The sumr breeze blew through the cherry trees along the slope.
The leaves rustled softly.
A sparrow flew from the distant sky and landed on a branch.
There was already another sparrow sitting there.
The two birds stood together, seemingly leaning on each other.
"Why suddenly bring this up?"
Kato gumi's fingers began to twirl a strand of her hair.
This small action of hers was often a sign of unease within her.
Yukima Azuma looked seriously into Kato gumi's eyes, carefully observing even the smallest changes in her expression.
Here, he had to be as cautious as possible.
One small slip-up could result in losing everything.
"Why suddenly? Since gumi accepted my love letter, aren't we already a couple?"
Yukima Azuma deliberately ntioned the "love letter."
He wasn't bringing it up to soothe Kato gumi's dissatisfaction.
Rather, he was trying to provoke her emotions to the surface.
As expected, when the love letter was ntioned—
Seed to be touched at her weak point.
She imdiately looked up, staring straight at Yukima Azuma with her clear, watery eyes.
Six hundred pages of love letters had led her into this without a way out.
But the one who started all of this—Yukima Azuma—seed to easily step back from the situation.
Could she and he really be called a couple?
If so…
"Then, what about Kasumigaoka Utaha, Yukinoshita Yukino, Sora Ginko, how are their? Oh and also Sawamura Eriri?"
Kato gumi looked straight into Yukima Azuma's eyes, reading out each na one by one.
She seed to be forcing him to give an answer.
With Kato gumi's personality, when it ca to soone she liked, she would never openly say such things.
Instead of declaring her stance clearly and making her lover feel troubled,
she usually preferred to quietly stay by their side.
Like a gentle spring rain, softly lting away all obstacles bit by bit.
But this ti, Kato gumi spoke up.
Because not long ago, she had realized sothing.
And that was—how deep her feelings for Yukima Azuma had grown.
It was no longer just a simple liking; it had beco a love she couldn't let go of.
When she realized Yukima Azuma could be replaced by a stranger,
Kato gumi felt her heart hollow out, as if everything had been drained from her.
She was not only afraid of losing Yukima Azuma, but also afraid of his very disappearance.
Once she realized her love had reached this point,
the issues she had deliberately ignored before,
Kato gumi could no longer avoid them.
There were many exceptional girls around Yukima Azuma.
Could they really just keep living like this forever?
If one person was to eventually be pushed out of that circle...
Kato gumi thought that the sooner she clarified things, the better, as it would lessen the pain.
If she wasn't important to Yukima Azuma,
then being discarded right now would be the best option.
In the future, her Azuma would suffer less heartache.
As for herself, she would rather cut off things once and for all than let the dull knife keep cutting bit by bit.
With this thought, Kato gumi's voice beca resolute.
"Azuma-san, would you be able to maintain your friendship with all of them for my sake?"
Yukima Azuma shook his head.
That wasn't realistic.
At least, Utaha-senpai and Eriri, the two of them had already crossed the boundary of friendship.
To ask them to return to that boundary…
It would be better to kill Yukima Azuma.
Seeing him shake his head,
Kato gumi puffed out her lips.
"That's too straightforward! At least pretend to hesitate a little!" She said with so dissatisfaction.
Even though she had expected the answer,
hearing such a firm response felt too harsh!
She let out a small sigh.
Suddenly, Kato gumi felt that this might be for the best.
Her Azuma wouldn't be too heartbroken, which could be considered a small blessing in the midst of misfortune.
"So, Azuma-san, please don't bring up the 'lover' thing anymore."
"I'm fine, but if others hear it, it will definitely cause misunderstandings."
"If that happens, Azuma-san will have a headache, you'll see... I'll go ahead now, bye bye."
With that, Kato gumi began to step up Detective Hill.
At the top of the slope, just a little further, and she'd be ho.
For Yukima Azuma to continue walking her back—she thought that would be too cruel.
Even she couldn't be so forgiving.
As a result, before she could take another step,
Kato gumi felt her hand being held back.
The grip was tight, and she couldn't easily pull away, unable to just leave.
So, Kato gumi turned her head and blinked, looking at Yukima Azuma.
"We're definitely a couple, and that can't be changed no matter what."
"Azuma-san, don't be underhanded, you're the one who said you couldn't keep a normal relationship with the others."
"Um, I did say that."
"Then, Azuma-san, stop being capricious. Do you want everyone to be your lover too?"
"Yes, I want that."
Yukima Azuma nodded.
Kato gumi froze for a mont, then puffed her cheeks in anger.
She looked at Yukima Azuma with an expression of helplessness.
"Azuma-san, are you a child? Only children would say sothing like that."
Her tone was light, with no reproach.
There was no anger in her heart, just a simple sense of confusion.
Kato gumi thought Yukima Azuma wasn't the type of person to say sothing so impulsive.
Because… how could that possibly beco a reality?
"Exactly because I'm not a child, that's why I can say 'I want everything'!"
Yukima Azuma tightened his grip on Kato gumi's hand, refusing to loosen it even a little.
"When I was a kid, I had nothing. I experienced enough loneliness."
"So now, when I have the ability, I won't let go of anything I want."
"I like Kato gumi, I love a gentle gumi. No matter who tries to separate us, I won't accept it."
"Even if it's you, I won't agree. I have many ways to make that happen!"
As he spoke, Yukima Azuma raised his other hand and gently touched Kato gumi's cheek.
Kato gumi's breath beca quick, her emotions tangled like a ball of yarn.
She could only stare at Yukima Azuma's hand as it reached toward her.
Although her heart was still pounding,
she didn't feel sweetness.
This forcefulness had an effect on her, but if used on others, it would definitely backfire.
Kasumigaoka-senpai was a proud person, not easily bent.
Sawamura-san had a fragile heart, if handled too roughly, she would only shatter.
As for Sora Ginko… Kato gumi didn't know her well, but she didn't think that person would accept such re coercion.
Even if she were by Yukima Azuma's side,
she would only watch him sink into sorrow every day.
Just as Kato gumi sighed inwardly.
Yukima Azuma's fingers brushed her cheek, gently tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
Then, suddenly, he pulled his hand back.
All she saw was his empty hand.
Suddenly, a bright red rose appeared.
Its vivid color blood before her eyes, causing Kato gumi to freeze for a mont.
Yukima Azuma gently shook the rose in his hand.
The light fragrance of the flower reached Kato gumi's nose.
"Impressive, right? This one's for you, gumi. I have many more tricks up my sleeve, ways to make you willingly stay by my side."
Looking at the beautiful flower swaying before her eyes.
Kato gumi suddenly burst out laughing.
Well, it was true—Azuma-san wasn't a child.
He had many ways.
How could it be like a child, just clutching tightly to what they liked without letting go?
She reached out to take the rose.
She sighed softly.
"So, Azuma-san, are you determined to build a harem?"
"You all are my wings!"
"Azuma-san, saying it so bluntly, even I would get angry!"
Kato gumi's fingers touched Yukima Azuma's waist, giving it a gentle twist.
Earlier, Yukima Azuma had told her not to spoil him too much.
If she was angry, she could pinch his soft waist.
But Kato gumi had never been able to do that.
Now she realized that he had been scheming from the start.
Back then, he had just given himself an escape route.
A little pinch, wouldn't it soothe the anger?
And Yukima Azuma imdiately grimaced, acting as though it hurt terribly.
Kato gumi let go of him, not having used much force at all, and she found herself feeling both angry and amused.
She took a deep breath.
Then, she reached out to poke Yukima Azuma's cheek.
"Words like that—it's fine to say them to , but if you say them in front of the other girls, I'm sure Azuma-san will be hated. Please don't do that."
Yukima Azuma nodded seriously.
Seeing him nod,
Kato gumi let out a small snort.
Then, she took Yukima Azuma's hand and pulled him up Detective Hill.
"I baked so cookies. Azuma-san, take so with you. They should be pretty good."
Yukima Azuma found himself being led by Kato gumi as they walked up the Detective Hill.
In that mont, his heart ached again.
He had prepared himself to be scolded by Kato gumi, to hear harsh words, or even to be slapped.
He was also prepared for how to comfort her afterward.
But all his preparations were for nothing.
The girl in front of him accepted it all too calmly, making Yukima Azuma feel heartbroken.
Kato gumi deserved to be with soone better.
But he truly didn't want to let her go.
He was sure this had hurt her.
All he could do was make it up to her later.
"I agreed, yet Azuma-san is sulking. Should I make a bigger fuss instead?"
Kato gumi's soft voice rang out.
Yukima Azuma suddenly looked up.
But he realized that Kato gumi, walking ahead, hadn't looked back at all.
Mostly because she understood him too well.
She could guess exactly what he was thinking.
"No need for Azuma-san to use such little tricks. I've already realized I can't live without Azuma-san."
Kato gumi's voice was light and joyful.
When was it?
Maybe from the very first day she t Yukima Azuma.
The mont that young boy transferred into the class and took the initiative to talk to her.
From that mont, she knew she couldn't leave the boy who introduced himself as Yukima Azuma.
She just hadn't realized it before.
After all, when you love soone, you don't recognize it imdiately.
It wasn't until she was standing under the gymnasium after a physical fitness test, watching his figure, that she suddenly realized:
"Ah, so I like him."
It wasn't until she saw the young boy walking toward her, injured, that her heart tightened, her face turned cold, and she finally understood:
"So I can feel this heartache for him."
Confessions have always been an unnecessary display; love letters can never fully express the depth of one's feelings.
Because confessing isn't the beginning of love—it's simply an honest declaration after recognizing love.
And love letters aren't tools to speed up the process of winning soone's heart, but a keepsake after success.
Kato gumi had already sunk deep into it.
"Have I spoiled you too much, gumi?"
"Well, what can I do? Because I like Azuma-san. I love Azuma, so I can't help but be like this."
.....
(note: This chapter feels both sweet and bitter...and, umm, how should I put it... shaless?)
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