I Started a Lover-for-Hire Service, And For Some Reason, Only Beautiful Girls Are Requesting Me - Chapter 76: Ryoma, Kanon and Aira meet

“Is that so…”

“—Yeah. I’m happy you feel that way, but the situation is different now compared to the past. I’m no longer in a place where I can go back.”

Ryoma and Kanon spoke calmly, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of three years ago. They spent each second with a clear mind, reflecting on the past.

“There are family matters too… I thought it was so like you, Ryo-kun.”

“It’s something I can’t tell anyone. But I thought this was something I needed to say.”

“Yeah… Thank you.”

Having understood the situation, Kanon looked up at the sky. There was no way Ryoma wouldn’t notice the gloomy expression she tried to hide.

“I’m not in a position to say this, but… You need to switch your mindset. Look forward, Kanon.”

“You don’t need to comfort me… If I hadn’t done something terrible, you wouldn’t have been hurt…”

“How many times are we going to talk about this? I hurt you, too. Even though I was trying to help people, I misunderstood and cut off contact because of the misunderstanding about the love triangle. No matter what Makoto’s intentions were, you were helping someone in need. How can the Kanon who did something so admirable end up like this?”

Ryoma had finally heard the full story. With Kanon’s personality, he couldn’t imagine she was lying. Because he believed her honestly, the current, easygoing atmosphere had come to be. The cold wind that had been blowing earlier stopped, probably so it wouldn’t interfere with their conversation.

“No… There’s nothing admirable about it. If I had just contacted you properly, if I had kept my promises…”

“If your desire to help others was what made you act, then it’s not your fault… Ah, this is bad, it’s going to look like I’m the one at fault.”

“Stop it already. Don’t say such kind things…”

Although Ryoma said this in a joking manner, Kanon could tell he truly meant it. Because they had once been a couple, they understood each other’s feelings.

“Well… I’ve got a lot of feelings, but there’s one thing I need to say—”

What Ryoma had wanted to say, the thing he knew he’d regret not saying.

“I’m really glad we could talk today. I finally realized I wasn’t the one being two-timed, that I didn’t choose a girlfriend who would do something like that.”

“Ryo-kun…”

“…Well, of course. Kanon, who once broke the meeting time for a date and went to help someone, could never do something like that. Really.”

Ryoma also looked up at the clear sky.

There was no point in regretting the past. No one could change what had already happened.

Now that the misunderstanding had been cleared up, he wanted Kanon to look forward. To ensure she wouldn’t go through something like this again, he offered her one last piece of advice. That was all he could do as her ex-boyfriend.

“Kanon, for your next boyfriend, maybe avoid someone like me—someone who doesn’t listen and isn’t flexible. But if you do choose a stubborn guy like me, at least remember what happened and make sure to keep in touch next time. So that your next boyfriend doesn’t have to go through what I did.”

“…”

“As for me, I’ll make sure never to do what I did to you again. It wouldn’t be fair if I only told you to change while I stayed the same, and I have no intention of being just a man of empty words. Well, not that it’ll be easy for me to get a girlfriend in the first place.”

Ryoma nodded firmly, as if making a promise, and gave Kanon a small smile with a hint of teasing. He would never repeat the mistakes he made with her. Thinking back to how immature he had been back then, he couldn’t help but feel ashamed.

“So let’s stop blaming each other—and stop blaming ourselves, too. Let’s learn from this and move forward.”

“…”

“Hey, where’s your answer?”

“…Yeah, I got it…”

“You look pretty dissatisfied. I can tell right away from your dopey expression.”

“…I’m sorry…”

“Hey, I wasn’t insulting your face or anything… If you apologize like that, I’ll just sound like some kind of brute.”

Something that had once been broken couldn’t be fixed overnight. It would take months, even years, to rebuild.

Getting back together in just one day was out of the question. But for Kanon, who had kept her feelings for Ryoma all this time, that reality was painful.

“We probably won’t be involved with each other anymore. So before that happens…”

Even though the misunderstanding had been resolved, Ryoma’s words still carried a sad finality.

“Ryo-k—”

Kanon still had something on her mind. She wanted to ask him before it was too late.

But just as she called his name—

“Aah!”

At the worst possible timing for Kanon, an intruder appeared.

Golden hair swayed as she moved. Light makeup, a black dress, and devil wings on her back—she looked like a high school demon.

“Finally found you! Ryoma-senpai… and his ex-girlfriend.”

“…!”

“Tch, so you found me… What are you, a dog?”

“My nose isn’t that good! I had a really hard time finding you, okay?!”

With an exaggerated entrance and an obviously blunt attitude, Aira made her presence known.

Ryoma let out a resigned sigh and slowly stood up, as if accepting his fate.

“Talk about bad timing, but cut me some slack, okay? I’m way past the point of playing it cool.”

“Aira… Normally, you don’t say stuff like that in a situation like this. Even if you are thinking it.”

Ryoma and Aira were completely leaving Kanon out of the conversation. She simply watched them, a little envious.

“By the way, Ryoma-senpai, you totally broke our promise. What happened to sticking together, huh?”

“…S-sorry about that. I had my reasons.”

“You told me you were just going to the bathroom, but instead, you snuck off to the staircase in front of the gym with your ex? That’s a straight-up secret rendezvous.”

“T-that’s not what this is!”

“…No, Ryo-kun. This is a secret rendezvous.”

“Eh?”

“Huh?”

Ryoma and Aira were both taken aback at the exact same moment.

Kanon had jumped into the conversation with complete seriousness—not to provoke Aira, but to call Ryoma out.

“Ryo-kun, you have to keep your promises. You can’t be having secret rendezvous like this.”

“W-who are you to say that…? I mean, yeah, I broke my promise, so I can’t really argue, but still…”

After all that lecturing, Ryoma himself had gone and broken a promise. It was complicated, to say the least.

“Wait, why is your ex taking my side? I totally came in ready to pick a fight, but this isn’t how I imagined it going…”

“I’m sorry, Aira-chan. I was the one who asked too much of Ryo-kun, and that’s why he broke his promise…”

“Eh…? Oh… Uh, okay…”

Even though Kanon was the one accusing Ryoma of a “rendezvous”, she also took full responsibility for making him break his promise. Aira was completely thrown off by her unexpected logic.

“Oof…”

Like Ryoma, Kanon stood up and hopped lightly down the steps, showing no sign of pain from the scrapes on her knees.

“Hey, where do you think you’re going!? We’re not done talking!”

Aira called after Kanon, trying to stop her. Even though she knew Kanon was older, her tone remained the same—because, to her, Kanon was still an enemy.

“I did something wrong too, so I should step back and let you have your turn, Aira-chan. Ryo-kun broke his promise, so it’s only fair for you to take action.”

“A-are you serious? J-just like that…? Aren’t we supposed to be, like, totally at each other’s throats? This makes me look super aggressive…”

“You’re always like this, Aira.”

“Shut up!”

Ryoma threw in a sarcastic jab, but his face remained completely serious. He was watching the situation unfold with quiet focus.

“If… if your ex is saying that, then I won’t hold back. I’ll be taking him, okay?”

“Yeah. But… could you grant me just one request?”

“Ugh, well… I mean, if you’re giving him to me, then sure…”

“Could you not treat me like an object?”

“Promise-breaking men should zip it.”

“…Yes, ma’am.”

They say women were strong, but moments like this proved they could be downright terrifying.

Ryoma had no room for argument. Aira shut him down instantly.

“S-so, what’s your request, Ex-Girlfriend-san?”

“Come here—I need you to listen closely. This is just for you.”

“T-this is scary… I already picked a fight with you… Y-you’re not gonna do anything, right?”

Aira had no idea Kanon was a black belt, but it was natural for her to be nervous. If you started a fight, you had to be prepared for the consequences.

“I just want to say one thing, that’s all.”

“O-okay… I guess.”

Maybe it was Kanon’s relaxed expression that convinced her. Aira hesitantly leaned in, offering her pierced ear. Kanon cupped her hand around it and whispered something.

“～～～～”

It took about four seconds. Then—

“…HAAAH!?”

Aira reeled back, shouting in shock. It was completely unexpected.

“You okay, Aira…?”

“Hey, Ryo-kun.”

“W-what?”

Ryoma had barely begun worrying when Kanon called out to him.

“…I accepted Aira-chan’s challenge.”

“Oi, you’re a black belt, what the hell are you doing?”

“This is all your fault, Ryo-kun…”

“…Huh?”

Her usual carefree expression was gone. Kanon’s deep blue eyes burned with determination as she locked onto Ryoma. It was the sharp, disciplined gaze she showed when she was serious about martial arts.

“——I know it’s selfish, but… I can’t let go of someone as kind as you that easily. Aira-chan can have you—but just for today.”