The atmosphere inside the dessert shop grew somewhat subtle, a tension hanging in the air like the quiet before a storm.
Miura Yumiko felt that the conversation couldn't go on like this. It was too awkward, too unnatural. She needed to take the initiative. Taking a deep breath, she locked eyes with Hozuki Nozomi, her big, watery gaze reflecting a mix of curiosity and hesitation.
"Nozomi-kun, can I ask you a question?"
"Of course, I'm always happy to answer a question from a beautiful girl." Nozomi smirked, leaning back slightly. "Ask away, Miura-san."
Miura Yumiko hesitated for a brief moment before glancing at the visibly nervous Yuigahama Yui beside her. Then, with a small smile, she asked, "Do you have a girlfriend? I mean, someone you're officially dating?"
Across the table, Shiina Mahiru's fingers tensed around her glass. Her heart pounded in her chest.
'Oh no…'
She had told everyone earlier that Nozomi already had a girlfriend and that they were even living together. How was she supposed to navigate this now? Her mind raced with panic, regretting that she had spoken so casually before. Yet, at the same time, she found herself wanting to hear his answer. Anticipating it, even.
Nozomi, on the other hand, didn't seem the least bit troubled. He answered smoothly, his expression relaxed.
"I don't have an official girlfriend at the moment, but I do live with someone I like. We're in the process of figuring things out, seeing where our relationship goes."
Mahiru let out a breath she didn't realize she had been holding. That… wasn't a bad answer. It wasn't technically a lie, either.
At the very least, it meant she wouldn't be caught in an awkward situation with Yumiko and the others.
Yumiko nodded thoughtfully. "I see… so you're single?"
Nozomi chuckled. "That's right. I don't believe in rushing into relationships. To me, dating isn't just about going out with someone—it's a responsibility. If I date a girl, that means I'm committing to taking care of her, protecting her, and making her happy."
His tone was lighthearted, but his words carried a weight that made both Yumiko and Yui's hearts flutter slightly.
'This guy… does he even realize how dangerous he is?'
Yumiko glanced at him, slightly flustered, but then, as if snapping back to reality, she narrowed her eyes.
"Nozomi-kun… why do I get the feeling you're leading up to something?"
Nozomi smirked and rested his chin on his hand, his gaze locking onto Yumiko's. "Miura-san, why are you so curious about my love life? Could it be that… you're interested in me?"
Yumiko's jaw dropped. "Eh?! W-Wait, what?! N-No way! That's ridiculous!"
Nozomi leaned in slightly, mischief dancing in his eyes. "You know, Miura-san, I actually like your personality. If you're interested, we could always give it a shot—"
"ABSOLUTELY NOT!" Yumiko's face exploded into a deep crimson as she frantically waved her hands in front of her. "N-No way, that's not happening! No, no, no!"
Her panicked reaction made Nozomi chuckle, but he quickly adopted a more serious expression, letting out an exaggerated sigh. "Ah… rejected so swiftly. My heart… it aches."
Yumiko's lips pressed together in guilt. She didn't usually feel this bad rejecting someone. But this was Nozomi. The guy who had saved her. The guy who—
Her thoughts were cut short by Mahiru's exasperated voice.
"Yumiko, don't be fooled by him. Didn't he just say he's living with a girl he likes? He's obviously not serious!"
"Tch…" Yumiko blinked before realization hit her. She immediately turned her glare to Nozomi. "Oi! Are you messing with me?!"
Nozomi raised his hands in mock surrender. "Hey, hey, I wasn't lying. I do admire Miura-san. If she had accepted, it would've been my lucky day."
"You wish!" Yumiko huffed, crossing her arms. "Besides, for your information, I already have someone I like. So, no matter what, I wouldn't accept your confession anyway."
Mahiru, who had been taking a sip of her drink, nearly choked.
'Wait… isn't this the exact same thing I told Sayu before? That I wouldn't fall for Nozomi?'
Yet here she was, having fallen completely into his grasp, unable to escape whenever he pulled her close.
Nozomi studied Yumiko for a moment before nodding. "I see. Then I won't bring it up again."
"Good," Yumiko huffed.
"But," Nozomi continued, his tone sincere, "just so you know, when I said I admire you, I meant it. Not in a romantic way, but as a friend. I think you're a strong person, Miura-san. I respect that. That's all."
Yumiko blinked. Then, a small smile tugged at the corner of her lips. "I see. In that case, let's just forget about all this, okay? Even if I can't date you, I don't mind being friends."
"Then, please take care of me, Yumiko-san." Nozomi extended his hand towards her.
Yumiko hesitated for only a second before reaching out and shaking it. "You too, Nozomi-kun."
Her face warmed slightly at the familiarity of the name, but she decided to let it slide. After all, if they were going to be friends, she might as well get used to it.
Nozomi turned to the others. "And you, Mahiru, Yui, Hime… can we all be friends?"
"Of course!" the girls answered in unison.
With that, Nozomi casually shook hands with the three of them, officially gaining the privilege of calling them by their first names.
Not that Mahiru minded—after all, they had been close for a while now.
With everything settled, the air felt much lighter. The awkwardness from before had dissipated, and a sense of camaraderie filled the space between them. Yumiko, ever the lively one, quickly changed the topic, leading the group into a cheerful discussion.
Yui, having confirmed that Nozomi wasn't officially dating anyone, visibly relaxed and joined the conversation with renewed energy.
Shiina Mahiru was an angel, blessed with flawless communication skills, so there was never really any need to worry about her.
However, Ebina Hime had been staring at Hozuki Nozomi for a while now, her sharp gaze locked onto him as if trying to see through his very soul.
Nozomi, of course, had already noticed.
Ebina had momentarily caught a glimpse of the evil spirit.
This was likely due to the peculiar nature of Yotsuya Miko's spiritual presence and the interference of the evil spirit's magnetic field.
Ebina was affected by this unusual field, allowing her to perceive the supernatural momentarily—but it was a fleeting experience. Chances were, she wouldn't be able to see anything like it again.
Because of this, Nozomi chose not to explain.
There was no need to disrupt the peaceful atmosphere with unnecessary information.
After all, people like Mahiru, Yumiko, and Yui would undoubtedly be terrified of ghosts.
Revealing the existence of such beings would only unsettle them, and there was no benefit in that.
Ebina Hime, perceptive as ever, quickly understood what Nozomi was doing.
Rather than speaking openly about the supernatural, he was quietly shouldering the burden alone, protecting the girls from something they didn't need to know about.
A responsible and considerate man—Ebina Hime found herself feeling strangely moved.
At the same time, she couldn't help but think even less of Hayama.
Compared to Nozomi's honesty and sense of duty, Hayama's carefully maintained social persona seemed almost laughable.
But since Ebina also enjoyed the comfortable balance of their small social circle, she chose not to disrupt it.
Even so, she couldn't help but wonder—just how long would this delicate balance last?
In three years, they would graduate.
And without a doubt, Miura Yumiko would eventually confess her feelings to Hayama.
But he already had someone in his heart. When the time came, he would reject Yumiko, breaking her heart in the process.
This small, peaceful circle would be shattered by Hayama himself.
Wouldn't it be better if Nozomi were to pursue Yumiko instead?
Though Ebina Hime was often seen as the class pervert with her wild fujoshi fantasies, she was actually one of the most clear-headed people in their group.
A little while later, Nozomi's phone rang, breaking the silence.
It was Chihiro Sengoku calling him.
"Oi, Nozomi, go pick up Mashiro from school."
Nozomi let out a long sigh.
"Sensei, aren't you at school? Why don't you just bring her back with you?"
"It's just a few steps away."
Chihiro-sensei answered confidently, "I have a social gathering to attend. I'm planning to seduce some successful businessmen—I don't have time for this."
Shiina Mahiru was an angel, blessed with flawless communication skills, so there was never really any need to worry about her.
However, Ebina Hime had been staring at Hozuki Nozomi for a while now, her sharp gaze locked onto him as if trying to see through his very soul.
Nozomi, of course, had already noticed.
Ebina had momentarily caught a glimpse of the evil spirit.
This was likely due to the peculiar nature of Yotsuya Miko's spiritual presence and the interference of the evil spirit's magnetic field.
Ebina was affected by this unusual field, allowing her to perceive the supernatural momentarily—but it was a fleeting experience. Chances were, she wouldn't be able to see anything like it again.
Because of this, Nozomi chose not to explain.
There was no need to disrupt the peaceful atmosphere with unnecessary information.
After all, people like Mahiru, Yumiko, and Yui would undoubtedly be terrified of ghosts.
Revealing the existence of such beings would only unsettle them, and there was no benefit in that.
Ebina Hime, perceptive as ever, quickly understood what Nozomi was doing.
Rather than speaking openly about the supernatural, he was quietly shouldering the burden alone, protecting the girls from something they didn't need to know about.
A responsible and considerate man—Ebina Hime found herself feeling strangely moved.
At the same time, she couldn't help but think even less of Hayama.
Compared to Nozomi's honesty and sense of duty, Hayama's carefully maintained social persona seemed almost laughable.
But since Ebina also enjoyed the comfortable balance of their small social circle, she chose not to disrupt it.
Even so, she couldn't help but wonder—just how long would this delicate balance last?
In three years, they would graduate.
And without a doubt, Miura Yumiko would eventually confess her feelings to Hayama.
But he already had someone in his heart. When the time came, he would reject Yumiko, breaking her heart in the process.
This small, peaceful circle would be shattered by Hayama himself.
Wouldn't it be better if Nozomi were to pursue Yumiko instead?
Though Ebina Hime was often seen as the class pervert with her wild fujoshi fantasies, she was actually one of the most clear-headed people in their group.
A little while later, Nozomi's phone rang, breaking the silence.
It was Chihiro Chisaki calling him.
"Oi, Nozomi, go pick up Mashiro from school."
Nozomi let out a long sigh.
"Sensei, aren't you at school? Why don't you just bring her back with you?"
"It's just a few steps away."
Chihiro-sensei answered confidently, "I have a social gathering to attend. I'm planning to seduce some successful businessmen—I don't have time for this."
"If you don't pick her up, my cousin's getting kidnapped. Don't come crying to me later."
Nozomi rolled his eyes.
Seriously?
Of course, Mashiro was cute enough that it wasn't entirely out of the question…
"Sensei, I don't think you'll succeed in your 'social gathering.' You'll probably just end up coming back to Sakurasou anyway."
Nozomi's casual jab earned him an immediate response.
"Oi, brat—!"
He hung up before she could finish.
Then, turning back to Yumiko and the others, he offered them an apologetic smile.
"Sorry, I have to head over to Suimei High to pick someone up. What about you guys? Are you heading home, or do you still want to hang out?"
"It's still early, so we're planning to do some more shopping."
Miura Yumiko shook her head with a smile before suddenly tilting her head curiously.
"Who are you picking up? That girl you like? The one you live with?"
"She's Mahiru's cousin," Nozomi explained nonchalantly. "She's… a little too naive, so I don't want to risk her getting kidnapped."
"Mahiru's cousin?" Yumiko raised an eyebrow. "Why are you the one picking her up, though?"
"Mahiru can explain that part. She knows the situation better than me. Anyway, if you guys run into any trouble, just call me. We're friends now, so I'll come running if you need me."
He grinned and gave them a casual wave before turning to leave.
Before he stepped away, he leaned in close to Ebina Hime and whispered in her ear.
"Don't tell anyone about what you saw."
Ebina's eyes sparkled with excitement.
So she hadn't imagined it.
It was real.
Nozomi had actually exorcised that thing with just a glance.
"Ah—wait! Your jacket!"
Shiina Mahiru suddenly realized she was still holding onto his coat.
"Keep it," Nozomi said without looking back. "Just give it back to me later."
With that, he disappeared into the crowd, leaving the girls behind.
Mahiru, Yumiko, Yui, and Ebina stood there in stunned silence for a moment before Yumiko suddenly turned to Mahiru, a mischievous grin forming on her face.
"Alright, Mahiru… time to spill. Are you the one living with Nozomi?"
Mahiru hesitated for a brief moment before sighing in resignation.
"…Yes."
She could already tell there was no escaping their questioning.
"We both live at a place called Sakurasou, right next to Suimei Academy's affiliated high school."
Yumiko's smile widened. "Oh? Then what about that girl he likes? Is he talking about you?"
Yuigahama Yui leaned in closer, clearly interested in the answer as well.
Mahiru glanced at the eager expressions of her three close friends and realized there was no way out of this.
Maybe…
Maybe this was for the best.
Why was she so insistent on not letting Yumiko get hurt and finding a boyfriend for herself?
She shouldn't have forced her own ideas onto Yumiko, nor should she have encouraged him to pursue Yumiko under the guise of doing what was best for Nozomi. But the moment he took off his coat and draped it over her in front of everyone, she understood.
What he truly cared about was Shiina Mahiru.
In that case, there was no need to hide anymore.
If she kept her feelings to herself, she would only end up hurting not just herself but Yumiko and the others as well. That's why she chose to be honest—to become a legitimate friend to Yumiko and the rest.
Thinking of this, Mahiru nodded openly.
"Yes, I have feelings for Nozomi. But I don't intend to confirm a relationship with him. At least, not right now."
"Eh? Why?" Yuigahama Yui tilted her head in confusion. "If you both like each other, why not just get together?"
"You'll understand eventually. For now, just let me keep it a secret." Mahiru smiled softly. "Anyway, I just want to make it clear—I don't mind if Nozomi dates other girls."
"Huh?!" Yui and Yumiko both widened their eyes in shock.
"After all, we haven't officially confirmed anything, so if any of you like him, you're free to pursue him. I'll accept it and even wish you all the best."
She glanced at Yuigahama Yui with particular attention.
Miura Yumiko parted her lips slightly but found herself at a loss for words.
That being said…
She more or less understood the complicated relationship between Nozomi and Mahiru, so she didn't press further. Instead, she turned her gaze toward Yui, who looked like she was struggling with something internally.
"Yui, what about you?" Yumiko asked.
"Eh? About what?" Yui blinked, puzzled.
"You idiot," Yumiko sighed. "I'm asking if you want to date Nozomi. If you do, you can ask Mahiru for help!"
"W-Well… I…" Yui hesitated, her cheeks turning slightly pink. After some internal debate, she finally spoke. "I should tell you both the truth."
Taking a deep breath, she hesitantly explained the incident from the beginning of the school term—the car accident, how Nozomi had saved her, and how she had been the owner of the dog he rescued.
Miura Yumiko stared at her in disbelief. "So, you just wanted to thank him but never got the chance, and now it's just been dragging on?"
"That's… basically it." Yui lowered her head, her fingers fidgeting nervously.
But that wasn't the whole truth.
After being saved by Nozomi, her feelings for him had definitely grown stronger. She had just been too shy to admit it. And now, with Mahiru openly declaring her own feelings, it only made things more complicated.
Even if Mahiru claimed she didn't mind Nozomi dating other girls, Yui didn't believe her.
If she really didn't mind, then why had she once told them he already had a girlfriend and was living with her?
For the sake of her friends, for the sake of their friendship—Yuigahama Yui decided to bury her feelings deep in her heart.
Truly, the bonds between Miura Yumiko and the other girls were something special. Even Nozomi couldn't help but admire it.
Their concern for one another was sincere.
Even if it meant sacrificing their own feelings, they would prioritize their friendships above all else.