"Aside from this, what else did the two of you want to ask?"
Kaoru sensed their purpose wasn't just about questioning his relationships.
The issue might seem serious, but everyone already had some understanding—if they truly couldn't accept it, they wouldn't have even considered ambushing him like this.
Kushida and Horikita exchanged a glance before asking in unison.
"Among us, who do you like the most?"
In that instant, Kaoru couldn't hold back—this was really the question they were asking?
Leaving aside that Kushida might genuinely be curious, why was Horikita asking this?
She had always treated him coldly before, making it clear that there could never be any unnecessary emotions between them.
By asking this now, wasn't she completely revealing her own thoughts?
Horikita Suzune seemed to realize she had overstepped as well.
Her face flushed slightly, but she forced herself to remain composed and said.
"Since we've been together, I've never heard you mention anyone else's name. Besides, there's an order to everything—even if it's just about attraction, you must have someone you're so fond of that you can't let go. I want to know if there's someone special in your heart."
Her reasoning was flimsy, and by the end, she had inadvertently exposed her true feelings—she wanted to know who he preferred, to confirm her place in his heart.
Even Horikita wasn't immune to such common sentiments.
However, her feelings for Kaoru might not entirely be romantic; perhaps they stemmed from her own sense of identity.
In Kaoru's presence, Horikita had experienced setbacks and failures, followed by forced resignation to fate.
Then came her belief that Kaoru liked her.
In truth, this could be seen as a continuous evolution of Horikita's perception of Kaoru.
There was no normal romantic affection between them.
Horikita Suzune had always been in the subordinate position, passively accepting the ideas Kaoru imposed on her—including reflections on failure.
If Horikita Suzune had resigned herself to fate before, it was because she realized she couldn't handle Kaoru alone and might need to unite with others to stand a chance.
This also proved that her hostility toward Kaoru had never truly faded; subconsciously, she was still thinking about how to defeat him.
However, after the sports festival and the forced kiss, Horikita's subconscious underwent a dramatic shift.
Her hostility transformed into a mix of extreme panic and ambiguity.
The forced kiss, in particular, made her acutely aware that she was merely Kaoru's possession—her own strength was so insignificant that she couldn't even resist him in the moment, and she had prepared herself to endure further violations.
When she spoke to Kushida about Stockholm Syndrome, wasn't she also worrying about herself?
Thus, Horikita needed to confirm that Kaoru actually liked her—otherwise, she would fear what awaited her next.
Why couldn't it be that she liked Kaoru?
The answer was simple: subconsciously, Horikita already saw Kaoru as the superior.
Only he could like her, while she could only accept what the superior imposed.
Though Horikita wasn't entirely clear about her own feelings, she knew she cared deeply about Kaoru.
She also knew she had gambled correctly—Kaoru cared about her too.
And now, she wanted to know who he cared about more.
"Don't complain that this question is cliché," Kushida murmured, leaning in close behind him.
Her soft chest seemed to press against Kaoru's head as she wrapped her arms around him, her sweet voice lingering by his ear.
"It's not really about putting you on the spot. Everyone has their favorite things—saying it out loud would actually make you seem more open."
Kaoru fell silent for a moment.
"I'm not avoiding the question. It's just that... I don't know the answer either."
"That's not the kind of answer that makes us happy, you know?" Kushida's tone showed no trace of dissatisfaction, yet she subtly tightened her grip around Kaoru's neck, her ample bosom pressing against his head.
"I get it, but what you're asking is like saying, 'Out of pears, cantaloupes, apples, grapes, dragon fruit, watermelon, bananas… which one do you think best represents what a fruit should be?'" Kaoru voiced his thoughts.
"The problem is, they're all fruits. There's no such thing as one being more of a fruit than another."
Kushida narrowed her eyes—clearly, what he meant was that all of them were his favorite girls.
However, Horikita interjected, "Then let me rephrase it. Who do you think is… tastier?"
There was no avoiding this question.
It felt like an interrogation now, and Kaoru was getting a headache.
"You can't pick either of us," Kushida suddenly added. "We're included, but you can't say our names. So, who's your favorite?"
Kaoru froze for a moment.
What kind of situation was this?
Horikita reacted faster than him, immediately understanding Kushida's intention, and added.
"And include your past—every girl you've met from middle school all the way back to elementary."
Kushida clicked her tongue.
She had forgotten about that.
Kaoru had only mentioned the girls now, not anything from before.
A lecher like him couldn't possibly have no experience.
He'd probably flirted with plenty of girls in middle and elementary school too.
"Just kill me already," Kaoru surrendered outright. "I like Suzune, I like Kikyo, I like Honami, I like Kei, I like Airi… I like all of you."
"Hey, hey, hey! You're giving up way too fast!" Kushida shook his head, both annoyed and amused.
Horikita pressed her lips together.
It seemed they wouldn't get anything out of him, but she could sense that Kaoru was aware of their little schemes.
The reason they made him consider both of them but forbade him from saying their names was simple—Horikita and Kushida lacked confidence.
They were afraid of hearing a rejection.
Hope, unease, and fear—that was their current state.
So even if Kaoru had an answer, he wouldn't say it out loud.
That's just how girls were.
Even when they knew they shouldn't ask, they'd still poke the bear.
Kaoru was used to it by now.
"The two of you showing up here—I haven't even asked what you're planning," Kaoru said, grabbing Kushida's wrist.
Turning his head, he caught sight of her incredibly smooth, delicate thighs, her skirt slightly disheveled.
"Coming to my place on Christmas Eve… can I take that as a certain kind of hint?"
Kushida felt his warm breath brush against her thighs as he spoke, sending a faint, ticklish shiver through her.
A blush spread across her cheeks, and noticing his gaze lingering on her skirt, she instinctively covered his eyes with her hand, her small feet kicking wildly at his shoulders as she tried to push him away.
"You shameless pervert! Who'd spend Christmas Eve with a foot-fetishist who's always dating someone?!"
As her flustered voice rang out, Kaoru took a few kicks before catching hold of her ankle, a faint smile playing at his lips.
"Strange. Why would you join forces with Suzune to interrogate me? Have you two made up?"
Kushida froze momentarily, a twinge of guilt surfacing.
Truthfully, she hadn't revealed much—only confessing to Horikita Suzune about their first time here.
It wasn't exactly betrayal.
But reconciliation? Absolutely not.
"Don't be ridiculous. There's no way I'd make up with her," Kushida declared without hesitation, her disdain evident.
"I despise her. The only reason I'm being civil now is because of you."
"I thought as much. Though your hostility still baffles me," Horikita replied impassively. "Regarding that situation back then—"
"Ah, it's not about that anymore," Kushida cut her off sharply. "I just don't like you—especially people like you."
A glimmer flickered in Horikita's eyes, uncertain whether Kushida's words held sincerity.
Kaoru sighed inwardly.
Kushida likely resented Horikita's type—talented yet aloof.
"And you—how long are you planning to keep touching?" Kushida pressed a hand against his head, her cheeks flushing wine-red as his palm trailed upward from her delicate ankle, past the smooth curve of her calf to the porcelain softness of her thigh.
His breath ghosted against her inner thigh, sending a shiver through her.
"I've been exhausted lately. Just wanted to find some comfort in you, Kikyo."
With that, Kaoru buried his face against Kushida's thighs.
The pillowy warmth and faint floral scent were uniquely intoxicating—a sensation only a girl could offer.
She must have bathed recently; traces of shower gel lingered subtly.
"Exhausted from dates, my foot!" Kushida snapped, though her protests lacked bite.
Her hand gradually settled atop his head, her voice dropping to a murmur.
"Tomorrow's Christmas... We prepared gifts for you."
Christmas presents.
Kaoru had nearly forgotten—his ring inventory was running low.
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