204 – Confession Rush

RAW

Morning classes ended, and lunch break arrived.

Shizuku showed up at Haruto’s classroom holding her lunch bag.

“Senpai, I have arrived. Let’s go to the courtyard.”

On nice days like this, it had become routine for them to spend lunch outside.

“I’m starving—hey Haru, what’s in your lunch today?”

“Why are you asking about my lunch? I’m not giving you any.”

“You’d just let me starve to death?”

“You already ate early and still have lunch. How inefficient is your metabolism?”

Watching Tomoya shamelessly aim for Haruto’s food as usual, Saki sighed and made a suggestion.

“Why don’t you just bring two lunches?”

“I asked my mom. Got rejected instantly.”

“So you already tried, huh.”

Saki chuckled, amused, while Shizuku looked between the two and clapped her hands.

“Saki-senpai should make Tomo-senpai’s lunch.”

“You just casually suggested something outrageous.”

“No no, I’m honored.”

“I wasn’t praising you.”

Keeping her expression blank, Shizuku humbly accepted the nonexistent compliment.

At that moment, Ayaka came running up with her lunch bag.

“Sorry! I got held up copying notes.”

Shizuku shrugged exaggeratedly.

“Well, Ayaka-senpai can’t be helped. You were probably spacing out thinking ‘hehehe’ about your fun time with Haruto-senpai and missed the lesson, right?”

“That’s not true! I wasn’t thinking about that!”

“Then what kind of fantasies? Something even more indecent?”

“It’s not indecent! I wasn’t fantasizing at all!”

As usual, they bickered noisily while heading out under the blue sky.

Just as they were about to reach their usual bench, three boys stepped in front of them.

“Um… hey.”

One of them spoke nervously, and Tomoya responded.

“Hm? What’s up?”

“We… have something we want to tell Tojo-san.”

“Something to tell her?”

“Yeah.”

The boys nodded and looked at Ayaka.

She tilted her head, confused.

“Um… I! I liked you, Tojo-san!”

“Eh!?”

“Me too! I’ve liked you for a long time!”

“I did too! I fell for you the moment I saw you!”

The sudden outburst of confessions made Ayaka’s eyes go wide.

“Honestly, it was a shock when you got a boyfriend. But I wanted to confess to move on—and now I’ll be cheering for you!”

“Otsuki! Make her happy!”

After saying what they needed to, the boys left with refreshed expressions.

Ayaka stood there, completely stunned.

“Ayaka?”

Haruto called her name gently, and she snapped back to reality.

“I-I’m okay… just surprised.”

“This makes yesterday and today, huh? You’re really popular.”

Saki said it with admiration, and Ayaka gave a small, awkward smile.

“But I have Haruto now.”

“Yeah, and they said it was to move on, so…”

As the two talked, Shizuku frowned slightly.

“Confessing to move on… I don’t get it.”

She glared at the boys’ retreating backs.

“They’re ignoring how it inconveniences Ayaka-senpai. Calling that ‘closure’ is pathetic.”

Tomoya chuckled and tried to defend them.

“Come on, it just shows how strong their feelings were, right?”

“Then they should’ve kept it to themselves and supported her silently. If they truly cared, that’s what they’d do.”

Unusually irritated, Shizuku turned to Haruto.

“And you’re fine with it, Haruto-senpai? Other guys are going after her. She’s basically your wife. Wife. Wife.”

“I’m not exactly happy about it, but if it’s for closure…”

“Hmph.”

Still dissatisfied, Shizuku marched ahead toward the bench.

“I should make those senpai join Dojima Dojo.”

She took out her lunch roughly.

“I’ll beat some discipline into them.”

Seeing her unusually fired-up state, the others exchanged wry smiles and spent lunch together.

After lunch and afternoon classes, they headed to the field for relay practice.

Shizuku and her classmates were there too.

“Oh? Senpai, practicing again? How diligent.”

She teased lightly, and Haruto shot back.

“You seem awfully confident. Slack off and you’ll come in last.”

“No problem. Our team has Yoshida Usain Bordeaux Keita, a purebred sprinter, and Yamamoto, who loves running shoes.”

“Hey, Dojima-san! That nickname is still alive!?”

“And I’m Motoyama! Also, loving running shoes doesn’t make me fast!”

Ignoring them completely, Shizuku continued.

“And Maeda-san… likes watching track and field broadcasts.”

“That’s so normal! Why am I the only normal one!?”

Maeda protested, half annoyed.

“Anyway, that’s why Team 1-B is the strongest.”

Shizuku puffed out her chest proudly.

“…With those descriptions, how are you so confident?”

Haruto laughed awkwardly, but Tomoya stepped forward.

“We’re not losing either! I’m mastering the legendary Underhand Pass Taro!”

“What!? The mythical Underhand Pass Taro!?”

“Damn right!”

“The SSS-difficulty skill that makes you ruler of the track… Tomo-senpai, are you trying to die?”

“There are battles worth risking your life for.”

Tomoya gazed dramatically at the setting sun.

Seeing this, Shizuku clapped her hands.

“We can’t waste time! Let’s start practice!”

“You’re the one who came to bother them,” Maeda pointed out.

“Hmph. Women who nitpick aren’t popular. Shame, since you’re cute.”

“Are you insulting me or complimenting me!?”

Flustered, Maeda dragged Shizuku away.

“Sorry, senpai! Let’s all do our best!”

Watching them leave, Tomoya muttered,

“That Maeda girl is like a first-year version of Saki.”

“I was thinking the same.”

“Hey, what are you two saying?”

Saki protested, but Ayaka added apologetically,

“Sorry Saki… I kinda thought so too.”

“Seriously… let’s just get started already.”

She walked ahead, exasperated.

“Come on, Tomoya. Aren’t you becoming Underhand Pass Taro?”

“Yes, Pass Taro!”

“Don’t add weird suffixes!”

Laughing at their usual back-and-forth, Haruto and Ayaka followed.

“Hehe, she really does resemble Saki.”

“Yeah.”

Haruto nodded, glancing at Ayaka.

The awkwardness from yesterday had completely disappeared.

Being around their friends had naturally eased the tension.

Maybe Shizuku’s teasing helped them stop overthinking.

“I should thank her.”

Whether intentional or not, her presence had helped.

“Maybe I’ll treat her to ramen again.”

Thinking that, Haruto looked at Ayaka once more.

They had promised to become husband and wife someday.

That’s why they had to properly face this issue eventually.

For now, they were leaning on their friends—but one day, they’d have to resolve things together.

He reminded himself of that.

“Hm? What’s wrong, Haruto?”

“Nothing. Let’s do our best.”

“Yeah.”

She smiled brightly.

Returning the smile, Haruto began relay practice.