After dinner.
Kocho Delia pulled Butterfly Zemu away, and Shinobu Kocho tactfully took Kanao back to their room, leaving only Kanae and Kanzaki Kumo silently looking at each other.
Kanzaki Kumo had thought of so many things to say on the way back, yet now he did not know what to say.
Should he say "sorry"? An apology unsupported by any actual action seemed far too hollow in this situation, even shameless, as though a single apology could erase everything that had happened.
Should he say "thank you"? What Kanae had done for him was already far beyond what a simple "thank you" could answer.
As for letting go of everyone else and loving Kanae alone, Kanzaki Kumo could not do that either.
He could not let Makomo down, nor could he let go of the others in his heart.
At that moment, his conscience and greed were wrestling in his mind.
Perhaps he should say a few words of love.
But sweet talk would be an insult to the girl before him, while he did not know how to put his genuine feelings into words that could do justice to all she had given.
A girl Kanzaki Kumo would never have dared imagine even in his dreams had truly appeared by his side, right before his eyes.
"Pfft~"
After they had stared at each other for a while, Kanae's soft laugh broke the inexplicable silence.
She could see the growing conflict and guilt in Kanzaki Kumo's eyes, and she could feel just how much he cared about her at that moment.
For her, that was enough.
While Kanzaki Kumo was still dazed by her sudden laughter, she quietly moved closer, resting lightly against his shoulder and tilting her head up to meet his eyes.
She raised her hand to