The gentle rustle of cherry blossoms swayed in the afternoon breeze, casting dappled shadows on the quiet campus bench where the three of them sat — Shin in the center, his hands still held by the two people who had just confessed their hearts to him. Aiko's fingers clung softly to his left hand, her eyes still moist from the kiss they shared. Yuki, on his right, was glaring at the ground, his face flushed, hand stubbornly laced with Shin's even as he growled under his breath.
Shin looked down at both of them, heart pounding in his chest. His mind still buzzed with what had happened just the day before, the echo of Ai's voice whispering promises and gasps into his ear still vivid — warm and intimate.
But now, something weighed on him.
"…Hey," he said quietly, breaking the silence. "What do you think Ai would feel… if she heard me say yes to both of you?"
Aiko blinked. Her grip tightened for a second, then loosened as she raised her gaze, soft and steady. "She'd be surprised," she admitted. "But… I think she already knows, doesn't she?"
Shin tilted his head.
Aiko gave a small smile, sad and honest. "She's Ai-chan. She knows you. And she knew we'd confess eventually."
Yuki scoffed, but didn't pull away. "Tch. That girl probably saw this coming months ago," he muttered, though there was a hint of admiration in his tone.
Shin chuckled. "Yeah… she did."
They sat quietly again, the soft breeze teasing at Yuki's white bangs. Then Shin took a breath. His heart ached, not from pain, but from how tightly everything was woven — these feelings, these moments. He had to say it. He couldn't hide this part.
"Yesterday," he said, voice low. "Ai and I… we spent the whole day together."
Aiko's eyes widened slightly. Yuki turned to glance at him, sensing a change in tone.
Shin kept going, even as his chest tightened. "We were alone. All day. In her room. Just the two of us." He paused. "We finally… slept together."
A long silence.
Not the silence of confusion. Not even shock. Just... the kind that comes when something inevitable still hits harder than expected.
Yuki blinked. Then again. His face turned scarlet instantly.
Aiko slowly looked down, then up again. Her lashes fluttered, and her lips trembled slightly. She wasn't surprised by what had happened — anyone with eyes could see the depth of Shin and Ai's love. But…
"You're… not a virgin anymore," she whispered.
Shin looked at her, quietly.
"I wanted to be your first…" she said, voice barely audible.
Yuki flinched and looked away, his grip still locked with Shin's. "…Gross. That's just disgusting," he snapped, eyes avoiding both of them. "You didn't need to say it like that, idiot…"
Shin chuckled, softly. "It's the truth."
Yuki's lip twitched. "I didn't need a picture in my head!!"
Aiko smiled gently at the outburst, brushing a hand through her hair. "So you… did it. With Ai-chan."
Shin nodded, not ashamed. "Yeah."
His voice softened. "It was… amazing."
Yuki twitched again.
"She was nervous. Shy. But… she wanted to be with me completely. She told me she wasn't going to hold back anymore. And when she said that, I knew I couldn't either."
He stared at the falling petals, eyes hazy.
"I kissed her for hours. She let me touch her wherever I wanted. She kept whispering 'I love you' over and over. I thought my heart was going to explode…"
Yuki groaned loudly. "Stop TALKING."
Shin laughed. "Why? You jealous?"
Yuki turned fully away, cheeks glowing like lanterns. "I'm not jealous! Who would be jealous of that?!"
"You." Shin leaned closer. "Because I know you wanted to be my first too, didn't you… Yuki?"
Yuki looked like he was about to combust. "SHUT UP! Baka! Don't say it like that!"
Shin turned to Aiko, who was now softly smiling, her expression bittersweet.
"Ai gave herself to you," she said. "Because she loves you. I understand."
"You're not angry?" he asked gently.
She shook her head. "I wish it had been me. But… I knew it would be her." She looked at her lap. "And I promised myself… I'd share you. If that's what it took. So, I can't be angry."
Shin reached up and tucked her hair behind her ear. "You're incredible, Haa-chan."
Aiko's eyes shimmered.
Then he turned to Yuki, whose ears were bright red. "And you? Still think it's disgusting?"
Yuki didn't answer. He just crossed his arms.
"…I'll share you too," he finally mumbled, so quiet it barely counted.
"Hm?" Shin grinned. "Didn't catch that."
Yuki glared at him. "I said—I'll—SHARE you, okay?! But that doesn't mean I'm okay with you being a pervert, Taa-Kun!"
Shin burst out laughing, unable to help himself. The way Yuki growled while still clutching his hand was beyond adorable.
"I love you, Kiddo."
"Don't call me that!"
"I love you too, Haa-Chan," he added, turning to Aiko.
She pressed a hand to her chest, breathing deeply. "I know. And I'll love you even if you're already hers."
"But I'm also yours now," Shin said.
"…And mine too, right? Idiot," Yuki whispered.
Shin squeezed both their hands. "Right."
The wind swept through the sakura trees, scattering pink petals over their laps.
Shin exhaled slowly. "With Ai… it felt like everything made sense. I felt connected to her in a way I didn't know was possible."
Aiko nodded, trying not to let tears fall again. "She's been with you since the beginning. She deserved to be first."
Yuki muttered, "Still. Next time better be me."
Shin smirked. "Oh? Planning something?"
"NO!" Yuki yanked his hand back, then awkwardly shoved it back in Shin's. "I'm just saying—you better not keep bragging about it, or I'll kick you."
Aiko laughed softly, and the tension broke like a bubble.
Shin leaned back against the bench, holding their hands tighter. "It's going to be a complicated path."
"We know," Aiko said.
"But we're walking it with you," Yuki added.
Shin's chest swelled with warmth. "Then let's keep going. Together."
And beneath the cherry blossoms, the three of them sat — hands joined, hearts heavy with love and promises. The spring wind carried their breathless hopes into the petals above, where Ai's whispered promise echoed quietly.
"Say yes to them if they confess."
He had.
And now, he belonged to all three.
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END OF CHAPTER : 116 : WHAT WOULD AI SAY...?
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