"Hey… what if I said I like Yu?"
In the mountain forest, the evening breeze blew, rustling through the dense bushes.
Although Nino's face turned red, her expression was determined, as if she had decided to lay everything bare before Nakano Yu.
But the boy just silently looked at Nino, not saying a word for a long time, giving her no response.
"Yu, answer me! If… if I like you, Yu, what should I do?"
"If I said I want to stand by Yu, as a lover, and not… as family."
Seeing that Nakano Yu still delayed with an answer, Nino could no longer hold back. She took two steps forward, got very close to him, and excitedly grabbed his clothes with her hands.
"Nino, are you serious?"
Looking at Nino, Nakano Yu's expression was surprisingly calm. Faced with Nino's shocking confession, he only asked indifferently.
That expression made Nino feel unfamiliar, completely different from the gentle Nakano Yu she usually knew.
Seeing him like that, there was not a hint of hesitation in Nino's eyes. Her energy, like a train rushing without brakes, burst out of her:
"Yu, I'll let you know that I am the girl who loves you the most!"
"Even if I won't be the only one with Nino?"
Meeting Nino's gaze, Nakano Yu just calmly watched her, looking at Nino, but also at her true thoughts.
Nakano Yu was not some pure and naive person; he couldn't tell a big lie about loving only one person for his whole life. He was just a lucky transmigrator with a system that defied heaven, with powers that could trample this world.
Nakano Yu didn't have big ambitions, but he couldn't limit his feelings to just one person. Looking at the world, there were probably few men who could say they loved only one person in this life and whose hearts never changed.
Hearing that, Nino's expression froze, and she unconsciously took half a step back.
Seeing that, Nakano Yu lowered his gaze, and a smile appeared on his face:
"Of course, I can pretend that Nino is just joking with me. This thing I…"
Just as he was thinking of leaving her an out, Nino suddenly grabbed the boy by the collar, rose onto her toes, and leaned toward him.
The evening wind blew, lifting the girl's hair, and Nakano Yu looked at the face so close to him, his eyes full of disbelief.
The girl didn't dare look at him. Her long eyelashes trembled slightly, as if she wanted to open her eyes, but was afraid to meet Nakano Yu's gaze.
With Nino in that state, Nakano Yu didn't need to say anything more. He closed his eyes and gently hugged Nino with both arms.
After an unknown amount of time, Nino finally broke free from Nakano Yu's embrace, touched the edge of her lips, and with a slight remark said:
"Yu was really rough, it hurt a little… even though it was my first time."
"But, Yu, it was your first time too, so we're even."
Changing the topic, Nino smiled seductively and turned her head toward Nakano Yu.
Hearing that, the boy who was still enjoying the sweetness of the previous moment flinched. He remembered how he had earlier used his blessing to help Katsura Kotonoha escape from "Ape Dream," but… that probably doesn't count, right? Back then he was saving Kotoha, so it doesn't count, doesn't count!
"So, what are you planning to do now, Yu?"
Nino took two steps forward, helped Nakano Yu straighten the clothes she had wrinkled while holding him tightly, and asked him with a slight lack of confidence.
She was still a little scared, afraid that Nakano Yu might not be able to cross that boundary imposed by the world.
But Nino's worries were purely exaggerated; what kind of person was Nakano Yu? The only Demon Lord in this world, what could ordinary social norms possibly restrain him with?
"Since Nino is already like this, what else can I do? We'll have a big wedding, and I will definitely marry Nino and bring her home."
Said Nakano Yu, putting his hands on Nino's back and pulling her strongly toward him, so that in an instant they were very close.
"Yu, not here…"
Feeling Nakano Yu's restless hands, Nino immediately blushed, turned her head, and whispered quietly.
Although she was head over heels in love, Nino still wanted Nakano Yu to be a little more serious, at least… to wait until they returned to Tokyo. In the mountains, who knows when someone might appear.
Hearing that, Nakano Yu also came to his senses, withdrew his hands, and stroked Nino's head, saying:
"I was careless, too impatient."
The recent movements of Nino had almost hooked Nakano Yu like a bass on a hook, and a surge of heat rose in him for no reason.
Now Nakano Yu just felt he needed to return to the inn and bathe in the hot springs; otherwise, that heat probably wouldn't subside!
"Then… shall we go back first?"
Nino said cautiously. Now she was in a different relationship with Nakano Yu and still wasn't quite used to it.
"All right!"
Nodding, Nakano Yu did not refuse. He urgently needed a bath to suppress that heat. Being alone with Nino right now was a bit dangerous — of course, Nino was the one in danger.
But as they followed the route, they didn't encounter any other group. When they exited the forest and arrived at the inn courtyard, they were surprised to see a large crowd gathered there.
From their dusty appearance and leaves in their hair, it was clear these were students who had returned a step earlier than Nakano Yu and the others.
"What are they doing? Is there a special event?"
Seeing the gathered crowd, Nino asked curiously.
"I don't know, I haven't heard of any other activities."
Nakano Yu shook his head. Logically, Miura Yumiko and Hayama Hayato, who planned the event, should have been on the same side, as they were all part of the popular group. However, Miura Yumiko hadn't told him anything about activities after the test of courage.
Or maybe it was a last-minute decision, so even Miura Yumiko didn't know?
While Nakano Yu was thinking, Yotsuba approached and waved at him, greeting:
"Yu! You finally arrived. Will you participate in the next test of courage?"
"The next test of courage?"
Hearing that, Nakano Yu slightly frowned. No way, right? These people really want to seek death? He was just thinking how unusually peaceful the world was today!
"Yes, I don't even know where we're going. Itsuki has already returned, and I don't plan to go either."
"Eh? Nino's face is really red! She didn't catch a cold from the mountain wind, right?!"
Yotsuba nodded as she spoke, then looked at Nino beside her and was surprised to see how red her face had become, and asked worriedly.
Feeling Yotsuba's concerned gaze, Nino felt a little awkward. She didn't even know why, but after confirming her relationship with Nakano Yu, facing such pure Yotsuba gave her a strange sense of guilt.
"No, it's not that! It's just… there are too many people here, it's really hot. No, I won't talk anymore, I'm going back to the room."
Afraid of giving herself away, Nino quickly explained, then turned to Nakano Yu to say goodbye:
"Yu, see you tomorrow."
As soon as she said that, Nino quickly left, not waiting for Nakano Yu to reply.
Watching Nino walk away, Yotsuba scratched her head, feeling that Nino had been a little strange just now, as if… she had done something that made her feel very guilty toward them. Eh? Why do I feel it's "them"?
"What is Yotsuba doing here?"
Glancing at Nino's back, Nakano Yu smirked inwardly. Nino wasn't good at lying, especially when it came to family. He would cover for her. Nakano Yu started a conversation with Yotsuba.
"Oh! I'm waiting for Kotoha. Kotoha said she's waiting for someone."
Returning to herself, Yotsuba had just finished the sentence when she saw Katsura Kotonoha approaching them.
"Kotoha! Over here, over here!"
Seeing Katsura Kotonoha, Yotsuba immediately began waving.
And Katsura Kotonoha's somewhat gloomy eyes immediately brightened when she saw Nakano Yu, and she hurried toward them:
"Yu! Yotsuba."
"Mm-hm, the person Kotoha said she was waiting for wouldn't happen to be Yu, right?"
Yotsuba nodded, suddenly realizing why Katsura Kotonoha looked so happy, and cautiously asked.
"Yu is my friend. Since I wasn't feeling well, I didn't participate in the test of courage, but I was worried that something might happen to Yu, so I came to check."
Katsura Kotonoha explained, and her gaze didn't leave Nakano Yu for a moment, which even made him a little uncomfortable.
She just said that to find an excuse for herself. Although she assumed that the girl who participated in the test of courage with Nakano Yu was probably one of the Nakano five sisters, she still wanted to make sure.
After seeing Nakano Yu and Nino leave and return together, Katsura Kotonoha finally relaxed.
Looking at Katsura Kotonoha with a strange gaze, Nakano Yu just thought that not only was Nino acting strangely today, but Katsura Kotonoha was also quite unusual. Doesn't she know that his physical ability far surpasses ordinary people? Would she really worry that something would happen to him in the mountains?
She was probably using concern as an excuse to see who he had participated in the test of courage with.
Guessing Katsura Kotonoha's little scheme, Nakano Yu had no intention of exposing it. After saying goodbye to the two girls, he hurried off.
When Katsura Kotonoha arrived, Yotsuba no longer had a reason to stay. The two girls returned to their room together.
After they left, a voice from the gathered crowd was heard from Tobe Kakeru:
"All right! Everyone, quiet. Next, we will announce the secret project of the test of courage, and that is… The ghost story in the inn! The strange murder room!!!"
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