Mob Character Reincarnation Loner: As a Result of Supporting the Heroine Who Had Been Rejected, I Ended up Being the Recipient of Her Heavy Emotions…
“I like Irie. So please go out with me.”
During lunch break, Serizawa-san called me up to the rooftop, and she confessed her feelings to me.
The first confession I’d ever received from a girl in my entire life. Normally, I should be crying tears of joy…
But there was no fluttering excitement or tense atmosphere during the confession.
Serizawa-san was expressionless, started yawning, and it didn’t feel like a confession at all.
Knowing Serizawa-san, I had a feeling there was something behind this confession… And above all, I felt like accepting this confession would lead to something irreversible.
…I should just turn her down for now.
“Um, I’m sorry.”
“I got rejected… Shocked.”
Serizawa-san mumbled flatly, pretending to sob while glancing at me out of the corner of her eye.
“…So, what’s up?”
“Irie, you’re so calm. Boring.”
Serizawa-san made a pouty face, clearly displeased.
Yeah. That’s the usual Serizawa-san.
“Well, it was obviously not serious…”
“How do you know I wasn’t serious? I might actually like you, Irie!”
“Don’t underestimate me. How many times do you think I’ve been rejected after serious confessions?”
“Oh, I-I’m sorry…”
Serizawa-san, this is supposed to be the funny part…
Somehow, the serious mood lingered. Serizawa-san rested both elbows on the railing and stared at the view.
I stood beside her and gazed at the same scenery.
“…Why did you suddenly confess?”
“…I thought if I confessed, maybe I’d understand my feelings a little better.”
Serizawa-san has a certain longing for love. She even said she envied Nanase for genuinely falling for someone.
But
“Didn’t we agree the other day there was no need to rush?”
“We did, but things have gotten to a point where I can’t say that anymore.”
“What do you mean?”
Serizawa-san struck a pensive pose at my question and stared intently.
“…It’s my business.”
Apparently, she wasn’t going to explain the details.
“…How did you feel when you confessed, Irie?”
“Huh? Well… My heart was pounding like crazy. There was that frustrating feeling of wanting to say it but not being able to, and fear too, but still, it was like mustering up the courage and pushing through.”
“I see… I didn’t feel anything like that at all when I confessed to Irie.”
“Huh? Oh, really…”
“I mean, I really like Irie as a friend, but I don’t think I like him as a guy… Sorry, I need some time to think.”
“Ah, okay…”
Why is this happening… I’m the one who rejected her, yet somehow it feels like I’m the one who got rejected…
“I’m hungry too. Let’s head back to class.”
“Yeah… I’m starving too.”
So we opened the rooftop door and started walking back to the classroom.
“Oh? Irie-senpai?”
Walking down the hallway, we bumped right into Kirifuji-san, the student council secretary.
Kirifuji-san stared expressionlessly at Serizawa-san beside me for a moment, then asked with her usual smile.
“Is she… your girlfriend?”
“No, no. Just a friend.”
As I laughed and denied it, Serizawa-san beside me kicked my shoe in a sulky manner.
Why…
“I see… So that’s how it is.”
Kirifuji-san nodded in understanding, looking back and forth between me and Serizawa-san.
What does that mean?
“Oh, speaking of which… the tea you mentioned wanting, Senpai, has arrived. Please come to the student council room sometime soon?”
“Huh, you really got it…? S-sorry. I made you go out of your way.”
“Not at all. It gives you an excuse to come to the student council room, Irie-senpai♪”
“I don’t think anything good will come from me going to the student council room though…”
“Is that so? The Vice President, who’s always skipping out, will be here soon too, and I can also… rely on you, Senpai?”
“Ahaha… You’re something else, Kirifuji-san. You’re really good at flattery.”
“…I’m not entirely convinced that’s how it should be interpreted… Sorry. I’m swamped right now, so I’ll have to take my leave.”
“Okay. Then see you after school on Monday.”
“!! Hehe, I’ll be waiting, okay?”
Watching Kirifuji-san walk away with a lighter step than usual, I noticed Serizawa-san beside me staring at me with a glare.
“…That girl, she’s the student council secretary, right? She’s super cute and popular. She seemed really friendly with you the other day too… Why? Hey, why?”
“Well, there’s been… a lot going on.”
Serizawa-san’s expression hardened further at my evasive answer.
“A lot?”
“…Why does it bother you so much?”
“Huh? Why does it bother me…?”
Serizawa-san stared intently at a single point, adopting a pensive pose.
“………………I guess I might need it after all.”
“Huh? Need what?”
“Irie, you’re free after school today, right?”
“Huh? Well, yeah. I guess I’m free.”
“Let’s go on a date.”
“…………Another fake date?”
“It’s not just a pretend date. It’s the final confirmation edition of the pretend date. Plus, I need to return the favor for the taiyaki.”
“Huh? Oh… right, that happened.”
“Lend me your phone.”
“Ah, sure…”
Serizawa-san fiddled with my phone. As if it were the most natural thing in the world, she unlocked my new passcode.
Come to think of it, Hiyori had also unlocked my new password just now, as if it were nothing unusual.
Why is that? It’s strange, isn’t it?
“Here. Thanks.”
The schedule on the returned phone read: ‘Irie & Misuzu After-School Date’.
“Irie… I’m looking forward to it.”