✨CHAPTER 9 — “Joy Is Texting Her Other Girlfriend (aka Ryoma Echizen)”✨
aka: The AC is Cold, the Couch is Warm, and The Feelings Are PIPING HOT
🌙 Scene: The Echizen Living Room, 9:12 PM
A moment of silence for every teenage girl who never got to live this soft-shoujo-dream-core reality.
The AC? Antarctic Expedition levels. Why? Because Nanjiroh said — and I quote — “If they get too warm, they might do something scandalous like hold hands.”
The lighting? The exact shade of “I might kiss you if the moment is right but oops we got distracted by feelings.”
The couch? Basically a plush soul trap that whispers, “Come. Snuggle. Confess.”
The blanket? Sentient. Knows what it’s doing. Has matchmaking ambitions.
🛋️ Our Couple: Too Close For Sanity
Sakuno is tucked into Ryoma’s side like a sleepy kitten that’s also a chaos nuke. One leg curled, journal open on her lap, pastel pen twirling like it’s writing a spell.
Ryoma? Daring. Reckless. Has his arm slung around her shoulder like it belongs there, fingers absentmindedly brushing her hair like she’s some rare, sacred pet with anxiety issues.
AND SHE???
DOES.
NOT.
FLINCH.
CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT IS HER. POWERFUL. STABLE. RADIATING QUEEN ENERGY. 👑💖
She’s writing in Joy. Yes. Joy, the emotionally unstable, inner gay diary that knows too much.
Ryoma raises an eyebrow. That smug half-smile creeping in. “You’re texting your other girlfriend again?”
Sakuno, blushing like a peach but answering like a lawyer on trial:
“Mhm. Joy misses you. She says you’ve been ghosting her.”
Ryoma, deadpan sass:
“I gave her a sticker yesterday. She can chill.”
Sakuno, clutching her pearls like the drama queen she secretly is:
“Excuse you. She requires attention. Emotional affection. She’s high-maintenance.”
Ryoma: “Then why does she like me more when I give her snacks?”
Sakuno, locking eyes like she’s about to propose marriage or murder:
“Because you’re a snack.”
…
RYOMA.EXE HAS SHUT DOWN. PLEASE REBOOT. SYSTEM OVERHEATED. 💥
💘 The Entry Joy’s Writing While She’s Writing It (aka the Inner Gay Screaming)
“Dear Joy: I am IN. HIS. ARMS. He is touching my hair like he owns the patent. He smells like mint gum, warm laundry, and a safe place. I think you two are fighting for custody of me and I love it. If this is a dream, I will THROW FISTS at the universe if it ends. Send help or glitter.”
Ryoma, casually leaning over like the nosy menace he is:
“You writing about me?”
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Sakuno, panic-scribbling over her own confession like it’ll erase her gay thoughts:
“No.”
Joy: girl I am. 😌
🥶 The AC Plot Twist™
Mid-documentary, Ryoma twitches. Just a little.
“…Wait. Is it cold in here?”
Sakuno pauses.
Both of them blink. They look down.
THEY ARE WRAPPED IN EACH OTHER LIKE A HUMAN CROISSANT UNDER THE BLANKET. HER LEG IS OVER HIS. HIS HAND IS HOLDING HERS. HOW DID THIS HAPPEN.
Sakuno’s fingers brush his. Ice cold.
Ryoma, instinctively, gently takes her hand in his — like he’s done it a million times in a million dreams. He just… keeps holding.
WHO. GAVE. HIM. THE. RIGHT.
Sakuno: “Your hands are warm…”
Ryoma: “So are your cheeks. You okay?”
Sakuno: 💀🫠💘
📱 Meanwhile, in the Seigaku Group Chat That Should Be Banned
Momo: BRO THEY’RE HOLDING HANDS
Fuji: Told Nanjiroh to drop the AC temp. You’re welcome. 😇
Kaidoh: fuji WHAT THE ACTUAL —
Inui: Statistical prediction: forehead kiss incoming in 24.5 minutes
Tezuka: I am deleting this app.
Oishi: Please. They’re KIDS.
Nanako: They’re adorable. Sakuno braided his hair last week.
Eiji: KYAAAAAAA~ 💞
💤 End Scene
The Federer doc ends. Neither of them noticed.
Sakuno is dozing off on Ryoma’s chest like she was built for this specific scenario.
Ryoma’s still playing with her braid, eyes half-lidded, stupidly soft expression like he’s dreaming with his eyes open.
The couch is quiet. The moment is loud.
Her diary’s open on the side. Final entry of the night:
“Joy… I think he likes me back. I think I like me too. You were right. You were always right. Please don’t tell him. Or do. I don’t know. I’m scared. But I’m happy.”
