Chapter 54: Improvement

"I don't want to steal your love, Hina," Yuuna said, her voice firm yet tinged with sympathy. Her crimson eyes softened, but the weight of her words pressed down like an unyielding force. "Especially since you've been loveless your whole life. I truly feel for you, knowing you've carried that burden for so long. But that doesn't mean I can let you monopolize him."

If Kouhei's affection stayed solely with Hina, the others wouldn't stand a chance. The room seemed heavier with the unspoken truth, like the air itself was dense with tension. Sure, the others could form shallow bonds with Kouhei—maybe maintain surface-level connections like Aria's professional teacher-student relationship. But that wouldn't be enough to win a war. A real war.

Hina tilted her head, her glossy silver hair shifting over her shoulders. Her crimson eyes gleamed with a dangerous kind of curiosity. "Monopolize?" she asked, her tone sharp yet unreadable.