Tokyo: Idol Girls have absolutely no bad intentions!

"I know this is sudden, and...it's causing you a lot of trouble. I also know...you and Mori..."

Her voice choked for a moment, as if something was blocking her throat, and she quickly lowered her head to avoid Ito's gaze, her shoulders trembling slightly.

"I don't want to ruin things for you... I really don't. But... but I can't control myself... I'm greedy, and cowardly... I know I shouldn't, but I still want an answer... even if... even if it's not what I want to hear..."

Her voice grew softer and softer until it was almost a murmur.

Ito listened in silence, watching her slightly trembling shoulders and her lowered head.

“I don’t hate you, Asada,” he said, his voice calmer and gentler than expected. “On the contrary, I…like you quite a bit.”

He carefully chose his words, “On stage, you can attract everyone’s attention without caring about anything else, which is exactly what I imagine an idol to be like.”

"Although you're a bit clumsy and easily get nervous, and sometimes a little absent-minded, it's actually kind of... cute?"

He paused, seemingly searching for a more precise expression, "Sometimes I find you quite troublesome, you suddenly come up with some headache-inducing ideas... but more often..."

"I find you very interesting, and I'm never bored when I'm with you."

"Interesting?" Asada looked up, the light that had just risen in her eyes because of "liking" it was fading away.

"But...is it interesting?" Her voice unconsciously rose a little. "Because I'm clumsy? Because I always cause trouble? Like an idiot who can't read the room?"

“That’s not what I meant…” Ito tried to explain, not expecting the word to elicit such a strong reaction from her.

But Asada didn't seem to listen.

She stood up, the chair legs scraping against the floor with a harsh sound.

"No! Don't say it!" She wiped away the tears streaming down her face with the back of her hand, her voice filled with resistance and self-loathing. "I...I still don't have the courage to listen...I'm sorry!"

With only one thought in her mind, she turned around and fled from this space that made her feel lost and helpless.

But just then, the door to the room clicked open.

Miki Hayakawa rubbed her sleepy eyes and yawned as she walked out.

She was still wearing comfortable cartoon pajamas, and her hair was a little messy, clearly having been woken up by the noise outside.

"Hmm? What's wrong?" She looked at Asada, whose eyes were red, and then at Ito, who seemed to want to say something but hesitated.

She sighed helplessly, her face clearly showing that she knew this would happen.

This kind of thing happens every now and then; she's long been used to it. Although this time was a little different.

She stepped forward, gently put her arm around Asada's trembling shoulders, and soothingly led her toward the bedroom.

"Alright, alright, Sakura, be good, go inside and rest for a bit, calm down. Leave this to your older sister, it's okay, I'll explain everything to Yu."

Asada stiffened for a moment, then obediently let Hayakawa half-push and half-help her into the bedroom. The door closed gently behind them, temporarily isolating them from the outside world.

After settling Asada in, Hayakawa turned and walked back to the living room, his lazy expression lessening.

She walked to the refrigerator, took out a can of ice-cold beer, opened it with a crisp "snap," and placed it on the table next to Ito.

"Want a drink? To calm your nerves?" She raised an eyebrow, trying to sound more relaxed.

Ito shook his head, his gaze not even glancing at the can of beer. "No thanks."

I'm not in the mood for beer right now.

Hayakawa didn't mind. He pulled out the chair next to Ito, sat down lazily, leaned back, shook the beer can in his hand, and watched the foam slide down the side of the glass.

"How are you feeling?" she asked.

"what?"

"How does it feel to be liked by so many girls?" Hayakawa took a small sip of beer, a slightly teasing smile playing on his lips. "Logically speaking, this should be the most boast-worthy thing for someone your age, right?"

"No, any age is a great topic of conversation."

She paused, her tone becoming slightly more serious, with a hint of knowing wisdom from someone who's been through it all, "But once this kind of thing is really exposed and brought to the forefront, and there's a demand for an explanation, it's going to be very difficult, isn't it?"

"Everyone is happy when things are ambiguous. It's the ambiguity that allows for imagination. But if you have to make a choice, it will hurt people, no matter who you choose."

She looked at Ito, her gaze unwavering. "So? Yu, what are you thinking now? Do you want to continue this ambiguous relationship where everyone seems to have a chance, and enjoy this feeling of being adored?"

"Or... should we make a firm decision and decisively separate from one of them, even if it hurts the other?"

“I…” Ito opened his mouth.

The question raised by the other party was indeed the core contradiction he had been avoiding.

Hayakawa didn't urge him, but waited patiently, occasionally taking a sip of beer and letting out a soft sigh.

"I don't know." In the end, Ito shook his head dejectedly, his voice filled with confusion and deep exhaustion. He raised his hand and rubbed his temples. "Whether it's Morigami or Asada... I really don't know."

He took a deep breath, as if in repentance, "It might sound like I'm a scumbag to say this... but I really don't want to betray the feelings of any of them."

"To be honest, compared to what I've done for them, they've given me more and endured more pressure for me. Without fully figuring out who I like more and who I want to spend my life with... I really can't give an answer."

"Everyone has given me feelings of excitement and warmth, that's a fact. The more I spend with them, the more I discover their individual good qualities, and the more... I fear that making a choice will result in losing another, and seeing their hurt expressions. Continuing to interact in this ambiguous way will only make everyone sink deeper and deeper, and then... it might be even harder to sort out..."

"Alright, alright!" Hayakawa suddenly interrupted him, putting down her beer can, patting Ito's shoulder hard, and giving him a hearty "I've got this covered" smile.

"There's no need to say more! Dwelling on it won't help! These teenage troubles are complicated, and sometimes they need a little push! Just leave it to me! I've been there!"

She stood up, hands on her hips, her tone suddenly becoming bold, "Even if, in the worst-case scenario, Xiaoyou, you really can't think straight and decide to be a two-timing scumbag, I can still help you figure out a way to smooth things over!"

"Of course, this is just the worst-case scenario!" she quickly added.

After saying that, without waiting for Ito's reaction, she turned around and called out towards the bedroom, "Sakura! Come out for a second! Let's switch shifts and talk!"

The bedroom door opened, and Asada, whose eyes were still a little red and swollen but whose emotions seemed to have stabilized somewhat, slowly walked out.

Hayakawa winked at her, patted her back to encourage her, and then pushed Ito's shoulder to lead him into the bedroom.

"Go inside, go inside. You can calm down and think things through on your own. I'll talk to Sakura alone."

Somewhat bewildered, Ito was pushed into the bedroom, and the door clicked shut behind him.

The sounds from the living room were instantly cut off, leaving him alone in the room, with only the increasingly dark night outside the window.

He leaned against the door, sighed, feeling his mind was a complete mess, and his temples throbbed with pain.

Just then, my phone vibrated in my pocket.

He took it out and saw that the screen lit up; it was a message from Anna Takikawa.

Takikawa: "How are you feeling now?"

The opening remarks were almost identical to those of Hayakawa.

Ito frowned, instinctively not wanting to reply, just wanting to be alone.

But then, almost without giving him a moment to catch his breath, another message popped up.

Takikawa: "Are you trying to run away? Why don't you go and ask Mori what she thinks? She probably has never told you how she feels, has she?"

The message showed as read, but the green online status indicator next to Takikawa's avatar went dark instantly, indicating that she had gone offline.

Ito held his phone, staring blankly at the two lines of text.

He passively accepted Mori's approach and arrangements, but seemed never to have actively sought to understand her true thoughts beneath her calm surface.

Is she really as composed and magnanimous as she appears?

Obviously not!

He subconsciously opened his chat with Chinatsu Mori.

On the screen, there are greetings and messages from Mori almost every day, sharing her daily life in great detail, occasionally interspersed with some seemingly casual but subtly caring inquiries.

Of course, there are also those who are very bold and directly express their liking and love.

At least I like this phrase; it has always existed.

He slid his fingertips across the pages of previous records, and scenes of their time together flashed through his mind.

The benches in the courtyard, the lunchboxes on the stairs, the protective gestures on the basketball court...

He saw the rehearsal video that Mori had sent him before, in which the two of them were taking a photo together while holding a doll.

My finger hovered over the top of the screen, hesitating.

Finally, he opened the chat window with Mori. (Light)

The label was flashing in the input field, but he didn't know what to type.

Ask, "What do you think?"

This is too abrupt.

Ask, "Do you mind Asada?"

This is more like a test.

Just as he was staring blankly at the dialog box, the bedroom door was gently pushed open.

Miki Hayakawa peeked in first, winked at him, and then stepped aside.

Asada stood at the doorway, took a deep breath, clenched her hands into small fists at her sides, and slowly walked step by step to Ito.

She looked up, her cheeks still faintly marked with tear stains, her nose slightly red, and reached out to gently grasp Ito's wrist hanging by his side.

Her hands were trembling, but holding them gave her a sense of security.

"I-Ito..." Her voice still trembled slightly, "...please continue to be understanding of me!"

Ito was completely stunned and had no idea what it meant.

He instinctively looked at Hayakawa by the door, seeking an explanation.

Hayakawa was standing with his arms crossed, leaning against the doorframe, a satisfied smile on his face, giving him a thumbs up.

Chapter 245 Sinking into Sheep Mode

The day before departure for the Bluebird Theater.

Looking up at the sky, layers upon layers of clouds float above, looking as delicious as cotton candy.

After leaving the station, I arrived at a comprehensive zoo and botanical garden in Ikebukuro.

The purpose of my visit is twofold: first, to adjust the terrible suggestions I've made these past few days; and second, because Mori-gami said she wants to go on a date.

A date for three?