"Ah, this, it's not that Senpai is stringing me along, it's just that I've been relentlessly pestering him! Senpai has already rejected my confession seven times, hasn't he? Though only the first time was somewhat formal."
Kani Nayuta counted on her fingers.
"Eh, that many?"
Yamada Elf exclaimed.
"Because... once I get excited, I can't help it! That's how this feeling of liking someone is; it accumulates and accumulates, and then you just want to release it."
Kani Nayuta pressed her hand to her chest, her expression becoming dreamy.
"Excited? Are you sure you didn't misspeak?"
Kasumigaoka Utaha retorted.
And those occasional words she blurted out before, didn't anyone find them strange?
"Nayuta has always been so genuine."
Gokou Ruri sighed.
Senju Muramasa remained silent.
She probably understood Kani Nayuta's feelings; after confirming certain things, the emotions she understood from silver season completely aligned.
The others also understood; they occasionally surfed the internet, and some of the experiences between Kani Nayuta and Izumi Masamune were already clear in their minds.
So, the extent of the feelings that would arise, if they put themselves in her shoes, was all within the realm of understanding.
If they were just bystanders, they would indeed want these two to become a couple, but that was just 'if'.
After a conversation, everyone's thoughts became even more complex.
"Well, Chihiro is quite smart, he didn't do anything bad, which made me think highly of him."
Yamada Elf nodded slightly, her gaze shifting.
...
The night was enchanting.
There was no smog, the stars in the night sky were crystal clear, and the moonlight flowed gently.
Back in her room, Kani Nayuta thought about it more and more, feeling it was a pity.
"It's a rare opportunity to increase interaction time with Senpai... No!"
After staying in her room for a while, she couldn't calm down, like a kitten constantly feeling an itch in its heart, unable to rest.
"Yes, I must seize such a good opportunity!"
Suddenly, the girl clenched her fist, made up her mind, and then showed a foxy smile.
"Hehehe, demureness is not my style!"
Tap, tap.
"Footsteps?"
As she walked out of her room, she heard footsteps, felt a pang of nervousness, and hid at a crossroads.
A long-haired, black-haired loli girl was heading towards the other side of the corridor.
"It's Gokou... that direction should be to the restroom."
After the other person left, she cautiously snuck into Izumi Chihiro's room, to prevent others from noticing any movement.
"Senpai, I'm here for a night raid!"
Kani Nayuta whispered excitedly, then turned the doorknob, like a stray cat stealing a fish.
After entering the room, she didn't dare to turn on the light, groping her way to the bedside in the dark.
"Senpai, I'm here... Eh?"
When she excitedly hugged the bed, she unexpectedly missed.
She turned on the bedside lamp and found that the bed was empty.
"Where did Senpai go?"
Her brows furrowed, and she had a bad premonition.
A few minutes before her arrival.
Miss Elf, dressed in a white top and short skirt, arrived in front of the room, looking even purer than in her usual Lolita attire.
"Chihiro, I have something to talk to you about, let's go chat."
With her hands behind her back, Yamada Elf said softly.
"Okay."
He gave her a deep look and agreed.
Following Miss Elf's footsteps, he walked into a forest path and continued deep into it.
Suddenly, his vision opened up, and the scenery changed.
A large expanse of fireflies danced in the air, flickering and swaying, adorning the lotus pond, as if in a fantasy world.
"Where is this?"
He asked in surprise.
It was rare to see such a beautiful scene on a normal day.
"This is 'Miss Elf's Forest', the prototype of 'Miss Elf's Forest' in my novel. You've read my novel, so you should know, right? This is also where my father proposed to my mother, but he failed... because my mother hated bugs. It took five years before my mother finally agreed."
She narrated slowly.
To say such things in this situation, the implications were quite obvious.
Izumi Chihiro remained silent, listening to her continue to tell the story of her parents.
"Father was such a fool, he would do anything to make Mother fall in love with him. I never understood it before, but now I think it's absolutely right, especially after hearing what Nayuta said..."
"Nayuta?"
His expression was strange.
"Sorry, that's a secret between girls, I can't just blurt it out, okay?"
Yamada Elf clapped her hands, her eyes playful.
"Then you continue..."
"Father passed away a few years ago. To fulfill his wishes, Mother has been strictly guiding me and planning my life. Of course, I don't blame her; on the contrary, I've always respected my Mother. But when it comes to deciding my fiancé, I want to make my own decision."
"So you called me here because..."
His expression looked as if he was prepared.
"I've already decided, Chihiro, I choose you as my groom candidate!"
Yamada Elf pointed at him, looking as if he was the only one.
"But don't get the wrong idea! This isn't a confession! It's just that I feel... if I'm with you, I'll definitely be happy every day... that kind of life is what I want."
Then, she switched to a tsundere expression.
"No!!!"
Just as he was about to respond, a figure suddenly darted out from some bushes behind them.
Izumi Chihiro turned his head to look.
Yamada Elf's attention was also drawn.
The girl who appeared on the path was Senju Muramasa, wearing a kimono and with a watermelon-cut hairstyle. The expression on her face was far from the calm she had shown during the day; she was clearly nervous.
"It's you, Senju Muramasa!"
Yamada Elf gritted her teeth, "How dare you butt in at a time like this! Damn it!"
Originally, Senju Muramasa was keeping watch outside, enjoying the moonlight and pondering their conversation in the open-air bath. Suddenly, she noticed the two heading towards the forest path, so she curiously followed them.
She didn't expect to witness a confession scene.
How could she tolerate that?
For Senju Muramasa, these past three years had also been a lonely vigil and wait, an endless torment.
She cherished every day they could meet, and she believed her longing was second to none.
Now, there was no need to hide. She also wanted to express herself, to make that person consider her as a potential romantic partner!
Don't hesitate, hesitation leads to defeat!
"I like Chihiro!"
"Whether it's your work or yourself, I deeply love both!"
With one hand over her heart, Senju Muramasa's gaze was like water, and she spoke loudly with sincere honesty.
"Wait... I was here first!"
Yamada Elf frantically waved her hand.
---
💯 PS = 2 bonus chapter