Murakami looks at me in amazement, with eyes that reflect the moonlight. Her breathing starts to hitch, and her heartbeats become audible in my ears. Before I knew it, she grabs me, and then... we kiss.

Wait! What is happening?! She caught me off guard!

No! This is wrong! I don’t deserve this!

I was going to push Murakami back, but yesterday's scene with Loveta stopped my arms from doing so. I was afraid of the same things happening again.

She then stops and blushes, coming to her senses, while I don't react. Her eyes widen, and she then puts both hands in front of her lips. "So-sorry... that's not exactly how I have planned it... I haven't even asked about her yet..." She was muttering something to herself, worried.

I look at my hands. They trembled. I knew that I had to do something, that I had to say what I had prepared. But it was difficult.

“I'm truly sorry Ryouzen…, I ended up doing this without considering your feelings…” She says, a little desperate. “I know about your relationship with Loveta, but I still acted this way...” She averted her eyes all the time due to nervousness.

Shit...

She stands up, ready to leave, embarrassed, but then I grab her by her arm. She looks at me, worried.

Enough! My hesitation ends here! It’s now or never!

I take courage, and so I free myself. "I do like you too, very much by the way! From the very first day you entered our class!”

She stays silent, looking at me like nothing else matters.

I couldn’t say I was mentally stable at the time because I wasn't. Who took care of me now were my feelings, and no longer my reason.

From that moment on, I started saying everything with sincerity, and I went with the flow without even realizing it.

“You are beautiful, nice, strong, admirable, intelligent, honorable, kind, caring and so much more! You are an amazing woman, beyond compare!”

She starts crying hearing everything I was saying, and I continue. “You're so good that… you honestly don't deserve a guy like me. I’ve indeed liked you for a long time, but it's also true that I've liked Loveta. I love both of you, that’s the truth. It wasn’t a few times that I thought about having you at the same time. I'm sorry I have to make you hear this right now. But I feel this is the right thing to do... If you wanted to know how I feel... Then that’s the truth.”

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

We entered in silence for a brief period. We didn't know what to say to each other.

She sits down again, and picks up a shell from the sand.

Tch… what have I done? She must be so hurt… Sure, after hearing something like that, any girl would go crazy.

But then, to my surprise, she simply leans toward me and rests her head on my shoulders. “I love you.” She says in a low tone. “Of course, it’s not nice to hear that you feel the same way about Loveta.... but I love you, and that doesn't change.”

…What?

“Unlike you, who was attracted to me from the start, I didn't understand your value until after our encounter on Aether. Your determination to be by my side, and to help me with my personal affairs, began to get a lot of attention. Very much so. You have always tried your best to evolve, putting your own life at risk to help me in my personal affairs. This is reckless but charming. Not just anyone would do the same; because even if their primary reason for doing all this was because they liked me, there was no way to be sure that I would respond to their feelings. The certainty I had that you are someone capable was when you saved me from Lamya. From that day on, whenever I was by your side, my heart raced, and I felt full knowing that you would be there to help me with whatever I needed. I feel safe with you, and happy, simple as that.”

She pauses, but then continue. “Maybe you don't know it, but there's a caring and fun side to you that I really like. To be honest, my biggest fear would be that you would, at any moment, leave me behind and leave with Loveta. Because honestly, I find her a lot more fun than I. As bad as I hate to admit it, the two of you are a great match for each other... It's no wonder she's your creation, is it? I'm not a big fan of the idea of you liking her... I wish you had eyes only for me. But I already knew deep down that this would be impossible... After all, unfortunately for me, she was raised as the girl of your dreams.”

Murakami enters again in silence but soon returns to speak, with a humble smile. “…But you love me too, and that's all I care about right now. I know this is… unusual, but as you are different, so am I.”

...So she accepts me? Does she really accept me...? Even though I had those intentions?

I hug her and kiss her on the cheek. This time, the one who had been caught off guard was herself. She had accepted me the way I was. And for that, I will be eternally grateful.

We face the moon. The moment was beautiful, and the urge to stay like this, together with each other all night long, was strong, but there was something I needed to resolve. Something also important to me.

I take a deep breath and tell Murakami everything that happened yesterday.

"Phew, but what a break of mood... I didn't think you'd mention her name so soon."

“I'm sorry Murakami, but as I said, I also care about her.”

“Scarllet.” She corrects me.

“...What?”

"Call me Scarllet from now on..." She turns her shy face to the side. “No boyfriend calls his girlfriend by her middle name...”

“…Okay then, Scarllet.”

She blushes completely hearing me say her name and gives a light cough to continue her reasoning. “Anyway, about what you commented before, I can say that it was strange the way she behaved...”

“...What do you mean?”

“If I know her properly, I don't think Loveta would be mad that you like me too, but rather that she thinks you think of me more than her.”

"That I think more on you than her? Is that it?”

“I can't say for sure, but considering you're her alpha wolf, then it's to be expected that she thinks it's common for you to have more 'wolves'.”

“Good, so if that's the case, then there is a way to fix the situation.”

If that's really what's going through your head Loveta, then you're completely wrong. Because I love you both, in equal measure!

Watching the hopeful expression on my face, Murakami—no, Scarllet gets angry again. “Ugh! Let me be clear though, Loveta is the only exception I make since I like her somewhat too… Anyway, she may accept others, but I don’t!

"Don't worry Scarllet... My heart goes out to just the two of you."

She instantly blushes when she hears my answer. "I-I'm glad you understood...”

Right. So it's decided. In the same way that I opened the game with Scarllet, I will also do the same with you, Loveta. I'm sorry I didn't understand you until now. I'll meet you later today, and we'll work this out together… Just wait for me!

“Hm? What is it, Scarllet?”

When I noticed, she had turned around and was looking at a specific point in the forest, behind us. "Nothing... I just thought I saw someone standing there."