[TSSIM] Chapter 437: Darling?

'No... D-Did I actually say those embarrassing words?!'

Uruka thought with horror.

A sense of dread filled her mind as she widened her eyes and turned her head stiffly, studying everyone's expressions.

Seeing Utaha with a playful look on her face, Uruka's sense of dread deepened.

Megumi was calm as ever—though she was always like that, wasn't she?

Glancing at Nanami, who wore a look of surprise, Uruka's sense of dread grew stronger.

As for the few people around her, Fumino, in particular, had a flushed face.

Uruka then looked desperately at Rizu.

'Rizurin… tell me this isn't true…'

Uruka thought hopefully, but unfortunately, she would be disappointed.

"D-D-Darling?!"

Rizu's face turned red as she exclaimed with a flustered tone.

"Uruka, when did you and Homura-san become like this?!"

With this final blow, Uruka's body went rigid, her face growing even redder and hotter, almost as if emitting smoke.

"IYAAAAA—!"

Feeling too embarrassed to face everyone, Uruka screamed and tried to run, but Homura timely grabbed her.

Even though he held her, she still struggled, so he had to keep her close in his embrace.

In an instant, she quieted down.

Homura thought for a moment and said something that made the already embarrassed Uruka even more flustered and angry.

"Let's get this straight—you're not allowed to faint today. It's not a good habit to want to pass out as soon as the school festival starts."

Angry, Uruka slapped Homura a few times but couldn’t break free from his embrace. Left with no choice, she decided to stay hidden in his arms, pretending that no one could see her.

Seeing this, even Mashiro couldn't help but roll her eyes.

"Uruka was already shy, and now with this situation…"

Homura didn't continue his words, but everyone understood that in this state, Uruka might suddenly faint from embarrassment.

"But... what's this 'darling' thing about?" Miyako asked, feeling a bit awkward herself.

She really didn't know how Uruka managed to say that term of endearment so abruptly.

Homura felt Uruka's body shiver slightly in his arms and gently patted her head.

"It's literal, just as it sounds."

In truth, Homura himself was surprised at first.

After all, had he really become 'darling' in Uruka's imagination?

Miyako's question was something everyone was wondering about too, but how could he answer her question?

Saying he didn't know?

It wouldn't do to lie to the girls.

Of course, he couldn't say it was all Uruka's imagination, or she would be mortified.

Pondering for a moment, Homura decided to put it another way.

"It's like how Nayu calls me 'Senpai' or Yui calls me 'Homuhomu-senpai'. It's just a special nickname."

Homura answered, letting Uruka call him whatever she wanted from now on.

"Ehh?!"

"Muu... that nickname is so sly…"

Nayuta exclaimed in surprise, then mumbled to herself in jealousy.

While everyone wasn't paying attention, Uruka secretly turned on her imagination.

"Darling is just darling~ There's nothing sly about it~!"

"That's right! Honey will always be my honey~ Not sly at all~!"

Homura's hand, which was patting Uruka's head, paused for a moment.

He suddenly felt Uruka's scalp was getting warm.

'Is she imagining things again?' Homura thought speechlessly.

Meanwhile, the others couldn't help but twitch their mouths after hearing Homura's explanation.

They couldn’t shake the feeling that the nickname suggested their closeness had skyrocketed!

However, they were still puzzled.

How had Uruka managed to say that nickname so smoothly when so many people couldn't?

"Well, well, if you want, you guys can call me that too, y'know."

Seeing the girls' expressions, Homura spoke with a grin.

Girls: "..."

Eriri's eyes twitched as she imagined calling Homura 'darling'.

She had to admit she really couldn't do it, as just thinking about it made her feel incredibly cringeworthy. Even though she was already so close to him, she couldn't bring herself to say it.

Meanwhile, as the others briefly imagined it, they quickly shook their heads vigorously, though Nozomi seemed quite interested.

At the same time, Megumi's expression wavered slightly as she imagined it, but she couldn't bring herself to say it either.

'Now that I think about it... with Uruka-chan looking like that, she seems to be in a similar situation as us... Doesn't that mean... it was accidental?'

Megumi thought to herself, coming to a realization.

'Only something accidental could make someone feel this embarrassed, right? I see, that's probably why Homura-kun put it that way...'

Megumi glanced at Uruka, still in Homura's embrace, and sighed quietly.

Even if it was accidental, Uruka had clearly closed a significant gap with Homura, and this gap might soon become a negative number.

Being with this group for so long, even the saintly Megumi found her mind running wild.

"Uruka, say something if you hear me."

Looking at the silent Uruka in his embrace, Homura spoke.

"Kyaaa! Pervert!"

Homura: "..."

Girls: "..."

"Oy, oy, that came out of nowhere! When did you get so cheeky?!" Homura's mouth twitched. 'You're totally ruining your image here, y'know!'

"Of course, I learned it from you!"

Uruka glared at Homura with a look that clearly stated, 'Definitely learned it from you.'

"Alright, since you're so cheeky now, it seems like you're not that shy anymore."

Homura placed his hands on Uruka's shoulders and took a small step back.

Looking at her blushing face and her eyes glistening with tears, his heart involuntarily fluttered.

In truth, he wanted to play along and call her 'honey', but if he did, she might faint on the spot, so he decided to skip it.

Whoosh!

Uruka suddenly vanished and reappeared behind Mafuyu.

A single eye emerged, observing everyone's faces.

Mafuyu: "..."

Seeing this, Homura smiled and continued with the thing he hadn't finished earlier.

Eventually, he stood in front of Ai.

She was as calm as ever, staring directly into his eyes.

"Still with that same expression, huh... You know, Ai, I really want to see the real you."

Hearing Homura's words, Ai remained unfazed.

"Minamiya-sama will have to wait for that opportunity."

"I wish that were true." Homura shook his head with a smile. 

In the next moment, he brought a takoyaki to her mouth.

"Minamiya-sama, this one's a bit cold." Ai remarked calmly after swallowing the takoyaki.

"Got it. I'll make sure to cook it myself next time."

"Wow... I always thought Hayasaka-san was amazing... Her expression never changes..." Chika marveled. "I guess only Megumi-chan and Mashiro-chan could pull that off, right?"

Upon hearing this, Homura inwardly shook his head.

Clearly, it was a bit different.

Megumi and Mashiro's expressions were genuine, but Ai's was just an act.

From what he knew, only her mother and Kaguya were aware of Ai's true nature.

Kaguya knew because she and Ai had been almost inseparable since childhood, like sisters, so it was no problem for her to know.

Ai herself was a serious 'mama's girl' and wouldn't act in front of her mother. Instead, she became unusually affectionate and clingy!

He would really love to see that contrast, but unfortunately, he was not sure if he ever will.

"Meow~! (Me, too!)"

Suddenly, Haru called out, catching everyone's attention.

She lifted her fluffy little paw and pointed at her open mouth.

Everyone: "!!!"