Facing what Saeko Dōjima had confessed, Utaha Kasumigaoka suddenly realized just how much information was packed into those words. She felt herself completely stunned, as if struck by a shockwave.
Under normal circumstances, would a girl willingly push her boyfriend toward another girl after they had started dating?
She couldn't understand it—but she was deeply shaken.
In such a situation, there were only two plausible reasons that Kasumigaoka could think of:
Saeko Dōjima had an incurable illness and wasn't expected to live long, so she wanted to entrust her beloved boyfriend to another girl she trusted.
It was part of her "master's mission"… something akin to a plot twist in an adult story, where the blame could conveniently shift onto Senya.
But would Senya really allow Saeko Dōjima to do such a thing?
Kasumigaoka couldn't bring herself to believe it, nor did she want to speculate so. Yet the thought had already taken root in her mind.
Under Dōjima's worried gaze, she shook her head lightly, trying to recover from the shock and stop herself from overthinking.
Yes. The fact that this person had said such a thing out loud meant that, in her mind, it was nothing to hide.
She didn't need to care whether the marks on her neck had been deliberately or accidentally revealed for Senya to see. Right now, what she most wanted to know were the details… about Dōjima and Senya.
"Phew…"
Kasumigaoka exhaled as she managed to straighten out her chaotic thoughts and sat back down on the edge of the bed.
The combination of psychological shock and menstrual pain left her looking pale.
Seeing this, Dōjima didn't say anything. She turned, drew back the hospital curtain, and walked toward the exit.
Kasumigaoka didn't know whether Dōjima intended to leave immediately or had some other plan. She was curious but had no intention of stopping her.
As expected, the sliding door of the infirmary didn't open.
Instead, there was only the soft rustling of the curtain, followed by the steady, faint sound of water pouring.
The curtain was lifted again, and Dōjima reappeared in front of Kasumigaoka, holding a paper cup of steaming hot water, which she offered with both hands.
"Drink slowly. Some hot water should ease your symptoms a little."
Her expression was sincere—just like before her confession. She was still expressing concern as a friend.
Kasumigaoka didn't understand. In a situation like this, Dōjima was already dating Senya—the person Kasumigaoka had feelings for.
Given that they were now rivals for the same person, could she really expect them to continue their friendship as if nothing had changed?
Kasumigaoka gave the cup a cold look, then glanced at Dōjima's expression. She didn't take the cup, didn't react in any way, and spoke in a tone completely devoid of emotion:
"I have questions."
Seeing that Kasumigaoka was rejecting her, Dōjima didn't force the issue. She placed the cup on the bedside table instead of hovering awkwardly in midair, and sensed the clear distance Kasumigaoka now maintained. She didn't sit next to her as before, but at the foot of the bed, leaving some space between them.
She nodded gently. "Okay… you can ask."
Kasumigaoka narrowed her eyes slightly.
She had once liked Dōjima because of her calm, elegant demeanor—never pushy, never hypocritical, never arrogant, always approachable.
Being friends with her required no effort, no pressure.
But now… the very qualities she once admired had turned bitter in her eyes, tainted by betrayal and manipulation.
Still, this was not a time for complaints.
Kasumigaoka was not the type to give up easily. She chased her career with determination—and she would pursue matters of the heart just as relentlessly.
"First, you said you confirmed your relationship with Senya during the trip to the hot spring inn with all of us."
"Yes."
"If I remember correctly, during that trip, everyone was together the whole time. We even shared the same suite at night. There shouldn't have been enough private time for you two, right?"
Kasumigaoka recalled the events clearly enough to say this with confidence.
"There was private time," Dōjima replied softly. "Once everyone else fell asleep, that was enough."
"…!"
Kasumigaoka raised her hand slowly, letting her dark hair fall over her face, shielding her eyes as a sudden realization shook her.
Memories from almost half a year ago surfaced.
During that hot spring trip, organized by that foolish golden-haired boy, everyone shared a suite with a living room, a bathroom, and multiple bedrooms.
Senya had a room to himself. Yukino, the idiot, and Rikka shared another. And Kasumigaoka had shared a room with Dōjima.
Wait…
More vivid memories came rushing back.
Kasumigaoka looked up, heart aching, but a strange, almost wicked smile tugged at her lips.
"So… that night, before going to sleep, you deliberately did sit-ups in front of me, claiming that feeling tired would make you sleep better… all of that was because…"
"The fact is, physical fatigue does lead to better rest. But yes, I had you exercise with me deliberately, so you'd sleep more soundly and wouldn't wake up to notice that I had left the room, disturbing things between Senya and me."
"Heh… heh heh…"
She had been scheming all the way back then.
"Um… Kasumigaoka? Are you okay?"
"What could happen to me?"
Saeko Dōjima! She really…
"So that night was when you two confessed to each other?"
Kasumigaoka's aura in that moment was a warning: keep your distance. Her small feet lightly tapped the floor, her expression bordering on madness.
Dōjima felt a twinge of guilt but did not attempt to soften the truth or say comforting words.
Since she had already confessed, it was best to tell everything clearly and avoid involving Senya unnecessarily.
"Technically, I was the one who confessed to Senya."
"Heh… that figures. And after that night, what happened?"
"That night… we—"
"Forget it, you don't have to answer that!"
Kasumigaoka felt her brain go blank, blood pressure spiking. Why ask questions that only make her angrier?
"After that night, you confirmed your relationship with each other?"
"Yes."
"Why hide it? Why not tell everyone?"
"I suggested it. Senya is remarkable. At this stage, he can make a name for himself and start his career. I didn't want him distracted by having a girlfriend and dealing with the complications."
"…."
Famous people did face such concerns—private matters were best kept private.
The minor details were now mostly clear.
Now came the most important question:
"Why… did you do it? If Senya is your boyfriend, why start the new semester by subtly encouraging me to pursue him?"
At this question, Dōjima's demeanor changed.
Her eyelids drooped, a faint blush on her cheeks, fingers intertwined nervously on her lap—a rare display of girlish emotion. She didn't speak immediately.
Kasumigaoka felt a small sense of control return, the feeling of leading the conversation.
"Is it… difficult to answer?"
Two earlier suspicions surged again. She was upset at Dōjima's concealment, her love turning to resentment—but she didn't want either suspicion confirmed.
Her hands clenched subconsciously.
The room fell silent.
Kasumigaoka waited quietly, observing Dōjima.
Finally, Dōjima seemed to resolve her inner struggle and lifted her head.
"Because I can't fully perform my duties as Senya's girlfriend… and since you like him so much, I thought maybe you could share that burden."
"Wait. When you say you can't perform your duties as a girlfriend… what do you mean?"
"Senya… he's amazing. And I… simply can't satisfy him."
"Satisfy… in what way?"
"…Intimate matters."
Speaking openly now, her voice was barely audible unless leaning close. Her cheeks burned bright red.
Kasumigaoka finally understood.
It wasn't the extreme scenario she had feared—but still, it was hard to accept.
Because she couldn't satisfy him… she thought of letting another girl be with her boyfriend?
This wasn't some fantasy world. Love was about mutual feelings, right? Physical matters were secondary, a kind of supplementary gesture—not the core of a relationship.
But Kasumigaoka paused.
If this intervention was allowed by the "main party", then there was no reason to feel guilty.
It was like declaring a justified strategy in battle: no objections, just moral clearance and a psychological boost.
"I think I understand now," Kasumigaoka said.
Her emotions had stabilized, no longer as volatile as before. One thing was clear: Dōjima had been dating Senya for a long time, and there was no betrayal by a friend stealing a loved one.
"Just a final question—did Senya know about what you did?"
"He didn't!" Dōjima interrupted firmly, even standing in agitation. "This was entirely my decision. He didn't know until last week. His first reaction was that I couldn't hide it from you. If you hadn't discovered it first, he would have asked to meet you this weekend to explain everything."
"…."
Kasumigaoka looked down, silent.
"Trust me. Everything I said just now is the truth," Dōjima insisted.
Kasumigaoka avoided eye contact but nodded slightly. She remained silent, bowed her head, and after a while, picked up the paper cup of water.
Now lukewarm, she drank it in one gulp, put on her indoor shoes, and folded the blanket on the bed under Dōjima's gaze.
She opened the curtain and walked out.
"Kasumigaoka, where are you going?"
All the information she wanted was now clear. She didn't want to speak further, maintaining a cold demeanor to preserve her dignity. Yet she remembered Dōjima's recent care during her menstrual pain, which softened her resolve slightly.
"I'm not feeling well. I took the day off to go home."
Without looking back, she left the infirmary.
Based on previous interactions, Dōjima knew it was best not to follow immediately, giving Kasumigaoka space to process everything.
No regrets—what had been decided and acted upon couldn't be undone. It was like a sword: better to strike boldly than hesitate endlessly.
But the next priority was clearly Senya.
"What a coincidence… I was just thinking of you, Dōjima, and you called."
Hearing his calm voice through the receiver, Dōjima's unease melted away.
His voice had a way of steadying one's heart, like an invincible protagonist appearing in a manga: you just know the situation is secure.
"Sorry, Senya… I just confessed everything to Kasumigaoka…"
That morning, Minamoto Senya felt that something was off.
First, while brushing his teeth, the toothbrush head slipped against his gums painfully.
Then, in the bathroom, he stepped on a supposedly non-slip mat bought by Rikka that claimed to be "Welcome Poop King" in collaboration with some anime—but it moved, almost causing him to slip.
And now, this.
Dōjima had called to inform him that Kasumigaoka had discovered their relationship—unexpectedly.
Compared to a voluntary confession, this was a very awkward, passive revelation.
It was like being caught versus turning yourself in: the result is the same, but the approach affects the "judgment" afterward.
Senya, like Dōjima, was calm—what's done is done.
He comforted Dōjima, reminding her it wasn't her fault; it stemmed from his own lack of restraint during intimacy.
He also agreed with Dōjima on how to handle Kasumigaoka: give her space today, wait until tomorrow to see how she was doing.
They decided this—but Kasumigaoka not only took Thursday off, she also skipped Friday.
Dōjima sent a message of concern but received no reply.
Friday night, Senya messaged her without mentioning his relationship with Dōjima, only asking if she was free to eat together over the weekend.
Kasumigaoka replied over an hour later, coldly:
[Sorry, I already have plans this weekend.]
The worst-case scenario.
He wasn't worried about her anger—he feared her avoiding the topic, bottling up her feelings alone.
That Saturday morning, while having breakfast with his family, Senya asked Toka:
"If someone's angry at you, what would make them forgive you quickly?"
Toka immediately became alert, glancing at her sister: "Rikka, did you fail another exam?"
Rikka, feeling unjustly accused despite her recent efforts, protested: "What does that have to do with me?"
Senya hurriedly clarified: "Just a casual question, don't misunderstand."
Toka shoved a sausage onto Rikka's plate as a peace offering.
Rikka sniffed the air of gossip: "Senya did something to upset Kasumigaoka, didn't he?"
"None of your business. Just eat."
"Hey! That's my bacon! I was saving it for last!"
A minor commotion ensued.
Eventually, Toka laughed and explained her reasoning: the person's attitude was the key to forgiveness. If they sincerely admitted their mistake, she wouldn't hold a grudge.
Senya nodded thoughtfully, surprised at how perceptive she was.
Toka speculated that it was likely Kasumigaoka, rather than Dōjima, who was upset, based on her more emotional nature.
Rikka's loyalty and gentle personality made her unlikely to be the source of anger—she adored Senya unconditionally, like a devoted pet.
At least, only in his presence.