A Beautiful Girl Confessed Her Love to Me as a Punishment Game, but After We Started Dating, She Started Getting More and More Obsessive - Chapter 18

Chapter 18

“I won’t forget. Not a chance.”

Kiryu-san sipped her coffee, her lips pursed in an adorable pout.

What did she mean by that?

I’d rambled on so much that I’d forgotten half of what I said, though I had a sinking feeling I might’ve blurted out something cringeworthy.

Kiryu-san had probably dealt with her fair share of admiration and jealousy over the years, so there was a chance I’d inadvertently stepped on a landmine.

Normally, I keep my mouth shut to avoid unnecessary conflicts, but spending the day off with Kiryu-san must’ve gotten me a little carried away.

With a touch of unease, I glanced at Kiryu-san’s face.

“Oh, by the way, the honey here is fresh—straight from the hive. It’s delicious,” she said casually.

“Yeah, I poured plenty over my croissant.”

I took a bite. The honey was rich but not overwhelming, lacking the peculiar scent that the stuff at home often had.

“It’s really good.”

“Right? Maybe I should grab some, too,” she said, standing up from her seat and walking off.

She seemed to be in a good mood.

Relieved that I hadn’t ruined anything, I decided to grab another croissant for myself.

“Are you full now?”

“Yeah. It was so delicious I ended up eating too much. Thank you for the meal.”

“Thank you for the meal.”

Startled, Kiryu-san quickly clasped her hands together in a small gesture of gratitude.

I meant it as a polite thank-you to her, so I mimicked the gesture as well.

“Kiryu-san, I had a lot of fun today. Thanks for inviting me.”

“…Oh, no, I had fun too. Honestly, I’m glad you spent the day with me.”

“Is that so…”

What does she mean by that?

Was she referring to this morning’s study session or the workout talk earlier?

Or… was it about the fact that I’d accepted her confession during that penalty game?

I wanted to ask, but I held my tongue. It had to be the first option.

It was impossible for Kiryu-san to be happy about dating me.

Sure, I joined her in studying and working out, but would she really be pleased about that? It seemed unlikely.

After all, Kiryu-san didn’t have feelings for me.

When she chose me during the penalty game, she said it was because I wouldn’t misunderstand her intentions.

Even today’s invitation was probably her way of apologizing for dragging me into Fujisaki-kun’s group drama.

…Oh, I get it now.

She must’ve been relieved that I didn’t reject her confession back then.

I hadn’t had the courage to turn her down in front of everyone, especially not with the heavy expectation in the air that she’d confess to Fujisaki-kun. Rejecting her would’ve humiliated her.

If she had been turned down after choosing me, the class outcast, over Fujisaki-kun, it would’ve been a disaster. Just imagining the aftermath made me nauseous.

So, if her “happiness” was about avoiding that worst-case scenario, it made sense.

“Is that so?”

“Ah, well… I’m glad I got to have this experience too.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

Getting involved in Fujisaki-kun’s drama was troublesome, but it gave me a fleeting experience of dating the prettiest girl in class.

“Let’s exchange contact info.”

“Huh?”

“It’ll be inconvenient to arrange meetings through our parents, right?”

“T-That’s true.”

I pulled out my phone and opened the screen. Wait… how do you add a friend again?

“H-Huh?”

“Tap this person icon, then the QR code… Yes, like that.”

As I fumbled, Kiryu-san leaned in to look at my screen, guiding me through the process and displaying her QR code on my phone.

Her soft hair brushed past me, and even after exercising, she smelled nice.

I held up my phone, and the connection was made.

“Let’s hang out again!” said a cheerful bunny sticker she sent me.

Hang out again. Like today.

Was that just a polite way to end things, or did she really mean it? Would she genuinely want to go out with me on another day off?

Kiryu-san usually speaks her mind, but she also comes across as well-mannered, so it’s hard to tell.

At the very least, I don’t think she thought badly of me.

Thanks to Minami’s help, I was dressed properly, and I made an effort to walk beside her rather than trailing behind. I even avoided my usual habit of letting my arms dangle awkwardly.

I replied to her bunny sticker with a bear making an “OK” sign: “Of course!”

“Well then, Kiryu-san. See you later.”

“Yes, see you tomorrow.”

Bowing my head repeatedly, I left the buffet. Kiryu-san waved and said goodbye again.

This fake relationship that started from a penalty game would likely end soon.

I wasn’t expecting this sham to somehow turn real.

But through this, I’d learned that the most beautiful girl in class, who seemed to live in another world, was actually a hardworking and admirable person my own age.

Even after this temporary relationship ended, I hoped we could occasionally talk, sit together during homework, and have a bond stronger than mere acquaintances—though maybe not quite friends.

She’d said “see you tomorrow,” and we’d exchanged contact information. Did that mean she felt the same way?

As I left the hotel and made my way toward the central station, I opened LINE.

Aside from my mom and the municipal account I was forced to follow during some campaign last year, my contact list now included Kiryu Kirino.

Even though I told myself not to expect anything, I couldn’t help but feel a little happy.

I stared at her “Let’s hang out again!” bunny sticker, grinning like an idiot.