I donāt know if this is what confession and heartbreak is all about, but lately my tension has been fluctuating wildly.
Whatās 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 Kanaeās suggestion, she lent me a towel (with Kanaeās scent) just like yesterday, and eventually she wiped my face herself.
In addition, Kanae said āIāll take responsibilityā¦ā when she left. It was so meaningful that I could only think about Kanae from this morningā¦
The Kanae Festival, where Kanae overflows and parades around in my brain, is now all about Kanae.
Iāve even started to hear Kanae calling me āYuki-kunā in my ear, and I feel like Iām at the end of my rope.
Despite being rejected, Iām in a hellish situation where Iām falling into a severe Kanae addiction and dependency, but a savior has appeared to save me from that.
āWell, Kanae seems to have someone sheās interested in, so Iām sure she has no ulterior motives.ā
It was Kanaeās 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.
āYeah, thatās rightā¦ā
I muttered, panting, and Iām sure there was a smile on my face, full of defeat.
I donāt know what I was getting myself into. Kanae has a boyfriend named Soutaā¦
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 Kanaeās 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.
āHey, is this the row weāre supposed to hit for English translation today?ā
āYeah, uh, I donāt know. I think itās probably not today, but I might be able to guess just Yukiya-kun as an individual nominee at⦠you know?ā
Then, my neighbor smiled wickedly.
āWhat, you canāt guess in English today, Yukiya?ā
āOh, I bet that English teacher really likes you, doesnāt she?ā
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 couldnāt help but be curious about Kanae. Itās a habit Iāve 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 ākeeping a distance from Kanaeā, 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, isnāt this situation, oddly enough, exactly how I had planned it to go?
I donāt 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, Iām 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 wouldnāt be a bad idea for me to keep my distance and settle down for a while so that I donāt get out of control, for my revenge, and for Kanaeās love to be fulfilled.
Iām not trying to make Kanae feel bad, itās 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 itās frustrating. So, there is no problem.
-and I was definitely an idiot for thinking so easily.
āYuki-kun!ā
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 hadnāt 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 meā¦
āYuki-kun, can I have a⦠moment, please?ā
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, āYuki-kun, come here, come here,ā and then opened her mouth, looking a little more formal.
āUm⦠sorry about this morning. Your cheeks, are they okay?ā
Kanaeās 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 itās going to explode.
The image of my calm steel spirit, which Souta had beaten back into me, being easily melted into mush by Kanaeās slightest move.
Oh no, Kanae is too strongā¦
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.
āWow, youāre turning redā¦ā
My cheeks are red for a completely different reason, but I donāt 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.
āAh, yesā¦ā
Kanae, who seemed to have thought of something, bounced her voice like a small child.
āYuki-kun, can you bend down a little?ā
When Kanae modestly nodded her head, I did as she asked and bent down.
Then Kanaeās small hand was gently placed on my face.
āPhew~, phew~ ā¦ā
I donāt know what she was thinking, but Kanae started to exhale against my cheek as if she was cooling down a cup of hot tea.
Kanaeās breath caressing my cheek. The warmth and softness of it tickles meāor, wait a minute, this is seriously giving me a nosebleedā¦!
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 donāt have that kind of mental energy left now.
I was completely overwhelmed by Kanaeās 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.
āPhew, phew~..? Hehehe, letās go back to class.ā
As if she had come to herself, Kanae blushed bright red.
āOh, yes, Yuki-kun.ā
Kanae continued, this time with a mischievous laugh.
āLetās have lunch together today like we promised, okay?ā
Kanae, who seems to be in a good mood, starts to walk in front of me as if she is leading me.
āHuhā¦!ā
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 Iāve 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 donāt 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 Kanaeās back as she walked ahead of me.