"Um.

" Nana nodded and said,

"I invited Saki-senpai to date you together yesterday.

"

".....

"

It was as if the huge boulder that was thrown before didn't fall on the stagnant water but rather a trampoline, so it bounced back.

Shishio was lost for words when Nana's reaction was too unexpected at that moment.

Nana was amused by Shishio's expression and said,

"What are you surprised about? You have confessed to me before, so I confessed to you now. So it is fair, right?

"

"...It is fair, but was it so easy for you to make such a decision?

" Shishio asked while looking at Nana's expression, wondering what was wrong with this girl.

"It wasn't easy.

" Nana shook her head, looked at him, and said,

"I mean... are there any girls that want to share their man with other girls? No, right? But at that time, my head was fuzzy, my body was hot, and I just didn't want to lose you, so I made such a decision in an instant.

"

Listening to Nana's words, Shishio, who walked slowly, was in deep thought, wondering why she loved him so much.

"So what did Saki-senpai say about the relationship between the three of us?

" Nana asked.

"She is alright with it,

" Shishio answered.

"Let's date each other, the three of us together,

" Nana said without hesitation.

".....

" Shishio.

Nana smiled and was amused by Shishio's reaction.

"What are you gawking for? Isn't it good that you can date the two of us together?

"

"It is so sudden that I'm not sure how to react.

" Shishio stopped and said,

"Can you rub my temple for a bit?

"

"I don't mind.

" Nana rubbed Shishio's temple with her hands gently and asked,

"How is it?

"

"It feels better.

" Shishio took a deep breath, regained his calm, and asked,

"Can I ask you something?

"

"What?

" Nana asked.

"Can you really make your decision so hastily?

" Shishio asked with a serious expression.

Nana shook her head and said,

"I didn't make my decision so hastily. I've thought about it over and over again after you've confessed to me on the infirmary before. I've made my decision to date you together with Saki, so don't regret my decision, alright?

"

"....

"

Shishio looked at Nana and asked,

"Just what makes you love me so much?

" He wondered what made her love him so much that she could accept his relationship with another girl.

"Well, firstly, it is your face,

" Nana said.

".....

" Shishio.

Shishio raised his eyebrow and asked,

"Is that alright?

"

"I... I think that looks are important too!

" Nana was a bit flustered.

"I see...?

" Shishio also wasn't a hypocrite, and he also knew that appearance was very important, considering how much waifus were beautiful girls. If the waifus were ugly and fat, he was sure that no one would buy the figure or merchandise of those waifus. Even though the reason might seem shallow, everyone loved the beautiful things, so he felt Nana's reasoning was quite normal, but he felt that wasn't enough since he was dating two girls at the same time, not a single girl.

"Besides your face, your intelligence is also your good point, and after I have stayed with you, I have learned how fun it is to be beside you,

" Nana said.

"What if I got a huge burn on my face, and it totally changed how I look? Or what if my grades dropped?

" Shishio asked.

"Hmm... it would be regrettable about your face... but I believe I would still love you.

" Nana, who was being carried, stared at the scenery of the surrounding area while talking.

"Your grades don't have to be the best or anything either, but I would be disappointed if you let them drop without any intention of improving them, though. I don't know if I would still love you or not, but I can't imagine you will be letting your grades drop permanently, anyway.

"

"Well, that's true.

" Shishio nodded.

"Loving someone doesn't mean that you're not okay with them changing, but it doesn't mean you have to be okay with however they may change.

" Nana stared straight into Shishio's eyes and said,

"How should I put it... it's the confidence that the person will stay true to what made you fall in love with them in the first place. Love is an expression of trust, I think.

"

The railroad crossing was closed, Shishio stopped and looked at Nana in a daze since he didn't expect her to say such a profound sentence, but hearing her sincere feeling, it became harder for him to accept her quickly.

"But I have betrayed you, right?

" Shishio said.

"Yes, I was hurt, but you confessed to me back then, and I was glad that you could be truthful to me at that time,

" Nana said with a light smile.

"...

"

Looking at the hesitation on his face, Nana sighed and said,

"Can you just be happy? I can accept your relationship with another girl. I'm sure that any guys will be happy if they're in your position.

"

"I'm happy, but if I'm happy by sacrificing your feelings, and making you kill your emotions so we can be together, then it is better for us to part for a while,

" Shishio said without hesitation since the more he listened, the more painful it was. Like before, he just wanted to hear her real feelings, not the beautiful words to hide her real feelings.

"Why you're so troublesome, and can't you just accept it?

" Nana asked.

"Yes, I'm happy, but why are you crying now?

" Shishio asked.

"I - I'm not crying!

" Nana wiped the tears from her eyes, but the more she wiped, the more it dripped from her eyes.

"Huh? Why didn't it stop? Just stop!

" But then a warm palm patted her head gently. She closed her eyes, clutched her hands on his chest, and moved her head closer to him. She knew that this guy was a bastard, but she just couldn't stop falling for him.

Looking at Nana, who cried, Shishio knew that he was really fortunate to meet such a girl in his life.

Maybe they were lucky at this moment that they stopped at the railway crossing since the sound of the traffic light concealed her cry, which made her able to release all of her emotion without worry.

After a moment, Nana calmed herself, and she wiped the tears and snot on her face with Shishio's blazer. Luckily, she didn't wear makeup now since there was a PE class, or else she was sure her tears would cause a mess with her makeup.

"....

" Shishio.

"You're not going to apologize?

" Nana asked.

"I'm not.

" Shishio shook his head.

"Why?

" Nana asked.

"If I apologize, that means that I have regretted my actions, and I have never regretted my actions.

" Shishio looked at Nana and said,

"I want you, Nana.

" He was very selfish, but he was like this, and he wouldn't give up the girl on his arm.

".....

"

"Can you dump Saki-senpai for me?

" Nana asked.

"No.

"

"Will you dump me for Saki-senpai?

" Nana asked.

"No.

"

"Say, do you love me?

" Nana asked.

"No.

"

"....

"

"Then why the heck did you confess to me?!

" Nana was furious at that moment.

"I mean, I might not fall for you now, but it doesn't mean that I won't fall for you in the future,

" Shishio said.

"What if you don't fall in love with me in the future?

" Nana asked with a frown.

"Don't worry. I'll make sure to be in love with you,

" Shishio said while staring at Nana's eyes.

"...

" Nana's face reddened.

"As you have said before, love is a symbol of trust, so can you trust me that I'll fall in love with you in the future?

" Shishio asked.

"...But you have two girls, so you will fall in love with two girls?

" Nana asked.

"Um.

" Shishio nodded.

"...You know, you're so complicated,

" Nana said with a sigh.

"Do you feel disillusioned now?

" Shishio asked with a smile.

"No, I guess it isn't that bad to know you more.

" Nana then moved her head closer and kissed his lips.

Shishio was a bit surprised. Looking at her nervous expression, he smiled inwardly before he closed his eyes, enjoying their second kiss.

For some reason, the place they kissed had always been unique. Their first kiss was at the infirmary where there was the smell of antiseptic everywhere, as for their second kiss, they kissed at the railways crossing where the loud sound of the train passing, the annoying traffic light sound, and the smell of dust flying because of the train were mixed together, which made their kiss give off a very complex feeling. Along with the sound of the train, it made them feel like the world was moving in slow motion, as if their perception of time had slowed down, so even though it was only a moment, they felt like they had kissed for a very long time.

"Metallurgy Mastery

">

When the train passed, Nana parted her lips and took a deep breath. She had to admit that it was enjoyable to kiss him. Her eyes were hazy, and her breathing was a bit heavy. She still could feel that her heart was beating very fast at this moment since she just couldn't believe what she had done just now. She then rested her head on his chest, feeling comfortable and secure, which might be the reason why she fell for him since he was so dependable. She raised her eyes upturn and asked,

"Say, so we have dated each other now?

"

"That seems to be the case,

" Shishio said with a smile.

"Hmm... it isn't bad, only if I'm the only girl in this relationship,

" Nana said.

"....

"

Nana looked at Shishio with a smile and said,

"Say, Shishio.

"

"Hmm?

"

"Stay with me, alright?

"

"Okay.

"

"Don't hate me, alright?

"

"Okay.

"

Nana looked at her feet and said,

"When my feet have become better, is it okay to go home together with holding hands?

"

"Why not?

" Shishio said with a smile.

Nana snuggled onto his chest with a smile, hugging him as if afraid to lose him.

Shishio also continued with his journey and walked to Nana's house.

The distance from Nana's house to Suimei wasn't that different from Sakurasou. Still, they were in different directions, which caused the distance between Nana's house and Sakurasou to be very far.

While walking, the relationship between the two had returned, or maybe became even closer, they might not realize, or they didn't care much since just staying with each other had already made them smile.

Then before long, they arrived at Nana's house. Shishio helped all the way inside since her mother wasn't strong enough to carry Nana. He then put Nana on the sofa in the living room then wiped the non-existence sweat on his forehead.

"Sorry for troubling you, Oga-kun,

" Nana's mother said and thought that Nana had troubled Shishio since Shishio carried Nana, all the way from the school.

"Do you need a drink or something?

"

"No, it's alright, she's my girlfriend, after all,

" Shishio said simply.

"...

" Nana's mother was dumbfounded then looked at her daughter in surprise.

Nana was also dumbfounded. Her face reddened, but she also nodded.

"....

" Nana's mother.

Nana's mother rubbed her temple and said,

"Somehow, I feel complex now. Well, anyway, do you want to stay here for a while? My husband might come back soon.

" She looked at Shishio with a smile at that moment, but somehow this smile was a bit weird.

Shishio tried to maintain his calm, but it was impossible since he didn't expect that he would meet Nana's father so quickly and wondered whether her father would flip the table while screaming that he wouldn't give his daughter to him.

"I won't give you my daughter!

"

Shishio shook his head and said,

"Well, I have something to do today, so I'll have to excuse myself.

"

"Huh? You're not going to stay, Shishio?

" Nana asked and didn't expect Shishio would reject.

"Well, I can visit your house anytime anyway, is that alright?

" Shishio asked while looking at Nana's mother.

"It's alright.

" Nana's mother nodded and didn't think too much.

"I'm sure that my husband will be happy to meet you.

"

'Really?' Shishio somehow was a bit doubtful at that moment.

"Then I'll go back first.

"

"Wait, I want to accompany you.

" Nana stood up slowly and wanted to stay as long as possible with him since they had just confirmed their relationship.

Shishio quickly reached Nana and helped her to stand up.

"You don't need to, though.

"

"It's alright. I do this because I want to,

" Nana said with a smile.

"Is that so?

" Shishio smiled then helped her to walk to accompany him to walk out of her house.

Looking at Nana and Shishio, Nana's mother felt a bit complex somehow. After all, she didn't expect her daughter to have a boyfriend so suddenly, right?

---

Reaching the entrance of Nana's house, Shishio stopped and looked at Nana.

"So, what are you going to do?

" Nana asked.

"Well, I'm going to modify the motorcycle a bit,

" Shishio said.

"Oh? Really?

" Nana was surprised.

"I'll show it to you in the future,

" Shishio said.

"I want to go with you, though...

" Nana looked at her ankle and felt depressed.

"Well, I can show it anytime in the future, right?

" Shishio said with a smile.

"That's true.

" Nana also smiled.

Shishio looked at Nana for a bit before he took Nana's lips again, caressing her long honey-blonde hair before reluctantly parting from her.

"I'll go back now. See you tomorrow.

"

"Ah, um...

" Nana's face was so red, and when she saw the door close, she fell on the ground before rolling around while covering her face with both of her hands.

"Yahoo!

"

"Huh? Nana, what's wrong?

" Nana's mother was surprised when she heard Nana shout

"yahoo

" so suddenly.

"No - Nothing!

" Nana quickly replied and laid on the floor of her house, staring at the ceiling, wondering whether she was dreaming, but she could still feel the warm feeling on her lips and knew that she wasn't dreaming. 'Shishio...' Tracing his trace on her lips, she thought about him, and somehow she couldn't wait to see him again tomorrow. Then, rolling on the ground again, her ankle hit the wall, which caused her to flinch.

"Ouch! Ouch!

" She held her ankle and felt better, but then she was stunned when she saw her mother was looking at her weirdly.

"...What are you doing?

" Nana's mother asked and wondered whether her daughter's head had been hit by something.

".....

"

Somehow there was an awkward moment between a daughter and a mother, but let's put that matter aside since Nana was very happy since they would be together from now on.