Your Girlfriend Is Right Here

Himemiya Karen didn’t seem to notice the change in Hakamada Kusuke’s expression at all, and she pulled him to sit down on the sofa next to Imaizumi Keita and Yanami Anna.

The distance between the four of them became close enough for “intimate conversation.”

“Hey hey, Anna,”

Karen turned to look at her, those curious eyes flicking between the two tightly clasped hands and their faces.

“When did you two actually start dating? You’re way too good at keeping secrets! We didn’t notice a thing!”

The moment she finished, Kusuke added his own probing look, giving him the perfect reason to keep pressing.

“Yeah, Anna. This is really sudden.”

Two pairs of eyes focused on Yanami, making the warmth from Imaizumi’s hand feel even hotter.

Her heartbeat sped up uncontrollably, making guilt flare in her chest as she instinctively looked away.

Imaizumi noticed her hesitation immediately.

He tightened his grip on her hand ever so slightly.

It was both reassurance and a subtle reminder—
to shift her focus from answering the question to their intimate contact.

That firm strength reminded her of his earlier words—
“Leave everything to me.”

Yanami took a deep breath, forcing herself to stay calm.

Then she turned slightly and spoke in a shy, halting tone, reciting the prepared line:

“Actually… it’s n-not that big a deal. It’s just… I always thought Imaizumi-kun was… really special. He has his own way of doing things.”

She stumbled through her explanation.

“And then… seeing you and Karen so happy together, Kusuke… I just… felt like I should be brave too…”

While she spoke, Imaizumi felt a steady stream of energy—
“guilt,” “nervousness,” “trying her best”—
flowing into him.

So he gently traced his thumb across the back of her hand.

Encouraging her to keep that emotional state.

Yanami’s heart skipped a beat.

Her skin felt absurdly sensitive under the gaze of the two people in front of her.

Even if they had discussed it beforehand…
Imaizumi was being way too bold.

Doing something like that right in front of them…

“That’s exactly how Anna describes it.”

Imaizumi smiled lightly and met Kusuke and Karen’s eyes, joking:

“But even though Anna is very pretty, to me she’s still in the evaluation phase. Becoming my girlfriend isn’t that easy.”

There was a deliberate mix of arrogance and a subtle declaration of ownership in his tone.

He wasn’t just blocking Kusuke’s emotional stance—
he was also putting emotional pressure on Yanami, stirring more complicated feelings aimed at him.

And it worked—
Kusuke’s brows furrowed instinctively.

He couldn’t describe the discomfort clearly—
he only knew that the way this man talked about Anna made him feel inexplicably irritated.

So he replied in a casual, joking tone:

“Is that so? Then Imaizumi-kun should get to know Anna better. She might look carefree, but she actually thinks a lot on the inside.”

It sounded like a childhood friend introducing her—
but it clearly revealed the “I know her better than you” superiority.

Imaizumi simply smiled.

He didn’t argue.

He just pulled Yanami a little closer, so close she was practically leaning against him.

And with firm certainty, he said:

“Don’t worry. Anna is my girlfriend. With me by her side, I’ll learn everything about her slowly.”

That intimate gesture made Yanami’s body tense, but what followed was a warm sense of being protected.

The mix of “shyness” and “security” delivered an extremely high-quality flow of energy.

His words neatly crushed Kusuke’s unspoken “childhood friend privilege,” leaving him speechless.

“Mhm!”

Completely oblivious to the invisible tension, Karen nodded vigorously and smiled with genuine happiness as she jumped into the conversation.

“Kusuke treats me really well too! In the morning when I get up he prepares water for me, and he even—”

She was about to continue enthusiastically when Kusuke’s face flushed red and he quickly covered her mouth.

“Cough! Karen, th-those intimate things… you shouldn’t say them out loud!”

“Mmmph—!”

The little scene only lasted a moment, but it made the chill in Yanami’s chest sink even lower.

So… they were already at the level of sharing “after-staying-over” morning routine topics.

Her treasured memories of “walking to school together” felt painfully pale and childish compared to real lovers.

So this is the ‘lover state’ Imaizumi talked about…

Someone who’s never dated…
really doesn’t know anything…

Imaizumi once again felt the warm energy from Yanami shift—
turning into something negative and unusable.

He sighed internally.

Yanami Anna’s appearance fit his tastes perfectly—
but this emotional mix was really starting to get annoying.

Fortunately, he could use her vulnerability to collect more “interest.”

“Okay okay, just chatting is kind of boring.”

Karen recovered quickly and pushed the song remote toward them.

“Imaizumi-kun, Anna, sing something! Let us hear your duet!”

Imaizumi smiled and gently pushed the device back.

“You two sing another one.”

Then he looked at Yanami, his gaze softening.

“I want to spend a little more time alone with Anna.”

He said it so naturally—
like a couple who couldn’t stand being apart for even a moment.

Yanami nodded shyly, playing her role perfectly and showing great enthusiasm for hearing them sing again.

Karen instantly made a knowing face, laughing as she dragged Kusuke up again.

Soon, the room dimmed once more, and the prelude of another love song began.

As the other two focused on singing, Imaizumi decided to attempt something risky.

He already knew the effects of “shyness” and “nervousness.”

But what about another, stronger emotion directed at him—

“jealousy” and “possessiveness”?

Remembering Yanami’s tough-but-soft personality, he leaned close to her ear.

His breath was intentionally warm, his voice lowered to mimic the whisper of lovers.

He leaned in so close it felt like he could brush her ear with his lips.

Using a calm, matter-of-fact tone, he whispered:

“Anna, do you remember what I told you about the ‘lover state’?”

“…Yes.”

Yanami responded instinctively.
She did not mention that she had just now felt it very vividly.

“Look at Himemiya.”

Imaizumi’s gaze shifted to the girl singing at the screen.

“She’s radiating the kind of charm people in love have—sweet enough to make a man weak.”

“To be honest,”

He paused for effect.

“Even I feel a little moved.”

The moment those words left his mouth, Imaizumi sensed the energy shift sharply.

Yanami Anna’s tightly suppressed emotions exploded at once.

She had already been hit by the couple’s “sweet routine.”
And now her boyfriend in name was complimenting her rival right in front of her.

The suppressed sting of jealousy and fear surged violently.

She tightened her grip on Imaizumi’s hand—
firm, demanding, impossible to ignore.

A sharp, burning wave of energy shot into Imaizumi’s body.

It was far stronger, fiercer, more intoxicating than any “warm flow” before.

Like the reckless joy of eating something unforgivably spicy—
with only one thought in mind:

This feels amazing.

And Imaizumi instantly felt his ability’s awakening progress jump noticeably.

Before he could even smile—

Yanami turned her head, copying his earlier move.

She leaned into his ear.

Her voice carried clear possessiveness and challenge as she whispered:

“Don’t look at other people.”

“Keita… your girlfriend is right here.”