Everyone Thinks Wakana Is Innocent—But She Only Gets Naughty With Me (GL) - Chapter 1

People, everyone has one or two hidden faces. It’s not about whether that’s good or bad; I think it’s how we can remain human.

“Eh? So, Koga-san was aiming for Sasaya-kun? I mean, sure, there are a lot of rivals for Sasaya-kun, but I don’t think Koga-san is losing at all.”

There’s no way a plain girl like you could match up with the most refreshing and handsome guy in the grade, right?

“Wait, Sugita-kun erased the blackboard for you? …He’s so kind, Sugita-kun.”

It’s so obvious he’s just trying to gain favor, right?

Even if I think that, I would never say it out loud, nor would I let my smile falter. I treat everyone equally, and I pretend to listen seriously to conversations that I have no interest in.

As a result, what has been created is me—a person who is often seen as gentle and cute, an ideal goddess.

It’s truly pathetic that everyone believes in such fiction so earnestly.

However, it’s also a fact that I have to get along with such people. So I play my part. I can be gentle, and I can be cute.

That’s how I’ve managed to get by.

And yet…!! And yet, and yet, and yet!!!!

On that day, I made one mistake.

While helping to clean up after the cultural festival. After finishing moving a folding chair, I let out a breath in the equipment room.

“Haah… I’m so tired. Why do I have to do this instead of that clumsy girl?”

The girl from the organizing committee who claimed to have twisted her ankle. I was pretending to be her friend, and when I saw her struggling, I immediately offered to switch places.

That’s the kind of existence I am in everyone’s eyes.

“What kind of idiot gets injured at a cultural festival? It’s not like we’re having a sports day, right? This is what happens when you’re always so restless.”

Looking around nervously, unsure of herself. Stumbling and falling in the end.

“Seriously annoying. I can’t let Sana-chan be troubled by this… Ugh, what a pathetic act.”

She knows I’ll take it on without a complaint, and that’s why she says such things.

“Really, it’s so bothersome. So bothersome, so bothersome, so bothersome!!”

Kicking the neatly stacked folding chairs with all my might, they toppled over with a sound, collapsing like dominoes.

Only a silence remained, so profound that it felt like I could hear a high-pitched ringing in the aftermath.

“…What’s so bothersome?”

A clear, ringing voice broke the silence. It came suddenly from outside my awareness. It was more than enough to unsettle me.

I turned around sharply at the sound of that voice behind me.

“…!? W-Wakana-san…?”

A girl leaned against the equipment room door, looking at me with curiosity. I knew her. Probably, most people in this school know her.

“I thought I heard someone shouting… Are you okay?”

Those eyes looking at me with concern were annoying. Is she trying to show that she cares? As expected of a girl known for her elegance and beauty.

“I’m fine! Sorry for knocking over the folding chairs… I got startled and raised my voice.”

I made an effort to play my usual self. People’s impressions don’t change so easily.

Once someone thinks you’re creepy, no matter what you do afterward, that evaluation won’t change; conversely, if they think you’re a good person, it takes a lot to overturn that.

“I startled you, didn’t I? I’m sorry. I just tripped a bit…”

I still had time to recover. That said, I hadn’t really talked much with Wakana-san. First, I needed to help her understand who I am.

Slowly, slowly. I just needed to take my time and gain control.

“That’s fine. More importantly, are you hurt?”

“Yeah, I’m fine… You’re so kind, Wakana-san. Just like the rumors say.”

“That’s not true… Were you working alone here this late?”

She was looking at me with concern again. Is she going to comfort poor little me? I’m not that pathetic of a girl. How presumptuous of her.

“I’m just filling in for a friend who got hurt. But I’m almost done, so you don’t need to worry!”

If I’m described as a goddess, then she is the heroine. Her attitude is polite and considerate towards everyone. Coupled with her appearance, everyone says she resembles a storybook heroine.

In that sense, I could say she shares the school’s popularity with me.

“Is that so? Got it.”

Wakana-san said that and began picking up the fallen folding chairs.

She doesn’t understand at all. I mean, it’s annoying, so don’t look over here. Is she trying to play the oblivious heroine?

“Eh… Are you going to help me?”

“Of course. It’ll be faster with two of us, right?”

“Wakana-san…”

I found myself picking up the folding chairs as well. To my surprise, the work was finished in no time, and I learned that using what’s available is a good strategy.

“By the way, is that your true nature?”

“…Huh?”

I was taken aback, unable to comprehend the words Wakana-san suddenly spoke, and my reaction was a beat too slow.

I thought I had managed to cover it up well, but I must have let my guard down.

“It seemed like you were venting about your injured friend.”

“What are you talking about…? Sure, I was tired, but it can’t be helped that she got hurt, and I was the one who offered to help, right? I wouldn’t say anything bad…”

I felt sweat trickling down my neck as I desperately tried to craft a bewildered expression.

“There’s no need to hide it. I’m the only one here.”

How can she not understand that’s the problem…? If one person finds out, ten will find out, and soon it will spread throughout the school. I’ve been acting to live well, and now it’s all over. This is ridiculous.

“I’m not hiding anything… If you think that way, it makes me a little sad…”

“If I upset you, I apologize. But you see, I understand.”

“Um, what do you—”

In that moment, Wakana-san pulled me close by the shoulder, drawing me to her chest. The scent unique to girls and her slightly ragged breathing brushed against my cheek.

For a moment, my heart raced. It was completely different from the image of the elegant Wakana-san.

“I understand. You’re acting, aren’t you?”

The heartbeat and warmth from Wakana-san’s chest, conveyed through our uniforms, gripped my heart.

Even though I tried to calm myself, my agitation only grew.

“I’m just like you. So today’s events will be a secret between the two of us—”

The voice whispering in my ear was unfamiliar. Before I knew it, I was buried in Wakana-san’s chest, unable to say a single word.

This was my greatest and most regrettable mistake in history. The day a secret that must never be revealed was discovered by someone it must never be revealed to.