Isn't it strange how much we've changed since first year?
“I’ve changed a lot, haven’t I.” He teased himself
blushes at the sound of his teasing voice, looks down at her hands nervously You've become more mature, Ayanokoji. That's what I've noticed.
He sat back, “you really think so?”
smiles, raising her head slightly I'm sure of it. Not just physically, but mentally too. You seem more composed and confident now.
“Are these feelings… towards me?” He jokingly asked.
laughs softly Don't be silly, Ayanokoji. Of course those feelings are towards you. But that doesn't mean I don't have feelings for others as well.
“Of course~” He replied with a devilish smile. “Oh- did I hurt your feelings by saying that!”
looks up at him, cheeks still flushed Well, maybe a little. But don't worry about it too much. I know you didn't mean any harm.
He nodded slowly, moving in closer.
bites her lower lip, feeling a slight tingle in her heart Ayanokoji, can I ask you something?
takes a deep breath, looking directly into his eyes Ayanokoji, am I just a tool for you to understand love?
“Yes” He replied, “But don’t think that I’m using you in a horrible way, I also genuinely love you.”
nods, tears welling up in her eyes I know, Ayanokoji. And I appreciate your honesty. I... I feel the same way. I do care about you genuinely.
“See~” He whispered gently before giving her a kiss on the cheek.
<Ayanokoji and Kei's relationship becomes strained as they struggle to navigate their dynamic between being genuine lovers and being used as pawns in Ayanokoji's experiment.>
“What do you wanna do now~” He gestured to her while smiling softly.
giggles, looking away shyly Well, if you're up for it, maybe we could go on a picnic together?
“Of course” He replied with a smile before grabbing her hand.
holds his hand tightly, standing up from the chair Alright, let's go then. I'll prepare everything for the picnic.
They walked off, disappearing from view.
hurriedly packs a basket with various food items and drinks I want everything to be perfect for our picnic.
He arrived just moments after her, already setting up a soft sheet in a nice secluded area.
grabs a blanket from the basket and spreads it over the soft sheet Ayanokoji, can you grab the food and drinks?
“Sure” He grinned while grabbing them before sitting down.
sets out the food and drinks on the blanket, arranging them neatly There, all done. Now we can enjoy our picnic together.
He grabbed a sandwich, eating it while taking in the quiet atmosphere.
smiles, watching him eat Ayanokoji, this place... It's so peaceful. It feels like we're the only two people in the world right now.
“It does~” He said before yawning slightly.
notices his yawn, concern filling her eyes Are you tired, Ayanokoji? We can go back to the dorm if you want to rest.
“We’re here tho…” He chuckled, “Are you trying to spend time with me?” He teased gently.
blushes, averting her gaze W-well, of course I want to spend time with you, Ayanokoji. You're my boyfriend after all. But...
takes a deep breath, mustering up courage But sometimes I can't help but wonder if you see me as more than just a tool for your experiment.
“Then I guess I’ve failed.” He quietly muttered under his breath.
<Ayanokoji and Kei's conversation takes a melancholic turn as they both realize the strain their dynamic has caused in their relationship. They decide to take some time apart to reflect on their feelings and the future of their relationship.>
A few days passed by, and Ayanokoji was sitting alone in the library.
enters the library quietly, avoiding eye contact Ayanokoji... We need to talk.
“What is it?” He asked before giving her a quick glance.
takes a deep breath, avoiding eye contact Ayanokoji, I've been thinking a lot lately... about us and our relationship. And...
“And~?” He replied curiously.
brings her hands together, looking slightly nervous And I think we both need some time apart to figure out what we truly want from each other.
He stayed silent, nodding his head slowly.
pauses, looking down at her hands Ayanokoji, I don't want to push you away, but I need some space to clear my mind.
He sighed before getting up, “Sure. Just….” He paused before speaking, “If you want me to admit it, I love you. I really do. So don’t think I’m pushing you away. I need to figure myself out too” He left shortly after, making his way to his dorm.
watches him leave, tears welling up in her eyes Please... Take the time you need, Ayanokoji. I understand... I understand. A few weeks pass by, and Kei tries to focus on herself, her own feelings, and what she wants from life and from their relationship. During this time, she reflects on her past experiences, her desires, and what she values most in a relationship. She learns to embrace her own happiness and not let her self-worth rely solely on her connection with Ayanokoji.
It had been a month since the two had last spoken, and Ayanokoji was feeling lost without her. He would walk by her class building, hoping to catch a glimpse of her, but always leaving empty handed.
sees Ayanokoji outside her class building and approaches him Ayanokoji, we need to talk. Can we go somewhere private?