I Thought You Didn't Want Me Anymore!

"Something was strange about Satoru-kun just now."

Back in her dorm room, Amikura Mako flopped onto the bed.

She stared blankly at the ceiling.

Thinking back to how quiet Gojo Satoru had been at the café, more so than usual, she felt a little puzzled.

"Was there?"

When he heard her say that, Gojo Satoru looked bewildered. He thought he'd acted just like he always did.

Was this a woman's intuition?

"There was!"

"Maybe. I didn't even notice it myself."

But Amikura Mako didn't seem willing to let it go. She kept pressing him for an answer.

"Did something bad happen after Yume-chan and I left?"

"Nothing happened."

His voice was even lower than before. After answering, he hugged Amikura Mako where she lay on the bed and buried his face against her chest.

He said nothing was wrong, yet he looked troubled, like a child who didn't know how to express himself.

When he threw himself onto her, Amikura Mako gently held his head in both hands, stroking his hair as she softly asked,

"Are you sulking?"

"Mm!"

"Can't you tell me about it?"

"I don't want to."

Seeing him act like a child throwing a tantrum, Amikura Mako could only give up.

A few minutes passed, and he still didn't seem to be getting up. Amikura Mako patted his back to remind him,

"Satoru-kun, you haven't showered yet. Don't fall asleep."

But Gojo Satoru didn't react at all. He just kept holding her quietly.

A few more minutes passed.

At last, Gojo Satoru moved. He pulled her into his arms and asked quietly,

"Xiao Mako really likes me, right?"

"I like you so much!"

She answered without the slightest hesitation.

But he didn't seem satisfied with that answer, and continued,

"Can you be more specific?"

Amikura Mako didn't know why he'd suddenly asked her that, but she answered gently all the same.

"How should I put it?

I think I liked you from the very first day we met.

I like you whether you're pretending to be a grown-up like you did when you were little, or acting like a child like you do now.

Your looks, your personality, your abilities—I'm fascinated by every part of you.

Maybe more and more girls will fall for you during the next three years of high school, and even after we enter the working world.

But I've always believed that I'm the one who likes you the most!

I like you more than anyone in the universe!"

Hearing that, Gojo Satoru finally smiled and said happily,

"Really?

Then I'm so lucky to have met you, Xiao Mako!"

I should be the one saying that!

That was what she thought, but she didn't say it out loud.

Sensing how intimate the mood had become, Amikura Mako blushed and leaned toward Gojo Satoru's ear.

In a bashful voice, she whispered,

"Do you want to, now?

I'm ready.

The next two days are the weekend, so you can do whatever you want with me."

After she finished, she blew a warm breath into his ear.

Flustered by her teasing, Gojo Satoru stopped thinking. He guided her head with his left hand and kissed her, while his right hand roamed over her.

As he touched her, Amikura Mako's face grew even redder, and her body grew hot beneath his hands.

An hour later,

He gently moved Amikura Mako's arms, which had been wrapped tightly around him in her sleep.

Then he got out of bed and changed back into his regular clothes.

Now that he'd calmed down a little, he realized there were things he ought to explain in person.

Relying on the Six Eyes to guide him, he made his way to Kamuro Masumi's dorm.

Fortunately, it was already rather late. If anyone saw him alone on the women's dorm floor, they'd surely think he was a pervert.

A good-looking pervert, at least!

After lying in bed and worrying for so long, Kamuro Masumi had accidentally fallen asleep. She'd only just gotten up to take a shower.

Knock! Knock! Knock! Knock!

Hearing the persistent knocking, Kamuro Masumi, who had just finished showering, went to the entrance.

Who could it be at this hour?

But as soon as she opened the door, someone hugged her and covered her mouth with a hand.

She was about to struggle when she realized it was Gojo Satoru.

Gojo Satoru didn't say anything. Once he saw that she recognized him, he removed his hand.

Then he gently closed the door and finally spoke.

"Ugh! I feel so guilty. I came all the way to the women's dorm by myself. It'd be awkward if someone saw me.

You have to comfort my poor, fragile heart, Shinsuke!"

Seeing him joking around with her, Kamuro Masumi would have thought nothing had happened today if her eyes weren't still sore.

When she remained silent, Gojo Satoru stopped smiling and continued with a serious expression.

"Have you calmed down a little? Can I explain now?"

Seeing how seriously he was looking at her, Kamuro Masumi finally followed what her heart wanted.

She wanted to know the truth. She didn't want everything to end like this! Blushing, she nodded.

They sat down on the bed, and Gojo Satoru began telling Kamuro Masumi what had happened after he'd met Xiao Mako at school.

After hearing the whole story, Kamuro Masumi felt as though her brain wasn't working properly.

So after all that heartbreak, it turned out that in Amikura's eyes, she was the one who ranked first?!

Feeling as if she'd been played, Kamuro Masumi blushed and demanded,

"Then why didn't you tell me that from the start?!"

"Wasn't it you who never gave me a chance to say anything today?"

Hearing his complaint, Kamuro Masumi thought back.

That did seem to be what had happened!

He'd tried to say something over and over, and she'd interrupted him every time. Then she'd left without a word!

But the reversal had come too fast, and Kamuro Masumi still found it hard to believe.

"I still don't believe you. Unless you get Amikura to tell me herself!"

Hearing her say that, Gojo Satoru looked a little troubled. He explained awkwardly,

"Xiao Mako's probably still asleep. She's a bit tired."

"How would you know that? Did you two just do something?!"

Seeing her lean right up close to him, Gojo Satoru awkwardly turned his head away and scratched his cheek with his index finger.

She wasn't a three-year-old. Seeing his expression and remembering what he'd just said, Kamuro Masumi understood at once!

"Playboy!

You just did that with another girl, and now you've come looking for me!"

"That's not fair. Aren't you both my girlfriends?"

Hearing him say something so shameless, Kamuro Masumi angrily shot back,

"Who said I was your girlfriend?"

Gojo Satoru couldn't hold back a laugh when he saw her puffed-up cheeks.

"Hahaha~

Sorry, sorry. You're just too cute, Shinsuke. I didn't—"

Before he could finish, Kamuro Masumi had already thrown her arms around him and buried her face against his chest.

She wasn't angry anymore, and she didn't say anything. He could only feel her trembling faintly and hear her quiet sobs.

A little while later,

She lifted her head and met Gojo Satoru's gaze. The redness and swelling around her eyes, which had begun to fade, had returned.

Looking at her tear-streaked face, he couldn't find the words. But her wounded voice had already broken the silence.

"I... I thought you didn't want me anymore!"

Thump!

This time, Gojo Satoru was the one who pulled her into his arms.

"I'm sorry. It was my fault for not explaining things properly."

But she didn't answer. She just kept holding him.