After breaking up, my ex asked me to win her back

Night, Ai Cheng Family.

Ai Cheng Karen sat on the bed alone, hugging her thighs, her chin resting on her knees, while pressing her phone, her toes curling occasionally.

By now, Kagura Hikaru and Ruzaki Mami had already left, probably already home and done with dinner.

She should probably report to President Ayakoji about the battle situation.

There was quite a lot to talk about today.

Ai Cheng Karen opened the contact list in her phone, scrolled down to find 'Kiryu Hina,' and tapped the call button.

The call connected after a few seconds.

"Hello, Ai Cheng?" Kiryu Hina's voice came from the other side of the phone.

"Good evening, President Hina."

"Good evening, Ai Cheng, have you had dinner yet?"

"I have. What about you, President Hina?"

"Not yet, I was waiting for your call."

"Ah, right, I'm sorry!"

"Just kidding." Kiryu Hina laughed softly, "How did you all progress today? I was given quite a hard time."

"Are you alright, President...?"

"Of course, I'm alright. It's just that the reporters chased me to my doorstep, and I couldn't go out, that's all. Anyway, they can't enter the apartment where I am."
Your journey continues with My Virtual Library Empire

"Did President Ayakoji do this...?"

"Probably," Kiryu Hina said without much concern, "But never mind me, how is Kagura? Did he remember anything?"

"It seems like there's some progress."

"Oh?"

Ai Cheng Karen thought for a moment: "Today, I took him to a live house to see our band's performance, but our guitarist was unwell, so we had to have Kagura fill in."

"He's in a state of amnesia, there were no problems?"

"No, it surprised me too, but really, there weren't any." Ai Cheng Karen, holding the phone, looked up and said, "And after the live ended, he told me he remembered some things about me on stage."

"Is that so? That's great."

You could tell from her tone that Kiryu Hina was in a very good mood.

When you're on the phone and only able to hear a voice, you tend to be very sensitive to emotional changes on the other end, and sometimes it's even more accurate than face-to-face conversation.

Actually, Ai Cheng Karen thought that Kiryu Hina would be really angry, even if she didn't show it outwardly, she'd have some doubts in her heart.

After all, Kagura Hikaru remembered her first, not Kiryu Hina.

Ai Cheng Karen clearly remembered how Kiryu Hina dealt with Ayakoji Chiyoko, who wanted to monopolize Kagura Hikaru.

But now the other party seemed not to be angry; instead, she sounded quite happy.

This... didn't quite match with Ai Cheng Karen's impression of her.

Though she was curious, she dared not ask directly.

However, it seemed like Kiryu Hina guessed Ai Cheng Karen's thoughts and suddenly changed the subject: "Ai Cheng... you like Kagura, don't you?"

"Eh?" Ai Cheng Karen was stunned, then frantically waved her hands, "How how how how could that be! President Kiriyu, don't joke like that!"

"There's no need to hide it. In fact, I could tell from the first time we met that you have special feelings for Kagura Hikaru."

Kiryu Hina said, "Back then, you even thought I was a bully to Kagura, a bad guy—which, indeed, was the case. You should have seen your expression at the time, just like a protective mother cow."

"Cow, cow?"

"Stubborn, indignant, repressing fear, you were really trying hard," Kiryu Hina said in a more profound tone, "And then, you earned Kagura's friendship with your sincerity, he came to consider you as a friend."

"..."

"Don't worry, I'm not blaming you." Kiryu Hina said with a complex smile, "Ai Cheng, if Kagura Hikaru ends up choosing you, I don't know what others would think, but I won't resent you."

"President Hina??"

"At that time, I was still in the dark about Kagura and Kohinata Motoyo's situation; you could have chosen not to tell me. So, why did you?"

"Eh...?" Ai Cheng Hualian hesitated, "I just, didn't want Kagura to be misunderstood, and President Hina seemed really concerned about it... Did I do something wrong?"

"It's exactly because you're a kind person, Ai Cheng Hualian," Kiryu Hina said softly, "Whether it's me, Kohinata Motoyo, or Ayakoji Chiyoko, we all have our own selfish desires. But as someone who likes Kagura just like us, you were willing to help your rival without expecting anything in return. That's what makes you so likable."

"...No." Ai Cheng Hualian shook her head, "President Hina, you misunderstand, I'm not as kind as you think, I just simply have no hope. I do... really like Kagura, but I won't confess to him."

"Afraid of rejection?"

"I feel that Kagura only sees me as a friend, and I don't want to ruin that relationship."

"Hmm..." Kiryu Hina mused, then said with a smile, "You're a year older than me, but unexpectedly clumsy, Senior Ai Cheng."

"?"

"But being silly is also adorable, no wonder Kagura is fond of you."

"I'm not silly...."

"Silly is a relative term, and it's not necessarily a bad thing," Kiryu Hina stated, "Ayakoji Chiyoko and Kohinata Motoyo are 'smarter' than you, but look where they are now."

"..."

"Ai Cheng, keep protecting Kagura, whether it's as a friend or something else, I don't want to see him get hurt again."

"Yes, me too."

..............

At the same time, at the Kagura Family's house.

Ayakoji Chiyoko was dining at the same table with Kagura Hikaru and his stepmother.

Kagura Hikaru had only discovered upon returning home that Ayakoji Chiyoko had arrived before him and was laughing and chatting with his stepmother while busying themselves in the kitchen.

He was then informed that Ayakoji Chiyoko was going to have dinner at his house tonight.

His stepmother obviously knew about their relationship and was very welcoming of her visit.

As for Kagura Hikaru's feelings, they were somewhat delicate.

He had just come back from Ai Cheng Hualian's house, and seeing his girlfriend at this time made him feel inexplicably guilty.

But on second thought, he'd only been hanging out at a classmate's home, and he hadn't cheated, so why should he feel guilty!

After dinner, Kagura Hikaru went back to his room, while Ayakoji Chiyoko stayed behind to help his stepmother with the dishes before heading upstairs.

Standing at the bottom of the stairs, she didn't hear a sound. Usually, Kagura Hikaru would be playing games or watching movies or TV series at this time. Why was it so quiet today?

It was not until Ayakoji Chiyoko went upstairs that she found Kagura Hikaru sitting on the bed with a lake-blue electric guitar, leaning against the wall, thoughtfully and unconsciously playing some improvised segments.

When he saw her walk in, Kagura Hikaru looked up and asked, "Chiyoko, what kind of person was I before my memory loss? Can you tell me?"

"Hmm? Why do you suddenly ask that?" Ayakoji Chiyoko's heart sank, but she kept a smile on her face.

She closed the room door with her left hand, then climbed onto Kagura Hikaru's bed and sat next to him.

Gazing up thoughtfully, Kagura Hikaru said, "I just find it incredible. In just three short years, I've mastered the electric guitar, improved my gaming skills, and even started to recognize foreign languages that I couldn't understand before... Did I really do all that?"

"Your abilities are not limited to those," Ayakoji Chiyoko said softly, "You understand performance art, have been onstage, and can create. You helped me write my speech when I ran for the Student Council, and last year you were victorious at the national Sword Dao competition... You've always been a person of outstanding talent; I doubt I could ever catch up to you in my lifetime."

"That's an exaggeration."

"Not at all."

Ayakoji Chiyoko slowly wrapped her arm around him. Her arm, warm like a snake, hooked around his neck, and she whispered in his ear, breathing fragrantly, "Hey, where have you been today? Can you tell me? Don't hide it from me, okay?"

"...Yes."