In crossover anime, who isn't a childhood friend?

But at least in this serious date, I still need to try to restrain myself and be more reserved...

Hayasaka Ai, think carefully about all the etiquette lessons you received since you were a child!

While Hayasaka Ai was struggling internally, Minamoto Chiya successfully placed her order.

The waiter confirmed everything and politely withdrew. It would be a while before the dishes were officially served, so this was obviously the perfect time to discuss business.

Everything up to this moment has been a prelude to this moment, and how things will unfold afterward has been planned long ago on the way here.

Therefore, there is certainly no reason to continue hesitating now.

“Love.” In the restaurant setting with soothing music playing softly, Yuan Qianye called her name gently. When she looked at him, he continued slowly, “I told you before that I came out today to tell you something very important. I think it’s about time now.”

Hayasaka Ai nodded slowly, indicating that she was listening.

"It's like this, I've been hiding something from you all this time..." Yuan Qianye paused slightly.

This pause made Hayasaka Ai's mind wander.

Her first thought was that Qianye was going to confess to her that the doll he gave her contained a surveillance device.

However, his subsequent words did not unfold as she had expected.

In fact, Hayasaka Ai was already struggling with how to respond because of her own speculations, and she was also wondering whether she should take this opportunity to confess to him her "dark" actions.

But his subsequent honest words immediately relieved her of all her worries, and to be honest, she felt genuinely relieved.

At this moment, Yuan Qianye finally made up his mind and said, "...Ai, actually I already have a girlfriend."

…………

Volume 2: Chapter 166: The Dark Side She Witnessed

As soon as Yuan Qianye made up his mind and uttered those words, the soft music playing in the restaurant seemed to decrease in volume, and the surrounding atmosphere seemed to change.

However, the above is just Minamoto Chiyo's own feeling. It is a normal reaction of anxiety that arises from handing the situation over to Hayasaka Ai and not knowing what kind of response she will give later.

In reality, Hayasaka Ai's situation, while not entirely unmoved or indifferent, didn't elicit much surprise.

Although Yuan Qianye has never given any direct response to the outside world regarding her love life, nor has she revealed any accurate information, her publicly stated relationship status has always been that she is single.

But from Hayasaka Ai's perspective, this kind of thing is not a secret at all; if you investigate it carefully, you can find many flaws.

For her, the truth that Qianye had already secretly sensed was more important than why he told her all this.

She was not a slow-witted girl to begin with; in fact, due to her years as a maid, she had accumulated a great deal of experience in taking care of her master, and it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that she was extremely meticulous.

Therefore, after a moment's reflection, she vaguely realized something...

When Chiyo was having a carefree day playing with him and was still very happy, he suddenly brought up the topic of romance, which he had never talked about before. This can be seen as an initiative to confess.

Why make a point of revealing this?

If, as before, they maintain the same... close friendship between opposite sexes...

So it seems unnecessary for him to specifically mention this.

Even if it was to further deepen their understanding of each other, he didn't need to show any unusual nervousness after saying those words.

Why is he nervous?

There was clearly no need for that...

unless……

Unless he really cares about me, the only one sitting in front of him right now.

Qianye... cares about my... opinion and attitude towards this matter...

My next answer will determine the outcome of this conversation...

The maid was quick-witted, her azure eyes reflecting the silent Yuan Qianye who had just finished speaking and was waiting for her response.

For some reason, my heart softened a little more.

The way he was now, with only himself in his eyes and appearing both nervous and expectant, really appealed to her.

Would saying I don't care at all make me seem too frivolous and dissolute?

Therefore, it's still necessary to show some of the reserve that a girl should have.

But I don't want to miss this rare opportunity...

That men's shirt, now completely odorless and sitting in the closet, has been something I've only been able to peek at from under the covers like a dark, creepy worm on countless nights...

After the secret, fleeting, and illusory bliss comes an endless sense of emptiness and self-loathing.

Should we continue like this?

Will this cycle continue until the second or third year of high school, when students enter university, and then enter the workforce...?

The relationship is like this now, seemingly close but always separated by an insurmountable transparent wall, a strange and inappropriate relationship where one can only find solace in self-fantasy and secret voyeurism.

When Hayasaka Ai asked herself the question, the answer was an obvious "no"!

So, it seems there's nothing to hesitate about anymore.

"This matter..." Hayasaka Ai hesitated for a moment, then slowly said, "...I'm not surprised at all. After all, it's you, the one who is Minamoto Chiya. I don't even need to think too much to understand that you shouldn't lack girls around you, and it's normal for you to have a girlfriend."

Hearing her answer, Yuan Qianye felt somewhat relieved, but this was only the beginning.

His previous words were just an opening statement; the main event was what he said next.

"What if I told you I have more than one girlfriend?"

“Hmm…” Hayasaka Ai hesitated for a moment, then nodded knowingly again: “...I can understand. In fact, I had already guessed it before.”

"You guessed it?"

"Well, your girlfriends should be Saeko Busujima, who's a senior in your school, and Utaha Kasumigaoka, right?"

Hayasaka Ai's words were quite ordinary, but they genuinely surprised Minamoto Chiya a little.

After hesitating for a long time, he finally managed to utter, "...Have you secretly tried to find out about me through some means?"

While it is said to be "understanding," what is actually meant is "investigation."

"How could that be? That would be so rude." Hayasaka Ai immediately denied it: "I just deduced it from media reports and casual conversations with you in our daily interactions."

"Can it be deduced simply by speculation?"

"Yes, because their names appear very frequently in our usual conversations, and Saeko Busujima also acted very intimately with you in front of the media. Think back, it was during the few times you won the kendo tournament."

Now that she says that, it does seem to make sense...

After he won the kendo competition with overwhelming strength, he was immediately signed by a major company and became the spokesperson for various sports equipment with Saeko.

For a period of time, both online and offline, promotional advertisements featuring the two of them together, portraying them as a couple, were ubiquitous.

Hayasaka Ai continued, "Then there's the fact that you also took the initiative to recommend Kasumigaoka's novel to the media at that time. Even though it was a rare and important moment in your life when you were gaining honor, you went to great lengths to promote her work."

Although you explained to the public that you were just a fan of this novel and couldn't bear to see it go to waste, given the quality of the novels you published later, it's really hard to imagine that you would be interested in a campus romance light novel.

Therefore, it must be because you have a deeper relationship with her that you would be willing to promote her novel.

"..." Minamoto Chiya pondered Hayasaka Ai's words in silence.

This is what they mean by "no matter how well it's hidden, it's ultimately difficult to completely conceal it under the scrutiny of those who are interested."

He had indeed developed feelings for Saeko at that time, and his help to Shiwa was genuinely because he coveted her writing skills.

As for why the maid knew that "Kasumigaoka Utaha" and Kasumigaoka Utaha were the same person, it's quite simple.

It's no secret that Shi Yu held several offline book signings arranged by the publisher in the period following the novel's huge success.

"That's true. Saeko was my first girlfriend, and Utaha was my second. I'm dating both of them at the same time now."

Gen Chiya frankly admitted it.

Having said that, he breathed a sigh of relief, but Hayasaka Ai's only response was a slight nod.

His expression was very calm, as if he were saying, "Oh, I see, I understand"... He seemed a bit indifferent.

At this point, the situation began to deviate in a direction that Gen Chiyo had never imagined before.

"You don't seem surprised at all that you love me?" Yuan Qianye asked with a very subtle feeling.

“Because I started to notice it a long time ago.” Hayasaka Ai flicked her hair, lowered her head slightly, and silently added a comma after the second word of his sentence in her mind.

"And you seem to have absolutely no... other thoughts on this matter?"

"Other ideas? What specifically?"

"Well... what I just described is clearly not in line with normal social values, isn't it?"

"That's true, but Qianye, you're not a normal person."

Hayasaka Ai stated this fact in a matter-of-fact tone.

These words plunged Yuan Qianye into silence once again.

He certainly wouldn't mistake Hayasaka Ai's words for a scolding; on the contrary, it was clear she was praising him, though the way she was praising him was somewhat baffling.

But as expected, the maid's easy acceptance of everything caught him off guard on another level.

It was so sudden, it takes some time to process.

Hayasaka Ai wasn't surprised by his reaction, so she smoothly began to explain as she had just prepared: "Actually, Chiya, you don't need to be so surprised, or feel guilty about your current situation."

Yuan Qianye looked up at her, somewhat bewildered.

The maid continued to offer her opinion: "First, I need to confirm that both of the girls you're currently dating, whether it's Busujima or Kasumigaoka, are aware of each other's existence and understand their relationship with you, right?"

"That's right..."

“Then there’s absolutely no problem.” Hayasaka Ai concluded: “The three of you were in a consensual relationship, and there was no coercion or inducement involved. You simply followed your feelings and expressed them frankly, satisfying yourselves without hurting anyone. This is clearly a very healthy and pure relationship. Although it conflicts with worldly norms, it doesn’t mean that there’s anything wrong with your relationship.”

Some people with outdated ideas might find this incomprehensible and even curse it, but believe me, most of those are just malicious words spoken out of jealousy by people who lack ability. If you were to transfer your perfect qualities to those people, they would most likely do even worse than you.

So you really don't need to worry about this. Putting aside what others might say, I personally think there's absolutely no problem with it.

Gen Chiya: "???"

How strange! Why is she now the one comforting herself?

Yuan Qianye scratched the side of his face, then looked up at the ceiling, and finally grinned.

Hayasaka Ai was also affected by his smile, and the corners of her lips curved up: "Why are you suddenly laughing? I think what I said should be very logical."