The smug "I've seen through everything" expression on Ayano Mitsuki's face made Imaizumi Keita sigh inwardly.
Communicating with this kind of "smart person" who thinks they've grasped the truth is sometimes much more exhausting than talking to a real idiot.
Because no matter how you explain, the other party will firmly believe that you are just looking for excuses for your true intentions.
"I say, Ayano." Imaizumi Keita looked at him, giving up on explaining. "Yakishio and I are just ordinary friends."
"I get it, I get it."
Ayano Mitsuki pushed up his glasses, a knowing smile that said "stop being so stubborn" appearing on his face.
He even proactively leaned a bit closer to Imaizumi Keita, starting to gossip excitedly in a tone as if sharing a secret.
"Seriously, Imaizumi, when did you start? Was it because you're both in the Literature Club? Or even earlier?"
"Lemon, that girl... although she usually seems carefree, her mind is actually super simple. You better not do anything to make her sad."
His manner of self-importantly casting himself in the role of a "wingman" gave Imaizumi Keita a bit of a headache.
"And, and," Ayano Mitsuki's excitement grew, "what do you like about Lemon? Is it her cool look when she's running, or her informal and cheerful personality? Tell me, and I'll give you some advice!"
"If you're too embarrassed to speak up yourself, I can also help you ask her out! Just say... say how about everyone goes to the Library to study together? I'll tell her you also want to ask her some questions about sports, that way she'll definitely..."
"Stop."
Imaizumi Keita finally couldn't take it anymore and raised his hand to interrupt Ayano Mitsuki's non-stop "wingman" plan.
Looking at the confused expression on Ayano Mitsuki's face, he couldn't help but ask back, "I say, Ayano."
"As Lemon's childhood sweetheart, seeing another guy preparing to pursue her, don't you have any other thoughts at all?"
Imaizumi Keita's tone carried a hint of pure curiosity, "For example... a sense of resistance or something?"
"Resistance?" Ayano Mitsuki was stunned for a moment, then shook his head with a laugh, his face full of natural composure.
"Why should there be resistance? Lemon is just my childhood sweetheart, not my girlfriend."
Having said this, he looked at Imaizumi Keita, seemingly feeling it necessary to completely clarify his position, and added another sentence.
"Besides, I already have a girlfriend now, Chihaya."
These words were airtight, with no fault to be found.
But Imaizumi Keita still keenly caught the flash of regret on Ayano Mitsuki's face when he said "just my childhood sweetheart."
"Is that so?" Imaizumi Keita looked at him and suddenly asked back, "Then, before you started dating Asagumo-san, did you really never feel anything for Lemon even once?"
Ayano Mitsuki's body visibly stiffened for a moment at this point.
He opened his mouth, seemingly wanting to refute something, but his eyes uncontrollably flickered away.
"I..."
"Forget it."
Imaizumi Keita didn't wait for him to finish before taking the initiative to interrupt him.
He didn't care about what kind of past these childhood sweethearts had, nor did he want to uncover someone else's scars that might have already scabbed over.
"Whatever happened in the past doesn't matter." Imaizumi Keita's tone returned to being flat. "The important thing is, Ayano, you already have a girlfriend you're dating now."
"So, even if you really did like Lemon," he looked at Ayano Mitsuki, his eyes becoming more serious, "it's best to never let her know."
"I..." Hearing this, a wry expression appeared on Ayano Mitsuki's face. "Imaizumi, did you misunderstand something? I didn't mean it that way..."
Looking at Imaizumi Keita's serious expression, he also sighed.
"Don't worry, I won't make things difficult for Lemon because of the past."
Ayano Mitsuki seemed to remember something, and a bitter smile appeared on his face.
"Besides, even if I really had some feelings for her, that would just be my own one-sided thing. Lemon... she probably never considered me a romantic interest."
After saying this, he didn't want to continue this somewhat awkward topic and took the initiative to bring the conversation back on track.
"Let's not talk about this. Imaizumi, you clearly came to find me to help with the relationship between Chihaya and me, right?"
"That's true."
Imaizumi Keita nodded and shifted the topic to Ayano Mitsuki: "So, were there any problems with how you and Asagumo-san were getting along before?"
"It's just... when Chihaya and I are together..."
A hint of worry and shyness appeared on Ayano Mitsuki's face. "Chihaya is very proactive when we're alone... or rather, her offensive is quite fierce."
Imaizumi Keita nodded, the image of Asagumo Chihaya appearing in his mind.
"Hmm, and then?"
"As a guy, I don't dislike it. But, how should I put it..."
He scratched the back of his head somewhat embarrassedly, his voice lowering significantly.
"I... I also want to have more intimate contact with her, like kissing or something. But... I'm also a bit worried."
"Worried about what?"
"I'm worried... that Chihaya doesn't actually have those kinds of thoughts."
Ayano Mitsuki's face was full of conflict. "I'm worried that if I'm too proactive, it'll make her think... I'm just a shallow man whose head is full of that kind of stuff, and then her impression of me will be completely ruined..."
Hearing this "groundless" worry, Imaizumi Keita felt it was full of points to criticize and didn't know where to start.
He's clearly so smart in his studies, so why does he become such a blockhead when it comes to emotional issues?
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