Chapter 30: The promise.

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Translated and Edited by: luccayn.

Common Honorifics:
-san: A polite suffix, but not excessively formal.
-kun: A common suffix among friends and younger people.
-chan: A common suffix among people you're close with, mostly used for feminine nicknames and girls, since it's cutesy and childlike.
-senpai: A common suffix and noun used to address or refer to one's older or more senior colleagues in a school, workplace, dojo, or sports club.

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“What? Kou, you've really turned into a handsome guy. That’s hilarious.”

“R-really?”

“You used to have such a girly face. Wow, you might actually be popular now. You’ve got a face that girls would like.”

“Come on, it's embarrassing when you compliment me like that.”

After some small talk and reminiscing about the past, the conversation shifted to love stories. Meanwhile, the boy was trying his best to imitate the paper napkin origami crane he had been casually shown.

The discussion meandered around as they joyfully shared stories about their high school romances, but things took a turn when Kumoi asked a bold question.

“By the way, Kou, did you ever like me?”

“W-what?”

“I mean, I always liked Kaito, so if I never noticed your feelings, I’m sorry.”

“K-Kaito? No way, that’s not true. I mean, the guy you went to the love hotel with was…”

“How do you know about that? Were you stalking me? Ew, creepy!”

Apparently, a popular guy doesn’t get angry at a girl.

In society, there are those who would fly into a rage and mercilessly taunt girls, shattering their pride piece by piece. Personally, I think Hareta handled it well.

“Wait a second, weren't you dating me, Shizuku? And yet—”

“We weren't dating.”

Suddenly, Kumoi’s words were as cold as ice. Her unwavering denial was a kindness; I respect you for that.

“Wh-why? If we weren't dating, why would you do that? Even Kaito said—”

“I’m sorry, but that's a misunderstanding. I wanted to clear that up today.”

But poor Tsukino, sitting there, must have felt terribly awkward. She’s always the unlucky one who draws the short straw.

“I’ve always loved Kaito, ever since back then. I still love him, which is why I followed him to the same school and joined the same club. I’m that devoted.”

“But you…”

“I regret not denying Kaito’s words back then. Going to the love hotel was my weakness. I deeply regret everything I did to those guys. But you know…”

At that moment, Kumoi stood up and banged on the table for some reason. It seemed like she was experiencing an emotional surge that only women could understand. The boy, startled, looked up at her, and she nodded, patting his head to calm him down.

“You never seemed happy being with me. If you liked me, you could have shown a little more joy, couldn’t you?”

“What do you mean by joy? Besides, I thought Shizuku liked me…”

“You misunderstood and became a womanizer. Aren’t you ashamed of blaming others for that?”

The logic leap was giving me a headache, like the saying “If the wind blows, the cooper profits.” This wasn’t how this conversation was supposed to go. We were supposed to talk about the past and gently guide him, not throw accusations around.

I had forgotten. This girl is the worst match for me.

“You never made any effort to win me over. No gifts to make me happy, no surprises to amaze me. If you liked me, you could have done something to make me happy, even just once.”

“Shizuku-chan, calm down.”

“Kaito always celebrates my birthday, without fail. Even when I’m feeling down, he listens to me. Trying to win a girl without making any effort is naïve. Don't think I’m the kind of girl who would fall for someone who does nothing!”

…Surely, Kumoi is just telling this to herself.

She's making a declaration to keep herself from wavering again. She’s only announcing her methods for devoting herself to Kaito here. In a way, she’s projecting her own frustrations and attacking Hareta with irrational arguments.

It’s clumsy and unfair. I think it's a particularly nasty attack typical of women.

Of course, if I were Hareta, I would have many rebuttals, making her feel several times guiltier, pointing out that her current love would never come true. Even if she didn't understand the arguments, I would poke at her subtly, making her realize her own shortcomings.

But…

“I see.”

Hareta Kou would never do such a thing.

If his flaw is being bland and colorless, the reason women fall for him must be exactly that.

Some women just want to be comfortable without seeking answers. They crave the status quo, seeking a balance that's neither poisonous nor medicinal, and there are plenty of such women in the world.

Perhaps Kou's popularity comes from the increasing number of women who want to stay put. Watching Kumoi, who seemed absurdly liberated, I thought so.

“I’m sorry, Kou-kun.”

The only misfortune for him is that I, personally, despise harems.

“Make up your mind, Kou. You used to be more cheerful. You talked about wanting to go on adventures and led from the front.”

“Did I?”

“Yeah. You knew games we didn't, and you drew everyone into them. Somehow, people naturally gathered around you.”

“I thought that was thanks to you, Shizuku. I didn't realize.”

“Then realize it now. Even now, there are probably people gathering around you, right?”

…This was a different kind of persuasion, unlike mine or Saori’s. Her reckless and straightforward approach didn't hide any truth, shouting out the truth within her soul.

I was slightly moved by her wild absurdity.

“…Michiru, is that true?”

“Yeah. I think Shizuku-chan’s opinion isn’t wrong.”

“Are you one of the people gathering around me?”

Hareta’s words made Kumoi realize the most complicated and troublesome part of this whole situation. Until now, her irrationality had remained unchecked, but with Tsukino’s teasing earlier, she couldn’t ignore the facts any longer.

“…Seriously? Is that how it is?”

The two of them said nothing. In the now silent shop, only the sound of the boy quietly folding the crane could be heard.

“No way. That can’t be true. Michiru, you…!”

“I know, you like him, right?” Hareta cut through.

…What?

“I knew it. Michiru became incredibly beautiful since summer vacation started. Truly, she became more beautiful than anyone else.”

The boy crawled under the table, sat beside me, and innocently held my hand. He looked up at me happily, while I was sweating and anxious.

“What does this mean? Huh? What’s going on?”

I wanted to ask more than Kumoi. To be honest, a guy who should be in a school harem noticing the subtleties of women is impossible.

If he did notice, his story wouldn’t work.

“The summer festival, the pool, Michiru wouldn’t have come if I hadn’t invited her. Of course, I’d notice if the girl I liked changed. I also knew she was always watching him lately. Watching you,” he looked at me.

“…I’m sorry.”

“I don’t want you to apologize. I know you didn’t intend it this way from the start. Michiru probably had her own reasons. That’s why she closed the distance between us once. But still…”

Given Hareta’s tendency to delve deeply into what interests him, why did I exclude women from the equation?

…No, there’s no need to think. The reason is simple.

“I think I’ve always liked Michiru. That’s all I ever thought about.”

I wasn’t interested. It didn’t matter to me, so I didn’t think about it.

“I’m sorry, Kou-kun. I can’t respond to your feelings.”

“…Can I ask why?”

“Because I like someone else.”

“You’re not going to tell me his name, are you?”

“No, I made a promise.”

Then, Tsukino took a deep breath and said in a clear voice,

“I was told to save the happiness of being confessed to for the next man I fall for. So, I can never say I like you first.”

…She remembered and believed such a silly line.

Idiot.

“What’s wrong, mister?”

“It’s nothing. Let’s go. It’s time to leave.”

“Okay.”

Staying hidden any longer and witnessing Hareta’s humiliation would go against my principles. I paid for one drink bar and left the shop.

…No, that’s a lie.

I was apologetic that I wasn’t in love with Tsukino, and I couldn’t bear to watch Hareta’s misfortune, so I ran away from it.

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