Chapter 6 Overcome the footsteps of the past
The sound of footsteps from the past has a way of creeping up on you when you least expect it.
Even if they’re not fond memories, even if they’re memories that left scars on your heart, if you fill your life with enough good ones, those bad memories gradually get overwritten and fade away… That’s probably how humans are wired.
Lately, I’ve been experiencing exactly that—sad and painful memories are slowly being overwritten by the days I spend with them and my friends, and while not entirely gone, they’re fading in a good way.
But it’s exactly at times like these… that I’m reminded those footsteps come back when you’ve all but forgotten them.
“I don’t even want to see your face.”
“Looking at you reminds me of your mother.”
A gaze filled with pure hostility, brimming with hatred and disgust.
It’s been a while, hasn’t it? At the same time, words spoken to me when I was much younger resurface in my mind.
What would I feel, and what would I say in response to those words now?
▼▽
“…Huh?”
“Oh, you’re awake?”
…??
As my consciousness stirs, I realize my face is enveloped in an incredibly pleasant sensation.
Before I can even process what it is, the sheer comfort and warmth make me want to savor it more, and I instinctively burrow my face deeper into that soft sensation.
“My, my, quite the cuddler, aren’t you? ♪”
A gentle voice… it feels like I’m in a fluffy dream.
Not satisfied with just pressing my face in, I wrap my arms around her, pulling myself closer, searching for the most comfortable position in this embrace.
“Oh… oh my.”
Her voice, tinged with a shy lilt, tickles my ears, feeling like soothing background music… wait, hold on.
“…Mmph?”
Wait a second, what am I doing right now?
Slowly opening my eyes, I see a pink fabric in front of me… and within it, two large, soft mounds that my face is nestled between.
It feels so good I don’t want to pull away… but at the same time, I know I should, caught in a confusing mix of emotions. As my brain fully wakes up, I start to grasp the situation.
“…Huh?”
Slowly, while still feeling the softness of those mounds, I tilt my gaze upward.
What comes into view is Sakuna-san, smiling down at me… I try to pull away slowly, but she stops me, saying, “No, you can’t.”
“Isn’t it a bit unfair for only you to get away, Hayato-kun? I still want to lie here, holding you like this.”
“Uh, y-yeah.”
W-Well, if she puts it like that, I can’t exactly argue… right!
I thought she’d just hug me back, but then she places a hand on my head, gently pushing my face back into its original position between those soft mounds.
With a squish-squish sensation that feels like it comes with its own sound effects, I’m once again sandwiched between them.
(…Oh, it’s coming back to me now.)
As I feel myself almost drifting back to sleep from the sheer comfort, I start recalling last night’s events.
Since today’s a holiday, I came to stay over at the Shinjo household. But recently, I was told I haven’t been spending enough time with them, and both Arisa and Aina seemed a bit dissatisfied, so I ended up sleeping with Sakuna-san.
“Fufu, we talked a lot last night, didn’t we?”
“Y-Yeah, we did.”
“Ahn♪ It’s unavoidable, but it’s a little ticklish when you talk right there.”
“Uh, well… maybe you could let me go then—”
“No way~.”
Sakuna-san, with a mischievous grin, hugs me even tighter.
With that, there’s no easy way to escape, and I have no choice but to obediently indulge in this forced enjoyment of her softness.
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“I said this last night too, but you’re doing so well, Hayato-kun. Just having you here is a pillar of support for my daughters… and for me. Even just talking with you makes that abundantly clear.”
“…”
One of the things we talked about last night was Aina.
In front of them, I’d nodded along, but in front of an adult like Sakuna-san, the words I couldn’t say back then started spilling out.
That said, it wasn’t anything too negative, and talking with Sakuna-san like this completely cleared my mind.
“It’s like… I don’t mean to put myself down or anything, but maybe because Arisa and Aina are such amazing people, I end up thinking like this. Even though I know I don’t need to, sometimes I can’t help it.”
“Without even realizing it…?”
“Yeah… so it’s almost like a sickness or something.”
“Then we’ll have to treat that tendency to think like that as soon as possible, won’t we?”
“Treat it… is that even possible?”
A treatment to stop thinking negative thoughts entirely… if such a thing exists, it’d probably be some intense, extreme method.
“For starters, filling your life with happy, joyful moments should do the trick.”
“Happy moments…?”
“Yes. How do you feel right now, Hayato-kun, in this moment?”
Right now…?
Does she mean whether this position makes me happy? Well, all I can say is it’s absolutely the best! Maybe she picked up on that thought, because Sakuna-san gives me a bright smile and pats my head.
“Making someone else happy is a pretty difficult thing, you know. It requires not just mutual affection but also being accepted and liked by the other person.”
“…”
“To put it bluntly, not everyone can do that, nor can everyone receive it. You’re doing that difficult thing for my daughters, and for me too, Hayato-kun. You might say you’re just responding to us, but that’s something incredibly precious and wonderful, isn’t it?”
Sakuna-san’s words sink deep into me, and at that moment, the door swings open with some force.
“Hayato-kun, good morning to you and Mom~!”
“Oh, good morning, Aina.”
It seems Aina has entered the room.
“Mmph! Flirting first thing in the morning… I’m jealous, so give Hayato-kun back already!”
“Fufu, no need to pout like that, I’ll give him back. Go on, Hayato-kun, go to her.”
Sakuna-san releases me, and I’m free to get out of bed.
I head to the living room with Aina, greeting Arisa, who’s already preparing breakfast, with a hug.
“Good morning, Hayato-kun.”
“Morning, Arisa.”
The four of us gather and enjoy breakfast together.
“…Man, this is delicious.”
“Haha, you’re savoring it so much, Hayato-kun~.”
“Seeing you eat the food I made like that makes me feel like a proud servant.”
I’m not your servant… but I’ll let it slide.
Her ecstatic expression from me enjoying the food—equating it to being useful—is honestly a bit scary, but I decide not to say anything… yeah, that’s all!
“Well, I’m heading out for a bit. Hayato-kun, make yourself at home.”
“Yes, ma’am!”
After breakfast, Sakuna-san leaves for work-related matters.
Left in the living room, the three of us have nothing particular to do, so we cuddle up and watch TV.
It’s a fairly entertaining show with a trending idol and a comedian getting teased, but I’d argue my situation right now is way better… not that it’s a competition.
“Aina mentioned you were talking with Mom about something?”
“Huh? Oh, yeah…”
I figure it’s fine and share what I discussed with Sakuna-san.
The moment I mention wanting to fill my time with so much joy that I don’t have room for negative thoughts, I feel soft sensations on both cheeks.
A chu sound of kisses follows, and their arms wrap around me.
“Then it’s simple. We’ll keep close like this and do tons of fun things together.”
“Yeah! So get ready, Hayato-kun… though, this kind of thing isn’t exactly new for us, right? ♪”
True enough, I laugh.
Even without saying it, being close like this with them feels like second nature by now.
No matter how many times we do it, I never get tired of it—it’s exciting, it makes me happy… Feeling a bit mischievous and carried away by the moment, I try to put my arms around their shoulders like I did once before, but my hands slip and end up on something soft.
“Fufu, if you want to touch, you can do it as much as you like.”
“Ehehe, you can knead them all you want!”
“…”
…Taking them up on their offer, I gently squeeze, savoring the softness and warmth.
“Man, my best friend’s gone so far already.”
“Ugh, flirting like that, damn it!!”
Spending time like this with them reminds me of what Sota and Kaito said.
Those words were from the day before yesterday at school, part of a conversation about my relationship with the girls, the first since I’d told them about it.
They were jealous but also warm, almost like they were saying, “Be happy, man.” I still wonder what that was about.
“What’s up?”
“Oh, just thinking about what Sota and Kaito said the other day.”
“Huh?”
“Something happen?”
“No clue.”
Maybe I’ll ask them after the break.
Maybe I looked like I was having fun thinking about them, because Arisa and Aina, while showing a hint of jealousy, seemed happy to hear me talk about it.
(Guess it feels good knowing they’re happy for me like this.)
Since I talked about my friends, they start sharing about their own close friends in detail.
I’ve seen them hanging out in class, and we’ve had brief chats when our eyes met, but there’s so much I didn’t know.
“So, those girls were—”
“When I said that, she was like—”
Our conversation somehow turns into a friend-bragging contest, and we end up talking for a solid hour, no joke.
“Oh, it’s from Mom.”
Just before noon, Arisa gets a call from Sakuna-san, saying her errands are taking longer than expected and she won’t be back until evening.
“If Mom’s not coming back, should I just whip up lunch?”
“How about we go out to eat, the three of us?”
Aina suggests, and Arisa’s gaze turns to me.
It’s up to me whether we eat at home or go out… hmm.
“…Maybe going out for a change isn’t bad.”
After a bit of thought, I decide.
Their home cooking is delicious, no question, but eating out together once in a while sounds nice.
Aina cheers at the decision, throwing her arms around me, while Arisa folds the apron she was holding.
“You sure? Just going with my call?”
“Of course. It’s the opinion of my future husband, after all.”
“Love that phrasing! That’s how it is, Hayato-kun!”
Future husband… talk about jumping the gun!
Still, it makes me happy, and I can’t stop grinning. They poke my twitching cheeks, teasing me.
We get ready quickly and head out.
Deciding to pick a place while looking around, we walk side by side, chatting lively.
As we reach the busy streets, Aina starts scanning around, striking a fighting pose.
“What’re you doing?”
“Just checking if someone’s watching, ready to stir up trouble!”
“…Oh.”
“Those types are rare, aren’t they?”
She means someone like that underclassman… oh, right.
I haven’t been too worried since then—no letters, no other incidents, just peaceful days.
I stay cautious just in case, and Sota and Kaito are still there for me… though I don’t want to rely on them too much, they keep telling me to lean on them more.
“So, where should we eat—”
I start to ask, but then I notice an elderly couple walking ahead, holding hands, exuding a warm, loving aura. I can’t take my eyes off them.
“Hayato-kun…?”
“What’s wrong…?”
Their voices feel distant… no, it’s just my imagination.
They follow my gaze and let out a small “ah”—they’ve seen them before, haven’t they? That day at my parents’ grave.
“…Huh?”
“Oh…?”
I must’ve stared too long.
The couple turns toward us… and the moment our eyes meet, my body jolts.
Their gazes harden, and past memories come flooding back vividly.
(…No way, running into them so suddenly like this.)
The elderly couple before me… my father’s parents, my grandparents.
They despised my mother for marrying my father, who left the family, and by extension, they despise me. To be blunt, I’d rather never see them again.
“You…”
“What an unfortunate day this turned out to be.”
Their gazes are thick with hostility, laced with disgust, as if telling me not to look at them.
Don’t stop moving, Hayato.
With Arisa and Aina here, letting this toxic atmosphere ruin our day off would be a waste.
“Let’s go, Arisa, Aina.”
It’s so sudden I forget to take their hands… and as I pass my grandparents, the footsteps that were once just echoes of the past become a clear sound, shaking my eardrums.
“I don’t even want to see your face.”
“Looking at you reminds me of that woman.”
“…”
They don’t want to see my face? That doesn’t matter.
Seeing me reminds them of her… my mother? If I turn around now, they might say worse things… if they insult her, I might not be able to hold back.
I’m thinking that when both my hands are gently squeezed.
“…Arisa? Aina?”
Standing on either side of me, they don’t say anything, just smile gently, reassuring me.
But even with them here, the harsh words don’t stop. Aina steps forward, about to speak, but I stop her.
“Hayato-kun…?”
“Can you let me handle this?”
Back with the letter incident, Aina took care of everything.
I’m not saying we didn’t help at all, but I often wished I could’ve done more.
Helping each other is important, I get that.
But this thing with my grandparents, tied to my past… I want to deal with it myself.
“Aina, Arisa… please just watch over me—I’m not the same kid who just took their words back then. I can face the echoes of the past with my own words, my own steps. Can you watch me do that?”
They nod at my words.
I thank them and face my grandparents, who still glare at me with hostility.
(Yeah, that’s right… their existence has been a lingering wound in my heart. But I don’t need to keep holding onto that pain, do I?)
The words they said when I was with my mother were harsh.
I didn’t want to believe these people were my grandparents… I’ve thought that countless times.
My father chose love with my mother over their demands. I was just a kid, so I didn’t get it, but I refuse to become someone small-minded, stuck in the past like them.
So, maybe I don’t need to think about them anymore—not in any real way.
“Thanks—Arisa, Aina.”
“No need.”
“It’s fine.”
They’re probably staying quiet because it’s my grandparents.
They’re supporting me silently, avoiding the delicate issue of family matters, telling me with their gazes that they’ll back me up no matter what.
I stop, turn around, and meet their hostile stares with a wry smile, my heart lighter than before.
“Maybe it was inevitable that I’d run into you like this.”
“What are you babbling about?”
“…?”
They look at me suspiciously… haha, seeing that expression is kind of amusing.
“You hate me and my mother… but I’ve decided I don’t care anymore—no, I’m happy enough now that I don’t need to care. I’m done letting you drag me down.”
At the last grave visit, Sakuna-san was there… she understood my situation and kept it quiet.
Since then, I’ve spent so much time with them, and now I have this warmth.
I can’t keep clinging to the past when I’m surrounded by such happiness, warmth, and perfect moments.
“My mom and dad were the best parents to me—and I’m happy to be their son.”
With that, I feel like I’ve broken free from the final chain.
In their memory, the last time they saw me was when my mother passed… it’s ironic that they recognized me instantly despite how much I’ve grown, but that’s exactly why this feels right.
“…Hmph, don’t ever show your face again.”
“How unpleasant! To begin with—”
Ignoring their ranting, I take Arisa and Aina and walk away.
“…Well, that was an unexpected encounter.”
“Hayato-kun…”
“You don’t seem too worried?”
“Not at all,” I say, pulling them close to reassure them.
It’s a crowded street, so the hug is brief, but it seems to ease their minds.
“You were probably holding back for my sake, right? Not saying anything.”
“Exactly… honestly, anyone who directs malice at you is an enemy to us. But for this, we felt it wasn’t our place to say anything.”
“Well… I was ready to snap back, but seeing your face, I figured it wasn’t necessary.”
So… if I’d been torn into, Aina might’ve turned it into quite the scene.
Not just Aina—Arisa probably would’ve fired back too.
Knowing how much they care about me makes me think it could’ve turned into a full-blown shouting match… maybe even a nightmare. I’m relieved it didn’t.
“Hey, let’s grab lunch! I’m starving!”
“Okay, okay. Where to—”
“How about some ramen?”
“Sounds good!”
“Ramen… nice, let’s go.”
“It was a spur-of-the-moment pick, but cool.”
So, we head to a ramen shop.
On the way, Aina and I let our stomachs growl loudly, and each time, Arisa looks at us with a motherly expression like Sakuna-san.
(…They’re already saving me like this. I’m completely supported.)
How much have they supported and helped me since we met?
Probably more times than I can count… so from now on, I need to give back as much as I’ve received.
“Hayato-kun, no serious faces, okay?”
“Yeah! I bet you were thinking something complicated!”
“Well… yeah, maybe.”
…They read me so easily. Even worrying is a bit of a hassle.
As they pull me along by the hands, I realize I’ve already forgotten about the encounter with my grandparents.
They’re not completely irrelevant to me, but they don’t weigh on my heart as much anymore.
“…Thanks, you two.”
My quiet murmur is caught perfectly by them.
Their simultaneous smiles wipe away even the lingering traces of my grandparents’ expressions.
Hey, Mom, Dad.
I think I’m really okay now… because I’m so happy, I don’t feel any pain anymore.
“Alright! Maybe I’ll go for three extra servings of noodles!”
“You’ll get fat.”
“All the fat goes to my chest, so it’s fine~!”
“Bigger ones get heavy and troublesome.”
“What about you, Hayato-kun? If I got even more bouncy, what would you do?”
More bouncy than now…?
I’m a little embarrassed for seriously thinking about it… but come on! I can’t help imagining it—I don’t dislike it.
“Let’s go eat already!”
“He’s dodging.”
“Come on, let’s go!”
And so, the three of us continued to spend joyful time together, as always.
…Well, you know.
Looking back later, it’s true that it was a moment of facing an unexpected encounter and the lingering echoes of the past. Yet, it feels like I overcame it almost too easily.
This is the second time I’ve thought this, but it really isn’t something I need to dwell on anymore… My heart no longer harbors sadness or pain.
All that remains is the happy time I share with them… so in a good way, it’s goodbye—to the grandfather and grandmother I don’t love.
▼▽
“Man, that was delicious!”
“Right? ♪ But I could’ve eaten a bit more!”
“…More than that…?”
Watching Hayato-kun and Aina walking ahead, chatting happily, I can’t help but smile, even if I’m not part of their conversation.
Of course, I want to join in their circle, but I also love these moments of just watching them.
(That exchange earlier… even though it doesn’t directly involve us, it made me want to ask why they’d go that far.)
Hayato-kun’s father’s parents… I’d heard about the harsh things they said in the past, but to actually witness it like this… Still, today’s events were yet another moment that reaffirmed, for the umpteenth time, just how much I care for Hayato-kun.
“…If Hayato-kun hadn’t stopped you sooner, Aina, you probably would’ve snapped back hard, huh?”
Against that old man and woman, Aina was on the verge of erupting… and honestly, so was I. Even knowing they’re elderly and should be respected, I could barely hold myself back.
“In the end, there was nothing to worry about…”
Hayato-kun said he was fine, stopped Aina, and spoke his own words.
Seeing that strong side of him made us truly believe he’s okay, that he’s already overcome it, no matter how painful the past was.
“Arisa?”
“Sis?”
“Fufu, sorry.”
I must’ve stopped walking, lost in thought, because Hayato-kun and Aina are tilting their heads, looking at me.
I quickly run to catch up with them.
We went out to eat lunch, so after that, we headed straight home.
As per her message, Mom isn’t back yet, and with just the three of us lovers… fufu, with Hayato-kun in the middle, it was supposed to be a sweet, honey-like time… or so I thought.
“…Zzz… snooze…”
“Haha, he fell asleep.”
Shortly after we got back, Hayato-kun dozed off.
He was trying to fight the sleepiness, but maybe mental fatigue makes you sleepy like that.
“Sis.”
“What?”
“…I’m glad Hayato-kun stopped me. If he hadn’t, I probably would’ve gone off the rails.”
“Oh, as expected.”
Just as I thought… but Aina?
I felt the same way. You just acted in my place, that’s all.
“But, like… maybe the promise we made with them pushed me a little, you know?”
“I get that. I feel the same.”
Actually, Aina and I have one secret we’re keeping from Hayato-kun—the “promise with them” Aina mentioned.
“But thinking back, that was surprising, wasn’t it? I never expected Miyanaga-kun and Aoshima-kun to call us out like that.”
Right… a few days ago, Miyanaga-kun and Aoshima-kun asked to meet us.
Normally, we wouldn’t respond to guys calling us out anymore… but they’re Hayato-kun’s dear friends, and we’ve gotten fairly close to them too, so they’re an exception.
Plus, we knew they wouldn’t do anything malicious toward us, which helped.
“Hayato-kun is such a great person. That’s why people like them gather around him.”
“Yeah. But when it comes to friends, we’re not losing either!”
“Fufu, true.”
Just as Hayato-kun has reliable friends, so do we.
As I gaze at Hayato-kun’s sleeping face, I recall that conversation with them—Miyanaga-kun and the others.
▼▽
It was sudden, but it wasn’t something the two of them would refuse.
The day after resolving the issue with the letter to Hayato, Arisa and Aina were called out by Hayato’s friends, Sota and Kaito.
Normally, they wouldn’t respond to guys calling them out, but since it was Hayato’s friends, who they’d recently grown close to, it was an exception.
“What’s this about?”
“No idea. But I don’t think it’s anything bad.”
Hayato’s presence is a big reason they feel this way.
By the way, Hayato was in the classroom, engrossed in a kendo discussion with Irie, and the vibe was too intense to join… though Arisa was secretly a bit jealous of Irie.
“Opening it?”
“Go ahead.”
When they opened the door to the rooftop, Sota and Kaito were waiting, as expected.
They looked relieved to see Arisa and Aina but also a bit nervous.
“Thanks for coming, both of you.”
“No problem. So, what’s this about?”
Arisa regretted sounding a bit sharp right after speaking.
But they didn’t seem to mind at all, and Aina’s giggles beside her put Arisa at ease.
So, why did they call them out? The reason was soon revealed.
“Well… we wanted to thank you both again.”
“For Hayato.”
“Huh?”
“Thank… for Hayato-kun?”
Arisa and Aina couldn’t help but widen their eyes.
They’d guessed it might be about Hayato since they were called out, but a thank-you for him didn’t quite click.
Sota continued first.
“We’ve always hung out with him, but lately, Hayato’s been genuinely happy… Of course, we like to think we’re part of that. But more than us, it’s because of you two being there for him.”
Kaito nodded beside him and added.
“When we helped at the shop, we heard some things about his situation… Seeing how you two are with him and how he responds to you, it’s clear you’re a huge support for him.”
Apparently, their thank-you was for Arisa and Aina being there for their dear friend.
For Arisa and Aina, supporting the man they love is a given… but being thanked so directly feels a bit ticklish and embarrassing.
“Ehehe, you called us out just for that?”
“Well, yeah… I mean, we can’t really talk like this in the classroom, right? Sure, we could chat, but private stuff like this is tough with others around.”
“I see.”
They must’ve been considerate in their own way.
But talking like this, Arisa feels it—they really care about Hayato, they truly love him as a friend.
(Friendship… it’s nice.)
Male friendship warming her heart like this is new, and Arisa smiles the way she does with Hayato.
“To us, Hayato’s a real best friend. We didn’t even click at first, but he’s the one who brought us together.”
Kaito’s words make Sota nod with a nostalgic look.
“That’s why we want to stay friends with him forever. We can’t say we’ll erase the loneliness of not having family, but we care about him enough to want to try.”
Just as Hayato is Hayato, the people around him are who they are.
To show such words and resolve for one friend… it’s so precious, it dazzles Arisa and Aina.
“Because we care so much, seeing him happier than ever is reassuring… and it makes us happy. And we know it’s because of you two.”
“It’s not that big a deal!”
“You’re saying it… haha.”
“Oh, I’m saying it!”
Aina, honestly… but despite that look, Arisa steps forward.
“Just like you talk about Hayato-kun, he often tells us how grateful he is for you two. His eyes sparkle when he talks about you… honestly, it almost makes us jealous.”
Now it’s Sota and Kaito’s turn to blush.
“Well, anyway, thanks!”
“Yeah, thanks for looking out for our friend!”
Thank you—those words easily sink into Arisa and Aina’s hearts.
At the same time, they resolve to never betray those words… to watch over and support Hayato even more.
…But the conversation didn’t end there.
Suddenly, Aina made a suggestion to Arisa.
“Sis… I think it’s okay to tell them.”
“Huh?”
Tell them… what?
Arisa was puzzled for a moment, but in this context, she quickly caught the hidden meaning in Aina’s words.
After thinking it over, Arisa nodded in agreement.
“Hey, Miyanaga-kun, Aoshima-kun.”
“Yeah?”
“What’s up?”
Meeting their gazes head-on, Aina continued.
“We’ll keep supporting Hayato-kun. We want him to always be smiling, and if he needs us, we’ll always be there… we’ll love him so much he won’t have a moment to feel lonely.”
Pausing for a moment, Aina revealed the hidden truth.
“That’s the feeling we share, having vowed to stay by his side… as his girlfriends.”
Even the densest person would get it after that.
Sure enough, Sota and Kaito looked stunned for a moment but then nodded as if it made sense.
“So, you’re both with him, huh?”
“Yup.”
“Yes.”
“…I mean, it’s not that surprising. Your dynamic was always way closer than normal friends.”
Apparently, they’d vaguely sensed something special.
Still, their quick acceptance surprised Arisa and Aina, even if they’d thought it’d be okay.
“For you two, Hayato’s like a lifesaver, right? Plus, he’s a genuinely good guy. Being around him, you’d naturally let your guard down more… and somehow, I can’t see him choosing just one of you.”
“Haha, yeah! No wonder he’s so happy and having fun!”
Arisa and Aina were ready to explain everything in detail.
They trusted them—because they’d gone out of their way to show they cared about Hayato.
But their casual, almost amused reaction, without any suspicion, made Arisa and Aina wonder if they’d said something odd.
“We were going to explain the details and how it happened, but your reaction’s surprising?”
“Yeah… I mean, you’re both dating him?”
At that, Sota and Kaito kept their smiles.
“Sure, it’s not normal, we get that. But it’s Hayato, and you two are so dedicated to supporting him. I’m jealous enough to say explode, but the vibe tells me this is the best way for you all.”
“Yeah… ugh! A real harem, like some protagonist!”
“So jealous!”
“Right?!”
Is that lighthearted vibe okay…?
Arisa and Aina were thrown by it, but Sota and Kaito’s demeanor made it feel fine.
After venting some playful resentment toward the absent Hayato, their expressions turned serious.
“Honestly, we’re shocked you’re both with him. But if that’s what Hayato wants… and what you want, we’ll just quietly cheer you on.”
“He’s known enough loneliness… so he deserves to be happy from now on. Please, keep supporting him.”
Hearing those words after learning their secret, Arisa and Aina nodded, saying, “Leave it to us.”
Thus, Hayato’s friends learned the secret.
For Arisa and Aina, they became far closer and more special than other peers of the opposite sex.
“Oh, by the way… could you keep this talk a secret from Hayato?”
“…Embarrassed, huh?”
“That’s fine… but he’ll probably figure it out soon.”
“Yeah. Oh, can we ask you two something? Please don’t tell anyone else we’re dating.”
“Of course, it’s a secret!”
“No way we’d spill!”
At Kaito’s words, Arisa and Aina gave a small smile.
Thus, in a place Hayato didn’t know, Sota and Kaito learned a truth.
Yet their friendship remained unchanged.
It was a strong bond between friends that even Arisa and Aina, who generally disliked guys, envied a little… a moment that confirmed they could get along with them.
And through this talk, Arisa and Aina’s feelings grew even stronger.
(Having them say all that, I need to stay by Hayato-kun’s side even more… as a woman who loves him.)
(Fufu, I’ve gotta stay by Hayato-kun forever now! They’d probably get mad if something happened… Ehehe, as a girl who loves him, I’ll never leave him!)
Their love grew heavier, deeper, stronger.
▼▽
“Sis?”
“Huh?”
“What’s up? You zoned out all of a sudden…”
“Oh, sorry. I was just thinking about our promise with them.”
I meant to reflect briefly, but to Aina, it must’ve seemed like I was out of it for a while, so I apologized honestly.
“You don’t need to apologize… but yeah! I was actually thinking about it too. Those two are really Hayato-kun’s best friends, huh?”
Right… they really are.
We haven’t told Hayato-kun about that talk, as promised… but if the chance comes, we’ll probably tell him, and I doubt they’d stop us.
I’m sure Hayato-kun would be surprised but laugh it off with a “What a mess.”
I feel certain of that.
“Because of that talk, you stepped forward in front of those people to protect Hayato-kun, right?”
“Yeah… In the end, Hayato-kun handled it himself, but that promise made me want to protect him so badly I got a bit aggressive.”
As expected… well, I was the same.
But it’s not just because of that talk. Aina and I care about Hayato-kun so much we can’t help it… that’s why we stepped forward, I’m sure.
“Zzz… snooze…”
“Honestly… our beloved guy is sleeping so peacefully.”
Doesn’t he know we want to flirt? Hayato-kun’s sleeping so carefree.
I’m not mad or annoyed, but it makes me want to tease him just a little.
“Oh, Sis! I wanna do naughty pranks on Hayato-kun, but how about we dress up in costumes to help him forget what happened earlier?”
“Costumes?”
“Yeah! Like cat outfits?”
…Hmm?
Not a bad idea, I think, smirking noticeably.
“Let’s get ready then.”
“It’s settled!”
And so, the rest of the day’s plans were set.
I can’t wait to see his reaction when he wakes up!
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