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 33: “Wait… You Knew?!”

Lunchtime.

As usual, Hiyori and I were sitting side by side, unwrapping our lunches.

She sat next to me like it was the most natural thing in the world, and smiled at me just as naturally.

“Today’s omelet turned out really well. Want a bite?”

She held it out to me on a little pick.

Feeling a bit shy, I accepted and took a bite.

“…It’s good.”

“Right? I practiced it at home, you know.”

“Practiced?”

“Yeah, because I wanted you to try it.”

She said it so casually, like it was nothing.

That’s just like Hiyori.

All I could do was avert my eyes, unable to say anything in return.

But then—my gaze wandered.

Toward the front of the classroom, for no real reason.

(…Wait, is that Sōma and… Saeki-san?)

They were standing near her desk, chatting about something.

The distance between them was a little close… but the vibe was strange. Like the wavelengths were totally off.

Something about it just felt weird.

“…Huh?”

Maybe I’d been staring too long, because Hiyori tilted her head and leaned in to look at my face.

“Hey, hey, Makoto-kun. You’ve been acting all fidgety since earlier, haven’t you?”

“…No, I haven’t.”

“You totally have. You keep glancing over there. What’s going on?”

“It’s just… there’s something I’m kinda curious about.”

“Hmm?”

I leaned in slightly and lowered my voice.

“…You think Sōma likes Mei-san?”

Hiyori looked genuinely surprised for a moment, then quickly held back a laugh and said,

“Whoa—straight to the point, huh.”

She giggled, shrugging her shoulders.

“So I was right?”

“Well… yeah, I think so. Haruto’s feelings are super easy to read, but honestly, it always feels like he’s kinda… missing the mark?”

“Missing the mark?”

“Yeah. I think he’s totally serious about it. But it’s Mei-chan we’re talking about, so… how do I put it… his feelings are a little too direct.”

“…I see.”

When I looked back up toward the front of the classroom, I saw Sōma waving at Mei-san.

He had his usual bright smile—maybe a bit louder than necessary.

Mei-san, on the other hand, only tilted her head slightly, barely reacting.

…Did that even get through to her?

Probably not.

“—So, what are you two chatting about that looks so fun?”

A sudden voice called out from behind, making me jump out of my seat.

When I turned around, there stood Suzu Tachibana, flipping her loose socks and short skirt as she stepped up. She must’ve overheard us.

“Are you talking about Sōma and Mei? I totally heard it! That stuff’s my jam~”

“Suzu-san… eavesdropping isn’t very polite, you know.”

“Come on, come on, your voice was super loud! I heard you clearly when you asked, ‘Does Sōma like Mei-san?’”

“…Ugh, I really screwed up.”

I cradled my head in my hands. Hiyori gave a sheepish smile.

“Well, no use hiding it now. Honestly, yeah—Haruto’s head over heels for Mei. Totally smitten. I don’t even really get why, but like… he is.”

“But Mei-san’s… you know, she’s kind of like that, right?”

“Exactly! That weird rhythm of hers. That whole unique aura. You get me?”

“Yeah… It’s like, sometimes their conversations kinda click, and sometimes they totally don’t.”

Suzu nodded as she absentmindedly played with the hem of her skirt.

“Honestly, we’re not always sure what’s going on either. But Mei isn’t avoiding him, you know?”

“She’s not… avoiding him?”

“Yeah. If she really didn’t like him, she’d just cut him off completely. But she still responds normally, right?”

“…That’s true.”

“So maybe… it’s just not reaching her. Or even if it is, maybe she just doesn’t know how to process it. Like, emotionally.”

She smiled at that.

“They’re kinda fun to watch, those two.”

“…Yeah. They’re kinda strange, but in a cute way.”

“Right?”

With that, Suzu waved and walked off.

I found myself thinking again about Sōma and Mei-san.

Whether it’s reaching her or not, I don’t know.

But there’s definitely… something going on between them.

***

After school, I was walking alone up the stairs to the school rooftop.

It had been a while since I came up here.

Ever since I started dating Hiyori, I hadn’t really felt the urge to visit.

But today—I just kinda wanted to be alone.

When I opened the rooftop door, the evening breeze hit me.

A little chilly, but kind of nice.

The setting sun cast a golden glow over the school grounds beyond the fence.

(…It’s quiet.)

I strolled to the edge of the roof, looking up at the sky when—

“MANABE—EEEEEEEE!!!”

A voice cut through the silence, stabbing my eardrums.

“Whoa!? What the hell!?”

I turned around to see Sōma, panting hard, running up the stairs behind me.

“Huff… huff… Finally caught up with you… Why the heck did you come up to the rooftop!?”

“I dunno. Just felt like it. What’s up?”

“What’s up? You were totally listening yesterday, weren’t you!?”

“…Huh?”

“You were pretending to sleep after school yesterday, but your eyes were open at the end! Don’t think I didn’t notice!”

“…Crap. You noticed?”

I scratched my head and looked away.

“But I wasn’t, like, eavesdropping or anything—”

“You totally were!! 100%, full-on eavesdropping!!”

“…It just kind of happened…”

“But you heard, right!? So? How’d it sound? Is my approach working!?”

His eyes sparkled as he asked.

What is this guy’s energy… it’s exhausting.

Still, thank god it wasn’t like, “You heard too much. You must be silenced.”

…Okay, he’s not that kind of guy.

“…You’re seriously into Mei-san, huh.”

“Duh! That mysterious vibe, barely talks, but hits you with those out-of-nowhere zingers—she’s perfect!”

“…Do you think your feelings are getting through to her?”

“Hmm… honestly? I have no clue. I don’t think they are. Mei-chan’s emotions are impossible to read.”

“Why don’t you ask her?”

“Yeah right! That’d be way too nerve-wracking!”

“You talk all the time, practically shout your feelings out loud…”

“Confessing seriously and goofing off are two totally different things! There’s a mood for that stuff! A MOOD!!”

Sōma shouted while bonking his head against the chain-link fence.

…Doesn’t that hurt?

I sighed and decided to let him in on something.

“…By the way. I don’t think I’m the only one who knows.”

“…What?”
He froze.

“Earlier, I asked Hiyori if you liked Mei-san. She just nodded and said, ‘Yeah, looks like unrequited love.’ Suzu-san said, ‘Haruto’s head over heels, no question.’”

“…Wait.”

“Hm?”

“…I never told anyone, though?”

“Your actions are way too obvious.”

“…Wait, wait, wait.”

“Also, Mei-san herself might’ve picked up on it. Or… maybe not. It’s Mei-san, after all.”

“…………What.”

Sōma collapsed right there on the spot.

“…So everyone knows? Even Mei-chan might have noticed? What the heck, man…”

“Don’t look at me…”

“…Man, that’s embarrassing.”

“…Yeah, maybe. But honestly—it’s not so bad.”

I smiled a little as I said it.

“That part of you… the way you just go straight at things. I kinda admire that.”

“…MAKOTOOOOO! HOLD ME!!”

He suddenly lunged at me in some kind of weird embrace.

Wh-What the heck!?

“Get off! Don’t touch me! You’re being gross!”

“Still… I feel a little better now! Screw it, if everyone knows, I might as well start asking for advice!”

“So you are gonna do that…”

“Hell yeah! A real man dives in headfirst!!”

He might be kind of an idiot.

But he’s positive, and honest, and that’s probably why everyone likes him.

I gave a small shrug and looked back up at the sky.

(…Honestly, I envy that part of him. Just a little.)