I Got Into a Secret Relationship With a Girl Who Was Out of My League
The light sound of flower scissors echoes in the quiet Japanese-style room.
I cut the stems to the appropriate length and arrange them in the vase while checking the balance. Usually, my movements are awkward and the arrangement looks unnatural, but today, my hands moved strangely smoothly.
“…This is nice. They look very lively today.”
I couldn’t help but look up at the teacher’s words.
Even though I knew it couldn’t be true, the teacher’s expression was soft and somehow happy.
“Has something good happened recently?”
When asked that, my fingertips twitched involuntarily.
Something good—had anything special happened?
Akine and the others had said the same thing to me. I remembered the boy from my class who had come to mind and immediately shook my head.
“…No, nothing in particular.”
The teacher didn’t press the matter further, just smiled and nodded.
But when I looked at the flowers in my hands, they seemed somehow more vibrant than usual, and I felt a little strange.
â—†
“You’re late. Long time no see, Hoshina.”
After finishing my flower arrangement lesson, I returned home and saw a man wearing a different high school uniform—Nikaido Mamoru—passing through the gate of my house. He spoke to me as he entered.
He was an old acquaintance, and our fathers were close friends. Since becoming a high school student, I had seen him less frequently, but I knew that my father still met with him regularly.
He had a handsome face and a refined smile. Anyone could see that he was a sophisticated young man.
“Long time no see, Nikaido san. What brings you here?”
I didn’t forget to be polite on the surface, but my voice couldn’t hide my aloofness.
He didn’t seem to mind my attitude and came closer, gently stroking my hair.
“My father came to talk to your father. He’ll be leaving soon. But you’re being so distant. I told you to call me Mamoru. You’re about to become my fiancĂ©e, after all.”
I suppressed the urge to shake off his hand and managed to speak calmly.
“…We don’t know yet.”
“Haha. You must have many suitors. You become more beautiful every time I see you. No other man would leave you alone. I don’t know if you’ll choose me, but if you come to me, I’ll definitely make you happy. Just remember that.”
“…Excuse me.”
I walked past him and entered the house without looking back.
Once in my room, I took off my uniform and was left in my underwear.
I collapsed onto the bed at the back of the room.
A soft resistance enveloped my body.
Lying down, I gazed blankly around the room.
The room was unusually spacious for a typical high school student. The spacious room was furnished with white-themed furniture, but there weren’t many items.
Only the bare necessities were present, and the only thing that could be considered a hobby was the few novels on the bookshelf.
“…I want to read the rest of the manga.”
I muttered softly.
It was the manga he had first read at Yagami kun’s house. It wasn’t something his parents had explicitly forbidden, but he couldn’t read it in this cramped house.
“Miss. Excuse me—what would you do with this outfit?”
As I lay there, the maid, Senba Minami, entered the room at the same time as she knocked.
Her family had been servants in our household for generations. Though she was five years older than me, I looked up to her like an older sister despite our servant-master relationship.
“Ah, Minami. Did you bring my change of clothes? Put them over there.”
“That’s so rude. You left your uniform lying around.”
Minami picked up the discarded uniform and hung it on a hanger. She was the only one in the house who let me get away with such sloppy behavior.
“By the way, Sir Nikado was here earlier.”
“I know. I met him at the gate.”
“You shouldn’t show such a sloppy side to someone who might become your future husband.”
“I know that.”
After dealing with the nagging sister, she left her clothes there and headed out.
And once again, she was alone.
“FiancĂ©e…”
I sighed.
In the future, I would marry a son from a family of equal status for the sake of this household.
One of the candidates was Nikaido san, who had spoken to me today.
He was a year older than me and attended an extremely prestigious high school. He was known for his exceptional talent. As the second son of the Nikaido family, he couldn’t inherit the family estate, so he was the head of the family.
I understand. Complaining here won’t change anything.
But I’m just a high school student, and now I have a fiancĂ©e.
My head understands, but it will take time for my heart to accept it.
“Hmm…what is it?”
My smartphone vibrated softly. Was it a message from someone?
For a moment, I thought of the boy with whom I had a secret relationship.
“Oh, it’s Akane. I wonder if she’s feeling better.”
I tapped the phone and opened the message.
[Thanks for coming to the infirmary ! My fever’s gone down, but I guess I’ll have to rest tomorrow too. It’s such a waste of a day off… (cry). I’ll make it up to you !]
“Fufu.”
A series of stickers followed.
Akane’s energetic writing made me smile.
I sent a casual reply, then tossed the phone aside and closed my eyes.
I’m still a high school student. I want to live without regrets while I can.
“………I feel kind of horny….”
An unexpected mutter.
“…….!”
I felt embarrassed for saying something so unlike myself, even though I was alone, and buried my face in the pillow.
When I’m stressed, I want to let off steam.
Not being able to see her until the weekend was another source of stress.
â—†
“Good morning, Hoshina ! Kyoka !”
“Good morning, Akane. I’m glad you’re feeling better.”
“You’re really back to your old self. I can’t relax without your noisy presence.”
“What do you mean by that? Am I always that noisy?”
When I went to school after the break, Akane came over to me and Kyoka.
She had been sick with a fever on Friday, but now there was no trace of it.
Our interactions with Akane were filled with smiles.
Being with friends at school is still the most relaxing.
“By the way, Akane. You were gonna treat us to lunch today, right?”
“Eh?”
“Remember when we helped you when you were about to faint? I thought you were going to thank us for that.”
“Fufu, you said you’d do it another time.”
I joined in with Kyoka’s words and teased Akane.
“Wait a sec !? I never said anything about treating you guys !”
“But we came to check on you during the busy time after school and before club activities. Hoshina had her lesson anyway.”
“Yeah.”
“Ugh…fine…”
Akane sighed softly as if giving in to our words.
At the same time.
“Pfft, ahahahahaha ! !”
We burst into laughter.
“Eh !? What’s going on !?”
“It’s a joke ! You don’t have to thank us for something like that.”
“Exactly. But if you really want to thank us, we’ll settle for a pack of tea from the school store.”
“… Fine, I get it.”
Realizing she was being teased, Akane blushed but pouted her lips.
“Speaking of which, I should thank Yagami kun too.”
“Huh?”
I hadn’t expected her to mention his name, so I couldn’t help but flinch.
“…? Did something happen with Yagami kun?”
“Actually, he came to check on me after school. Though it seems he was asked by the teacher. I ended up leaving all the duty work to him.”
“That’s what it is.”
“I was feeling weak at the time, so I said something weird. I asked him to stay with me until the teacher came back.”
“Huh ! Could it be…? Did something happen?”
“No, it’s not like that. I just wanted to thank him. That’s all !”
“I see. That’s good to know. I was thinking of asking him out to play sometime.”
“Why !?”
“Well, you didn’t come to the last class reunion, did you? I thought it would be a good opportunity to get to know the people who didn’t come. Would you like to come too, Akane? Actually, I was planning to ask you anyway.”
“I guess I’ll go.”
“He seems pretty mature for his age, doesn’t he? Or maybe it’s just me.”
“Well, I guess so. Most of my friends are kind of weird, though.”
I listened to their conversation absentmindedly.
I could hear them clearly, but it didn’t register in my head. It felt like they were talking somewhere far away.
“Hoshina? Hoshina?”
“Huh?”
“What’s wrong? You seemed distracted.”
“N-nothing. Anyway, class is about to start.”
“Oh, right.”
“Then let’s go back to our seats.”
When I urged them, they returned to their seats.
I exhaled, left alone at my seat.
Then I glanced over at Yagami kun.
Maitoshi