Chapter 28 – Thou Shalt Not Worry

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After parting with Temari and heading home, I couldn't stop thinking about Naegi-san.

Or more like, I had to. Whether I wanted to or not.

It'd only been about a month since uni started, and already every halfway decent-looking girl had some dude orbiting her like flies on meat.

If you don't move fast, you're done. No room for slowpokes. Blink and someone else takes your shot. That's just how it works.

Temari's little jab—“Do you like Mahiro or Naegi-san more?”—kind of shoved things into focus.

I didn't really see Mahiro that way anymore. That whole love-sick spiral already ran its course.

But if I lined up how I felt about Mahiro back then with what I was feeling for Naegi-san now?

Yeah, it was close. Maybe even the same weight.

If Naegi-san and I got together, I'd be good. Real good.

Honestly, just the idea of messing around with her already had me twitching.

Which meant, back then, when I confessed to Mahiro, those feelings weren't small either. I wasn't faking it.

So yeah, no point tearing myself apart over it now.

Keep the head clear, keep the drive strong. That's how you win.

But there was something else gnawing at me.

If I kept dragging my feet, Nishida might slide in and snatch her.

Then I'd be stuck, alone in my room again, hand wrapped around myself, pillow soaked, full of regret.

And let's be honest—I wasn't gonna find another girl at this uni I clicked with like her.

If Naegi-san's the top shelf, and the rest don't come close…

Damn. That thought alone gave me goosebumps. Not the good kind, either. Just cold, crawling dread.

That sealed it. I was gonna do it. Confess.

You wait, you lose. Gotta jump when the blood's pumping.

Yeah, if she turned me down, it'd be rough.

Same major. Same lectures. No way to avoid her. Things'd get awkward fast.

But that's the game. No risk, no reward.

I was all in.

I grabbed my phone to message her and—great.

I didn't even have Naegi-san's LINE.

―・―・―・―・―・―・―

Yeah, no other way around it—I went full stalker. Camped out like a weirdo near the lecture hall until she showed, then pulled her aside behind the building where it was quiet.

Dropped it straight.

“I like you, Naegi-san. Wanna go out with me?”

She blinked, tilted her head.

“It's a bit sudden, but… I don't have a boyfriend right now. If you're okay with me, then… sure. Let's date.”

Fist flew up before I even thought.

“HELL YEAH!”

Boom. Full-on green light. First actual girlfriend in my entire life. I just bagged one. Legit.

She saw me flipping out and let out this tiny giggle, hand resting under her chin. Cute didn't even cover it.

“Fufu… You're such a drama queen, Nakanishi-kun.”

“No shot. This's the best moment of my life. I'm gonna treat you right, dattebayo!”

“Okay… then starting tomorrow, I'll make your lunch special. Boyfriend edition.”

“I'm so hyped I could body a trailer truck and win!”

“Are you trying to be Takemura-san now…?”

Takemura lost. Didn't die, but still lost. Which meant I was above him now. Strongest man alive, probably. Nothing could scare me.

Second-ever confession, straight home run. We swapped LINEs after, agreed to have lunch again the next day.

I was flying. Buzzing. Official girlfriend secured, backed by the Free Love Party™. Felt like I could get dumped in a concrete drum, tossed into the Pacific, and still bob up smiling before the fish even sniffed me.

But that high didn't last.

Next day, lunchtime rolled around… and she didn't show.

Waited at our usual spot. Nothing.

Sent her a LINE message—the one we just swapped.

No read. No tick. Nothing.

That warm rush from earlier twisted into something cold. Nasty.

Then Nishida didn't show either.

…Not that I wanted Nishida around, but still.