Hayasaka's firm words left Kaguya speechless.
Because she knew Hayasaka was right.
It wasn't just her fate that was intertwined with Ren—there were others, and not just one or two. More and more would beco connected to him over ti.
Although Ren hadn't explicitly stated that things would develop in that direction, Kaguya felt it was highly probable.
After all, the connection through the diaries only deepened over ti, and now that everyone was on the path of longevity, their futures were bound to beco even more extraordinary.
In such a scenario, their ties to Ren would only grow stronger—never weaker.
Kaguya remained silent for a long ti before finally voicing a willful and even sowhat childish thought.
"What if I quit now?"
"Can you imagine Miss Fujiwara standing intimately beside Amamiya?"
The mont she proposed this hypothetical situation, an inexplicable surge of irritation welled up inside her.
Her mind conjured an unbearable image: that sow with nutritional advantages on her chest clinging to Ren's arm.
...Absolutely not!
Even the re thought of it sent her blood pressure soaring.
She simply couldn't stand it.
"Besides," Hayasaka continued, "according to my speculation, Miss Suzuki has already begun trying to win over Miss Mouri."
"!?"
Kaguya stiffened at Hayasaka's sudden statent.
"When did this happen?"
"During the trip to Tsukikage Island."
Kaguya widened her eyes, trying to recall. After a mont of deep thought, realization struck.
She gritted her teeth.
"It's the na."
She rembered now— Sonoko called Amamiya Ren, and Ran had done the sa.
Hayasaka nodded slightly.
"From what we know, Miss Mouri's childhood sweetheart has repeatedly let her down, lying to her, hiding things from her again and again.
"Personally, I think Miss Mouri is quite patient.
"Every ti they go out, they're interrupted by a case.
"Every opportunity to confess ends up slipping away.
"It's only natural that she'd feel disappointed.
Kaguya found herself agreeing.
After reviewing the investigation data, she also felt that Ran's personality was remarkably good, she was practically another version of Fujiwara Chika.
But no matter how kind and patient a person is, there's a limit to how much disappointnt they can endure.
From an outsider's perspective, Kaguya felt that as long as Kudo Shinichi had simply spoken a few words, his relationship with Ran would have been secure.
But for so reason, he never did.
What's so difficult about this?
Kaguya simply couldn't understand.
"At this point in ti, Miss Mouri is deeply disappointed in her childhood sweetheart."
"And Kudo Shinichi has essentially erased his own identity."
"At this mont, if a boy with good qualities were to appear by Miss Mouri's side... wouldn't she naturally be drawn to him?"
Absolutely.
Kaguya already knew the answer in her heart.
After all, they were just childhood friends. Did she really need to remain so attached to soone who had essentially erased his own existence?
Kudo Shinichi made his own choices.
After being drugged and forced into hiding, he decided to prioritize regaining his identity and investigating the organization over confessing his feelings.
That was his decision.
So, was it really wrong for Ran, knowing all this, to move on?
They weren't even dating. In such a situation, it was perfectly natural for her to form connections with other n.
"Amamiya has already made it clear: due to the intertwining of fate, there will inevitably be complicated relationships between us and him in the future."
"You had no objections at the beginning. Neither did Miss Mouri."
"Isn't this simply a practice of that reality?"
A practice, huh...
Kaguya almost laughed in exasperation.
But soon, her mind regained its calm.
"...Hayasaka, you're right."
"Amamiya has already warned us in advance. How things develop from here is up to us."
"Whether we beco eternal friends, lovers, or wives... it's sothing we need to figure out for ourselves."
Kaguya's thoughts gradually settled, and she finally acknowledged that their future relationship wouldn't be simple.
There were only two options: becoming friends or becoming lovers.
And deep down, she already knew where she stood.
She couldn't accept seeing Fujiwara or any other girl standing intimately beside Ren.
That alone made her decision inevitable.
But even if the outco was already decided, the process still needed to be sorted out properly.
Because these feelings were real.
Kaguya finally admitted to herself—what she felt for Ren wasn't re interest or admiration.
It was love.
The discomfort she felt whenever Ren talked about other girls?
That was jealousy.
Now that she understood this, she could feel her face heating up.
Especially at the words wife and lover that had just slipped out of her own mouth.
"...Hu~"
Taking a deep breath, Kaguya forced herself to stay composed.
"For now, let's set this topic aside."
"Our relationship with Amamiya should continue as normal."
"As for the question of wife or lover, that's not sothing that will be decided anyti soon."
"The real issue right now is how I should respond to Amamiya's request."
The matter of romance wasn't the imdiate concern.
It wasn't sothing that could be sorted out overnight, and Kaguya didn't think they could quickly clarify their relationships with Ren anyway.
Feelings needed ti to grow and develop naturally.
For now, they should let things take their course.
But Ren had made a request and that needed to be addressed imdiately.
"Miss Kaguya, since you've already decided to help, there's no need to hesitate."
"A normal reply will suffice."
"Besides, Amamiya-san isn't the type to bother others casually. If he's reaching out, it ans he sees that person as soone he can rely on."
"..."
Kaguya froze for a mont. Then, her mind clicked into place.
That possibility... wasn't impossible.
And with that realization, everything suddenly beca clear.
"I understand."
(To be continued.)
***
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