Chapter 190: Because I Love You, No Reason is Needed

While the little cutie was busy playing at the Shirogane house.

"Ehh~ So those two senpais have that kind of relationship."

Her faintly fragrant, silk-like long hair cascaded over Miyahito's shoulders and chest. Hugging a pillow, Utaha held Miyahito's right hand against her thigh, playfully toying with his fingers out of boredom.

"It seems Kaguya-senpai really does like Miyuki-senpai."

As she spoke, Utaha couldn't help but recall the way Kaguya's face had instantly shifted from stormy to sunny when she introduced herself. Amused, she looked up at her boyfriend.

"Before I even mentioned I was your girlfriend, Kaguya-senpai looked like she wanted to eat me alive. It was super scary."

"That's because you're cute and beautiful."

Miyahito wrinkled his nose, smiling with a hint of smugness as he lightly tapped his girlfriend's delicate nose with his finger.

"Suddenly, a beautiful, gentle, and graceful girl appears, and she's so familiar with Miyuki-nii's little sister. Of course Kaguya-senpai was going to panic."

"Hmph, why does that sound a little sour?" Teasing him with a mischievous tone, Utaha grinned wickedly and threaded her arm through his, hugging it tightly. "Jealous?"

"No..." Halfway through his denial, he met her curved, teasing eyes. Miyahito silently averted his gaze, his tone turning a bit stiff. "...Maybe a little bit."

"Hehe, you're so cute, Mr. Miyahito."

Feeling thoroughly charmed, Utaha giggled and rubbed her cheek against his.

"But," after snuggling intimately with him for a bit, Utaha sat back up, resting against him. She watched the TV program half-heartedly before asking, "Miyuki-senpai and Kaguya-senpai, huh..."

One was the eldest daughter of the Shinomiya conglomerate—one of the four great financial zaibatsu, boasting total assets of 200 trillion yen and over a thousand subsidiaries. A true, bona fide noble heiress.

The other was just an ordinary boy. Even if this boy managed to outshine the heiress at school with his extraordinarily excellent grades and model-like conduct...

After all, Shirogane Miyuki was just an ordinary person.

He had no illustrious family background, no exceptionally outstanding talents, and certainly no clear, blindingly bright future that no one could ignore.

The two senpais' path of love might be able to reach its starting line through their combined efforts.

But if they wanted to reach a happy ending and step into a shared life together... it would be incredibly difficult.

However, it wasn't just Kaguya and Miyuki who were starring in a "Princess and Commoner" romantic opera.

Weren't Utaha and Miyahito living out a "Prince and Cinderella" fairy tale themselves?

Sensing his girlfriend's mood inexplicably dropping, Miyahito tilted his head to look at the silent Utaha and thought for a moment.

Hmm... overthinking things again?

Just as this thought popped into his head, Utaha suddenly spoke.

"By the way, Miyahito, can you tell me what your parents do?"

"Oh?" Miyahito couldn't help but chuckle. "Is Utaha finally ready to accept being a part of the Aragaki family?"

"Great! After we finish Miyuki-nii's birthday party tomorrow, let's go to a jewelry store and look at wedding rings!"

Interrupted by Miyahito's teasing, the pessimistic mood Utaha had been inadvertently brewing instantly shattered.

Staring blankly at Miyahito, who was clearly wearing a wicked grin, Utaha's expression dropped the next second. Dark-faced, she reached out and smacked the deliberately provoking Miyahito.

"Answer the question seriously! I'm being serious!"

"Okay, okay~~"

Wearing an expression that said 'I really can't win against you, Utaha,' Miyahito freed his right hand from her grasp.

The moment his hand was free, Utaha, without even thinking, naturally and habitually shifted her body, squeezing her entire self into his arms.

Gently wrapping his arm around her soft shoulders and pulling his girlfriend into a tight embrace, Miyahito tilted his head, resting his cheek against her slightly damp, fragrant hair, and said with a smile:

"You really don't need to worry so much, Utaha. We're different from Miyuki-nii and the others."

"Mhm, I know." Utaha nodded, letting out a tiny hum. "It's not like I'd ever let you leave me, or let myself leave your side."

"But you at least have to give me some intel! What if I meet your parents and they ask me something, and I don't even know what my boyfriend's family does... Seriously! Stop laughing! I'm being serious!!"

"...Sorry, sorry." Seeing Utaha glaring at him like a cat with its fur puffed up, Miyahito quickly covered his mouth, struggling to swallow his laughter.

Really, I can't let out another single laugh... otherwise, the puffed-up Utaha will definitely make me taste her wrath.

"Since you put it that way."

Miyahito's movements turned gentle as he stroked Utaha's smooth, waterfall-like black hair.

"Our family... Utaha, do you know the origins of the 'Aragaki' surname?"

...

After Miyahito gave a detailed, comprehensive, and utterly thorough explanation, laying everything bare...

Utaha was successfully... dumbfounded.

A family history tracing all the way back to the Asuka period during Emperor Kotoku's reign, and an authentic "Kazoku" (noble peerage) lineage originating from the great nation across the sea.

Not to mention the current careers and positions of the family members.

His father was the President of the House of Councillors and concurrently a government Minister.

His mother was the PTA President of the neighboring prefecture.

"Before," Utaha looked at her boyfriend in a daze, her gaze as if she were looking at a deity, "there was this one time you were sleep-talking, and I heard you say your dad was a Diet member and your mom was in the PTA. I was already shocked."

"But I never expected..."

As she spoke, Utaha's expression turned into a mix of amusement and helplessness.

Raising her hand, she gently traced the faint smile at the corner of his lips, her tone filled with deep emotion.

"The most popular singer right now, the legitimate heir of an unimaginably prestigious noble family, the most highly anticipated candidate for Student Council President at Toyogasaki..."

"Just what kind of god-tier boyfriend did I find for myself?"

Before Miyahito could even speak, Utaha suddenly flipped over, straddling her boyfriend.

Cupping his cheeks with both hands, she lowered her head slightly, letting her forehead rest against his. Allowing her ample chest to press against his chest, squishing like a flattened cake, she looked into his dark eyes with a hint of grievance.

"Why are you such an outstanding guy?"

Compared to you, who has an illustrious family, a bright future, and is like a noble prince stepping out of a fairy tale.

I'm just an ordinary, average girl who does nothing but read books and get slightly good grades... a commoner barely a step above Cinderella.

"Because."

Looking into the intoxicating wine-red eyes reflected in his own, Miyahito smiled faintly. Without a shred of hesitation, his tone resolute and unquestionable, he said:

"I love you."

I love you. There is no reason.

Because I love you, no reason is needed.