"...I still trust him."

After a brief silence... unexpectedly, the first to speak was Sakura-senpai.

"It’s true... when I found out that Kiyotaka-kun doesn’t trust us... I was a little shocked! ...But, the incident with the violence, the thing with the shop clerk and even what happened during summer vacation! It’s also true that Kiyotaka-kun helped me..."

Sakura-senpai... this was probably the first time she had ever raised her voice and shown her emotions like this.

I can tell. There were moments during her speech where she was clearly nervous...

"...And besides, the only reason I joined this group was because Kiyotaka-kun was there! Even if Kiyotaka-kun doesn’t trust me! I still want to believe in him as a friend!"

Sakura-senpai declared that firmly...

'Sakura-senpai really does care about Kiyotaka-senpai too...'

As if that was the trigger...

"I mean, yeah... I do feel like I understand Kiyopon a little less now... but even if he doesn’t have emotions! The Kiyopon we’ve spent time with isn’t a bad person! So I also... as the one who started the Ayanokōji Group, want to support him!"

"Same here... I can’t go into details, but I had issues with my own family too... so if I can help Kiyotaka, I want to..."

"Well... I don’t have some big story or anything... but before the Ayanokōji Group was formed, I always preferred being alone... but now... I feel comfortable being part of this group. If Kiyotaka’s okay with it, I want the five of us to stay together from here on..."

Hasebe-senpai, Yukimura-senpai and Miyake-senpai... though their words differed, all of them seemed to truly want to believe in Kiyotaka-senpai and support him.

"I see... Kiyotaka-senpai really has gained some wonderful friends. Let me thank you as well... thank you so much for becoming friends with him!"

It seems the bond of the Ayanokōji Group is even stronger than I expected... it makes Ichika-chan feel a little envious, wishing she had something like that too~

"Hmm~? Amasawa-san, you seem to treasure Kiyopon... almost like he’s your own, don’t you?"

"Of course! We’ve known each other for a long time! I truly consider Kiyotaka-senpai someone very important!"

"And that’s not just because he’s your upperclassman from middle school, right~? Could it be... Amasawa-san, you actually..."

Oh? Hasebe-senpai is sharp~... well, considering they tailed our date, it makes sense.

"Yes! I... love Kiyotaka-senpai!"

"““““What!?””””"

So... I said it boldly without hesitation~!

In response, the Ayanokōji Group members—especially Sakura-senpai—looked completely shaken, her body trembling.

"That means..."

"Yes! I see Kiyotaka-senpai as a man! And someday, I intend to make him develop feelings of love for me!"

"So... that time you were on a date with Kiyotaka... was that too?"

Just now, Miyake-senpai casually admitted that they had been tailing our date, but because my earlier statement was far more impactful... no one brought that part up.

"That’s right! On the surface, it was framed as ‘a thank you for cooperating in the Partner Written Exam,’ but in reality, I plan to deepen our relationship through dates like that... and awaken his feelings for me!"

Realizing that I truly am serious about Kiyotaka-senpai, the Ayanokōji Group members fell silent...

And then... the next to speak was that senpai.

"Amasawa-san... um... I also... like Kiyotaka-kun! The one who saved me so many times... before I knew it, I had fallen for him..."

"Airi..."

It seemed to be the first time Sakura-senpai had admitted her feelings for Kiyotaka-senpai out loud, as Hasebe-senpai reacted in surprise.

"Honestly... I know without being told that I’m far inferior to you in ability... but this is something I absolutely can’t give up on! I’ll make Kiyotaka-kun turn toward me... in my own way!"

"Oh~? A declaration of war? That’s interesting~! Very well! I’ll also step up my efforts to appeal to Kiyotaka-senpai, so be prepared!"

"Bring it on! We’re rivals now!"

Well... as things stand, Sakura-senpai doesn’t even have a 1% chance of beating me, so I’ll accept her challenge with the composure of a champion~

"Umm... Amacchi? No, maybe Wan-chan? Hmm, Icchi?... "

By the way... Hasebe-senpai, who had been watching this unfold, was muttering something to herself...

"...Got it! Alright, do your best, both of you, to awaken Kiyopon to the feeling of love! Airi... and Ichikanon!"

"Huh? I-Ichikanon!?"

"As friends of Kiyopon... and as his junior from way back, I’ve decided to trust you too from now on~! So I came up with a fitting nickname! I originally wanted to use ‘-non’ for Kiyopon too, like ‘Ayanon’!"

"Ichikanon... Ichikanon... Ichikanon?"

Now that she says it like that... ‘Ichikanon’ doesn’t sound bad at all!

"Hehe! I like it! Then, everyone in the Ayanokōji Group, let’s get along from here on out~!"

It was an unexpected encounter, but I gained quite a lot from it... so I guess I’ll call it a win~!