Is That a Declaration of Infidelity?!

A confession delivered with the force of a push.

What would Asakusa -kun do?

If you respond to this confession, or face this feeling head-on.

If she really starts dating someone...

Shiina Hiyori wasn't jealous of anything; she genuinely never imagined she could date, hold hands, Kissing, go on dates, or anything more than that.

She was just... well, a little worried that his romantic relationships might affect his 'dedication' to reading.

Companions like Asakusa Toru, who are also 'readers,' are quite rare in Advanced Nurturing.

She couldn't find a single one in Class C, at least.

Although such thoughts might not be very good, Shiina Hiyori felt that she still had the right to have this little bit of selfishness.

After all, this wasn't a curse wishing his relationship would end prematurely, but rather a concern that his companions were drifting further and further away.

The gentle, kind, and virtuous Ms. Shiina Hiyori doesn't mind at all that someone is in a relationship.

Real.

Chapter 183: A Declaration of Infidelity?!

In the end, everyone went their separate ways.

Firstly, the location is rather inconvenient; although there aren't many people on the well-connected roads linking school buildings, dormitories, shopping centers, and office buildings.

However, with the accumulation of comings and goings, a certain number of people will inevitably gather.

Arguing here will only attract a crowd of onlookers who will treat them like spectators.

Nobody wants to be part of a gossip story.

Secondly, the conflicts between them were actually not significant, or even nonexistent.

The biggest contradiction lies in Sakayanagi Arisu's habitual attitude.

That's so rude!

It makes you want to pick her up and spank her.

However, this was clearly not an irreconcilable conflict. After feeling the vibration of the special attention message from the terminal, Ichinose Honami simply gave up on paying attention to Sakayanagi Arisu.

And the same.

Thirdly, although it was quite playful and elegant, she proudly raised her snow-white neck and revealed a smile full of interest.

However, Sakayanagi Arisu's attitude did not last long.

As he smiled, he met Ichinose Honami's perfectly calm gaze.

The Little Princess suddenly remembered something.

She seems to be alone now.

He needed to hold onto a cane to stand firmly, and there was no one around to lend a hand.

What if this woman gets angry and hits me?

It's all Masumi's fault!

If she were still there, why would I back down?

Snort.

In short, the trio who had been stalking and spying on the girls parted ways at this moment.

Ichinose Honami took a deep breath, quickly found a bench, leaned her back against it, and then took out her Personal Terminal.

Then she saw the latest message from the name that had been pinned to the top of the chat window.

How about we start dating?

Asakusa Toru bluntly invited her to date him.

He knew he was there.

What arose in my heart was not the struggle of whether to agree or not, nor the joy at his request to date me; rather, it was this thought.

He knew I was watching, he knew I was listening.

So... that's why he didn't respond to Chihiro's confession...?

Is it because they're considering my feelings, or...?

Ichinose Honami pursed her lips.

The message's 'unread' status had changed to 'read', but she hadn't responded to it yet.

She didn't know how to answer.

Will you agree?

They started dating on the very day Chihiro confessed her feelings. What would Chihiro think?

You won't agree?

What would he think if I refused?

... There's no way she could refuse.

But agreeing is also terrifying.

If the price of dating is the breakdown of the current relationship, then she would rather maintain the status quo.

Biting her lower lip, Ichinose Honami did not give any answer.

The feeling of confessing your feelings is wonderful.

Tension, anxiety, unease.

The closer it gets to the time to confess, the more clearly you can hear your heart beating.

They are afraid of the outcome and worried about being decisively rejected.

Even if one's purpose is not simply to 'confess'.

"..."

Gently raising her hand to wipe away the tears from the corners of her eyes, and wiping away the water stains with her small sleeves, Shiranami Chihiro sat on a bench by the roadside, gently swaying her legs encased in white stockings.

She confessed her feelings.

She ran away.

She saw Ichinose Honami.

She suggested that Asakusa Toru should date Ichinose Honami instead.

... I'm sure I'll be rejected this time.

Not answering is itself a sign of rejection. It was because deep down she still vaguely hoped to get an answer that Shiranami Chihiro paused for a moment when she bent down.

It wasn't just for acting, nor was it just to more logically introduce Ichinose Honami.

However, in the end, he won't choose me.

The swaying legs stopped, and the terminal in the pocket vibrated.

The girl took out her terminal and saw a message from Asakusa Toru on the lit screen.

Let's date then, just the two of us.

"... Huh?"

Shiranami Chihiro was stunned.

Her eyes blinked repeatedly, but no matter how many times she refreshed the page, the text in front of her and the recipient of the message remained unchanged.

Asakusa Toru accepted her request to date him.

Wait, wait, wait...

Did I successfully confess my feelings?

Does he like me too?

What about Honami?

Should we accept it?

Should we refuse?

Isn't it strange that someone who initiated the relationship would later reject it?

But responding by sending messages online always feels a bit perfunctory.

And more importantly, what will happen to Honami if they actually start dating?

Shiranami Chihiro's mind was in a mess; the sense of control she had been in, which was proceeding according to plan, was completely disrupted by this message.

"What's this...?" He gripped the terminal tightly with both hands, a murmur escaping his lips.

I had already mentally prepared myself.

Since the decision had already been made, it was expected that the request would be rejected.

I originally planned to give this as a birthday present to Honami.

In that case...

[Good]

How can anyone refuse?

Even faster than her thoughts, Shiranami Chihiro nodded gently, like a shy young girl.

"Good."

They're dating.

The weight that had been hanging in my heart finally settled, calming my restless mind.

His eyes were fixed on the text on the screen until the 'read' indicator appeared.

But before the girl could even exhale a long breath, new text appeared.

[I also sent it to Ichinose, but she read it without replying.]

Shiranami Chihiro: "... Huh?"

Wait, wait a minute?

What is this guy saying?

I think what you said makes a lot of sense. If you like someone, you should just start dating them.

Shiranami Chihiro's mind went blank, but someone continued to send her more messages that were disrupting her thoughts.

[I don't dislike Ichinose; in fact, I quite like Honami. If she does like me, then dating would be a natural progression if we like each other.]

However, I also quite like Chihiro. Since Chihiro genuinely likes me, it's only natural for us to date if we like each other.

Liking someone is a mutual thing; if you like each other, then dating is perfectly reasonable.

I can't refuse someone I like.

[This means, Shiranami Chihiro, I like you.]

"..."

Yes, I like you too.

With her hands moving faster than her brain, Shiranami Chihiro sent out the only thought in her mind.

But then, belatedly, she regained her senses.

What the heck is this?!

Is this a declaration of infidelity?!