After achieving his goal, Ryuto instructed the others to return to their rooms and advised them not to move around unless anything special came up. It was exactly 10 p.m. now, and Ryuto had returned to his own room.

"Ryuto..."

Sora, who had been following him all along, gazed at Ryuto with an inexplicable expression in his eyes.

Ah... Come to think of it, Sora is just a kid after all. That scene just now could be considered inappropriate for someone his age. He might find it difficult to cope with it. As Ryuto pondered how to respond to this dilemma, Sora spoke softly.

"Ryuto... Why did you do that?"

Sora looked at Ryuto with a questioning gaze.

...How should I answer this? Maybe that scene unintentionally caused Sora some psychological distress. What should I do? It feels like I've done something terribly wrong... How should I respond to this? If I'm not careful, I might impact someone's life profoundly.

First and foremost, I should mention that it was just an act. Given my exceptional acting skills, the other person might not believe it unless I explain it properly. How should I explain it then? Ah, I should have Mei Yuki as a witness.

Just as Ryuto was about to turn around, Sora's voice came again.

"Why did you... do that intentionally?"

"Uh...?"

Ryuto was left speechless, as this question took him by surprise. The voice that rendered Ryuto speechless did not fade away.

"Why...?"

Sora sobbed softly as he repeated his question.

"Why? Because I pretended to do that. If I hadn't done so, those people wouldn't have spoken, right? Besides, you already know that it was intentional, right? Why ask this?" Was Ryuto's unequivocal answer.

Indeed, he was acting just now, and had he not pressured them in that way, they wouldn't have talked. Ryuto didn't know the specific answer, but he was sure about this. However, Sora shook his head vehemently, tears in his eyes.

"I'm not asking about that..."

"Uh? Not that?"

Wasn't that the answer he wanted? Oh, here it refers to not believing that answer. Though he guessed it, he couldn't believe it.

Indeed, Sora still didn't believe it. As for this answer... Well, it's strange if he believed it. Let's stick to the original plan and have Mei Yuki as a witness.

"I'm asking why... did Ryuto force himself like that?"

"Uh...?"

Just as Ryuto was taken aback, the questioning didn't stop.

"What I want to know is, why did Ryuto force himself to do things that hurt others? Force himself to say things that hurt others?"

"Why?"

Even though I knew and believed that what I did earlier was pretense, the questioning continued.

Why force myself? Force myself? Did I force myself just now? No, I only thought it necessary to do so. It seemed the most efficient way, and I did what I deemed necessary, efficiently. What's wrong with that? There was no coercion involved at all.

And after all, I don't have a reason to force myself to do that.

Even though I told myself that, Ryuto couldn't answer that question.

Why did he intentionally do that? Because it was the most efficient way to do it, and he felt it was necessary.

But…

Why force himself to do that? Because…

Force? I haven't…

Even though he knew he wasn't forcing himself, Ryuto still couldn't find an answer he could say out loud.

"I..."

Even though Ryuto opened his mouth, he didn't know how to respond.