One day earlier.
As usual, after school, Rinji headed to the rooftop for the Astronomy Club before going to the student council. Though the Astronomy Club barely did anything, the rooftop was basically Momo's playground.
"You're asking about third-year Koyasu-senpai?"
"Yeah, just curious."
"You're not planning to go after her, are you?" Momo eyed him dangerously. "Two girlfriends aren't enough?"
"No… I don't plan that. But seriously, how do you usually see me?"
"A virgin."
"And?"
"A scumbag who suddenly dates multiple girls."
"…"
"It's amazing, really. A virgin and a scumbag—two traits that should clash—both exist in you."
"…This time I'm asking about Koyasu-senpai for another reason," Rinji sighed. "Mainly, a good friend of mine wants to pursue her. So I wanted to know what kind of guy she likes."
"Oh… so your friend likes her." Momo nodded thoughtfully.
"Yeah, so…"
"Tell him to give up."
"Huh?"
"I'll bet anything it won't work out."
Momo continued playing on her phone, speaking as she played.
"Senpai is very gentle, sure, but dating her isn't even an option in my impression."
"Is she hard to get along with?"
"On the contrary, she's the easiest to get along with, but also the hardest to win over," Momo said. "It's the opposite of you—someone who seems hard to get along with but instantly gives in when confessed to."
"Wow, you're dissing me outright."
"From middle school to high school, she's been confessed to by countless boys. But she's always rejected them cleverly."
Momo had known Tsubame since childhood. Shuchiin was an integrated school, most students stayed from elementary through university, so they all knew each other almost like family.
"She's never dated before?"
"She has. It ended badly."
"Oh?"
"Her boyfriend cheated—with one of her close friends. The scandal was huge at school because too many people were involved. After that double blow, Tsubame-senpai became afraid of love."
Momoi turned to Rinji.
"Tell me, why do guys cheat? They already have girlfriends but still date other girls. Are they just greedy?"
With every word, Rinji's expression crumbled until he clutched his chest and fell over.
"Ugh… stop roasting me, I'm breaking apart."
"Serves you right," Momo laughed. "Though your two girlfriends don't seem to mind, so I won't say more."
"…"
"Back to senpai—she once helped me a lot. She's extremely gentle and perfect. But people like her are gentle to everyone. She can get along with anyone, but that also means she can't fall in love. Even if someone became her boyfriend, she'd probably treat him the same as everyone else."
She smiled at him.
"Completely different from you. You're not gentle at all. You're a bastard who doesn't see others as human. But your kindness has a clear direction—you're gentle only to the ones you care about, and everyone else is just weeds on the roadside. That's how you live, right?"
"That's true."
"Senpai's problem is like a child's mindset. She hopes everyone can maintain the current friendship without crossing the line. But there are always idiots who think her kindness toward them is special… you know how it goes. When the confession fails, they often can't even stay friends. Even if they pretend not to mind, distance grows."
"…I understand what you're saying."
Rinji began to seriously think. When he learned Ishigami liked Tsubame, as a friend he wanted to support him. In his mind, 'where there's a will, there's a way.' With his resources and Ishigami's persistence, it should've been possible.
But Ishigami and Tsubame's situation was completely different from Shirogane and Kaguya. Those two could date because they already liked each other. Ishigami wanted love, but Tsubame wanted to preserve friendship. Their goals diverged from the start.
And Rinji wasn't an expert in relationships. He might not even understand girls as well as Ishigami.
"Since he's your friend, I know you'll do your best for him—that's who you are," Momo smiled. "But have you heard this saying?"
"What?"
"From a drama. A character once said: 'Lending money is kindness, not lending money is also kindness.'"
"Oh…"
"Helping him is kindness. Persuading him to give up is also kindness," Momo said. "Other people's love lives are the hardest problems. As outsiders, there's really little we can interfere with."
"You're right."
Her words made Rinji think deeply.
---
Back to the present.
"Ishigami."
"What is it?"
"Have you thought about what you'll do if your confession is rejected?" Rinji asked. "Not to discourage you, but sometimes it's better to prepare for the worst."
"Haha, isn't it normal to get rejected? After all, my target is Tsubame-senpai, one of the most popular girls in Shuchiin," Ishigami laughed it off. "If I do get rejected, it's within expectations. Of course I'll stay calm."
"Yeah, I guess that makes sense."
But Rinji could tell Ishigami was lying.
Ever since he set his sights on confessing to Tsubame, Rinji had seen how much effort he put in.
Sacrificing most of his gaming time to study, never skipping the gym, all just to be at his best when standing in front of her.
"Ishigami…"
"What now?"
Ishigami looked at Rinji in confusion.
"…Do your best."
"…Oh."
Forget it.
After putting in so much effort, giving up at the final step would leave him full of regret.
Even if he fails, at least he'll know he tried.