She asked me a shocking question I had never expected

"Would you be willing to love Benkei together with Yoshitsune?"

The question made me very happy

Not because she gave me permission to do so, no. I was simply happy she was willing to speak her heart to me.

I chose to love only her with no hesitation whatsoever.

She looked very joyed and that made me happy.

I gazed in wonder at her expression as she played her flute.

A tune for me and me alone.

She stood at the exact place where she once confessed to me.

She sang the same tune as she did on a certain day I would never forget.

The tunes were the same yet they were so different.

But they both made me feel the same emotion.

If we continued to be honest and open with each other, I knew we could make this work forever.

(Yep, there's really no one in the world cuter than my girlfriend.)

I was going to do my best to be a man deserving of her.

I was going to cherish and protect the smile of hers I never wanted to fade.

As happy as she made me and no matter how much I desired to be with her I had to contain myself.

Rather, it was exactly because of that I had to do this.

Had we stayed together every day where I thought like this I would never see the sight of Shimazu Dorm.

Of course, I was going to spend time together with her but this wasn't one of those times as exams were coming soon.

How was I to face her if I had failed the exams right when I got into class S?
Or what if I became unhealthy? Would Kuki's allow me to be with her?

I had to try harder. For her and for me.

Perhaps I should make up a study plan and do some more reps before sleep.

It is the same road I go to every day but the moon is exceptionally beautiful. The air was so fresh.

Yoshitsune asked me if she should accompany me but I refused, lest I can't find it in me to split up to go the dorm.

I wonder why the air feels so chilling lately.

But with her, with Yoshitsune, I knew only better days were awaiting us.

I was in front of the dorm entry before I even knew it.

"I'm home."

"Oh Yamato, welcome back. You look like you're on cloud nine. Did something happen?" Chris said as she had her hand in front of her mouth.

I wasn't about to talk about it, in fact, it made me kind of sad to think none of them had ever experienced this feeling.

I wish every one of would come to know it with my most sincere feelings.

"Why did you ask him, Chris?! Now he is going to brag about his girlfriend."

"Oh, Gakuto, you know me so well. Are you perhaps not going to give us your blessings?"

"In your dreams. I will never do such a thing"

"Oh, that's a shame. there is a mixer with the kind of girls you'd like. I thought of inviting you here but here goes that."

"Naoe Yamato, with my most sincere feelings, I congratulate you and I hope your relationship goes well. You have my blessings."

"Same as ever, Gakuto," said a smiling Moro on the sidelines, with his hand on his pockets

"I was also told there would be a girl with exceptional hair. Are you interested, Moro?"

"Of course, let me go." He then made a soured expression "Wait, what's with the hair comment?"

"I will text you the date. Where is Gen-san?"

"In the kitchen."

To the kitchen here I go

Entering the kitchen I was met with Gen-san and Yukie cooking something alongside with a Miyako peeling and cutting the ingredients.

"What are you cooking? It smells very delicious."

"Pot stew."

"Hey, Gen-san, Yukie, may I tag along with the cooking next time?"

"Of course, Yamato-san"

"It can't be helped. I will help out only once or you won't shut up" This was Gen-san way of saying he would accompany me.

Honestly, I wanted it to be a regular thing instead of something happened in every month or so. I wasn't joking around when I said I had to learn my way around the kitchen for our future.

She also did say "We would be together forever.", coming from another girl I wouldn't take it seriously but if it's Yoshitsune she must have really meant it.

Even if that wasn't the case I doubt knowing how to cook would prove disadventagous to me.

"Yukie, have you made new friends? How is it going?"

"It's been going well! I have made friends with someone in my class"

"Ganbare, girl" how she did that with Matsukaze even while cooking was beyond me.

"You made one with the Genji's?"

"Awawawa"

"Geez, how shy you can be? I thought you had already done it with how much you helped us in the election and you even shared a bath. I guess I will have to help you with it."

"Thank you so much, Yamato-san!"

"Going good, Yamato-boy!"

I went to my room to hit the books.

Exams were closing near and I had so much to study.

The goal I aimed for myself was to get in the top 3.

It was going to be hard trying to stay fit, learn things, and maintain my relationship but it wasn't impossible

I just had to cut my free time and get off TV and video games. I had to keep going to the laze about club, I could respond to texts there while paying attention to not overdo it. At worst, I would leave early on Friday Meetings but it wouldn't be so hard that I would completely skip it.

I studied until the dinnertime.

"I was wondering, how are things going in F Class?" I asked while spooning my food.

"The hostility died up quite a bit but not much has changed besides that." normally she would have added a "It's all thanks to you Yamato, Marry me but thankfully she was holding herself.

"Oh yeah, you mentioned if before the elections"

"Yo Gakuto, pass the salt here"

"Here"

"Thanks"

We chatted away as we ate our food.