In Evan's impression, the male protagonists in most anime and galgames who built a harem were the type who "took no initiative, refused nothing, and took no responsibility." They acted like emotional idiots and saints with no desires, unresponsive to girls' hints or temptations, yet somehow, various girls would throw themselves at them, successfully achieving a harem ending.
Although there were quite a few male protagonists with more normal personalities, and even a certain "Brother Makoto" from an anime who was extremely decisive in his actions, Brother Makoto had already passed away, and the tragic consequences of the wrong way to build a harem served as a wake-up call for countless people.
In this Honkai world with its extremely unbalanced gender ratio, perhaps adopting the "three no's" principle would make it easier to build a harem. At least, it would be much less dangerous than being decisive, given that the girls here possessed extraordinary combat abilities.
However, if he gave a negative answer to Kiana's question right now, Evan felt that this guy might develop untoward thoughts about Mei. He had to eliminate all hidden dangers. So, without hesitation, Evan nodded and declared loudly.
"That's right!"
"Ah? N-no, we're not."
Evan and Mei responded almost simultaneously, giving two completely opposite answers.
As her words fell and she heard Evan's declaration, Mei's face flushed red. Evan, on the other hand, put on a look of heartbreak.
"Does Mei really think we aren't boyfriend and girlfriend yet? Even though we meet late at night, chat together, and explore common hobbies? I've tasted your delicious snacks more than once, and you accepted my gift. Doesn't even this count as being boyfriend and girlfriend?"
Mei, who had come to understand Evan's personality quite well over this period, was not fooled by his expression. Instead, she looked troubled, or perhaps a little resentful, and said.
"But there hasn't been a real confession, has there?"
"Ahem, then right now..."
"No way. You should choose a more suitable time and place, otherwise, people will think you're joking."
Mei interrupted Evan with a beautiful smile. The hint of playfulness she revealed left Evan speechless for a moment.
When did Mei become so mischievous?
"So it was unrequited love after all?"
Kiana really lived up to her name. She completely missed the special attitude Mei showed towards Evan in her words, and didn't even catch the deeper meaning of their conversation. She simply interpreted the literal meaning without using her brain and reached a wrong conclusion.
Evan was too lazy to explain now and walked into the restaurant first.
"Let's eat first."
Evan had brought Mei here many times before, and not long ago, he had also brought Kiana. Back then, the owner suspected Evan was secretly two-timing. Now, seeing Evan bring both Mei and Kiana over at the same time, the owner's guess collapsed on its own. Evan wasn't secretly two-timing; he was openly two-timing.
Compared to the carefree Kiana who appeared later, the owner naturally preferred the gentle and virtuous Mei. But since Mei herself already knew about these things, the owner had no standing to say anything more. She glanced at Evan with the two girls and sighed to herself about how bold young people were these days.
Meanwhile, Evan paid special attention to a small detail—he was walking at the front, with Kiana and Mei following behind. If they kept this formation when sitting down, there should be Kiana between him and Mei. Although Kiana was a beautiful girl herself, to prevent this guy who could openly say she wanted to eat "pretty-girl-flavored instant noodles" from having designs on Mei, Evan felt it necessary to use his body as a shield to protect her.
So, Evan discreetly slowed down. Kiana, whose eyes had been glued to the wooden menu plaques on the wall since entering, thinking about what to eat, predictably walked past him and sat down in an empty seat. Evan then naturally sat down next to her.
Logically, Mei should have sat on Evan's other side, but the girl seemed to have noticed his little trick. She deliberately took a few extra steps and sat on Kiana's other side.
As a result, the one being embraced left and right was now Kiana.
Evan gave Mei a helpless look, and she responded with a mischievous smile.
Perhaps this was a good thing.
Not the seating arrangement, but the change in Mei. That she was now willing to joke with Evan and show such a playful side proved that she was much more relaxed. If it were the Mei from their first meeting, the girl burdened by her father's imprisonment and the alienation of her classmates, she would never have been able to do such a thing.
During this time, Evan's interactions with Mei had brought not only a change in their relationship but also a transformation in her mindset.
As for Kiana, who was currently flanked by two people, she completely missed this detail. The girl, who had been staring at the food names on the wooden plaques, finally looked around. Seeing Evan sitting on her right, she shook his arm and pointed a fair finger at the menu.
"I want to eat that. Eel rice."
"Sure."
Evan naturally wouldn't refuse, then looked at Mei.
"And you? The same set meal as before?"
"Yes."
Mei nodded with a smile, revealing another layer of tacit understanding. If Kiana, Mei, and Evan weren't close in age, to a passerby, this scene might have looked more like parents taking their child out for a meal.
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