"By the way, have you still been going out to 'vent' lately?" Natsukawa Sosuke took the initiative to break the silence.
Kushida rested her head lightly against his shoulder, her voice somewhat languid. "Not much lately... I don't feel as irritated anymore."
"Is that because you go on dates with me so often?"
"...Don't be so full of yourself." Kushida's voice was quiet, almost coquettish.
Natsukawa chuckled and reached out to gently wrap an arm around Kushida's shoulders.
"Kushida, you know, you don't have to force yourself to be friends with everyone." His voice was soft, carrying a guiding strength. "There will always be people in this world who like you, and people who don't. That's normal."
"Easy for you to say."
Kushida Kikyo lifted her face from Natsukawa's shoulder, pouting stubbornly in clear disagreement. The mist rising from the hot spring blurred her expression, but it could not conceal the unease deep in her eyes.
"You don't understand at all. Once some things are found out, there's no going back."
"Is that so?" Natsukawa Sosuke did not argue with her. He merely shifted into a more comfortable position and leaned against the edge of the pool. "Then do you think living every day behind a mask, bending over backward to please everyone, counts as a success?"
He turned to face her, his deep eyes especially clear through the steam.
"To maintain this perfect image of 'Angel Kushida,' you've kept yourself under constant strain, and the pressure you build up needs violence as an outlet. You're afraid of losing people's approval, so you force yourself to remember everyone's preferences and birthdays. You even don't dare refuse any unreasonable request."
"Kushida, have you ever considered that the way you're living now may be even more painful than exposing your true self?"