I asked him to be my pretend-boyfriend but after a while I fell for him, but I can't seem to admit that fact!

“I often receive confessions. Even now, I’ve been called to the old light music club room and someone is confessing to me.

“Imamura… I realized that I still like you after all. I want to be in a relationship with you.”

The one confessing to me is Terasawa, who is in the same class. Well actually, Terasawa has confessed to me three times already during my first year. Today marks the fourth confession since then.

Terasawa comes to confess to me every semester… It’s not like a seasonal tradition, so I wish he would seriously just give up already.

…How can I talk to make him give up?

While I was thinking about that, Asai walked into the old light music club room.

“Asai!?”

…Why is he here?

Could it be that he followed me?

…He seems too surprised for that.

But if I were to pretend to be in a relationship with Asai, Terasawa might actually give up. If I act this out, would Asai go along with it?

“…Sorry… I guess I’m interrupting something.”

Huh… Is he leaving?

“Wait, Asai!” I instinctively stopped Asai and rushed over to him, linking my arm with his, and said to Terasawa.

“It’s true… Asai and I are together… so I can’t respond to your feelings, Terasawa.”

…Sorry, Asai, for saying this without consulting you. I’ll explain it to you later.

Asai’s eyes widened in surprise. Terasawa’s expression was stern, but he seemed to have understood something.

“Seriously?”

Terasawa scratched his head awkwardly, stared at Asai, and then left the old light music club room with just one comment, “Asai, if you make Imamura cry, I won’t forgive you.”

It’s the first time Terasawa has backed down so easily. It seems he finally gave up as what I expected..

…But Asai still seemed stunned.

If I think calmly about it, even though we’re close… maybe I went too far with this.

I didn’t consult him beforehand… Is he angry?

“…Sorry for dragging you into this.”

“No… It’s fine… But is this okay?”

He didn’t seem angry at all. In fact, he was strangely considerate.

“Is this okay? What do you mean?”

“The rumors… acknowledging them.”

I don’t mind if rumors spread about me and Asai. But does Asai… dislike it?

“Whether it’s good or bad, since it’s already become a rumor, isn’t it the same?”

“You don’t mind?”

“What?”

“Having a rumor about being with me.”

“Why?”

“Because… being in a rumor with me doesn’t seem fitting considering your status, right?”

Not fitting… that somehow angered me a bit.

“Huh? What are you saying? Do you want to be punched?”

“I don’t want to be punched…”

“Then drop such pointless thoughts.”

It’s fine if others think that way, but… I don’t want Asai to think like that.

“Oh… okay.”

“More importantly, Asai, I have something to talk to you about… Can you come to my house? It’s really close by.”

“Huh?”

…There are people at school. That’s why I decided to invite him home and discuss what happened today and what’s to come.

***

I told Asai to wait in my room while I made coffee… but he seemed hesitant to enter without permission even when there was no one around.

Well… it seems he can’t just come in without being invited, even though no one is watching.

Wait a minute… Asai is the first guy to enter this room.

“This room feels… cool.”

“You think so?”

Cool… I’m not sure how that’s the impression you’d get from a girl’s room.

“Yeah… it really rocks.”

Yeah, if it rocks, I’ll let it slide.

“Oh, you understand! Anyway, just sit down wherever.”

Although I told him to sit wherever… Asai took the best seat without any hesitation.

Instead of being considerate about entering my room, he’s considerate about where to sit in the room!

I thought so, but for some reason, I find it strangely forgivable when it comes to Asai.

“You don’t hold back, do you?”

“Huh…”

“Why are you taking the best seat?”

“Oh, sorry…”

“It’s fine, you’re a guest.”

I gave him a little verbal jab for starters. His hesitance is becoming kind of cute.

Seeing Asai like that, I wanted to tease him a bit more. So, I sat down next to him, and our shoulders were almost touching.

…He’s still blushing a bit. Dangerously cute.

“Here you go, please have some of my coffee.”

“Oh, thanks.”

Asai took the coffee and his expression seemed a bit tense. Could he be bad with coffee? If so, this coffee might be too strong for him.

“Let’s dig in.”

After taking a sip, Asai’s face twisted in reaction. I hit the mark.

I tried to hold back, but…

“Ahahaha!”

I unintentionally burst into laughter.

“It’s bitter, isn’t it?”

“Yeah… uh-huh.”

“I actually like this level of bitterness.”

“Wow… you’re so mature.”

“That’s not it, it’s just my preference.”

I don’t think adults play pranks like this.

“Remember my preference properly.”

“Yeah… sure.”

…I can’t just keep fooling around forever, so I decided it’s time to get to the main topic.

“Well then… can we get to the point now?”

“Yeah…”

I didn’t want to beat around the bush with Asai. So, I spoke directly.

“Asai… I dislike beating around the bush, so I’ll be straightforward. If you’re okay with it, could you pretend to be in a relationship with me as the rumors suggest?”

Asai’s expression became extremely complicated, and he fell into silence.

…He stared at me for a while, but his facial expressions kept changing so rapidly it was almost like a comedy routine.

…Maybe he really dislikes the idea after all.

“You know… Terasawa confessed to me… actually, today marks the fourth time.”

“F… Fourth time?”

“And it’s not just Terasawa… I get confessed to quite a bit – being confessed to even though I’m not interested, then rejecting them and things getting awkward… my high school life has been repeating this cycle.”

Even after explaining the situation, Asai seemed to hesitate in giving a response.

“You see, if it’s known that I have a boyfriend, I think guys won’t confess anymore. Even someone like Terasawa gave up… so that’s why.”

I said what needed to be said.

If it’s a no, I won’t force it.

I want to maintain a good relationship with Asai from here on.

“Sure, Imamura. I’ll play along as your boyfriend.”

Impressive… Asai!

“Really!? I appreciate it!”

“Yeah… but if you play the acoustic guitar that’s sitting there, I’ll do it.”

“Huh… why the guitar all of a sudden!?”

“Because I’ve been curious since I walked into your room.”

“…I see. Asai, you’re into guitars, right?”

“Yeah.”

Even though I’m not skilled enough to perform in front of people… I can’t act shy up in front of Asai.

“Don’t laugh… if you promise not to laugh, I might play for you.”

“Yeah, I won’t laugh… go ahead, let me hear it.”

“Fine… well, if it can’t be helped.”

I played the song “Yume wo Tsugu Mono” (The One Who Inherits Dreams) by Yumeoto. It’s a very melancholic song, but I fell in love with it after just one listen.

When the song ended…

“Ah… Asai!?”

Asai was crying.

Is it really that bad!?

Or was I that terrible!?

“Why are you crying? Did I make you uncomfortable with that song?”

“Nah… it’s not that. Sorry, it just… that song brought back a lot of memories.”

“Wait, Asai, do you also know that song?”

“Yeah… It’s a song filled with a lot of memories.”

“…Is that so.”

Asai also… likes this song.

Just as I thought, Asai and I have a perfect match in musical taste.