◆
After that, we had a meal at Neika’s house, and then Riran and I left.
We walked in silence for a while after leaving the mansion.
…Somehow, it felt awkward.
Whether it was the momentum of the moment or just because there was no other way… I was surprised Riran actually agreed to such a strategy.
Because, something like that is…
“Hey, Akito.”
“Wha—What is it?”
D-Don’t lose it, don’t lose it. Keep your composure, keep your composure.
“Do you really understand the meaning behind that strategy from earlier?”
“…In what way?”
“I mean, something like that… it means you’ll be with me forever, right?”
…So she did realize.
Yes, that strategy was predicated on the fact that Riran and I would be together from now on.
When I was finalizing the strategy, Riran didn’t seem to act any differently, so I thought she hadn’t noticed.
“…I’m sorry.”
“Why are you apologizing?”
“Because, even though it’s your life…”
“…Hey, when we were thinking about this strategy together, do you know… why I didn’t reject it?”
“Eh? …Ah…”
That’s true, certainly.
If she had noticed, she could have rejected the strategy when I proposed it.
But she didn’t… why was that?
…Why?
“…Let’s stop by the park.”
“O-Oh?”
We stopped at the park where we had some history and bought drinks from a vending machine.
It was still daytime, but because it was raining, there was no one in the park.
Even the usual rest area was occupied only by Riran and me.
“…………”
“…………”
Both of us were silent. Where should I even start… for now, should I be the one to speak up?
“Umm… it was about why you agreed to my strategy, right? To be honest, I don’t have the slightest clue…”
“Well, you’re always like that.”
“Are you making fun of me?”
“I’m praising you.”
It certainly didn’t sound like it, though.
“Don’t look so grumpy.”
“I’m not.”
“Honestly…”
Riran chuckled, her laugh sounding like a ringing bell.
So she can laugh like that too.
“Now then, about why I didn’t oppose that strategy. What do you think, Akito?”
“…Is it because the benefit of entering the Jumonji family’s company is huge?”
“Bubu—”
She made an ‘X’ with her index fingers in front of her mouth.
…Eh, Bubu? That Riran said ‘Bubu’?
As I blinked in surprise, Riran seemed to get embarrassed by her own actions and her face turned bright red.
“K-Kofm. Anyway, that thought is wrong. The reason I agreed to that strategy was for myself.”
“For Riran?”
What was that? That’s exactly what thinking about her own future would be… no, she said that was wrong. …Hmm???
As I tilted my head, Riran moved to sit next to me.
“Looking at Kurashiki and Neika, I thought about it. I realized that putting your feelings into words honestly is a very important thing.”
“I feel like those two are a bit too honest, though.”
“True. But it’s lovely.”
Well… that’s true. Those two threw their feelings straight at their parents. Even though they had our help, they still won their own future.
In contrast, we… no, I’m afraid of putting my feelings into words.
Riran hasn’t been as harsh with me lately either.
Our relationship is clearly moving in a good direction now.
I don’t want to break that relationship.
That… is what I’m afraid of.
As I was feeling down about my lack of courage, Riran reached out to my forehead… and gave it a flick.
“What are you doing?”
“Hmm—? Nfufu. I wonder what.”
Pesh-pesh. Pesh-pesh. Hey, you’re hitting me too much.
She continued to flick my forehead and for some reason started kneading my ears.
To be honest, this alone is dangerous, or rather, it’s grinding down my self-control. It’s bad enough just being touched normally, but if she does this…!
Whipping my crumbling self-control, I tried to get up to put some distance between us.
However, Riran looked annoyed and pulled on my ear a little.
“Don’t run away.”
“B-But this is…!”
“No.”
“Nyu…!?”
M-My cheeks, being sandwiched from both sides…!
“I wonder… maybe it’s because I saw those two looking so happy. I might be being a bit bold right now.”
“Ri-Riran…?”
She leaned in so close that we could have kissed if I moved even a little.
Cheeks like scattered autumn leaves.
Her breath hitting my skin.
Those melting scarlet eyes staring at me.
The rain gradually became stronger, making the surrounding sounds harder to hear.
In the midst of that, only the thumping of my heart and the sound of our breathing sounded unusually loud—.
“Akito—I love you.”
“——ッ”
Eh… ah…?尊 What… eh…?
“I love you… actually, I love you so much… I’ve liked you for a long, long time.”
“Wait, Ri-Riran, o-o-o-calm down…!”
What, what, what!?
What’s happening? Eh, Riran likes me? …Likes me!?
Regardless of my head being more confused than ever, Riran wrapped her arms around my neck.
“Until now, I’d get nervous in front of you, I’d panic… and I couldn’t be honest. But maybe it’s because I was influenced by those two… I can be very honest with myself now.”
Honest.
She’s been using that word a lot lately.
She gets nervous in front of me. She panics in front of me.
In other words, that’s.
“…A tsundere?”
“Don’t call me a tsundere.”
No, eh, eeh… what is this. Riran, you liked me…?
“You might be surprised by me saying this all of a sudden, but it’s true. Long before the red thread appeared… I liked you. That’s why I thought I could be with you forever…”
“So, that’s what you meant by ‘for yourself’…?”
“Mm.”
Riran nodded shyly.
I see, so that was it…
This is… I don’t think I can hold back my feelings anymore either.
“Riran, me too. I… I love you too, Riran.”
“Mm… Akito…”
“Riran…”
I wrapped my hands around Riran’s waist.
And without either of us knowing who started it, we slowly shared a kiss.
An electric shock like nothing I’d ever felt before, and a pleasure that pierced through my body.
Even more than that, a storm of happiness filled my heart.
Whether Riran felt the same way, even after we broke the kiss once, she immediately pulled on my arms as if begging for another.
“Akito, I love you… I love you so much.”
“Riran… I love you too.”
The sound of the rain grew so intense it nearly blocked my vision.
However, it sounded just like the cheers of people celebrating us—.