"Nayuta loves Senior the most!" Kani Nayuta embraced him tightly with overwhelming joy, her chest pressing against him with considerable force.
"I know, I know, I like Nayuta too," Izumi Chihiro replied, patting the girl's shoulder.
This was also the first time he had truly admitted this fact aloud.
While happy, the girl sighed even more.
"Ah, Senior, I'm still a bit unwilling. The thought of having to share a Senior like you makes me feel uneasy," Kani Nayuta said, burying her head in his chest with great reluctance.
"I'm sorry, I was too despicable; I dragged you down into the abyss with me. If you must blame someone, blame me," Izumi Chihiro said with a serious and apologetic tone.
"No, this is Nayuta's fault. It was Nayuta's enticement that solidified Senior's resolve, that made him decide to walk into the abyss… This isn't because I'm kind-hearted; it's just because I understand that I don't actually have the confidence to laugh last."
"But I still want to walk with Senior through muddy paths, braving the wind and rain, feel the ocean's breath, and watch fireworks together… So I don't want to lose to anyone else. That's why I committed such a despicable act. Senior could have chosen not to like me."
These repeated whispers were Kani Nayuta's most sincere feelings and thoughts.
Izumi Chihiro could fully feel that burning emotion firsthand.
Who could refuse a girl like this?
"Alright then, from now on, we are accomplices."
His gaze became even gentler.
"Nayuta would rather be utterly wicked."
Kani Nayuta lifted her head, her sapphire eyes more beautiful than the moonlight.
...
Riding the late-night train alone, Izumi Chihiro looked out the window at the neon lights under the moon, his gaze deep.
As he had said during their conversation, although he had once yearned for it, deep down, he was actually indifferent to the idea of starting a harem plan, given that he lived in the real world.
However, after seeing some gossip news, he felt that it wasn't entirely impossible, especially since this was a 'two-dimensional' world.
He really liked a certain perspective from Key-kun.
If he chose one person, while bringing happiness to one, he would inevitably hurt another.
To avoid such a tragedy, he could only embark on a "path of no return," which was... to ensure that all the girls who liked him found happiness, hence his decision to start a harem.
What a painful yet correct realization!
Pseudo-harems? He was tired of reading about them in light novels! When it was his turn, he shouldn't pretend to be noble!
At this moment, he had found his true self, and he would not waver again.
The Paradise Project officially began.
Unbeknownst to him, the train had already arrived at its destination.
Izumi Chihiro walked down the almost deserted street, turned a few corners, and arrived at the entrance of Izumi. Just as he was about to take out his keys to open the door, he noticed that the living room light was on.
What was going on?
Normally, at this time, Sagiri and Mashiro would either be asleep or still drawing; they wouldn't have the living room light on, watching TV, or anything like that.
Izumi Chihiro became alert and instinctively thought of his phone, which he had silenced for notifications. He opened it, and the first message was a reminder from Nayuta.
"Senpai, it's already exposed!"
His heart immediately sank. After reading the messages in the group chat, he looked up at his front door, already understanding that 'judgment' awaited him.
In the living room.
Yamada Elf, Sagiri, and Mashiro were all standing by, ready for action.
Mashiro wasn't quite sure what was happening, but seeing the two of them look so serious, she adopted a similar expression.
Suddenly, Izumi Chihiro pushed the door open.
"Still gathering so late? I hope I'm not disturbing you? I'll head back to my room first."
Seeing their scrutinizing gazes, he tried to quickly slip away.
"Chihiro, you're in big trouble!"
Yamada Elf stood in front of him, arms crossed.
"Ni-san, may I ask where you went, leaving without a word?"
Sagiri made an expression as if she was about to break, her voice seemingly coming from the depths of the netherworld.
"Confess and be lenient, resist and be dealt with severely!"
Mashiro used a line she'd learned from who knows where, striking a pose and pointing at him as she spoke.
"Sigh..."
He took a deep breath.
It seemed there was no escaping, so he might as well be honest.
"I went out earlier because I promised Nayuta I'd watch a movie with her, nothing else."
His frank words were unexpected.
Yamada Elf was the first to react, shouting, "No! This is a betrayal! We should have all gone together... This kind of sneaking off should be strictly forbidden!"
Though she said that, if the two of them had the chance to invite her, she would, of course, have preferred them to be alone.
However, at this moment, she was on the opposing side, so she naturally had to express some displeasure.
"Ni-san, baka!"
Sagiri expressed her emotions simply, her words blunt but to the point.
Suddenly, the three of them turned their gazes to Mashiro, who was just there to make up the numbers.
Mashiro tilted her head and tentatively asked, "Chihiro is a little bitch?"
"Oh, dear."
The three of them almost toppled over.
They hadn't expected such a word to come out of Mashiro's mouth, and the previously serious atmosphere suddenly lightened with a touch of humor.
"Ahem, Mashiro, that word isn't used to insult boys. Also... Mashiro, it's too strange for you to curse like that. Don't imitate it next time."
Izumi Chihiro coughed a few times.
"I understand."
Mashiro replied expressionlessly. It was unclear if she would truly take such words to heart, but it was progress nonetheless.
"So, Scumbag-kun, how should we deal with you? And that unscrupulous woman, she should also be taught a lesson!"
Yamada Elf turned her head, her tone suddenly becoming much bolder.
What the two of them did completely disrupted the balance; everyone had been relatively restrained before, but now they would have to make corresponding changes, and the'shuraba' scenes of everyone vying for a husband would become endless.
Moreover, this time's secret rendezvous, while causing deep resentment among everyone, also created a deeper sense of crisis, and it was possible they might resort to even more'shameless' methods.
Wouldn't that turn into a vicious competition?
However, they would have to consider that later. For now, they needed to discuss a method of compensation.
Izumi Chihiro didn't know what he had done wrong to warrant compensation.
But at this point, it was better to go along with it to avoid even greater unforeseen consequences.
The lessons from Cheng-ge are still fresh in mind!
To achieve his paradise plan, he couldn't just casually string others along; he had to make them understand his true feelings.
That way, one day, he could openly declare those words—
You are all my wings!
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💯 PS = 2 bonus chapter