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Having faced failure and thinking he was disliked, Ryoma Ryuzaki was on the brink of giving up everything.

However, she affirmed even his flawed parts.

No matter what he did, she wouldn't dislike him.

Even in his ugliest moments, she would still love him.

For him, drowning in self-denial and self-loathing, her extended hand was truly a "salvation”.

Thanks to her, he had the time to reevaluate his shortcomings.

Even when he failed, there was room for reflection.

Therefore, he could give it another try.

He had the time to change himself.

“A girl who loves me will be waiting for me forever.”

--Coincidentally, he was the same kind of person as Kotaro Nakayama.

He was the same.

Offered a hand by Shiho Shimotsuki when immersed in self-denial and self-loathing.

Thanks to her, he gained the time to change.

Kotaro transformed from a mob role to something more.

"Mob characters" and "Protagonists" are fundamentally different, yet these two shared a common thread.

So, Kotaro entrusted Ryoma to Kirari.

Knowing he couldn't save Ryoma himself, he felt a girl who loved him was the only one who could help someone similar to him.

As a result, Ryoma was finally saved.

--Kirari pulled Ryoma up from the ground and lightly nudged his chest.

"Pull yourself together, Ryoma Ryuzaki! You're a man, right?"

She laughed teasingly, and Ryoma smiled in response.

"...Yeah, you're right."

There was still a shadow in his expression, but the fear from earlier was gone.

"Alright, then... Think about it properly. Not just about me, but also about Azu-chan and Yuzu-chan's feelings. Face them properly."

"That's... of course."

For the feelings they couldn't face directly until now, Kirari advised him to consider them seriously.

"…Next week, there's Valentine's Day, right? I'll make delicious chocolate, so let's talk about your thoughts then."

Kirari seemed to understand that what Ryoma needed now was "time”.

He was still confused, his focus uncertain.

So, Kirari could only extend a helping hand.

"I'll come to your house after school next week. But as for Azu-chan and Yuzu-chan, I don't know. I won't reach out to them. It's all up to Ryu-kun."

She'd provide support but not coddle him. It was a subtle nuance, but Kirari was careful not to hinder Ryoma's growth.

For Ryoma's sake, she had also decided it was better not to do anything about Azusa and Yuzuki.

"Think for yourself, figure out what you should do, and come up with your own answers, okay?"

With just those words, she gently distanced herself from Ryoma.

There were no more words to say. She had done everything she could. Now, it was entirely up to Ryoma.

"Well then, I should probably head home."

Turning on her heel to leave his room, just before departing, Ryoma said to her.

"Kirari... Thank you. And sorry."

—He could now properly express gratitude and apology.

This signified Ryoma Ryuzaki's personal 'growth’.

Not as the protagonist, but as himself.

Kirari genuinely felt happy about his growth.

"No problem☆ Don't worry about it... If gratitude comes through 'results’, that's good enough."

"I see. 'Show it through actions’, huh?"

"Yeah, exactly. Well then, see you."

With those words as the last, she finally left his room.

Putting on her shoes at the entrance, then leaving the house.

Looking up at the now dark sky, she breathed a sigh of relief.

"If that feeling is there, it should be okay."

Ryoma wouldn't go astray anymore.

He would properly face the feelings of Kirari and the others.

Feeling this somehow, she took a breath of relief...

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