Chapter 46: The Mystery of the Confession

"Hiro, I need you." Furuya Rei looked around and, finding Nekono Ikuya not nearby, solemnly pulled Morofushi Kagemitsu away, his tone as serious as if he had encountered a major crisis.

Morofushi Kagemitsu looked helpless, but still obediently followed Furuya Rei. Having witnessed similar scenes countless times recently, he already guessed what advice Furuya Rei wanted next.

They walked to a secluded corner, and Furuya Rei clasped his hands together, his eyes pikachu: "Hiro, please, help me think of another way to confess."

...As expected, it was still a confession suggestion.

He recalled the overly sweet interactions between Rei Furuya and Ikuya Nekono, and was utterly bewildered. "I thought you two were already together, but it turns out you're not?"

Rei Furuya's eyes lit up with anticipation: "Hiro?"

“Zero, you…” Morofushi Kagemitsu looked at Furuya Rei silently, his eyes filled with disappointment, “You still haven’t confessed?” Are you even capable of this?

He recalled the previous times Zero had come to him, and the plans he had proposed to Zero, and a sense of foreboding washed over him. Would all these plans, which had consumed so many of their brain cells, ultimately be cruelly rejected by Zero?

There are various reasons for this. Rei Furuya was dejected and didn't speak; his purplish-gray eyes drooped even more, giving him an inexplicable pitiful look. He said pitifully, "Hiro..."

"Stop." Morofushi Kagemitsu remained unmoved. Furuya Rei had put on the same expression several times before, and he was completely immune to Furuya Rei's pitiful act.

This is the last time, absolutely the last time. Morofushi Kagemitsu thought to himself. If Zero still doesn't act this time, then he might as well just release Zero.

Because he suspects that Rei Furuya is deliberately dragging his feet by not confessing, when in fact Rei Furuya is enjoying the pink bubble atmosphere where he and Ikuya both know the truth but neither of them takes the initiative to break it.

If Zero is just having fun with Ikuya, then there's no need to bring him along, thought Morofushi Kagemitsu.

Although the three of them have been inseparable since they met, it's best to avoid including him in couples' activities. He assured him he wouldn't feel any resentment about it.

I don't want to be part of a couple's play, not even Zero and Yuya!

Recalling their previous elaborate confession plans, which had been meticulously planned for a long time but were often ruthlessly rejected by Furuya Rei, Morofushi said, "How about Zero chooses a simpler and more classic confession plan this time?"

Classics are never wrong.

I'd like to hear more about how to make this simple and classic.

Morofushi Kagemitsu silently reminded him: "Valentine's Day and White Day are coming soon."

So—"Our favorite chocolate!" they exclaimed in unison.

Valentine's Day is on February 14th every year, and White Day is on March 14th every year, with a month in between.

February 14th is generally a day for women to give gifts to men, usually chocolates. Gifts given to someone they have a crush on are more elaborate and are called "birthday chocolates." Gifts given to friends or colleagues are more ordinary and are called "obligation chocolates." March 14th is a continuation of the former, where the man who received the gift reciprocates by giving a gift to the woman as a thank you and response; the return gift is usually slightly more valuable.

However, over time, the gender of those who give gifts on Valentine's Day has gradually become less restricted to women. Some men who have a tacit understanding with their crushes no longer wait a month to reciprocate, but choose to exchange gifts with the women they like on the day itself, signifying a mutual pursuit of love.

Morofushi Kagemitsu felt that Furuya Rei and Nekono Ikuya were a perfect example of mutual attraction. And since they were both men, there was no need to follow the custom of women giving gifts on Valentine's Day and men reciprocating on White Day.

Most importantly, making chocolate only requires buying chocolate from a convenience store, melting it at home, and solidifying it again using a mold. At most, you might add some hazelnuts or other ingredients. It doesn't require much culinary skill. Even though Rei Furuya chose to make his signature chocolate by hand, Hiromitsu Morofushi believed that Rei could handle it himself and didn't need to ask him to.

Let Zero try a few more times at most. The more difficult it is, the more it represents his sincerity, right?

So let's go, Zero, and get ready for Valentine's Day. Morofushi Kagemitsu glanced at the pensive Furuya Rei, then quietly moved away, minimizing his presence.

Well, let Zero figure out the specifics himself. I'm outta here.

At the same time, Morobushi Kagemitsu was not without any doubts.

Rei Furuya has discussed the confession plan with him several times, so why has Ikuya Nekono never talked to him about any progress?

He met with Nekono Ikuya alone many times. Did Nekono Ikuya have a plan all along?

"Confession plan?" Nekono Ikuya said casually to Morofushi Kagemitsu while diligently grinding cocoa beans. "I don't have a confession plan."

Yes, Morofushi Kagemitsu had only just escaped Furuya Rei's sight when he ran into Nekono Ikuya and was once again taken away by Nekono Ikuya.

Morobuchi Kagemitsu: "..." Sigh!

As Valentine's Day approaches, this situation has become increasingly common; he's referring to groups of three or four people chatting privately. They're not actually trying to say anything bad about each other, just having private conversations.

Everyone knows that giving chocolates to your loved one on Valentine's Day is a sweet tradition, but keeping the process of making the chocolate a secret from your partner is even more romantic.

"No plans to confess?" Morofushi Kagemitsu comfortably sprawled on the sofa at Nekono Ikuya's house, lazily raising his head to look at the cocoa beans in Nekono Ikuya's hand.

What is Yuuya doing? Isn't it supposed to be his signature chocolate for confessing his love? Or is it some kind of obligation chocolate? He's even planning to grind cocoa beans from scratch.

Without looking up, Nekono Ikuya said, "Yeah, no. Because Furuya-kun has already confessed to me. Doesn't Kagemitsu know?" He was also puzzled at this point.

He made his own special chocolate, of course, but special chocolates aren't just for crushes; they can be given to your serious lover too. What's wrong with him making special chocolates for Rei Furuya?

"???" Morifushi Kagemitsu sat up in shock from his deathbed, and turned his head sharply. "What? Zero has already confessed to you?"

No? When? Zero didn't tell him that this morning! Could it be that Zero's action speed has become incredibly fast in just one afternoon?

And then he quickly confessed his feelings and succeeded?

Morofushi Kagemitsu wasn't too surprised that Furuya Rei confessed his feelings so quickly and successfully; anyone with eyes could see that he and Nekono Ikuya were mutually attracted. Nekono Ikuya wasn't one to hesitate, so it was quite possible he would accept without any hesitation. What truly surprised him was—

Why is Zero suddenly being so decisive? He finally stopped hesitating and went straight for A?

Although Morofushi Kagemitsu believed that Furuya Rei should have done this much earlier, the timing... he still felt something was off. There must be some discrepancy between their information and that of the others.

Morofushi Kagemitsu was questioning his existence. Could he have let Furuya Rei seriously mess around?

No way... right?

Nekono Ikuya was startled by Morofushi Kagemitsu's intense reaction, and his attention finally shifted from the cocoa beans to Morofushi Kagemitsu.

"Huh, Jingguang, you really didn't know?"

Nekono Ikuya looked at Morofushi Kagemitsu's genuinely shocked face with surprise and said, "I thought you could tell, Kagemitsu? The atmosphere between Furuya-kun and me is obviously that we're in the midst of a sweet romance?"

He was puzzled: "Is it really that hard to tell?" He thought it was obvious.

"Kagemitsu, Kagemitsu, where has your keen senses gone?" Nekono Ikuya's eyes seemed to say.

It was quite obvious, actually; Morofushi Kagemitsu remained expressionless. That's why he was so puzzled when Furuya Rei came to him that morning asking for advice on confessing.

He felt that the interaction between Rei Furuya and Ikuya Nekono didn't seem like the interaction between people who weren't together, but he thought it was because they were originally close friends.

He thought he had misjudged the situation.

"No, it's obvious." Morofushi Kagemitsu gave a fake smile, then gritted his teeth and took out his phone to bombard Furuya Rei with messages.

What's going on? A huge question mark appeared on Zhu Fujing's bald head. What was the point of Zero lying to him about this? How strange.

How strange, what's wrong with Jingguang? Why did he suddenly get so angry? Or is it a burning rage?

Nekono Ikuya stared at Morofushi Kagemitsu, who suddenly sat up straight on the sofa and started clicking away on the buttons, a huge question mark appearing above her head.

He thought for a moment and decided to let the bullets fly for a while, waiting for Morofushi Kagemitsu to finish his exchange with the person who was likely Furuya-kun. Nekono Ikuya separated the cocoa beans from their shells and began to grind the cocoa beans into cocoa pulp.

A moment later, Morofushi Kagemitsu stared at the chat box between Furuya Rei and himself on the screen and suddenly fell silent.

"..." A loading icon appeared above his head, and he froze for a moment.

Nekono Ikuya asked curiously, "What's wrong?" Why did Kagemitsu suddenly freeze? It's rare to see him like that. What did Furuya-kun do?

Morofushi Kagemitsu looked up slowly: "Ikumi, how did Zero confess to you?"

Why didn't Jingguang sound curious? Nekono Ikuya immediately realized something was wrong.

He remained calm: "Asking me to see a movie alone, giving me Lego flower, and then going on all sorts of dates? Is there a problem?"

Nekono Ikuya looked puzzled.

"No problem?" Morofushi Kagemitsu was equally puzzled. This was all part of the confession plan he and Furuya Rei had discussed beforehand.

Morofushi Kagemitsu thought Furuya Rei had rejected all these plans. So it turns out Furuya Rei didn't back down, but actually completed them all?

Morofushi Kagemitsu looked at his chat window with Furuya Rei, his eyes filled with great confusion. Why did Furuya Rei keep thinking that his confession had failed?

"You refused?" Although he thought it was impossible, Morofushi Kagemitsu asked anyway, just in case.

"No," Nekono Ikuya protested. "I even invited Furuya to stargaze, and the first planet we looked at was Venus, which represents love and beauty. I accepted all the invitations, and I've kept the Lego flower carefully."

The building block flower was placed on his bedside table in his bedroom, a place he could see at a glance before falling asleep.

Nekono Ikuya had already realized something: "Does Furuya-kun think he didn't confess successfully? It seems that every time he seriously tries to say something, he gets unexpectedly interrupted, such as by a case, a car horn, or a passerby suddenly running by."

Such a tragic situation, Zhu Fujingguang felt sorry for him.

However, this was something Yu Mi himself guessed. He paused for a moment and then said, "...What if I said yes?"

Nekono Ikuya smiled, her eyes crinkling, and commented, "Hmm, kind of cute."