Crossover: After deciding to give up, i became popular

After visiting the aquarium and enjoying the dolphin show, time slipped away unnoticed.

This park offered plenty of attractions. In addition to its natural beauty, other facilities required separate fees. The two of them had managed to experience quite a bit during their outing.

Perhaps because it was approaching evening, some things began to lose their initial charm. However, the atmosphere was enhanced by the appearance of colorful ribbons of light decorating the park, adding a romantic vibe to the night.

"Is this the last activity?" Kanade Natsukawa looked at the massive Ferris wheel in front of him and felt a slight sense of relief.

The day had been packed with activities. Starting from their morning meeting point, it had been a non-stop marathon of walking and playing. Aside from brief breaks for meals and the movie, most of the time had been spent accompanying this mischievous underclassman as they roamed around.

Fortunately, the most exhausting part of the day was behind them. The gentle evening breeze carried away some of his fatigue, leaving him in a more relaxed mood.

"Why do I feel like Senpai isn't very enthusiastic about this?" Iroha Isshiki puffed out her cheeks and glared at him. In contrast to Kanade's fatigue, the little devilish junior seemed as energetic as ever, her small frame brimming with surprising vitality.

"Is spending time with me that boring…?"

"Not at all. Overall, I think it's been pretty enjoyable," Kanade replied, shaking his head.

"I was just reflecting a little... It feels like when you realize that an anime you've been following for a long time is about to end."

"Huh? That doesn't make any sense…" Iroha tilted her head in confusion.

Without dwelling too much on his sentiment, she grabbed his arm and led him toward an open Ferris wheel cabin.

"Alright, whether you like it or not, this is the last activity. For my sake, just bear with it a little longer."

"I've already said it's not that I dislike it…" Kanade sighed and followed her inside.

The two of them sat across from each other. Occasionally they exchanged words, and at other times, they gazed out the window. As the tall trees around them gradually receded and finally disappeared from view, a strange feeling welled up in Kanade's heart.

Through the glass, he could see the city below. The dark tones of the landscape were suddenly illuminated as if the entire area had been set alight. Neon lights sparkled everywhere, from the park at their feet to the distant office buildings. The city was enveloped in a sea of brilliance.

"Wow…" Kanade found himself a little entranced.

Though he'd been out at night before and had visited lively commercial districts, it was his first time seeing the city from such a height. The experience of being part of it versus observing it from above was completely different.

"Pretty amazing, right, Senpai? Look at how the people resemble ants!"

"…Could you not say it like that?" Kanade gave her a wry smile. "If you didn't throw in those kinds of lines, I might agree with you more."

Despite his complaint, he couldn't deny that this view was impressive. It gave him a sense of satisfaction, as though the day had been well worth it.

"Not bad, not bad. It seems like Senpai has completely absorbed what I taught him! In moments like this, you should focus on the girl you're with," Iroha teased, nodding smugly.

Then she suddenly adopted a mysterious expression.

"Speaking of which, Senpai, do you know about the romantic legends associated with Ferris wheels?"

She leaned forward slightly, blinking her eyes expectantly. The gesture, combined with her childlike curiosity, was undeniably endearing.

"They say that couples who ride Ferris wheels together are destined to break up. But if they share a kiss when the Ferris wheel reaches its peak, their love will last forever."

"Just an urban legend. We should focus on science," Kanade replied without hesitation. Given what he knew of her, he was sure she brought this up just to tease him and see his flustered reaction. Naturally, he wasn't about to fall for it.

"Iroha, you have to understand that legends like this are usually marketing gimmicks created by businesses to attract more customers. They're baseless and shouldn't be taken seriously."

If anything, instead of indulging in such gimmicks, he believed a lasting relationship required genuine care and attention to the other person's emotions and needs.

"Yes, yes, I think the same way. I've never believed in such legends," Iroha agreed, nodding earnestly. Her bright smile lit up her face.

"Hey, Senpai, why don't we disprove this myth together?"

Suddenly, the ambient noise around them faded. Before he realized it, the Ferris wheel had reached its highest point.

"Huh? What do you mean?" Kanade raised an eyebrow. Was she suggesting they file a complaint about deceptive marketing? But this wasn't serious enough to count as fraud; it was just a promotional strategy.

"What I mean is… Senpai, why don't you and I start dating?"

Iroha blinked her eyes at him, her gaze sparkling with anticipation.

Her voice was soft, almost shy. But instead of embarrassment, her tone carried a directness that made Kanade doubt whether he'd heard correctly.

"..." Kanade fell silent.

Was this a confession? Directed at him? And from Iroha Isshiki, the mischievous underclassman who seemed to enjoy teasing him?

No, something felt off. They'd only known each other for a week…

"Oh, I get it. This is just another part of the 'practice,' right? The final stage of your 'research'—a mock confession, maybe? Or some trendy game like Truth or Dare?"

"I like you, Senpai."

"..."

"..."

No, this wasn't right. It didn't make sense. Why would she like him? What was there to like about him?

He wasn't particularly attractive or charming. He didn't possess qualities that would naturally draw girls to him.

Ah, he understood now.

It wasn't love. It had to be something else—admiration, respect, or even infatuation with an idealized version of him.

Just like those anonymous letters he sometimes found in his shoe locker from students who had only heard stories about him and idolized "that Kanade Natsukawa."

Much like that girl he met at the bookstore the other day.

After a brief silence following her unexpected confession, Kanade Natsukawa finally shook his head resolutely.

"I'm sorry, Isshiki. I think there's been a misunderstanding," he said, his voice steady, though his expression carried a hint of seriousness.

"Misunderstanding?"

"Yes, in several ways..."

Unbidden, memories of his own past confessions surfaced in his mind. Back then, he had gone to great lengths to create a romantic atmosphere, culminating in a heartfelt declaration at the end of a "date."

And each time, he had been rejected.

Looking back now, perhaps those girls had seen through his lack of sincerity—something he himself had failed to recognize at the time. He had mistaken fleeting infatuation for genuine love, a realization that only came much later.

And now, faced with Isshiki's confession, it felt as though the roles had been reversed.

"Listen, Isshiki," he began softly, choosing his words carefully to avoid hurting her. "You might not realize it yourself, but what you're calling 'like' might just be a common kind of admiration, the kind people often feel during their youth.

"To me, it feels more like 'respect' or 'reverence' than true affection."

He paused to gauge her reaction before continuing.

"We've only known each other for about a week, right? When we first met, you approached me because you wanted me to teach you how to become the student council president."

"That's the key," he explained. "You're not attracted to me as a person—you're drawn to the idea of the 'student council president.' You've projected that admiration onto me, but it's not the same as love."

While Kanade didn't claim to fully understand what "love" truly was, he was sure that what Isshiki felt wasn't it. As someone who had made the same mistake in the past, he couldn't simply stand by and let her repeat his error.

Perhaps his personal experiences could spare her from the painful realization that might come later. If he could help her understand her feelings now, it would be for the best.

"So, like I said," he concluded gently, "your feelings aren't what you think they are… I'm sorry."

Kanade lowered his head slightly, his tone filled with regret.

In his mind, he reflected on his past. The greatest mistake he had made was approaching others and confessing without understanding his own emotions, inadvertently hurting them in the process.

At least this time, he had stopped things before it was too late.

"…"

"…"

After a long silence, Isshiki sighed deeply and gave him an exasperated look.

"Senpai, have you ever even been in a relationship?"

"Uh… Does that matter?" Kanade asked, caught off guard.

"Of course it matters! You have no idea what you're talking about!" Isshiki retorted, her voice tinged with frustration.

Naturally, she was upset—after all, he had just rejected her confession.

"All that stuff about admiration and reverence... Let's be honest, Senpai, you just don't like me, do you?"

"…"

"You went on and on analyzing my feelings, but you don't understand me at all, do you?" she accused, glaring at him.

"Hmph! You even had the nerve to call my feelings fake... Fine! I'll prove it to you!"

Before Kanade could respond, Isshiki abruptly stood up.

He tensed, half-expecting her to storm off—or worse, make a scene—but to his surprise, she calmly walked over to sit beside him.

Then, without hesitation, she looped her arm around his and rested her head on his shoulder.

"…"

Kanade froze as her warmth pressed against him. While her actions weren't overbearing, the sudden closeness was definitely enough to make him uncomfortable.

"Isn't this a little too close?" he ventured cautiously.

"Don't talk, Senpai. This is part of the 'research.' The day's tasks aren't over yet. This is my time now," Isshiki replied matter-of-factly, refusing to budge.

"…If it's part of the deal, I guess there's no helping it," he muttered.

"Senpai," she said after a moment, her voice soft but insistent. "Do you like me? Even just a little?"

"Uh, that would be—"

"Never mind! I don't want to hear it. Just shut up, Senpai."

"…"

"Senpai!"

"…What now?"

"Brace yourself!"

"…"

Notes-Read advances chapters in patreon.com/Shadow_D_X, i have finished uploading the whole series in patreon, a total of 274 chapters you can find it in the collections, thanks for supporting me and special thanks to all the patrons for joining