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 44: What Matters Is the Feeling

From Masato’s Perspective —

“Want to go somewhere this Saturday?”

—It was Hiyori who said that to me.

When I simply replied, “Yeah, sounds good,” she gave me a bright smile and said, “I’m really looking forward to it.”

But honestly, my feelings were a little complicated.

(I wanted to be the one to ask her.)

(I wanted to make her happy with a date plan I came up with myself.)

That realization hit me harder than I expected.

Even if she took the first step this time, I wanted the “path” we take from there to be one I choose.

So after school, I hopped on a train and headed for the shopping mall.

It was a recon mission. Probably—no, definitely—my first time ever scouting for a date.

***

A large shopping mall about ten minutes’ walk from the station.

Even though it was a weekday, the place was bustling.

As the automatic doors opened, warm air and the sweet scent of something freshly baked wrapped around me.

The first thing that caught my eye was the café right by the entrance.

Sunlight poured in through the window seats, and the high ceiling made the place feel open and inviting.

The distance between seats seemed just right—not too close, not too far.

(Hiyori would probably like a calm place like this.)

(But what if it’s packed on Saturday? There’ll definitely be more people then…)

Worries kept popping up, one after another.

Still, I kept walking, one step at a time, through the mall.

Accessory shops, novelty stores, character goods corners—I peeked into every place, imagining where
Hiyori might smile.

(This place is cute, but kinda crowded…)

(Oh, this mug—it has an animal design. I think she likes those, right?)

(But is it weird if a guy leads the way into a shop like this? Would that put her off?)

The more I thought, the more anxious I became.

Eventually, I sat on a bench and opened my phone.

Before I realized it, I was typing out a message to Suzu-san.

Yeah, I probably came off as the guy who only contacts her when he needs something… but desperate times call for desperate measures.

Surprisingly, she replied pretty fast. After I explained the situation, I added:

“I don’t know where to take her. I’m overthinking this—my head’s about to explode.”

Her reply came back with a sticker and a short message:

“Manabe-chin, you’re overthinking it~ The important thing is how you feel, right?”

“Hiyori’s definitely the type who smiles more from your thoughts than the place you take her~”

It was short, but for some reason… it really hit home.

(How I feel, huh.)

I thought back.

How happy Hiyori looked on our last date.

And her words: “It’s not about where we go, but who we go with.”

It doesn’t have to be perfect.

But I do want to show her that I really thought it through.

I stood up from the bench and walked the mall again.

I took pictures of the café’s menu, made notes of peak hours, checked the route on the map.

From the café, we’d go to the general store, then finish with some ice cream on a bench in the plaza—

It was rough, but a plan was starting to take shape.

And then, her smile popped into my head.

That warm, sunlit smile.

(This is why I’m doing this—so I can see that smile.)

(Saying “I love you” is important… but maybe planning something like this is part of saying “I love you” too.)

That thought made my chest feel a little lighter.

***

On the train ride home, I stared out the window and opened my phone.

A message from Hiyori had come in.

“I can’t wait for next Saturday!”

Just reading that made me smile.

My “I love you” might still be clumsy and hard to say out loud.

But maybe, little by little, it’s starting to take shape through my actions.

(If she smiles at the place I chose…)

(That day’s going to be amazing.)

With that thought in mind, I leaned back and let the train rock me gently home.

***

From Hiyori’s Perspective —

—Saturday is almost here.

The evening air had that crisp hint of autumn in it. I gripped the sleeve of the cardigan I wore over my uniform.

Outside the window, the setting sun was melting into the sky.

Holding my phone close to my chest, I watched the light fade.

(How many times have we gone out together now…?)

It’s already been months since that “bugged-out confession” in spring.

At first, just being able to see him made me happy.

But now… there’s a lot more emotions mixed into the time we spend together.

Excitement, shyness, and… a bit of uncertainty too.

(That question I asked last time… he still hasn’t answered, has he?)

It came to me suddenly—our conversation from last week.

“Do you remember why I confessed to you in the first place?” I asked.

Masato just smiled vaguely and didn’t give an answer.

Maybe it was a little unfair of me to bring it up.

But honestly, I was trying to stir his heart just a little.

(Maybe… what I really want is to hear his answer now.)

“How do you feel about me now?”

Sure, I was the one who said “Let’s go out” in the beginning.

But looking back, I think it was a much simpler feeling then.

I liked the way he looked, his voice, his mysterious aura…

Those were the reasons.

But now it’s different.

Masato’s started to be surrounded by friends.

He’s begun to express his feelings, little by little.

He’s trying to do things for others.

He’s showing me so many sides of himself I never knew.

(And every time… I fall for him all over again.)

It’s kind of crazy, right?

To keep overwriting the reason I liked him in the first place, every time we’re together.

But I think… that’s what love is.

My feelings won’t stop growing.

“Saturday’s going to be so much fun…”

I whispered that and looked at my phone.

I re-read the message I sent him, and let out a soft breath.

The place doesn’t matter.

What’s important is that Masato will be there.

That Masato chose this day, this plan, for me.

—That alone is more than enough.

Saturday is almost here.

A whole day where the person I love will spend time just for me.

My heart’s pounding already.

And at the same time, I make a quiet wish in my heart.

Please, let this feeling reach him.

And this time… let Masato’s feelings come back to me in words.

Because I believe in him.