Awakening: My Yandere sister is obsessed with me
Chapter 46: Love triangle (2)

Chapter 46: Love triangle (2)

Akiko’s eyes went wide, staring at him like she couldn’t believe what she’d just heard. Her hand was trembling slightly in his, and there was something in her expression that made his chest tighten – a mix of shock, hope, and something deeper that he couldn’t quite identify.

"Haruto-kun..." she whispered, her voice barely audible. "You... you really mean that?"

The way she was looking at him was intense, almost overwhelming. Like he’d just handed her everything she’d ever wanted. It made him feel guilty as hell, because this wasn’t exactly how he’d planned for things to go, but seeing that happiness in her eyes made it hard to regret the decision.

Azame watched this exchange with mild interest, like she was observing an interesting scientific experiment. "How sweet," she said, and her tone was perfectly neutral. "Young love and all that."

"Look, Azame," Haruto started, trying to figure out how to navigate this conversation without making everything worse. "About what you wanted—"

"Oh, don’t worry about that," she interrupted, waving a hand dismissively. "I’m not particularly concerned with your romantic entanglements. I simply need someone to play the role of my boyfriend for certain... social obligations. Nothing more complicated than that."

"But I can’t," Haruto said firmly, squeezing Akiko’s hand. "I love Akiko. I can’t pretend to be with someone else when I’m with her."

The words felt strange coming out of his mouth, but they weren’t entirely untrue. Maybe he didn’t love her in the way she wanted him to, but he did care about her. And right now, claiming to be her boyfriend might be the only thing keeping both of them safe from whatever game Azame was playing.

Azame’s smile didn’t waver, but something flickered in her eyes. "Love," she repeated, like she was testing the word. "How... inconvenient."

"It’s not inconvenient," Akiko said suddenly, and there was a fierceness in her voice that surprised both of them. "It’s beautiful. Haruto-kun and I—" She looked up at him with those adoring eyes. "We belong together."

"Indeed," Azame said dryly. "Well, I suppose I can’t force genuine affection." She checked her watch. "This has been enlightening, but I have other matters to attend to. Haruto-kun, do think about what I said. I’m not in any particular hurry, but..." She smiled that dangerous smile again. "I do hope you’ll consider my offer carefully."

She turned and walked away without another word, disappearing into the crowd like she’d never been there at all. Which, knowing Azame, was probably exactly how she preferred it.

The moment she was gone, Akiko threw her arms around Haruto’s neck, pulling him into a tight embrace. He could feel her trembling against him, and when he looked down at her face, the expression there made his breath catch.

Her eyes were different. Still the same warm brown he remembered, but there was something burning behind them now. Something hungry and possessive that reminded him uncomfortably of the way Satsuki looked at him sometimes.

"Haruto-kun," she breathed, her face inches from his. "I can’t believe this is really happening. I’ve dreamed about this for so long..."

"Akiko—"

"Let’s go to my place," she said suddenly, her grip on him tightening. "My parents aren’t home today. We can finally be together, really together. I want to show you how much I love you, how much I’ve always loved you..."

The way she said it made his face burn. There was no mistaking what she meant, and the intensity in her voice was both thrilling and terrifying.

"I... we can’t," he said, trying to step back but finding her arms surprisingly strong around his neck. "Not today. I promised Satsuki I’d spend the evening with her, and if I don’t show up—"

The change in Akiko’s expression was instant and dramatic. The dreamy, loving look vanished, replaced by something cold and sharp.

"Satsuki," she said, and the name came out like a curse. "You’re still going to see her? Even after what just happened? Even after you told me you loved me?"

"It’s not like that," Haruto said quickly. "She’s my... she lives with me. I can’t just ignore her. But tomorrow—"

"Tomorrow what?" Akiko’s voice was rising, and people were starting to stare. "Tomorrow you’ll have another excuse? Another reason to choose her over me?"

The jealousy in her voice was raw and painful to hear. This was exactly what he’d been afraid of – that claiming to be her boyfriend would make everything more complicated instead of simpler.

Without thinking, he leaned down and pressed his lips to hers.

The kiss was meant to calm her down, to stop her from making a scene in the middle of the shopping district. But the moment their lips touched, something shifted. Akiko melted against him, a soft sound escaping her throat, and suddenly she was kissing him back with a desperation that took his breath away.

Her hands tangled in his hair, pulling him closer, and he found himself responding despite everything. She tasted like strawberry lip gloss and something uniquely her, and the way she was clinging to him made his head spin.

When they finally broke apart, both of them were breathing hard. Akiko’s eyes were half-closed, her lips swollen from the kiss, and she was looking at him like he was everything she’d ever wanted.

"Tomorrow," he said, his voice rougher than he intended. "I promise, tomorrow I’ll make it up to you. We can spend the whole day together, just the two of us. I’ll make sure you know exactly how I feel about you."

She nodded slowly, still looking dazed from the kiss. "Promise?" she whispered.

"I promise," he said, and meant it. Whatever else was happening, whatever games he was playing to keep everyone safe, he owed her that much. "Tomorrow, it’ll just be us. No interruptions, no one else. I’ll show you exactly what you mean to me."

The smile that spread across her face was radiant, and for a moment she looked like the sweet, innocent girl he’d known in school. But there was still that hunger in her eyes, that possessive gleam that made him wonder if he’d just made everything infinitely more complicated.

"I’ll hold you to that, Haruto-kun," she said softly, reaching up to touch his cheek. "Don’t make me wait too long."