Ash blinked, meeting the gazes of Freya, Tama Hill, Annan, Diya, Sonia, and the others.
He actually could explain, because some promises had not been made for the sake of love, and they understood that too. But Ash did not think they were being unreasonable, because whether there had been a promise was not important. What mattered was that they truly had once exchanged parts of their lives with him.
Ash had met them when they were caught in wind and rain. He had held up an umbrella and walked with them for a stretch, only to be forced by accident to leave, abandoning them to stand alone in the rain. Perhaps they had already welcomed clear skies, but without an umbrella, even warm sunlight could sometimes wet the corners of their eyes.
Those moments Ash had never noticed had become heartbeats they would remember forever. So as he looked at their eyes—some nervous, some uneasy, some expectant, some resolute—Ash could not reject their feelings.
Because they had also accompanied Ash through a stretch of wind and rain.
The essence of love was giving, possessiveness, sensitivity, and irrationality. Its side effects were clinginess, jealousy, suspicion, and sheer inexplicability. They were like that, and so was Ash.
But if he absolutely had to give an answer now...
Ash glanced at Diya, then at Annan, then Freya, Tama Hill, and finally his gaze fell on Sonia.
His eyes were clear and bright. His crimson lips parted lightly. "I—"
"Do it!"
At Annan's order, everyone moved!
Freya's pupils turned into pink hearts. The air seemed to fill with the fragrance of cherry blossoms, and a gentle mental wave silently swept across the entire scene!
Bewitching Heart Aura!
Annan covered Ash's mouth and pinned him straight to the ground. While Ash was dazed by