Sanshokuin Sumireko sighed, her expression laced with complex emotions as she prepared to relay what had transpired after Hozuki Nozomi had taken Hazuki Yasuo away.
Flashback start:
Momo Sakurahara and Tsukimi sat down on the chairs Hozuki had prepared for them, facing both Sanshokuin Sumireko and Yukinoshita Yukino.
Sakurahara Momo let out a small, bitter laugh before speaking. "Sumireko, Tsukimi and I... we've lost completely."
Sumireko lowered her gaze, biting her lip. She had been away for so long, and in that time, Sakurahara Momo and Tsukimi had been by Hazuki Yasuo's side. Yet, even after all this time, he remained blind to their feelings, still fixated on her.
Was this what people meant when they said, "What you can't have always seems the most desirable"?
"I'm sorry..." Sumireko murmured softly.
"Don't apologize," Sakurahara Momo quickly waved her hand dismissively. "It's not your fault. You didn't ask for this, and we don't blame you. After all, it's not a crime to be beautiful or to attract attention. Besides, it's that idiot Hose-kun who's been oblivious this whole time."
Sakurahara Momo turned to Yukinoshita Yukino, who had remained silent until now. "President Yukinoshita, I'd like to formally explain our relationship dynamics."
She then proceeded to outline the complicated entanglement between herself, Tsukimi, Sanshokuin Sumireko, and Hazuki Yasuo. Her account was nearly identical to what Sumireko had told Yukino before, further proving Momo's sincerity.
Yukinoshita Yukino furrowed her brows, listening intently before responding, "If that's the case, what do you want us to help with?"
Sakurahara Momo pressed a hand to her chest, her expression filled with sorrow. "We're tired. Both Tsukimi and I... we've liked Hose-kun for so long. We were drawn to his kindness, his gentleness, and his willingness to help others. We've been competing against each other for his affection, and over time, this competition turned us into best friends."
Tsukimi nodded and took over. "We've decided that it's time to settle this once and for all. We're both going to confess to Hose-kun."
She met Sumireko's eyes before continuing. "And we want you and your boyfriend to be there when it happens."
Sumireko's expression wavered. "You want us to be witnesses?"
"Not just witnesses," Tsukimi corrected. "We need your help in creating the right atmosphere. If we're going to do this, it has to be in a way where Hose-kun will be forced to listen and take it seriously. We can't let him weasel his way out."
Sakurahara Momo let out a small, humorless laugh. "If he accepts one of us, then we'll support him wholeheartedly. If he rejects us both... then at least we'll have closure, and we can finally move on. We'll be able to let go of the pain and stop waiting for something that will never happen."
Sanshokuin Sumireko felt a deep pang in her heart. She could understand their pain. The torment of unrequited love was something that only the ones suffering through it could truly comprehend.
At the same time, she couldn't deny the sense of guilt gnawing at her. She had never intended for things to turn out this way.
Back to the present:
After hearing their request, she relayed everything to Hozuki Nozomi later that day.
He blinked at her, looking genuinely dumbfounded. "So basically, we just have to watch them confess?"
"No, no, no," Sumireko quickly corrected, shaking her head. "We also have to help set the stage and ensure that Hazuki-kun actually listens to their confessions. He's the type to dodge things if given the chance. We can't let that happen."
Nozomi exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Man... this is turning into more of a soap opera than I expected."
A small, smug smile appeared on Yukinoshita Yukino's lips. "Looks like a certain pervert is about to lose."
Nozomi raised a brow at her. "Oh? And what should I do with you, then?"
Yukinoshita Yukino scoffed, flipping her hair over her shoulder. "At the very least, I doubt those two big-breasted beauties will be seducing you anytime soon."
Yukinoshita Yukino was certain that those two big-breasted beauties wouldn't be able to sway Nozomi just because of Hazuki Yasuo.
Which meant that Nozomi was doomed to lose their bet!
In response, Nozomi merely shrugged, his expression indifferent.
"It's not over yet. Don't be so quick to assume things."
"Hmph, you're just being stubborn!" Yukinoshita smirked confidently before quickening her pace towards Sakurasou.
She was in a hurry to pet the cats.
===========================
On the other side of things, Hazuki Yasuo was beginning to feel… uneasy.
After Nozomi's earlier comments, he finally started noticing that something was indeed strange.
The way Sakurahara Momo and Tsukimi looked at him—it was different from before.
But that didn't necessarily mean that both of them had feelings for him, right?
Still clinging to a sliver of denial, he convinced himself that Nozomi had just been messing with him, trying to distract him from pursuing Sumireko.
After all, the way Momo-senpai and Tsukimi acted around him hadn't changed much. They still spoke to him about student council affairs as if it were business as usual.
So Hazuki Yasuo brushed the thought aside.
Little did he know, this entire situation was about to blow up his social circle in ways he never could have imagined.
================================
Evening fell quickly.
After escorting Yukinoshita Yukino to the train station and watching her leave, Nozomi made his way back to Sakurasou.
Sanshokuin Sumireko had already headed home.
Tomorrow was the weekend.
And it was finally time to deal with Sayu's situation.
Some things in life could only be delayed for so long before they had to be confronted.
Since Nozomi had taken Sayu in, he was prepared to take responsibility for her.
He had made a promise, and a promise must be kept.
====================================
Shiina Mahiru, understanding the circumstances, deliberately left some space for Sayu and Nozomi that night.
After finishing her bath, Ogiwara Sayu climbed into Nozomi's bed, her small frame trembling slightly as she rested her head against his chest.
Nozomi raised a hand and gently stroked her hair, speaking softly. "I've booked a flight to Hokkaido for tomorrow. Are you nervous?"
Sayu lifted her gaze, her large, watery eyes reflecting a mixture of emotions. She nodded vigorously at first, but then, as if reconsidering, shook her head slightly.
"I am nervous," she admitted. "When I think about returning to the place I ran away from… facing my mother again… it makes me feel sick."
She clutched his shirt tightly, her voice barely above a whisper.
"But… with you by my side, I think I can gather the courage to face it."
When she had been at her lowest, wandering without direction, Nozomi had given her a place to belong. He had given her hope.
She didn't want to remain a fragile flower forever.
Though she enjoyed the daily life at Sakurasou, helping out with chores, she wanted more. She wanted to return to school, to study hard, to grow into someone who could stand beside Nozomi and support him.
Nozomi smiled at her determination.
He took out his phone. "I'm going to call your brother now and let him know we'll be taking you home. That okay with you?"
Sayu nodded. "I'll do whatever you say."
"Good. Before I call, though, I want to know—what kind of relationship do you have with your brother?"
Sayu hesitated for a moment before responding honestly.
"My brother is different from my mother. He actually cares about me. When I ran away from home, he kept sending me money and checking in on me. But later…"
Her voice grew faint.
"I started feeling like his kindness was just… charity. And I hated that feeling."
She laughed bitterly. "So I threw my phone away and stopped contacting him."
Nozomi flicked her forehead lightly. "Baka."
"You had a safety net and you threw it away? What were you thinking? If I hadn't found you when I did, do you even realize what could've happened?"
Sayu pouted and stuck out her tongue playfully. "I'm kinda glad I lost my phone, though. If I hadn't, I wouldn't have met you."
What a lucky girl.
If she had been even a little more reckless with her timing, things might have ended much worse for her.
Nozomi sighed and ruffled her hair before pressing the call button on his phone.
The dial tone rang in his ear.
Ogiwara Sayu tensed and instinctively wrapped her arms around his waist, holding onto him tightly.
She was uneasy.
And Nozomi could feel it.
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More Chapters incoming, later in the evening.
Stay tuned!!!!!!