Chapter 3

This is the third chapter of the first volume and the third chapter overall of the More Than a Married Couple, But Not Lovers manga series written by Yūki Kanamaru.

## Summary

Jirō is dreaming about Shiori when he is woken up by Akari. He gets up, annoyed, but when he sees Akari asking him to stay beside him for the night, he softens up.

It's half past one in the morning and Akari and Jirō are in the living room watching a horror movie. Akari screams in fright, so Jirō suggests that they should sleep. However, Akari insists that she's not scared. Suddenly, lightning strikes and Akari trembles in fear. Jirō, once again, suggests that she watch the movie tomorrow. However, Akari refuses because their classmates said that watching horror movies together would help in increasing their points for the practical.

Jirō turns off the television, much to the annoyance of Akari. She's determined to earn them points and to her, the best way to do that at the moment is to stay the night together. She starts getting close to Jirō and hands him matching pajamas that they could wear to get that couple vibe. Jirō wonders if something happened between Akari and Minami at karaoke the other day because she was more pumped up than usual at raising their points.

Akari orders Jirō to turn around so she could change into the pajamas. Jirō demands that she do so in her room, but she starts taking off her shirt anyway. He turns around and takes off his own shirt, too. He thinks that Akari is way too comfortable at stripping while there was a guy in the same room. He wonders if she's acting like if it's fine because they were supposed to be acting like a couple.

Jirō starts doubting if Akari even thinks of him as a man, when suddenly the power goes out. As Jirō is asking if Akari is fine, she suddenly hugs him. He panics because he can feel her breasts on his bare chest. Their points start to increase, and he gets annoyed at the beeping sound.

He feels Akari trembling and he realizes that she must be terrified. He looks for his phone so he could turn on his flashlight. Akari tells him to stop, but he turns it on, anyway. Through the light, he sees Akari in tears. She gets angry and accuses him of being a pervert for staring at someone's crying face. He assures her that he wasn't staring at her.

Jirō tries to enter their room, but he is unable to because of the blackout. They are stuck in the living room until the power returns. Akari demands that he return to the couch and accompany her. He muses at how she's so scared and yet still so aggressive towards him. His heart starts to race at how close they are.

Akari orders him to say something interesting. When he stays silent, she starts taunting him, so he decides to tell her a horror story. When he notices her being quiet, he starts to tease her. She screams out an insult, so he stops and apologizes.

Akari tells him that if Minami was with her instead of him, Minami would be nice to her. She starts to intertwine her fingers with Jirō's and tells him that since he is the one she is with at the moment, he should let her rely on him.

Jirō starts sweating profusely. He turns around, unable to look at Akari. He is blushing and he can feel his face burning. Akari finds a flameless aroma candle to light up the living room. With their hands still clasped together, Akari starts to drift off to sleep. Jirō calls her name and she looks at him sleepily. Unable to resist, he tells her that she's cute and gives her a hug. However, he realizes what he just did and struggles to think of an excuse. Luckily, when he looks at Akari, she is sound asleep.

He starts to examine her face. He's amazed at how angelic it is and how it contrasts with her personality. He recalls her words and wonders what it means to rely on someone. He holds her hand once more, wishes Akari a good night and goes to sleep with Akari leaning on him. It turns out, however, that Akari was awake all along and heard everything. She blushes while thinking that he's an idiot for saying the things he just said.

Sometime later at school, the mid-April results for their school's Marriage Practical are posted. Jirō and Akari are at 12th place with a B rank. Jirō's friend praises him for being so capable. Akari, on the other hand, is concerned when she unexpectedly sees Minami and Shiori at 60th place with an E rank.

## Characters in Order of Appearance

Jirō Yakuin
Shiori Sakurazaka dream

Akari Watanabe
Minami Tenjinmentioned
Unnamed Classmate
Jirō's Mothermentioned
## Chapter Notes

* Akari has Jirō watch a horror movie with her so they can earn points.
* The power goes out, so Jirō helps calm down a frightened Akari, which raises their points.
* They both sleep in the living room while holding hands.
* The mid-April results of the Marriage Practical show Jirō and Akari in 12th place, earning themselves a B rank. On the other hand, Minami and Shiori are shown to have an E rank.