I’m a Shy Loner and I Was Confessed to by a Beautiful Girl Who Has All the Boys in School Smitten, but It Turned Out to Be a ‘Fake Confession,’ So I Politely Declined. As a Result, I Ended Up Learning About Her Hidden Side and She Started to Cling to Me

In the morning, I came to school earlier than usual and was organizing my desk.

Why am I doing this? Because I have no friends to talk to and nothing else to do.

“Hey, Sato, good morning.”

“Ah, good morning.”

The slight difference now is that various people have started to greet me.

For someone like me who usually falls asleep as soon as I sit down, this is definitely a big step forward.

Then, Kuromiya enters the classroom.

The boys begin to greet her all at once, while the girls watch the scene, seemingly uninterested.

Well, it’s the usual scenery.

As I look at Kuromiya, our eyes meet. She looks surprised and her eyes widen.

Ah, I came to school earlier than usual today, so maybe that’s why she’s surprised.

While I’m thinking about this, Kuromiya heads straight toward me with a smile.

“Good morning, Sato-kun.”

“Good morning…”

Kuromiya comes uncomfortably close, her face almost touching mine.

“Hey, aren’t you early today? No wonder I couldn’t find you. Why did you change your school arrival time without telling me?”

Although I think she’s confident no one can hear her, I feel like she’s being a bit unreasonable.

“No, it’s just that I was able to prepare early today, so I left home earlier.”

“Hmm? So it’s just for today… Well, it doesn’t really matter.”

Doesn’t really matter, huh?

“Wait, were you actually looking for me on your way to school? Why?”

“…Shut up.”

Kuromiya, her face flushed red, hurriedly returns to her seat.

“Good morning!”

Ah, this cheerful voice is Shirasagi-san’s… Kise-san is also with her.

Hmm, I’ve consulted with Shirasagi-san about my worries, we’ve shared our pasts, and we’ve even become best friends.

So, waving a little in the morning shouldn’t be a problem… right?

I wave subtly towards Shirasagi-san. She notices and her gaze locks onto me.

“Ah, it’s Juubei-kun. Good morning! The weather is nice today, isn’t it?”

The atmosphere in the classroom changes instantly.

Everyone, including Kuromiya and Kise-san, are alternating between staring at me and Shirasagi-san in disbelief.

Feeling the atmosphere, Shirasagi-san comes over to me, puzzled.

It’s probably because Shirasagi-san called me by my first name. Until the break, it was “Sato-kun,” but today it’s “Juubei-kun.” Everyone must be wondering what happened. No, they’re all wondering.

“You’re early today, huh?”

“Uh, yes… Are you with Kise-san, Shirasagi-san?”

“You can call me Hana, you know?”

“!?”

The whole classroom buzzes at Shirasagi-san’s words. The atmosphere today surpasses that of any previous occasion.

“Uh, no… that’s a bit…”

“Come on, if I’m the only one calling you by your first name, it’ll seem one-sided. Like I’m the only one in love… like it’s unrequited love?”

Hey, stop! Don’t revise your statement! Why the smug look? You didn’t say it well! In fact, you made the situation worse!

“Hey, is it true…?”

“Could it be, Sato-kun and Shirasagi-san…?”

“Did Shirasagi Hana ever have the concept of a boyfriend?”

Next to me, Kise-san seems to be trembling like a fawn, her eyes darting around as she sweats.

“Hey, Hana-chi-san, who is this Juubei-kun?”

“What? It’s Sato-kun, of course. Sato Juubei-kun. Don’t you remember his name, Yayoi-chan?”

“No, I mean, why are you calling him by his first name?”

“Um… it’s a bit embarrassing to say it here, right? Right, Juubei-kun?”

Shirasagi-san happily clings to me. Kise-san stares at me, bewildered, then turns her gaze back to me. Feeling awkward, I look away.

Kise-san puts her hands on my shoulders and makes eye contact.

(Did you guys do it?)

(We didn’t!!)

(No, really, what’s with this sudden closeness? It wasn’t like this before! What happened? Are you hiding something again?)

(Nothing happened other than what I’ve already told you about her brother!!)

(…On a bed?)

(No!!)

(Then how do you explain this!? Hana-chi is unexpectedly guarded; just consulting wouldn’t result in this! Ah, did something happen yesterday?)

(……………………..)

(Don’t look away!!)

I reluctantly accept Kise-san’s retort, and then I feel a light tap on my shoulder.

“Um, Shirasagi-san?”

The moment I turn around, Shirasagi-san’s finger digs into my cheek. She stares at me, her cheeks puffed up in an obviously dissatisfied manner.

“It’s fine, but you’ve been looking at Yayoi-chan since earlier, right? You have to pay attention to me too, or I’ll get sulky, you know?”

(Is she acting like my girlfriend now!? What!? Did you cross a line? Congratulations on graduating!?)

(I really didn’t!!)