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 23

I wished more than once or twice that lunch breaks were shorter so we could leave earlier, but I never felt it as strongly as I did today.

For a loner like me, lunch break was just time to eat.

I finished eating in ten minutes, and the remaining thirty minutes always left me with nothing to do. Usually, I sat at my desk, quietly reading a light novel to pass the time, but unfortunately, today I had no place in the classroom.

I wandered around, looking for a quiet, not-too-far spot for a loner like me, and I found Kiryu-san and Minami-san.

I didn’t mean to follow them, or so I intended.

Even if it was by chance, seeing them made me want to join them again.

Would they think I’m creepy?

I understood in my head that Kiryu-san and Minami-san were kind and wouldn’t think that, but I still felt anxious.

I suddenly recalled a middle school memory when I tried joining a conversation, thinking people were talking about my favorite light novel, only to hear, “Huh? We’re talking about something completely different,” and I ran away, embarrassed. Maybe those experiences piled up and lowered my motivation to talk to people.

I didn’t think I was dwelling on it, but I felt hesitant to approach and watched them from behind something.

I decided to go out once I prepared myself mentally.

“I’m done with Fujisaki-kun. More importantly, what did you mean by that, Hiyori?” Kiryu-san asked.

“You mean about how long you plan to hang out with Numata?” Minami-san replied.

“Yes,” Kiryu-san confirmed.

It sounded like they were talking about me.

I knew eavesdropping was wrong, but I couldn’t help being curious.

Caring about how others see you apparently comes from human instincts rooted in ancient village societies where outcasts were shunned during food shortages.

Leaving would be the gentlemanly thing to do, but I couldn’t resist my instincts.

“I didn’t mean it like Yasumura, about Numata being this or that,” Minami-san explained.

“Well, I figured. So, what did you mean?” Kiryu-san asked.

“I meant exactly what I said. You’re with Numata as part of a ‘penalty game.’ How long do you plan to keep that up?” Minami-san clarified.

“Nobody forced me to be with Numata-kun. It’s true I thought he was the best option,” Kiryu-san responded.

“Kirino, have you fallen for him?” Minami-san asked.

“It’s not like that,” Kiryu-san replied.

For a moment, my heart skipped, and I got hopeful, but Kiryu-san’s quick answer calmed me down.

“But you like him, don’t you?” Minami-san pressed.

“Yes,” Kiryu-san admitted.

Her quick response made me feel my cheeks relax into a smile.

I knew it wasn’t romantic. Still, being praised behind my back, not as flattery or politeness, made me really happy.

I also had a guess about why she liked me.

If I misunderstood and developed feelings, I imagined Kiryu-san would lose the friendly affection she had for me.

I tightly crushed the emotions welling up inside.

“Numata’s pretty hardworking, isn’t he?” Minami-san remarked.

“Hardworking?” Kiryu-san asked.

“Yeah. The day before going out with you, he came to our shop,” Minami-san shared.

“Your family runs a salon, right?” Kiryu-san recalled.

“Yeah. Our moms know each other, apparently. But Numata’s obviously not the type to care about style, right?” Minami-san noted.

“True. But isn’t it normal to groom yourself before going out with someone?” Kiryu-san asked.

“Sure, but realizing you’re not good enough and trying to change in a sea of unknowns is tough. Really tough. Grooming for others might seem normal, but not many people actually do it properly,” Minami-san explained.

“Well, true,” Kiryu-san agreed.

Kiryu-san nodded as Minami-san spoke, looking toward the classroom.

“He said he didn’t want to embarrass you when walking together. Not to impress you or anything. He doesn’t even think you’d like him. He just accepted being with you because he read the room, but being with you might feel like a burden to him,” Minami-san added.

“Why do you think that?” Kiryu-san asked.

“He almost got grabbed by Yasumura earlier, and Numata’s so laid-back, I bet he hates being caught up in our drama,” Minami-san speculated.

“If Yasumura-kun or Fujisaki-kun do anything to him, I’ll protect him,” Kiryu-san declared.

“Back to my first question, how long do you plan to keep this up with Numata? He’s been sincerely facing you. Whether you continue or end it, treating him like a convenient tool isn’t fair,” Minami-san stated.

Kiryu-san fell silent for a moment, and as she opened her mouth to speak, the lunch break bell rang.

It was time for cleaning.

Kiryu-san walked away, and Minami-san headed toward me. I tried to hide quickly but found no place and met Minami-san’s eyes.

“You heard?” Minami-san asked.

“No, well, the classroom felt uncomfortable, so I came out,” I explained.

“I see. Kirino doesn’t mean any harm, you know,” Minami-san assured.

“I don’t exactly feel bothered,” I replied.

“Saying that means you kind of do,” Minami-san pointed out.

I looked away from Minami-san’s narrowed gaze.

Well, she was right. Getting tangled up with Yasumura-kun and Fujisaki-kun and caught in group drama wasn’t something I could say didn’t bother me at all.

Also, I was used to being alone.

I genuinely admired friendships and romantic relationships, but I also knew I wasn’t suited for them. Still, my desire to make those dreams real wasn’t a lie.

In that sense, my relationship with Kiryu-san wasn’t all bad for me.

“Learning that the glamorous Kiryu-san worked hard behind the scenes and getting grooming tips from you, Minami-san, have been good experiences in my life,” I admitted.

Probably, my relationship with Kiryu-san would end soon.

Minami-san’s words made me realize that I’d be freed from the popular group’s penalty game drama and lose my dreamlike position as the boyfriend of the school’s most beautiful girl.

I felt relief and a bit of loneliness.

My gray, friendless high school life, spent reading light novels in the classroom corner, gained a few days of good memories.

I planned to cherish this glamorous memory for life.

“See you,” I said.

I bowed to Minami-san and headed to my cleaning spot.

After cleaning, I returned to the classroom, and the fifth period began.

Dachi-san’s seat remained empty.