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I feel like you’ve already lost something important as a person when you believe in the words of someone who creates different personalities. Specifically, common sense. Ani was surrounded by people like this, so maybe it’s just hard to have awareness.

“Well, please treat me well, Kaori. Clean up after my lunatic siblings’ antics, please.”
“Merciless as usual, I see. Just so you know, I don’t plan on getting involved with that.”

What’s wrong with calling siblings who would prank their barely awake little sister lunatics? Besides, even if you don’t plan on being involved, I’ll just rope you in myself. I’ll just copy Ani’s tactics. Drag the target in gradually without them realizing that they’re already knee deep.

“Well then, I need to prepare breakfast, so I should go now.”
“Oh yeah, this is a good time. Come to the cafe tonight, alright?”
“Isn’t it an off day?”
“There are reasons behind it. It’s a promise, okay?”
“Roger that. I don’t have any plans, so I’ll be there.”

Was there a sudden change in our shift, or does Kaori have personal business to handle? Even if I check my memories, there’s nothing related to this. I do occasionally get invited over for dinner, so maybe it’s that?

With that matter done, I split up with Kaori, my first ever friend. I’m a bit worried about the cafe thing, though. Because if I’m not being called to stand in for Kaori, it’s possible that this is a set-up by those two. Not Ani and Ane, but the two upperclassmen.

“Oh well, worrying about them can’t really change anything.”

While making breakfast, I attempted to predict what the upperclassmen group was planning, but absolutely nothing came to mind. They’re at the same level of unpredictability as Ani and Ane. Rather, even Ani couldn’t win against them, so I don’t think I can either.

“Seriously, he amassed so many connections with troublesome people.”

They say birds of a feather flock together, but they’re too much to deal with. Both the rogue’s den and the twelve families. Besides, I have no idea how Kotori will react when she meets the current me. Ani didn’t seem to be worried about it at all.

“I really don’t know the orientation of Kotori’s admiration. She seems to admire cool women as role models, but on the other hand, Ani projected so much masculinity, too.”

In that regard, I might be close to Kotori’s ideal. With the addition of Ane’s femininity, I have the proper self-awareness of being a woman. My only worry is whether or not Kotori gets worse as a result.

“There’s nothing but trouble in store.”

I’m really feeling down now. There’s really nothing good I can look forward to. No, if I change my perspective, I should feel better if I set up an event. Though if I get either the rogue’s den or the twelve families involved, it’ll be sure to result in chaos, and the fun will be gone with it.

“Morning, Kotone.”
“Good morning, Akane.”
“Hm? Hmmm?”
“Is there something wrong?”
“For some reason, you’re giving off a slightly different impression with your hair down compared to before.”

I feel that Ani’s influence projects strongly when I have my hair up, while Ane’s influence projects strongly when I have my hair down. However, there shouldn’t be any visible external change, so how did Akane notice that so easily?

“My wife is becoming more wife-ish, you love to see it.”
“Sound’s like you previously saw me as more of a domestic husband.”
“Well, I can’t deny that.”

I mean, while I do agree that it’s the correct impression to have of Ani, I find it irritating that it’s now also her impression of me. I feel my frustration towards Ani rise sky high.

“For my wife to keep changing even after a year, I just can’t get enough of it.”
“I don’t think I had much of a change, though.”

I don’t plan on telling Akane about Ani and Ane. How do I say this? I feel like if I ever told her about it, she’d be so frustrated and endlessly grumble about it. I have no intention of being her wife, but her love is so weighty.

“Yup. Still, breakfast being delicious hasn’t changed at all.”
“Would it have been better if it did?”
“Well, that would be great too, but it’ll be bad to waste time and foodstuff, won’t it?”

So it’s all good for Akane even if I make a blunder? In a sense, Akane is the one person I have no idea how to defeat. And as we started to eat, my worst nightmare also began.

“Oh, Kotone putting the TV on; that’s pretty rare.”
“Eh, I didn’t turn it on, though?”

In general, Akane is the one who turns on the TV in the morning to check the news. I didn’t do anything, and yet today, of all times, the TV turned on by itself. I have a bad feeling about this.

“There seems to be a setting error; let me just turn it off.”

Why is the TV remote so far away? I suspect that either Ani or Ane set it down at a farther distance on purpose. And if they’re incorporating Akane into this trap, I’m sure it’ll be a video of something that will be enjoyable for her but embarrassing for me. I need to stop it!

“No~pe. My hunch is telling me that a situation unexpected for Kotone is probably a great situation for me.”
“Let! Me! Go!”
“Being this desperate means I’m spot on, doesn’t it? I’m absolutely not letting you go.”

I stood up to pick up the TV controller, but before I could reach it, I was hugged by Akane and pinned to the floor. Then, shown on the TV screen, was a video of Ani and Ane in a recording studio. Moreover, it’s edited so the two of them are side by side.

“Is this a new song? Moreover, one where you get to see two completely different Kotones? What a bargain!”
“Delete it! No, kill it!”
“Absolutely no! Ah, give me a copy of this video, okay?”

“No traps beyond here,” he said. They just set off the largest landmine. Moreover, it was activated when Akane, playing the role of damage amplifier and interference, got into position. This was absolutely intentional.

“I’m never going to forgive this!”

I know there’s no meaning in expressing resentment against people who are no longer around, but I couldn’t take it anymore. It’ll probably take a long time before this becomes a funny memory.