Confession From Sakura Yume

Kaien had completely forgotten that this wild, savage creature named Airin Seira was the heiress to a rich, prominent family.

“Great catch, Kinryuji. Now, we know where you'll be living in the future.”

Kaien elbowed Ren in the stomach. He staggered back and groaned in pain.

Ignoring him, he walked ahead of the group. “Let's greet the homeowners first. It's rude to visit unannounced.”

Seira turned to Kaien and the others with a grin. She spread her arms wide.

“Welcome to my humble abode~!”

“...Are you mocking us?”

“Just what is ‘humble’ about this?”

She tittered. “Nothing. I only wanted to try saying that.”

“She is mocking us.”

“Aoyama, Murasaki,” Nao called, smiling disarmingly. “Let us be on our best behavior and simply express our gratitude to her for lending her home.”

“And like what Kinryuji said, we should also thank Miss Airin's parents,” Yume added while searching around. “Um, so… Where might they be?”

“It’s okay. They're not here.”

Kaien jerked his head to Seira.

It was the weekend, so he thought for sure they’d be around. But if they had work, he understood why they wouldn't be.

“Father is on a business trip, and Mother is travelling. They haven't been here for months.”

Silence followed those words.

Seira did not seem to notice it. They remained quiet as she guided them into a lounging area, where the houseworkers prepared snacks and beverages.

Laid out on a polished table was a luscious assortment of imported sweets and juices.

Kaien was too deep in thought to revel in them. While his companions indulged themselves in the sumptuous banquet, he sat still, feeling off.

Seira and Yume caught his attention.

“T-Thank you for all of this, Miss Airin. I hope it’s not too much of a bother.”

“Oh, uh…” Seira trailed off, hesitating. “...I didn't expect you to come as well.”

“Ah.” Yume paled, appalled. “I-I knew you wouldn't want to see me-”

“No, no! That's not it! To be honest, I… I'm happy.”

“...Y-You are?”

“Well, yes… You don't usually do this, after all.”

Yume's eyes widened and met Kaien's.

She must have remembered his reassurances that Seira had changed for good, that she would no longer do bad things to her. He had encouraged her to spend time with her to know if he was telling the truth. Alas, she figured it out. He could feel her happiness radiating after seeing it for herself.

The four boys were also quietly listening to the conversation with warm looks on their faces.

‘I suppose they're just glad enough that Airin isn't mean to Sakura anymore, even if they really haven't become friends yet,’ Kaien pondered as he peered at Nao and the others. ‘So, then, how can I get them to cooperate?’

He planned to let Seira and Yume bond more during the school festival preparations. The incident earlier almost derailed it, but it was back on track.

‘I have to discuss Airin's predicament with Shirakawa. That should be a good excuse to get the girls alone together-’

“Kinryuji Kaien! We have to talk!”

Seira bolted up from her seat out of nowhere, startling everyone. Beside her, Yume's expression shifted from delighted to baffled. Without waiting for Kaien's response, she dragged him out of the room.

She paced across the hallway while roughly tugging him along by the arm.

“Young Miss,” the butler called with polite disapproval, seeing Seira manhandle Kaien. “Please be nice to your guests.”

“This one hasn't been quite nice to me, though!”

“What are you saying? I've been nothing but nice.”

“Then, why is Sakura Yume acting like that?! She's not scared of me! She's even smiling at me! So, I thought you must've told her about me, and that's not nice!”

“...It's not nice that I told her nice things about you?”

“It's not nice that you didn't tell me that you told her nice things about me!”

Kaien heaved an exasperated sigh. Taking a moment to look around, he found a door leading to the garden. To avoid causing a scene, he decided to bring the conversation there.

All the while, the butler and other houseworkers would get curious glimpses at them.

“Is it so bad that I'm helping you improve your relationship with her?” Kaien started again once outside.

Seira brooded for a few seconds. “...I’m worried she's forcing herself. I mean, she likes you, so…”

“You think she's only doing as I say and she doesn't really want to have anything to do with you?”

“Who'd be willing to be friends with their bully?!”

“But you’re not that to her—not anymore. You're different. Didn't you say that yourself?”

“I…thought about it earlier, too,” she sniffled. “When Shirakawa Nao and Akamine Ren helped me, I thought about how kind these people really are and how I don't deserve it.”

“...Kind, huh? What did they do?”

She blinked. “Oh, uh… They tried contacting you for me.”

‘Ah, right… But why do I feel annoyed?’

Kaien inhaled deeply.

This could not be happening to him. Mere mention of other boys perturbed him easily. It was uncharacteristic of him. But right now, Seira’s feelings were more important than his own.

“Airin, listen,” he said as he stepped close enough to feel her warmth and smell her spring-like scent. “No one’s being forced, and no one thinks you’re not deserving. You should know more than anyone that they don't care about any of that. After all, they’re the heroine and male leads. They are who you say they are from the beginning.”

“They’re…good people...”

Kaien nodded in affirmation.

After those words of encouragement, Seira resolved to start anew with Yume. She did not expect to be liked, but at the very least, she would try not to get any more disliked. With the matter settled, Kaien relayed the plan to Nao and the others.

As soon as they returned to the lounge, Seira invited Yume to her bedroom while Kaien approached the rest of the group.

“Miss Airin seems to be monopolizing Miss Sakura,” Nao complained, though he smiled.

Shun shrugged. “Well, she can also just tell Airin Seira what the class did today.”

“What are they going to do in Airin's room, Kai?” Minato asked.

“Girls’ stuff, I guess.”

“Like playing with dolls?”

“Seriously? At their age?

“Maybe trying on dresses.”

“Guys! I bet they're gonna talk about guys!”

At Ren's exclamation, all came to a still.

They glared at him, as if he were filth. Yet, moments later, they were making their way to Seira’s bedroom. A silent agreement was reached. Against Kaien's better judgment, the urge to eavesdrop was too strong.

‘No, it's not eavesdropping. I'll just see if things are going well, then I'll leave-’

“Miss Sakura?” Nao blurted out, finding Yume alone in the corridor. “Where is Miss Airin?”

“Well, uh… She said she forgot to clean up, so she asked me to wait for a bit.”

‘Those abominations she makes are probably everywhere.’

“Y-You can come in now!” Seira squeaked as she threw the door open. “Huh? Why are you here?”

“Just taking a look~ And what was it you were cleaning up, Airin?”

“Eh? Ah!”

“Akamine, that's rude! You can't just barge into someone's room.”

“It's fine, Murasaki. Oh, hey, look! A king-sized bed!”

“That sure is huge… Ah, check this book collection out, Aoyama.”

“Wow, Airin. This is… You sure read a lot. I don't have half of this.”

“Everyone, please. We're not supposed to bother Miss Airin and Miss Sakura.”

“Gahhhhh!!!” Seira held her head with both hands, running out of patience. “Who said you could do whatever you please?! Where do you think you are?! You're in my territory, you peasants!”

The queen bee’s reign of terror had long ended. Now, Airin Seira just looked like a little girl picking up a fight with kids bigger than her—a scene they would've never imagined in the past. The campus heartthrobs had also become nothing but annoyances.

“There goes the plan,” Kaien sighed as he and Yume watched from the side. “I shouldn't have let those people get even near here.”

“Are you angry?”

“Huh? No, not at all.”

“...You look angry, though.”

He faced her fully. “I really am not, but…”

“Is it that she grew so close to them?”

“You sound like you know something.”

“I do, perhaps,” she told him honestly.

“Oh… Did you also…?”

Yume said nothing as she looked at Seira, then back at Kaien. “That time you two began spending more time together, being honest with each other, getting closer than ever… Well, that is also when I realized I like you, Kinryuji.”

No more words were uttered. The message was loud and clear.

Kinryuji Kaien never believed in love, but here he was now.