Chapter 20
Confession
“Tsukiyo… let’s go.”
“Yeah, let’s.”
After lunch, during the break, Seiya and Tsukiyo stood up.
“Where are you going?”
“The usual place.”
When I asked out of curiosity, Seiya let out a tired sigh and answered, and Tsukiyo nodded in agreement.
“The place is the usual spot.”
Seiya and Tsukiyo left the classroom. Ah, I see now.
What’s about to happen is the school’s famous “confession time” aimed at the Kannagi siblings.
Tsukiyo is the Kaguya-hime of the school, constantly being confessed to, and Seiya is called the Prince of Stars, also frequently receiving confessions.
Both of them are top of their class and exceptionally good-looking. Seiya has a deep, calm voice, while Tsukiyo’s voice is as clear and beautiful as a pristine river. Just the sound of their voices makes them even more appealing. Because of that, they get confessed to by students of all three grades.
Seiya has recently calmed down a bit, but Tsukiyo is on another level. At the start of school, she can receive more than ten confessions a week—it’s intense.
As usual, I leave the classroom to watch Seiya’s confessions. I don’t tease him; I go to comfort him.
You might wonder why one would comfort someone being confessed to… but apparently, being told “I love you” sincerely by someone you don’t like and having to reject them is pretty rough on the psyche.
I haven’t experienced it myself… but Seiya is genuinely a kind guy.
I buy a black coffee from the vending machine and head to the usual spot.
It’s behind the school building, surrounded by trees. Especially in the evening, the sunlight streaming through the dim space makes it the perfect spot for a confession.
It’s noon now, so the sunset isn’t relevant, but this place remains ideal for confessions. The rooftop is another option.
“I’ve liked you, Kannagi-san, since the day we enrolled. Please go out with me.”
“Ah…”
Huh… that’s not Seiya—it’s Tsukiyo.
Maybe I went to the wrong place. Watching Tsukiyo being confessed to directly wouldn’t be good.
But I can’t just pop out now from where I am.
“I’m sorry. I’m really happy with your feelings, but I can’t go out with you.”
“…Y-yeah, I thought so. After all, someone like your brother…”
The usual way Tsukiyo rejects confessions is by saying she wouldn’t date anyone less attractive than her brother, Seiya. Handsome, top of the class in the second year, athletic—basically perfect. Not many people can surpass him.
No one has ever persisted past this rejection. This time will likely be the same.
“That’s not it.”
Huh?
“I also have someone I like. My mind is completely focused on them… so I’m not considering dating anyone else.”
I can’t see Tsukiyo from my position, but from her voice, it’s clear she truly cares for this person.
The boy who confessed quietly left. Will the content of Tsukiyo’s rejection spread? This spot is hidden, so I’ll wait until she leaves.
At that moment, my phone rings.
“—!”
A call now!? Who’s doing this…? Tsukiyo Kannagi.
“Found you.”
“Ahahaha…”
As expected, Tsukiyo is terrifying.
I slip out from my hiding spot, and Tsukiyo and I sit on a bench in the shade.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to peek.”
“I already considered the possibility when your brother went to the wrong place.”
So I was right—Seiya must be on the rooftop.
Tsukiyo looks at me seriously.
“Taiyo-san… do you have someone you like?”
“Eh?”
I didn’t expect her to ask that. I have a hard time using the word “like,” and my words come out clumsily.
“Not… at the moment.”
“Even with so many beautiful women around you?”
“Yeah. Almost everyone likes your brother, anyway.”
You rarely develop romantic feelings for someone who is openly affectionate toward someone else.
In this group, the only person with no feelings toward Seiya is… probably Tsukiyo right in front of me.
“So, if someone confessed to you, would you go out with them?”
“I can’t imagine it. I’m not planning to date anyone… besides, no one has ever confessed to me.”
That’s true. Honestly, I can’t picture myself dating anyone. If Seiya and Mizusato started dating, I could imagine it—they’re a handsome and beautiful pair, and I’d probably support it.
That’s why I can’t imagine myself dating anyone. And honestly, no one has ever confessed to me.
I immediately asked Tsukiyo:
“What about you, Tsukiyo? You said you like someone… will you confess to them?”
I asked directly. Perhaps it’s a sneaky question, but Tsukiyo’s serious gaze softened slightly, showing a hint of vulnerability.
“If… I confessed, Taiyo-san… would you support me?”
“I would.”
“Eh?”
She must not have expected that answer; Tsukiyo looked stunned.
“I’ll support your love. I’ll be there for you… as your brother’s friend.”
Suddenly, Tsukiyo stood up from the bench. She turned her face away, so I couldn’t see her expression.
“I have class, so I’ll go back…”
With a sad voice, she hurried off. I was left alone, sighing heavily.
“I’m the worst… I am…”
I couldn’t tell if Tsukiyo liked me romantically. If it’s just affection, that’s fine… but if it’s really love, I need to act.
So I put a wedge between us—making it clear I’m not interested in dating anyone now, preventing her from confessing to me.
This will change our relationship from how it was before.
Thinking back on August with Tsukiyo makes me feel down. Most likely… Tsukiyo will… probably cancel our Saturday outing.
That is, if her feelings are romantic…
My phone buzzed in my pocket—an email, maybe from Tsukiyo? What is it?
“Please meet at the station at 10 a.m. on Saturday. Looking forward to it.”
…Huh!?
“What… huh!? So it was affection all along… huh!?”
Girls’ thoughts are impossible to understand—at all!
