Rentarou, Karane, Kurumi, and Mai are visiting a shrine specializing in love blessings, though it isn't the one housing the Love God.
As they approah the torii, Rentarou notes that the legend states that couples who pass through it while holding hands will have their happiness guaranteed. Karane and Mai agree to do it in their usual tsundere ways, while Kurumi bashfully agrees. They do the same when they approach a two-headed jizou statue to pat their heads.
As they walk further in, Kurumi notes that she's rather honest when compared to Karane and Mai. She usually lets someone else like Hakari take the initiative when it comes to flirting with Rentarou, but it's not that bad being the one to get started. She decides that she'll be more proactive today... even if she's still a little shy.
The next stop at the shrine is a large stone said to grant happiness to couples who declare their love while lifting it. Karane realizes that she's been having Kurumi take the lead this whole time. Meanwhile, Mai hasn't been dating Rentarou for very long, so Karane should be the one to get them started. When the time comes to actually doing it, however, she gets embarrassed, blurts out a non-sequiter and throws the stone at him.
She's mortified by this, but Rentarou says that he'll take in her love no matter what form it takes.
Rentarou suggests ringing a bell, but Karane ends up tossing him into the structure holding the bell up, prompting another comforting hug from Rentarou. Karane's forcing herself to take the initiative puzzles Kurumi. Rentarou suggests he and Mai ring the bell together. Mai insists that she'll ring it with her (invisible) sister. As she prepares to do so, however, she gets caught up in how cool Rentarou is.
Mai's heart does NOT thump really hard. She only got all dressed up because she didn't want to bring shame to Mei, NOT because she was excited for the date and definitely NOT because she wanted Rentarou to think her outfit was cute!
When she tries to ring the bell, she ends up tripping, but luckily Rentarou manages to keep her from falling in the dirt. It would be a shame if something happened to her cute outfit. Still in denial about her heart pounding, Mai tries to pass the sound effects of her heartbeat onto Kurumi.
Finally, the group arrives at a contest where participants shout their love at each other. First prize is "Together Forever" charms. One half of a couple shouts their love, but it's the loudness of the reply that the couple is ranked on. Despite the shrine maiden's confusion when asked if a group of four can participate, Rentarou and the girls are allowed in.
Kurumi mentally prepares to step up, but Karane insists that she'll go. Kurumi realizes why Karane's been so forward today and thanks her.
Karane shouts to Rentarou that she loves him, but warns him not to go thinking that she likes him or anything. Rentarou mentally vows not to let a single decibel escape. He'll turn it all into love!
When Kurumi begins to step up, Mai notices that she's nervous. She encourages her, asking where the cool Kurumi who came to pick her up with Chiyo is. Kurumi muses that Mai would never think of hiding how much she loves Mei and uses that as fuel to declare her own love for Rentarou.
Finally, Mai declares that she'll shout her love for her big sister, but Karane asks if she'll regret that. Mai insists that she hates him, and Karane tells her to vent her feelings, noting that Rentarou would accept everything Mai says and love her regardless.
True to her word, Mai begins by telling Rentarou that she hates him. This stings Rentarou as she continues by saying that she hates him for stealing her sister away and she hates how confused she gets by his handsome face. But as much as she hates him... she loves him a million times more.
As Rentarou's heart throbs, Mai protests that she didn't mean to say that. It's too late, however: the sheer love has turned Rentarou into Shin Godzilla and the next two pages are nothing but a speech bubble of his own declaration of love.
Unsurprisingly, their group wins. Karane and Mai revert to their tsundere selves when Rentarou suggests doing this again, but their words just make Kurumi hungry.
Tropes:
- Tsundere: The theme of the chapter is Rentarou going on a date with the three Tsunderes of the family. The climax of the chapter is the ultimate test for a Tsundere: Shouting their love in front of a crowd.
