"If I want to enjoy the rights of a girlfriend in front of everyone just like Anna, what would you think..."
After Shioyaki Lemon finished speaking, her eyes stared intently at Imaizumi Keita, silently preparing for the worst-case scenario in her heart.
However, Imaizumi Keita's answer surprised her greatly.
Kin-chan's face showed no worry or anger; instead, a touch of relief appeared.
Wait.
Why would a look of relief appear on Kin-chan's face...
"I thought it would take a long time before you said something like that, Lemon..."
Imaizumi Keita reached out and ruffled Shioyaki Lemon's hair, gently kissing her forehead, "But saying what's on your mind now is just right."
"Eh?"
Shioyaki Lemon still didn't understand.
What kind of answer was this?
Shouldn't it be lines like 'Lemon-chan, do you know how much trouble this will cause me?' or 'Didn't we agree on this at the beginning?'
"Is Lemon a bit confused why I'm reacting like this?"
"Yes..."
"Because the fact that Lemon has such thoughts proves that you've truly taken me to heart."
Imaizumi Keita expressed his understanding of love to Shioyaki Lemon, regardless of her own views.
"Love itself is selfish and possessive. If you were perfectly happy with our current relationship and had no desire to change anything, then I would be the one starting to worry."
"Kin-chan, you mean you'd worry... that I don't like you?"
"Mhm, I'd worry that your feelings for me haven't reached the point where I'm indispensable. I'd worry that you might feel 'this is fine' at any moment and then just turn and leave."
Imaizumi Keita smiled sheepishly, showing a weak side of his heart: "I'm actually not as confident as I seem on the surface when I'm with you, Lemon..."
So... that's what Kin-chan was thinking?
Her greed was, in his eyes, proof of a deeper love?
Kin-chan's confession made Shioyaki Lemon's tense shoulders relax a bit, but this confession still didn't contain the answer she wanted.
Shioyaki Lemon sought the answer she wanted from Imaizumi Keita again.
"So... Kin-chan, your response is..."
"Of course I'm very willing."
Imaizumi Keita's palm gently brushed over her cheek, feeling her earlobe, which was slightly flushed from nervousness.
"However, before I agree to this, there's one thing Lemon needs to fully understand and recognize."
He paused, giving Lemon enough time to process, before continuing his explanation.
"During the previous Literature Club activities, everyone basically assumed that Anna and I were dating. You should be very aware of that, Lemon."
Shioyaki Lemon nodded.
Of course she knew; she was the one who had secretly taken Kin-chan away under those circumstances...
And after the date was over, they even had to pretend they weren't together...
"So, under that premise, if I also interact with you in a romantic way in front of everyone, how do you think people will see you both?"
Imaizumi Keita's tone was a bit serious: "Although I'll try my best to resolve every rumor I know about, I have no way of knowing if people are talking bad behind our backs..."
"That..."
Shioyaki Lemon sheepishly scratched her cheek with her finger, her gaze drifting to the side.
Of course, she hadn't thought that far ahead...
Thinking about what might happen later, Shioyaki Lemon couldn't help but feel it was a bit troublesome, and she lowered her head to fiddle with her fingers.
"Then, then... how about we just..."
Imaizumi Keita saw Shioyaki Lemon seemingly backing down, but that wasn't the purpose of his words, so he continued to explain.
"Lemon, I'm not trying to discourage you. I don't care about rumors or people pointing fingers, I... I'm just worried it will hurt you..."
Shioyaki Lemon pouted as she listened to his words, feeling a bit indignant. Her previously discouraged heart was suddenly filled with a sense of competitiveness.
"Kin-chan, do you still see me as a child who needs protection? I can certainly handle something like that."
"Oh?"
"First of all,"
Various thoughts flashed through Shioyaki Lemon's mind, and as she gradually cleared her head, she began to counter Imaizumi Keita.
"Your relationship with Anna, although everyone assumes it, you haven't formally and personally admitted in front of everyone that 'Yanami Anna is my girlfriend,' right?"
Imaizumi Keita nodded, thinking to himself that this was the groundwork of the relationship...
"So, there's room for maneuver. My relationship with you can also be maintained in the same state as hers. We don't need to announce it to the world, but we don't have to be secretive like this anymore. We can hold hands in front of everyone, eat together, and do things that couples do."
"Eh, then wouldn't that..."
Shioyaki Lemon interrupted Imaizumi Keita's inquiry and continued with her reasoning.
"Secondly, as for how others see me... Kin-chan, you don't have to worry at all."
"From the moment I confessed to you, other people's opinions stopped being important. Otherwise, if you're always looking over your shoulder, you'll never find happiness..."
"As for the rumors..."
Shioyaki Lemon smiled as she said this, making a funny face at Imaizumi Keita.
"If everyone misunderstands and thinks you're a two-timing Scumbag scumbag playing with the feelings of two girls... then let them misunderstand."
"Anyway, Kin-chan, you're that kind of person anyway, aren't you?"
Imaizumi Keita was momentarily stunned upon hearing this, then he couldn't help but chuckle.
He reached out his arm, gently pulling Shioyaki Lemon into his embrace, lightly sniffing her hair.
"Pushing all the responsibility onto me while keeping yourself completely clean. Lemon-chan, you're quite something, aren't you?"
"Of course." Shioyaki Lemon hummed twice, letting his cheek nuzzle against the top of her head. "He who touches vermilion becomes red, and he who touches ink becomes black, after all."
"Alright,"
Imaizumi Keita expressed indifferently: "Since you've put it that way, I'm happy to take the easy way out."
"However, what I'm actually worried about isn't myself. I don't really care about my own reputation. I already took that into account when I started writing novels..."
"Eh?! What does this have to do with novels?!"
Confusion appeared on Shioyaki Lemon's face.
Imaizumi Keita lightly flicked Shioyaki Lemon's nose and explained: "Since ancient times, literati have often been romantic; people are always lenient regarding a writer's morality..."
"Wow! Hey! Kin-chan, you're a bit despicable... preparing that far in advance..."
"It's just a little contingency plan... though it helps you guys a bit too..."
Imaizumi Keita smiled and continued: "But I'm still a bit worried... that others will think you and Anna have bad taste in men."
Shioyaki Lemon's mood improved slightly.
"Like I said, I don't care about what others think."
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