In the end, everyone went their separate ways.
First, the location was too sensitive. Although the road connecting the school buildings, dorms, shopping center, and administrative offices didn't have a constant crowd, the passing foot traffic would still gradually gather. If they started arguing there, it would only attract attention and turn them into entertainment for onlookers. No one wanted to become the subject of gossip.
Second, there wasn't really any major conflict between them. In fact, it could be said there was barely any conflict at all. The biggest issue was simply Sakayanagi Arisu's habitual attitude.
Too rude.
The kind that made people want to pick her up and spank her.
But obviously, that wasn't an irreconcilable problem. The moment Ichinose Honami felt her terminal vibrate with a notification from a specially marked contact, she decisively chose to ignore Sakayanagi altogether.
And similarly—
Third, although she maintained that teasing, elegant, high-and-mighty demeanor at first, Sakayanagi didn't keep it up for long.
Because suddenly, she realized something.
Right now—
She was alone.
A girl who needed a cane just to stand steady, with no one around to back her up.
…What if this woman got angry and hit her?
Damn it, Masumi!
If she were here, would I be this cautious?
Hmph.
Anyway, the trio of sneaky onlookers disbanded.
Ichinose took a deep breath, hurried to a nearby bench, leaned back against it, and finally took out her phone.
At the very top of her chat list—
That familiar pinned name.
And the latest message:
[Want to just start dating?]
A direct invitation.
—He knows I was there.
What surfaced in her mind wasn't joy, nor hesitation about accepting.
It was that realization.
He knew.
He knew I was watching.
So…
Was that why he didn't respond to Chihiro?
Because of me?
Or…
Ichinose bit her lip.
The "unread" had already turned into "read."
But she didn't reply.
She didn't know how.
Say yes?
If she started dating him on the very same day Chihiro confessed, what would Chihiro think?
Say no?
What would he think then?
…She couldn't reject him.
But accepting—
Was terrifying.
If dating meant losing what they had now, she would rather stay as they were.
So she said nothing.
...
Confessing felt strange.
Nervous. Anxious. Restless.
The closer it got, the louder the heartbeat became.
Even if the goal wasn't just the confession itself.
"…."
Sitting on a roadside bench, Shiranami Chihiro gently wiped the tears from her eyes with her sleeve, lightly swinging her legs wrapped in white stockings.
She confessed.
She ran away.
She saw Ichinose.
She said what she needed to say.
…So she'd definitely be rejected now, right?
No answer already meant rejection.
That moment she paused while bowing—
Wasn't just acting.
It was hope.
But in the end—
He wouldn't choose her.
Her legs stopped moving.
Her phone vibrated.
She picked it up.
And saw the message.
[Then let's date. You and me.]
"…Huh?"
She blinked.
Again.
And again.
The sender didn't change.
The message didn't change.
He accepted.
Wait—
Did I just succeed?
Does he like me too?
Then what about Ichinose?
Accept?
Reject?
Rejecting after confessing first—wouldn't that be weird?
But replying through text felt too casual…
And more importantly—
What about Ichinose?
Her thoughts spiraled into chaos.
"This is… what even is this…"
Her fingers tightened around the phone.
She had prepared herself.
Prepared to be rejected.
Prepared for this to be a gift for Ichinose.
But now—
[Okay]
Her finger moved faster than her thoughts.
"…Okay."
She accepted.
The weight in her chest dropped heavily.
Her eyes fixed on the screen.
Until—
"Read."
And then—
Another message appeared.
[I also asked Ichinose. She read it but didn't reply]
"…What?"
Her brain froze.
And he kept going.
[I think what you said makes sense. If you like someone, you should just date]
[I don't dislike Ichinose. I actually like her quite a bit]
[But I also like you]
[If it's mutual, then dating is only natural]
[I can't reject people who like me]
[So, Shiranami Chihiro—I like you]
"…."
[Mm, I like you too]
She sent it.
Then—
Her brain caught up.
What is this?!
Is this a cheating declaration?!
So if Ichinose says yes—
He's just going to date both of us?!
And if he likes more people—
Will the list just keep growing?!
Her head buzzed.
By all logic—
She should feel disgusted.
This wasn't just cheating.
This was openly declaring it.
The kind she'd normally condemn without hesitation.
A scumbag.
Completely.
But—
Her trembling fingers hovered over the screen.
She couldn't say "let's break up."
She couldn't take it back.
Because she really did like him.
"…Ugh…"
She couldn't let go.
Even if it still felt unreal—
He said he liked her.
That meant—
She could call herself his girlfriend now.
And if she was his girlfriend…
Then there were things she could do, right?
Her face flushed instantly.
She hugged her phone tightly, nearly rolling on the bench.
F-fine!
I'm his girlfriend now!
I'll enjoy the privileges first!
And besides—
If it's Ichinose…
Even sharing…
Might not be impossible.
Because she knew—
She liked Ichinose too.
But not like that.
Ichinose made her think of warmth.
Of admiration.
But Toru—
Made her think of something else entirely.
So she was sure.
This wasn't that kind of love.
...
At the sports field—
"Haa…"
Kushida Kikyo wiped the sweat from her forehead and exhaled.
It had been nineteen days since she started training with Sakura Airi and Horikita Suzune.
Almost three weeks.
Not enough.
If the next exam was really survival—
This wouldn't cut it.
But at least—
Airi wouldn't drag them down.
And maybe she'd build a habit.
That alone was enough.
Everything had been going smoothly.
Except for two problems.
One—
She underestimated her own popularity.
Training with Horikita and Airi?
Of course people noticed.
Soon—
More and more joined.
For attention.
For exercise.
Or just because others did.
And before she knew it—
A running group had formed.
"…You guys really have too much free time…"
Still—
At least no one questioned the trio anymore.
But the second problem—
Was worse.
She thought she could hold out.
She said it herself.
"Go take care of it yourself."
And he actually did.
For nineteen days.
But now—
She was the one reaching her limit.
Nineteen days was enough, right?
Even once a week wouldn't be unreasonable.
Training needed balance.
Rest too.
And more importantly—
If she didn't "deal with him"…
He'd definitely go find someone else.
So—
For that reason alone—
She decided.
She should go…
Collect what she deserved.
Balance between work and rest.
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