"Hayasaka, have you... Ever been popular?"
Shinichi originally wanted to ask, "Hayasaka, you like me, right?", and then used the most direct way to express to him the dilemma of not being able to respond to her feelings. It's up to Hayasaka to make the choice she wants, and it has nothing to do with Shinichi.
But before the words were spoken, Shinichi realized this was an irresponsible and too self-serving idea.
Don't make the same mistake.
He always learned his lesson, if he still wanted to treat them the same as before, the results would only get worse.
He knows it.
Despite showing the appropriate attitude, Hayasaka never expressed her feelings from beginning to end.
So Shinichi must pay attention to his decision to respect this heart.
So, Shinichi changed his words.
"Popular…" Hayasaka didn't understand what the other party wanted to say.
"You mean confess? It happened many times..."
"Obviously so many people like you, but you reject them all?"
"Especially? It has nothing to do with the number of people. Love is a matter of mutual happiness." Hayasaka nodded, then seemed to realize something, and said the words in a low voice.
"I won't date someone I don't like... Are you trying to hint at this to me?"
Shinichi sighed.
As expected of a maid who was good at observing others, her reaction speed was as fast as Fumino.
But seeing her disguise on the verge of breaking, with a little water in her eyes, Shinichi quickly explained.
"My situation is different from yours. I like them all."
The words "I like you" almost came out.
After all, joking about "I like you and all" in a setting like this would be too much.
His current feelings weren't strong enough to confess directly... But his appearance was actually not much different from a confession.
So after a short pause, facing the blushing Hayasaka, Shinichi maintained his composure and continued adding.
"It doesn't mean I want to date everyone who likes me, but in front of the kindness of you and other girls... I don't know how to refuse, and I don't want to refuse directly, but I'm afraid I'll waste all of your youth, if there's nothing to choose from, they'll just..."
As Shinichi said to Rui before, he also gave a similar explanation to Hayasaka.
However, before he finished speaking, Hayasaka spoke with a slightly raised voice.
"Are you stupid? Are you like Ojou-sama and the president who have a love brain?"
Shinichi: "😐"
It felt like Hayasaka was swearing, but there was also a sense of recognition that what she said was the truth.
Compared with those two people, Shinichi felt a little complicated. However, he is self-aware and knows that he is just a high school student who is in love and very awkward. He also understood that what he wanted to say later was probably similar to what Rui had said to him at that time.
"So, there are a few things I want to tell you personally."
"…"
Shinichi's serious expression made Hayasaka swallow back the words she wanted to say next, looked at him with dissatisfaction, and guessed what he wanted to say next.
Shinichi clenched his fists and spoke softly.
"Hayasaka, currently, I have a crush on many women. No matter who I date, I am willing to accept it, and I am also thinking about trying the taste of love."
"But because there were too many girls, I had no choice but to close my eyes and passively respond to the girls' kindness."
"Even though you probably understood this kind of thing a long time ago, it seems too late to say it now... But I will do this during the summer trip, not because I don't like you."
"It's just that I have a lot of girls I like, or you could say I like them all better."
Shinichi continued talking.
"For now... You can also be considered my partner and friend. Even though we don't talk about feelings, I still care about your feelings..."
"A lot of things happened during this period, and Rui told me with her own feelings. Hesitating and it will only hurt the people I love even more."
"That's why now, I want to tell you what I think... Honestly, it's really embarrassing. It's almost like a narcissist screaming on stage that 2D is my wife..."
Shinichi calmed his impetuous mentality. Then, he looked at her.
"That's all I wanted to say. You don't need to tell me your opinion. Does not matter. The next group should be finished, so go back and find them."
After saying that, Shinichi turned around and walked towards the candy house.
Even though there was no beginning or end, these were the words he wanted to convey to Hayasaka who liked him but had never said it out loud.
Unlike Ichika, Fumino and the others, it's better to say everyone is different.
Because they have different statuses in his heart, and not all of them are the same.
Shinichi stopped thinking about it, and continued walking.
Behind him, he felt his clothes being pulled.
"Wait a moment!"
Hayasaka's voice no longer sounded so calm and confident.
"Have you ever said these words to Fujiwara-san, or to Kei-chan?"
Shinichi shook his head: "No. Including Rui who is now my fake girlfriend. Actually, I didn't plan to tell them these things."
"Why not?" Hayasaka lowered her voice and asked, "Why only tell me? What do I mean to you? How am I different from Fujiwara-san and the others?"
"Uh…" Shinichi hesitated for a moment, and his tone sounded a little embarrassed, "Can I not tell you about this?"
"It's okay, but I want to hear it. Please, tell me~" It was rare for Hayasaka to say such coquettish words, and she seemed to pull Shinichi's clothes harder.
Shinichi wore a complicated expression. After his eyes wandered left and right, he took a step back and lowered his head slightly.
"Because I..."