“Fufufu... you really are unconcerned with promises others make...”
Koutarou always tried to fulfill promises he made with others, but he didn't demand the same from others. The girls had let him know that this was because he didn't expect things from others, but it was a habit that was hard to lose.
“I'm trying to be careful, but it's not that easy.”
“Back then, I promised you that in return for helping me find my first love, I would introduce you to a cute underground girl.”
“Ah, right, I remember you talking about something like that.”
Koutarou recalled when he went out to play with Kiriha last autumn. Back then, he had struck that kind of deal with Kiriha to cheer her up. Kiriha agreed, and a promise was made. Since Koutarou only wanted to help Kiriha, he had completely forgotten about it.
“Now is the time to fulfill that promise.”
“Eh? But I don't really―”
―need that, is what Koutarou was about to say. Koutarou already have Kiriha, Sanae and several others precious to him. There was no need to introduce him to someone else. But before he could say that, Kiriha placed her slender finger on his lips, not letting him continue.
“I'll be introducing you to the daughter of the Kurano family. Since the Kurano family is a distinguished family with over a thousand year long history, she should be perfect for you.”
“Hey, isn't that―”
Koutarou's eyes opened wide. The daughter of the Kurano family was none other than Kiriha herself. Having found her first love and with the situation underground calming down, Kiriha decided to introduce herself.
“Her name is Kurano Kiriha. She is 17 years old, just like you. I don't mind if it's just to play, but I wish you two stay together happily ever after.”
Kiriha smiled innocently. It was as if she really was introducing him to a friend.
“Kiriha-san.”
“Yes?”
Kiriha slightly tilted her head, placing it on Koutarou's shoulder. The gesture was incredibly natural, as if she had been doing so for years on end. Seeing her like that, Koutarou swallowed his own words.
“...It's nothing. I was just thinking that I should get along well with her since you've introduced us.”
“I'll be happy if you do too. It means my efforts in introducing you weren't for nothing.”
“You would... go that far for me, huh.”
“I love you after all, or is that not enough?”
“...No. I'm probably confused because of my own faults.”
Koutarou still didn't fully understand his own heart. The fact that the girls of room 106 were precious to him were no longer beyond doubt, but maybe because of his faults that originated from childhood, he rejected those feelings at the very last moment.
“Koutarou, let's end this difficult topic here. Let's play a lot before we go home today.”
“Yeah, let's!”
But even then, another one of Koutarou's mental wounds was closed. Koutarou was happy knowing there were people that would gladly volunteer for that job.