"Call me when you get home..."
"Have a proper meal first when you arrive, then rest afterward..."
"I'll be back at school after staying with my mom for a few more days, so even if you don't see me for a while, don't feel lonely. Just bear with it for now."
After stepping out of the hospital room, Kazusa took the initiative to hold her boyfriend's hand, chatting cheerfully about various things.
During that time, Chisato remained silent, simply listening while carefully feeling the warmth of her soft palm.
They walked to the end of the hospital corridor, turned left at the L-shaped corner, and went downstairs to the hospital lobby.
It was quiet here. Other than the nurse standing behind the glass at the service desk, there was no one else around.
Outside the main entrance, taxis were parked along the roadside.
Chisato had already prepared himself mentally.
Meeting Kazusa's puzzled gaze, he held her hand and led her to a seat by the wall in the lobby.
After taking a deep breath, Chisato spoke.
"Kazusa, I have something to tell you."
Kazusa looked at her boyfriend's sudden change in expression, confused but still nodding lightly.
She reached out to adjust the collar of his shirt, which had been slightly disheveled, carefully straightening it.
Chisato could smell her enticing fragrance and feel the ticklish sensation of her warm fingertips brushing against the skin of his neck.
"I've been hiding something really terrible from you all this time. I'm sorry..."
He reached out and held Kazusa's wrist, stopping her from continuing her thoughtful gestures.
If this went on any longer, he feared he would lose the courage to confess and simply accept things as they were.
Kazusa froze for a moment at his sudden change in demeanor, her previous joy and excitement suppressed.
"...What is it?"
"Besides you, I've actually been seeing other girls as well."
Saying it out loud was much easier than he had expected.
But what was painful was the inevitable fallout that would follow.
Chisato could feel Kazusa's hand trembling slightly.
"Hey... You... you're joking, right?"
Kazusa forced a smile, trying to dismiss it as a bad joke.
Chisato steeled himself and continued.
"I'm not joking. While I've been dating you, I've also been involved with other girls."
"...!"
Seeing the seriousness in Chisato's expression, something inside Kazusa cracked.
...Why?
That was the only thought that surfaced in her mind.
Weren't we happy together?
Then why... Why would you do this...?
Mom's illness has gotten better. I've been studying hard, just like you wanted.
We were making wonderful memories together, happy and carefree.
We were supposed to continue like this, one day watching the summer fireworks together, going to the beach again next year.
Being with you—that future was already more than enough for me.
So why did you do this? I don't understand. I really don't understand.
Biting her lip, Kazusa was still overwhelmed by shock and hesitation.
Her mind was in chaos, her breathing becoming unsteady.
Seeing her reaction, Chisato felt an unbearable tightness in his chest.
He never wanted to make Kazusa show such an expression, and yet...
"...I'm sorry."
That was all he could say now.
"...!"
Her response was a pair of reddening eyes and a raised right hand that never came down.
Her shoulders trembled, her expression contorted, and tears began to fall.
"...I see. I wish you happiness."
She stood up and ran back up the stairs without looking back.
Chisato watched her leave, feeling hollow. If possible, he wished Kazusa had slapped him just now.
There was no point in chasing after her now. Even if he did, they wouldn't be able to have a meaningful conversation at this moment.
It might be selfish, but at the very least, Miss Youko, who already knew everything, could be there for the heartbroken Kazusa in his place.
He should head back.
Chisato mechanically stepped out of the hospital and got into a taxi, numbly giving the driver his destination.
Halfway through the ride, his phone rang.
He had no desire to talk to anyone at the moment and was about to decline the call outright. But the moment he saw the caller ID, he let out a shallow sigh and chose to answer.
"...Eriri."
…
By the time he took a taxi from the hospital to his apartment, an hour had passed.
After getting out of the car, Chisato followed Eriri's instructions, stopping by the supermarket to buy some seasoning and drinks before heading home.
The house was anything but quiet.
The moment he opened the door, Dark Wings fluttered over from the living room, landing on his shoulder.
Chisato forced a smile and gently patted the bird's head.
The owners of the neatly arranged pairs of shoes at the entrance appeared before him almost simultaneously.
"You're back."
Utaha, as usual, was wearing black tights as she took the shopping bags from his hands.
"You can rest in the living room for a bit, or take a bath first. Dinner will take a little while."
Wearing an apron, Eriri helped him take off his uniform jacket, hanging it neatly on a coat rack.
This natural and heartwarming scene soothed Chisato somewhat.
Taking off his shoes, he walked forward, meeting Utaha's slightly envious gaze, and pulled Eriri into a hug, burying his face in her hair.
"Chisato, stop it. I still have to finish cooking."
Eriri gently pushed him away, glancing toward Utaha.
Understanding her signal, Utaha wrapped her arm around his wrist and led him to the living room.
Sitting on the sofa, she kept her legs together and patted her lap.
"Want to lie down for a bit?"
"...Thanks."
Chisato didn't stand on ceremony. Feeling particularly heavy today due to his low spirits, he slowly lay down, resting his head on Utaha's exceptionally soft lap.
"I've heard most of the details from Eriri. It's really great that Kazusa's mother's illness was just a misdiagnosis. And then there's…"
Her slender fingers brushed across Chisato's face, and she let out a chuckle.
"Not bad. I didn't expect you to come back unscathed after voluntarily confessing everything. I thought you'd at least have a handprint on your face."
Looking up at Utaha's delicate features, Chisato couldn't resist reaching out and pinching her cheek.
"You… don't gloat."
Utaha chuckled softly, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear. Then, she reached out with both hands and began gently massaging Chisato's forehead.
She could tell he wasn't in a good mood, so even though she was joking, she kept it light.
"So… can you tell me? How did Kazusa react after you honestly told her about our existence?"
"There's not much to say. She looked utterly disappointed in me and walked away… In the end, this really is all my fault."
"Your situation is quite unique. Most girls wouldn't be able to accept it. Her reaction is actually quite normal, so you don't have to feel too troubled by it."
Hearing her say that, Chisato, who had just closed his eyes, slowly opened them again.
He hesitated.
"…Utaha…"
Kasumigaoka blinked her large eyes.
"What?"
"This doesn't sound like something you would say."
"There's nothing strange about it. People grow, don't they?"
"I did hold quite a bit of hostility toward Kazusa before. But thinking about it now, my feelings don't necessarily influence your decisions, so I quickly let go of it."
"…"
"What? You don't believe me?"
Utaha smiled gently.
"In just a few short days, my perspective has changed."
"Originally, I planned for Eriri and me to show up on the day of your school festival without any prior notice, scare you a little, and at the same time, formally declare our presence to Touma Kazusa—essentially, a declaration of war."
"But after thinking it through, I realized that such a childish plan was wrong from the very beginning."
"I had overlooked something: in this world, no one could possibly have stronger feelings for you than Eriri and I."
"Because of this feeling, I subconsciously assumed that any other girl around you must also share the same emotions. But the truth is, that was a mistake."
"When you confessed everything to us, compare how we reacted to how she did. The difference is obvious."
As Utaha spoke, she freed up her right hand and gently pinched his earlobe before brushing over his lips.
She continued in a calm tone.
"You've already confessed everything to Touma Kazusa. Your turn is over. Now, it's up to her to respond."
If she truly can't accept your honesty, then that just proves that her feelings for you were only so deep."
"Once you realize that, there's no need to dwell on it—you'll have a clear answer, won't you?"
The moment she finished speaking, she met Chisato's gaze and slowly lowered her head, pressing her lips against his.
A sweet taste spread through him. He thought, maybe Utaha had just eaten candied plums or honeydew melon for it to be this sweet.
When Utaha lifted her head again, her eyes were filled with an overwhelming gentleness.
"…All in all, what I want to tell you is that from now on, no matter what you decide to do, Eriri and I will support you."
"If you ever feel exhausted from work or studies, just remember—we'll be waiting for you at home."
Chisato stared into her eyes and remained silent for a long time.
"…Utaha…"
"There's nothing you need to say. Just lie here and rest for a bit. I'll go run a bath for you, okay?"
"…Yeah."
…
Chisato sank into the warm water of the bathtub.
"You probably didn't get much rest at the hospital last night, did you? Don't think about anything—just relax and take it easy for now."
"…Thank you, Utaha."
"…Idiot~"
With a soft smile, Utaha took one last glance at his completely exposed body.
Feeling her heart pounding, she quickly closed the bathroom door. After turning around, she let out a small sigh of relief and headed toward the kitchen.
Inside the kitchen, Eriri was tasting soup from a shallow dish.
Just as Utaha was about to say something, Eriri subtly glanced toward the living room.
"Close the kitchen door. The oil fumes are drifting out."
"You're not even frying anything. Don't exaggerate."
Despite her complaint, Utaha still did as she was told.
Once the door was closed, Eriri seemed more at ease. She asked proactively,
"So? Did you do as I told you?"
Utaha pursed her lips in dissatisfaction. Crossing her arms, she replied,
"Though it wasn't obvious, I could tell you deliberately made me say things that badmouthed Touma Kazusa and tried to drive a wedge between them."
Eriri nodded without hesitation.
"That's right. That was exactly my goal. Chisato is already feeling down because of Touma Kazusa, so this is the perfect time to emphasize our presence and make him feel reassured and happy."
"That way, he'll naturally become more attached to us. If we're lucky, he might even end up breaking things off with her completely."
"Taking advantage of the situation, huh… Just so we're clear, no matter what happens next, I'm not playing the bad guy again."
"That won't do. There's something else important I need you to handle."
"What?"
"We can't waste this opportunity. Find some time to meet with Touma Kazusa in private."
"…And what exactly do you want me to do?"
"Nothing special. Just reveal your identity and show off that usual arrogant attitude of yours. Get under her skin."
"…You want me to provoke her further so she completely loses her patience with Chisato?"
Eriri nodded.
Utaha scoffed.
"Not a bad idea."
"Right? Right?"
"You make it sound easy. Why don't you do it yourself? If Chisato finds out, do you think he'll be happy with me?"
"…As much as I hate to admit it, I don't have the confidence to stand in front of Touma Kazusa and overpower her presence. You've seen it yourself—her, um, assets…"
Eriri gestured toward her chest and sighed in frustration.
"I just can't compete with that."
"…Heh."
Utaha let out a mocking laugh but unconsciously straightened her back slightly, revealing a hint of pride.
Indeed, when it came to physique, she was more than confident. She wasn't just above her peers—she could even rival some adults.
And based on what she had seen in her dreams, her body would continue to develop even further in the future.
"So, it has to be you. I know this isn't the most honorable thing, but if you agree, I'll owe you a favor."
"And I'll even tell you something tonight—something that will make Chisato's affection for you skyrocket."
"…"
Seeing Eriri's slightly flushed cheeks, Utaha immediately understood.
She wanted to scold her for being shameless, but recalling Chisato's well-built physique as he entered the bath, she coughed lightly and silently accepted.
_______
50 advanced chapters on p@t re on (.) com/SenatusTheta
_______
If any of you noticed an error, please point it out in comments!