"Hiratsuka-sensei, I'm in the same situation as you," Yukinoshita Yukino said softly.
"....you mean…" Hiratsuka-sensei's voice trailed off.
"All I can do is choose Akira-kun or have my marriage arranged by the Yukinoshita family," Yukino continued.
Hiratsuka-sensei fell silent. She finally understood what Yukino was thinking.
"Although this ungrateful man may be terrible, this is my own choice, and I will not regret it."
"Hiratsuka-sensei, if you also like someone, you should understand my feelings," Yukino added, her voice firm but gentle.
"I don't have the courage that you do, Hiratsuka-sensei. It was Akira who helped me take the first step on my own."
Yukino's words poured out freely. She had nothing to hide from Hiratsuka-sensei, the one person she could completely trust—past, present, and future.
Akira watched her profile silently, not interrupting.
Hiratsuka-sensei studied Yukino for a long moment, then sighed softly.
"Sigh, Yukino, I understand what you're thinking," she said finally.
Then she looked at Akira.
"...Fujimiya-kun, if you dare hurt Yukinoshita or Yuigahama, I will hit you. Especially in that the face."
.....
After Hiratsuka-sensei left, the black tea on the coffee table remained warm.
Akira glanced at Yukino beside him. What she had just said sounded like a confession, and he knew very well that Yukino would not lie in front of Hiratsuka-sensei.
Perhaps because Akira was watching her, Yukino immediately let go of his hand once the door closed and returned to her usual angry mode.
With a smile, Akira sat next to her, held her hand, and hugged her gently.
"Don't touch me, you bad guy," Yukino said, her face flushed as she glared at him.
"Yukino, do you know what a tsundere is?" Akira asked softly.
"I'm not a tsundere!" Yukino clenched her fists, her cheeks heating further. She had learned plenty of otaku terms from Yui and other.
"Yes, you're not a tsundere," Akira nodded, his tone calm and almost perfunctory.
"Let me ask you again—do you think the future is unpredictable, or can you control it?" Yukino's gaze was sharp.
"That… depends on you and Yui," Akira replied, blinking and offering a new answer.
Yukino's face turned bright red. She understood what he meant and felt a little flustered.
She wanted to get up and leave.
Akira hugged her tightly, refusing to give her the chance.
"If you… if you don't let go, I'm going to be angry," She said softly.
"Yui stayed here for a few nights, and I taught her some knowledge, which made our relationship from simple to… more intimate," he continued.
"What… what are you trying to say?" Yukino asked, her voice shaking slightly.
"I heard your confession, and I think it's time for us to get closer. At the very least, you should spend tonight in my room."
"You… you don't think that just because I like you, you can do anything weird to me! Before we get married, I will never—"
"Don't worry. I have full confidence in myself and will never let you down," Akira said, interrupting her gently.
He lifted Yukino, still using the princess carry, and carried her toward his bedroom.
Yukino's face burned hot with embarrassment. The situation mirrored last night, yet it was slightly different—this time, Akira walked toward his room with a calm confidence.
He opened the bedroom door, glanced at her, and walked to the bed.
Then he gently set her down.
"I'm going to take a shower. You can take your time to think about whether to accept or reject me. If you push me away, I may truly not be able to predict the future. I trust you won't let me down," Akira said, then left with his pajamas.
Yukino looked at the closed door. Her first instinct was to leave the bedroom and go to the small bedroom next door.
But Akira's words made sense. If she didn't give him some benefits, other women might appear around him.
Not to mention Saki Kawasaki downstairs, who owed Akira and had already been helped by him. That connection could easily develop into something else.
Also, Kanae from the third studio, an editor at the publishing house. Even Yuigahama Yui's close friends, and her own sister.
Among them, what worried her most was her sister.
Akira and Yukinoshita Haruno were really a good match. If the two got together, the Yukinoshita family could open a new future. Maybe others wouldn't believe it, but she did, deeply.
Akira had the aura of mystery. Whether it was his story or his actions, Yukino felt he seemed omnipotent, she had never seen him loss his cool.
This trust came from the bottom of her heart.
"Just trust him this time," Yukino whispered to herself. After a pause, she made her decision.
She crawled into the bed, leaving enough space for Akira to lie beside her.
...
After half an hour, Akira returned, already in his pajamas.
Yukino was still in the room, which was not unexpected. He would have been surprised if she had left.
The relationship between them was already strong. What was missing now might be just a formal confession.
From this perspective, the person Akira should thank most was Hiratsuka-sensei. Without her words, he might never have heard Yukino's true feelings.
"Thank you, Hiratsuka-sensei," Akira thought as he approached the bed.
He knew Yukino was nervous, so he didn't give her much time to hesitate. He lifted a corner of the quilt and climbed in. Then he hugged her.
This hug already surpassed friendship, yet Yukino said nothing.
"Yukino, when I first saw you, I thought… how wonderful it would be to have a girlfriend this beautiful and proud," he said softly.
"Actually, the reason I didn't talk to you at first was because I was confused and didn't know what path to take in life."
"You may not understand what it's like to feel abandoned and helplessly alone," he continued.
"My perspective used to make me feel outside the world, a stanger but now, with you and Yui, I feel truly alive in this world."
"You liked my story and brought me into the animation industry, which helped me find my purpose," Akira said.
"I want to be an excellent animator and work hard with you on our animation. I want our animation to become a beacon that illuminates the industry."
Akira spoke continuously, not letting Yukino respond. She listened quietly, learning more about him.
Through his words, she saw another side of him.
Akira's confusion must have stemmed from his parents' accident. During that period, his perspective on life was not ordinary, and his outlook had shaped his present self.
Because of his bond with Yuigahama Yui, he had gradually become the person he was now.
Even she had changed because of him. Yuigahama's small circle, once centered around Miura Yumiko, had shifted to Yui, and even Miura had been subtly influenced by Akira.
Observing her own changes—leaving the Service Club, becoming an anime director—she realized how much had transformed, all thanks to him.
Akira continued talking.
After some hesitation, Yukino turned toward him, facing him.
He stopped speaking and hugged her gently.
Yukino's head rested on his chest, and her hands wrapped around him.
At that moment, words were unnecessary.
Akira knew their relationship had likely been upgraded to that of a couple.
He looked down at her and slowly lowered his head.
Yukino felt his movement, raised her head slightly, and closed her eyes.
Their lips touching each other, tasting each other, yukino hesitant, nervous, didn't know what to do, so she stay silent without moving, closing her eyes and letting Akira take advantage of her lips.
Which, he did, his kiss gentle—not force, not dominating, but lovingly as if tasting the most delicious thing, his lips nibble on her lips.
The kiss was continue for sometime as they both fall asleep in each other embrace.
.....
Early that morning — Park,
"Hiratsuka-sensei, thank you," Akira said.
"Huh? What?" Hiratsuka-sensei was slightly surprised.
"If you hadn't said those words, Yukino wouldn't have spoken her true feelings," Akira explained with a smile.
"You… did you take advantage of me?" Hiratsuka-sensei asked suspiciously.
"I didn't. I simply didn't want Yukino to face the choice alone. She had already tried to escape once, and I didn't want her to escape a second time," Akira said calmly.
"...I really want to hit you when you say that," Hiratsuka-sensei snorted.
Akira smiled silently.
Hiratsuka-sensei glanced at him, then at the quiet park in front of her.
"Yukino and I are indeed different. My father is unlike Mrs. Yukinoshita. He respects my choices, letting me go on blind dates but never forcing marriage."
"Your father is a good man," Akira said.
"After hearing Yukino, I realized I couldn't dissuade her. I don't want my student to marry someone she doesn't like," Hiratsuka-sensei said softly.
"Thank you for understanding, Sensei," Akira replied.
"Unfortunately, I can't help Haruno. She needs help more than others."
"I agree. That fake smile may be her way of protecting herself. Her attitude toward Yukino also shows she's not a bad person."
Hiratsuka-sensei looked at him.
"....Fujimiya-kun, I must remind you not to be too greedy."
"Sensei, how do you know how I treat you…"
...
If you'd like to support me and read chapters in advance, feel free to check out my:
Patr**on.com/Zero0000683
Discord.gg/fF384utk