Aoi's face was burning.
Her breath hitched.
Her fingers curled into the fabric of her skirt, squeezing it tight.
I had asked her a simple question.
"Ayase-Chan… is there someone you like?"
And now—
She was completely, utterly frozen.
She didn't move. She didn't blink. She didn't even breathe.
She just sat there, her entire body trembling, her lips parting slightly as if to say something—only to immediately shut tight again.
"...I…"
Aoi's voice was barely above a whisper.
Her shoulders twitched, and she immediately dropped her gaze, staring at the bento box in her lap like it was the most fascinating thing in the world.
Her mind was a mess.
How was she supposed to answer that?
She knew the answer.
She had known it for a long time.
But saying it out loud… that was terrifying.
Meanwhile—
Behind the school building, the three spies were still eavesdropping.
Aisha, Mei, and Hana huddled together, their heads stacked on top of each other as they peered from behind the wall.
Aisha bit her lip, eyes wide. "D-Do you think she'll say it?"
Mei frowned. "She better. I swear, if she backs out now, I'm going to go there and shake it out of her."
Hana wiped her eyes. "I-I don't know why, but I feel kind of emotional…"
Back in front of me, Aoi fidgeted.
Her fingers played with the hem of her skirt. Her legs swung slightly.
Her lips trembled.
I stayed silent, waiting patiently.
She gulped.
Then, hesitantly, her voice as soft as the wind—
"...Yes."
My heart skipped a beat.
I leaned in slightly. "Yeah?"
Aoi clenched her hands. "I… I really like… this person."
Her voice was shaky. Her cheeks glowed red.
But she didn't stop.
"This person… is the first person who never made me feel scared."
She took a deep breath, her chest rising and falling.
"This person… is so kind to me."
Aisha, Hana, and Mei sucked in a sharp breath.
Aisha grabbed Mei's sleeve. "O-Oh no, I think she's actually going to say it—!"
"This person… made my heart skip a beat," Aoi continued, her voice growing steadier.
"This person… made me come out of my shell."
Hana clutched her chest. "W-Why am I tearing up…?"
"This person… made me realize what love is."
Silence.
Complete silence.
The world around us seemed to fade away.
Aoi closed her eyes.
Then—
She slowly lifted her gaze, looking at me with the most vulnerable, sincere expression I had ever seen.
Aisha sniffled. "S-Someone just say it—I'm getting emotional."
Her lips parted.
Her voice was barely above a whisper.
"...I really, really love you, Kage-Senpai."
At that moment—
Mei wiped her eyes aggressively. "I TOLD YOU THIS WOULD HAPPEN."
Hana let out a tiny sob. "I-I can't—this is too pure—!"
Back in front of me, Aoi's face was completely red.
Her shoulders were trembling.
Her fingers gripped her skirt so tightly, her knuckles turned white.
She looked like she was about to faint.
I smiled.
Gently, I reached out and placed my hand on top of hers.
Her eyes widened.
Her breath hitched.
She looked at me, utterly stunned.
"Ayase-Chan," I said softly.
She gulped.
I could feel how fast her pulse was racing.
"I love you too."
And then—
She broke.
Her entire body stiffened.
Then, she let out a soft, high-pitched squeak
Before immediately burying her face into my chest.
Aisha, Mei, and Hana all screamed.
"AAAHHHHHH!"
A loud, dramatic scream pierced the air.
Aoi flinched violently.
Her entire body jolted, and she looked up, eyes wide with pure horror.
Then—
The culprits appeared.
Aisha, Mei, and Hana came sprinting out from behind the school building, their faces soaked in tears, crying dramatically as if they had just witnessed the most heart-wrenching love story of the century.
"THAT WAS BEAUTIFUL!" Mei wailed, rubbing her eyes aggressively.
Aisha sniffled. "S-Such an innocent, pure confession—I CAN'T!"
Hana sobbed. "I-I'm so happy for her—!"
Aoi's expression twisted into sheer terror.
Her body stiffened.
She let out a small, strangled noise—like a squeaky toy being squeezed too hard.
Then, as if her mind had completely short-circuited, she did the only thing she could think of—
She buried her face even deeper into my chest.
Her tiny hands clutched my uniform so tightly, her fingers trembled.
She was overwhelmed.
The sudden noise, the sudden rush of people, the attention—it was too much.
Her entire body quivered as she gripped onto me like her life depended on it.
And then—
A familiar ding! echoed in my ears.
A screen appeared in front of me.
---
[MISSION: NEWLY ACQUIRED GIRLFRIEND IS TERRIFIED]
[OBJECTIVE: CALM HER DOWN]
[WARNING: FAILURE TO COMPLETE THIS WILL RESULT IN A PUNISHMENT]
---
I tensed.
A punishment?
I glanced down at Aoi.
Her shoulders shook.
Her breathing was erratic, small gasps slipping through.
She was scared.
I had to do something.
Gently, I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her closer.
"Ayase-Chan," I murmured softly.
She whimpered in response, clutching me even tighter.
I stroked her back gently, trying to soothe her.
"Hey, it's okay," I whispered. "You don't have to be scared."
She trembled but didn't respond.
I took a deep breath, then looked toward the three girls standing in front of us.
They had stopped crying.
Now, they were staring at Aoi with sparkling eyes.
Like proud parents watching their shy child take their first steps.
I sighed.
"You guys," I said, shaking my head, "you scared her."
Mei gasped. "ME?!"
"You were literally screaming," I deadpanned.
Aisha pouted. "We were just emotional!"
Hana nodded rapidly. "Y-Yeah! It was just… so beautiful!"
Aoi made another small noise of distress.
I could feel her heartbeat pounding rapidly against my chest.
I sighed again before speaking gently.
"Ayase-Chan, listen to me."
She didn't move.
But I felt her tiny nod against my chest.
I smiled.
"These three… are my girlfriends."
Silence.
Then—
Aoi flinched again.
Her entire body twitched as she slowly peeked up at me, her wide, teary eyes filled with disbelief.
Her lips parted slightly, but no words came out.
She turned her head toward Aisha, Mei, and Hana.
The three of them were still standing there—watching her with huge, sparkling eyes, sniffling dramatically.
Aoi gulped.
She wasn't sure if she was still breathing.
"...T-They are…?" she whispered.
I nodded.
"They are."
Aoi's gaze flickered back to them.
Their eyes were still watering dramatically, hands clasped together in front of their chests like they were witnessing the birth of a miracle.
She gulped again.
Then, she made the smallest, quietest, most nervous sound ever—
A tiny "eep!"
And then she instantly latched onto me again, squeezing me so tight I could barely breathe.
Her entire body trembled as she buried herself deeper into my chest, as if trying to disappear.
I felt my heart clench.
She was scared.
Too much attention. Too many emotions. Too many things happening at once.
I held her tighter.
Gently, I stroked her head.
"Ayase-Chan," I whispered, my voice low and soothing.
She hiccupped softly but didn't respond.
I pressed my lips against her hair.
"I'm here," I murmured.
"Just breathe."
She tensed.
But then—
Slowly, her grip loosened.
She took a shaky breath.
Then another.
Then another.
Her heartbeat—though still rapid—began to slow.
I continued stroking her head, whispering reassurances.
"I'm here."
"I'm not going anywhere."
"You don't have to be scared."
I felt her relax—just a little.
She sniffled against my chest.
Then—
"...I-Is it really okay?" she whispered.
I smiled.
"It is."
She hesitated.
Then, ever so slowly, she peeked up at the three girls once again.
Their eyes were still watering.
But this time—
They smiled.
Aisha stepped forward first, crouching down slightly to meet Aoi's eyes.
"Welcome to the family," she said softly.
Aoi flinched.
Then Mei suddenly grabbed Aisha's shoulder.
"NO, WAIT, WE HAVE TO DO IT TOGETHER!" she said urgently.
Aisha sighed. "Fine, fine."
She and Mei exchanged nods.
Then Hana quickly joined in.
And together—
All three of them beamed at Aoi and said in perfect unison—
"WELCOME TO THE FAMILY!"
Aoi immediately let out another squeaky "eep!"
And then—
She collapsed back into my arms.
Her face was completely red.
Her small hands clutched the fabric of my uniform.
She looked up at me, her eyes still wide, her expression somewhere between overwhelmed and flustered.
I chuckled.
Then, tightening my hold around her, I whispered—
"I told you, Ayase-Chan. It's okay. You're safe here."
She stared at me for a long moment.
Then—
She finally, finally relaxed.
Her shoulders slumped.
Her breath steadied.
And she let out a tiny, quiet sigh—
Before closing her eyes and leaning against me.
The Soul Stats pinged.
---
[MISSION SUCCESS: CALM HER DOWN!]
[REWARD: AFFECTION POINTS +50]
[NO PUNISHMENT ISSUED]
---
I smiled.
And just like that—
Ayase Aoi had officially become part of our crazy, chaotic, wonderful family.
END OF CHAPTER : 26 : CONFESSION!