As evening approached, everyone, having played all day, needed to wash up and rest.
Kikyo Kushida also had a room in the villa, but she would not be living there permanently.
As someone with a wide circle of friends, Kikyo Kushida could not just move everything into the villa like Ichinose and the others.
For Kikyo Kushida, her personal dorm room was also a place where she could host friends.
Kikyo Kushida did not want to bring her so-called friends to Katsuragi Ren's villa, so she decided to keep her personal dorm room.
It would be convenient for hosting friends in the future, while the room that belonged to her in the villa...
She would decorate it however she wanted.
Exhausted from being dragged around all day, Kikyo Kushida returned to her room and fell asleep immediately.
Physical fatigue and mental exhaustion left her with no energy to think about anything else.
Hoshinomiya, who had lectured Sae Chabashira all day, quietly looked up at the moon hanging high outside the window.
Sae, I hope you can learn to let go in the coming days.
Hoshinomiya, not in the mood for anything else, also went to sleep early.
In Katsuragi Ren's room, an unwelcome guest arrived.
Ichinose, wearing pink bunny pajamas, quietly opened the door and slipped under Katsuragi Ren's blanket.
Feeling Ichinose trembling slightly in his arms, Katsuragi Ren asked gently, "What's wrong, Honami?"
"Ren-kun, you and Kikyo did it, didn't you?"
Looking up at Katsuragi Ren, Ichinose asked in a trembling voice.
Girls mature early, and after coming of age, they become even more sensitive to these things.
The observant Ichinose had noticed the awkward way Kikyo Kushida was walking when she returned to her room.
With Kikyo Kushida appearing so suddenly in the villa, Ichinose, who had already figured everything out, had a trace of darkness in her eyes.
"Yes, we did." Brushing his fingertips across Honami's cheek, Katsuragi Ren did not hide anything.
"Honami, I told you before."
"You have to fight for everything, in every field. You have to take the initiative, or you will be the one eliminated."
"Whether it's your career or love."
When both sides are equal, waiting for the other person to make the first move is the most foolish choice.
Katsuragi Ren was not anxious, because he knew Honami could only be his, and his methods ensured that Honami's future partner could only be him.
But Ichinose could not do that.
If she could not see through this, Ichinose would always be the one who lost.
A loser in love, and a loser in her career.
Katsuragi Ren had chosen to make a move on Kikyo Kushida early partly because of this.
As for why the target was not Airi...
Airi was too obedient, so obedient that Katsuragi Ren did not want her to unknowingly become a tool.
Even if Airi was willing.
Obedient girls deserved the best treatment.
"Ren-kun, don't lecture me right now. I only want you right now!" The darkness in Ichinose's eyes began to spread into her pure blue pupils.
Blinded by jealousy, Ichinose could not care about anything else.
Clearly, I was the first one.
She was Katsuragi Ren's childhood friend, the one who liked him the most, and the first one to confess to him.
Everything Kikyo Kushida had gotten should have been hers.
Ichinose had never expected Hoshinomiya to beat all of them to it.
Bonk!
A light tap brought Honami back to her senses. Katsuragi Ren spoke coldly, "Honami, is this what I taught you?"
Lowering her head, Ichinose did not dare look up at Katsuragi Ren.
Ichinose also did not understand what had happened to her just now.
The way she had acted a moment ago did not feel like her at all.
"Look up. Look at me."
Ichinose did not dare make a sound or move.
Katsuragi Ren's voice grew colder. "Look at me."
Tears were already filling her eyes. Ichinose looked up and met Katsuragi Ren's gaze, trying hard not to cry.
"Taking the initiative is fine, but Honami, you need to think clearly about why you are doing it."
"If you come to me because you like me, I will be very happy."
"But that isn't what this is."
"You were blinded by jealousy, blinded by Kikyo showing up later."
"Honami, I like you."
"So I want your first time to be when your eyes are filled only with me."
"Do you understand?"
Wiping away the tears from Honami's eyes, Katsuragi Ren sighed.
Honami still had a long way to go before she could truly grow up.
Katsuragi Ren could certainly have chosen to take Honami at this moment, but he did not want to.
A first time carries special memories for everyone. Katsuragi Ren did not want Honami's first time to be filled with jealousy and irrational emotions.
"My eyes have always only been on Ren-kun." Letting Katsuragi Ren wipe away her tears, Ichinose muttered back.
"Yes, and that is why I like Honami so much."
Seeing Honami calm down, Katsuragi Ren kissed her eyes. "Think about it tonight. I'm looking forward to your first time, Honami."
Unable to calm down in Katsuragi Ren's arms, Ichinose enjoyed his warmth for a moment before pulling herself away from his embrace.
Her state just now really had been wrong. She needed to go back to her room and sort out her thoughts and her next steps.
"Ren-kun, good night."
Returning a kiss to Katsuragi Ren, Ichinose trotted out of the room.
Adjusting the brightness of the small lamp on the nightstand, the wide-awake Katsuragi Ren picked up a light novel from the nightstand and started reading.
Knock knock...
A quiet knock sounded from outside the door, and a second unwelcome guest entered.
Looking at Airi standing at the door in purple Gengar pajamas, holding the small dinosaur doll he had given her in one hand, Katsuragi Ren smiled.
"Oh? What is my Airi doing here?"
"Ren... I can't sleep..."
Airi stood obediently at the door, as if she would not enter the room without Katsuragi Ren's permission.
Putting down the light novel in his hand, Katsuragi Ren opened his arms to Airi at the door. "Oh~ So my Airi came here for a hug."
Katsuragi Ren had a special soft spot for Airi.
"Ren, hug~"
Trotting into Katsuragi Ren's arms, Airi unconsciously nuzzled against his chest.
It was impossible for Airi not to feel a sense of crisis after Kikyo Kushida's sudden appearance.
Because of this,
Airi, who could not sleep, followed her heart.
She wanted to be close to the safe place she had found in Katsuragi Ren.
Feeling Airi's unease in his arms, Katsuragi Ren gently patted the girl's back to comfort her.
"I knew Airi really needed me to hold you right now~"
"It's okay."
"If you feel wronged, come to me."
"I have delicious candy, a warm bed, and Airi's favorite hugs here."
"My Airi is like a fragile glass ornament."
"Easy to break."
"You'll break when you're unhappy."
"You'll break when you feel wronged."
"You'll break when you feel uneasy."
"But things that fragile are treasures too~"
"So in the end, Airi is my treasure."
Katsuragi Ren coaxed Airi while covering her with the blanket.
Airi adjusted her position in Katsuragi Ren's arms and slowly quieted down.
Breathing in the scent on Katsuragi Ren that made her feel safe and listening to his gentle voice comfort her,
Airi, who had originally only come to act spoiled with Katsuragi Ren, unknowingly fell asleep in his arms.
Soft snoring sounded from against his chest.
"Ren... good night."
Falling asleep quickly, Airi murmured, dreaming some beautiful dream.
Seeing that Airi had fallen asleep in his arms, Katsuragi Ren dimmed the lamp and stopped reading.
He pulled the blanket over Airi, leaving only the girl's small head exposed so she could breathe.
"Good night, my treasure."
-----------------
Currently on Patreon: 330 chapters available.
https://www.patreon.com/cw/LIZBETH1242