Murakami Yuu had long thought this day would come, just like when he confessed to Kiso Yukina and Eriri before.
The former faced his almost explicit actions with a gentle, unconcerned attitude.
The latter only sought to preserve their current state of interaction.
Regarding his thoughts, neither clearly expressed acceptance, but both chose temporary tolerance.
But Murakami Yuu didn't think everyone was like this, especially Tachibana Rui before him. They had known each other for a short time, yet had already become intimate to the point of sharing a bed.
He wasn't the type to turn his back after putting on his pants, so throughout their interactions, he had been treating her seriously with a positive attitude. But that alone was far from enough.
Intimate actions and sweet words could certainly bring pleasure, but those were just false castles in the air - overstepping acts that skipped the foundation, unable to give lasting security.
Tachibana Rui's slightly distant, resistant attitude after washing up was probably a detailed manifestation of this reason.
Murakami Yuu wanted to reassure her and become someone she believed in and relied on. To achieve this goal now, what he needed to do was express his feelings and sincerity toward her in the most direct and clear verbal manner.
Tachibana Rui put down her chopsticks, placing both hands on her legs under the table:
"What do you... want to say?"
The various unpleasant speculations triggered by one extra toothbrush made her look quite unnatural and somewhat tense.
"What I'm about to say may be somewhat abrupt, but please believe that these are words I've carefully considered. I hope Rui will listen seriously."
Murakami Yuu noticed her facial expression and deliberately slowed his speaking pace, his voice also much lighter. This action was quite effective.
Tachibana Rui felt much better. The thoughts in her heart were slowly calming. She looked into his eyes and nodded.
Murakami Yuu smiled, pressed his lips together and thought for a moment, then slowly spoke, word by word:
"I want to become family with Rui, the kind that spends the rest of our lives together."
Concise and clear - he said it directly without beating around the bush.
Tachibana Rui's eyes widened. The moment the words entered her ears, she froze there, as if someone had cast an immobilization spell on her, motionless.
But in her brain at this moment were violent storms, thunder and lightning, incoming tsunamis and erupting volcanoes. Murakami Yuu's simple sentence made her instantly lose the ability to think, only maintaining a dazed posture of not knowing how to respond.
After waiting quietly for a moment without getting a response from her, Murakami Yuu raised an eyebrow and repeated:
"I want to become with Rui..."
"Yuu, wait a moment!"
Tachibana Rui hurriedly spoke to stop him. Those words that made one's heart sway - once was already enough to instantly break through her defenses. If he said it again, she suspected she would immediately surrender:
"It's not that I didn't hear clearly, it's just... it's just... I haven't quite reacted yet. Let me think for a moment, just a moment! Before that, can you please not speak?"
Murakami Yuu looked at her flustered appearance and nodded.
Tachibana Rui breathed a sigh of relief and lowered her head. Her hands in fists pressed against her chin. Her gaze drifted uncertainly around the living room, occasionally stealing glances at Murakami Yuu's position, then quickly escaping like she'd been electrocuted.
Wanting to become family, spending the rest of our lives together and such...
A confession - this should undoubtedly count as a confession, right?
But why so suddenly? Was it because he noticed my too-obvious reaction just now...
No, it's not really sudden. They've already done most things that couples would do...
Her thoughts rapidly dispersed in her brain. Though seemingly chaotic, the emotions revealed within were undoubtedly excited and joyful.
Finally, Tachibana Rui finished digesting it and temporarily suppressed the surging in her heart. Her gaze met Murakami Yuu's.
"Is it okay now?"
"Mm."
Her face was red.
"Then I'll continue."
Murakami Yuu looked directly at her and said seriously:
"Although we haven't spent much time together, I really like the feeling of being with Rui. Not just expressing desire, but the kind of liking where I hope that whenever I turn my head or turn around, I can see you by my side. Greedy me hopes to continue our current relationship."
Tachibana Rui was ignited again. Her emotions reached their peak, compared to last night when they were most intense in union - it was even more so.
For the first time in her life, she experienced her heart racing wildly while her body sat still and unmoving.
With some hot air emerging from her forehead, if her mouth cooperated and made sounds, she could successfully transform into a proper boiling kettle girl.
"Continue..."
She finally spoke, her voice impossibly soft.
"Mm, I want you to stay by my side, continuing on and on."
Murakami Yuu paused, took a light breath, and still followed his original thought and continued:
"But before Rui answers me, there are other things I want to tell you."
His emotions from start to finish hadn't fluctuated much, but Tachibana Rui could tell from the subtle changes in his pupils that compared to before, what he was saying now should be the important matter.
Somewhat uneasy, she still nodded, quietly awaiting what followed.
"The person I like isn't only Rui."
"..."
Tachibana Rui frowned. She didn't immediately understand the meaning in this:
"What are you trying to say?"
"I'm very greedy. I really like Rui, but besides Rui, I also hold these feelings toward other women."
Murakami Yuu's tone was light, but it was like a bell-striking mallet. The extreme joy that had surged in her chest earlier was instantly shattered and scattered, ceasing to exist.
The atmosphere of the two alone together began to slowly change. The air congealed into a viscous substance. Even turning her head or raising her hand seemed extremely difficult and resistant.
Complex emotions surged up. Being told this fact, Tachibana Rui was somewhat bewildered, but in an instant was overstepped by other emotions.
Surprise, shock, sudden realization, unease...
She had held some hope for Murakami Yuu, and he did indeed respond to her, but he also brought some other things she couldn't let go of.
For some reason, she thought of her sister who had previously fallen into that quagmire. Her chest suddenly couldn't catch breath.
After hesitating a moment, she asked:
"Am I... the third..."
"No."
Murakami Yuu resolutely interrupted her words:
"From when we first met until today, I've been alone."
Tachibana Rui's suspended heart temporarily settled. She believed him.
After temporarily separating and meeting again, that feeling of fulfillment they both felt upon seeing each other wasn't fake.
"Why are you telling me these things?"
Tachibana Rui asked this question, her expression seeming somewhat displeased.
"Passively and innocently playing dumb could certainly continue this relationship between us, but that's not what I want.
What I hope for is a relationship where we both mutually know each other and is more lasting and continuous. So I feel I shouldn't hide this from Rui. You have the right to know these things."
Murakami Yuu said candidly. His thinking was simple.
If you want something, directly say it and do it, not take shortcuts and find alternative paths. Because being afraid of losing and hesitating and not wanting to directly face the consequences of problems means forever staying in place, not advancing an inch.
Tachibana Rui lowered her head, working hard to digest the meaning in Murakami Yuu's words. After a long time, she slowly asked in return:
"This kind of relationship - it's not just toward me alone?"
"Yes."
This time Murakami Yuu gave an affirmative answer, and this answer also made the atmosphere fall silent again.
Tachibana Rui took a deep breath and stood up, trying as much as possible to keep her voice steady:
"Thank you for the meal. It was a delicious breakfast. I still need to go home, so I won't disturb you."
"Wait a moment."
Murakami Yuu walked into the kitchen. When he came out, he held a lunch bag in his hand. Without allowing any argument, he directly placed it in Tachibana Rui's hands:
"Take this. Bring it to school to eat."
When Tachibana Rui was leaving and about to exit, he added one more line:
"I can endure a week of you not talking to me. After that, if you still haven't contacted me, I'll go to your school to find you."
Tachibana Rui turned back to meet Murakami Yuu's half-smiling gaze. She had returned to that demeanor from the first day they met - that "I'm unhappy, don't bother me" look.
She didn't say anything, turned and left, closing the door.
Her getting angry was within expectations. As long as she took the lunch, at least the situation wasn't as bad as he thought.
Murakami Yuu returned to the living room, picked up his phone, and dialed Iizuka Takeya's number.
"Takeya, do you remember that mixer last time..."
"It's good that you're familiar with those two girls. Can I trouble you to ask them for a favor..."
"Right, that girl named Tachibana Rui. Have those two girls not be too deliberate, just naturally interact like usual. I just need to roughly know her situation..."
"Thanks, Takeya. I'll treat you to a meal next time..."
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