I'm in a real religion, why are all the people who confess to me girls?

Tianyin did not react at all.

"There are cute girls there!"

Amane still didn't react, looking as if she was really asleep. Thinking about it carefully, Amane had to accompany Karuizawa during the day and deal with Horikita at night, so she must be really exhausted.

However, Sakayanagi had not given up yet, and this time she chose to whisper in Amane's ear.

"Dinner is ready."

Tianyin remained motionless.

This completely convinced Sakayanagi that Amane was truly asleep.

There were certain things she dared to say in front of Tianyin only when Tianyin was asleep.

"What an idiot who's always getting me into trouble."

Sakayanagi poked Amane's nose, and Amane seemed to sense something and subconsciously scratched her nose, but Sakayanagi had already withdrawn his hand.

Seeing that Amane had missed her target, Sakayanagi couldn't help but smile.

"You know what? I fell in love with you the first time I saw you, you silly goose. But you were much cuter back then than you are now. Your voice was soft and your expression was cold, but you were still so cute. Now... just looking at your face gives me a headache."

Sakayanagi couldn't help but poke Amane's soft cheek again.

Tianyin is just as cute now as she was when she was a child, but perhaps she always gave people a stunning feeling when she was a child.

So seeing Tianyin now gives people a feeling of both familiarity and unfamiliarity. What's familiar is that she is still herself, that hasn't changed at all. What's unfamiliar is that... she has learned to lie, she has learned to pretend, and she has learned countless other messy things.

Because her father was also involved in some things, Sakayanagi Arisu couldn't really judge whether her father was right or wrong. However, the culprit who made Amane the way she is now is undoubtedly that guy named Ayanokouji Atsuomi.

"I miss the time before you went to that place. Back then, the relationship between the three of us was so pure. Both Maple and I only wanted to defeat you and become the strongest genius. Thinking about it now..."

Sakayanagi shook her head. At that time, they had a purely competitive relationship. The arrogance of geniuses made none of the three of them willing to admit that they were inferior to others. So the three of them often studied and trained hard in various aspects in order to compete.

It can be said that the three of them are absolutely inseparable from the time when they competed with each other.

When did she realize that she had feelings for Tianyin in addition to competition?

It was probably that day...

"Sakayanagi..."

"I've told you so many times, just call me Arisu."

"It's still a little embarrassing to call you by your name directly. Our relationship isn't that close yet, is it? Besides, Arisu... it sounds like a term of endearment for lovers."

"Then just treat me as your lover, right? Arisu, that's an easy name to say, isn't it? I really don't know what you're embarrassed about."

Those unintentional words planted a seed in Sakayanagi's heart.

Until the day it takes root and sprouts.

"Sakayanagi has a fever. It's at least 30 kilometers from here, including the distance down the mountain to the nearest hospital. Because it's on a mountain, there's no signal. It seems we can only go down the mountain first and then contact the adults. If I had known she was so weak, I wouldn't have brought her to a place like this... Amane, what are you doing?"

"Thirty kilometers, we can make it if we leave now."

"Are you crazy? Are you going to carry her for 30 kilometers? We're just kids. In times like this, we should just wait for the adults to come and help us."

"I hate seeing Arisu's pained expression."

"You're such a willful person."

"Maybe so, but I'll only act recklessly for Arisu."

"Huh? What if I have a fever?"

"We're all just kids, let's wait for the adults to rescue us."

"Miyako Tenon, you *************".

.........

"Actually, I heard everything. You said you'd only be willful for me. Maybe... I fell for you, you silly goose, in that instant. Love really is a poison, making it impossible to escape."

Sakayanagi took the initiative and touched Amane's lips.

"whee."

Sakayanagi laughed very happily, but the smile on her face quickly faded a little.

Because she remembered Karuizawa's confession.

Honestly, why don't you just think of Karuizawa when you think of Horikita?

To be honest, both of them are indeed charming women.

Even if someone is very charming, shouldn't he not take what belongs to her?

'I want to be your lover, Tianyin.'

Is this how it was written in Karuizawa's confession letter?

How awful!

Sakayanagi vented all his anger on Amane's back, gently pinching Amane's cheeks and shaking them from side to side.

"I shouldn't have let Father invite you here. If only you were Miyako Amane, who belonged only to me... But actually, I'm not that petty. I don't care about those lovers and sweethearts that they fight tooth and nail for. Since Father has entrusted me to you, I should be considered... half a wife, right? How could I say such shameless things... It's all Amane's fault!"

Sakayanagi whispered, pointing at Amane's nose and shifting the blame onto Amane.

"Sigh, since Father said those things, I guess I'll have no choice in the end but to spend my whole life with you, you big idiot. We'll sleep together, eat together, bathe together, go shopping together, hold hands together, hold hands together... Ugh, just thinking about being with you all day long makes me feel unbearable... Also, I'm the most important person to you! Everyone else can take a backseat!"

Sakayanagi hesitated for a moment, unsure of what else to say. He felt he had so much to say to Amane, enough to talk until dawn.

If it weren't for the fact that Tianyin, that idiot, was still fast asleep, she would never have said such shameful things.

"Actually... I have a lot of flaws too, but you don't need to worry about them, understand? Anyway... please take care of me for the rest of my life, waah... so embarrassing!! Why did I suddenly want to say that? But I really like this line, it's a pity you can't hear it now. When you confess to me in the future, I'll say it again and I'll have you completely under my thumb, right? You'll cry for me then, won't you..."

Sakayanagi imagined her future wedding, and her face suddenly felt burning hot.

Just as Sakayanagi thought that was enough for today, and was about to give Amane a goodnight kiss, she saw a sly glint in Amane's purple eyes.

"Tianyin, you...you're not asleep?"

"It's a word."

"W-What do you mean by 'it's a deal'?"

"Didn't you say you'd take care of me for the rest of my life? I heard everything. Since you're planning to entrust yourself to me, Arisu, my answer is—it's a deal."

"I'm not... sob..."

With her mouth gagged, she was unable to give any answer.

……

late at night.

There was a knock on Karuizawa's door.

"Who is it? It's too late today, if you need anything, we can talk tomorrow..."

"I am Horikita Suzune."

"Horikita-kun?"

Karuizawa hesitated for a moment after confirming through the peephole that it was Horikita Suzune.

Originally, it would have been inappropriate for anyone to visit at this time. If it were anyone else, even if it were Amane, Karuizawa would have driven her away.

But it was Horikita, which made her somewhat afraid.

If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear, especially since Horikita is just a girl. Unfortunately, Karuizawa just did something wrong today.

After hesitating for a moment, Karuizawa opened the door.

Seeing Horikita Suzune soaking wet, Karuizawa's legs went weak with fear.

This looks like they had a fight!

Oh no, she really didn't write that letter to challenge Horikita's position.

"Horikita-kun, let me explain..."

"Karuizawa-kun, I'd like to borrow something from you. Please don't refuse."

In the early morning, a girl who is arguing with herself borrows something.

What happens when these three keywords are linked together?

"Dame!!!!"

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Amane ultimately did not spend the night at Sakayanagi's place.

The two, who had been deeply in love, came to an abrupt end the moment Tianyin's phone rang.

After receiving the call, Amane's expression became very strange. After coaxing Sakayanagi to sleep, she hurriedly left.

It's obvious where she'll go.

"You don't actually think I can fall asleep without you, do you? You idiot, Tianyin, sigh..."

A long sigh was blown away by the cold wind into the snowy night.

If she were to speak up and stop her, Tianyin would definitely stay here, but so what? Her heart isn't here right now.

Sakayanagi took out the slip of paper belonging to the victor from his pocket.

The note was also blank.

Chapter 110: Something's not right, why did you get bigger?

Two o'clock in the morning.

Normally, even Karuizawa, who likes to stay up a little late, would go to bed early at this time.

But today is an exception.

Karuizawa kept looking down at her phone, occasionally glancing up at the girl sitting opposite her, Horikita Suzune.

They were in Horikita's room, so even though Karuizawa was exhausted, she had to grit her teeth and stay awake. What? Why not go back to sleep?

Because Horikita asked her to stay with her while waiting for Amane to return, Karuizawa quickly said that she was the most kind-hearted person and could stay up all night, so she could stay here and wait for Amane to return.

Okay, the truth is that Karuizawa was afraid that if she refused Horikita, Horikita might do something terrible because of her unstable emotions. So she had to ask to borrow something from her from the beginning. Karuizawa was almost scared to death at the time. She hid under the covers for a long time before Horikita finally dragged her out. Horikita explained that her phone was out of battery, she had left in a hurry and did not take her keys, and Amane did not seem to be in the room.

So I wanted to borrow her phone to make a call to Tianyin.

As a result, Karuizawa mistakenly thought that Horikita was planning to kill her, which scared her so much that her heart was pounding.

After opening the door with the spare key as instructed by Amane, Horikita asked Karuizawa to wait there for a while. After all, she and Amane had just had some unpleasantness, and if they suddenly met, both Amane and Horikita would probably feel awkward.

So Karuizawa became a buffer between the two. With Karuizawa around, the atmosphere wasn't too bad, and Karuizawa could talk to both of them, which helped ease the awkwardness.

And so Karuizawa 'voluntarily' chose to stay, and kept praying in her heart that the two of them hadn't gotten into a huge fight, otherwise she would be suffering a lot being caught in the middle.

"Karuizawa-san, what's wrong? Is the cushion uncomfortable? Or..."

Seeing Karuizawa fidgeting, Horikita glanced at the cushion beneath him with some confusion.

She carefully selected the cushion before buying it, making sure that Amane wouldn't feel uncomfortable even if she tossed and turned on it. Why is Karuizawa so uncomfortable sitting on it? Could it be some kind of illness? If so, shouldn't we send her back?

But the thought of having to face Amane alone if Karuizawa wasn't there made her feel a little guilty, so she held back from speaking.

"My legs just went a little numb from sitting, but they'll be fine after moving around a bit."

Karuizawa stood up as if to stretch his legs, but his eyes were fixed on the door, and even his ears were slightly raised, as if he wanted to hear the slightest sound outside the door as soon as possible.

Unfortunately, everything was normal outside the door, and Tianyin didn't return as quickly as expected. Perhaps she was delayed by other things, but... she was the one who would suffer here.

"I'm a little thirsty, I'm going downstairs to buy a drink..."

"There are drinks in the refrigerator, feel free to drink as much as you like, and if that's not convenient, there are also room temperature drinks in the kitchen."

Karuizawa, who originally wanted to secretly call Amane, saw Horikita's attitude and realized that she didn't want her to tip off anyone. Little did she expect that her little scheme would be seen through so easily.

If you're going to put on an act, you have to go all the way. She had just said she was thirsty, so it wouldn't make sense if she didn't drink anything. So Karuizawa went to the refrigerator and opened it, and she froze on the spot.

"Did you guys empty all the tomato juice from the vending machines in the entire school?"

Karuizawa stared in shock at the neatly arranged tomato juice in the refrigerator. She knew that Amane liked to drink tomato juice, but this amount... even if she drank one can a day, it would take several months, right?

"It's possible that they've already emptied the shelves. Tianyin said she was worried that the vending machines wouldn't stock these kinds of products anymore, so she simply bought a year's worth of stock. The room can only hold two months' worth, and the rest is stored in a small warehouse in the school's commercial street."

Upon hearing that Amane had rented a small warehouse to store tomato juice, Karuizawa subconsciously wiped away imaginary sweat from his forehead.