"Ran, the real issue isn't whether I'd accept it, it's whether anyone would actually confess to me."
In response to the question, Ren gave a helpless explanation.
"To be honest, I like all of you. But… I also feel a certain distance between us."
"That's the difference between liking someone from a distance and liking someone in reality."
Ren had always had a kind of "filter" for these girls.
For heroines he'd only seen through a screen, he naturally liked most of them.
That was only normal—after all, who wouldn't like a heroine that's cute and kind?
But now, having the chance to meet them in person, Ren couldn't help feeling hesitant.
Saying "I love you, my waifu" online was easy. Anyone could do it. But saying it offline?
And now, those heroines he once admired through the screen were standing right in front of him—real, living people. It made spouting nonsense far more difficult.
Ren had once dreamed of being the protagonist. But in the end, he was just a regular guy, not someone with protagonist-level charm.
Even now, he was at most just an ordinary person with a cheat.
Who would've thought his relationship with these heroines would become this complicated?
That someone might genuinely fall in love with him?
It all felt like something out of a dream. How could something this good happen in reality?
"That sounds kind of awkward."
Ran probably understood what Ren was trying to say.
"But in the end, you'd still accept it if someone confessed to you, right?"
"...Yeah."
Ren hesitated but didn't deny it.
"It's just hard to imagine something like that actually happening."
"All of you are amazing girls, there's no need to say much about your looks, background, or personality. It just doesn't feel real that people like you would fall for someone like me."
"Like Shinomiya and Sonoko."
"They're both beautiful, have great personalities, and come from strong family backgrounds. Anyone would pursue girls like them."
"So why would they like me?"
Ren felt genuinely confused.
"If it were because of power or status, I could understand."
"But they're not acting that way at all."
"So I can't just brush it off with a half-hearted response."
Just like with Okino Yoko.
If she had simply seen through his special qualities and thought he could help her, Ren would've been able to accept that.
But that wasn't how she acted at all.
At first, it felt like she was simply repaying a debt of gratitude. But over time, they grew closer—like genuine friends.
And eventually, that relationship evolved again.
Was it sincere? Even if Ren didn't fully trust his own emotions, he still believed in his ability to read sincerity.
That was what made it all the more confusing, he didn't understand why these girls were being sincere with him.
But there was one thing he did understand.
Because their feelings were real, he couldn't respond carelessly.
"I get it now."
Ran's lips curled into a soft smile. Her hands were behind her back as she spoke. She understood what Ren was struggling with.
Aside from feeling awkward, the real issue was that he simply couldn't believe it.
And to be fair, she wouldn't believe it either if she were in his shoes.
But the good news was, it wasn't something he couldn't accept.
"Ren, I think you just need to treat this more seriously. At least, I think everyone else is serious about it."
"Yeah. I can feel that too."
"Also, Ren—you're the one who said we could pursue immortality together. How are we supposed to accept anyone casually with that mindset?"
"...Ah!"
Ren suddenly realized.
He did say something like that before. And anyone who obtained the diary would most likely gain immortality in the future. That did indeed set him apart from everyone else.
"Immortals walk together with immortals. Immortals pursue love with other immortals."
"Did you forget that, Ren?"
Ran kept pressing the point—this was key.
"Yeah... I guess I kinda forgot."
Hearing that, Ran rolled her eyes.
"Seriously. You're the one who reminded us to remember that, but you're also the one who forgot it."
"...Sorry."
The issue of longevity really had slipped his mind.
After all, he was only sixteen years old, and not yet truly an immortal. It was easy to forget he would eventually become one.
The values of immortals couldn't be measured by normal standards.
The lifespan of an immortal was simply too long.
"There's that... but there's also the issue of love."
"Everyone likes you sincerely."
Ran cut off Ren's spiraling thoughts before they could go off track again.
"I don't think girls would fall for someone just because they're immortal."
"If anything, after learning they'll live much longer in the future, they'd be even more careful, choosing someone they truly like. Otherwise, how could they spend eternity with them?"
"...You're right."
It was a valid and convincing argument.
Ren had no way to refute her point, because it was true.
For immortals, it wasn't just a matter of convenience.
Only by confirming their feelings would they be able to walk that long road together.
Ren gained a deeper understanding of the girls' feelings for him.
He realized that he needed to take their love more seriously.
"So, Ren, you can take your time to understand the girl's sincerity and why she loves you—then give your answer."
"But if it's Shinomiya, I think she's being genuine. Otherwise, she wouldn't have lost control when she confessed."
Ren carefully listened to Ran's advice.
Indeed, her words carried weight. Girls had better intuition when it came to matters of the heart.
And he agreed with her.
He would first understand why the other person liked him and only then respond accordingly.
It just meant his original plan might be delayed a bit.
But that wasn't a big issue. After all, advancing in the Apprentice Pathway wasn't easy either.
Maybe his diary would surprise him again.
So, instead of worrying about the future...
It was more important to deal with what was right in front of him.
(To be continued.)
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