p.m. bell rang, it signaled the start of that laid-back afterschool freedom for Haneoka High students.

Many of them would head off to their club activities. Naturally, there were also those in the "go-home" club who would hang out with friends in town until dinner before heading back.

And then, there were the special cases.

Take Kazami Haru, f...

V6 Chapter 1: Takamatsu Tomori’s Resolve

Summer had ended.

Though the break was only two months long, it felt to Kazami Haru as though he had lived through half a century. Even on the first day of the new semester, he still felt like he hadn't quite woken from a dream.

The band's final live show at the Summer Festival had been just two weeks ago, yet now, Haru felt as if it had happened in another lifetime.

Narrowing his black eyes, Haru lifted his hand and gently gripped the oil paintbrush he had bought at Beast A...

V5 Chapter 37: Just How Much I Like You

You really are a woman who makes me happy—

"How much do you like me?"

Upon hearing Ryo's question, Kazami Haru surprisingly began to calm down. Maybe it was the tempting aroma of deep-fried tempura and hellishly spicy miso ramen that eased the tension between them.

Even when faced with an alluring, sultry blue-haired succubus, he still didn't let Ryo seize complete control.

"Two hundred percent."

He didn't even need a second to think. The answer came without he...

V5 Chapter 36: How Much Do You Like Me?

Had she just imagined it?

Togawa Sakiko thought she'd heard something from the cool, beautiful blue-haired girl before her, something like "With my body." Words so vulgar and inappropriate surely couldn't have come from another girl.

Had she misheard it somehow? Maybe she misunderstood?

Feeling her thoughts spin into chaos, Sakiko's face slowly flushed. She instinctively pinched the edge of her skirt and took a deep breath to collect herself. With her eyes lowered and her vo...

V5 Chapter 35: An Easy Woman to Handle

"…"

Faced with Misumi Uika's sudden invitation to "go home," Wakaba Mutsumi, who had been about to say something more, narrowed her eyes slightly. She turned and cast a sidelong glance at Kazami Haru with her pale golden eyes.

After weighing things silently for a moment, Mutsumi finally gave a gentle nod toward Uika-san.

Seeing her nod in agreement, Misumi Uika visibly relaxed, the tension that had gripped her slowly easing.

This was her chance to have a proper talk ...