A Popular Girl Confessed to Me, the Loner—Thinking It Was a Prank, I Tried to Scare Her Off... But She Was Actually Serious. - Chapter 24: I Think I’m Really Happy

(This chapter is from Hiyori’s perspective!)

***

The air in the classroom was already different on the morning of the sports tournament.

Our usually lively class was twice as loud as usual, with towels draped around necks, wristbands on wrists—it was practically a mini-festival.

I was laughing and chatting with Suzu, Amane, and Mei about dodgeball.

But the whole time, I couldn’t stop glancing at him in the corner of the room.

Masato-kun.

Sitting quietly, opening and closing the cover of his racket over and over.

There was something… different about him today.

His eyes, the way he walked, his whole vibe—it was all just a bit… sharper than usual.

Even this morning, when I told him, “Do your best,” he looked at me for a second and replied with a simple, “Yeah.”

But his voice—it was lower than normal, and it made my heart skip a beat.

***

Dodgeball was way more exhausting than I expected.

We won the first match, and while we were waiting for the next one to start, Amane-chan said:

“Hey, wanna go watch the boys’ table tennis match? Masato-kun should be starting soon.”

“Yes.” I answered instantly.

It wasn’t even about wanting to go. It felt like I had to.

***

The table tennis matches were behind the gym.

The air there was a little chilly—like stepping into a different world.

When we went in, Masato-kun’s match was just starting.

He was standing at the far end of the court.

Wait—what?

Why does he look so cool?

He wasn’t in his usual clothes—just a plain school tracksuit. His hair was the same as always.

And yet… he looked so cool.

His focused eyes. His straight posture. The way he positioned his feet.

Then I overheard a couple of guys behind me:

“Dude, our opponent’s like, some background character. Table tennis? Seriously, what a cop-out.”

—Excuse me?

Hold on a second.

That’s so wrong.

Don’t talk like you know anything.

But before I could say anything, Masato-kun silently held up the ball to serve.

And in that moment—the entire atmosphere changed.

WHAP!

The serve curved at the last second, completely throwing off the opponent.

The return came back weakly, and Masato-kun smashed it down in one lightning-fast move.

So fast I almost didn’t see it.

One point.

And then—he just kept going.

Like a machine.

Every shot was calm, precise, deadly accurate. He broke down his opponent without even breaking a sweat.

His footwork, his form—it was like everything had been calculated to perfection.

I had never seen this side of Masato-kun before.

(…He’s way too cool.)

I was so mesmerized I nearly forgot to breathe.

He’s usually soft-spoken, always making that slightly awkward face when I tease him.

But now, he was the quietest, the strongest, the coolest person in the entire room.

I just…

I couldn’t look away.

The crowd started buzzing.

“Dude, that guy’s insane.”

“He’s actually good.”

But none of that mattered.

Because I was the one who saw it all.

I had been watching him the whole time.

***

After the match ended, I couldn’t go talk to him right away.

My heart was pounding, my face was on fire, my emotions were all over the place.

But before heading off to my next dodgeball game, I had a little window of time—

And I knew I had to say something.

I walked up to him.

“…I saw your match.”

Masato-kun looked a little surprised, then quickly glanced away.

“You were really cool.”

That’s all.

That was the only thing I could say—but it was the truth.

He looked down, just slightly embarrassed, and mumbled:

“…What the heck. That’s not fair.”

That was it. I was done for.

Too cute.

Too cool.

I love him so, so much I can’t take it.

(Every time I see him, I fall for him all over again.)

(More and more.)

Right now, the “love” I feel is even bigger than the day I first confessed.

And if that love is just going to keep growing and growing from now on—

Then I think…

I’m really, really happy.