Holding Airi like this for the first time, Kaoru was surprised to realize how small she was.
So small that she seemed to melt into his embrace, his arms wrapping snugly around her waist as if to keep her from escaping.
He could even feel the rhythm of her heartbeat, the faint tremble of her shoulders, and the muffled whimpers rising from her throat.
Perhaps one day in the future, the girl would no longer feel such emotions.
As Kaoru reflected on their journey from their first meeting until now, even he hadn't fully grasped the impact he'd had on her.
Nor had he ever imagined she would harbor such intense possessiveness toward him—something that could no longer be explained by mere friendship.
Gently stroking Airi's back, Kaoru pondered what to say next.
"Airi."
He felt her shift slightly in his arms. "I'm not leaving. I won't ever leave. Even if I have Honami and the others, I'll always be by your side. You can come to me anytime."
Airi let out a soft "Mm," then whispered, "You… you said you liked me earlier… What did that mean?"
What she really wanted to ask was why he had hugged her.
Now that she'd regained her senses, she found his embrace warm and comforting—something she liked very much.
But she was too shy to ask, let alone push him away.
"Exactly what it sounds like," Kaoru replied. "Just like how everyone enjoys sweet things, that's how I feel about you, Airi."
Airi didn't quite understand, but she clearly heard the word "like," making her blush even harder. Fidgeting, she asked in a daze.
"What about Ichinose?"
It felt like a scripted exchange by now. Kaoru answered without hesitation, "The same, yet different."
"Huh?"
Airi lifted her head, staring at him in confusion, her eyes still glistening with traces of tears.
"My feelings for you are the same. Even the reasons I first approached and grew to like you are nearly identical." Kaoru brushed away her tears with his fingertips. "But the experiences and emotions I share with you are different from those with her. Those unique moments are what make my feelings for each of you both the same and distinct."
Airi finally understood, her cheeks burning.
So he really had been eyeing her all along!
In other words, Kaoru intended to make his move on her too.
Her earlier wild thoughts had come true—Kaoru was inviting her into his harem.
What should she do? What was the right response now?
"Airi."
"Eek! Y-yes?!"
Bracing herself for a confession, Airi tensed up, staring at him without blinking, barely daring to breathe.
"Being with you makes me happy."
"M-me too…"
"Did you enjoy today's gathering?"
"W-well… a little… Kaka and Miki were really nice…"
"That's enough."
Kaoru patted her head. "We still have a long time until graduation. Plenty of opportunities to get to know each other, grow closer, and understand one another—slowly enjoying a wonderful, happy high school life together."
Airi blinked in surprise.
'Wait… that wasn't a confession?'
However, instead of feeling lost, she didn't have that urgent and tense sensation from earlier anymore.
It was as if she had let out a sigh of relief, her whole body going limp as she leaned into his embrace, basking in his warmth.
If Kaoru were to confess to her, she probably wouldn't make up her mind right away—she might even reject him.
"Is this enough?" Airi Sakura murmured to herself.
"It's enough. I originally hoped you could have a high school life different from your middle school days, Airi. Don't always stay alone—sometimes, you should experience a different world too."
Kaoru smiled faintly, teasing her a little. "Actually, I think you could tell others about your photography. Kaka and Miki might be willing to be your models."
Airi Sakura's face flushed bright red in an instant.
As if trying to hide her burning cheeks, she buried her face in his chest.
"N-no, stop talking about it... Ugh... Forget it... Just forget what just happened..."
"Too late. Any normal man would remember this for the rest of his life."
Kaoru patted her perky little bottom. "If you don't get up soon, I won't be able to hold back. You know very well what happens when a man loses control, right?"
In an instant, Airi sprang away from Kaoru like a released coil, flustered and nearly knocking into the nearby table.
Only when she saw Kaoru's amused smirk did she realize—she had been tricked by him again!
"Hmph!"
Airi Sakura puffed out her cheeks, making it seem as though she was easy to tease.
But in truth, she wasn't actually afraid of the so-called "consequences."
Kaoru froze for a moment—not because of her expression, but because of the problematic angle now.
As the girl stood up, towering over Kaoru from above, the hem of her skirt was now exposed.
Unlike the earlier photo shoot, she hadn't intentionally exposed this area.
It was simply because her rolled-up skirt had become too short, and from Kaoru's crouched position on the ground, he happened to catch a glimpse of the maiden's scenery.
Compared to deliberate exposure, this accidental view was even more tantalizing—especially with her wearing white thigh-high socks that accentuated her slender, straight calves, plump and fair thighs, and even the subtle curve of her hips.
For a moment, Kaoru wasn't sure whether he should look away.
"Are we... going to stay friends from now on?" Airi Sakura didn't realize she was exposing herself.
She was preoccupied with his earlier words.
Staying friends felt frustrating in a way, yet also strangely comforting.
If possible, she wanted to be more than just an ordinary friend—preferably the most special one in Kaoru's life.
As for being his girlfriend... Airi felt she couldn't compete with Ichinose and the others, so she resigned herself to this.
"Aren't we already friends now?"
"I mean in the future."
"In the future, you'll have even more friends. You'll meet so many new people."
"I... I don't want that! You said this was enough, so having you and Kaka-chan and the others is all I need."
"But Airi, didn't you say you wanted to be an idol? If you're going into the entertainment industry, you'll have to—"
"This is enough!"
For the first time, Airi raised her voice. "Do I really have to meet so many people? If Kaoru is going to leave me, then I don't want to be an idol anymore!"
Kaoru was stunned.
It felt like he was seeing a familiar scene replay before him, stirring a powerful thought in his mind once again.
"Ahem... I—I just want... to be with you. With all of you!"
Airi grew emotional. "I care about you, Kaoru. So I want you to treat me as someone special too—even just a little bit is enough..."
As soon as the words left her mouth, she realized what she had said and flushed crimson.
A brief silence hung between them before Kaoru suddenly chuckled.
"I get it now. Honestly, I already think we're pretty special. I'm the only one who knows Airi is Shizuku-chan, and you just invited me to take... those kinds of photos. I don't think I'll ever forget that."
Airi was both embarrassed and annoyed.
Why was he bringing that up again?
The next moment, Kaoru stood up and, to her shock, gently kissed her.
"I think this is what makes us special."
He murmured softly, "And... this is my selfish wish for you, Airi."
"Uhh... uh..."
Steam might as well have been rising from Airi's head—her brain had completely short-circuited.
"If you don't like it, I can take it back."
"T-taking it back now... is... is punishable by death... sexual harassment..."
"..."