All Beautiful Girls Want to Stick with Me

Hearing Iroha Isshiki’s words, Kotomi didn’t respond with her usual teasing. Instead, she let out a pleasant, melodic laugh.

”Just hearing your lively voice puts me at ease.”

Iroha was slightly taken aback, but the smile on her lips grew softer and more genuine. ”Senpai, you worry about me way too much~”

”Saying I’m not worried would be a lie. I’m not a tsundere—if I have something on my mind, I’ll say it. Like right now, I’m worried about you, and that’s exactly what I feel.” Kotomi spoke slowly, her voice carrying a sincerity so clear that anyone listening could immediately hear it.

Iroha felt as if something warm was welling up in her eyes. She gently wiped the corners of her eyes with her fingertips, sniffled softly, and murmured:

”If Senpai is that worried about me, why don’t you move in with me for a few days? I’ve always wanted to share a bed with you~”

”W-What nonsense are you spouting?!” Kotomi’s face turned red as she stubbornly retorted, ”Though… I have thought about sleeping next to you.”

”Senpai, openly expressing your true thoughts in front of a girl like this can sometimes be quite improper, you know?” Iroha lowered her head with a playful smile, her tone laced with amusement.

”I’m a girl too, so it’s not a problem,” Kotomi stated confidently.

To deal with a little devil, you have to use the tactics of a little witch!

This was the realization Kotomi had come to after spending so much time with Iroha.

She only regretted not figuring it out sooner!

If she had, maybe she could have completely tamed this little devil instead of constantly being at risk of getting poked by her mischievous tail whenever she let her guard down.

The moment Kotomi finished speaking, Iroha immediately followed up with:

”If we’re both girls, then me sleeping in the same bed as Senpai should be perfectly fine too, right~?”

No.

Aimi would definitely oppose it.

Not only oppose it—she’d probably get mad, too…

Kotomi was momentarily flustered by the little devil’s unexpected advance, and just as she was about to come up with an excuse to brush it off, Iroha’s voice drifted softly through the phone—light and wistful.

”Senpai, do you think the Dragon’s Love Bell really works? Lately, I think I might have started liking you… Just like how you’ve started to like me, even just a little.”

”Eh?”

Kotomi froze at those words.

Holding her phone in hand, she stared blankly, her mouth slightly open, completely at a loss for how to respond.

Her mind drifted back to that day in Enoshima, to the legend of the five-headed dragon and the celestial maiden, to the moment when she and Iroha had rung the Dragon’s Love Bell together.

That clear, pure chime still seemed to echo in her ears, never fading away.

Does the Dragon’s Love Bell really have an effect?

Perhaps only Kotomi and Iroha’s hearts knew the answer.

”Hehe, just kidding! What a shame I didn’t decide to video call you just now—otherwise, I’d get to see exactly what kind of face Senpai is making right now~”

”I have no expression on my face at all!” Kotomi shouted, her face burning red.

”Hey, Senpai, where should we go to play next time?” Iroha suddenly asked.

”Anywhere you want to go, I can take you there… just like before.” Kotomi gave the same answer as before, then added, ”Of course, if it’s somewhere far, we’ll have to wait for a long holiday or winter break before I can take you there.”

”Hmm~ But I was thinking about skipping class with Senpai and running away to a far-off place together~ Hehe, is your face turning even redder now? I really wish I could see it for myself.”

”You arrogant little devil, tone it down a bit!” Kotomi shouted in embarrassment.

Hearing Iroha’s words, Kotomi absentmindedly walked into the bathroom and saw her own flushed cheeks in the mirror.

There was absolutely no way she would admit she was blushing—especially not to Iroha! Otherwise, this little devil would definitely get even more smug and ”push her luck”!

”Senpai.”

”Hm?”

”I have a lot of things I want to say to you. I wonder if I’ll ever have the chance to tell you all of them.”

”Idiot. Aren’t you always so full of confidence, you little devil? Bring out that usual confidence! Of course, you’ll have the chance to tell me everything on your mind. I’d be more than happy to listen.”

If this is a story about you and me—

Then our story is bound to be a long, long one.

On the other end of the call, Iroha silently let her tears fall. But rather than disappearing, the smile on her lips only grew even brighter.