13: I Got My Confession Rejected by Yukinoshita Right Out of the Gate!
[13] 13: I Got My Confession Rejected by Yukinoshita Right Out of the Gate!
[13] “Nothing interesting’s really been happening lately…
I’m kind of bored…” As soon as the break started, Tadayana heard Iroha complaining beside her.
“What, do you want the world to end or some huge crisis to happen?” Tadayana shot back.
“Not that.
It just feels like something’s missing.” “So you want some kind of exciting, fresh life again?” “It’s not like I absolutely need that…” “Then who’s the one nodding off in class and completely failing to keep up with the schoolwork?” “That’s an unavoidable force of nature…” “Then have you been properly preparing for your exams?” “La la la, can’t hear you~ can’t hear you~” The moment Tadayana turned the conversation into a direct critique of her behavior in class, Iroha started getting restless.
But then, as if something had occurred to her, a sly glint flashed through her eyes, and she answered, “That’s what our great Tadayana-dono is for—you’ll teach me, right?
As long as I’ve got a god like you here, I’m totally at ease~” She breathed that right into Tadayana’s ear, then gave her a smug little look of trust, the kind of expression that practically said, Look how amazing our Tadayana is, like a child bragging about someone while depending on them at the same time.
“Fine.
I’ll lend you my notes.
Read them yourself.” “Nope, nope.
I want you to explain it to me in person~” “But I refuse.” Just as the farce seemed about to escalate, something a few nearby classmates were talking about caught Iroha Isshiki’s attention.
“Hey, have you heard?
The new president of the Tennis Club—he’s obviously a guy, but he looks all soft and sweet, practically gentler than a girl, so a lot of the club members just won’t listen to him.” “Yeah, yeah, I heard.
Apparently some people even try to provoke him on purpose, just to watch him look like he’s about to cry, except he can’t actually cry because of his pride as a guy.” “Oh my God, that’s so mean.
I love it.” The moment she heard that, it hit Iroha like enlightenment.
That was it.
That was the thing her school life had been missing lately.
Gossip.
Then she turned to Tadayana and said, “You heard that too, right?
Want to go take a look at that new Tennis Club president?” “I’m not interested.
And don’t bully the poor guy.
We oppose school bullying.
Hot or cold, if we run into that kind of thing, we should crack down on it firmly and severely.” Tadayana’s attitude was one of uncompromising righteousness.
If the hot kind showed up too, that was really something else.
“All right, all right.
I know your sense of justice is overflowing.
So since you’re so righteous, let’s go inspect the extent of the student disaster on-site, little enforcer of justice.
We’ll just stand far away and take a few looks, then come right back, okay?
Besides, if that club president really is cute, I can even try to help you out a little.
You don’t seem interested in ordinary boys anyway, so who knows, right?
Maybe this’ll turn into an unexpected romance for you.” As Iroha’s words got more and more ridiculous, black lines practically filled Tadayana’s forehead.
Why did it feel like there was some other meaning mixed into that?
“The second half was your real goal, wasn’t it?
You just like pretty boys…” “Forget all that, let’s go already~” With that, Iroha ignored whatever Tadayana was still saying and dragged her straight toward the field.
Yes, Iroha admitted it—she simply wanted to see what a boy who looked like a girl actually looked like.
She wanted to broaden her horizons.
And if he really did look that much like a girl, then teasing him would have a certain special flavor too.
On the field, before they had even gotten close to where the Tennis Club was, Tadayana spotted a delicate-looking girl with short white hair sitting by the side of the path and sighing.
“Hey, excuse me, classmate.
Could we trouble you for a second?
We wanted to ask how to get to the Tennis Club.” Iroha patted the person on the back, and they immediately jumped like a startled little rabbit, then turned around timidly.
“Sorry, I didn’t notice you two at all.
Um…
may I ask why you’re asking about the Tennis Club?
Are you thinking of joining?” “No, no, nothing like that.
We just wanted to take a look around.
It was the girl next to me who insisted on coming, so it has nothing to do with me.” Iroha waved her hands, cleanly distancing herself from the whole thing, then shoved Tadayana into the spotlight like some poor clay idol.
Saika Totsuka looked Tadayana over from head to toe, then quietly relaxed.
This girl didn’t seem like a bad person.
But if that was the case, then he did feel a little tempted to recruit her into the club.
Fine.
So that’s how it is.
Using her as the knife, huh?
Just you wait, Iroha Isshiki.
You’d better start worrying about whether some invisible hand might suddenly intervene in market operations one night while you’re asleep.
Iroha only gave a sheepish little grin, clearly having no idea how serious things were.
“That’s okay.
It’s probably more reassuring to take a look first and decide whether to join afterward.
Mm, all right.
Then follow me.
I’ll show you both around the Tennis Club.” “You’re in the Tennis Club too, miss?” “What do you mean, ‘miss’?
I’m a guy.” “Wh—” x2 At that, both Tadayana and Iroha looked the adorable girl—no, the adorable person—in front of them up and down.
A face even cuter than most girls’, skin as white as snow, slender hands and feet, paired with soft features and a clear voice.
And on top of that, after exercise, the way his fair skin had flushed faintly pink…
W-with a face that knew this well how to charm men, he was telling them he was a boy?!
Tadayana’s face was full of disbelief.
Her gaze took on a certain searching intensity as it traveled slowly from top to bottom over Saika Totsuka, as though trying to see through him completely.
The scrutiny made Saika blush bright red.
“W-what is it…?” Being stared at so awkwardly made Saika Totsuka start fidgeting in a way even more girlish than a girl.
“May I ask your name?” “Saika Totsuka…
why…?” “And you…
you’re the president of the Tennis Club, right…?” “…Mm.” The beautiful boy opposite them blinked with eyes that looked as if tears might well up in them at any moment as he answered.
“…” Iroha had suffered a serious blow.
No matter how you looked at it, that appearance really could be called breathtakingly beautiful.
No wonder so many girls secretly called him the Prince.
And besides, Tadayana had never looked at her that seriously before!!!?