After Yusa Emi quietly left the living room, a calm silence settled over Sakurasou. Aoyama Nanami emerged from the kitchen, wiping her hands on a dish towel, her gaze naturally drifting toward the sofa. There sat Nozomi, legs crossed and eyes calm, radiating the air of someone deep in thought. Their eyes met.
Nanami's expression flickered. It was complicated—perhaps conflicted. Still, she forced a soft smile and spoke, voice slightly hesitant.
"Well then... good night. I'm going to rest. You should get some sleep too, Nozomi."
But just as she turned to leave, his voice stopped her.
"Wait."
Nanami blinked, her footsteps pausing. Turning around, she found him gesturing to the seat next to him.
"Come sit down."
Her gaze faltered. "I... um, I'm really tired. I should rest..."
Nozomi's tone shifted—gentle but firm. "Nanami. Sit."
That sudden seriousness caught her off guard. She flinched slightly, then pouted as she reluctantly walked over and sank down beside him.
"What is it?"
Nozomi gave a small sigh and leaned back. "I just wanted to ask... are you getting used to living here?"
Nanami's lips parted in surprise. After a pause, she nodded. "Yeah. I'm used to it. Everyone's been really nice to me, and it's... peaceful."
The truth was, Sakurasou had become her refuge. Meals didn't cost her a dime, and though she occasionally replenished the fridge, the savings were significant. Better yet, joining Meow Star meant she could work with Misaki-senpai on anime voiceovers, a dream opportunity for her.
"That's good to hear," Nozomi said, smiling faintly. "And how's Mashiro doing in school?"
The mention of Mashiro made Nanami hesitate.
"It's... honestly, not great. She doesn't really have any friends. Every time I drop by her class, she's always painting alone."
Nozomi's brows knit together slightly, his voice filled with quiet frustration. "Figures. A genius like her tends to intimidate others, even if she doesn't mean to."
He glanced toward the ceiling thoughtfully. "People don't always admire genius. Sometimes they isolate it, or attack it, just to feel better about themselves."
Nanami's chest tightened at his words.
"It's probably even worse because Mashiro doesn't know how to connect with people. Her heart is pure, but that makes her even harder to approach."
"So... what do we do? If things continue like this, she'll be all alone," Nanami murmured.
Nozomi waved his hand dismissively. "It won't last forever. Rita said she'd be back soon. When she returns, she'll be able to keep Mashiro company. Until then, I'm counting on you, Nanami."
He glanced at her sincerely. "But don't get me wrong. I'm not asking you to babysit her around the clock. Just take her to class and bring her back when you can. Don't let her distract you from your own path."
Nanami nodded gently. "Got it."
After a beat of silence, she suddenly asked, voice low: "You really care about Mashiro, don't you? Is it... because she calls you her master?"
Nozomi stared at her, surprised. Nanami gasped and quickly covered her mouth. "S-Sorry! That came out wrong! I meant..."
He chuckled softly, waving off the tension. "No need to apologize. It's not unreasonable. She did latch onto that whole 'master' thing like a stray kitten."
His gaze softened. "And I won't lie. I'm just a normal guy. Mashiro's adorableness would move anyone with a pulse."
He then turned to her, serious once again. "But Nanami... let me be honest. I won't let go of the girls I love. Even if the world mocks me for having a harem, or calls me names like succubus, I'll stay with Yukino, Mahiru, and the others."
His voice was steady. "I say this not to brag, but so you can feel at ease staying here. I might be someone who walks a different path, but I'll never hurt the girls who walk beside me."
Nanami looked at him in astonishment. Then she smiled faintly and nodded. "I understand. I won't misunderstand you anymore."
She folded her arms and looked up with determination. "And if you're worried I'll move out because of your reputation, then let me say this: I'm not leaving until I become a famous voice actress!"
She chuckled, a hint of mischief in her voice. "Besides, I could never find another place like Sakurasou. The atmosphere here is perfect for studying, working, and dreaming. And everyone here is just... really kind."
Her voice dimmed slightly. "I used to live with another girl. We agreed to split rent each month. But she ran off and left me to pay it all. That was... painful."
She laughed awkwardly. "After something like that, Sakurasou felt like paradise."
Nozomi looked at her with gentle eyes. "You've really been through a lot, haven't you, Nanami?"
"Pfft, idiot! Why say it like that?" she retorted with a pout, lightly smacking her hands against her pajama-clad knees. "It's normal to have setbacks when you're chasing a dream, right? That's what it means to walk your own path."
Her voice had a resilient warmth to it, one that reminded Nozomi of the late-night anime heroines who, even when cornered by fate, still smiled defiantly.
"Besides, I'm really happy now. Life here in Sakurasou, with everyone being so kind and supportive... it's more than I ever expected. I feel honored to be part of this strange little family."
Then, as if catching herself saying too much, Nanami's eyes narrowed playfully, and she pointed an accusing finger at him.
"But! Nozomi, don't get any funny ideas about me, okay?!"
She blinked, her tone a strange mix of mock-seriousness and shyness.
Nozomi froze, his expression turning a bit awkward—caught completely off guard. He didn't offer a comeback, didn't deflect, didn't laugh. Just silence.
Nanami blinked.
Wait… that silence…
Her heart skipped a beat.
No way…! Could it be… he really did have those kinds of thoughts about her?
Her cheeks went crimson.
"A-Ahem! It's getting late! You should rest too, Nanami! I'll head back to my room first!"
He practically fled the scene, leaving a very dazed and blushing Nanami standing alone in the hallway.
She stared at his retreating back, lips slightly parted, unable to form words. Her heart thumped wildly in her chest.
He didn't say anything. He didn't deny it. In fact, he ran away!
"What a fool..." she whispered. But the warmth in her chest didn't fade.
Nanami touched her face, still flushed and warm. Her thoughts drifted back to earlier—when he'd said she was hardworking, when he'd looked at her like that… and when he admitted he wouldn't give up on any girl he liked.
Suddenly overwhelmed, she darted back into her room like a startled squirrel.
After a hot shower, she put on her soft pajamas and crawled into bed, hugging her beloved "Kotaro" pillow tightly.
"Kotaro… do you think Nozomi-kun actually… likes me? I mean… he already has Yukino, Mahiru, even Mashiro… I'm just a normal girl. Do I even stand a chance?"
Using her voice acting skills, she adopted a cutesy, exaggerated voice to mimic Kotaro's imaginary response:
"Of course he does, Nanami! You're a super cute girl too! Once you try a little makeup and wear something pretty, Nozomi-kun won't be able to look away~!"
"Ahhhh! Stop—Kotaro, don't say stuff like that!"
She buried her face into the pillow, rolling around on the bed like a helpless anime heroine lost in love. Her embarrassment reached critical mass.
"I don't even know what I'm feeling anymore… this is so unfair…!"
Outside her room, the night settled over Sakurasou, but for Aoyama Nanami, sleep would be a long time coming. Her heart was far too noisy.