After rebirth, I confessed to the losing heroine

[Yuichi’s POV:]

I noticed something in these three days about Hiroto. For some reason, he knows more about Ikeda Satomi than what could be counted as normal.

Just the day before yesterday, when I went to meet Satomi-san alone, our meeting ended on an ugly note. The tone she used in our conversation made me incredibly frustrated that’s why I left earlier than I thought. It was thanks to Kaori who helped me regain my composure and Hiroto, who informed me of something unexpected.

Satomi was putting up an act, when I went to meet her.

That was the first time I noticed that Hiroto knew a lot about Ikeda Satomi.

Not to talk about when Hiroto visited the cafe and met Satomi-san, she was easily convinced by him to share her troubles with me—

—This makes me wonder if Hiroto and Satomi-san had a deeper connection than what meets the eye?

‘But then what about Shirogane-san?’ The way Hiroto acts around Shirogane Miyuki-san, anyone can tell that he is head over heels for the girl.

Then what about Satomi-san?

I had a feeling that asking Hiroto would only make him annoyed that’s why I decided to ask the person who might answer me without beating around the bush.

“One coffee and one Satomi-chan?”

Hearing the pink-haired waitress’ words, I smiled in slight embarrassment before nodding.

I didn’t want to stand out by calling out an employee on a regular basis but there was no helping it.

The cafe was livelier than the last time I visited. Taking out my phone I checked the time and found that it was already over seven.

No wonder why there are so many office workers—I muttered to myself before my gaze landed on the familiar face; advancing in my direction.

Satomi-san was wearing the same uniform as before while holding a tray in her hand. However, unlike the last time, her demeanor seemed a little more friendly.

“Here is your coffee.” Placing it on the table she sat opposite me without any change of expression.

I felt a little troubled initiating the conversation, given, how it went last time.

Maybe she sensed my difficulty as it was Satomi-san who asked, “Why do you want to help me, Yuichi-kun? Is it not love or some bullshit right?”

I allowed a sigh to leak through my lips before lifting the cup and taking a small sip of the freshly brewed coffee.

“I just don’t like seeing people forcing themselves to do what they don’t want to do.”

Satomi-san raised her brows before asking, ” Any personal experience?”

I paused halfway through returning the cup before changing the subject, “Is it true that you were being forced back then? ”

I didn’t want to let anyone delve into my past, knowing how easily they could become disgusted with me. There were only a handful of people with whom I could share those memories, without fearing judgment.

Satomi-san narrowed her eyes for a moment but thankfully, she didn’t continue asking and answered my query,

“Well…you see…”

For the next fifteen or so minutes, I listened to her life story and the past, that Satomi-san always hides behind her cheerful aura.

She confided her loneliness in me and expressed her desire to strengthen her relationships with her family members. The desperation I saw in her eyes seemed genuine. It was evident that she longed for nothing more than a peaceful and joyful life with her loved ones.

However, what surprised me greatly was the obstacle in Satomi-san’s way to her ideal life.

Her own sister—Ikeda Minami.

She was the person who blackmailed her sister to prank me so she could make a good impression on me.

“She told me to injure you during the next PE so she can spend some time with you in the infirmary.” My lips parted in astonishment as I heard her confession.

I believed Minami-san was a good person at heart, who would help others despite being in crisis herself. The aura she exuded made me feel a twinge of guilt for rejecting her confession back then.

But now…my perception of that girl has naturally shifted.

“Yuichi-kun…please don’t hate Minami for this.”

“Huh? You, of all people, are telling me this?” I couldn’t help but exclaim upon hearing that plea from the same girl who was being blackmailed.

Suddenly, Satomi-san overlapped her hand on mine before, with her eyes rounded she requested, “She is deeply in love with you, that’s why she’s resorting to these actions to win you over. However, trust me, deep down, she is not a bad person. I’ve spent enough time with her to say this with certainty.”

Against that tone and those pure innocent eyes, I couldn’t keep rebuking her.

I calmed down soon after, before I assured her, “Don’t worry; I will do whatever I can to help you out.”

*****

Once I exited the cafe, the first person I called was Hiroto.

I wanted to thank him for what he has done to help me. However, the moment the call connected he spoke up,

[Turn around.]

I did as he said before I found Hiroto approaching me with slow strides while holding something in his hand.

“Why are you here?” I asked him since this cafe was situated a little too far away from his house

“I was just making sure this meeting doesn’t go haywire like last time.” As he said, he handed me the fruit juice he had been drinking.

I casually gulped down almost half of it and told him a summary of what happened while keeping the content of blackmail aside.

“Now what should I do?”

“Hmm, go and meet Minami right now. Here, this is her address.” Hiroto suddenly handed me a paper where an address was written.

“How did you-ah, no. First tell me, why right now? Isn’t it a bit late to meet a girl?”

It was already over eight o’clock and to reach the address he gave me would take at least an hour.

However, the reasoning Hiroto followed up with left me with no option.

“By now, Minami might have heard about your frequent visits to the cafe where Satomi works. I suggest you meet with her before she does something irreversible.”

What he said held credibility. Minami was not a normal girl…when it comes to me she can go to some absurd lengths—that much I have discerned after hearing the truth from Satomi.

“Alright, I will go…umm, can I finish this?”

Hiroto nodded at that before I gulped down the juice and marched toward my destination.

Today, I will resolve this mess.

*****

A/N:- Drop a comment if you are enjoying the story so far~