After breaking up, my ex asked me to win her back

Kagura Hikaru stopped in his tracks.

He never expected to suddenly hear such words from Saijo Mari.

He hadn't been without his suspicions.

Like the strange competitive spirit she showed towards Ai Cheng Hua Lian at the sports festival and several other small gestures.

Saijo Mari was an open and forthright girl, thus, her feelings were plainly laid out in front of Kagura Hikaru.

Previously, he had simply chosen to ignore them.

In his high school life, Kagura Hikaru didn't intend to dye it rose-colored.

"I'm sorry, I had planned to wait until graduation before saying this, but I really can't do it, suppressing these feelings isn't right,"

With her right hand pressed against her chest, Saijo Mari took a deep breath, looked earnestly at Kagura Hikaru and said, "Mr. Kagura, I like you, please give me an answer!"

"..."

In conclusion, he rejected her.

He apologized for his response to Saijo Mari's confession.

He believed that Saijo Mari hadn't understood the difference between gratitude and romantic feelings.

Kagura Hikaru didn't believe in love at first sight.

Just knowing someone for a few days, how could you discern their true nature? Casually professing liking someone was only because one was charmed by the outer layer that the other person displayed.

Saijo Mari's case might even include her feeling as if she owed Kagura Hikaru, coupled with the accumulated bits of fondness over these days, which impulsively made her say those words.

Moreover, to be honest, he had never entertained that kind of thought about Saijo Mari; to suddenly start dating would only add to his own troubles.

When they said goodbye in front of the station, Saijo Mari stated she wouldn't give up.

Kagura Hikaru admired her for being able to pick herself up so quickly after just having her confession rejected – something even many boys would feel ashamed of.

Indeed, she was not as Ayakoji Chiyoko had described – a girl with a weak character. In this regard, she was severely underestimated.

On the other hand, it was him...

Ever since being opened up by Sakata Asahi the other time, he hadn't properly explained things to Ai Cheng Hua Lian.

The longer time passed, the harder it became to speak.

He knew this, yet he couldn't help the feeling of wanting to escape inside.

Admitting past mistakes was difficult.

The next morning.

On the train during the commute to school.

Because they went to school at the same time and lived nearby, it was only natural that Kagura Hikaru and Ai Cheng Hua Lian encountered each other in the same train carriage.

As he hesitated, it was the girl who took the initiative to come closer.

"Good morning, Kagura..."

"...Yeah, good morning."

An awkward atmosphere lingered between them.

The reason was self-evident.

Sitting in the train carriage seats, they were like two sculptures themed 'Thought,' one looking at a book, the other holding a backpack, neither speaking a word.

The train clattered on.

Kagura Hikaru stole a glance at the girl beside him, opened his mouth, then closed it again. After a good fifteen seconds of thought, he broke the silence, "Ai Cheng, about yesterday..."

"It's okay."

"Huh?"

"Really, it's fine. I was just startled yesterday. I actually don't mind that much," Ai Cheng Hua Lian said, embarrassed as she straightened her hair, "I know, Kagura is not that kind of person, and even if you were in the past, it doesn't matter. I just want to know you as you are now."

"Ai Cheng..." Kagura Hikaru felt both moved and pained, "You're going to be tricked by a jerk someday, and when that time comes, you have to call me. I'll take care of it for you."

"Eh? Why?!"

If it had been Ayakoji Chiyoko, Saijo Mari, Ruzaki Mami, or any other girl Kagura Hikaru knew, no matter how much they liked him, upon hearing those words, they probably wouldn't want to be near him for a while.

This should be the reaction a normal person would have.

To distance oneself from those with tainted pasts as if avoiding criminals freshly out of prison, not to get close, not to be intimate, lest one get hurt too, this was how their families had always taught them.

People who have made mistakes in the past are more likely to make them again in the future, it's only natural to think so.

However, Ai Cheng Hua Lian broke this rule.

She trusted others unconditionally.

Even for friends, that shouldn't be the case.

But at this moment, in Kagura Hikaru's eyes, she truly resembled a goddess.

She exuded a healing halo all around her.

In the next life, I should be reborn as Ai Cheng Hua Lian's child, it would surely be a happy life.

Kagura Hikaru admired her just like that.

Thanks to Ai Cheng Hua Lian's saintly glow, the atmosphere gradually returned to how it had been before, and they chatted about the usual trivial topics as they always did.

Both of them consciously avoided discussing the past.

Perhaps one day in the future, Kagura Hikaru would take the initiative to tell her, but at least not now.

After getting off the tram, they walked and talked.

It wasn't until they were close to the school gate that Ai Cheng Hua Lian said goodbye to him and rushed ahead.

Even though Ayakoji Chiyoko had stopped standing guard at the school gate after leaving the Disciplinary Committee, she still maintained her old habit of not appearing too close to Kagura Hikaru as they approached the school.

It was fine during the sports festival, after all, there was a legitimate reason for interaction, but being together at other times seemed a bit ambiguous and could lead to misunderstandings about their relationship.

Ai Cheng Hua Lian still thought he was pursuing Ayakoji Chiyoko, so she tried not to trouble him as much as possible, and Kagura Hikaru couldn't really explain, he could only let it be.

And in a sense, she wasn't wrong.

Kagura Hikaru was indeed "pursuing" Ayakoji Chiyoko, but his goal wasn't to establish a romantic relationship with her—this was only Kiryu Hina's hope, not his—but to be friends with Ayakoji Chiyoko; just being able to visit her home was enough for him.

So far, although it had been a bit of a bumpy journey, overall, the progress could be considered smooth.

Kagura Hikaru planned to continue relating to her in this way.

Not to back off, nor to press forward excessively, but to slowly infiltrate her heart, becoming an indispensable partner to her.

"Daydreaming on your way is not good, Kagura."

He was patted on the back from behind.

Wondering who it could be, Kagura Hikaru turned around, and was instantly somewhat surprised.

"What are you doing here, did you oversleep today?"

"I'm not a Discipline Committee member anymore, so there's no need for me to arrive at school so early every day," Ayakoji Chiyoko walked out from behind him, walking shoulder to shoulder with Kagura Hikaru as she retorted.

Come to think of it, this was the first time Kagura Hikaru had seen her walking to school with a handbag like a regular student.

It felt a bit fresh.

"I saw you just now walking with Ai Cheng Hua Lian," Ayakoji Chiyoko said.
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Ah, she had been seen after all.

"Yes, we came on the same tram."

"Do you two run into each other often?"

"Occasionally."

For some reason, Kagura Hikaru lied.

He sensed a whiff of danger intuitively.

He threw a puzzled glance at Ayakoji Chiyoko and continued walking.

In a place he couldn't see, a pair of beautiful eyes kept watching his face.

"She's grown up, changed a lot..."

In a volume too soft for anyone else to hear, Ayakoji Chiyoko murmured to herself.