After breaking up, my ex asked me to win her back

Kagura Hikaru was dragged by hand by Ai Cheng Karen and taken to a secluded corner of the courtyard under the school building.

There was a golden maple tree glittering under the sun and a long bench beneath it.

It was the same familiar place.

Kagura Hikaru had once received Ayakoji Chiyoko here and had been doused by Kiryu Hina with yogurt.

What used to be his secret spot for eating lunch alone was now known by more and more people.

Ai Cheng Karen brought Kagura Hikaru to the maple tree, forcibly made him sit on the chair, and then stared at him with probing eyes.

But within less than two seconds, her face turned red as she averted her gaze, looking left and right.

"Kagura, you know, you, you..."

Kagura Hikaru raised his right hand that she was holding, "Let's not talk about that for now, can you let go of me? If you keep holding on, my blood won't circulate."

"Wow!"

She quickly let go of his hand with an awkward laugh, "Ah, ahaha, sorry, I forgot."

"No problem."

Rotating his wrist, Kagura Hikaru leaned back against the chair back, his gaze toward the distance.

Having waited for quite some time without him asking, Ai Cheng Karen scratched her head and asked curiously, "Kagura, aren't you curious why I brought you here?"

"...Ah, that, whatever."

"Whatever??"

"Yeah, actually, I just couldn't stand that atmosphere and took the opportunity to escape. The reason doesn't matter."

"Ha... that's a really casual thought indeed," Ai Cheng Karen sighed and then smiled, "But that's just like Kagura."

Kagura Hikaru turned his head, "What style am I, exactly? Explain."

"Uh, well, ahaha, it's not important either," Ai Cheng Karen chuckled and after a few seconds of silence, her expression became serious, "Kagura, there's something I need to tell you."

"Let's get this straight, if you're confessing here, I won't agree," said Kagura Hikaru with a strange expression.

"Who's confessing to you! Cough, no, I mean, that's not what I want to talk about."

"Asking for money? If it's less than a million yen, I might consider not charging interest."

"It's not about borrowing money either! And really, you're unexpectedly generous!"

"Don't mind it, you're worth that much."

"What do you mean, am I wanted?"

After a bit of play fighting, the originally heavy atmosphere blew away.

"Here, this is your backpack that you forgot at my place yesterday." Kagura Hikaru pulled out Ai Cheng Karen's tote backpack from behind, which he had grabbed on his way out of the classroom.

He placed the backpack in her arms, looked down at her foot still wrapped in gauze, "Speaking of which, your foot injury has healed pretty quickly, you can already walk."

Not only walk but even walk fast with someone.

"Well, healing quickly is one of my strengths. Also, thanks for keeping my backpack, you really helped me out."

Ai Cheng Karen's face finally wore her usual smile, but the thought of what she had to say next still slightly dampened her spirit.

"Kagura, there's something I must be honest with you about."

"Hmm?"

"Yesterday, actually, I overheard you and Kohinata talking about something..."

"..."

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to eavesdrop! I was just coming to get my backpack back, and I didn't expect..."

"Alright, no need to explain," Kagura Hikaru shook his head at her, "It's okay, I'm not upset."

Ai Cheng Karen cautiously, "Really?"

"Yeah, of course, but if you go around spreading it, then I would really get upset."

"No, no, I won't do that," she quickly shook her head and waved her arms, "But Kagura, what do you plan to do now?"

"What do you mean by that?"

"Aren't you being threatened by Kohinata right now? Surely you don't really want to date her, though I can understand why...."

As Ai Cheng Hua Lian spoke, uncertainty crept into her heart, and she hung her head.

Although Kohinata Motoyo's methods were dirty, if one thought about it from another angle, it could show that she was foolishly in love with Kagura Hikaru to the extent of resorting to threatening others.

Since she had resorted to such actions, she had already strayed from the righteous path, and Ai Cheng Hua Lian would never acknowledge her actions, no matter what.

But if Kagura Hikaru also wanted to be in a romantic relationship with her.... Enjoy new stories from empire

"No, I never thought that way," Kagura Hikaru shook his head decisively, "Even if you told me to break up with her right now, I wouldn't hesitate. If I were able to lead the relationship by my own will, I would do just that. But the problem is that I can't."

"Is it because of President Hina, because of that picture...?"

"I didn't expect you to have seen that, too."

Kagura Hikaru sighed, "Yes, Motoyo still has leverage over me, I can't act rashly."

"I understand, let's seek help then!" proposed Ai Cheng Hua Lian earnestly, "Let's first inform President Hina about this, she will surely assist with all her might once she knows the situation. If needed, we could even bring in President Ayakoji, let everyone come together to think of a solution!"

The eagerness in her eyes somewhat stung Kagura Hikaru.

Seeing him as a complete victim was the greatest irony for him.

"...Sorry, I don't plan to tell anyone about this, and please don't talk about it to others."

"Not even President Hina, when it's related to her?"

"No, you can't."

"Why not!"

"You just can't, that's why," Kagura Hikaru stubbornly refused to explain his reasons.

Ultimately, Ai Cheng Hua Lian left in frustration without extracting an answer from Kagura Hikaru.

Kagura Hikaru lay down on the bench, his head resting where Ai Cheng Hua Lian had just been sitting.

Looking up at the sky through the gaps between branches and golden maple leaves.

The sunlight left patches of light on his body.

Whether to seek help externally and tell Kiryu Hina the truth.

All of that was unnecessary and an action he was unwilling to take.

Initially, when he had been threatened by Suse, he hadn't told Hina about it.

He could have, if they had discussed it secretly, Motoyo would have never known they had communicated.

Thus, they could have avoided a bad ending and, with Hina's intelligence, freed themselves from Suse's control together.

But Kagura Hikaru had not done so.

There were three reasons:

First, he was worried about the spread of compromising photos. At the time, he had used mind-reading on Suse immediately to find out where the backups of the photos were, but they were in a place that he could not reach then or now, physically impossible.

Second, if Hina knew that compromising photos of her had been taken by a friend, given her immature character back in middle school, she might have physically confronted Suse, which could have resulted in injuries for both and possibly affected their academic progress.

Third, and this was something Kagura Hikaru least wanted to admit, a fact, a reality.

It was the true root of the eventual tragedy, the most significant reason.

And that was—he had feelings for Suse and wanted to protect her actively.

Don't you understand?

Let me put it in simpler terms then.

That is to say, Kohinata Motoyo's affection was not unrequited.

The Kagura Hikaru she loved, loved Kohinata Motoyo back.

What she thought was unreciprocated love,

Perhaps, was mutual affection.