Confession

On the way back to the classroom, Megumi Kato was noticeably silent, with a troubled expression on her face.

Seeing her like this, Eriri couldn't help but stop walking and reach out to rub her cheek, asking, "Megumi, is something on your mind?"

Megumi raised her head but did not pull away from Eriri's hand, just looked at her expressionlessly and said, "Eriri, do you... like Utaha-senpai?"

Hearing Megumi's words, Eriri suddenly understood and chuckled, saying, "Is Megumi jealous?"

Megumi didn't deny it but nodded honestly.

For this kind of thing, Eriri knew it would happen sooner or later. However, she wouldn't lie to her woman; she would be honest and open about it. Even if she wanted to have a harem, she would do it openly.

As for how to resolve conflicts within the harem, she'd take it one step at a time. Eriri believed she could handle it. Worst case, she could win them over one by one—after all, she wouldn't let anyone she liked leave her side.

Thinking of this, Eriri couldn't help but ask Megumi, "If I said yes, what would you do?"

Megumi was silent for a moment, then said somewhat confusedly, "I don't know..."

Seeing Megumi's confused expression, Eriri released her face and pulled her into a hug, whispering in her ear, "Do you want to break up with me?"

"Of course not. I've already decided that no matter what happens in this life, I will never leave you, so don't think about leaving me."

Megumi's response was a bit agitated, as she clung tightly to Eriri's back. Just imagining being apart from Eriri made her feel breathless, an uncontrollable fear seizing her, tears welling up in the corners of her eyes.

Feeling Megumi's fear, Eriri quickly said, "Don't worry, Megumi. I won't abandon you. No one can take you away from me." Then she gently patted Megumi's back to calm her down.

They stayed like that for a while until Megumi calmed down. She nuzzled her face against Eriri's cheek, softly saying, "Eriri, I really can't lose you. Just thinking about it makes me feel so hopeless..."

Her voice paused slightly before continuing, "So no matter how many girls you like in the future, I just hope you'll never leave me."

Eriri hadn't expected that Megumi's feelings for her would have deepened to this extent in such a short time.

Megumi's heartfelt confession also made Eriri feel a bit guilty. Her heart completely belonged to Megumi, yet she didn't only have her in mind.

"I'm sorry, Megumi. I won't deny that I like others too, but I can promise you that I'll always love you." With that, Eriri released Megumi and took a few steps back, raising her right hand to her chest, placing her palm over her heart, and with a serious expression said, "I will always love Megumi Kato!"

"Pfft..."

Seeing Eriri's exaggerated performance, Megumi finally couldn't help but laugh, her previous bitterness disappearing.

Seeing the smile on Megumi's face, Eriri couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. She returned to Megumi's side and gently wiped the tears from her eyes with her finger, saying, "You look beautiful when you smile. Smile more often; frowning doesn't suit you."

Feeling Eriri's gentle touch, Megumi was filled with a sense of happiness that enveloped her heart, lifting her spirits.

She twirled a strand of her short hair around her finger, looked at Eriri, and softly asked, "Eriri, do you like long hair?"

Eriri didn't answer Megumi's question but instead asked, a little puzzled, "Why do you ask?"

"I noticed that besides focusing on Utaha-senpai's chest, you also kept looking at her long hair, so..."

"Haha... I didn't expect Megumi to observe so closely..."

Hearing this, Eriri felt a little embarrassed and laughed it off, not expecting her behavior to be noticed by Megumi.

"Of course, my attention is always on Eriri," Megumi said with a meaningful smile.

"Uh, Megumi, why does that sound a little yandere..." Megumi's words made Eriri think of some strange ideas.

Shaking her head, Eriri quickly drove those messy thoughts out of her mind, then nodded and said, "I do like long hair, but whether Megumi has long or short hair, I love you just the same."

"Is that so..." Hearing Eriri's answer, Megumi murmured thoughtfully.

"Well, it's getting late, and lunch is almost over. We should head back to class."

After saying this, Eriri took Megumi's hand and continued walking back to Class 1-E.

...

Yumenosaki Academy's dismissal time was at 3:30 in the afternoon. Besides students participating in club activities, the rest were free to go home. Since tomorrow was the school's club recruitment day, all first-year students were leaving school at this time.

Holding Megumi's hand, Eriri walked out of the classroom with Kiyo Ishimaki and Azusa Satomi flanking her. The students around them sneaked glances at Eriri and Megumi.

In just one day, Eriri and Megumi's fame had spread throughout Toyosaki Academy. Their stunning beauty left everyone who saw them unable to forget.

The two were unanimously recognized by the students as part of the "Three Beauties of Yumenosaki Academy." As for the third beauty, it was originally Utaha Kasumigaoka, but Eriri and Megumi's popularity had clearly surpassed hers.

As the four stepped out of the school gate, Aoi Kujo drove up to the entrance.

"Kiyo, Azusa, which direction do you live in? I'll give you a ride," Eriri said to Ishimaki and Satomi after glancing at Aoi walking towards them.

Hearing Eriri's offer, Ishimaki hesitated and said, "Um... Won't it be troublesome?"

In response, Eriri just waved her hand nonchalantly and said, "It's no trouble, driving is convenient."

Eriri didn't ask Megumi for her opinion. In her view, Megumi was already her woman, so she naturally didn't have to be too polite. However, it was different for Kiyo and Azusa.

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