One wave had not settled, and another rose.
The sudden dual confession truly startled him.
Before he could even answer, the two beautiful girls started arguing.
"In matters like this, there's no such thing as 'first come, first served'! There's only the difference between a loser and a winner."
Senju Muramasa turned her head, responding to the other party with a cold tone.
"Loser and winner, you make it sound like you've already got it in the bag. Confessing right after meeting, isn't that a bit too hasty!"
Yamada Elf said, displeased.
"Although this is our first meeting, I am different from you. I've been corresponding with Chihiro through letters for three years. I can feel from Chihiro's works that our souls are highly compatible. As long as he understands me, he will definitely fall in love with me."
Senju Muramasa pressed her hand to her chest, lost in thought.
"Nonsense! What are you talking about with all that mystical stuff! You're too full of yourself! Even if you are a super best-selling author..."
Yamada Elf pointed angrily at the watermelon-haired girl.
"In terms of looks, my cuteness is not inferior to yours. In terms of ability, as a supportive wife, Senju Muramasa is not someone a mere Yamada can compare to. I can provide greater help."
Senju Muramasa interrupted her words, again using examples to argue.
"You...!"
Miss Elf's small face turned crimson.
At this point, the man at the center of the conversation had been left aside.
"Why are these two arguing?"
Izumi Chihiro shook his head with a chuckle.
It seemed neither could convince the other, and a winner wouldn't be decided anytime soon. Should he interrupt?
Although the scenery here was beautiful, there were quite a lot of insects, so it wasn't a place to linger.
Just as he was deliberating, hurried footsteps sounded.
"Senpai, I finally found you... Wait, why are you two here too!"
Kani Nayuta panted, propping herself on her knees, and looked up at the two girls, her face becoming hostile.
Such a beautiful scene, such a night, two men and one woman, could it be...?
"I confessed to Chihiro."
Senju Muramasa said without hesitation.
Before Kani Nayuta could express her surprise, Yamada Elf gritted her teeth and immediately added, "I've made up my mind! I'm going to make Chihiro my fiancé candidate!"
"Huh? Is this two women fighting over a husband? Did they both just confess to Senior?"
Kani Nayuta was greatly startled, then came to her senses and said, "Senior is mine! I won't give him up to anyone!"
"A rejected woman has no right to interfere with others' confessions, does she?"
Senju Muramasa said abruptly.
"Exactly."
Yamada Elf nodded.
At this moment, they stood on the same side.
"Pfft."
Kani Nayuta almost spat out a mouthful of old blood.
If she had known that her confession would be rejected, she wouldn't have said it!
"Um..."
Izumi Chihiro was about to speak, but the Silver-haired Girl stopped him with a raised hand.
"Senior, this is our business, let us handle it ourselves!"
Kani Nayuta slowly straightened up, her eyes burning with a fighting spirit.
Izumi Chihiro: "..."
From the roadside bushes, a head quietly peeked out.
"I didn't expect to follow them and see something so interesting. Three beautiful girls, two are confessing, and one has long been branded... The atmosphere of this love metronome is even darker than hell, isn't it? Can Teacher still endure it?"
Gokou Ruri clicked her tongue.
"It is indeed interesting."
"We think alike... Eh?"
She subconsciously replied, then suddenly looked back and exclaimed, "Kasumigaoka Utaha, when did you get here?"
"I've been here the whole time. However long you've been watching, I've been watching for just as long."
Kasumigaoka Utaha's wine-red pupils appeared even more captivating under the moonlight, as she stared intently at the scene unfolding before them.
"Has it been that long?"
Gokou Ruri's mouth twitched.
"Three women fighting for a husband, a love metronome. There's one extra person, but it doesn't matter. With a slight adaptation, it can be incorporated into "love metronome." I feel like it will become a classic scene."
Kasumigaoka Utaha licked the corner of her lips, making her vibrant red lips even more alluring.
"Now that you mention it, it really can be used for material."
Gokou Ruri said, realizing.
Why didn't I think of that! It seems that romance light novel authors understand more!
"However, I feel like Kasumigaoka Utaha's state is a bit off, don't I?"
Gokou Ruri's gaze sharpened as she looked at the other's face.
"...Inspiration has struck! But, a male protagonist who abandons his fated love and is so indecisive, I feel like there's no need for him to exist. Let's just humanely execute him so he can't harm anyone else! After this, let's just turn it into yuri, hehehehe..."
Kasumigaoka Utaha's expression twisted into a dark one, and she let out bursts of cold laughter, making the eerie grove even more terrifying.
"Is she entering a creative state and delving into the author's dark side? So fast!"
Gokou Ruri exclaimed, turning pale.
"But is this implying something about Teacher?"
Her expression was peculiar.
...
The three were still chattering on.
Izumi Chihiro couldn't help but yawn.
It had been long enough!
After arguing for a while, as expected, no one could convince the other, and the three fought on their own, with no clear winner.
"It's getting late. It's time to go back to sleep. Don't feed the bugs here anymore."
The three were arguing so fiercely that their faces were red, and he couldn't help but stop them.
The three came to their senses and realized they felt a bit uncomfortable all over.
They had been feeding the bugs here for far too long!
"Since Senior said so, then... let's go back together!"
Kani Nayuta realized that arguing wouldn't lead to a result, so she put on a smiling face, grabbed his arm, and walked out along the forest path.
"Wait...!"
Senju Muramasa chased after them.
"Damn them! This was a romantic event I painstakingly came up with, and they completely ruined it!"
Yamada Elf stomped her foot, wanting to cry but unable to, and roared in helpless rage, then walked out as well.
After they had all left, Kasumigaoka Utaha and Gokou Ruri emerged from the shadows.
"Teacher still hasn't given an answer, it seems."
Gokou Ruri brushed off the mosquitoes on her body, her tone feigning calmness.
rather than not even having a chance to enter the game."
The situation just now was everyone's unspoken understanding.
"As expected of the author of love metronome, your understanding is quite thorough."
Gokou Ruri said thoughtfully.
The next day, morning.
Waking up and eating.
"Were there that many mosquitoes last night?"
At the dining table, Sagiri glanced around, looking at the bite marks on everyone's faces or arms, her expression puzzled.
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💯 PS = 2 bonus chapter