The setting sun dyed the hallway in a warm layer of gold.
Judging from what had happened at lunch, Akuto should have been going home with Erica and the others.
Yet now, he was walking down the hallway alone.
No matter how one looked at it, it was strange.
Unfortunately, Asuka Tokunaga did not notice that. Her white-socked feet, wrapped in indoor shoes, quickly carried her toward Akuto.
Akuto seemed to notice the footsteps behind him. At the corner of a quiet hallway, he stopped and turned around.
"Need something, Asuka?"
His voice was calm, carrying a trace of inquiry. His deep black eyes looked at her, as if they could see through her heart.
Asuka slammed on the brakes and unexpectedly met Akuto's gaze.
All her courage to question him, all her righteous indignation, vanished in an instant. Her cheeks burned, her tongue tied itself in knots, and her heart pounded wildly.
"A-Akuto-kun... I... um..."
She stammered, her mind completely blank as she froze in place.
Her chaotic thoughts finally turned into burning embarrassment.
Without adding any explanation, and without saying who the owner of the letter was, Asuka directly thrust the envelope in her hand toward him.
"Akuto-kun, please accept this!"
Akuto lowered his eyes, his gaze landing on the envelope. He did not take it immediately. His slender fingers lightly pinched one corner of the envelope, and the corners of his mouth curved into a faint, ambiguous smile.
"Asuka... is this a love letter?" Akuto asked, raising an eyebrow.
At that moment, Asuka finally realized something was wrong.
She seemed to have forgotten to say who this love letter was actually for.
"Yes, that's right. This... this is..."
Asuka's words caught halfway through. Before she could explain properly, Akuto spoke first.
"Fine. If it's from you, Asuka, then I accept."
...
The instant those words came out, Asuka froze in place.
What did Akuto say?
He accepted?
He was willing to accept this confession from her?
No... wait...
Did Akuto mean... he accepted her confession?
Thump.
Thump, thump.
Once Asuka realized what Akuto's words meant, her heart instantly sped up.
"So... from now on, Akuto-kun and I are lovers?"
Asuka looked at Akuto tentatively, completely forgetting to explain that this was Miyama's love letter, not hers.
"Of course." Akuto nodded.
"I've always liked you, Asuka. Rejecting you is something I just can't do."
Akuto smiled and reached out his hand.
"Akuto-kun, I... I've always..."
Asuka slowly reached toward Akuto's extended hand.
However, just before she could take his hand, Asuka suddenly realized something important.
"Wait! Akuto-kun, what exactly is your relationship with Erica and the others? And why were you eating lunch with them?"
Before officially becoming Akuto's girlfriend, Asuka felt she had to understand that first.
"Ah, you mean Erica and the others? They're my lovers too," Akuto replied as if it were only natural.
"Huh...?"
"Akuto-kun, you... how could you do that?" Asuka's voice trembled, half tearful and half angry.
"How can you accept so many people at the same time? That... that's wrong! It isn't legal either!"
Akuto quietly listened to Asuka's accusation. The smile on his face remained, but an unquestionable force appeared in his eyes.
"Legal?" Akuto let out a soft scoff.
"Asuka, you're too naive. Laws are made by people, and those who create the rules are the ones qualified to decide what is right and wrong. Since ancient times, law has been an expression of the ruling class's will."
"At present, Japan is indeed a monogamous country. But across the world, there are countries where polygamy exists."
"Or are you saying that if Japan passed a law tomorrow legalizing polygamy, you would still refuse to accept it?"
Asuka was completely stunned.
What was Akuto saying?
...
"That... that's impossible!"
Asuka lowered her outstretched hand. Her eyes went unfocused. She had never expected Akuto to truly want to date so many girls at the same time.
"How can you... how can you like so many people at once? That isn't love! That's... that's..."
"That's the best way to make everyone happy," Akuto said, shaking his head.
"Why does it have to be one or the other? Why can't I choose everyone? I have the ability and the resolve to give them, and you, the best possible future."
Akuto's words seemed to carry magic, full of persuasive power.
"Asuka, if you're willing..."
As he spoke, Akuto reached out to her again. His gaze was deep and pure.
For an instant, Asuka was almost completely convinced by those profound eyes.
But in the end, she stopped herself.
Because she suddenly remembered another important question.
"Akuto-kun, can you tell me what happened to you over these past few days?"
"When you say you can change the law... you don't mean that for real, do you?"
"..."
"It's true."
"So if you want, Asuka, I can push that law through very soon," Akuto replied calmly.
"..."
Asuka looked at the calmness in Akuto's eyes and knew that he probably really did have that ability.
She did not want to dig too deeply into what Akuto could actually do.
She only wanted to ask herself one thing: did she still like Akuto-kun?
As time passed, Asuka understood something else too.
She really was somewhat unworthy of the current Akuto-kun. On a personal level, she found that she could understand why Erica and the others were willing to share him.
It was just...
She still needed some time to sort through all her thoughts before making her final choice.
"Akuto-kun, can you give me some time to think?"
"Tomorrow. Tomorrow, I'll definitely give you a real answer."
Asuka looked at Akuto, her eyes full of pleading.
"Of course."
"Asuka, no matter what choice you make, before you go, can I have a hug?"
"Mm... okay."
Asuka suddenly rushed forward and threw herself straight into Akuto's arms.
She felt as though Akuto carried a scent that was unusually attractive to her, making her emotions rise and fall in waves.
...
Half a minute later, Asuka waved goodbye to Akuto.
During that half-minute embrace, Asuka had already decided.
She would accept Akuto.
She would try to embrace everything about him.
She would try to begin a relationship that was not one-on-one, but one shared by many.
She believed that if it was Akuto-kun, he would always take good care of her.
However, before officially becoming Akuto's girlfriend, Asuka still had one thing she needed to do.
She needed to tell Miyama about this.
Whether it was the fact that she was prepared to accept Akuto-kun, the fact that Akuto-kun really did have relationships with many beautiful girls, or even the fact that Akuto-kun said he had the ability to change the law, she intended to apologize to Miyama first and then tell her everything.
She hoped Miyama could think things over under these new circumstances.
After that...
Whether Miyama chose to leave, chose to become her rival, or chose to become her ally, Asuka would accept it completely.
...
Just like that, Asuka left.
Akuto stood in place, watching that slender figure disappear around the corner. His face showed no particular expression.
A few seconds later, he slowly took the pale purple envelope from his pocket and gently rubbed the back of it with his fingers.
"Come out."
Akuto spoke softly, but his voice echoed clearly through the hallway.
With a creak, the door of an abandoned classroom nearby opened.
Miyama lowered her head and slowly walked out. Her face carried guilt, unease, and a trace of joy she could not fully hide.
It turned out that during the entire process of Asuka delivering the love letter, Miyama had been hiding nearby and watching.
"Akuto-kun..."
Miyama walked up to Akuto, her voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz.
"I'm sorry... I used Asuka..."
Akuto looked at Miyama with a gaze that was both appraising and appreciative.
No matter what, Miyama really was quite cute. Her looks and temperament were both acceptable, and she was Asuka's close friend. She fit Akuto's standards perfectly.
However, in Akuto's opinion, Miyama still needed some guidance.
...
"Miyama, the person you should apologize to isn't me. It's Asuka. You used her trust and friendship. You wanted to use your own confession to seal off Asuka's actions."
"That... isn't something you should do to a good friend."
Akuto's voice was calm, but it carried an invisible pressure.
Miyama's body trembled slightly, and her head lowered even more.
"I... I know. I... I'll apologize to her when I see her tomorrow."
Miyama gathered her courage and raised her head. The gaze she directed at Akuto carried pleading and hope.
Of course, before apologizing to Asuka, she first had to make her feelings clear to Akuto.
"I'm sorry, A-Akuto-kun. I just like you too much... That's why I somehow ended up using that method. I'm sorry..."
Looking at her like this, the frost on Akuto's face melted somewhat.
No matter what, it was good that she knew she was wrong and was willing to change.
Akuto liked girls like Miyama, girls who could listen.
So the next moment, Akuto reached out and gently lifted Miyama's chin, forcing her to meet his eyes.
"Miyama, do you know? I really like girls as obedient as you."
Akuto called her name in a low, magnetic voice. The corners of his mouth curved into a wicked smile.
Compared to Asuka, Miyama was indeed a little too humble and proactive.
But in this situation, that also made her the most obedient, and the easiest to shape.
"Huh?"
Miyama's heart skipped a beat. Her cheeks flushed red, and surprise shone in her eyes.
Akuto-kun said...
He liked her?
Miyama did not care why Akuto liked her.
She only cared about the fact that he did.
"So, as your reward..."
Akuto smiled playfully, lightly pinched the girl's smooth chin, and slowly lowered his head.
Miyama instinctively closed her eyes. Her long lashes trembled nervously. She could feel Akuto's warm breath drawing closer and closer, carrying an unsettlingly masculine presence.
The next second, a cool and soft sensation pressed against her lips.
Her first kiss.
It carried a hint of minty coolness, along with a domineering force that brooked no resistance.
Miyama's body instantly stiffened. Her mind went blank, and then she was swallowed by a vast, dizzying happiness. She responded clumsily, her hands unconsciously clutching Akuto's clothes.
The kiss was not long, but it was enough for Miyama to remember for the rest of her life.
When Akuto let go of her, her cheeks were as red as ripe apples. Her eyes were unfocused, and her lips were slightly swollen, carrying a tempting sheen.
"Remember your promise. Apologize to Asuka tomorrow," Akuto said, his voice returning to calm, as though he had not just stolen her first kiss.
"Mm!"
Miyama nodded firmly, her voice carrying a trembling sweetness.
Forget asking her to apologize to Asuka.
Even if he asked her to bring Asuka into the same family she belonged to, Miyama would agree without the slightest hesitation.
...
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