Having been dating for almost half a month, this was the first time Miyahito had heard Utaha say she was a Miyani fan.
His current mood... how to put it, was complicated. It felt mostly like when he was a kid, his super chuunibyou diary was found by a good friend, who laughed out loud asking who wrote it... Yeah, something like that.
Plus, he now had to sit with his girlfriend and watch an anime series he personally handled, composed, and sang for.
This was basically public execution.
Suppressing the tingling, indescribable feeling inside, Miyahito shook his head with a smile. "How could I... mind."
Mid-sentence, he sensed something off. It wasn't strange that Utaha was a fan; he had some awareness of how popular the "Miyani" identity was. The problem was, why bring it up suddenly tonight?
Before he could figure out the shift, Utaha, resting her cheek against his chest, had already operated her phone and cast the Mechanical Crown video to the TV in front of them.
"「so, everything that makes me whole」"
"「今君に捧げよう」"
"「I'm Yours」....."
Hearing his own female-voice OP playing, Miyahito froze.
At the same time.
Could it be... Utaha already knew Miyani was me?
As the thought flashed through his mind, Utaha suddenly raised both hands, lightly gripping the arms wrapped around her collarbones, and spoke word by word.
"Ara ara, Miyahito."
"Why do I feel like you've sung this song before? Let me think... Ah! Right! It's the song you sang the first time we met on the rooftop."
"So weird." Saying this, Utaha suddenly let go, slowly straightening up from his embrace.
Turning around, she knelt on either side of his thighs, wrapping her hands behind his head and interlocking her fingers.
Her wine-red eyes locked onto his dark ones as she leaned forward, gently pressing her forehead against his. A deeply charming curve touched her lips as she whispered.
"Why would you know how to sing Miyani's new song? And, I just found a blank sheet music in your studio. It only had, um... a line that said [Nandemonaiya] — Miyani on it."
Ah, so that's what it was about.
Seeing the unspoken "still not admitting it?" urging in her wine-red eyes, Miyahito couldn't help but laugh helplessly.
I didn't mean to hide it. I had no idea Kasumi Utako was a Miyani fan... Otherwise, I would've told you ages ago.
"Oh? So dear Mr. Miyahito still wants to struggle." Noticing his smile, Utaha wrinkled her nose in dissatisfaction, lifting her forehead slightly to bump his. "Still trying to hide it? I'm getting angry now."
"No, no!" Seeing this, Miyahito quickly waved his hands. "I never meant to hide it from you!"
"Then why." Utaha's dissatisfaction grew. "I just asked if you had anything else to tell me. Why didn't you say it then?"
"I had no idea!" Catching himself replying too fast, Miyahito quickly corrected himself with a bitter smile. "How was I supposed to know you were asking about that..."
"Hmph. So, what's your answer now?" Leaning up, Utaha looked down at her boyfriend with a queenly gaze, her tone leaving no room for argument.
"Y-yeah, yeah, I'll say it." With a mix of helplessness and amusement, Miyahito raised his hands slightly. Looking seriously into her eyes, his tone turned equally earnest.
"I am Miyani, Utaha... no, Kasumi Utako-sensei."
"Thank you for liking my songs."
The moment the words fell, a doting smile filled with pure joy and affection quietly bloomed on Miyahito's face.
Hearing him personally admit he was Miyani, Utaha—who thought she wouldn't be surprised (after all, she was 99% sure)—was completely stunned in the end.
After a moment of eye contact.
"Really?" Blinking in disbelief, Utaha parted her lips slightly, murmuring. "Miyahito, you really are Miyani? You're not lying to me?"
Wait... didn't you already believe it? Why are you so shocked now?
Finding it amusing, Miyahito slowly sat up straight, raising his right hand to gently press his palm against her slightly dazed cheek.
His thumb stroked her tender, fair skin as he spoke with deep doting affection.
"Mou, why are you still so surprised, Utaha? Shouldn't you have known it was me all along?"
"B-b-but...." At a loss for words, Utaha's voice turned stammering. "Miyahito is Miyani. I've liked Miyani since middle school. And now Miyahito is my boyfriend..."
"The idol I like... is now my boyfriend....."
Listening to her dazed, incoherent rambling, Miyahito smiled, gently pulling her forehead to rest against his, and said with a smile.
"Doesn't that just mean Utaha's feelings for Miyahito are doubled?"
"Is that so?" Utaha repeated softly, her tone taking on a childlike innocence. "My feelings for Miyahito... are doubled? Double the love?"
"Yeah." Miyahito nodded. "Just like how I loved Kasumi Utako's novels, and now you're my girlfriend."
"Our feelings are doubled, both of us."
Hearing this, Utaha finally understood. The reflection of the person she loved in her eyes shimmered once more.
"Miyahito."
Her lips curved as she called his name, a faint smile of love blooming on her cheeks. She gently cupped his face with both hands.
"Utaha."
Responding softly, Miyahito's own face mirrored a faint, doting smile.
"I love you."
As she spoke, Utaha suddenly found her lips unconsciously drifting toward his.
"I love you."
Sensing her slowly approaching lips, for some reason, Miyahito found himself tilting his face up slightly, as if moving without his own will.
At the same time, both of them involuntarily closed their eyes.
The moment a slightly moist, soft sensation passed from their lips straight to their hearts,
the final lyric of the song played at that exact second.
「Therefore, I will give everything I have for you (so, everything that makes me whole), now, to you (I'm Yours)....」