Do You Like Romantic-Comedy Protagonists?

Chapter 14: Do You Like Rom-Coms? 4

“Sousuke-kun, aren’t you going home together today?”

“Sousuke, you’re not leaving?”

“Come on, Sousuke, let’s go!”

At school, Arai, Takanashi, and Hachiya were waiting for Sakurai to leave.

“Nah, sorry, guys. I’ve got some stuff to do at school, so I can’t head back yet.”

“Ugh, not going home with my Sousuke is so not cool~”

“What are you saying, Arai-san? Sousuke-kun is my husband.”

“Hey, hey, stop saying dumb stuff!”

As usual, Arai and Takanashi bickered, and Sakurai tried to calm them down.

“Well, no helping it then… Takanashi-san, Arai-san, wanna go home together?”

Understanding Sakurai had school business, Hachiya invited Takanashi and Arai.

“Sorry, Hachiya-san… I’ve got somewhere to stop by.”

“Sor~ry, Kyouko-chi. I’ve got something I wanna take care of.”

“Oh… Well, can’t be helped then!”

Takanashi and Arai, who had just insisted on going home with Sakurai, flipped and said they had plans, but Hachiya accepted it.

She didn’t even slightly imagine they were making excuses to avoid going home with her.

“Alright, I’m heading out then!”

“Bye-bye, Kyouko-chi~”

“Farewell.”

“See ya, Kyouko~”

As Hachiya left, Arai and Takanashi went their separate ways, leaving Sakurai alone.

“Well then…”

Muttering, Sakurai slung his bag over his shoulder and headed to the library.

※

Entering the library, Sakurai spotted Suijou, who had called him, and spoke up.

“S-Suijou, I’m here.”

“Ah! Sakurai-kun, over here, over here!”

Hearing Sakurai’s voice, Suijou immediately stood and ran over.

Her approach made Sakurai blush with embarrassment.

Being alone with Suijou, whom he had feelings for, made him shy.

“This way, this way.”

“O-Okay.”

Sakurai was led by Suijou’s hand deeper into the library.

The high school library was always sparsely populated, with only a few people scattered around after school.

“Sakurai-kun, thanks for today!”

“W-What!”

Suijou expressed gratitude while tightly gripping Sakurai’s hand, startling him into a loud exclamation.

Though few people were in the library, “no loud noises” was a rule, so those present glared at them.

“S-Sorry~”

Sakurai scratched his head and apologized lightly.

“What’re you doing, Suijou! You scared me!”

“S-Sorry, I didn’t think you’d be that surprised…”

Reflecting on the loud outburst, Sakurai and Suijou switched to whispering.

Most people in the library were alone, not talking, so even their whispers echoed.

Amid the scratching of mechanical pencils, their soft voices mixed in.

Some people in the library, seeing Sakurai and Suijou, left awkwardly.

“So, what don’t you get, Suijou?”

“Oh… Um, this part here.”

Called to help with studying, Suijou asked Sakurai to teach her.

In truth, she didn’t have any real questions; it was an excuse to get him there.

“Yeah, this part’s tricky. Took me a while to get it too. You just group these together.”

Suijou, blushing, looked up at Sakurai, who was earnestly addressing her question.

Noticing her upward gaze, Sakurai stopped talking.

“W-What’s up, Suijou?”

“Huh… N-Nothing, nothing! I’m fine, fine! Just, uh, doing something!”

“Doing what!”

Both blushing, they grew more awkward, but Sakurai resumed explaining.

Sakurai continued helping Suijou study, and a few hours passed.

“Here… Yeah, you can use this theorem.”

“Sakurai-kun, you’re really good at teaching.”

Suijou stared into Sakurai’s eyes, speaking with fervor.

“O-Oh, t-thanks, Suijou!”

Sakurai, flushed, stammered a response.

His gaze was drawn to Suijou’s lips.

Her full, rosy lips, lightly pink, seemed warm, drawing him in further.

Her deep, captivating eyes pulled his attention.

Her fair skin, cheeks slightly flushed, gleamed as if reflecting light.

Her soft, supple skin seemed impossible to let go of once touched, her flawless complexion and deep eyes and full lips all standing out, especially with their close proximity.

Suddenly, her soft skin felt dear.

He wanted to touch it.

Unconsciously, Sakurai touched Suijou’s skin.

“E… Eek!”

Suijou let out a sharp scream, and the few remaining students glared at them.

The students were exasperated by Sakurai and Suijou’s loud talking and romantic antics, disregarding others.

Everyone there felt the couple’s inconsiderate behavior was a nuisance.

“S-Sorry…”

Suijou apologized, looking down.

“S-Sakurai-kun, w-what…?”

“Uh… Um.”

Sakurai was dazed, realizing he’d unconsciously touched her skin.

“N-No, I mean! There was dust on you, so I brushed it off! Dust on your skin!”

“Y-Yeah, right! You wouldn’t touch me without a reason!”

Flustered, their voices grew loud, and the few remaining students slammed their books shut with a bang and left.

But Sakurai and Suijou, deeply embarrassed and immersed in their moment, didn’t notice the sound.

“…”

Silence dominated the scene.

The already quiet library regained its stillness, and an odd silence fell between them.

Suijou was beyond reason.

Being taught by Sakurai up close, having her skin touched, she could no longer think straight.

“H-Hey, Sakurai-kun?”

“W-What?”

Before she knew it, words slipped out.

“S-Sakurai-kun, I love you! Please go out with me!”

“Uh…?”

Ding-dong-dang-dong.

As Suijou confessed, the cheerful bell rang through the library.

“Alright, alright, library’s closing. Time’s up, students, out, out.”

The librarian urged Sakurai and Suijou to leave, and Suijou, mouth agape, obediently exited.

Did he hear her confession properly? Wondering, she couldn’t close her mouth.

※

Sakurai and Suijou left the library, walking slowly together.

“Uh… Suijou, I thought you said something earlier, what was it?”

“Huh… N-Nothing, don’t worry! I didn’t say anything! Nope, nothing at all! Really, nothing! Totally unimportant, haha, really! Seriously! N-No, it’s so trivial it’s crazy! Like what I had for breakfast, that’s how trivial! So don’t worry! Yeah, it’s fine!”

“O-Okay, if you say so.”

With time, Suijou calmed down, deeply ashamed of what she’d done.

Waving her hands frantically, she rambled to brush it off.

“Phew… I got so nervous… Thought you confessed or something.”

“Haha…”

Suijou sweated profusely, letting Sakurai’s words pass.

His guess was spot-on, pushing her nerves to the limit, sweat drenching her, hair sticking to her nape.

Sakurai, watching her hair cling to her skin, walked home with her.

※

The earlier atmosphere didn’t return, and Suijou and Sakurai went home.

“Sigh… I tried so hard today…”

Back home, Suijou muttered, staring at a photo of Sakurai.