I Accidentally Saw Her Get Dumped — Now the Losing Heroine Senpai Won’t Stop Clinging to Me - Episode 9

The school building buzzed with energy during the lunch break. Voices from students flowed from the classrooms into the hallways, blending together like one great wave.

Amidst the commotion, Chiharu Shirakawa walked briskly with her best friend, Misaki Sasaki, heading toward the school store.

“I hope there’s still some bread left,” Misaki murmured anxiously.

“We’ll make it if we hurry!” Chiharu replied with a smile as the two quickened their pace.

Just then, a male student appeared from around the corner, and Chiharu nearly collided with him.

“Ah! I’m so sorry!” she exclaimed instinctively. As she looked up, his face came into view.

— Ayase Haruma.

For a brief moment, their eyes met.

But Chiharu quickly composed herself, reading the situation around them.

“Oh, Haruma-kun. Sorry about that. You’re not hurt, are you?”

Her voice was polite—distant, even.

Haruma, understanding the atmosphere, gave a slight shake of his head.

“No, I’m fine. I should’ve been watching where I was going. Sorry.”

He gave a small nod and walked off.

Misaki, watching from beside Chiharu, didn’t seem particularly interested and turned her focus back to their original goal.

“Come on! If we don’t hurry, the bread’s gonna be gone!”

“Y-yeah, you’re right.”

Chiharu forced an awkward smile and followed after her.

After successfully buying their bread, the two sat down on a bench in the courtyard.

As Misaki took a bite of her bread, she suddenly spoke up.

“Who was that guy from earlier?”

“Huh?”

Chiharu’s face twitched momentarily.

“Oh, the one I bumped into? Um…”

As Chiharu fumbled for words, Misaki tilted her head.

“I don’t think I’ve seen him before, but you knew his name, didn’t you?”

“Ah, well… yeah…”

Chiharu looked away, scrambling for an excuse.

“See, I once saw the first-year roster while doing student council work. Maybe I just remembered his name from that.”

Misaki nodded, seeming convinced.

“Huh, makes sense. Still, I didn’t think you were the type to remember people’s names like that.”

“It was just a coincidence! I thought ‘Haruma’ was kind of an unusual name, so it stuck with me.”

“Hmm, well, now that you say it, I guess it is.”

Chiharu laughed it off, but inside, she was breaking into a cold sweat.

— That was close.

Misaki stared at her for a moment, then smiled.

“Well, if you say so, then I’ll believe you.”

“Y-yeah!”

Chiharu forced another smile and bit into her bread.

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＊＊＊

That afternoon after school, Chiharu made her way to their usual “secret spot.”

By the time she arrived beside the storage shed, Haruma was already there.

“Hey, Haruma-kun!” she called out cheerfully.

Haruma looked up, surprised to see her.

“Senpai? What brings you here?”

“What do you mean? I came to chat with you again, just like always!”

Chiharu sat down next to him with a bright smile.

But Haruma’s expression seemed a little stiff.

“…I’m sorry about earlier,” he said.

“Huh?”

“For putting you in an awkward position in front of your friend.”

Chiharu hesitated, momentarily at a loss for words.

“Oh, that? Don’t worry about it. It was my fault for acting on impulse.”

Haruma lowered his gaze and spoke quietly.

“Still… I might have caused you trouble.”

Chiharu gently patted his shoulder and smiled.

“It’s fine! Honestly, it was kind of fun. The thrill of it, you know?”

Haruma looked at her in surprise.

“You’re okay with that kind of thing, Senpai?”

“Well, not exactly ‘okay,’ but… it’s kind of exciting, right? Like we’re sharing a secret.”

Chiharu gave him a playful wink.

Haruma sighed and let out a small, wry smile.

“You really are…”

“Really am what?”

“…Never mind.”

The two sat in silence for a while, until Chiharu spoke again.

“Hey, Haruma-kun.”

“Yes?”

“Will you keep meeting me here like this?”

Haruma looked a little surprised but then gave a gentle smile.

“Of course.”

Chiharu nodded in satisfaction and looked up at the sky.

“Thank you, Haruma-kun.”

There was a quiet sense of relief in her voice.