One of Yukishin Tanaka's Principles

"Tomorrow's the weekend! At worst... I'll just sleep in!"

She deliberately spoke with an air of self-righteousness.

But when I think about the second half of the sentence, certain beautiful and intense images involuntarily come to mind.

Her cheeks, which had just lost their blush, suddenly burned bright red again, even more radiant than the sunset.

She could feel her heart racing, pounding against her chest.

On the other side, Sakura Airi finally finished "recounting" what happened yesterday, albeit haltingly, using the classic phrase "I have a friend."

She quietly breathed a sigh of relief, as if a heavy burden had been lifted from her shoulders.

She raised her wet eyes, looking at her best friend with a hint of expectation and even more confusion, waiting for "Haruka from my dreams" to offer her some guidance or comfort.

Logically, when faced with a friend's obvious "I have a friend" type of venting, the safest approach is to touch on the topic briefly and then stop, without making any judgments.

However, Hasebe Haruka recalled Sakura Airi's introverted and shy personality, and then thought of her own parents...

A strong thought surged up.

If Sakura Airi backs down because of shyness or this bizarre "harem situation," she might really miss out and regret it for the rest of her life.

As a friend, she couldn't bear to see her like this. Hasebe Haruka's gaze softened and became serious.

"I Have a Friend Series, right?"

Hasebe Haruka couldn't help but make a small, teasing remark.

Seeing Sakura Airi's face instantly turn red and her eyes filled with embarrassment and annoyance, he smiled and patted the back of her hand reassuringly before speaking seriously.

"Okay, okay, I'm just teasing you. Sakura Airi... uh, your friend. Does she still like that boy?"

Hasebe Haruka the word "friend," which earned her a small protest from Sakura Airi.

"Of course I like it... otherwise... I wouldn't be so confused and bewildered..."

Sakura Airi answered instinctively, her voice soft but firm.

Her words revealed her inner turmoil and confusion, but beneath the surface, there was an undeniable flutter of attraction.

"So," Hasebe Haruka into Sakura Airi's eyes, her voice gentle yet firm, "How much do you think your friend likes that boy? How deeply?"

This question stirred deep emotions within Sakura Airi.

Countless images flashed through my mind in an instant.

He helped himself, the Matoba his fists stained bright red.

His figure running on the sports field

His profile as he quietly reads in the library.

His occasional gentle glances,

Even when he stood next to Hui-chan, he felt a bittersweet mix of emotions, a bittersweet feeling he couldn't help but offer his blessings...

"Probably... maybe..."

"I absolutely love it!"

Sakura Airi's voice rose involuntarily, carrying an almost vow-like sincerity that she herself was unaware of.

Each syllable seemed to have been tempered by the flames of the heart, carrying a scorching temperature.

Hasebe Haruka looked at the sudden gleam in her friend's eyes; it was no longer confusion, but a clear and intense emotion.

She gave her a warm and encouraging smile.

"I once heard a saying," Hasebe Haruka's voice softened further, like a gentle stream, "That love is the surrender of free will. A girl can fall for someone for many reasons—he's handsome, he's powerful, he comes from a good family, he's gentle, he's of good character... These might be reasons for starting out. But for that liking to last and turn into deep love, there must be an even more important reason. That is, your heart has completely decided on him. There are no complicated weighings, no repeated calculations, it's simply him."

She paused, her gaze drifting into the distance, as if recalling something, or perhaps carefully choosing her words.

"Just like Haruki wrote: 'You weren't a choice I made after weighing the pros and cons, but rather the unwavering determination I had after my heart fluttered, knowing it was impossible. This is my greatest sincerity towards this relationship. To be honest, I know better than anyone that there might be no future for us. I ignored all advice—including warnings from my own heart—sometimes pretending to be indifferent, sometimes unable to let go at all. Knowing it might be futile, I still want to try, even if... it's just to accompany you for a while.'"

She withdrew her gaze and refocused on Sakura Airi, her eyes filled with intense seriousness.

"Sakura Airi, I think your friend's feelings for that boy are probably just like you said—she likes him very, very much. In that case, why not muster the courage to confess? At least..."

Hasebe Haruka paused slightly, her tone carrying a subtle, even slightly envious, teasing tone.

"It sounds weird, but at least the other person is a harem member. You... your friend doesn't need to worry too much about who's currently by his side, right? That... in a way, is an advantage?"

Hasebe Haruka's words were like a ray of light, illuminating the path ahead for Sakura Airi.

The fog that had been lingering in my mind seemed to be gradually dispelled by my friend's clear and firm analysis.

Love is the surrender of free will... knowing there might be no future, yet remaining steadfast... the greatest sincerity... to accompany him on his journey...

"Is... this really okay?"

Sakura Airi murmured, her eyes still somewhat uncertain.

But most of that heavy confusion has dissipated, replaced by a cautious exploration and hope.

"Don't you understand, Sakura Airi?"

Hasebe Haruka saw through her wavering and directly exposed the pretense of that "friend," her tone resolute.

"Your friend is actually yourself—your attitude is like that of a student sitting in an exam hall. No matter what answer that boy ultimately writes on the paper of love, as long as he's willing to pick up a pen and write, you'll give him full marks without hesitation! You already have the answer in your heart; you just need the courage to put pen to paper."

Bang! Bang! Bang!

My heart was pounding violently in my chest, like a drumbeat.

Hasebe Haruka's blunt words were like a bolt of lightning, shattering Sakura Airi's last vestiges of self-deception.

The understanding, encouragement, and unwavering certainty in her friend's eyes shattered her chaotic defenses like a hammer blow.

Yes!

A long-held unrequited love, the sleepless nights spent dreaming of him, the racing heartbeats whenever I saw him from afar, the bittersweet feelings and blessings born from Karuizawa Kei...

Everything clearly points to the same answer.

She likes Tanaka Yukishin!

I love it so much!

I love it so much that even the bizarre "harem" setting ahead can't extinguish the flame in my heart!

Having received the most important affirmation, courage, like a tender sprout breaking through the soil, gradually pushed open the hard shell called "cowardice".

Sakura Airi took a deep breath, as if to infuse herself with strength, and then clenched her palm tightly!

Hiss--!

A sharp, distinct pain instantly spread from the palm to the brain!

It hurts!

This intense pain, like a needle, instantly pierced all the illusions that "this is a dream!"

The sunlight streaming through the window cast such vivid shadows on the table, the whispers of my classmates seemed so real, and the lingering pain in my palm felt so tangible...

This... is actually the real world?!

After a brief moment of surprise, Sakura Airi suddenly raised her head, her gaze shooting like lightning towards Hasebe Haruka beside her.

The seriousness that had been on his friend's face had vanished.

He was covering his mouth, his shoulders were shrugging, and his eyes were curved into crescents. His expression of trying so hard to suppress his laughter was as obvious as could be!

"Po--Ryu--Ka--!"

Sakura Airi understood everything instantly!

My hesitant and evasive statement about "I have a friend" was essentially a complete revelation in front of the person involved!

A wave of shame washed over her like a tsunami, instantly overwhelming all her senses.

Her fair cheeks flushed bright red at a visible speed, spreading from her ears all the way down her neck, like a ripe tomato.

"You! You knew all along! You were deliberately trying to make a fool of me..."

Filled with a mixture of embarrassment and grievance at being teased, she pouted her moist lips in a huff.

Her small nostrils twitched slightly, and her big, round eyes glared accusingly at her friend. She looked exactly like an adorable child who had her candy taken away and needed an adult to coax her.

Seeing her friend's embarrassed yet incredibly cute expression, Hasebe Haruka couldn't help but burst out laughing.

"Pfft, hahaha... Sakura Airi... you... you're so cute! I have a friend... hahaha... who really, really likes... hahaha... help me..."

She laughed so hard tears almost came to her eyes.

Sakura Airi was even angrier when she saw her laughing so hard she was shaking.

Her round, chubby cheeks resembled an inflatable pufferfish.

She stared at Haruka several seconds, her eyes gradually shifting from embarrassment and anger to a mischievous glint.

Hmph, she caused her to self-destruct so thoroughly in her "dream," Haruka have to "pay a price" too!

She cleared her throat and tried to put on a serious face, but the glint in her eyes betrayed her.

She deliberately used a tone that conveyed both curiosity and ulterior motives, and slowly asked:

"Hey, Haruka... if... I mean, if... if you were the friend I was talking about, and that boy... well, he's completely unpredictable, like... he just skipped the exam on your test. He didn't even notice your feelings, or didn't even think about it, what would you... do?"

After asking the question, Sakura Airi blinked her big eyes and looked at her friend with an innocent expression that said, "I'm humbly asking for advice," waiting for her answer.

The laughter stopped abruptly.

Hasebe Haruka was momentarily speechless at this unexpected question, which carried a hint of "revenge."

She was taken aback when she saw the cunning glint in Sakura Airi's clear eyes.

Then, a look that was slightly different from her usual aloofness, carrying a hint of wildness and determination, slowly appeared in her eyes.

She stopped smiling and thought seriously for a few seconds.

Then he raised his head, his gaze becoming unusually bright and resolute, as if flames were burning deep within his pupils.

"Me?"

Hasebe Haruka slightly raised her chin, her tone resolute and clear, almost like a declaration, reaching Sakura Airi's ears.

"If it were me—if I really liked someone as much as you... uh, like your friend, and he dared to skip the exam? I would never sit there waiting!"

Her voice wasn't loud, but it was firm. "I will go to him myself, grab him! I will put him in his rightful place and force him to finish this exam seriously! Unless—"

She paused, her eyes sharp as knives, and emphasized each word.

"Unless he tells me explicitly, personally, that he has absolutely no feelings for me whatsoever!"

"Otherwise, as long as there is even a glimmer of hope, I, Hasebe Haruka, will never give up!"

Hasebe Haruka's gaze fell on Sakura Airi's suddenly widened eyes, filled with encouragement and unwavering determination.

Chapter 127, Section 126: One of Tanaka Yukishin's Principles

Karuizawa Kei twirled the ends of her flaxen hair with her slender fingers as she looked at Tanaka Yukishin beside her.

The afternoon sunlight streamed through the window, dancing in his deep eyes, causing Karuizawa Kei's heart to flutter gently.

"Since you already know, Xuexin, then..."

She drawled out the last syllable, the implication being clear.

He was fully aware of Sakura Airi's innocent yet profound feelings, as well as the immense chaos caused by the "revelation."

Now that we know, shouldn't we do something about it?

Tanaka Yukishin to meet Karuizawa Kei's gaze, a knowing yet slightly helpless smile playing on her lips.

He didn't answer immediately, but instead extended his hand.

He naturally tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, the warm touch of his fingertips causing the girl's fair earlobe to tremble slightly.

"Until she expresses it herself," his voice was deep and clear, with an undeniable gentleness, "I will pretend I don't know."

"Huh?"

Karuizawa Kei's eyes widened slightly, clearly surprised by the answer, and her fingers, which were twirling her hair, paused.