At the sound of the alarm clock, Shiina Mahiru groggily sat up, rubbing her eyes. Dark circles clung stubbornly beneath them—a testament to a restless night.
In the kitchen, the usual clatter of pots and pans echoed as the smell of miso soup and freshly grilled fish filled the air. Ogihara Sayu, humming a cheerful tune, was already preparing breakfast. Seeing Mahiru approach with a sluggish gait, she stifled a laugh.
"What's with the panda eyes, Mahiru-chan? Didn't get enough sleep?"
Mahiru shot her a tired glare, puffing her cheeks in frustration. "How could I, after hearing such absurd things last night?!"
Sayu simply grinned, tilting her head playfully. "So... have you thought it through?"
Mahiru let out a dramatic sigh. "My answer is still a solid 'no'! I may not have experience in relationships, but even I know better than to get involved with someone who already has a girlfriend!"
Sayu blinked in feigned innocence. "But Nozomi-kun doesn't have a girlfriend."
Mahiru's eyes widened in disbelief. "What?! And you don't count? You stay over, you cling to him, and there's also Senpai Misaki. How is that not a relationship?!"
Sayu chuckled, flipping an egg onto a plate with practiced ease. "Nope, I don't count. I'm just trying to make Nozomi-kun happy to repay his kindness. And as for Senpai Misaki... that was just an accident. Nothing official."
Mahiru groaned, rubbing her temples. "Even if that's the case, I still refuse!"
"Alright, alright, I won't push." Sayu shrugged nonchalantly. "Let's just see how long you last before he catches you."
"As if that would ever happen!" Mahiru scoffed, though her face betrayed a faint hint of doubt.
Sayu didn't argue, simply smiling to herself as she continued cooking. If Mahiru truly disliked Nozomi, she would have distanced herself immediately. Instead, she remained here, as if unconsciously drawn to him.
She's already caught, Sayu mused. She just doesn't realize it yet.
"Good morning, Sayu, Mahiru-chan!" A cheerful voice interrupted their thoughts.
Both girls turned, and there stood Hozuki Nozomi, looking as carefree as ever.
"M-Morning." Mahiru quickly averted her gaze, cheeks heating up as memories of last night flashed through her mind. She had boldly declared that if Nozomi ever tried anything indecent, she would teach him a lesson. And yet... when he had embraced her so tightly, she hadn't done a thing.
Sayu, on the other hand, beamed. "Good morning, Nozomi-kun! Breakfast is extra special today—it's a 'loving breakfast' made by both of us!"
"It's not a 'loving breakfast'!" Mahiru snapped, her flustered face only making her denial weaker.
Nozomi chuckled. "Well, whatever it is, I'm looking forward to it."
As they ate, Mahiru did her best to avoid direct eye contact with Nozomi, hyper-aware of his every movement. Sayu, meanwhile, stole glances at both of them, her expression unreadable.
She had already laid everything bare last night—her feelings, her reliance on Nozomi, and her willingness to share. She wasn't going anywhere, and Mahiru, despite her protests, wasn't leaving either. In time, Sayu believed Mahiru would understand.
Even if it hurt a little, even if jealousy pricked at her heart, she was willing to do anything for Nozomi's happiness. He had saved her when she was at her lowest, and in return, she wanted to support him, no matter what that meant.
It wasn't a conventional relationship. It was a bond built on need, on gratitude, on something deeper than mere titles. Even Kamiigusa Misaki hadn't put a label on it. It was simply a silent understanding between them all.
"Alright, time to head out." Nozomi stood, stretching as he grabbed his lunch. "Mahiru-chan, Sayu, see you later."
As he turned to leave, Sayu waved cheerfully. Mahiru, still lost in thought, merely gave a small nod.
"Well, have a good trip. Also, if you don't join a club, come back early."
"Hai, hai."
Hozuki Nozomi smiled and nodded before leaving Sakurasou alongside Shiina Mahiru.
As they walked down the familiar path to school, Nozomi noticed Mahiru stealing glances at him, her face slightly flushed. He smirked but didn't comment. Instead, he broke the silence naturally.
"Shiina-san, something happened that day, didn't it?"
"U-Uhm... yeah."
Mahiru's voice was soft, almost hesitant, and she avoided looking at him directly. Nozomi chuckled lightly, sensing her unease.
"Don't worry, I'm not tactless enough to pry into something you don't want to talk about. I just wanted to complain a little."
Mahiru blinked in confusion. "Complain? About what?"
"Shiina-san, please take better care of yourself," Nozomi said in a mock-serious tone. "Don't go standing in the rain alone again. Look at me—I caught a cold in an instant."
Mahiru opened her mouth to respond, but Nozomi continued before she could.
"I don't know what's troubling you, but if you ever need help, I'm more than happy to assist."
Mahiru felt warmth creep up her cheeks. His words were so casual, yet they carried an undeniable sincerity.
"A-Ah, but don't get me wrong! I'm not saying this to flirt with you or anything," Nozomi quickly added, waving his hands in a defensive manner. "As the landlord of Sakurasou, it's my duty to care about my tenants."
For a moment, Mahiru just stared at him, then suddenly let out a small, soft giggle. Seeing her smile so genuinely made Nozomi blink in surprise.
"I know," she said, her voice laced with amusement. "Thank you."
Though her lips curled slightly, inwardly, she couldn't help but complain.
He's such a baka... using himself as an example to scold me?
She remembered that night all too well. He had insisted on giving her his umbrella and walked back in the rain, knowing full well he'd catch a cold. Even though she had been in a fragile state, she knew Nozomi had done it to force her to return to Sakurasou before she got sick. He had been watching over her in his own way.
He really is thoughtful...
She finally understood why Ogiwara Sayu had such strong feelings for him. That careful yet nonchalant way of looking after someone, it made people feel warm from the inside out.
But even if she was touched by his kindness, Mahiru knew one thing for certain—she wasn't the kind of girl who could share a boyfriend with others.
As that thought crossed her mind, a certain memory surfaced.
Yesterday… when he held me in his arms...
Her face turned scarlet.
Heart pounding, she subconsciously quickened her pace.
Nozomi, noticing her sudden haste, simply matched her stride, walking alongside her as they approached the tram station. He smirked but said nothing.
Relationships couldn't be rushed.
Last night, he had overheard Sayu and Mahiru's conversation. He knew that revealing everything now—about Sayu, about Misaki-senpai—would make Mahiru hesitate and keep her distance.
But he was nothing if not patient.
If she truly came to love him despite knowing everything, then their relationship would be something truly precious, something unshakable.
Deception? That was the lowest tactic.
Didn't Mitaka Jin fail spectacularly?
Didn't that infamous "Makoto" end up with a hatchet?
Both of them fell because they played dirty—because they lied and strung girls along without commitment.
Nozomi was different.
He was upfront, honest. He wanted a harem, and he wasn't ashamed of it.
Wasn't that, in its own way, more respectable?
He had the ability to give happiness to the girls he cared for, and he would continue to do so.
Even if it meant embracing the title of "scumbag."