CH 266

“What is it … I’m not interested in you?”

In contrast to me, who was ready to tell all, Ryuzaki’s feelings still seem to be not positive.

Even here, he still refuses to pay attention to others.

I couldn’t help but feel sorry for Ryuzaki.

“Ignorance is not an excuse, is it?”

It is true that there are many things in the world that we do not need to know.

But there are also things you can’t know unless you know them.

And. Without the premise of my “past”, my thoughts would never reach him.　 　Therefore, I need to force him to pay attention to me.

To do so, I didn’t have time to choose a method.

“You want to know about Yuzuki, don’t you? You don’t know why she’s rejecting you … or why she suddenly changed her attitude after liking you so much, do you?”

I dare to touch the crux of the matter from the very beginning.

Ryuzaki’s mind is probably not ready yet. But if I don’t say it clearly like this, he won’t get it.

Ryoma Ryuzaki has been an “insensitive protagonist” for many years.

His dullness is hardcore.

Ryoma Ryuzaki is so frighteningly unaware of anything that even leaves room for a misunderstanding that the message was ‘supposed’ to have been conveyed.

It is precisely because he knows only what is convenient for the story that he clearly stated in this way.

“I know Yuzuki very well.”

“…Why is that? I’ve never seen you and Yuzuki talking.”

“That’s a given. There’s no way Yuzuki would talk to me in front of you.”

Because she liked you.

There is no way that Yuzuki, whose mind is occupied with Ryuzaki, can see me.

But I know her.

Because,

“Me and Yuzuki… we’re childhood friends.”

I said it.

I finally said it.

It’s a relationship I wanted to keep hidden as long as possible.

In fact, considering Yuzuki’s love life, I had never mentioned it.

I had hidden it as much as possible in front of Ryuzaki.

But if I don’t do something about it now, Yuzuki’s love will end without reward.

I’m here to make sure that doesn’t happen.

“… Huh? What did you just say?”

In response to my words, however, Ryuzaki was still trying to remain ignorant.

No, I felt an invisible compulsion to remain ignorant.

“The wind…suddenly got stronger.”

Yes, it did. The strong wind suddenly blew and blocked my statement.

The words did not reach Ryuzaki.

But I was done being a bystander to the story.

I decided to tell the story once more without hesitation.

“Yuzuki and I have known each other since we were children, we are childhood friends. That’s why I know her so well.”

I took another step closer to Ryuzaki.

I was more vocal than before so as not to give him any chance to miss what I was saying.

And it seems that the … opportunism was indeed unable to function after being made this far.

“… Huh?”

Ryuzaki was very upset.

His eyes widened, his mouth dropped open, and he shook his head in disbelief.

“W-What are you talking about? You and Yuzuki are … childhood friends? That’s impossible. Because Yuzuki is not … close to you.”

It’s a laughable joke.

I shook my head at Ryuzaki, who shrugged, as if to say, “I don’t know”.

“Sure, me and Yuzuki may not necessarily be that close, but just because we’re … childhood friends doesn’t necessarily mean we have to be, does it?”

You should know that better than anyone else.

You should stop pretending you don’t know that.

“Even Ryuzaki and Shiho don’t necessarily get along, even though they’ve known each other since childhood.”

When I told him that, Ryuzaki’s expression immediately hardened.

“That’s…!”

It was as if he was once again confronted with a truth he had tried to forget.

He was staring at me with a bitter expression.

I met Ryuzaki’s gaze squarely in the eyes.

This would be a fitting scene for a “clash”.

Ryuzaki… you are no longer in a phase where you can remain ignorant.

The story has progressed and we have moved to a scene where the harem protagonist, who was imperfect, is no longer enough.

So Ryuzaki has to grow up more.

His awakening is not yet complete…