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 28

Chapter 28

And so, my romantic relationship with Kiryu-san ended.

However, since our relationship was built on the trust that “I wouldn’t become Kiryu-san’s romantic interest and wouldn’t expect it,” it didn’t feel like we “broke up.”

Rather, it began. I became Kiryu-san’s friend.

I thought that once the romantic relationship from the penalty game ended, I’d lose contact with Kiryu-san and return to being an awkward loner reading light novels.

But Kiryu-san said she’d stay my friend even after it ended. She even planned to suggest it if I hadn’t.

I didn’t think it was because she particularly liked me.

She probably involved me in the “penalty game” suddenly but was principled and kind enough not to say, “Go back to being a loner” once it was over.

This friendship might be close to pity or obligation.

But I didn’t have enough pride to feel inferior about it.

Secretly hoping someone would talk to me while silently reading light novels in a gray high school life was less fun than a life where Kiryu-san might occasionally chat with me, even out of pity or obligation.

Regardless of the circumstances, my respect for Kiryu-san and the joy of her talking to me or eating lunch together were genuine.

Even if it’s a pity or obligation now, talking and interacting with Kiryu-san’s group could change me, and we might become true friends.

The fake romantic relationship ended in less than a week, but a friendship, even out of obligation, might last until we move to different classes without drifting apart.

I aimed to reach a point where we’d greet each other in the hallway after changing classes or chat if we had time.

Honestly, it was miraculous that we wouldn’t drift apart after the romantic relationship ended, but humans are greedy— Next, I might want to exchange New Year’s cards even after graduation.

The trust that I wouldn’t expect to be Kiryu-san’s romantic interest is likely still held, and getting greedy might make us drift apart sooner.

I decided not to get carried away.

“Good morning, Numata,” Minami-san greeted.

As I tried to calm my rising excitement, Minami-san, who arrived at the station before me, called out.

“Oh, Minami-san… Good morning,” I replied.

“She called you out yesterday, right?” Minami-san asked.

“Yeah,” I confirmed.

“What happened?” Minami-san inquired.

“Well, the romantic relationship that started with the ‘penalty game’ ended. But I asked if we could keep hanging out as friends, and she agreed,” I explained.

“I see,” Minami-san responded.

“Um, thanks,” I added.

“Why’s Numata thanking me?” Minami-san questioned.

“Well, uh…” I hesitated.

Minami-san told Kiryu-san I was trying with grooming and suggested she end the unfair “penalty game” relationship to face me properly.

It felt like she acknowledged me as a person, which made me a bit happy.

But it was from eavesdropping; she didn’t say it for my sake. And thanking her felt creepy, so I stayed quiet.

Minami-san, done asking, looked outside a bit grumpily.

“Good morning, Numata-kun. And Hiyori,” Kiryu-san greeted.

At the school’s nearest station, Kiryu-san waited for some reason.

“G-good morning, Kiryu-san. Um, why’re you at the station?” I asked.

“Obviously, I was waiting for you,” Kiryu-san declared.

I thought she meant Minami-san, but her gaze clearly aimed at me.

“You came to meet me?” I clarified.

“Yes. Let’s go to school together,” Kiryu-san invited.

She extended her hand. What? Money… she wouldn’t ask for that, right?

Her eyes clearly focused on my hand.

I offered my free hand, not holding my bag.

Kiryu-san intertwined her fingers with mine, gripping my hand. Was this the lover’s clasp?

“Uh, um, what…” I stammered.

“For our relationship, this is natural, right?” Kiryu-san asked.

Our relationship… meaning, as friends, hand-holding was natural for Kiryu-san?

Her fingers, between mine, felt slender, cool, and soft.

I hadn’t held a girl’s hand since a first-grade field trip, and even then, it wasn’t this finger-intertwined kind.

What did she mean?

My light novels were fiction, exaggerating hand-holding, but was it normal for friends in reality?

Having no friends, I didn’t understand Kiryu-san’s intent.

Others’ gazes bothered me. I felt embarrassed, itchy, and awkward.

Losing confidence, I slowed my pace, and Kiryu-san slowed too. When I loosened my grip, she squeezed tighter.

My stomach ached with anxiety, and my back hunched slightly.

“Hey, Kirino. Didn’t the penalty game relationship end?” Minami-san asked.

“Yes, I ended it properly,” Kiryu-san confirmed.

“So… Numata, you and Kirino are friends now, right?” Minami-san checked.

“That’s the plan, but…” I replied.

Minami-san whispered, eyeing our joined hands.

Other students in uniforms stared curiously at me holding hands with Kiryu-san.

Hand-holding as friends didn’t seem normal.

My chest tightened. More than joy or embarrassment, I felt out of place and apologetic.

I felt weird sweat on my hand and wanted to let go if it wasn’t normal.

But I lacked the courage to pull away.

Why did Kiryu-san want to hold my hand?

I didn’t think she mistook my “hang out as friends” for “date as lovers.”

I clearly said “friends,” and even if she misheard, she wouldn’t agree to date. She said she planned to suggest it herself.

So, why?

I peered at Kiryu-san’s expression to gauge her intent. At that moment, someone forcibly yanked our hands apart.

My chest tightened as Yasumura-kun’s furious, red face loomed before me.

“Don’t touch Kiryu with your filthy hands, Numata!” Yasumura-kun shouted.