Rinko didn't answer Shido's question. Instead, she began walking toward him, causing him to unconsciously gulp. It was hard to see her expression since she was facing down, but Shido knew her emotions were unstable. The thought that he might have awakened a yandere made a shiver run down his spine.
However, what happened next was something he didn't expect at all.
When Rinko stopped in front of him, she suddenly grabbed his face and, just like Kanzaki, she also stole a kiss from him. The kiss lasted only a moment before their lips parted, but as Shido looked at her, he saw Rinko's face flushed a bright red from embarrassment.
This was truly unexpected for Shido, as he hadn't thought Rinko would be triggered by Kanzaki's actions earlier. He gently grabbed Rinko by her shoulders and looked directly at her blushing face, but he couldn't help but reveal a wry smile on his lips and said "Rinko, I-"
Shido tried to say something, but Rinko didn't let him. Instead, she spoke first, confessing in a trembling yet determined voice, "Shido, I love you."
Her words were soft and filled with affection. Her eyes gazed at him with both expectation and a faint trace of fear... of being rejected.
Rinko's sudden confession was far beyond what Shido expected, though he knew it was definitely influenced by Kanzaki's actions earlier. He looked at Rinko's longing gaze and let out a quiet sigh.
It was true that he liked Rinko and wanted her to be his woman, but still, Shido couldn't help feeling like a sinful man for seducing an innocent woman like her. Yet as she stood before him, offering her heart so earnestly, there was no way he could reject her, not when she had gathered all her courage to confess.
As a man, Shido would never allow Rinko to shed tears.
Taking a deep breath, Shido said, "Rinko, I already have a girlfriend."
Rinko froze. She was at a complete loss for words, having never expected Shido to suddenly reveal something like that.
'Since when? Who is it?' Rinko thought inside her heart.
The sound of her heart breaking was so vivid that Shido could almost hear an imaginary crack echoing in the air.
Devastation washed over her. Her body felt drained of all strength, and she swayed, but Shido quickly caught her before she collapsed. Even as she leaned against his warm, steady body, and despite knowing he already had a girlfriend, Rinko found herself unable to stop the feelings she had for him.
He had been her light when all hope was gone, the one who gave her a reason to keep moving forward. All Rinko wanted was a bit of affection from Shido. As long as she had a place in his heart, she didn't mind being a mistress.
She couldn't give up on him. Looking back at Shido with a newfound resolve, Rinko clenched her hands tightly and declared in a firm voice, "I don't mind being your secret lover or mistress. As long as I have a place in your heart, that's enough for me."
"Rinko…"
Shido was both touched and speechless by her heartfelt words. It felt like she was sacrificing too much for him. But he realized Rinko had misunderstood, so he gently shook his head. The gesture made Rinko's face pale with dread as she thought Shido was rejecting her, until Shido's next words opened her eyes.
"Rinko, I think you're misunderstanding something."
"I'm… misunderstanding?"
Rinko had no idea what Shido meant, so she simply waited for him to continue while her body was still being hugged by the boy in his arms.
His hands rested in a somewhat inappropriate place on her butt, but whether it was intentional or not, Rinko didn't mind at all. In fact, knowing Shido was touching her only made her happier; to her, it meant he was attracted to her.
Shido, unaware of what she was thinking, continued, "You see, Rinko… I'm a scumbag."
Seeing Shido's wry smile, Rinko was caught off guard when he called himself a scumbag. But before she could react, Shido continued.
"I actually have more than one girlfriend… and I love all of them."
As those words left his mouth, Rinko finally understood why he described himself that way. Inside, she quietly snorted as she now know that Shido was a scumbag with several girlfriends. But instead of feeling anger or disappointment, what bloomed in her chest was hope. If that was the case, then she had a chance… a chance to stand beside him with the same status as his girlfriends.
And just as Rinko thought, Shido continued speaking.
"I am a scumbag, and I can't leave my girlfriends… but Rinko, I also want you to be my woman."
"…Shido."
If it had been any other man, a woman might have already slapped him across the face for saying something so shameless. But this was Shido.
"I know you might be disappointed," he said softly, "but… I like you, Rinko."
Hearing his confession, even though Shido had mentioned multiple times that he had many girlfriends, which made the corner of Rinko's lips twitch, those words "I like you" made her heart pound so hard it felt like it might leap out of her chest.
Unable to contain the surge of joy and relief, Rinko threw herself into Shido's arms and hugged him tightly, tears spilling as she cried, "Shido, I don't mind if you have several girlfriends or lovers. All I want is for you to have me in your heart."
"Rinko…"
Feeling the warmth of her words, Shido tightened his embrace around her delicate body. Then he gently lifted a hand to her soft, pinkish cheeks.
Rinko was a little surprised with Shido's action, but even though Rinko was a bit embarrassed, she didn't push him away. Instead, she waited, heart pounding, knowing what he was about to do next.
Gently closing her eyes, Shido leaned forward, gazing at the woman he loved. Slowly, deliberately, their lips met, and the two lovers shared a tender kiss, letting the world around them fade away.