The duel with Ono Yu was nothing more than a fleeting moment in Nozomi's day—an insignificant blip in an otherwise perfect outing.
He didn't give it a second thought.
Ono Yu didn't seem like a total fool, after all. Faced with overwhelming strength, any further pursuit of Mayama Asaka would be nothing short of suicidal. Nozomi had made sure of that.
With the nuisance handled, Nozomi returned to the true mission of the day—enjoying the amusement park with Kusami Runa and Mayama Asaka. They dove headfirst into every ride, game, and sweet treat the park had to offer.
Asaka's smile never faded, her eyes sparkling like the lights of the ferris wheel as she clung to Nozomi's sleeve, laughing and shrieking through each ride. Runa trailed just a step behind, ever cool and composed, but even she couldn't resist the occasional giggle or blush.
Time moved like honey dripping from a spoon—slow, golden, and impossibly sweet.
The sun dipped low in the sky, painting the horizon in strokes of amber and rose. A gentle breeze fluttered through the trees as the park began to empty. It was time to say goodbye.
At the park gate, Nozomi turned to Asaka, a teasing grin tugging at his lips. "Get ready. Your perverted boyfriend is definitely calling you tonight to 'check up' on you."
"Hmph! I'm not afraid of you!" Asaka huffed, raising her chin in defiance. But her act crumbled instantly. She lowered her head, her voice softening. "Um… Nozomi, thank you. And… I'm sorry for dragging you into all this."
Nozomi offered a warm, effortless smile.
"I don't mind being dragged around by cute girls. And dealing with Ono Yu? Please—that was nothing."
It really was nothing. A flick of his hand, a shattered bone, and a fist embedded into a tree had been all it took to send Ono Yu packing.
But Asaka was still serious. She bowed slightly, her long lashes casting delicate shadows over her cheeks. "Even if it was easy for you, it meant a lot to me. That guy has been a pest for weeks… I finally feel like I can breathe."
She hesitated, fidgeting with her fingers. "Um… can I still reach out to you in the future?" Her gaze darted to Runa, then back to him.
Nozomi grinned. "Of course. We're friends now, right? You've got my number. Don't hesitate to call. But fair warning—you might owe me a favor or two."
"Perverted favors?" she squeaked, her cheeks blazing.
He laughed. "Naturally. I am, after all, your fake perverted boyfriend."
Asaka puffed up her cheeks but nodded. "Alright. Well, Keiko and the others are waiting for me… I'll go now. Bye!"
She gave an energetic wave and skipped off into the dusk.
Nozomi turned to Runa. "Now that it's just the two of us… what should we do?"
Runa rolled her eyes dramatically, lips twisting into a playful pout. "What do you mean 'what should we do,' Mr. Perverted Boyfriend?"
She crossed her arms. "I asked you out first, and she totally stole you away. Not fair."
Nozomi scratched his head, sheepish. "That wasn't the plan. But Keiko's older sister, Ishihara Satomi, once helped me out, so I couldn't really turn them down."
Runa raised an eyebrow. "Is that all? You sure you didn't say yes because you've got a thing for Asaka?"
"Ahem—well… she is kind of cute, isn't she?"
That earned him a sharp pinch to the side.
"Yowch—Runa, mercy! Think of your future happiness!"
"Future happiness, my butt! You're such a terrible boyfriend."
"Too late to back out now."
He snaked an arm around her slim waist and pulled her close.
They wandered toward a quiet grove of trees, where no one else was around. Nozomi reached out and gently brushed his fingers through her silky blue hair. He leaned in, eyes searching hers.
Runa's breath hitched. Her heartbeat echoed in her ears as she tiptoed forward and melted into his arms.
The feeling of her soft body pressed against him sent a rush through his chest. Nozomi's mind drifted briefly to the other girls he'd met—Momo with her mature charm, Asaka with her bright innocence—but in this moment, Runa's soft warmth and trusting eyes were the only thing that mattered.
No more hesitation.
He tilted his head and slowly leaned down. Their lips met—a quiet kiss, long-awaited.
Earlier, Asaka's arrival had interrupted them.
Now, no interruptions.
---
It was already dusk when Nozomi finally walked Kusami Runa back to her home. The golden hues of the setting sun painted the rooftops, casting long shadows on the quiet street. Runa lingered at the doorway, cheeks slightly flushed, her fingers still brushing over her lips where Nozomi had kissed her earlier. Her heart was still racing.
"Here," Nozomi said with a soft smile, slipping a sleek, rune-inscribed magic card into her hand. "A charm for protection. I made it myself. If anything weird happens, this'll keep you safe."
Runa blinked in surprise. "Eh? You even made one of these? When did you have the time?"
Nozomi chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "You'd be surprised what I can do when I'm not being dragged into pretend boyfriend roles. I gave one to Sasanqua too—just in case."
Runa held the card close to her chest as she watched him turn and walk down the street, his silhouette growing smaller in the twilight. Her fingers subconsciously returned to her lips.
A gentle smile bloomed across her face.
Despite the chaos of the day—the sudden date, the unexpected rivalry with Sasanqua, and even that awkward three-person outing—Runa couldn't deny it.
She had fun.
Because Nozomi hadn't ignored her.
Because even when Sasanqua was pretending to be his girlfriend, Runa felt like she was the one who mattered.
Because... she was the real one.
The memory of his warm touch and the kiss they shared sent a wave of warmth through her body. Her heart fluttered like sakura petals in spring.
"Is this... what love feels like?" she whispered to herself, breath catching.
Just then, her thoughts were interrupted.
"Runa-chan? You're back already?" a familiar voice called.
She looked up to see Sakurahara Momo standing near her gate, arms crossed, lips slightly pouting.
Runa stiffened for a moment, then quickly composed herself. "Ah, yeah. Just got home."
Momo eyed her curiously, then grinned with a glint of mischief. "Your lips are a little red and swollen. Just like mine were that time."
Runa blinked rapidly. "I-I probably just ate something spicy..."
Momo leaned in, whispering dramatically, "Stealing fish, weren't you?"
Runa froze, cheeks burning. "..."
But before the tension could thicken, Momo giggled and gently grabbed Runa's hand.
"Relax. Honestly, I'm happy. Looks like our friendship isn't going anywhere, huh?"
Runa stared at her, a bit surprised.
Momo continued with a calm smile. "Runa-chan, you're my best friend. Always have been. No matter how things change, we don't have to fight over him. Not anymore."
Runa's eyes softened. Her smile returned, genuine and warm. "Yeah. You're right, Cherry-senpai. We don't have to fight anymore. Let's support each other instead. I think... Nozomi would be happy if we did."
Compared to the silent, hurtful rivalry they'd shared when pining for Hazuki Yasuo, this felt different. Liberating.
Now, with Nozomi in their lives—kind, brave, strange, and occasionally perverted—things felt brighter.
Hazuki had rejected them both. That part of their story was over. There was no going back, and truthfully, neither of them wanted to.
Because Nozomi wasn't just someone to admire from afar. He was someone who saw them—really saw them—and smiled anyway.
Together, Momo and Runa walked hand in hand into the warm glow of the streetlights.
This was the start of something new.
Something hopeful.
And both girls were looking forward to their next encounter with Nozomi.