Chapter 13: CH 13

I don’t know if this is what confession and heartbreak is all about, but lately my tension has been fluctuating wildly.

What’s more, the mysterious words and actions of Kanae, my childhood friend who rejected me, never cease to confuse me.

Even this morning, when I went to wash my face according to Kanae’s suggestion, she lent me a towel (with Kanae’s scent) just like yesterday, and eventually she wiped my face herself.

In addition, Kanae said “I’ll take responsibility…” when she left. It was so meaningful that I could only think about Kanae from this morning…

The Kanae Festival, where Kanae overflows and parades around in my brain, is now all about Kanae.

I’ve even started to hear Kanae calling me “Yuki-kun” in my ear, and I feel like I’m at the end of my rope.

Despite being rejected, I’m in a hellish situation where I’m falling into a severe Kanae addiction and dependency, but a savior has appeared to save me from that.

“Well, Kanae seems to have someone she’s interested in, so I’m sure she has no ulterior motives.”

It was Kanae’s boyfriend, Souta.

That line had a tremendous persuasive power when said by Souta from his position, and at the same time, it had a destructive power that shattered my unrestrained frivolity to pieces.

“Yeah, that’s right…”

I muttered, panting, and I’m sure there was a smile on my face, full of defeat.

I don’t know what I was getting myself into. Kanae has a boyfriend named Souta…

The thought of pouring cold water on myself made me calm down, and I went straight into the classroom with Souta just in time.

Then again, my eyes met with Kanae’s in the far seat.

If this had been the tension until just now, I would have been getting carried away again with my unnecessary positivity.

So I quickly looked away and deceptively spoke to my seat neighbor.

“Hey, is this the row we’re supposed to hit for English translation today?”

“Yeah, uh, I don’t know. I think it’s probably not today, but I might be able to guess just Yukiya-kun as an individual nominee at… you know?”

Then, my neighbor smiled wickedly.

“What, you can’t guess in English today, Yukiya?”

“Oh, I bet that English teacher really likes you, doesn’t she?”

The boy in front of me and the girl in the front seat also joined in the conversation.

While we were talking about other things, I couldn’t help but be curious about Kanae. It’s a habit I’ve developed over the years, and my body and gaze naturally follow Kanae.

Of course, for now, I try to resist it. I tell myself that Kanae has Souta, I distract myself by talking with my friends, and I suppress my desire and habit for Kanae by any means possible.

Oh, by the way, in the beginning, I was thinking about the new policy of “keeping a distance from Kanae”, and I was thinking about going to the bathroom during breaks, talking with my friends, or staying in the club room during lunch break.

When I think about it, isn’t this situation, oddly enough, exactly how I had planned it to go?

I don’t know if this is a good way to do it, but it might be a good idea to try and follow the strategy a bit.

I mean, if I get as excited as I did this morning, I’m going to tell Kanae every second I can. There was a story once about a senior on the soccer team who confessed his feelings to the same person twenty times, and now I can understand how he felt.

That being the case, it wouldn’t be a bad idea for me to keep my distance and settle down for a while so that I don’t get out of control, for my revenge, and for Kanae’s love to be fulfilled.

I’m not trying to make Kanae feel bad, it’s just a matter of getting back to where we were before the confession. Even if something happens to Kanae… Souta will follow up well, though it’s frustrating. So, there is no problem.

-and I was definitely an idiot for thinking so easily.

“Yuki-kun!”

As soon as we entered the first recess, Kanae came running towards me with a voice that echoed throughout the classroom.

Yes, the possibility that I will not be able to keep a distance in the first place.

I hadn’t even started yet, but I had a feeling that my plan was going to fail right from the start.

I got a lot of attention from people around me, my neighbor was grinning and poking me with his elbow, the boy diagonally in front of me gave me the middle finger, and the girl in front of me was silently pointing her phone camera at me…

“Yuki-kun, can I have a… moment, please?”

Kanae pulled me by the sleeve and brought me to the landing of the stairs, where there was not much traffic.

Kanae shoved me into a corner by the wall, saying, “Yuki-kun, come here, come here,” and then opened her mouth, looking a little more formal.

“Um… sorry about this morning. Your cheeks, are they okay?”

Kanae’s hand reached out and brushed my cheek. My spine tingles with an itchy sensation, my face is hot, and the gentle whispering makes my brain feel like it’s going to explode.

The image of my calm steel spirit, which Souta had beaten back into me, being easily melted into mush by Kanae’s slightest move.

Oh no, Kanae is too strong…

The only way for me to get away from Kanae might be to explain the reason to her in detail, and then get down on my knees and ask her to help me.

But Kanae, who had no way of knowing my feelings, whispered to me while tickling my cheek.

“Wow, you’re turning red…”

My cheeks are red for a completely different reason, but I don’t have the time to explain that right now.

All I could do was stare at Kanae in front of me, my whole body stiffening with tension and excitement, my body temperature rising to the point of steam.

“Ah, yes…”

Kanae, who seemed to have thought of something, bounced her voice like a small child.

“Yuki-kun, can you bend down a little?”

When Kanae modestly nodded her head, I did as she asked and bent down.

Then Kanae’s small hand was gently placed on my face.

“Phew~, phew~ …”

I don’t know what she was thinking, but Kanae started to exhale against my cheek as if she was cooling down a cup of hot tea.

Kanae’s breath caressing my cheek. The warmth and softness of it tickles me–or, wait a minute, this is seriously giving me a nosebleed…!

In my foggy head, I felt a twinge in the back of my nose.

What about Kanae…?

If I steal a look at my childhood friend who has suddenly committed such a heinous act, I will see that Kanae has a red face with her eyelids squeezed tightly shut, she was huffing and puffing hard, her whole body shaking.

Until now, Kanae had seemed unconcerned in my eyes, but it seems she was still embarrassed. I felt a little relieved.

If it were true, I should probably question Kanae about the true meaning of her daring service at this point, but unfortunately I don’t have that kind of mental energy left now.

I was completely overwhelmed by Kanae’s cuteness and sex appeal, and my head was already spinning. In addition, I was already groggy from the extreme tension and excitement.

And then the bell for the next class started to ring.

“Phew, phew~..? Hehehe, let’s go back to class.”

As if she had come to herself, Kanae blushed bright red.

“Oh, yes, Yuki-kun.”

Kanae continued, this time with a mischievous laugh.

“Let’s have lunch together today like we promised, okay?”

Kanae, who seems to be in a good mood, starts to walk in front of me as if she is leading me.

“Huh…!”

I secretly let out a deep sigh as if to let out the heat that has built up.

What can I say, I feel like I’ve been shot through the heart to stop it.

Or rather, this is what I get for trying to distance myself from Kanae for a bit. I was met with a fierce counterattack, and in the end I was reminded of a side of Kanae that I had never known before, and I don’t feel like I can distance myself from her at all.

The only way left might be to get down on my knees for real.

I shivered a little as I looked at Kanae’s back as she walked ahead of me.

I’m a little scared of my lunch break.