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 35: My Own Way of Doing Things

After school, in the courtyard bench area.

We sat on the concrete edge that served as a makeshift table—me, Hiyori, Suzu-san, Amane-san, and Soma. The five of us had somehow started holding what could only be described as weekly “strategy meetings.”

It all started with a suggestion from Hiyori:

“Let’s meet again next week to report our progress or something!”

To which Suzu-san immediately responded,

“Ooh, I like that! Let’s do it!”

Then Amane-san chimed in as well,

“True, winning over Mei-chan seems like it’s going to be a long-term mission. Better to check in regularly.”

Wait, what is this? Are we really turning this into a weekly gathering for romantic strategy sessions?

While I was still processing this sudden shift, apparently with a not-so-convinced expression, Soma noticed and said:

“Manabe… no, Master.”

“You didn’t have to correct yourself, but okay…”

“Anyway, you look like you’re not totally on board with this.”

“W–Well, it’s not like I’m against it or anything…”

Yeah, I was against it. Very against it.

I mean, who am I to give advice on someone else’s love life? Being called “Master” on top of that? What even is this?

But then Soma said something I didn’t expect.

“You really think an idiot like me could win over Mei-san all on my own?”

“…Huh?”

“I’m a dumbass. Totally single-brained. That’s why I need different perspectives—outside eyes. That’s why these meetings matter. And yeah, I can’t force you guys, but I need your insight, Master Manabe. Please.”

And with that, he bowed his head.

“Uh…”

I couldn’t help but mutter in surprise.

Then Hiyori added,

“Yoh’s surprisingly good at being objective about himself, huh?”

Soma looked up with a puzzled face, like “Wait, really?”

And the rest of us—Suzu-san, Amane-san, even me—we all stared in quiet shock at this unexpected self-awareness from Soma.

He clearly had no idea. Was he… an unintentional genius? The kind of guy introverts love in stories? …Maybe I’m projecting. Not gonna lie, I kind of like that type.

Anyway—

“Objective? What’s that mean?”

…Great, we’re starting from there.

***

Later That Week…
And so, here we were again.
“Alright, Yoh—how’d it go this week?”
Suzu-san kicked things off, arms crossed and looking like a seasoned romance detective.
Soma answered, more serious than usual.
“I just sat next to her and talked a little. That’s it. But… it didn’t feel bad.”
His tone was calm. There was no usual goofy energy—just a quiet sincerity that caught us all off guard.
Hiyori gave a warm smile.
“I’m sure Mei-chan picked up on that.”
“I hope so…”
A short silence followed.
Amane-san added gently,
“Mei-chan isn’t very verbal, but she really sees people. Just being near her, not rushing her… I think she remembers those things.”
“…Yeah.”

Soma’s expression softened with a hint of relief.

“So what now? Is this like the ‘show-don’t-tell’ strategy?”

Suzu-san grinned teasingly.

“When you say it, it sounds so sketchy,” I retorted, earning a round of laughter from everyone.

“Ooh, Manabe-chhi! You’re getting bold!”

Suzu-san chuckled.

“…But honestly, that’s what it comes down to. Saying ‘I like you’ is easy—showing it with your presence is harder. But if it’s real, you can do it.”

Saying it made me a little embarrassed.

But Hiyori had always supported me like that. That’s how I got to where I am now.

And I believed Soma would be okay too.

Just then, Suzu leaned in and whispered in my ear with a smirk.

“Manabe-chhi, you’re totally the Love Guru now.”

“No, I’m not…!”

“We’re counting on you, Master Manabe!”

Soma slapped me on the shoulder, grinning.

It surprised me how natural this closeness had started to feel.

***

From Soma’s Point of View

The next day, after school.

I stopped in front of the art room and took a deep breath.

(Alright… just go in like usual.)

With a long exhale, I pushed the door open.

Clatter.

Inside, Mei-chan was already there. In her usual spot by the window, sketching quietly under the afternoon sun.

“…Hey, Mei-chan.”

“…Yeah.”

Just a short reply. But that alone made me happy.

She felt a little closer than yesterday.

I sat on a nearby bench—not too close—and just listened to the sound of her pencil moving.

No small talk. No forced conversation. That was the plan.

Silence. But somehow, it felt peaceful.

The rustle of her flipping a page. The creak of her chair. The faint breeze in the distance.

Just being near her, not even touching, filled me up in ways I didn’t expect.

“…Hey.”

She spoke first, softly.

“I tried drawing yesterday’s scene…”

“Huh?”

She gently tilted her sketchbook toward me.

On the page was a silhouette against a sunset sky—two figures sitting side by side.

“…That’s us, right?”

“…Yeah.”

Her expression didn’t change, but her cheeks looked a little red.

It wasn’t my imagination.

I scratched my head, suddenly shy.

“…Thanks. That makes me really happy.”

“…Mm.”

Another short answer—but her voice was a tiny bit higher than usual.

I didn’t say anything else.

Just being here, beside Mei-chan, in this same space—that was enough.

Telling someone you like them doesn’t always have to be loud.

Sometimes, love is quiet.

And this—this was my way of showing it.