I grabbed her shoulders and pushed Saori-san away. She stared at me with a reaction of surprise at the sudden action.

“…Eh, Mitsuya-kun?”

“N-no, um, well…”

At my unclear response, Saori-san’s expression clouded over.

“Do you… dislike me? So much that you don’t even want to kiss me… Do I have no appeal at all?”

“No, that’s not it. That’s not it at all!”

I frantically tried to explain.

“Saori-san is incredibly attractive, and of course I want to kiss you and do things beyond that too. As you can see, I’m already hard down there as well…”

Saori-san looked at my crotch.

“Then why…”

“Well, how should I put it…”

I began stumbling over my words while thinking it through in my head.

“Shino and I aren’t exactly boyfriend and girlfriend, but we do have a physical relationship…”

“Yes.”

“As a result, Shino revealed her heart’s secret to me, and it’s true that I made a ‘contract’ to help with her stress relief…”

“Yes.”

“So, it’s just my way of thinking, but doing it with another girl feels like I’d be betraying Shino, and I just can’t bring myself to do it. Of course, I do want to do it with the attractive and wonderful Saori-san.”

“…”

Saori-san looked down and took a step away from me.

“I understand.”

“I… see…”

At that answer, I let out a sigh of relief.

“I understand. You want to treasure Shino-san… is that right, Mitsuya-kun? Even if you’re not seen as her boyfriend.”

“I’m grateful that you understand. I feel sorry for putting you in this position, Saori-san.”

“Mitsuya-kun… you’re such a kind person.”

“No… I’m sorry, and thank you for understanding. It’s just my selfish assumption, but I hope you can give up on me… Of course, as student council members and classmates, it goes without saying that I’ll continue to get along with you the same as before, Saori-san…”

I thought the tension in the atmosphere had eased and a warm air had begun to flow, but I soon froze at Saori-san’s next words.

“I’ve come to like you even more than before, Mitsuya-kun!”

“Huh?”

“I thought being your second would be fine, but I’ve decided not to give up! I’m serious now!”

“Eh…?”

“I’m going to become your real girlfriend, Mitsuya-kun. I’m going to steal you away from Shino-san!”

Saori-san declared this to me with a face full of determination, while I stood there in a daze before her.

“I have a dream now. I want to become lovers with Mitsuya-kun, marry you, and have a warm family. How many children would be good? Two girls and two boys…”

“Wait a minute, Saori-san…”

Facing Saori-san who was gazing up at the sky as if dreaming and letting words flow out, I wanted to escape from reality, wondering how I, a mere background character, had ended up in such a situation.

It was an ordinary day’s events, a bolt from the blue, though saying that would be rude to Saori-san, so let’s call it… a surprising turn of events.