When Kamiyā Yuu used his dual-sword style against Busujima Murasaki, every strike landed solidly. The sensation of the bamboo swords hitting flesh, combined with the crisp sound unique to bamboo, made the match immensely satisfying for him.
After the kendo match ended, Kamiyā Yuu accepted the medicinal solution Busujima Murasaki had prepared for treating bruises and injuries. Looking over the bruises covering her body, he couldn't help but feel a little guilty.
The mature and elegant figure before him had originally possessed a charm far more alluring than the youthful innocence of Kamiyā Sora. Now, however, the bruises disrupted that flawless beauty.
As he examined her more carefully, he noticed several unusual scars scattered across her skin. They were faint in color, not sharply contrasting with her complexion, resembling pale marks left behind after wearing a swimsuit under the sun.
"Murasaki, you don't seem particularly concerned about other men seeing your body."
"Are you referring to me being in my undergarments, Mr. Kamiyā? There are many women on television wearing far more revealing clothing at pools or beaches. They don't seem embarrassed, so I don't think I need to be either."
"No, no, no. I think there's a very important difference. Swimwear and underwear are completely different concepts."
Kamiyā Yuu shook his head seriously.
Busujima Murasaki sat upright on her stool and thought about it carefully before asking again:
"What's the difference?"
"..."
Kamiyā Yuu found himself at a loss for words.
Come to think of it, he wasn't entirely sure himself. People often reacted strongly when underwear was seen, yet far more revealing swimwear was considered acceptable.
"It's probably a difference in meaning. Swimwear is meant to be seen by others, while underwear represents a more private side of a person. The materials are different, too. Swimwear isn't as breathable or absorbent, while underwear isn't waterproof. Once soaked, it can become partially transparent and create awkward situations—"
His explanation abruptly stopped.
He swore he had only glanced unintentionally.
Yet that single glance caused him to swallow the rest of his words.
To ease the awkwardness, Kamiyā Yuu poured some medicine into his hand and turned his attention back to the unusual scars on her arms.
"These white scars were all left from training?"
Following his gaze, Busujima Murasaki looked at her own arm and replied in a nostalgic tone:
"Yes. Most of the scars on my body came from training. Some are bullet wounds from actual combat—here, and here."
She pointed to her left shoulder and side abdomen.
The irregular circular scars clearly appeared to have been caused by bullets tearing through flesh, though they had healed remarkably well and were now barely visible.
"Hearing that makes someone ordinary like me feel very far removed from that kind of life."
Holding her hand gently, Kamiyā Yuu began carefully applying the medicine.
Unlike the women he usually interacted with, Busujima Murasaki's arms were both soft and strong. Beneath her smooth skin lay explosive power forged through years of training.
"That's a lie. Your kendo and your familiarity with firearms both suggest that you have far more stories than I do."
Busujima Murasaki laughed softly.
Claiming he felt nothing toward such an attractive woman would have been dishonest. Kamiyā Yuu was an ordinary man.
Even so, he understood propriety.
To avoid unnecessary awkwardness, he kept his gaze mostly on her face and met her eyes openly.
Her eyes were beautiful.
Their sharpness from the match had vanished, replaced by a quiet gentleness.
Yet her direct gaze made him feel as though his innermost thoughts were being seen through.
"Only at times like this do I feel that Mr. Kamiyā is also a perfectly normal man."
Her words caught him off guard.
He had intended to quietly enjoy the situation without comment. He hadn't expected her to say it so directly.
"Huh...?"
The movement of his hand applying medicine slowed.
Busujima Murasaki looked at him calmly.
"I like men who are stronger than me. What I experienced during our match today was something I've never felt before. I believe you noticed the water stains on my clothing as well. Just as you suspected, facing your overwhelming attacks during our kendo match triggered a physical reaction."
She smiled faintly, though there was a trace of self-mockery in her voice.
"Strange, isn't it? Most women only experience that sort of reaction under entirely different circumstances. Yet I experienced it during combat."
No one understood her better than she did.
For a long time, she had felt inferior because of the violent tendencies hidden within herself.
Kamiyā Yuu's expression became somewhat awkward.
As he continued applying medicine, he said seriously:
"Everyone has things they're reluctant to talk about. Even if you have violent impulses, you've suppressed them and never harmed innocent people. That means you're no different from anyone else. You're an outstanding woman."
"Is that so? Hearing you say that puts me at ease. I was worried you'd distance yourself from me after today's match."
She gently touched the spot on his chest where she had struck him earlier.
"Mr. Kamiyā, you still haven't answered my question."
Kamiyā Yuu opened his mouth, then asked helplessly:
"Murasaki, did that kendo match make you fall for me?"
"Yes. It's only natural for the weak to admire the strong."
She answered as though it were self-evident.
Kamiyā Yuu shook his head.
"That's not love."
"For me, it is. Everyone defines love differently. My nature and upbringing have led me to admire strength. Mr. Kamiyā is exceptional in every regard. As a partner, you would be an ideal choice."
Kamiyā Yuu laughed bitterly.
"Unfortunately, I already have someone I love. You know that."
He had never hidden his relationship with Kamiyā Sora from those close to him.
"It doesn't matter. Someone as capable as Mr. Kamiyā having one or two lovers is perfectly normal."
Busujima Murasaki spoke calmly.
Having grown up among Japan's powerful families and spent years at Uehara Etsuki's side, she had seen the realities of upper-class society.
In many influential households, prominent male family members maintaining multiple romantic relationships was hardly unusual.
"What about Miss Uehara? How do you plan to explain it to her?"
"Miss Etsuki already gave me my freedom. Remaining by her side is my own choice."
"To hear you say it so openly... I'm honestly flattered."
Kamiyā Yuu was left speechless.
He remembered that the Busujima Saeko from the anime 'Highschool of the Dead' had once expressed a similar sentiment.
Knowing Busujima Murasaki's personality, he didn't think she was joking.
What he was considering was something else entirely.
Could he really abandon the idea of remaining devoted solely to Kamiyā Sora?
He thought of a character he had liked very much in his previous world—Sugisaki Ken from the light novel and anime 'Student Council's Discretion.'
From the very beginning, Sugisaki Ken loudly proclaimed his dream of building a harem.
He worked tirelessly to become the top student in his grade and joined a student council made up entirely of beautiful girls.
When he first joined, he shamelessly declared:
"I love all of you. I really, really love all of you. So please go out with me!"
Though the series was comedic, it reflected the author's complicated feelings regarding the idea of a harem.
Sugisaki believed that a harem ending would make everyone happy and hurt no one.
Yet the story never actually achieved one.
The heroines confessed their feelings, but nothing came of it afterward.
Sugisaki continued as before.
Perhaps that was because the author had genuinely considered reality.
An ideal harem promised happiness for everyone.
A real one inevitably hurts someone.
Kamiyā Yuu possessed neither the lack of opportunity nor the lack of ability.
As a successful anime director, he could have pursued many women if he wished.
The reason he never had was because of Kamiyā Sora.
Now that Busujima Murasaki had openly confessed to him, he could no longer avoid confronting the issue.
He hesitated.
And the very fact that he hesitated made him realize something.
Kamiyā Sora was no longer the only person in his heart.
Perhaps she hadn't been for a long time.
At the same time, he was selfish.
He wanted both Sora and the dream that many men secretly entertained.
If he were being honest with himself, if women like Uehara Etsuki or Morishita Aoi married someone else, he would never be able to congratulate them without feeling anything.
Either he cut off those feelings entirely and spent his life with Sora alone.
Or he abandoned all restraint and pursued everyone he wanted, regardless of the consequences.
Remaining in the middle was the most contemptible option.
It was exactly like those indecisive harem protagonists people loved to criticize.
And he knew he was being exactly that sort of person.
He was greedy.
He wanted everything while avoiding the consequences of either choice.
"If everyone thought the way you do, Murasaki, I wouldn't feel so lost."
Busujima Murasaki paused, uncertain what he meant.
After a moment of thought, she said:
"We could simply keep that side of our relationship hidden from others."
Kamiyā Yuu shook his head.
"That would be the worst option for me. I'd rather be honest from the beginning."
Sooner or later, Kamiyā Sora would notice something was wrong.
Hiding it would only cause greater pain.
"Murasaki."
"Yes, Mr. Kamiyā."
"Take off the rest. It would be troublesome if the medicine got on your clothes."
Busujima Murasaki felt his hand move across her skin.
A strange sensation spread through her body.
The same feeling she had experienced during their match returned once more.
Her cheeks flushed.
Looking at him with a mixture of gentleness and shyness, she complied.
"Very well. Then please be gentle, Mr. Kamiyā."
...
That night.
After their intimacy, Kamiyā Sora lay weakly in Kamiyā Yuu's arms, exhausted.
After resting for a while, she gently touched his face and asked softly:
"What happened?"
She could tell that he seemed unusually attached to her tonight.
Burying his face in her silver hair, Kamiyā Yuu remained silent for a moment before answering:
"Today I had a kendo match with Miss Busujima."
"You already told me that while I was applying medicine to your injuries."
"Yes. Afterward, in the lounge, she confessed to me."
"I see."
Sora's voice remained calm.
"Setting aside Miss Busujima's side of things, you didn't reject her even after making our relationship clear."
"...No."
"I understand."
Her calm reaction surprised him.
Unable to find words, he simply held her tighter.
"I'm sorry. I won't try to justify my choice."
Leaning against his chest, Sora shook her head.
"And then what? Did you expect me to say that I love you so much that I don't care if you're with other women? That's as long as you're happy, everything is fine? Or did you expect me to pretend none of this was real?"
Kamiyā Yuu looked down at her.
Tears glistened in eyes that were usually calm and cold.
She bit her lip tightly.
Her emotions were beginning to slip out of control.
Curling into herself, she whispered:
"Or did you think I'd react like other women? Get angry? Shout at you? Leave you?"
"I can't do that."
"Without you, I can't live alone."
"To me, you're not just a lover. You're a part of my instincts. Even if I'm not your entire world, you're still all of mine."
"I knew it... I knew it from the day you changed."
"After that hospitalization, you changed so much. It was like you became a different person. Once you started making anime, you began wanting more from life and from the world around you."
She clenched her fists.
"I don't understand how you can tell me so easily that you've accepted another woman."
"If this is some kind of joke, it's not funny at all."
"I'm different from you. I avoid the outside world. I've always lived believing that you were my entire world."
"Don't you understand? Even if you hurt me, I don't have another choice."
"Or perhaps you've always understood that."
"That's why you're so selfish."
Kamiyā Yuu wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed away the tears running down her face.
As expected, tears tasted bitter and salty.
Busujima Murasaki's confession had only been the catalyst.
The real reason he had chosen to tell Sora was that he wanted to face the truth about his feelings.
Though he wasn't a reckless womanizer, he had to admit that his feelings toward women like Morishita Aoi went beyond ordinary friendship.
"I'm sorry..."
That was all he could say.
No excuse would satisfy her.
"Yuu, do you like Miss Busujima?"
"She's an exceptional woman."
After nearly a year of friendship, their relationship had only changed after today's match.
"If it had been Sister Aoi or Sister Etsuki who confessed to you, would you reject them?"
Kamiyā Yuu remained silent.
"Idiot... idiot... idiot..."
Sora lowered her head and cried.
After a long time, once she had cried herself out, she leaned against him and asked weakly:
"Yuu, do you remember when I told you I started keeping a diary?"
He remembered.
That had been more than a year ago.
"The diary is saved on my laptop. It records how I felt every single day from then until now."
She looked at him.
"If possible, I want us to read it together."
"And I want you to be honest with me tonight."
"What exactly am I to you, Yuu?"
Her eyes seemed to pierce straight into his heart.
Her voice, however, sounded almost pleading.
Ever since she first sensed the changes in him two years ago, Sora had known things would not end simply.
She had long expected that one day he would make a choice that would affect her deeply.
She had imagined the possibility that he might someday love women besides her.
But each time the thought arose—each time another remarkable woman appeared by his side—she chose to avoid thinking about it.
She had simply hoped that, in the end, he would truly care only about her.