No matter what, every story needs a conclusion—even one wrapped in teenage awkwardness and unspoken feelings.
The situation today could be traced back to one thing: Hazuki Yasuo's indecisive nature. His slow, meandering way of handling emotions had finally come to a boiling point.
And so, that afternoon, his entire social world was set ablaze.
Invited personally by Sakurahara Momo and Kusami Tsukimi, Hazuki Yasuo found himself summoned to the school rooftop. The wind was gentle, the clouds drifting lazily overhead—a scene straight out of a shoujo manga.
But what truly left him stunned wasn't the weather.
"Sumireko?! What are you doing here too?!" he blurted out upon arrival. His eyes darted, and they landed on someone else. "Nozomi?! I thought this was just Cherry-senpai and Tsukimi-san..."
Hozuki Nozomi gave a casual shrug, his hands stuffed in his pockets. "We're here as witnesses. Gotta make sure everything's fair and square, ya know?"
From behind a rooftop pillar, the two senpai emerged—elegantly dressed, a subtle touch of makeup enhancing their already striking looks. It was clear they had put effort into today. Even Sakurahara Momo, usually cheerful and a little carefree, had changed her hairstyle. Her ponytail was undone, replaced by flowing locks that swayed gently with the breeze.
It had been Nozomi's suggestion, actually. He once joked that her tightly wound hairstyle looked like a donut—earning her wrath at the time. But now, she'd followed his advice.
Because she wanted today to be perfect.
Hazuki Yasuo blinked several times. "S-Cherry-senpai...? Is that really you?"
"It's me." Her voice held both nervousness and resolve.
Gratitude flickered in Momo's eyes as she glanced briefly at Nozomi. Nearby, Kusami Tsukimi took a deep breath, her hands clenched tightly at her sides.
And then, in perfect unison, the two girls stepped forward and declared:
"Hose-kun... We've both liked you for a long time. Please go out with us! As your girlfriend!"
The confession echoed across the rooftop like a gust of spring wind, stirring hearts and silencing the world.
Yasuo staggered back, visibly shaken. "Is... is this a prank?"
He chuckled weakly. "Don't suddenly joke around like this, Cherry-senpai... Tsukimi..."
"We're not joking." Tsukimi's eyes were clear, serious.
"Hose-kun," she continued, "Cherry-senpai and I—we've given you more than one hint. But you never noticed. We've always stood beside you, but... we don't want to be just your friends anymore."
"Please, forget about Sumireko-san," Momo said gently. "And choose one of us. No matter who you pick... we'll support the other."
Hazuki Yasuo froze.
Even though Nozomi had warned him this moment would come, the reality of it still hit harder than he'd expected.
Now, in front of Sanshokuin Sumireko, the girl he had always secretly admired—and his silent rival Hozuki Nozomi—he couldn't afford to run.
With a deep breath, he bowed.
"I'm sorry... Cherry-senpai, Tsukimi-san. I can't choose either of you."
He raised his head, his eyes honest and unwavering.
"I've always thought of you two as important friends. But nothing more. I know this must be painful, especially since you had the courage to confess."
"But I can't lie to myself. I can't pretend to feel something I don't. Can we... still be friends?"
Silence.
Then, Tsukimi's eyes began to water.
Momo's voice trembled. "No, Hose-kun... I don't want to be friends anymore."
Tears streamed down her cheeks, each drop splashing like a wound against the rooftop tiles.
"In the end, you never really saw us. You just assumed we'd always stay by your side... no matter what. That we'd never leave. But I'm done with that."
With her face in her hands, she ran off the rooftop, sobbing.
Hazuki Yasuo reached out instinctively—but stopped. How could he ask her to stay, after rejecting her?
He turned to Tsukimi helplessly. "Tsukimi... I—"
"It's okay." Her voice was soft but resolute. "Honestly... I already knew what your answer would be."
She wiped away her tears, forcing a small, fragile smile. "Maybe this is for the best. Maybe we all needed this. Let's take some time apart, and figure out where to go next."
And with that, she turned and followed after Momo, her back straight despite the sadness that lingered in her eyes.
Left behind, Hozuki Nozomi walked up and gave Yasuo a pat on the shoulder. Sumireko followed silently.
"Guess that's that, huh?" Nozomi muttered, sighing. He glanced once at Sumireko—whose gaze never once drifted toward Yasuo.
From beginning to end, Sanshokuin Sumireko's gaze never once landed on Hosei-kun.
Hazuki Yasuo—who everyone still jokingly called Hosei-kun—stood there, his expression a tangled mess of emotions. He let out a bitter chuckle.
"Just like Nozomi said..."
Sakurahara-senpai and Tsukimi had both confessed.
And yet, in the end, he couldn't accept either of them.
Maybe it was just who he was—hesitant, unsure, too caught up in his own thoughts to see the feelings others had laid bare before him. He wasn't the type to chase romance recklessly, let alone dream of something as outrageous as a harem.
Only someone like Hozuki Nozomi could carry that kind of madness with confidence.
...
Later, back at the Service Club, a tense but oddly heartwarming atmosphere lingered in the air.
Sakurahara Momo and Kusami Tsukimi were holding hands on the couch, gently comforting each other. Though rejected, they found solace in their shared heartbreak. Two self-declared "losers in love," now bound by a bittersweet sisterhood. It almost felt like a scene from a tragic but wholesome slice-of-life anime.
"So, you two got rejected after all?" asked Yukinoshita Yukino, arms crossed as she tilted her head.
She hadn't gone up to the rooftop.
"That whole setup just felt too weird to me. Two girls confessing at once, to a guy who can barely read the room. It was bound to end in disaster," she added, sipping tea.
"Yeah... we got turned down." Momo gave a tired smile, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.
"But, Sumireko, Yukinoshita... Thanks for supporting us this whole time. If it weren't for Sumireko's encouragement, Tsukimi and I would've never found the courage to face our feelings head-on."
"Oi, what about me? Why am I being left out of the credits?" Nozomi raised an eyebrow, clearly offended.
Tsukimi gave him a little bow. "Ah, right. Thank you too, Hozuki Nozomi... senpai."
But even as she bowed, she noticed Nozomi's eyes briefly glance at her chest.
Yukinoshita's gaze followed, sharp and cold as a kunai. Her expression soured as she glanced down at her own modest figure, and she silently reached for her teacup with more force than necessary.
Off to the side, Sumireko tried and failed to hold in her laughter. Despite the rejection earlier, both Momo and Tsukimi didn't seem nearly as devastated as one might expect. It was almost surreal.
"Strange, isn't it?" Sumireko muttered. "They should be heartbroken. But somehow, after chatting with Nozomi for five minutes, they're already smiling again."
Momo and Tsukimi exchanged a glance.
Then, in perfect sync, they both took a step backward from Nozomi.
"Oi... what's with the sudden distance?" Nozomi blinked.
Tsukimi narrowed her eyes. "It's a safety measure. To avoid being seduced by the resident succubus."
"Eh?! Where's the succubus?!" Nozomi looked around.
All the girls silently turned their eyes toward him.
He pointed at himself, horrified. "You don't mean me, right?! I'm a perfectly normal high school guy!"
"Normal?" they all echoed in unison, their expressions flat.
"If this keeps up, I'll get shy..." Nozomi muttered, scratching his cheek.
Sumireko grinned and suddenly clung to his arm, her voice playful. "Even if Nozomi-kun is a succubus, he belongs to me and Yukinoshita! Got it, Momo-senpai? Tsukimi? No stealing."
Yukinoshita turned bright red. "H-Hold on! When did he become ours?! Stop dragging me into this nonsense without asking!"
Momo and Tsukimi smiled at each other.
"Well, it's hard not to be jealous," Momo teased. "You and Sumireko get to keep what we lost. Maybe it's time we go on the offensive."
"Revenge might be sweet," Tsukimi said with a smirk. "Maybe we'll try seducing your so-called succubus. Then you can experience heartbreak too, Sumireko."
The two girls raised their heads proudly, their playful challenge hanging in the air.