Fujiwara Aoi, Akita Sana, and Saionji Nanase all froze when they heard Natsume Chikage say he would not force Yukimura Suzune.
After all, Suzune had been there in the future too.
But now that Natsume Chikage had said that, did it mean he was giving up on Suzune?
Although having one less girl would be better for them, after seeing a future together with Suzune, they felt reluctant to lose her too.
All three girls struggled with their feelings, wanting to say something but holding back. They did not know how to persuade Chikage to keep trying. Perhaps he could convince Suzune after all.
Yukimura Suzune herself had not expected him to treat her so differently from Nanase and the others, without even trying to talk her around.
Instead, he had simply given up?
Did I go too far with what I said?
Wait, why am I thinking that? This whole thing is ridiculous to begin with. Refusing him was the right thing to do, wasn't it?
But I was the one who turned him down-so why does my heart hurt so much?
At that thought, no matter how hard Yukimura Suzune tried to remain composed, she could not hide the disappointment and sense of
hurt on her face.
"Although I said I didn't want to force you, Suzune, I'm still not going to give up!" Natsume Chikage said earnestly.
Hearing that, the three girls present immediately felt much more at ease.
Yukimura Suzune's mood also improved considerably in that instant, though she still could not quite hide her prickly pride.
"Y-you're contradicting yourself, aren't you? You said you didn't want to force me, but now you're saying you won't give up?"
"There's no contradiction at all!" Natsume Chikage explained, his eyes shining. "Just like Nanase, Aoi, and Sana, you're