The Confession?

At 5:40 p.m., the sun slowly sank behind the hills, bathing the surroundings in golden light.

Zhuge Linghao crept along, sneaking around like a thief and avoiding everyone.

He and Ayanokoji had planned to have dinner together, but now he'd have to stand him up.

Zhuge Linghao had spent some time getting ready in his dorm. He put on a little suit and styled his hair to look more grown-up—all for a date with that adorable girl!

As he walked along the path to the gymnasium, he started letting his imagination run wild.

Had I really become this charming?

But when I thought about it, I'd been making a scene all over campus for half a semester. It was only natural that a girl would like me!

Hehe, if a girl who was just as charming confessed to me, that would prove I was pretty great, right?

Behind the gymnasium, Zhuge Linghao spotted a slender figure standing in the distance.

He hadn't expected the girl to arrive even earlier than he had!

Zhuge Linghao nervously greeted her. "Hi, I'm here, Ichinose!"

Ichinose Honami stepped forward. "Sorry for suddenly asking you to come out."

"It's... it's fine. What did you want to talk to me about?"

Ichinose Honami slowly lowered her gaze to her toes, her cheeks turning pink. "It'll be over soon. A confession..."

A confession?

A tingling current surged through Zhuge Linghao, and he could clearly hear his heart pounding!

Is it finally happening?

Should I accept, or say yes?

Ichinose Honami closed her eyes and spoke in a slightly trembling voice. "I might be about to get confessed to here!"

"I'm in!"

"Huh? Zhuge, what are you saying?"

"..."

"Never mind..."

This was a social death scene! Zhuge Linghao froze, wishing he could find a hole to crawl into!

After taking a deep breath for ten seconds, Zhuge Linghao said, "Um, wouldn't it be better if I weren't here when they confess to you?"

Ichinose Honami lifted her head and admitted, "I don't really understand romance..."

She picked up a heart-shaped letter. "I found this love letter in my locker yesterday, and I don't want things to go any further with the person who wrote it. I don't know how to turn her down, and I don't want to hurt her, so I thought you could pretend to be my boyfriend, and then..."

Now fully back to his senses, Zhuge Linghao thought, No, that'll only make her even more upset! She'll be rejected before she even gets to confess. Just imagine how awful that'd be!

Zhuge Linghao scratched his head. "Um, I think there's a better way..."

With tears in her eyes, Ichinose Honami pleaded, "Please!"

Footsteps sounded behind Zhuge Linghao. When he turned around, he saw a cute short-haired girl—Shiranami Chihiro!

Huh???

The person confessing is a girl?

What is going on?

Shiranami Chihiro spoke softly. "(⊙o⊙)... Zhuge? What are you doing here?"

Ichinose Honami hurriedly hid the letter behind her back and darted her eyes away. "Sorry, Chihiro. I suddenly brought a boy with me. Actually, he's my... my..."

[ Ding! The host has encountered a special event. Activating quest options.]

What the heck? A special event?

[Option A: Matchmaker. Joyfully don the phoenix's paired wings, happily join the lotus blossoms in union; may your love endure until the seas run dry and the rocks crumble, may you remain devoted to each other for all eternity. The host must use his silver tongue to bring these two together, because true love knows no gender boundaries and can even promote platonic love! If the quest fails, the host will be permanently punished by having to eat instant noodles without a fork or seasoning.]

[Option B: Jealous Rival. The host must declare war on Shiranami Chihiro. Both of you will confess to Ichinose at the same time, then force Ichinose to choose one of the following four options: ① Accept both. ② Accept the host. ③ Accept Shiranami Chihiro. ④ Reject both. No matter which option Ichinose chooses, the host must shamelessly shout, "Actually, I wouldn't mind a three-person relationship, either..."]

[Option C: Lunatic Detective. The host must come up with an excuse to leave, then hide behind the bushes around the corner and wait for the confession to begin. Once it starts, the host must return within three seconds and openly eavesdrop on the confession. As soon as it's interrupted, the host must run away and hide. When the confession starts again, the host must return within five seconds and keep listening. When it's interrupted, the host must run away and hide again. When it starts yet again, the host must return within seven seconds and keep listening. Repeat this cycle until the entire confession has been overheard.]

[Option D: Master of Devotion. The host must confess to Shiranami Chihiro and recite the following heartfelt confession: "Dear Shiranami Chihiro, from the moment I saw you, I was captivated by your adorable appearance. Day after day, my feelings for you have surged like an endless tide! You're the best gift in my life, and the one and only! Will you be my girlfriend?"]

[o((⊙﹏⊙))o?]

System, I'm getting dizzy!

Here I go again, courting disaster. Sigh.

Zhuge Linghao cut off Ichinose Honami and said bluntly, "We're just friends, Ichinose. It takes a lot of courage to confess to someone, and that's something truly admirable! Don't you think you should respond with the respect that courage deserves?"

With that, Zhuge Linghao ran off and hid in the bushes.

"Um, Honami, there's something I've been meaning to tell you..."

Zhuge Linghao took off at a run and dashed back over, his eyes blazing with gossip. He nodded with a knowing grin.

The two girls stared at him in a daze, and Zhuge Linghao ran off again.

"Honami, there's something I've kept inside for a long time. I..."

Zhuge Linghao hurried back, grinning knowingly as he urged Shiranami Chihiro to go on...

Seeing how awkward the atmosphere had become, Zhuge Linghao went back to hide in the bushes around the corner.

"Honami, ever since the start of the school year, I've been drawn to your gentle nature. I've always liked..."

Zhuge Linghao ran back to the scene. He didn't say a word, just grinned knowingly!

The voice stopped again...

All right, Zhuge Linghao ran back around the corner once more and waited for the next confession attempt.

"Honami, I-I like... Oh, for crying out loud, you're back again! What is wrong with you?"

Zhuge Linghao appeared in the two girls' line of sight again, and Shiranami Chihiro couldn't hold back any longer!

At last, she voiced the confession she'd kept buried in her heart for so long. "Honami, I like you. Please go out with me!"

Ichinose Honami sighed and looked at Zhuge Linghao. He nodded to signal that she should go ahead.

Finally, Ichinose Honami stopped wavering and answered directly. "I'm sorry, Chihiro! I can't accept."

"Right now, I just want to work hard with everyone to get into Class A and focus on my studies. I'm afraid I don't have much time for a relationship! I'm really, truly sorry! But starting tomorrow, I'd like to keep getting along with you just as we always have. Is that okay?"

Rejected, Shiranami Chihiro burst into tears. Wiping them away, she quietly ran off...

"I'm glad you finally made things clear, Ichinose."

"Yeah. I'd been so focused on figuring out how to avoid hurting Chihiro that I kept running away from it."

"Thanks for today, for helping me with something so strange..."

"It's nothing. I'm used to it by now."

"Then let's say I owe you one, Zhuge! If you ever run into trouble, you can come straight to me for help!"

"Sure!"

"Um, let's exchange contact information!"

Zhuge Linghao immediately broke into a grin. "No problem! My phone number is 1314520xxxx..."