The Favored One

In the end, Hoshino had no choice but to agree and get each of them a personally signed autograph from Sakura.

With the matter settled, it was time to leave.

Ichinose was the first to suggest leaving. Kushida took the opportunity to invite her out, and although Ichinose politely declined, now that they had exchanged contact information, they would surely make plans to go out together someday.

"Airi, shall we go too?" Haruka took her friend's arm. "Let's go have dinner together?"

"Um, well..." Sakura looked troubled. Rather than agreeing right away, she secretly glanced at Hoshino. "Kaka..."

Haruka caught on. "Airi, do you want to invite Aki?"

"Hoshino helped me so much. I want to thank him..."

"Oh~" Haruka smiled knowingly. "You want to express your gratitude with a meal? Or perhaps..."

She leaned close to Sakura's ear and whispered a few words. Sakura's face instantly flushed bright red as she pushed away her nonsense-spouting friend.

"K-Kaka!"

"Okay, okay. I was just joking." Haruka reassured her. "Then... if you're treating Aki to dinner, I won't tag along and be a third wheel, right?"

Sakura hesitated. "Kaka... next time, we can go together..."

If that person who could hear people's thoughts had not left yet, he would have heard Haruka's inner complaint: No, Airi, are you serious? I was really just joking! Do you really see me as a third wheel? Don't tell me you're planning to do something with Aki...

Sakura did not notice her friend's complicated expression. Her gaze had been fixed on Hoshino ever since.

How could Haruka, who noticed this, fail to understand? With a quiet sigh in her heart, she patted Sakura on the back without changing her expression, then waved gracefully. "Then I'll be off too. Bye-bye, Aki~"

After saying goodbye to Hoshino and Sakura, Haruka walked away with light steps. But the moment she turned the corner of the corridor, her whole body suddenly slumped.

"Haruka, you really are pathetic..." she murmured. "You noticed it long ago. You were prepared long ago... you had even made up your mind long ago..."

Haruka leaned weakly against the wall and closed her eyes. The expression on her face seemed regretful, yet also unwilling to accept it.

"You had already decided that you would support Airi's love life! So why... why didn't you tell Airi, 'Good luck'...?"

"Haruka."

The sudden call startled Haruka. When she opened her eyes, she was shocked all over again—the owner of that voice was right in front of her, their noses nearly touching.

"Aki? Y-you, how did you..."

"I told Sakura I needed to use the restroom, so I have about five minutes."

"...Hmph. Not a single word out of your mouth is the truth."

"If I didn't say that, how could I find time to come see you? And how could I 'happen' to hear your true feelings?"

Hoshino stared directly into Haruka's eyes and stepped even closer. With her back against the wall, Haruka had nowhere to retreat. She held one hand before her chest, unable to hide the panic on her face no matter how hard she tried.

"W-what are you doing?"

"I'm going to—" Hoshino deliberately drew out the words.

They were so close that Haruka could feel his warm breath against her cheek when he spoke, as though it had heated her heart as well.

"I'm going to give you a reward."

As he spoke, Hoshino raised a hand and gently stroked her hair.

"Y-you, you, you..."

"We agreed on this earlier—a head-pat reward. Thank you for being Sakura's good friend and staying by her side even when things were at their most dangerous."

Feeling the girl's body suddenly stiffen, a teasing smile appeared on Hoshino's lips.

"And there's also—a hug reward."

"Wha—"

Before Haruka could react, Hoshino wrapped both arms around her waist and pulled her forcefully into his embrace.

Haruka froze for two seconds, pressing both hands against Hoshino's chest. But her small resistance was entirely useless, and their bodies were pressed tightly together. Haruka could clearly feel her full breasts being squeezed out of shape against his chest. Embarrassed and angry, she gritted her teeth and cried, "Y-you... let me go!"

"No, I won't." Hoshino lowered his head to look at her flushed, lovely face and said softly, "If I let you go, you'll run away again."

Haruka went blank for a moment. Once she came back to herself, she could no longer bear Hoshino's burning gaze. She lowered her head to avoid it, only able to hide her face against his chest.

So this is what boys smell like... Haruka was surprised that this was the first thought to pop into her mind.

No, that's not right!

"Aki, you bastard..." Haruka struggled again, lightly pounding Hoshino's chest with her little fists. "Pervert! Playboy! Dirty creep! Scumbag..."

"Keep your voice down, or Sakura will hear you."

Hoshino reminded her quietly, and Haruka immediately fell silent. She listened carefully for a while, and only after confirming Sakura had not heard the commotion did she mutter, "Let me go already..."

"No." Hoshino grinned. "Didn't you say it yourself? I'm a big pervert who never lets any chance to get handsy with girls slip by... Ow, go easy. Stepping on my foot really hurts..."

Haruka was nearly angered into laughter by his shameless expression. Silently, she shifted more of her weight onto the foot she had planted on his.

"Haruka."

"...What?"

"I like you."

"..."

After several seconds of silence, Haruka used all her strength to viciously pinch the flesh at Hoshino's waist.

"Hiss... That really hurts, Miss Haruka."

"That joke isn't funny."

"I'm serious," Hoshino said. "Look up and meet my eyes, and you'll know I'm serious."

Haruka did not look up. "What about Airi? She likes you too. You're not going to pretend you don't know, are you?"

"I like Sakura too. I'm serious about that as well."

Haruka stared at him blankly. Hoshino's gaze told her that he truly was not lying.

"That's... unbelievable," Haruka murmured. "I imagined so many different scenarios, but I never imagined you'd just say it so casually right in front of me."

"In my understanding, being honest like this is better than hiding it."

"Y-yeah, that's true." Haruka frowned. "But you should at least consider that two-timing isn't exactly something honorable, right?"

"In my view, it really isn't a big deal." Hoshino explained calmly. "In the environment I grew up in, if someone is outstanding enough, they can attract and have more partners."

"For example, my father married a pair of sisters. Even so, he's still considered the model of a devoted man in his circle."

"What kind of circle is that..." Hoshino's sudden revelation left Haruka stunned. Since it involved an elder, she could only make a small complaint. "The law in our country says marriage is monogamous, you know."

"The law itself is a tool of the privileged class. It can only be used to restrain ordinary people."

"You're actually explaining this with a straight face!" Haruka snapped, pinching him again. "So you really want to have two women in your arms and enjoy the blessings of both, without a shred of shame?"

"You have to give it a try first. Maybe it'll work."

Hoshino flashed his signature sunny smile. But to Haruka, it only made his words even more infuriating.

But—that was all it was.

Though his shameless, lecherous behavior made her teeth itch with anger, she... did not actually dislike it.

Because she liked him, even his teasing only made her feel shy, and she would even tolerate him taking a little advantage of her.

Aki must know it too. The favored one was always fearless.