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

```

Kagura Hikaru sat in the room.

The rooms at Ryusongan had something like a small balcony separated from the interior, with a small table and chairs where one could sit and enjoy the moon while drinking.

Of course, Kagura Hikaru was still underage, so there was no alcohol for him to drink.

The moon tonight was like a jade disc, casting a gentle glow, very beautiful.

Kagura Hikaru had been watching it for quite a while, forgetting the time, until the sound of the door opening startled him.

Ayakoji Chiyoko walked in; she had just taken a bath and had changed from her school uniform into a gray nightgown.

It was the rare sight of her out of uniform.

Ayakoji Chiyoko not in a school uniform was a novel sight to the extreme, like seeing a spider in jeans, which made Kagura Hikaru unable to stop staring at her.

Ayakoji Chiyoko gave him a cold glance, "What are you looking at?"

Kagura Hikaru unconsciously averted his gaze.

"Nothing."

"..."

She rolled her eyes slightly and walked to the bed, tucking herself into the covers without regard for anyone else.

"I'm going to sleep, turn off the lights," Ayakoji Chiyoko said.

Kagura Hikaru walked over and turned off the ceiling light, instantly plunging the room into darkness, with only the moonlight streaming in from outside.

His bed was placed by the window on that side.

And Ayakoji Chiyoko slept on the other side of the room, close to the door.

Kagura Hikaru slowly crawled into his covers, and they lay back to back with the person sharing his room.

The room was utterly silent.

Why had it come to this?

Kagura Hikaru asked himself again.

For the first time, he had a funded trip he liked, and he had won a major competition; the two joys overlapped, bringing even more and more happiness.

He should have been experiencing what was like a dream come true, yet, why had it come to this?

Normally, they each should have had their own room.

But today seemed particularly unlucky, not to mention leaving his phone at the hotel and missing the train, when it came time to pay for the room, he discovered that the money in his wallet had been taken by someone.

And it wasn't just one person; both of them had their money stolen.

The thief at least had some conscience, not taking everything at once but leaving a bit for each of them.

The money from the two of them put together was just enough to afford one room.

Kagura Hikaru even thought about saying that they could find a cheaper inn outside where they would probably be able to afford separate rooms.

But to his surprise, Ayakoji Chiyoko agreed to share a room with him, although she looked unhappy when she nodded.

He couldn't understand what she was thinking.

Their relationship had eased somewhat during this trip to Capital City, but it hadn't reached the level where they could sleep together.

Plus, Kagura Hikaru always felt like she knew something.

The inexplicable loss of the phone at the hotel, missing the train, the stolen wallet—all carried a sense of coincidence that was too much to bear.

He didn't think it was Ayakoji Chiyoko's doing, so who was it then?

Kagura Hikaru stared blankly at the moon outside the window, and even when he closed his eyes, he was too alert, his brain excessively active, unable to stop thinking.

...Yep, he couldn't sleep at all.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

It was his first time sharing a room and sleeping with a girl of his age, who could remain calm in such a situation?

And this person was Ayakoji Chiyoko, which was even more terrifying.

Who knew if she would get more and more furious under the covers, get up in the middle of the night, and do something to him.

Just thinking about it made him unable to sleep.

It seemed like every time he closed his eyes, Ayakoji Chiyoko's face would appear before him, glaring at him with bloodshot eyes, clenching his throat fiercely.

```

In a sense, Ayakoji Chiyoko was more terrifying than any ghost.

"Are you asleep?"

A sudden question came from beside her.

Kagura Hikaru's body jolted as she slowly turned around and found that Ayakoji Chiyoko, unbeknownst to her, was facing this way, staring intently, with a sliver of shadow from the blanket revealing a large, deformed shape being squashed.

"Is something the matter...."

"Well, I can't seem to sleep," said Ayakoji Chiyoko calmly, "So, why not take this opportunity to talk about our future."

"..."

"What do you want to do for a career in the future?"

Oh, it's about career choices, what a relief.

"I don't know yet, what about you?"

"I have some ideas, but they're not quite specific," Ayakoji Chiyoko said expressionlessly, "So I'd like you to help me eliminate the wrong answers. I'll avoid anything you choose."

"..."

Slightly annoyed, Kagura Hikaru blurted out without much thought, "Becoming a politician in the future wouldn't be bad."

"That won't work, politics is within my range of consideration."

"...What does that have to do with me."

"I see, first, I'll spread negative news about you in society to thoroughly destroy the credibility of the identity of Kagura Hikaru, ensuring you have absolutely no connection with politics."

"Please don't."

The night spurred on their conversation.

Starting to consider future prospects in the first year of high school did seem somewhat premature, but for capable individuals, the earlier, the better.

But the common problem among prodigies was having too many paths to choose from, making it difficult to decide.

Like Kagura Hikaru, for example.

He could become a musician, a scientist, a businessman, a teacher—there were countless paths unfolding before him, like the countless stars in the sky.

He knew well that as long as he retained the knowledge given by the Golden Finger, he had the ability to tread all these paths.

Ayakoji Chiyoko could empathize with this.

After all, she too was favored by the gods of talent, having achieved success in various fields at a very young age and possessing leadership skills Kagura Hikaru could only dream of, making her a hopeful emblem of the future.

Struggling to sleep at night, Kagura Hikaru found himself chatting idly with her, using the conversation to stoke his own sleepiness.

As a result, the more Kagura Hikaru talked, the sleepier he became, while Ayakoji Chiyoko seemed as lively as ever.

Just as he thought his companion was particularly chatty that night and braced himself for an all-night exchange, he was caught off guard when she said abruptly: "You really are trying to please me. Why? It's not just about becoming friends again, is it?"

Kagura Hikaru was taken aback.

It was as if his neck were clamped, and what drowsiness he had swept away in an instant.

He immediately realized that his momentary hesitation would indirectly confirm her suspicion.

And sure enough, seeing Kagura Hikaru at a loss for words, Ayakoji Chiyoko abruptly changed her demeanor, her expression turning cold and hard, seemingly lowering the temperature in the room a few degrees.

The supposed career discussion was nothing but pure acting; in truth, the answers didn't matter. The aim was to probe Kagura Hikaru's attitude towards her.

Through their idle conversation, Ayakoji Chiyoko confirmed indeed that Kagura Hikaru was deliberately accommodating her, with topics that were always catered to her, cautious as if she might pounce and hit him at any moment.

How could that be possible, she wasn't some kind of brute!

Dismissing that outrageous reason, Ayakoji Chiyoko found no substantial meaning in this behavior, leading her to a simple conclusion—

Kagura Hikaru liked her.

This wasn't some rare occurrence; Ayakoji Chiyoko, having received more confessions than most from an early age, felt she did have the charm to attract men.

However, her response to such notions had always been the same.

Ayakoji Chiyoko said unceremoniously, "I'm sorry, but I have no interest in dating anyone, not now or in the future. If you harbor any illusions about me, please stop now. It's just not possible between us."

"...Huh?"