Alexandra Owen-Burns – författare

If a girl teases you, that means she likes you!Unfortunately, Akiteru knows from experience that isn’t the case. Because every girl he interacts with shows him nothing but scorn, and he’s not scored a single date from it! Luckily, he’s more concerned with securing a spot for him and his game-development buddies at his uncle’s business.But when his uncle throws him a condition that involves playing the part of his daughter’s boyfriend, Akiteru has no choice but to take it. What will his best friend’s sister Iroha, who bullies him relentlessly, think of the news?

For any high schooler, summer vacation’s a time to let loose and have some fun! But for the ill-fated Akiteru, it just means stress, stress, and even more stress! As if his fake relationship with Mashiro wasn’t enough, Sumire’s dropped a tremendous bombshell on him, Iroha’s back to teasing him with redoubled effort, and now Midori’s acting mighty suspect too. Will Akiteru make it through the summer with his sanity intact? Or will this fiendish web of relationships finally spell his doom?

Mashiro has just shared a devastating secret with Sumire. Aki and Iroha have been forced through a ceremony that historically guarantees the participants will be married.Meanwhile, Sumire is on the brink of freedom—but just what will she do with it?So much for Aki’s efficient summer plans! Worse, he finds out the foundations beneath his Alliance are pillars of salt and sand.With the Alliance pulled in all directions, will it even last the summer, or will it sink into the depths of the ocean?

As old charades end and new ones begin, the intricate system of secrets and lies holding the Alliance together threatens to collapse like a house of cards—not that Akiteru's noticed. He's been a bit preoccupied with Iroha, who he can't help seeing in a new light.It would figure, then, that his uncle would pick now to show up. So long as he's around, Akiteru's going to have to work double-time to sell the angle that he and Mashiro are a real fake couple.Dealt this bum hand by fate, can Aki come up with the perfect bluff, or will he fold? Can any gambit survive intact while Iroha's a player?And when the summer festival finally comes, just who will Akiteru wind up watching the fireworks with?

The culture festival's over, and it's finally time for some rest and relaxation!Well, it WOULD be if Akiteru weren't wrapped up in various interrogations. Mashiro and Iroha's mothers team up on him, eager to suss out his intentions. Which of their daughters is he after? Both? Neither?Meanwhile, Akiteru's gotta figure out what's going on between his aunt and uncle.Can he get himself out of this one, or does even more disaster await?

It's time for the biggest event of any high school career: the class trip!With Iroha out of the way, Mashiro's more determined than ever to deepen her (fake) relationship with Akiteru.Sucks for Mashiro, though—a third girl is now vying for Akiteru's affection! And Iroha's launched into a long-distance offensive to pester him, but will that be enough for her?With so much trouble brewing, this “relaxing” trip to the hot springs will be anything but!

Thanks to Midori's confession, Akiteru's finally ready to work out his feelings!Too bad he's still in the middle of a class trip!Mashiro goes on the offense and invites Akiteru on a date to a theme park, and Iroha's mother greets them with open arms... But why the heck is Iroha there too?Akiteru just wants to catch a break for once! Aren't theme parks supposed to be fun?!

The first time Akiteru met his friend’s little sister, Iroha, she was soft-spoken, with a diligent air about her. So when he heard she was joining a gang—one led by none other than Otoi—he began to suspect there was more to Iroha than met the eye. When he intervened, things only got more complicated. But as a result, Akiteru formed bonds with unlikely friends for years to come. It’s finally time to unravel the secrets of the Alliance’s past! How did Akiteru come to form the 05th Floor Alliance, and why did Iroha decide to make him the victim of her teasing?