Asakusa Toru was thinking about a very serious problem.
Should he tell Kushida Kikyo not to buy a survival kit?
If he told her, then during the uninhabited island exam, he wouldn't get to see Horikita Suzune's utterly ugly expression when she heard that no personal belongings were allowed. It had been a while since he last saw that sour face—honestly, he kind of missed it.
Just imagining Horikita tightening her belt, saving every last point, only to spend it all on a completely useless survival kit…
He really wanted to laugh.
But if he didn't say anything—
That didn't feel right either.
Kikyo had kindly shared the exam rules with him.
Kikyo had kindly given him her soft, warm body.
And yet he'd just let her step into the same trap alongside Horikita?
That was a bit too heartless.
More importantly, in his mind, Kushida Kikyo was already firmly labeled as "one of his own."
Messing with his own people…
That was a bit much.
Hadn't he even stopped teasing "Miss Handprint" in his diary?
No, wait—he should respectfully call her Little Angel now.
"…I won't buy one."
Fortunately, Kushida's reply saved him from making that decision.
No need to choose anymore.
Let Horikita struggle and save on her own.
…Thinking about it, even if she did buy one, it wouldn't matter much anyway.
"I can't be bothered preparing things for those idiots in class. Let Horikita handle that," Kushida said, casually brushing aside the obstruction in front of her face before parting her lips. "Anyway, dragging them out to exercise is already more than enough from me—mm."
Her voice gradually became muffled.
...
Even though he now had an official girlfriend while still maintaining an unclear relationship with his "mom," which seemed a bit off…
As he had said before—
These were different relationships.
They shouldn't be mixed together.
More importantly, even though they were now officially dating, for some reason, Shiranami Chihiro's attitude toward him hadn't changed much.
No weekend dates.
No dragging him into her room.
No public declaration.
No clinging together in that sweet, obvious "new couple" way.
…It barely felt like they were dating at all.
Only when he caught her soft, delicate hand during a moment alone did he finally get an answer.
"…The 20th… it's Honami's birthday, right?" she said softly, lowering her head. "I want to… wait until then before acting like your girlfriend."
She had thought about it all night after reading his so-called "cheating declaration."
She didn't want to take back her acceptance.
But at the same time—
She couldn't ignore what he said about Ichinose.
Even if Ichinose hadn't replied—
Anyone could understand what that meant.
Honami had seen her confession.
If Honami chose to respond…
If she chose to face her feelings…
Then maybe…
"…I could step back…"
She was torn.
She couldn't let go.
But she also didn't want to hurt her friendship.
Or break apart their group.
Originally, her confession was just meant to give them a push.
…It was all Toru's fault.
If he hadn't accepted her—
If he hadn't kept the door open for Honami—
She wouldn't be this conflicted.
But hesitation wouldn't lead anywhere.
So she decided.
Before the birthday.
If Honami responded—
She would let go.
But if not—
Then she would act.
On that day.
"…When the time comes, don't answer me through messages."
She tightened her grip on his hand and looked up at him.
"Answer me properly. Face-to-face."
Her eyes shimmered.
"…Yeah. I will."
He leaned in slightly, their foreheads touching.
And gave his answer.
...
He understood her conflict.
After all—
Not everyone was like Sakura Airi, who could accept a two-timing declaration so obediently.
Even she would struggle deep down.
That was the inevitable problem of someone like him.
But it didn't matter.
He had said it before.
All hesitation—
All pain—
All conflict—
Came from one thing.
Not enough love.
As long as he poured in enough—
Everything would resolve itself.
And luckily—
He had plenty to give.
The only problem…
Was time management.
At this rate, his schedule would eventually fill up completely.
But that was a problem for the future.
For now—
Only one thing stood before the summer island exam.
Ichinose Honami's birthday.
Less than two weeks away.
Her answer—
Would determine everything.
...
"Honami, is there anything you want for your birthday?"
As the date approached, people began asking her that question.
…Her birthday.
Another year older.
But what weighed on her mind wasn't age.
It was the meaning of the day itself.
Birthdays were supposed to be celebrations.
Proof of growth.
A reminder of time passing.
But for her—
It was also tied to something she could never forget.
Even if it wasn't her birthday—
But her sister's.
"…."
She had already come to terms with it.
When her sister smiled again.
When her mother softened.
She had let it go.
So what troubled her now—
Was something else.
The confession.
Chihiro's confession.
The words she said.
And Toru's message afterward.
If only she could answer easily.
But she couldn't.
He didn't push her.
Didn't follow up.
And strangely—
Neither he nor Chihiro acted like a couple.
When she saw them not walking together after the weekend—
She felt relieved.
…Which was terrible.
Wishing for a friend's rejection.
Hoping their relationship wouldn't work.
While giving no answer herself.
…Selfish.
But even so—
She still couldn't respond.
Better like this.
Nothing changes.
Not better—
But not worse either.
...
And then—
There was something else.
Something even more confusing.
She had obtained a diary.
It appeared suddenly.
Followed her everywhere.
Turned pages on its own.
At first, she thought it was lost property.
She planned to hand it to the student council.
But then—
She realized something.
No one else could see it.
It moved on its own.
It wasn't normal.
…A curse?
That was her first thought.
But she had no enemies.
And even if it was—
She couldn't escape it.
So—
She opened it.
The first entry.
An explanation. A declaration.
The second.
Emotion. Drama. Secrets.
Third. Fourth. Fifth…
Gradually—
She understood.
It was someone's diary.
But also—
Not just that.
It was meant to be read.
The writer wanted someone like her to see it.
Why?
Because he liked it?
It recorded lives.
Past. Present. Future.
Exams. Secrets. Truths.
Sometimes warnings.
Sometimes mockery.
Over the course of a week—
Ichinose Honami read it all.
Carefully.
Slowly.
Thinking through every line.
And because of that—
She noticed something.
A strange… familiarity.
She knew this person.
…Who?
Her first thought—
A classmate.
She didn't belong to any clubs.
Her circle was limited.
So it had to be someone close.
The writing style—male.
The knowledge—extensive.
There was only one name.
Asakusa Toru.
The one who told her about the rules early on.
The one who acted on his own whims.
Could it be… his diary?
"…No."
She shook her head.
If it were his—
Why would he write about himself like that?
Why use that nickname?
Wouldn't that expose him?
More importantly—
If it was him—
Then those entries…
The detailed descriptions.
The kissing lessons.
The "I have a girlfriend" claims.
…
No.
She instinctively rejected the idea.
And then—
She remembered something.
On the day of the confession—
The diary said he would reject Chihiro.
So if Asakusa accepted—
Then they couldn't be the same person.
Even if that logic made no sense—
Ichinose Honami chose to believe it anyway.
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