In a situation where it wouldn’t be strange to be eaten at any moment, Haruna hadn’t really taken any unusual actions. Noah seemed to be contentedly enjoying the hot spring while humming a little tune.

While we were peacefully soaking in the hot spring, Haruna was the one to break the silence.

“Noah-san, Mika-san. It’s nice to relax in the hot spring like this, but there’s a story we absolutely have to share. Right?”

“Yeah, that’s true.”

I turned my gaze to Noah, who smiled as if in a bit of a dilemma and gently took my hand with both of hers.

“Where should we start…? It seems like we’ve already finished reflecting on each other’s feelings during the time we spent together today, but I doubt you two know why such unnatural… dare I say bizarre feelings have sprouted among us. I’ve always brushed off topics related to that.”

As Noah said, we had clearly revealed through our actions at least what feelings we held for each other today.

In my case, I had expressed my affection by feeding Noah, and even while being conscious of our trio’s relationship, I had thrown some flirty looks her way.

Noah had directly expressed her feelings for me during the boating trip and just earlier, but she hadn’t hidden her feelings for Haruna either.

“Going back to the beginning, I thought it was so beautiful and thrilling when Mika-chan helped Haruna-chan dodge Karin’s sniping. After that, I subtly tried to help Haruna-chan, hoping that you two would get together.”

“Ah, I remember that. Yeah, if it weren’t for that, I doubt Nagisa would have disliked Noah.”

“Even now, she doesn’t really dislike me, you know? This trip was a considerable effort from me and Haruna-chan. The biggest issue was getting a positive reaction from Nagisa, but for some reason, we got a positive response, so… it’s a relief that things went well, right? Fufu.”

With a smile, Noah brought my hand up to her lips and gently kissed the back of it. I could see Haruna watching this situation with great interest. Why was she viewing this as if it were someone else’s business when she was part of it?

“I… while watching both of you, ended up liking you both. Haruna-chan’s unwavering passion. Mika-chan’s kindness that seems to embrace anything. Like a drizzle soaking my body, by the time I realized it, I was already unable to escape from both of your charms. However, I also worried that liking both of you would feel insincere, so I tried to hide it as much as possible.”

Uh, um. What do I even become if I say this to someone who’s currently dating three people and is about to add a fourth?

Honestly, I too had to ponder a lot regarding the sincerity part, and although I thought about showing it through my actions, I’m doing my best to focus my feelings on the other person at every moment. But maintaining the depth of love given to many while concentrating my love on one person equally isn’t an easy feat.

So, I don’t discuss the impossibility of loving everyone fairly. I just strive to love the person in front of me the most at that moment.

“Hehe… it’s all just a failed attempt anyway.”

“Yeah, it’s as Haruna-chan said. What can we do if it doesn’t work? You two were just so wonderful, plus we spent so much time facing each other.”

In fact, Noah’s feelings had raised some suspicions about Haruna. I had heard about it too.

Yet, at some point, it seemed that these two had been planning today’s events through Nagisa. Somehow, Nagisa was agreeing a little too readily.

“To be honest, I was quite afraid of how you both might see me. What if one side rejects me? What if both of you are displeased? What if I caused a rift between you two? While I was mulling over this and that, Haruna-chan was the first to express her thoughts. She said she would definitely follow Mika-chan’s wishes, and convincing Nagisa was essential in that case.”

“Heueng… Haruna-chan, should I give you a kiss right now?”

“If it’s like that, then of course, I won’t refuse.”

“Alright, then.”

“Wha…?!”

Turning her head, I lightly pressed my lips against her soft cheeks. I made a smooch sound on purpose, kissed her once more, then pulled away.

“…Mika-san, didn’t that mean I should do it for you?”

“Ahaha! Haruna-chan… I’ll keep doing it until you eventually ask me to stop, so don’t worry. For today… it’s time we respond to Noah-chan’s feelings.”

Even while subtly intertwining our legs beneath the surface, I maintained my composure. Thinking that I might get caught would be overwhelmingly exciting, but still, it was time to have a serious discussion.

“Hmm… as I said earlier, we already have a pretty good understanding of each other’s feelings, and now that we’ve voiced it out loud… I’d like to confirm. I want to gain reassurance. This might sound a bit strange, but can you accept someone like me? You don’t need to love me as much as you love each other. Just considering me a little spice that occasionally mixes into your relationship is enough for me, and I think I could be satisfied with that.”

“Wow—oh… Haruna-chan said so. What do you think?”

“Huh? The important part isn’t me, it’s Mika-san’s wishes. No matter how much Mika-san is my ultimate gourmet, I can’t just share her with others without her consent, right? But if Mika-san allows it, I’d like Noah-san to join us in making that dining experience even more special.”

“…You both are sincere, huh? Seriously, I feel like you both are too good for me… but Noah-chan might be a bit too much, and I’m worried about disappointing you.”

“Why? Mika-san, why was I excluded from that standard?”

“Haruna-chan, let’s be honest for a moment. Were you a person before you met me?”

“…Well, of course.”

“Then how about saying that again while looking into my eyes? I think two people have become more human through my hands, and one of them is you, Haruna-chan. Okay, I’m open to a rebuttal if you want.”

“Ugh… Huh. I’ll refrain from making a pointless rebuttal. The truth is, it’s true that Mika-san and Noah-san are too good for me.”

“Okay, you got that right☆ I love you a lot too, Haruna-chan.”

“Fufu… honestly, I can’t even bring myself to hate someone like you.”

Seeing Noah enjoy just watching Haruna and me talk felt strange.

To put it simply, Noah had initially been pushing a malicious couple… and considering the time’s context, they were an affair couple, and then became so immersed in that couple’s dynamic that they developed their own desire to be part of it, huh?

Ugh… how labyrinthine. So labyrinthine.

Yet my body was heating up, does that mean I’m just a helpless pervert? This really feels like Nagisa has ruined me. It couldn’t be said to be anything but a mess.

If Koharu finds out, she would scream for execution a hundred or a thousand times… it’s truly a mystery how things ended up like this.

“Noah-chan, for now, Nagisa-chan has allowed it… Haruna-chan seems to be welcoming it too. But are you really okay? It feels a bit silly for me to bring this up directly, but I have a lot of desires, and once I grasp something, I don’t let go.”

“Yeah, I actually like that♪ Please, make sure I don’t escape. Recording all those moments will be my greatest joy.”

“…W-Well, I might not just stop at that; I might even annoy you sometimes.”

“Plus, I’m a promiscuous woman who wanders around carelessly.”

“Wha…? Uh, Haruna-chan. Did you hear that from Nagisa-chan…?”

“Of course. I told you, there’s no need to complicate things. Everyone who gathers by your side just wants you to be happy. Even someone as selfish as me shares that sentiment. I’ve been making sincere efforts to maintain at least a certain level of friendship among us… so you just have to be loved endlessly by us and love us back with the same passion as before.”

“Yes, that is Mika-chan’s true nature, isn’t it? Craving love, fragile enough to wither away if lonely. Ah, by fragile, I mean in the heart.”

Haruna wrapped her arms around my waist from the side. Noah even got up and sat on one of my legs. It should be cold, shouldn’t it…?

But it was luxurious. Regardless of having three lovers, I had never expected anything like this. None of us were inclined to hope for a relationship this good.

However, these two’s affections for one another were strong. Noah’s feelings for both were boiling over, and while Haruna definitely liked me more, what’s important is that neither of them had any reservations about including each other in their relationship.

“Ah, right. There’s something I’ve wanted to ask since earlier. Mika-chan… about the stains on the underwear you were wearing earlier…”

“Ah, wh-what? Stains, what do you mean…?”

“Mika-chan, my memory is nearly perfect, you know? I saw it all with my own eyes, so denying it is futile♪”

“…Fufu, I see. You’ve been looking forward to this evening for a while, haven’t you? No wonder you…”

“Wahh… W-Wait a minute. Isn’t it too soon for lovey-dovey talk? Noah-chan, I know rushing our relationship like this isn’t desirable… Hyaah…?!”

In the midst of the two fluffy bodies floating on the water, Haruna pinched my earlobe gently with her fingers.

Meanwhile, Noah’s face moved closer. I could feel the sticky desire behind her mischievous azure eyes.

“From now on, I’ll make sure to record every moment of you, Mika-chan. Just know that if you can’t escape later, don’t blame me!”

“I-I don’t want to…”

N-No, I want to. Please color me with your shades.

I finally decided to acknowledge the deep-seated truth buried within my heart.

I want love, more love.

My twisted nature desires that, and I accept that I have already crossed the irreversible river long ago.

As Noah’s lips began to engulf me, I surrendered myself completely to both of them. The night’s ecstasy heralding the arrival of spring ignited fervently.