The Owner of the Second Ring.

Hasebe Haruka the suggestion.

"No need. There's nothing I can't say to anyone. I know Hasebe asked me the question because Airi. Our conversation will let her know that it's okay, and I will give her the most honest answer from the bottom of my heart."

Hashiba Hikaru shook his head slightly and pointed to the dining table next to him. "How about we sit down over there and talk?"

"... good."

After the three of them sat down, Hashiba Hikaru gazed at the blue-haired girl opposite her with a gentle smile on her lips, while Hasebe Haruka was quickly organizing her thoughts before speaking.

"I only have one question: what exactly does Classmate Hashiba consider Airi to be?"

Is it a lover, a sweetheart, or a pet that you pet when you remember and then leave aside when you don't?

After Hasebe Haruka and Sakura Airi returned from their Forest Training Camp, the blue-haired girl learned that her best friend had been hoping that Hashiba Hikaru would come and keep her company, but she waited for two weeks without seeing him.

Despite her dissatisfaction with Sakura Airi's choice, Hashiba Hikaru's long absence only fueled her frustration.

"They are lovers."

Hashiba Hikaru spoke solemnly, calmly looking at Hasebe with a scrutinizing gaze, "I've always considered Airi my lover, and it's my good fortune that she favored me."

"Light..."

Upon hearing this answer, the red-haired girl next to him couldn't help but take his hand.

"Anyone can say nice things. You haven't been to Airi's dormitory for more than ten days since you left the Forest School. Is this your attitude?"

Hasebe Haruka no sign of backing down.

"Because so much has happened lately, I really can't get away..."

Hashiba Hikaru smiled. "You should know that I'm the Vice President of the Student Council, right? I've had a lot of work lately, and I also have to deal with class issues."

"But surely you won't have time for more than ten days?"

Hasebe Haruka raised an eyebrow, indicating her disbelief.

"In short, the issues are complicated. It wasn't my fault that I didn't come. Besides, I met with Airi twice while I was at school, did you know that?"

Hashiba Hikaru touched Sakura Airi's smooth little hand. Although he couldn't come to her dormitory, it wouldn't be a problem to meet her at school. Ichinose Honami wouldn't be watching him all the time.

"I know about this; Airi told me about it."

"Why is Hasebe being so aggressive? My feelings for Airi are pure and simple. She likes me just as much and is very tolerant of my flaws. I cherish that very much and will never let her down."

Hashiba Hikaru gazed calmly at Hasebe's pretty face. The blue-haired girl was actually very beautiful and had a great figure, but she was too serious and easily got stuck in dead ends.

"Can you prove it?"

Hasebe Haruka knew that Sakura Airi had willingly become his lover; otherwise, she would have reported him to the school authorities long ago.

"Prove what?"

Hashiba Hikaru felt the little hand she was holding was a bit sweaty. It seemed that Sakura Airi also wanted to know the answer to this question. Although the girl didn't want much, she still cared a lot about how much she meant to the boy.

"Prove how much you care about Airi!"

This was the real point Hasebe Haruka. She stared intently at Hashiba Hikaru, eager to see how he would react.

"Oh."

The young man smiled slightly, revealing a confident expression.

"I told Airi before I came that I actually prepared a gift for her today."

Hashiba Hikaru reached into her pocket, as if to take out a gift.

"Gift?"

Hasebe Haruka couldn't help but feel a little puzzled, but she didn't think any gift could directly express how much the boy cared about Sakura Airi.

"Airi."

The boy called her name gently.

"Yes, I'm here."

Sakura Airi watched as Hashiba Hikaru released her small hand, and then nervously stared at her face.

"Close your eyes first, I'm about to take out the gift."

"Good."

Sakura Airi obediently closed her eyes, while Hasebe Haruka, who was watching the scene unfold, crossed her arms and watched Hashiba Hikaru's movements without moving. If the gift were ordinary, she wouldn't let the other party off so easily.

The next moment, Hashiba Hikaru pulled a simple, small gift box out of her pocket.

The gift box was ordinary, the kind you see everywhere. Hasebe Haruka was immediately dissatisfied, but upon closer inspection, her pupils suddenly contracted.

That's a... ring?!

549

Chapter 549 The Owner of the Second Ring

In the dormitory living room, Sakura Airi kept her eyes closed obediently; she didn't yet know what the gift was.

But Hasebe Haruka had already seen the contents of the gift, changed her expression. Facing the calm-faced Hashiba Hikaru, she didn't know what to say for a moment.

"Alright, Airi can open her eyes now."

"Um."

After hearing the boy's words, Sakura Airi slowly opened her eyes.

The next moment, the exquisitely designed ring came into view, and upon seeing it clearly, the red-haired girl's heart skipped a beat.

"Is this... this the gift that Hikaru prepared for me?"

Sakura Airi stared incredulously at the ring on the boy's hand; it was completely beyond the girl's imagination.

"Yes, I brought it all. Of course it's for you. Who else would it be for? Hasebe- kun?"

Hashiba Hikaru smiled helplessly and took the ring out of the gift box.

"Is this your proof?"

Hasebe Haruka ignored the boy's earlier teasing and instead carefully examined Hashiba Hikaru's face.

"Of course, didn't Hasebe say that we had to prove Airi's importance to me? This is my way of proving it."

The boy fiddled with the ring on his hand. "This ring was custom-made. I'm giving it to Airi today, so Hasebe will understand, right?"

"..."

The delicate-featured blue-haired girl was speechless. The ring on Hashiba Hikaru's hand was shimmering with light. No matter how you looked at it, it was an exquisite ring, with meticulous attention to detail in its design and shape.

Even without knowing its specific value, an item like a ring carries special significance in a romantic relationship.

"Are you going to propose to Airi?"

The blue-haired girl thought for a moment, then asked again.

"Of course not, this ring is just to let Airi know how much I care about her."

Hashiba Hikaru shrugged. "If it were a proposal, I wouldn't choose such a hasty time and place."

"..."

"In short, this is my method of proof, Hasebe has already seen."

After saying that, Hashiba Hikaru ignored her and instead turned her gaze to Sakura Airi sitting next to her.

"Airi."

"Light."

Sakura Airi stared at the ring in the other person's hand. She had never imagined that Hashiba Hikaru would prepare a ring as a gift. The girl's heart was filled with indescribable complex emotions, including excitement and joy, as well as a faint sense of unease.

"I've said before that I would never separate from Airi, but verbal promises are only superficial. If we want to show something more substantial, I think a ring would be quite suitable."

Hashiba Hikaru said gently to her, "This ring is like a contract, representing my promise to Airi. I will always be by your side for the rest of my life."

"Um..."

Excitement shone in the girl's beautiful eyes; she could hear her heart pounding so hard it felt like it was about to leap out of her throat.

"That..."

Hashiba Hikaru carefully took the ring, then extended her right hand to Sakura Airi, "Airi accept?"

"I do!"

Sakura Airi's voice trembled slightly. She quickly placed her small hand in Hashiba Hikaru's palm, biting her lip in anticipation of what was about to happen. Even Hasebe Haruka, who was watching from the side, couldn't help but hold her breath and stare nervously at them.

"That's good."

Hashiba Hikaru smiled and nodded. He slowly slipped the ring onto the other person's slender middle finger, and after it was securely on, he touched the other person's smooth hand.

"Perfect."

Releasing her hand, Sakura Airi subconsciously looked at the ring that was already on her finger. The cold, foreign sensation on her finger made her feel a little uncomfortable, but as her fingertip caressed the outer band of the ring, a richer emotion flowed through the girl's heart.

The pink-haired girl knew what it was; it was a burning flame of love.

"Well, Hasebe, do you understand what I'm thinking now?"

Hashiba Hikaru glanced at Sakura Airi, who was beaming with delight as if she had just received a beloved toy, and a smirk crept across his lips.

"This ring... well, if Airi can accept it, then I won't say anything more."

Hasebe Haruka looked at Sakura Airi's satisfied smile and decided not to say anything more.

"That's good. In any case, the best outcome is that Airi is happy. I'm sure you feel the same way Hasebe, right?"

"That's right."

"Then... shouldn't you...?"

Hashiba Hikaru suddenly pointed towards the door. Since he was here to accompany Sakura Airi today, he naturally couldn't let this "third wheel" stay here forever.

"Hmph, I'll be leaving soon!"

Hasebe Haruka was fully aware of the boy's hints. Naturally, the time ahead belonged to the two couples, and she didn't want to stay any longer, lest she witness something that would make her blush and her heart race.

"Airi, I'll be going now. You can have Classmate Hashiba from now on."

The blue-haired girl looked at her friend, her tone softening considerably.

"Okay, Haruka."

"Good."

After saying goodbye to her friend, Hasebe Haruka gave Hashiba Hikaru a cold look. It was the most handsome face she had ever seen, but his character was completely against her taste. The blue-haired girl quickly left the dormitory without the slightest hesitation.

After the door was closed, Hashiba Hikaru was still watching Hasebe Haruka's departing figure when he soon felt someone take his hand.

"Airi?"

"Light!"

This time, there was no one else in the room, Sakura Airi finally got her wish and squeezed into Hashiba Hikaru's arms. She wrapped her arms tightly around his back, wishing she could become one with the boy.

Hashiba Hikaru's voice was gentle as she caressed the girl's delicate body.

"Does Airi like this gift?"

"Like!"

Sakura Airi buried her head in Hashiba Hikaru's chest, which made her voice sound muffled.

"That's good. This ring is my promise of Airi. I'm such a lucky guy to have your love."

Hashiba Hikaru held her slender waist, his tone calm.

"It was clearly me... who received the love of light; I am the lucky one. If it weren't for the light, I..."

Sakura Airi somewhat incoherent; she didn't actually want to cry at this moment, because she didn't want the other person to see her in such a disheveled state.

"Alright then, we're all very lucky people."

Hashiba Hikaru gently stroked Sakura Airi's pretty face, prompting her to slowly lift her head. Her flawless face was now stained with tears, but a sweet smile remained on the girl's lips.

"Let's cook together first, I'm starving."

"Uh-huh."