Chapter 218 – Winter, the Season That Pushes You Forward

‘A love triangle.’

That’s probably the kind of word you’d see in a light novel — for example, when three people with tangled feelings all show up at the same place.

But as Aoki Kei just thought to himself...

Real life isn’t a light novel.

Those dramatic love triangle scenes that appear in fiction — they usually never happen in reality.

Usually.

The small living room was completely silent.

On the sofa sat Aoki Kei, Yamada Ryou, and Kita Ikuyo.

Ah… Christmas…

Wasn’t this supposed to be a cheerful, relaxing Christmas?

How did it end up like this?

Aoki Kei sat stiffly, sandwiched between the two girls, wondering what past-life sin led to this situation.

If he could go back in time, he’d definitely punch the version of himself who said he could “handle a love triangle” right in the face.

So much for confidence — now he just had a headache.

The atmosphere was thick and awkward, like a bad TV drama.

He wanted to say something — anything — to break the tension.

But when he looked up, his eyes met Kita’s.

She spoke first, her tone dripping with suspicion.

“So, Ryou-senpai… you came over this early… just to show Aoki-senpai your new outfit?”

The words Aoki wanted to say got stuck in his throat.

Ryou didn’t respond.

And neither did he.

Silence.

Even the air felt heavy.

Kita stared between them, her expression shifting from doubt… to shock.

“Wait… don’t tell me… Ryou-senpai stayed here overnight?”

That possibility hit her like a truck.

‘No way…’

She was supposed to be the one with the advantage — living nearby, seeing him often.

But if Ryou had already gotten that close…

All that careful effort, wasted in one careless moment!

Kita’s chest tightened painfully.

She remembered the bold declaration of “war” she’d once made to Ryou-senpai.

Now it just made her feel… painfully naïve.

Meanwhile, Ryou lowered her gaze, saying nothing.

Aoki Kei hesitated, wondering how to explain this without making things worse.

The silence dragged on.

Kita’s disbelief deepened.

Then, with her voice trembling, she blurted out,

“W-wait… are you saying that last night… you two already… you know—”

“Of course not!”

Aoki interrupted before her imagination could go any further.

He paused, coughed lightly, and awkwardly tried to explain,

“It’s just that… uh… Ryou’s parents went on a business trip a while ago. She, um, didn’t have money for food, so she’s been staying here temporarily.”

“……”

The relief that had started to show on Kita’s face immediately froze again.

She blinked several times, looking back and forth between them for confirmation.

Ryou gave none.

Kita’s heart sank.

So it was true.

She remembered feeling guilty a few days ago — for thinking Ryou and Kei probably didn’t get much time alone together.

How stupid that thought felt now.

She puffed up her cheeks, glaring at Aoki.

Her voice was low but full of resentment.

“Y-you… you despicable, shameless senpai…”

Aoki twitched a smile.

Honestly… that was kind of accurate.

Ryou clearly heard it too.

After a brief silence, she looked down and muttered softly,

“But you’re the one who stole my shopping day with Suki-san last week, remember?”

Now it was Kita’s turn to freeze.

But after a moment, she puffed her cheeks again, stubborn as ever.

Looking straight at Ryou, she repeated with mock indignation,

“Despicable, shameless senpai!”

“You’re the despicable one!”

“Despicable, shameless senpai!”

“You’re the despicable one!”

Was… this what a love triangle was supposed to look like?

Aoki stared at the two of them bickering like kids fighting over a toy, utterly baffled.

The argument died down after a while.

Silence returned.

Heavy and uncomfortable silence.

Since the awkwardness technically started because of him, Aoki decided to just… change the topic.

“So, Kita, what brings you here today? And… Ryou, you might want to go change — we’ll be meeting Nijika and Bocchi soon, right?”

“Oh… right,” Ryou murmured, standing up and leaving the room.

Aoki turned back to Kita.

She took a deep breath and quietly explained that she’d come early to drop off Christmas gifts.

He nodded.

Neither spoke again for a while.

Then, after what felt like minutes of quiet thinking, Aoki finally said,

“Kita… about Ryou… you and she aren’t, uh… fighting or anything, right?”

He didn’t finish the sentence, but she understood.

Kita looked at him, then turned her gaze downward.

She smiled faintly — it was soft, but complicated.

“Sometimes, Aoki-senpai… I get scared. Scared that I’ll lose you, that I’ll never have a chance to be with you.”

“But when I’m arguing with Ryou-senpai… I stop being afraid.”

“Love isn’t like a peaceful family dinner, there’s no such thing as love without hurting someone, right?”

“Yeah… you’re right,” Aoki said quietly. “There really isn’t.”

“I don’t know what to do, Aoki-senpai. I’m so conflicted.”

She lifted her eyes again — and in her gaze, Aoki saw his own reflection.

‘There’s no such thing as love without pain.’

Her words hung in the air like snowflakes, slowly falling.

And in that moment, Ryou’s voice — something she’d said once before — echoed in his mind.

So this… this is what a real love triangle feels like.

A bitter smile crept onto Aoki’s lips.

If it were him… what would he choose?

“Suki-san, no matter what you decide, I’ll support you — even if…”

He sighed softly and looked away from Kita’s eyes.

The thought of seeing her in someone else’s arms, he couldn’t bear it.

No matter how complicated things got, he had to face what he truly felt.

Ryou’s words had been right, in their own way.

But still…

He stood up and looked out the window.

Outside, snow continued to fall quietly.

Ah, winter—

The season that pushes people forward.