Although She's a Beautiful Student Council President Who Maintains Her Coolness Towards Everyone, She Wants to Act Spoiled and Lovesick Around Him, Who is Misunderstood by Everyone as a Delinquent - Chapter 25: Resolve

Afterwards, with an awkward atmosphere still lingering, Riku escorted Shizuku back to her home. Now, Riku lay on his bed, staring at a single point on the ceiling.

(Shizuku has feelings for me…)

There was only one thing he could think of. Well, it wasn’t an exaggeration to say that he had been unconsciously thinking about it.

“Are Shizuku’s feelings for me genuine?” That was an undeniable fact, as he had heard her feelings from the person herself and felt happy about it.

(What do I want to do knowing Shizuku’s feelings for me?)

In the end, he arrived at this point. He couldn’t find the answer to what would come next. It was like wandering aimlessly in a tunnel without any light.

–While he was grappling with such thoughts, the sound of the door opening suddenly rang out.

“Riku-nii, your bath is ready, okay?”

Then, his cousin, Nana, appeared out of nowhere. Riku lost his parents at a young age and was taken in by his relatives. Although Nana wasn’t related to him by blood, she called him “Riku-nii.”

“Hey, hey. Didn’t I tell you to knock before you open the door?”

“I knock when it’s not Riku-nii! So it’s okay!”

“That’s rude…sometimes I might be in a situation where I can’t be disturbed, so be more careful next time.”

“Heh, what could that be? Something naughty, huh? Something naughty~?”

While swaying her sky blue-colored pigtails, Nana pressed closer to Riku with a teasing grin. Her round, chestnut eyes seemed to have a mischievous intent behind them. Nana was currently in middle school and in the midst of puberty. She was a bit interested in this kind of topic.

“…That’s enough.”

He couldn’t entertain Nana’s teasing now. More importantly, he had to find a solution to his problems.

“…Hey, Riku-nii, did something happen?”

“…Well, kinda.”

As soon as he got up from his bed to head towards the bath, Nana’s worried voice reached him. Though Nana is not related to him by blood, they have known each other for many years. She must have sensed that something was bothering him from his expression.

“If you are okay with Nana, could you please share it with me? After all, Riku-nii, You are my precious Onii-chan”

“You’re amazing at switching between teasing and being serious, you know that?”

“If it bothers you, I can go to the living room instead…but I really want to hear what’s going on.”

“Okay, I’ll tell you. I couldn’t solve it by myself.”

This was the first time someone had confessed their feelings to him, and he was at a loss on what to do. He didn’t tell Nana everything, just the important parts.

“What? T-That Kujo-san confessed to you!? You’re quite popular, aren’t you, Riku-nii!?”

“I’ve never been popular before. I’m even called a delinquent at school, and hardly anyone approaches me.”

“So that’s why it’s finally coming back to you in a good way! After all, Kujo-san likes you, right!?”

“Well, yeah…”

Everyone who lives in this area would associate the name Kujo with the same person. Not only do they have a big house, but also because of the fact that Shizuku and their sister Rinka are beautiful, their name recognition is higher than anyone else’s.

“Um, I think this is a question that everyone has, but why is it that you’re struggling with whether or not to date Kujo-san? I mean, she’s a beautiful woman with a lot of money, so I don’t think there’s any reason to refuse her, right…?”

“N-No, I don’t intend to refuse her… But at the same time, accepting her is also a different story, I guess…”

…Yes, this is how it ended up. He didn’t intend to refuse her, but at the same time, he also didn’t feel like accepting her. This contradiction was something he couldn’t understand himself.

“Hey, come to think of it, have you never dated anyone of the opposite sex before, Riku-nii?”

“Uh, yeah…”

“I’m just wondering, but maybe Riiku-nii doesn’t know what it means to like someone?”

Nana tilted her head with a puzzled look and suggested a possibility. Although it was a third-party opinion, Riku immediately denied it.

“I know that much. You know, like wanting to talk to someone together,” Riku said.

“But you can say that to a friend too, can’t you?” Nana replied.

“T-That’s true… Then, is it the feeling of excitement…? Well, that’s also a kind of nervousness, and I don’t have much experience with the opposite sex….”

He understood it in his head. However, he was lost in a maze and couldn’t find the answer. He couldn’t put it into words.

“Oh, it’s already resolved… It’s just because you don’t understand what romantic feelings are, so you couldn’t give an ‘OK’ answer,” Nana said.

Nana came up with the answer after about ten minutes of consultation. From Riku’s reaction, it must have been right on target. …. However, it was the person who was having the trouble who objected.

“Wait a minute. I understand what it means to like someone,” he protested.

“Okay then. Do you like Nana?”

“Well, I do like you, but…”

“But it’s just as a family member, right?”

“Well, yeah, that’s true.”

“Then what does it mean to like someone of the opposite sex?”

“Um…”

And at that moment, a definitive answer came out.

“See, you can’t answer it. It’s a sign that you don’t really understand even though you know it in your head,” Nana said.

“Then, can I ask you the opposite? How can I come to understand those romantic feelings?” asked Riku.

“Hmm, I guess ultimately time will solve it, so it’s okay to continue to treat her as you have until now. But if you know about Kujo-san’s feelings, it’s pitiful to leave it up to time. You never know how long it will take,” Nana replied.

Nana spoke while mixing her own feelings into the conversation. Her face was serious, and there was no sign of teasing. It was precisely because of seeing Nana like that, that Riku felt he could swallow her advice.

“I think the most important thing is for you to make an attack and confirm your feelings. It’s not ideal to make a move without understanding your feelings, but if you have no intention of refusing, Riku-nii must like Kujo-san. I can say that with confidence.”

Riku likes Shizuku. That was the premise that Nana was considering, which is why she was telling him to make a move.

— It was then that Riku realized. Perhaps Rinka also realized this and told him to make a move.

“You’ll understand when you make a move, I’m sure. You’ll experience strange things you wouldn’t expect if you think of Kujo-san as just a friend.”

“What… What do you mean by that?”

Nana kept talking, as if she could see everything in the future. Her tone was as if she had complete confidence in her words.

“This conversation will be kept secret. In return, Riku-nii should make a proper attack, because it’s disrespectful to Kujo-san to not do anything after she confessed her feelings to you!”

And so, Nana pointed her pinky finger towards Riku.

“Alright, pinky promise!”

“Why…?”

“If Nana were in Kujo-san’s position, it would be so sad to just convey her feelings like that! You need to make an attack properly.”

“I…I got it.”

Riku caved in to Nana’s pressure and made a pinky promise. It may seem childish, but Nana wanted to convey the message “keep your promise.” There was no denying that he had caused Shizuku pain.

(I need to make an attack properly…it’s something that I’m curious about myself…)

Riku finally made up his mind. To make an attack.

This resolve is something that he couldn’t have known would be the catalyst for stripping away all of Shizuku’s calm demeanor.

Furthermore, as Nana had suggested, it may also lead to him becoming aware of his own feelings…