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

I'm...I'm really happy! Super happy! And...it doesn't mean anything else, don't overthink it."

Having grown up alongside a young lady, she received top-level etiquette and manners training and was accustomed to various social occasions, including countless banquets, dinners, and social events.

I never imagined that I would one day appear so helpless, incoherent, and embarrassed in front of the person I like, to the point that I feel like I want to crawl into a hole!

But no matter how composed and mature she was, she was still just a girl going through a sensitive and passionate adolescence.

Reason allows her to demonstrate extraordinary understanding and tolerance when facing the complex and entangled relationships between the opposite sexes around Yuan Qianye, and even to find "rational" reasons for him.

But emotions cannot be controlled so easily; they are a more instinctive, more turbulent, and more irrational thing.

It wasn't jealousy, but rather an instinctive expectation of the current situation, coupled with some worry.

It's not that I'm worried about the outcome, but rather that I might not perform well in the process and leave a bad impression on the person I care about.

Hayasaka Ai never thought that much about it from the beginning. Even now, though she greedily hopes to take things further with him, all she wants is to remain in the shadows and have a date like today once in a while.

Hmm, perhaps they could have more intimate physical contact, like real lovers...

Being able to feel his body temperature and smell his unique scent... that was enough to satisfy her.

"Yes, I wasn't thinking anything." Yuan Qianye looked at her adorable appearance, which was so anxious that she was almost losing her composure, yet she was trying so hard to explain. He couldn't stand it in his heart.

Her current state, so different from her usual calm demeanor, was incredibly poignant! It even caused him to have some inappropriate and embarrassing reactions.

Take a deep breath and calm down!

He smiled and his voice softened: "I understand, you don't need to worry."

Hayasaka Ai looked at him like this.

Even when she was behaving so badly and flustered, he didn't show the slightest impatience or displeasure; instead, he gently comforted her...

I feel like I like him even more now...

Now, not only was Hayasaka Ai blushing, but her originally fair neck skin was also completely red.

“I’m telling you so much all of a sudden, you might not be able to process it all at once. The food’s already served, so let’s eat first. You can think about it slowly, there’s no need to rush to answer me.” Yuan Qianye remained gentle and considerate, proactively giving her a way out.

"Hmm..." Hayasaka Ai nodded slightly in response.

Even at this point, he was still thinking of her so tenderly, considering her best interests at heart...

How could it be so good...?

Hayasaka Ai felt that she really needed some peace and quiet. Spending so much time with him made her feel like she was on a runaway roller coaster, with her emotions going up and down so intensely that she could hardly control herself, to the point that she was starting to become a little unlike herself.

Just a hair's breadth away! With her mind reeling from his words of "I feel sorry for you" and his subsequent gentle words, she almost blurted out that she would agree to his request!

I don't care about being a rich girl anymore.

I don't care about the complicated people and things in the Shinomiya family, the possible obstacles and the uncertainty of the future...

If her mother really doesn't make things difficult, then it doesn't seem like a bad thing for her to take advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity offered by Chiya to leave the Shinomiya family.

Because this way, I'll have more time to spend with him in the future.

Just like today... no, even better than today... even more exciting...

For the remainder of the time, Yuan Qianye did not delve further into the previous topic.

Gen Chiya praised the restaurant's steak and soup for their excellent taste, but Hayasaka Ai, whose mind was already elsewhere, couldn't taste anything special.

Her mind was still lingering on that conversation that had just revealed so much information.

After the meal, the two did not stay in the restaurant for long.

After paying the bill and leaving, they went to the outermost open-air observation deck surrounding the high-rise observation deck.

Underfoot is a transparent reinforced glass floor, from which you can clearly see the toy-like vehicles and buildings below.

From the side, Tokyo's night view is dazzling and magnificent, offering an unparalleled view.

At this time of night, there weren't many people on the observation deck.

Couples and tourists were scattered around, some admiring the night view, others talking quietly.

This actually made things convenient for them, allowing them to take a leisurely stroll side by side in the quiet environment, enjoying the night breeze.

"Regarding the topic we just discussed..." After taking a dozen steps, Hayasaka Ai spoke first.

“This is no small matter for you either. It’s okay to think about it some more. You don’t need to give me an answer right now.” Yuan Qianye wanted to give her more time.

"Yes, I understand, but... I have already made up my mind."

When Hayasaka Aina looked over, her gaze was filled with apology, but more than that, it was a calm and composed look born from a firm decision.

Without her saying anything more, Yuan Qianye had already arrived at the not-so-surprising answer.

As expected...

"Is it because of that young lady?" he asked.

"Yes, I am very grateful for your concern, Chiyo, and I am very happy about it. I am really happy! But I can't leave Miss alone..." Hayasaka Ai emphasized this point, repeating it to make him feel the sincerity in her words.

She sighed softly and began to explain: "...To the outside world, we are clearly divided into master and servant, but in private, our relationship is not like that at all. We are more like good friends, sisters without blood ties."

We've been together since we were little, always by each other's side, studying and playing together, facing the complex relationships and cold stares within the Shinomiya family together, right up to this day.

The young lady's mother passed away a long time ago, and her father... didn't care about her much, giving her mostly the obligations and pressure of being an heir.

The remaining so-called 'relatives' who were related to her by blood did not regard her as family at all, but rather as rivals or even enemies within the Shinomiya family who were entitled to a share of the vast fortune.

Therefore, in the Shinomiya family, a place devoid of human warmth and filled only with calculating interests and cold rules, I couldn't imagine how the young lady would face all of this alone if I left her side... or how she would survive in that huge, magnificent, yet cold and prison-like 'home'.

Hayasaka Ai explained, then looked at Minamoto Chiya: "So, I... can't leave, at least not now."

She liked the boy standing in front of her so much that she felt she couldn't live without him for the rest of her life.

But besides this feeling, she also has other things she can't let go of.

“Hmm…” Yuan Qianye listened and remained silent for a long time: “Indeed, I had thought too simply.”

He suddenly remembered why the mother had that meaningful smile on her face when he talked to Nao Hayasaka about the topic that night.

It seems she had already foreseen how her daughter would respond when faced with such a choice.

The fact that Minamoto Chiya belatedly realized, coupled with the fact that he currently has no effective solution for Hayasaka Ai's complicated situation that can completely liberate her without going against her inner desires...

A mix of helplessness, heartache, and deeper understanding welled up inside him, and he sighed softly.

And his behavior... that slightly furrowed brow, that somewhat solemn profile as he gazed into the distance.

What Hayasaka Ai saw was that her answer had upset him.

Before she could even process what was happening, Hayasaka Ai found herself already close to him, her hands tightly gripping his right hand.

When she saw Qianye's astonished look, it was inevitable that she would feel a little shy, but at this moment, she didn't care about anything else!

"I'm so sorry, Qianye. You've been so considerate of me... yet I've been so ungrateful to refuse your kindness and even made you angry."

"Um... I was a bit ungrateful for what I said, and I wasn't angry..."

“No… I understand.” Hayasaka Ai shook her head, unable to extricate herself from her misunderstanding and self-blame. Her voice even inexplicably carried a sob: “You have been silently giving so much for me all this time… You have always been doing it all for my own good, but I… I pretended not to know all this and took it all for granted. This was originally my problem… I am really a terrible person.”

No, I feel like you don't understand!

And why has the topic now veered towards your personal character?!

Yuan Qianye looked at the maid who had misunderstood him and whose expression had become somewhat agitated for some reason, as if she was about to cry at any moment.

Suddenly, her consciousness seemed to drift back to many years ago, to the time when she was a tiny blonde girl in a maid dress, crying loudly as she threw herself on her mother's contact book.

Although somewhat taken aback, however...

It seems that some things and some people, even after such a long time, haven't changed much.

Yuan Qianye chuckled, then took the initiative and firmly grasped her hands.

"You don't need to say 'I love you,' and you don't need to feel sorry for me or think you're a terrible person because of it."

You should be able to decide your own life, which path to take and what kind of life to live. I'm just offering my opinion; whether or not to adopt it is entirely up to you. You have the absolute right to decide your own life.

So stop doing this. We are not each other's appendages. You have your life, your responsibilities, and your concerns, and so do I.

I completely understand the reasons you just gave for not being able to leave the Shinomiya family, and I respect and admire your perseverance. You are truly a wonderful girl.

So, although I still feel

You've had a tough time, and I feel for you being in that situation, but this is a decision you made after careful consideration, so I will unconditionally support you.

"..."

Under Hayasaka Ai's somewhat dazed gaze, Minamoto Chiya's eyes were unusually bright and resolute.

"Right now, I may not have a good way to completely solve your current problem once and for all, but I think that as time goes by and I become stronger and more capable, I will eventually come up with a more suitable and reliable way to help you."

If you encounter any other difficulties during this time, or feel tired or sad, you can always come to me. I will still help you, accompany you, and support you as always.

I love love, and our relationship won't change because of this small matter of choice, so don't be so nervous around me, and don't feel guilty or apologize all the time, okay?

Hayasaka was completely stunned at that moment, his eyes filled with a kind of bewildered joy, and the only thing that kept replaying in his mind was the first four words of his last sentence.

She automatically filtered out everything else, only capturing the most essential part, which was also what she cared about most.

He likes her.

Minamoto Chiya... likes Hayasaka Ai.

She felt her cheeks burning, and her heart pounding wildly in her chest, as if trying to break free from the constraints of her body!

The overwhelming happiness made their limbs and bones feel slightly weak and tremble.

The next moment, in this blissful, almost unreal environment, like the most beautiful dream, under the gaze of the dazzling night view, the gentle night breeze, and the burning eyes of the person in front of me.

Hayasaka Ai slightly tiptoed.

She closed her eyes, and her warm, soft, and slightly trembling lips pressed perfectly against his.

…………

Volume 2: Chapter 168: The Lonely Old Woman, Kaguya Shinomiya (6k) (15)

As everyone knows, Gen Chiya is a young man with two publicly acknowledged girlfriends, and who has also formed extremely intimate relationships with two other older women in private... He is quite experienced in some ways.

As for Hayasaka Ai, although she was proactive enough tonight, she was secretly emboldened by those enchanting thoughts and acted boldly and outrageously.

But ultimately, putting aside her private, self-indulgent fantasies, in the realm of real-life intimate contact, she is an absolute novice with no practical experience whatsoever.