I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

A familiar female voice...

For Mai Kinoshita, the female voice holds a very special meaning and status...

"Miss Chiba...?"

Kinoshita Mai stared in disbelief at the beautiful woman before her, the one who had just spoken: Chiba Sanako!

Sanako, who was standing in front of Kinoshita Mai at this moment, was in her "noble lady form": an exquisite blue kimono, a white sash embroidered with beautiful cloud patterns, a wakizashi with a blue handle and blue sheath for self-defense inserted at her waist, and her feet, covered with clean white socks, were wearing a pair of blue-buttoned flat wooden clogs.

She encountered an unexpected person in an unexpected place... Kinoshita Mai's face was instantly filled with shock.

The same goes for Sanako.

Despite Sanako's best efforts to remain calm, the shock hidden deep in her eyes was still faintly visible.

This suffocating, silent standoff lasted for nearly 20 seconds.

"Chiba, Miss Chiba..."

Kinoshita Mai, who spoke first, stammered.

"You... how did you get here...?"

"..."

Sanako did not immediately answer Kinoshita Mai's question.

She pondered for a moment, then raised her hand and pulled out a piece of paper that Kinoshita Mai found very familiar from the lining between her sash and kimono.

"Ms. Kinoshita, did Tachibana-kun also slip you this piece of paper?"

"Eh?"

Kinoshita Mai was startled, and then quickly held up the same piece of paper in her palm that was "the same" as Sanako's.

The two women's slips of paper were not only identical in style, but the content written on them was also exactly the same.

"What's going on...?" Kinoshita Mai murmured.

Qing Deng... made an appointment with both me and Miss Chiba at the same time?

He's trying to impress both me and Ms. Chiba at the same time... No, how could that be? That's outrageous.

The absurd idea had barely popped into Kinoshita Mai's mind when she rejected it, saying, "Aoto would never do such a thing."

"Who knows?"

When Sanako saw that Kinoshita Mai also had the same piece of paper in her hand, a strange look flashed across her beautiful brows... but she quickly concealed it.

As Sanako tucked the piece of paper back into the lining of her kimono and obi, she continued coldly:

"Once Tachibana-kun arrives, we'll know exactly what happened."

As soon as she finished speaking, someone's presence arrived beside them with a rapid pace.

"Sorry to keep you waiting."

Upon hearing this, Kinoshita Mai and Sanako turned their heads in unison to look in the direction from which the male voice came, towards Aoto who was approaching slowly.

Aoto, Sanako, Kinoshita Mai... one man and two women, their eyes locked in a probing gaze.

Upon seeing that both women had arrived, Qingdeng immediately showed a look of both relief and nervousness.

"Orange-kun".

At this moment, Sanako acted both decisively and forcefully.

As soon as Qing Deng appeared, before he could even rest, Sanako quickly and directly asked him:

"Did you suddenly invite Ms. Kinoshita and me to this place because you have something to tell us?"

Sanako's tone carried a sharp, lingering echo, like a swift, cutting blade.

Kinoshita Mai seemed to snap out of her daze, straightening her posture with a tense expression and an air of restraint.

Aoto sensed Kinoshita Mai's gaze, which seemed to want to ask him a question.

Kinoshita Mai feigned composure, trying to be considerate and not pry, and diligently concealed any strange emotions such as doubt from showing on her face.

However, this feigned maturity actually reveals her true inner self.

Her complex and unspoken gaze betrayed all her true thoughts.

"..." Qing Deng silently cast an awkward glance at Sanako.

To my shame, Sanako's preemptive strike just now disrupted Aoto's rhythm...

Qingdeng was already extremely nervous.

From the moment he left the Shiwei Hall, Qingdeng's anxiety grew with each step he approached the agreed-upon riverbank.

After being provoked by Sanako's preemptive question, the tension that had been building up in Aoto's heart suddenly "exploded," rushing up his chest and neck and straight to his brain.

My mind went completely blank in an instant.

He had prepared a long list of flowery opening remarks... but now he can't remember a single one!

correct.

It's not just a pre-prepared opening.

The meticulously planned steps and the carefully crafted words he wanted to say to the two women... all of these vanished without a trace from Qing Deng's mind in that instant.

—Never mind! If I can't remember, then forget it!

Qingdeng gritted his teeth and clenched his fists tightly, his hands hanging naturally at his sides.

Ultimately... in this kind of situation, going through all those unnecessary formalities seems pointless!

Qingdeng let out a "ha" and exhaled all the stale air from his lungs.

Since things have come to this... let's just go for it with all our might and emotion!

There is no strategy... or rather, there was a strategy, but I'm too nervous right now to remember any of them.

It was just a matter of making up one's mind.

He simply let his aura and his feelings for the two women drive his body.

I will stop thinking about those messy, tedious, and troublesome things.

Ms. Okita is right.

I am a decisive person.

I have always been proud of my decisive and efficient work style.

I'm the kind of person who hates complicated and convoluted situations and prefers a direct, head-on approach.

All that pre-planned opening line, all that carefully crafted talk... let it all disappear! Let it all be forgotten!

Just follow your desires.

Just follow your own thoughts and act accordingly!

Qingdeng slightly spread his feet apart and placed them firmly on the soles of his feet.

Take a deep breath and focus your energy in your lower abdomen.

Then… he looked into the eyes of the two women in front of him and raised his voice:

"Miss Kinoshita Mai! Miss Chiba Sanako! I love you both!"

Qingdeng's voice echoed along the quiet riverbank where no one passed by.

All was silent.

A gentle breeze from afar swayed the branches of every large tree on the riverbank, as well as the hair and hem of the clothes of Kinoshita Mai and Sanako.

But the two women were completely unaware of all this.

Even the usually calm and composed Sanako lost control of her expression at this moment.

She and Kinoshita Mai stared wide-eyed, as if their souls had left their bodies, giving Aoto a shocked look.

They subconsciously thought that Qingdeng was joking with them.

However, Qing Deng's expression at this moment was full of determination.

There's no room for jokes... Qingdeng is serious.

Before the two women could recover, Qing Deng's powerful and emotionally charged words flowed from his lips once again.

"Ah Wu, to be honest, when I first met you, I thought you were a difficult person to get along with."

Qing Deng turned his gaze to Kinoshita Mai.

Kinoshita Mai, sensing Aoto's gaze, trembled slightly.

"Introverted and shy."

"When you speak, you don't dare to look people in the eye, and your voice is so low it's like a mosquito's buzz. Plus, you don't know how to respond to people's topics. It's so tiring to chat with you."

"Besides being very cute, you have no other notable qualities—that's my first impression of you."

"But gradually, as I spent more and more time with you, I discovered more and more of your charm."

"Your kindness, your warm heart... all of this makes me feel utterly captivated."

"When I came to my senses, you already occupied a very important place in my heart."

Qing Deng continued to utter completely thoughtless remarks.

Because the mind is blank, the brain has lost its basic ability to think.

I lack the energy to carefully examine every single word I use.

At this moment, Qingdeng was less "speaking" and more "pouring out" his full enthusiasm.

"Miss Sanako too!"

Aoto tilted his head, shifting his gaze from Kinoshita Mai to Sanako.

When it was her turn to be called out... Sanako unusually showed a flustered expression.

"My first impression of you, Ms. Sanako, was also not good."

"Always has a cold face, and looks like he keeps people at arm's length."