Yumenoki Seika's performance was a tremendous success.
Both the live concert for her fans and the special performance for Kazuma concluded flawlessly.
The roaring cheers from the audience were proof of Seika's triumphant return as an idol. Her devoted fans enthusiastically supported the idol they loved, and the electrifying atmosphere made it clear that Yumenoki Seika's comeback concert had been an overwhelming success.
As for the special performance with Kazuma, it was equally flawless. The pink-haired girl, having experienced genuine happiness and bliss, was completely captivated by Kazuma, leaving her with an unforgettable and perfect experience.
Today was a precious day for Yumenoki Seika, one she would cherish forever.
After the concert ended, she clung to Kazuma, insisting on spending several more rounds with him before finally leaving with a satisfied smile and returning to the Tsubakihara Group's office.
Poor Yuzuka, on the other hand, ended up with nothing. Even with Kanna Hiiragi's help, she couldn't get what she wanted. After returning home, she tried to comfort herself twice in the shower, but it still couldn't compare to the feeling Kazuma-kun had given her earlier that day.
Yuzuka Nonohara immediately lost interest. She didn't even feel motivated to pleasure herself anymore. Wearing a listless expression, she flopped onto her bed. Kanna Hiiragi, noticing this, turned off the livestream on her computer and gently patted Yuzuka's leg.
"Yuzuka, you have to be more proactive. Don't just focus on how he occasionally gets a little handsy or how incredible it feels when you're with him. Kazuma isn't very aggressive with girls he isn't close to. Unless he's already familiar with them, he usually won't make the first move. Back then, I was the one who took the initiative to be with him."
"Besides, Kazuma already has so many girls around him. You saw it yourself—even an idol fell for him. Yuzuka, if you don't take the initiative, someone else will."
"When that happens, you'll miss your chance completely!"
Kanna Hiiragi shared her own experience, leaving the absent-minded Yuzuka Nonohara deep in thought.
The next morning, Hayato-kun woke up looking terrible. His lack of sleep and physical exhaustion were only part of the reason. His gloomy expression and pale complexion made him look utterly miserable. It was no surprise—Kaede and Suzu hadn't come to see him for days.
Ever since they were children, the three of them had always been together. This was the first time they had remained estranged for so long—if it could even be called a cold war. Kaede and Suzu now treated him like a complete stranger.
Hayato-kun had no appetite for breakfast. The twin sisters hadn't visited him the entire weekend. He wanted to contact them, but although they had read every message he sent through LINE, neither of them replied.
With his school bag over his shoulder, he left home and paused at the familiar intersection on the slope near his house. Kaede and Suzu lived nearby, and they always took the same route to school. This was the place where the three of them usually met.
He waited there, hoping to clear up the misunderstanding with Kaede and Suzu and repair their childhood friendship. No matter what, he didn't want to lose his childhood friends, especially not the girl he loved.
Standing there, Hayato-kun steeled himself, determined to have an honest conversation with them.
Soon, two familiar figures appeared in the distance. The twin sisters, dressed in identical school uniforms, walked side by side while chatting quietly.
Hayato-kun's body tensed, and his face instinctively grew nervous.
Kaede and Suzu noticed him as well. A complicated look briefly crossed Kaede's face before she calmly composed herself. As for Suzu, her expression remained completely unchanged from beginning to end.
Even after seeing Hayato, she showed no reaction whatsoever.
The two girls acted as though they hadn't seen him and simply walked past.
"Kaede—"
Hayato's heart tightened as he hurriedly called after them.
"What is it?"
"Kaede... let's... let's make up."
Seeing the girl he loved treating him so coldly made his heart ache.
"Please don't stay angry anymore. I know I made a mistake. I was wrong. I was just worried about you—too worried. That's why I misunderstood everything..."
"Worried?" Kaede asked, turning to look at her childhood friend, whose face had already gone pale.
"To me, it looked more like jealousy."
"You slandered someone out of jealousy. Back then, you completely lost your composure, Hayato-kun. Your personal issues are your own. Don't use us as an excuse. It's disgusting."
Hayato stood there in stunned silence, his face drained of all color.
After saying that, Kaede took Suzu's hand and walked away without another glance, unwilling to stay or give him another chance to explain.
Ever since Kaede slapped him that day, the relationship between them had been shattered beyond repair.
Years of childhood friendship and countless shared memories had come to an end. After disappointing Kaede again and again, she could no longer see him the way she once had.
Hayato-kun staggered slightly, deeply shaken by her words. Watching the two girls walk farther away, he silently followed behind them toward school.
There had once been three people walking that road together.
The memories continued to surface one after another, but they all belonged to the past now.
They had become complete strangers.
Seeing that Kaede no longer paid any attention to the childhood friend following behind them, Suzu glanced at her. "Sis, is this really okay?"
"What?"
"Didn't you used to like him?"
"That was in the past."
Kaede answered calmly. As a member of the Student Council, her voice remained composed. "I'm disappointed in him. And anyway, Suzu, don't bring up things like me liking him anymore."
Placing her hands on her hips, Kaede spoke to her sister with unusual seriousness.
"Oh."
Suzu's expression remained calm.
"Is it because of Kazuma?"
"Huh?"
A faint smile appeared on Suzu's lips as she looked at her flustered sister.
"Sis, have you fallen for Kazuma?"
"W-Who likes that guy? Don't be ridiculous!"
Kaede instinctively responded with classic tsundere denial. However, that very reaction only made the truth seem more obvious.
Suzu glanced at her sideways. "So you don't like Kazuma? Then is it because you're afraid Kazuma-kun might misunderstand that you told me to stop mentioning your childhood friend?"
"Th-That's not it at all! I am worried about misunderstandings, but it has nothing to do with Kazuma!"
Kaede became increasingly flustered, stumbling over her own words before stamping her foot in embarrassment.
"Anyway, Kazuma and I aren't like that!"
Even as she denied it, her thoughts drifted back to what had happened on the rooftop that day.
The awkward closeness between them...
Those intimate moments...
His kiss... His touch... Everything that had happened between them.
No, no!
That was only because she wanted to thank him. It didn't mean anything else.
Seeing Kaede react so intensely, Suzu quietly observed her for a moment before calmly saying, "If you don't like him, then leave him to me."
"Huh?"
"I have feelings for Kazuma."
Suzu looked directly at her stunned sister.
"I like him."
"I'm going to confess to him, go out with him, and become his girlfriend."
Kaede suddenly felt as though she couldn't breathe. She didn't understand why, but her chest tightened painfully. She clenched her fists, overwhelmed by an uncomfortable feeling she couldn't describe.
"No!"
The word escaped her mouth before she even realized it.
Suzu looked at her strangely.
Realizing she had overreacted, Kaede hurriedly tried to explain herself. "I-I mean... that guy isn't a good person. It wouldn't be good for you to date him, Suzu. I'm only thinking about my little sister."
"Kazuma saved us."
"Even so..."
"Sis, you even fought with your childhood friend because of him."
Kaede stomped her foot in frustration. "As a friend, Kazuma is fine! But as a boyfriend? Absolutely not! When it comes to romance, he's hopeless—a complete playboy. He flirts with so many girls and is practically building a harem."
Kaede desperately tried to justify herself. "Suzu, I won't let you throw yourself away like that!"
"Sis, since when did you become so good at making excuses?" Suzu looked both amused and exasperated by Kaede's strained reasoning. "As for the harem... I don't mind."
"Suzu—"
Before Kaede could continue, Suzu interrupted her with an unusually serious expression. "Sis, if you like someone, you have to take the initiative."
It was exactly the same thing Kanna Hiiragi had said.
The very same warning.
Faced with Suzu's serious reminder, Kaede still wanted to deny it, but when she met her sister's unwavering gaze, the words simply wouldn't come.
Deep down, she knew Suzu was right.
Kazuma was surrounded by countless girls. That carefree guy was probably enjoying himself every day with one beautiful girl after another.
Honestly...
Lost in her thoughts, Kaede arrived at the school gate, only to run into the very person they had been talking about.
"Yo, Kaede, Suzu. What a coincidence."
Kazuma waved cheerfully as he greeted them.
Perhaps because of the conversation she'd just had with her sister, Kaede felt strangely guilty when she saw him. "G-Good morning..."
Then she noticed the unfamiliar girl standing beside him, and her irritation immediately returned. "You really are unbelievable. There are always beautiful girls surrounding you, one after another."
Suzu had been right.
Not far behind them, Hayato-kun witnessed the entire exchange. Watching the girl he loved chatting naturally with Kazuma made his heart feel as though it were being torn apart.
Kaede... I'm your childhood friend.
Why can't all the years we've spent together compare to someone like Kazuma, who only entered your life recently?
It felt as though a knife were twisting inside his heart.
Although Kaede looked a little annoyed, Hayato-kun knew her well enough to understand what it meant.
When she got angry, it meant she cared. The cold, indifferent attitude she had shown him earlier... That was what truly meant she no longer cared.
He would rather she yell at him than look at him with such indifference.
As he watched Kazuma surrounded by beautiful girls, the jealousy in his heart threatened to consume him.
*****
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