This chapter is updated by wuxiaworld.eu
Irie grasped Kirihaâs hand as she thanked her. There were tears in her eyes. A confession really was an important event, and the girls were all taking each otherâs stories to heart. Most of the girls were hoping to confess to someone or another, and Kiriha had offered to pray for each of them so far.
The next girl would change that.
Timidly raising her hand was a classmate by the name of Kashiwagi Shiori. Shiori speaking up put Clan and Harumi immediately on tenterhooks.
âHarumi, that girl isâŚâ
âYes, she was trying to confess toâŚâ
They remembered Shioriâs face. She was the girl that was with Koutarou when they caught up to him at the museum. She hadnât actually confessed to him, but it was obvious that she was trying her best to get close to him. That meant the crush she was about to bring up had to be Koutarou. Clan and Harumi feared what might come out of her mouth next.
âI⌠have had someone Iâve liked for a long timeâŚâ
Shiori shyly began talking about her crush, but she didnât name the boy she was interested in. She was going to ask for advice without revealing his identity. Clan and Harumi were
on the edge of their seats as they listened.
âBut at first, I hated him.â
âWhy?â Yurika innocently asked.
She had no idea who Shiori was talking about, so she was just treating this like any other case that had been brought to the love jury.
âHe was violent and unsociable⌠He was scary.â
âThen you should have just left him be,â Sanae chimed in.
Sanae was the same. She could feel love emanating from Shiori, but she didnât know who it was directed towards. And so she didnât react any differently than normal.
âThatâs what I thought too⌠so I didnât talk to him for the first few years.â
âWhich means youâve known this person for quite a while then?â Ruth asked.
Ruth was starting to realize how deep Shioriâs feelings must run to have cared for the same person for that long, but she had no idea who the object of her affection was either.
âWeâve been in the same class since elementary school, but Iâm sure he doesnât remember me.â
Shiori laughed bitterly at herself. She knew she should have acted sooner, and that feeling now distilled into potent regret.
âI think the turning point was when he started playing baseball.â
At the mention of baseball, Kiriha suddenly looked up with a startled expression and stared at Shiori.
âPeople said something had happened with his family and thatâs why he pushed people away⌠but after picking up baseball, he seemed to find a way to connect with others. From there, he changed little by little. Now heâs quite popular and has a best friend heâs close withâŚâ
At this point in her explanation, each of the Corona House girls had realized who Shiori was talking about. They were all rendered speechless by the surprise.
âBecause I was always nearby, watching, I fell in love with him before I knew it⌠Then I started to think that I actually might be able to help him, but I havenât been able to do anything because I didnât have the courageâŚâ
âSh-Shiori, is the person youâre talking aboutâŚâ
As expected, the first one who couldnât stay quiet any longer was Theia. As impatient as she was, she wanted a clear answer. And even though she was the first to speak up, there were another eight girls anxiously awaiting the same answer.
âYeah. So you guys knew about his past too? Actually, I suspected that might be the caseâŚâ
Shioriâs eyes opened wide for a moment, but she soon blushed and nodded. She knew that Theia and some of the other girls had gotten close to Koutarou lately. Thatâs why she figured it wasnât all that strange for them to know.
âJust so weâre clear⌠is Satomi-kun going out with anyone?â
This was really what Shiori had wanted to ask about. She knew that Koutarou got along well with Theia and the others, but she didnât know if any of them had taken the next step with him. She had to know for sure.
âHe⌠shouldnât be going out with anyoneâŚâ
Anxiety washed over Theia and the eight other girls, but there was no denying the truth. Koutarou didnât have a girlfriend.
âI see⌠All right!â Shiori sighed with relief and flashed a look of renewed determination.
âWh-What?â Yurika sheepishly stammered after seeing her reaction.
âIâm going to confess to Satomi-kun during this field trip!â she answered boldly.
If Theia and the others who were currently the closest to Koutarou didnât know about one, there was no way that Koutarou actually had a girlfriend. And that meant that nobody would get their feelings hurt if she confessed. Shiori no longer had any reason to hesitate.
Up until now, the invaders had never really considered that anyone apart from them would fall in love with Koutarou. There may be a fleeting crush here and there, sure. Koutarou had definitely gotten some fans because of the plays. But they hadnât expected that someone who had truly fallen for Koutarou might enter the picture. Shioriâs sudden declaration shook the invaders to their cores.
On the second day of the school excursion, the class would be going to a famous amusement park. Since the trip wasnât entirely about learning and yesterday had been educational, the teachers had scheduled an entire day for something fun. And now the students were all packed back into the bus, ready for a memorable day at the park.
ââŚWhat will happen if Satomi-kun accepts that girlâs confession?â Maki muttered to herself in the back of the bus.
Her voice was quiet, but it reached the other invaders who were sitting nearby. Hearing those words, they all fell silent with serious expressions. While everyone else around them was in high spirits eagerly anticipating getting to the amusement park, the same couldnât be said for the Corona House girls. With the sudden appearance of Shiori and her shocking declaration, the girls were in no state to enjoy the park.
âTh-That wonât happen! This is Koutarou weâre talking about! He wouldnât fall for a girl that easily!â Sanae practically shouted.
She desperately tried to break through the heavy and oppressive atmosphere that had crept over them all. However, even she didnât fully believe what she was saying herself. It was clear that Shiori understood Koutarou pretty well from their talk last night. And with her psychic powers, Sanae knew that the feelings Shiori had for Koutarou were genuine. Denying that she might be able to move his heart would mean denying that any of them
might be able to. And so despite Sanaeâs insistence, her words sounded hollow.
âI want to believe that⌠but Kashiwagi-san knows about a side of Satomi-kun that we donât. Who knows what kind of effect that will have?â Shizuka pointed out what the girls feared the most.
The invaders had already been with Koutarou for over a year, and they prided themselves on knowing Koutarou better than anyone else. The only exception was Kenji. And even though the girls could get a little jealous of him, they never considered him a threat.
But now Shiori had appeared. She wasnât as close with Koutarou as the girls from room 106 were, but she had known him for far longer. Sheâd been watching over him since elementary school. In that sense, she was the girl who knew Koutarou best. That made the other girls all the more anxious.
âBut isnât it hard to believe that Veltlion would accept a girl that he barely knows?â
The girls knew that Koutarou still tried to keep his distance from other people. Clan believed that meant that they didnât have anything to worry about for the foreseeable future. At least, thatâs what she wanted to believe.
âSo if it isnât sudden, does that Satomi-sama might accept? Thereâs still over a year until we graduate.â
Ruth had no objections with Clanâs conclusion, but saw a potential problem. Even if Shiori and Koutarou only became friends now, that might blossom into something over the coming year.
âIn that time, Koutarou and Shiori might even become close enough to brawl⌠Without that, itâs hard to tellâŚâ Theia muttered and clenched her fist.
The fact that they still had over a year of high school left only made them worry more. After all, their relationship with Koutarou had formed over the course of a year.
âI never even imagined this could happen⌠That some other girl might sweep in while weâre at a standstillâŚâ Harumi whispered.
Her words pointed out the essence of the girlsâ problem. They had only been focusing on themselves and Koutarou. They figured everything would turn out fine as long as they spent their time and energy on helping Koutarou heal. Shiori seemed to appear out of nowhere because the girls were suffering from a form of tunnel vision. A bolt from the blue, so to speak.
âBut, Sakuraba-senpai, in this case arenât we the ones who swept in on herâŚ?â
Excluding time travel and other caveats, Shiori was the one who fell in love with Koutarou first, just as Yurika said. Even from Koutarouâs perspective, the invaders had all appeared long after Shiori was already a part of his life.
âLogically speaking, that would be the case. We only met Koutarou last year, and each one of us has fallen in love since. And now that weâve realized that weâre not the only girls in his life, weâre panicking andâ Kiriha attempted to summarize what Harumi and Yurika had said, but she suddenly stopped in the middle of it.
Wait⌠Why am I getting the feeling that somethingâs not right?
As Kiriha spoke, she felt a sense of incongruity. Logically, she understood what they were saying. In fact, she felt the same way. But as she looked at the bigger picture, she felt like something was amiss. However, unable to put her finger on it, she was just left feeling confused. How could there be anything wrong with such rational statements?
âWhatâs the matter, Kiriha?â
Finding it strange for Kiriha to stop so suddenly, Theia looked at her scrutinizingly. Seeing that, Kiriha put the thought out of her mind and flashed a small smile.
âOh, nothing. It was probably just my imagination.â
She still couldnât identify the source of this strange feeling, but continuing to puzzle over it now wouldnât guarantee an answer. And so Kiriha decided to put her mind to the problem in front of them instead.
âAnyway, now that we know we arenât the only girls interested in Koutarou, it would be foolish not to do anything,â Kiriha said, getting the discussion back on track.
âSo what do we do then?â
âItâs unlikely weâll need to act immediately. Letâs see what Shiori does next.â
There girls didnât need to worry about Koutarou being moved by Shioriâs sudden attack. The trials and tribulations of room 106 were proof of that. Taking their time to study their opponentâs moves seemed the most strategically sound tactic for now. So the girls decided to observe Shiori, their first ever rival for Koutarouâs heart.
The amusement park wasnât too far from the hotel, but the congestion around such a popular destination meant they got held up in traffic for half an hour or so. Fortunately, the teachers had taken that possibility into account, and the class arrived about ten minutes before the park opened.
âThis place really is top-notch. Theyâre setting up the perfect atmosphere even before we get in.â
âKou, even if thatâs how you feel, you shouldnât really say it out loud.â
âThe girls are here for the full experience. Pointing things out like that is a little immersion-breaking.â
âOkay, um⌠As expected from the land of dreams!â
âThatâs more like it.â
Koutarou and Kenji stood next to each other, looking up at the main gate to the amusement park. The brick structure was a grand sight in and of itself, setting the stage for the rest of the park. Even the train that circled the edge of the park looked like something out of a fantasy. It was like they had entered a dream world the moment they stepped off the bus.
âSo whatâs it going to be today, Mackenzie?â
Theyâd spent most of yesterday walking around together, so Koutarou decided heâd ask
Kenji if he wanted to tag along today tooâeven though he already had an idea of the answer heâd get.
âI have something to do today.â
As expected, Kenji had other plans. Heâd promised some girl heâd walk around the park with her, leaving Koutarou all alone in the fantastical kingdom of dreams.
âThis is a good opportunity, so why donât you find a date too?â
âEasier said than doneâŚâ
The first ones to come to mind were the girls of room 106, but there would be trouble if he only invited one of them to go with him. Unable to choose between them, Koutarou was left with a dilemma.
âThen why donât we go together, Satomi-kun?â
When Koutarou turned to see who had called out to him, he saw Shiori, the girl heâd talked with a little the day before. She was standing with a few other boysâmore of their classmates.
If he couldnât choose one of the girls from room 106, bonding with his classmates didnât seem like a bad idea. After all, the school excursion would feel a little incomplete if he didnât make memories with any of his peers.
âThanks, Kashiwagi. I think Iâll do just that.â
âYeah! Letâs enjoy ourselves today!â
And so Koutarou decided to go around the amusement park with his classmates. That choice came naturally to him, but Kenjiâwho was watching from nearbyâstarted to wonder what else it might mean.
Kashiwagi-san might unexpectedly win over KouâŚ
Koutarou did indeed treasure the nine girls heâd gotten so close with. But because he treasured them so, he couldnât choose between them. With Kashiwagi Shiori stepping in at just the right time, Koutarou might reflexively choose her instead. Kenji had plenty of romantic experience, and heâd seen stranger scenarios develop into relationships. He believed that it was certainly possible that Koutarou and Shiori might end up together.
But even more worried than Kenji were the girls of room 106, who were currently sneaking after Koutarou and Shiori. They hid in the shadows, sometimes using advanced technology or magic to follow several dozen meters behind Koutarou. At that distance, Clanâs parabolic microphone could easily pick up what Koutarou and Shiori were talking about.
âSo next is that roller coaster one.â
âYouâre fine with heights, right, Satomi-kun?â
âYeah⌠but how do you know that?â
âBecause you were at the top of the pyramid during the sports festival in middle school.â
âHuh, were we in the same class back then?â
âThatâs awful! Weâve always been in the same class!â
Koutarou and Shiori had a playful banter going on between them and seemed to be enjoying themselves. They might even come off as more than just classmates to someone who didnât know better. Shioriâs desire to get closer to Koutarou was pushing their interactions in that direction.
âIt looks like theyâre getting along really well.â
In the shoujo manga that Yurika liked to read, the kind of back and forth that Koutarou and Shiori were having was a sign that their relationship was progressing. It made Yurika even more nervous.
âI think so too. Shiori is sending out love rays, and Koutarou is doing his best to be friendly with her.â
Sanae backed up Yurikaâs observation. With her spirit sight, she could see that Shiori was ardently pouring her heart into her feelings for Koutarou. Sheâd caught a glimpse of it before, but this proved how serious she was about him. It didnât seem like Koutarou had any feelings for her beyond being a classmate, but he was trying to be nice to her since sheâd invited him along. There was no doubt that he wanted to get along with her.
âIf Shiori-sama continues to appeal to him this, then maybe Satomi-sama willâŚâ
âI donât really want to think about it⌠What do you think, Kiriha?â Theia said, interrupting Ruth.
âShiori declared that she would confess during the school excursion. I think itâs a little too soon for that⌠but I canât imagine how Koutarou will react either. Moreover, the confession will likely change the future course of their relationship.â
The girls believed they had a strong bond with Koutarou, so they didnât think it would be easy for Shiori to steal his heart. Nevertheless, they were also aware that they were currently at a standstill. The couldnât deny the possibility that Shiori might bond with Koutarou, given her confession and a little time.
âIf Satomi-kun really does go out with Kashiwagi-san⌠What exactly would happenâŚ?â
Up until now, Shizuka had been able to vaguely imagine her future. She believed that no matter who Koutarou chose, everyone would continue to live their happy, boisterous lives together. But the Shiori dilemma had shaken her. Shizuka couldnât even imagine what the future would look like if Koutarou chose Shiori. The same was more or less true for the other girls as well.
âIf Satomi-kun says that he wonât choose us, then I will probablyâŚâ
If Koutarou chose Shiori, Maki might be the most troubled one of all. She had no place to call home. But they say home is where the heart is, and Makiâs heart was with Koutarou. She felt like it was being crushed just imagining Koutarou choosing Shiori.
âThat said, itâs not like we can get in the way of Veltlionâs relationship with that girl⌠Something that cruel would be unforgivableâŚâ
The girls had followed Shiori in order to figure out their next move, but they were stumped for the moment. As Clan implied, Koutarou and Shioriâs relationship was ultimately between them. How it panned out would be up to them, not Clan and the others. If the girls tried to interfere, it would be spiteful and unfair. They couldnât allow that.
âI guess all we can do is wait and believeâŚâ Harumi said, letting out a heavy sigh.
Since they couldnât try and stop Shiori, all they could do was pray that Koutarou would choose them. They all slowly came to that realization for themselves.
âIf you girls just roll over like that, that girl is going to steal Layous-sama from you.â
Elfaria, who had come out of concern for the girls, had a very different take on the situation. According to her, the was still a lot they needed to do.
Last night, Elfaria had heard all about Shiori from her informant, Yurika. She had explained that the girls of room 106 were pondering what to do about their new rival. Worried, Elfaria had come to check on them.
âBut mother, thereâs nothing we can do in this situation!â
âThat might be true in this case. All you can do is watch over them for the time being.â
Elfaria agreed with the girls about not interfering, especially if Shiori was serious. She didnât want them doing anything theyâd regret. The plan Elfaria had come up with was for after they left this place.
âBut what you need to do from now on is display your feelings even more than ever. Just like what the girl is desperately doing right now.â
Even if Shiori opened up to Koutarou on this trip, considering his personality, it was unlike that Koutarou would make any sort of rash decision. Shiori still had plenty of time to catch up to the girls of room 106. But if Shiori was chasing after them, they only needed to run faster in order to stay ahead of her. While they couldnât do anything to trip her up, nothing stopped them from using her techniques to get ahead.
âBut, Your Majesty, even if we do that, thereâs still the problem of how Satomi-kun feels. I wouldnât want to do something too unreasonable,â said Harumi.
If possible, she wanted to do as Elfaria said. But considering Koutarou still couldnât fully believe in people deep down inside, emphasizing her feelings might end up driving him into a corner instead. Harumi wanted to avoid that. So did the other girls.
âYou really are such gentle girls. And you really treasure Layous-sama.â
Elfaria gently smiled at the eighteen eyes looking at herânine pairs, each just the way hers used to look. They were bright yet wistful.
âI understand very well how you feel. He needs happiness more than anyone else.â
âBut, Harumi, you girls are mistaken about one thing.â
Elfaria just shook her head when Harumi attempted to push the matter further. All nine pairs of eyes opened wide.
âMistaken? About what?â
âBasically, youâre underestimating his progress. Itâs probably because youâre too close to Layous-sama to appreciate it.â
The difference between yesterday and today was subtle. And the girls spent so much time with Koutarou, they might not have even noticed him changing at all. But Elfaria was different. She could clearly see how different Koutarou was from when she first met him in Forthorthe twenty years in the past. And in the few months she had been here, she only saw Koutarou from time to time. Each time, something was a little different. She had a different perspective from everyone else. The same was true for Shiori.
âThe current Layous-sama isnât trying to push you away as much as you think,â Elfaria assured them.
The ones who had caused that change in him were, without a doubt, the nine girls standing before her. They were slowly healing his heart and brining him out of his shell.
âSo believe in him and take the plunge. Youâre more important to Layous-sama than you realize. He needs youâŚâ
And thatâs why Elfaria believed that if the girls wanted a stronger bond with Koutarou, he wouldnât reject them. They were special to him.
The amusement park that Koutarou and the others were visiting spanned an area vast enough to include a large artificial lake, as well as a ferry ride. The boat looked grand and luxurious, but it wasnât really all that big. It was no different from your typical sightseeing ferry. And while it didnât take very long to circle the lake, it was incredibly relaxed experience compared to the other rides, so it was popular with people who wanted a change of pace or to take it easy. It was exactly what Shiori was hoping forâsomewhere quiet where she wouldnât be interrupted.
âHuh, whereâd everyone go?â
As Koutarou reached the ferryâs upper deck, he only saw Shiori. There were other passengers, but she was the only classmate he recognized.
âTheyâre all on the rear deck. Look over there.â
Shiori pointed out the rest of their group. As Koutarou looked over, he spotted their classmates on the deck below them.
âAh, there they are. Letâs go, Kashiwagi.â
Koutarou figured there had just been some sort of misunderstanding, so he immediately turned away from Shiori and started heading for everyone else.
However, Shiori stopped him by grabbing his right hand and pulling him towards her.
Koutarou turned around and looked at Shiori. As he did, she clasped both of her hands around his.
âEveryone moved to the other deck because I asked them to.â
âActually⌠there is something I want to talk to you aboutâŚâ
Shiori lightly closed her eyes. Her flush cheeks and the way she was firmly grasping her hands close to her chest allowed Koutarou to vaguely guess what she wanted to say. It made him feel stiff and tense.
Shiori shyly opened her eyes and meekly started speaking. These were the words sheâd wanted to say for years, but was never been able to bring herself to speak.
âYou might not remember, but⌠weâve been in the same class since elementary school⌠and Iâve always been watching you.â
Sadly, the only memories of Shiori in Koutarouâs mind were from middle and high school. He couldnât remember anything earlier that, but he chose not to say so. He knew it would sound cold.
âThatâs how I know about your mom, and that a lot happened with your dad⌠And I
understand that you donât want to get close to anyone.â
Shiori had learned a lot about Koutarouâs rough life through watching him and listening to people talk. She surmised that, deep down, he couldnât fully place his trust in people.
âOnce I realized that you were struggling to be kind to others, I couldnât take my eyes off of you⌠But I didnât know how I should talk to you. I didnât have the courageâŚâ
While it was true that Koutarou couldnât completely put his faith in other people, he continued to try to accept them. After butting heads, he was finally able to accept Kenji. It was that solemn determination that attracted Shiori.
âBut weâre soon going to be third-years⌠We probably wonât see each other after graduation⌠so I decided to tell you, even if itâs selfish of me. I didnât want to regret not doing anything!â
The shipâs horn blared. It was the signal that the ferry had reached the halfway point of its journey. Shiori didnât have much time left. Spurred on by the boat horn, she revealed the feelings she kept inside.
âIâve always liked you! Please go out with me!â
Sheâd finally been able to say it. She told Koutarou how she really felt. It wasnât just a passing crush; she truly and deeply cared for him. Shiori knew about his circumstances, but she still reached out to him. She had the determination to overcome any problems together. Those were the feelings in her heart as she confessed. It wasnât something Koutarou could take lightly.
âThank you, Kashiwagi. Iâm happy that you feel that way.â
âBut⌠I canât go out with you. Iâm sorry.â
It was honestly painful for Koutarou to reject Shioriâs serious and earnest feelings. But it was what he had to do. Just casually agreeing to date her would only end with her getting hurt.
Hearing Koutarouâs answer, tears started streaming down Shioriâs cheeks. Her voice was hoarse like she was doing her best to keep herself from crying, which was only natural. She was very serious about this. And so Koutarou confessed how he truly felt too.
âThere are already some girls that Iâm interested in.â
âYeah. I only met them after starting high school, but⌠theyâve made me who I am now. I still donât clearly understand it all, but I think the person most important to me is probably one of them. Thatâs why I canât go out with you.â
To Koutarou, the girls of room 106 really were special. They had helped him get to where
he was today. They were practically part of his identity. Because of that, he couldnât choose a different girl. Koutarouâs special someone had to be among those nine.
âI think⌠I can love myself the way I am now. Forgetting the girls who made me feel that way would be too hard.â
âYou mean Theia-chan and the others, right?â
Shiori had a hunch about who Koutarou was talking about. Sheâd been keeping a close eye on him since they entered high school, and there werenât many people who fit the bill. Logically speaking, it had to be Theia and the others who were always around him.
âThatâs right. A lot has happened with them.â Koutarou firmly nodded. He couldnât lie to Shiori when she was being so honest. âI donât think I could choose anyone apart from them. Then again, chances are good that Iâll be rejected or theyâll give up on meâŚâ
The nine girls had all shown affection for Koutarou in their own ways. But there was no guarantee their feelings would remain unchanged until Koutarou discovered his own feelings. Koutarou was prepared for that as well.
âIf you were me, would you give up?â
ââŚNo. Thatâs why I will stay here.â
âIâm really sorry, Kashiwagi. Itâs not that I dislike you.â
âI know⌠I understandâŚâ
Shiori understood how Koutarou felt. She understood that it took time to uncover your own feelings, and that it was impossible to give up even when it got hard. That was how Shiori had made her way here. It was also why she had no choice but to accept what he was saying. She nodded as large tears tumbled off her cheeks, falling to the ground.
Theia and the others were by the ferry terminal, waiting for Koutarou and Shiori to get back. They werenât spying on them right now. When Shiori began her confession, they turned off the microphone and camera on the reconnaissance craft they had been using to observe the boat. They all agreed that eavesdropping on her confession would be in poor taste.
âI wonder how it wentâŚâ Yurika muttered.
Really, she was just saying what was on everyone elseâs minds. The last ten minutes without the camera feed had been grueling. All they could do now was anxiously await the outcome. It felt like waiting for their hearts to be ripped out.
âDo you think theyâll be boyfriend/girlfriend, start with being friends, or just end it with an âIâm sorry.â How they handle this will change everythingâŚâ Shizuka wondered out loud as she leaned on the hedge surrounding the lake and let out a small sigh.
The girls of Corona House believed that Koutarou cherished them and that nothing would change in the near future, regardless of how Koutarou answered Shiori. However, she was still a mysterious threat. She knew a side of Koutarou that they didnât. Chances were high that from today on, theyâd have to keep their guards up. Worry met apprehension, and their unease and impatience only grew stronger.
âBut regardless of the outcome, it doesnât change what weâre going to do with Veltlion,â said Clan. Wanting to clear the air of the negative feelings that were building up, she spoke like she was trying to encourage herself and the other girls.
After being admonished by Elfaria, the girls had already decided on their next move. They were going to take her advice and wear their hearts on their sleeves from now on. Regardless of what happened between Koutarou and Shiori, that policy would stay in place. After all, if someone was chasing them, they had to keep pace or run even faster. They would have to push forwards with their own feelings. There was no time to be discouraged.
The ferryâs horn rang out as it approached. The girls all turned to watch as the boat came in to dock. Koutarou and Shiori would be getting off any minute now. The girls all waited
in silence, patiently watching for them.
âLook, thereâs Koutarou!â Sanae called.
She was the first one to spot Koutarou and Shiori. In terms of eyesight, Theiaâs vision was much sharper, but when it came to finding people, Sanaeâs ability to see auras gave her an advantage. She pointed Koutarou out to the other girls and they all continued to watch from a distance.
âShiori-sama seems to be with him. The reconnaisance craft is picking them up again.â
âRuth, we donât need the reconnaisance craft anymore. No more tricks from this point on.â
Koutarou and Shiori stepped off the boat and walked down the pier together. After getting past the terminal gate, they stopped.
âIt looks like theyâre talking about something⌠AhâŚâ There was a hint of surprise in Makiâs voice.
Shiori bowed deeply to Koutarou, then turned her back to him and ran off. Koutarou stood there, watching her go.
âLooks like it was no good, Shiori-sanâŚâ Harumi sighed sadly. She had realized what had happened just from watching them now.
The other girls felt badly for her as well. They had considered Shiori a threat, but they still couldnât rejoice over her getting her heart broken. They knew how sad it must be. In fact, they had thought of her as a threat because it was that sadness they were all afraid of.
âDid Koutarou choose us⌠or did heâŚâ Kiriha mumbled.
The danger had passed for now, but Kiriha was not necessarily optimistic. While it looked like Shiori had been rejected, they still didnât know why.
No, wait⌠I see. So this is why something felt amissâŚ
Seeing what had happened, Kiriha finally realized what was causing the sense of incongruity she felt before. It was the way she and the other girls had gone about things in the first place. It was their way of thinking.
Why did we feel threatened by Shiori? Itâs as if the only ones who have feelings for Koutarou are us and ShioriâŚ
Each of the nine girls here loved Koutarou. Which meant that, as with Shiori, they were all rivals in love. But it didnât feel like it. A clear line had been drawn.
Why do we think that way? Because weâre best friends who have spent so much time together? That is probably part of it. With the fierce battles weâve survived, being comrades-in-arms is probably also part of it. But is that really all?
It was a strange situation. The girls of room 106 didnât feel threatened by each other like they did by Shiori. There was no doubt that they had developed a strong bond over the time they spent together, but Kiriha felt reluctant to accept that that was what created the clear division between the girls of room 106 and Shiori.
Isnât there some other reason? A special reason that would allow us accept each otherâŚ
All nine girls loved Koutarou, and they all had accepted one another. Just based on probability, this was an extremely unlikely situation. And yet, despite all odds, here they were. Kiriha began suspecting that there must be a reason for it.
ââŚriha. Kiriha, why did you fall silent all of a sudden?â
Kiriha snapped out of it as someone started shaking her shoulders. She looked up, and a confused Sanae stared right back at her.
ââŚOh, nothing. It was probably just my imagination.â
In the end, Kiriha abandoned her train of thought.
I must just be overthinking it. In fact, it was probably impossible to try and decipher how we ended up in this situation in the first place. Considering that even a time slip is part of our relationship, itâs inevitable that probability has been biased in our favor. So this is either truly a coincidence, or perhaps even fateâŚ
Searching for reason in a string of coincidences was one of mankindâs bad habits. Anything could happen in spite of statistical odds. Letâs say a rabbit being chased by a fox bumps into a stump and falls over dead. If that happened a second time, it would be a mistake to assume that the stump had the power to attract and kill rabbits. No matter how long the fox waited around the stump, a third rabbit would never come.
âHmm, okay. Whatever you say. But more importantly, Koutarou is coming this way!â
âSanae, letâs go greet him!â
âYeah! âŚBut he might be angry.â
âWeâll cross that bridge when we get there.â
There was also another reason Kiriha abandoned her line of questioning. She didnât want to believe that her meeting Sanae, who she was now holding hands with, or any of the other seven girls was due to anything short of fate.
Day three of the school excursion, the final day, was planned for a trip to a local ranch atop a plateau. The ranch was maintained as a sightseeing spot, so it was more like a park than an actual ranch. There were animals to see, stalls set up for visitors to get a glimpse of ranch life and experience it for themselves, a factory to tour, and even a restaurant and souvenir shop to visit. There were all kinds of things to see and do that interested Koutarou and the others.
âKoutarou, isnât there somewhere you can try hunting sheep?â
âThereâs nothing violent like that here!â
Only one person, Theia, was unengaged. Leaning on the wooden fence surrounding the sheep pastures, she puffed up her cheeks in dissatisfaction. The place was interesting in its own right, but it was too dull and peaceful for Theia. It was a poor match for her energetic and gung-ho personality.
âEating the sheep you capture yourself would be more fun though.â
âLook at this heavenly place! Do you really want to turn these pastures into some hellscape?â
âEven if you ask all cutesy-like, thereâs nothing like that here!â
âI guess I donât have a choice⌠In that case, Koutarou, you may accompany me for something more violent later on.â
âFine, fine⌠Just hold it in for now.â
But in reality, Theia wasnât as unhappy as she seemed, and she wasnât serious about hunting sheep. She just knew that Koutarou would cater to her that way. After getting a promise out of him, Theia was quite satisfied for the moment.
âMaster. Your Highness. So this is where you wereâŚâ
âKoutarou! Theia! Letâs go over there next! Thereâs ice cream!â
Just as Theiaâs mood had improved, Ruth and Sanae appeared. After scuttling over to Koutarou, Sanae spread out a pamphlet to show him.
âIt says you can try making ice cream by hand! Letâs all go together!â
âI made reservations a little while ago and just got word that itâs our turn.â
There was a station set up on the grounds where visitors could make ice cream using milk from the ranch cows. It seemed like the girl who loved cooking and the girl who loves sweets just couldnât help themselves.
âYeah! Itâs more fun that way!â
âI made a reservation for ten.â
âWonât we end up with way too much ice cream?â
âEven better! Weâll just have to eat it all!â
âIf we canât finish it all, we can just store it on the Blue Knight.â
âI guess that works. All right, letâs go.â
Since there didnât seem to be any problems, Koutarou decided to join and make ice cream too. Sanae, who had been smiling all along, moved closer to him.
âKoutarou, Koutarou!â
She climbed up on Koutarouâs back in the usual fashion, as if claiming her territory.
With Sanae on his back, Koutarou began walking in the direction she pointed. Theia and Ruth followed not too far behind.
Ruth smiled as she glanced at the two of them. She leaned over and whispered into Theiaâs ear, âIt looks like weâre off to a late start.â
âThatâs fine. He made a promise to play with me later.â
As Ruth and Theia smiled to each other, Koutarou and Sanae met up with the other girls. They were all waiting at the booth.
âYouâre late, Satomi-kun. We were about to start without you.â
Shizuka welcomed them with a smile. She may have been targeting Koutarou, but it was just an opportunity to start up a conversation. Knowing that, he responded lightheartedly.
âIâm sorry, Landlord-san. Sanae was heavier than I thought.â
âYou liar. You were happy to carry me.â
âNow Iâm jealous. Satomi-kun, give me a piggyback ride sometime too.â
âOnly on a day when youâre light.â
âThatâs terrible! Iâve been nothing but light lately!â
âThatâs a lie. You were crying in the bathroom yesterday because you gained half a kilogram,â Sanae squealed.
âUgh, Sanae-chan! JeezâŚâ
Sanae got off Koutarouâs back and began chatting with Shizuka. He watched them for a while, but couldnât help noticing the strange face Yurika was making.
âWhat is it, Yurika?â
âUm, Satomi-san, how much ice cream do you have to eat for it to count as a meal?â
âDonât skimp on your food budget by replacing dinner with ice cream.â
âBut thereâs no expiration date on ice cream, right? I should make the most of it!â
Yurika was always thinking about food and money. She was planning on making a meal out of the ice cream she was going to make. It seemed like the prudent, economical thing to do. Who knows what tomorrow might bring? It might be poverty and hunger. Yurika made it a point to always be prepared.
âWait, Yurika! Even if you suddenly end up penniless tomorrow, Iâll cover your food expenses equivalent to the ice cream you make here. So donât you dare waste a fun event like this on miserable thoughts like starving!â
To Koutarou, Yurikaâs way of thinking was too pessimistic and sad.
Yurika might be the same as me. She canât fully trust others when it comes to things like thisâŚ
If he left her be, Yurika would go in a bad direction. Koutarou couldnât just overlook that. He was ready to put an end to it.
Yurikaâs eyes lit up at his offer. She folded her hands in front of her chest like she was praying and sidled up next to Koutarou.
âIâve loved you since we first met, Satomi-san!â
She grabbed his hand and shook it up and down. She looked like sheâd just found her savior.
âBy the way, Yurika, just because I promised to help you out, donât even think of trying to save your ice cream for later, okay?â
âWhaaat?! I canât?!â Yurika froze on the spot.
âOf course you canât! If you leave any behind, Iâm going to eat all of it!â
âThatâs just too cruel! Please show some mercy, Satomi-saaaaan!â
Yurika clung to Koutarou and begged, but he thoroughly refused her. Really, it was a sign that he would always be willing to help her out, but Yurika didnât seem to realize that.
Once the group actually got to making ice cream, the ones who were good at cooking practically ran the show. Fortunately, making ice cream was a relatively simple process and there was very little chance of failing. By having those who were good at it pair up with those who werenât, everyoneâs ice cream gradually approached completion.
Koutarou and Maki were working together. Koutarouâs culinary skills were strictly mediocre, so he was paired up with Maki, who was a decent cook.
âAll thatâs left isâ
âLeave it to me. Iâm good with heavy labor.â
Koutarou and Maki cooking was a strange sight. They exchanged very few words. As they often seemed to think alike, they were strangely able to intuit what the other might need or want. As a result, things were proceeding quite smoothly. It was a stark contrast to Sanae and Theia, who were currently making a big fuss. But with their teamwork and skill, Koutarou and Maki were the first ones to move on to the final stage of stirring the ingredients while they were still cold.
âBy the way, do you like chocolate, Aika-san?â
From this point on was just stirring, so Koutarou began talking to Maki as he moved the mixer around.
ââŚWhy do you ask?â Maki looked back at him in confusion.
âWell, this is chocolate ice cream. You went for this right away. You gave me chocolate for Valentineâs too, right? So I was wondering if you like chocolate.â
âThatâsâŚâ Maki blushed and cast her eyes down, then timidly answered him. âItâs not that I like it⌠But I learned you do⌠So IâŚâ
âYes⌠I wanted you to eat itâŚâ
During Valentineâs day, Maki learned that Koutarou liked chocolate. Thatâs why she didnât hesitate to pick it when it came to flavoring the ice cream.
âWeâre making it together, so Iâd eat any flavor.â
âUs making it together was only an afterthoughtâŚâ
âWell, yeah. I guess weâll just have to do out best together anyway.â
Koutarou now silently stirred the mixture. What Maki had said was equivalent to a confession. Even Koutarou realized that. And now that they were both embarrassed, they needed a little breather.
The ice cream each of the five pairs made was delicious, but the best of the bunch had to be the yogurt flavor Harumi and Clan made.
âI have a bad feeling just hearing that Clan made it,â said Koutarou.
âYou wonât be able to say that once you taste it.â
Normally, Koutarou teasing Clan like this would enrage her, but not this time. She was confident in her ice cream and wore a fearless smile.
But when Koutarou casually agreed with her, she suddenly blushed and lost her composure. She could feel her heart beating faster.
âYou made it with Sakuraba-senpai, so of course itâll be good.â
âTch! J-Just shut up and eat it!â
Getting upset in the end, Clan shoved the ice cream cone in her hand straight into his mouth. But not even that was enough to make her feel better.
âWhy is this man always only mean to me? Jeez!â
Clan stomped her feet in frustration. The tears in her eyes indicated how mortified she really was. Harumi couldnât help noticing.
âSatomi-kun likes you, Clan-san. And he believes that youâll forgive him no matter what he says. If not, he wouldnât be so mean all the time.â
Bullying was a sign of affection. And Koutarou was teasing Clan because she didnât understand that. Just the same as he wasnât teasing Harumi because she did. Harumi had seen right through Koutarou.
âThatâs not true! Heâs just being rude!â
But even with Harumi reassuring her, Clan wasnât calming down. As someone who really knew how to hold a grudge, her anger was just beginning to smolder.
âHeehee⌠Satomi-kun is greedy, so you smiling isnât enough for him. He wants to see all of your adorable sides. Right, Satomi-kun?â
Koutarou nearly choked on the ice cream he was eating when he heard what Harumi said. His reaction told Clan there was some truth to Harumiâs words.
He tried to respond, but all he could do was cough.
ââŚI-Iâll have you report on the taste later!â
But if what Harumi said was true, that meant Clan had another problem on her hands. Her entire face flushed red and she turned to leave as if she was running away. She left behind Koutarou, who was beating his chest, and Harumi, who was smiling.
âAck, ugh⌠Ahem⌠Please give me a break, Sakuraba-senpai.â
After safely swallowing the ice cream, Koutarou slumped his shoulders. Harumi was more or less telling the truth, but it was a very painful truth for Koutarou.
âTeehee, Iâm an aspiring bad girl after all.â
Having successfully teased Koutarou, Harumi was quite content. She was bad at teasing people, so explaining why Koutarou was mean to Clan was her only chance to give him a hard time.
âI need to have a word with Kiriha-san laterâŚâ
Koutarou looked disgruntled. Heâd realized who the mastermind was.
âOh, did you figure it out already?â
An Aikido-style bad girl act, using the other partyâs bullying against them. It was hard to think Harumi would come up with something like that on her own. It seemed far more likely that Kiriha had taught her.
With everyoneâs ice cream finished, they were planning on having a communal taste test. There was a high chance that Koutarou would tease Clan. It would give Harumi the chance to expose Koutarouâs true intentions, meaning that she could play the bad girl without feeling guilty, as well as soothe Clanâs anger.
ââŚAnd so youâve come to me.â
As Kiriha spoke, she presented some of the ice cream she had made to Koutarou. He wordlessly ate it. It was vanilla flavored. Since Yurika was Kirihaâs partner, it wasnât the best ice cream, but it was still rather good.
Koutarou gave in, both to Kirihaâs ice cream and her plan. She had him wrapped around her finger, so he had no choice but to raise the white flag.
âSo thisâll be the third time weâve ridden the ferris wheel together, huh?â
Since he knew why Kiriha had summoned him, he couldnât get angry. He was powerless against the smiling Kiriha, standing eagerly before the ferris wheel.
âThereâs no roller coaster here, so I have to settle for second best.â
Koutarou and the others split up into pairs to ride the ferris wheel, so Koutarou and Kiriha had a gondola to themselves. Because of everything she had wanted to ride together with Koutarou eleven years ago, she had come up with all kinds of plans.
âSo you can read me like a book, huh? Iâm no match for you, Kiriha-san.â
âThatâs not true. There are times when even Iâm uncertain.â
âAre you talking about Kashiwagi?â
âKashiwagi? Did something happen between you two?â
Koutarou figured that Kirihaâs uncertainty was referring to the situation with Kashiwagi Shiori. Pretending like she didnât know what he was talking about was just her way of being considerate. Koutarou didnât really think that Kiriha hadnât noticed. But either way, there wasnât a need to dwell on Shiori. Koutarou was confident that he had dealt with the situation properly and that he didnât need to tell Kiriha about it. It would be better to shift the conversation towards something Kiriha actually wanted to talk about.
âBy the way, Kiriha-san, where should we go next?â
âWhatâs the matter, Koutarou? Youâre being awfully kind today.â Kiriha smiled happily. She was glad to hear Koutarouâs gentle words. âCould it be that you did something bad? Are you trying to make up for it?â
âAhaha, almost the opposite. Itâs what I donât do that bothers me. Iâve realized that I havenât done enough with all of you. I want to do more.â
She was sensitive and perceptive, so Kiriha would find out sooner or later even if he didnât tell her. Thatâs why he honestly revealed his feelings.
âEven though I was hesitating, I should have at least made my feelings a little more clear.â
Even if he couldnât choose one of the nine girls, he should at least show them his sincerity. He should show them how special they were to him. That way, they wouldnât ever have to feel uneasy. That was what Shioriâs confession had made Koutarou realize.
As he stared at the blue sky through the window, Koutarou recalled the sight of Shiori desperately trying to earn his affection. Even if he could only muster a fraction of her sincerity and determination, that would be enough. He just wanted to be able to show the girls how he felt too.
But Kiriha was strangely silent at his remark. Curious, Koutarou turned to look at her. She was crying, but he couldnât figure out the reason from looking at her. All he could tell was that they didnât seem to be tears of sadness.
âWhy are you crying?â
ââŚForgive me. Iâm⌠not sure myself. Itâs just⌠my heart is overflowing with emotions, but⌠thereâs no clear answerâŚâ
âBut itâs not because youâre sad?â
âThatâs right. But thatâs all Iâm sure ofâŚâ
âI see. Then Iâm relieved.â
âHnngh⌠I canât control my feelings. Is it okay if I just cry like this for a moment?â
Kiriha clasped her left hand to her chest and silently wept. It was rare to see Kiriha display this much emotion. But there was no need to worry. Kiriha wasnât hurt or sad.
âDo what you need to. Iâll be right here, eating ice cream.â
Koutarou took the ice cream out of Kirihaâs right hand. With Kiriha crying, she wasnât in any state to eat it. And at this rate, it would all melt. That would be a waste, and Koutarou had nothing better to do.
âI see. Actually, itâs mutual.â
After that, Kiriha cried for a while. As Koutarou watched over her, he wondered if the other eight girls would cry too if he said the same thing to them. He hoped they would, because the truth was that he wanted to cry himself. It was just that his pride as a man didnât allow it. Kiriha would just have to cry on her own. But even after Koutarou polished off the ice cream and was eating the cone, she still hadnât stopped.
Kenji happened to pass by the ferris wheel just as Koutarou and Kiriha got out of the gondola. After coming through the gate, Koutarou and the others seemed to be making a fuss for some reason. While he was too far away to hear what it was about, he could tell that it was something big from how they were acting.
âKoutarou, tell me that you love me to my face too!â Sanae shouted.
âWe were eavesdropping!â
âWhat?! Did you set me up, Kiriha-san?!â
âNo, it was all me! I set this up of my own accord! Serves you right! Ohohoho!â Clan laughed.
âDamn you, Clan! Donât get full of yourself!â
âI listened in as well, Layous-sama.â
âElle?! Why the hell are you here?!â
Kenji could see them scuffling and hear them shouting, but it didnât seem too serious. For causing such a commotion, there was a bright, playful atmosphere to it all. For better or worse, Kenji didnât feel like he could butt in on that.
âIt really is hard to get in there, isnât it?â
As Kenji was watching Koutarou and the others, he heard someone else say almost exactly what he was thinking. Surprised, he turned to look and see where the voice had come from. It was Shiori. Like Kenji, sheâd just happened to be passing by at the right time.
âKashiwagi-san, do you mean you confessed to Kou, knowing what would happen?â
Koutarou had told Kenji about Shiori. Thatâs why heâd picked up on the hidden meaning behind her words. He was surprised that she was still able to confess knowing that sheâd get shot down.
âYeah. I didnât want to give up without trying.â
Having watched Koutarou for years, Shiori knew what the outcome would be. Koutarouâs heart belonged to those nine girls from the very beginning. But even so, she was unable to hide her feelings any longer. She decided to confess because she felt like she would always regret it if she didnât.
âI think I just got off to a late start,â Shiori laughed self-mockingly. She knew everything âincluding the reason why things turned out the way they did. âI should have done something before Satomi-kun started changing, just as we entered high school. I should have been the one to change him. The cowardice that kept me from doing that is where I went wrong.â
After the opening ceremony, things got more lively around Koutarou with the appearance of Theia and the other girls. Rather than being frightened, Shiori should have taken action right then. It was because she hadnât that her feelings never reached Koutarou. That was all.
âBut if those girls werenât around, you might have been able to save Kou.â
If Theia and the others hadnât transferred to their school, Shiori would have eventually taken action. Maybe then would she have been able to help Koutarou. That was how Kenji saw it.
âHeh, itâs almost like youâre Satomi-kunâs mom, Matsudaira-kun.â
âGive me a break. Thatâs disgustingâŚâ
Shioriâs laughter was unexpectedly bright. She had spilled her heart to Koutarou, been turned down, and spent the night crying. Perhaps because things had been so straightforward, she was able to recover quite quickly. Sensing that, a certain bad habit of Kenjiâs kicked in.
âMore importantly, why donât you go out with me?â
âIs that really something you should say to a girl who just got her heart broken?â
Shiori gave Kenji a cold glance as if to say she was disappointed. But Kenji was used to that. Unfazed, he just shrugged.
âI guess the girls who fall for Kou are all good girls.â
âJeez, youâre terrible, Matsudaira-kun. HeeheeâŚâ
Shiori had a refreshing smile. It was truly beautiful. A little captivated by it, Kenji began seriously plotting how to get her to go out with him⌠All the while thinking that he had finally met his ideal woman.
Liked it? Take a second to support Novels on Patreon!