Chapter 62: Feelings
"Asakura-kun, I like you. Please go out with me."
Looking at the tall Senpai before him, Kaede truly hadn't expected to attract a confession from a second-year Senpai; he was completely caught off guard.
"Um... Senpai Suzumura, we don't know each other, do we?"
The girl named Suzumura smiled and said, "It doesn't matter, I know you. Kaede from Class 1-C, a member of the Art Club. I saw you a few times when your Art Club was preparing the promotional posters for the school festival. And I saw your performance at the sports festival today; it was very captivating."
Even though he intended to refuse, being praised like this made Kaede unable to resist giving a slight smile. "Thank you for the compliment, but I'm sorry, I still have to refuse."
"Can you tell me why?"
Gazing at Kaede, Suzumura said, "I think my own attributes are quite good. My academic performance is excellent, always staying within the top ten of the grade, and I don't have any previous relationship experience."
Hearing her words, Kaede paused before saying, "It has nothing to do with you personally, Senpai. I mainly don't like starting a relationship without knowing the person at all."
"That's fine, we can get to know each other first, starting as friends."
Geez, am I really that attractive?
Kaede truly hadn't expected this Senpai to be so persistent.
Although he had received several love letters in the month since school started, after explicitly rejecting two of them, such incidents had stopped occurring. He originally thought he could enjoy peaceful days ahead, but who knew it would happen again today.
But honestly, this Senpai's conditions in all aspects were truly excellent. If what she said about never having dated a boyfriend was true, then if they were to date, Kaede would truly be the one benefiting.
Unfortunately, this was not going to happen.
Meanwhile, hidden in the corner, Eriri was listening to the Senpai's words and was barely holding herself together.
Just as she was about to rush out, Utaha quickly grabbed her, covering her mouth with one hand, and whispered, "Don't be rash. If you rush out, things will get messy."
Glaring at Utaha, Eriri slowly relaxed when she realized she couldn't break free.
Utaha released her at the right moment and continued, "I know Suzumura. She has a very cheerful personality, is pretty, has a good figure, and her grades are excellent. I heard her family owns a company. I'm not sure about junior high, but throughout this past year of high school, she definitely hasn't dated any boys, and boys have constantly tried to pursue her. She really is a very good choice for a girlfriend. What's wrong? Are you worried Asakura-kun might accept?"
"No... No way." Eriri retorted softly, her face slightly flushed. "I... I just don't want that guy, Asakura, to be fooled. He hasn't dated any girls, so what if he gets played?"
Utaha looked at Eriri, speechless. This girl was truly stubborn, still trying to deny it even though she was this nervous.
Just then, Kaede spoke.
"I'm sorry, Senpai, and thank you for your feelings, but I still have to refuse."
"...Do you have a girl you like?"
Kaede did not answer, but Suzumura knew this was an admission.
Behind them, seeing Kaede admit it, Utaha showed a delighted 'auntie' smile and secretly glanced at Eriri beside her. Sure enough, the girl's face was beet red, her eyes fixed intently on Kaede.
Suzumura wasn't the type to be clingy. Realizing the situation, she asked, "Can you tell me who she is? It would at least help me move on."
When she came to confess today, she hadn't expected 100% success, but she couldn't suppress the feeling that if she didn't confess soon, someone else might get ahead of her. She hadn't expected him to genuinely already like someone.
Someone he likes?
Kaede looked at her and said, "I'm sorry, I don't really want to say. Although I know you wouldn't spread rumors, Senpai, I worry that if it somehow slips out, it might affect her."
"Is that really the case?" Suzumura gave a knowing smile. "I was only slightly suspicious, but now it seems the person you like must be Sawamura-san, the one in your club? That Ojou-sama is quite popular among the second years too."
Did she figure it out?
Seeing Kaede's surprised expression, Suzumura smiled and explained, "I have a bit of observational skill; it was a process of elimination. But you can relax, I'm not a gossip. It's just a little regretful that my first love has to end so quickly now."
"I'm sorry, Senpai."
"No need to apologize, underclassman. After all, I was the one who unilaterally confessed today." Taking two steps forward to stand in front of Kaede, she asked, "Underclassman, if I hadn't chosen to confess today, but instead got to know you first, would you have eventually fallen for me? Please answer honestly."
Facing the Senpai who had asked one last question, Kaede could only give a wry smile and say, "You are indeed very outstanding, Senpai, but unless I hadn't met Eriri, this hypothesis wouldn't hold true."
"Oh dear, I really lost badly. And you truly don't know how to talk, underclassman. Couldn't you have tried to flatter me a little?"
"But you told me to answer truthfully, Senpai."
"That's true."
Smiling helplessly, Suzumura completely gave up. "Well then, I wish you success in your pursuit. But if you fail and try to come back to me, this Senpai won't agree!"
"I won't do that, and besides, I don't think I will fail."
As for the two who had been hiding in the corner observing, they had already slipped away without being noticed at all.
Utaha pulled Eriri into an empty classroom in the school building.
After closing the door, she turned around and looked at Eriri, who was sitting on a chair covering her face. She walked over, tapped her on the head, and said, "Alright, there's no one else here, so stop acting like an ostrich."
"You're the ostrich! Urusei!"
Lowering her hands, Eriri's bright red face was revealed to Utaha.
While blushing, Eriri's heart rate hadn't slowed down. Since Kaede had never outwardly expressed his feelings and acted normally when they were together, Eriri generally couldn't tell what Kaede was truly thinking.
But today, after being unexpectedly found by Utaha, Eriri had indirectly heard Kaede reveal his feelings.
The excitement in her heart allowed Eriri to gradually understand her own feelings, but at the same time, she was unsure how to face Kaede next.
When will he actually confess? Should I play hard to get?
Watching the obvious emotional changes on Eriri's face, Utaha felt a pang of jealousy.