206 – The Man Himself Appears

RAW

Beginning the day after that upperclassman confronted them, Ayaka started receiving confessions nonstop.

On the way to school in the morning, during lunch break, and after school.

Most of the repeated confessions were along the lines of “I liked you,” as if the boys were trying to put an end to their lingering feelings.

However, some of them clearly hoped to get closer to her if given the chance, which left Haruto troubled.

“Haa… what is this situation…?”

In the boys’ locker room after P.E., Haruto let out a heavy sigh as he changed from his gym clothes back into his uniform.

Next to him, Tomoya buttoned his shirt and replied.

“Ayaka was already getting confessed to all the time, but now it’s even worse.”

“Why is this confession rush happening now of all times?”

As Haruto frowned in confusion, Sato approached from a short distance away.

“That’s because Tojo-san started dating Otsuki.”

“Hm? What do you mean?”

Tomoya tilted his head at Sato’s explanation.

“Before, Tojo-san avoided boys and gave off this sense of distance, right? But once she started dating Otsuki, that wall disappeared.”

“So she became easier to approach?”

“Exactly. And Tojo-san standing beside Otsuki is even more attractive than before.”

After saying that, Sato turned sparkling eyes toward Haruto.

“Otsuki’s charm is making Tojo-san shine even brighter!”

“I-Is that so…”

Faced with Sato’s passionate gaze, Haruto instinctively leaned back.

“But Tojo-san’s current charm only exists because she’s by your side. No one else understands that.”

Sato clenched his fist tightly.

“The only one who can make Tojo-san even more beautiful is Otsuki! And nobody realizes it! I’m going to spread the word about how amazing you are!”

After making his declaration, Sato promptly left the locker room.

Watching his departing back, Tomoya muttered:

“Is that what they call supporting your favorite?”

“M-Maybe? I’m grateful, but…”

Haruto appreciated Sato’s enthusiasm, though he wasn’t sure whether he should be happy about it.

Ever since Ayaka had effectively brainwashed Sato into believing “Haruto is amazing,” Sato had become one of Haruto’s most devoted supporters.

“Well, setting that aside, we need to do something about all these confessions to Ayaka.”

“Why not just announce to the whole school that you’re engaged?”

“Would that really stop them?”

“If everyone knows she’s completely unavailable, they won’t get any funny ideas. It’d definitely work on creeps like that senior yesterday.”

“Hmm…”

Tomoya might have had a point.

But would that really help with the boys who were simply trying to move on from their feelings?

“If only there were something with a little more impact…”

“Dude, high school students being engaged is already insanely impactful. Your sense of normal is broken.”

“Is it?”

Haruto still didn’t quite get it, so Tomoya suddenly clapped his hands.

“That’s it! You should do that thing from before summer vacation!”

“What thing?”

“You know! The public proposal Minato-senpai did! Nothing could be more impactful than that!”

“A public proposal… I don’t know. Wouldn’t Ayaka be completely creeped out?”

“If you did that to someone you barely knew, sure—it’d be on the level of a supernatural horror story. But you two are already engaged, so it should be fine.”

“Well… maybe. But I still don’t have a ring. And besides, how did Minato-senpai even afford an engagement ring?”

Even from the little research Haruto had done, engagement rings weren’t exactly something a high school student could casually buy.

As they finished changing and left the locker room, Haruto voiced his thoughts.

“That’s true,” Tomoya said, tilting his head. “Why don’t you just ask him?”

“Ask Minato-senpai? Like, ‘Where did you buy the ring?’”

“Yep. The best person to ask is the pioneer.”

“That’s true, but asking him directly is a bit—”

“You wanted to ask me something?”

“!?”

A sudden voice came from behind them.

Haruto spun around in surprise.

Standing there was the very person they had been talking about—Minato-senpai himself.

Caught completely off guard by the appearance of the man in question, Haruto was at a loss for words.

“Ah, well, um…”

“You’re Otsuki, Tojo-san’s boyfriend, right?”

Minato-senpai looked Haruto over as if evaluating him before speaking.

“Yes, that’s me.”

“…There’s something I’d like to discuss with you as well.”

“With me?”

Minato-senpai was the bold upperclassman who had once publicly proposed to Ayaka in front of the entire school.

Naturally, Haruto braced himself.

“Yeah. Are you free after school today?”

Minato glanced at the many students passing through the hallway.

“This isn’t the kind of conversation we can have here.”

“I don’t have any plans after school…”

What exactly did Minato want to discuss?

Given his history of publicly proposing to Ayaka, Haruto was almost certain it had something to do with her.

“Good. Then dinner’s on me. What do you say?”

“…Yes. Thank you.”

After Haruto nodded, Minato turned to Tomoya.

“How about you?”

“Can I come too?”

“Sure. I don’t mind.”

Tomoya exchanged a glance with Haruto.

“Then I’ll gladly accept the free meal.”

“Alright. I’ll be waiting at the school gate after classes.”

With that, Minato walked away.

Watching his retreating figure, Haruto finally spoke.

“What do you think Minato-senpai wants to talk about?”

“Well, it’s definitely about Ayaka.”

“I’m sure of that, but…”

Furrowing his brow, Haruto sent Ayaka a message letting her know he would be home late that day.