I became the boyfriend of the school's madonna, who had turned down numerous confessions, but somehow, without realizing it, I wasn't just playing a role anymore

Episode 100: End of Postponement

“Whenever Shirai-san came to the preschool, he always wore his school uniform, so I knew that he and Misaki went to the same school.”

Sasagawa-sensei smiles happily as she reveals she had known that Misaki and I went to the same school.

Our school uniform was a blazer, and since I naturally wore it when picking up Kokoa, it seems she noticed.

Well, if I’m wearing the same school uniform as her sister, it’s not surprising she’d take notice.

“I knew Misaki tended to draw boundaries with others, but I also knew she had a very dependent side. So, I thought she might get along well with Shirai-san, who despite his age, has quite a mature and calm personality. Watching how you interacted with Kokoa-chan, I also realized you’re good at taking care of others and spoiling them.”

It seems Sasagawa-sensei had her eye on me.

Is that why she often talks to me during drop-offs and pick-ups?

“Maybe if we weren’t dating, you would have planned to mediate between us?”

If she thought that I am compatible with her younger sister, it wouldn’t be strange to think so.

Her younger sister draws lines with others, so it’s normal to think we wouldn’t get along if left alone.

“That’s a difficult situation. I was hoping for it, but if I try to intervene, Misaki will surely become suspicious of me.”

Well, I think there’s some hidden motive.

Misaki must understand that Sasagawa-sensei has a good personality, so it wouldn’t be strange to think she’s a caring person―or maybe she’s just meddling.

…No, actually, in this case, she’s probably just meddling.

“That kind of intuition seems good.”

It’s more like a strong defense instinct, or maybe an escape instinct.

When someone else comes up with a plan and tries to surround her, she seems to be sensitive to it and runs away.

“And Hyouka-chan is also there. She has been taking care of Misaki since she was a child, so she has a strong protective instinct―maybe If I were to try and set Misaki up with someone without permission, she’d probably get angry.”

Yeah, I understand that.

Suzumine-san is overprotective of Misaki.

Even when the story of starting a relationship came up, she came to my house late at night.

That’s how much Misaki means to her.

“Even at the same age, it’s a bit strange to have a protective instinct.”

“Hyouka-chan, like Shirai-san, has a mature personality for her age.”

Is that implicitly saying, “You too have a strong sense of protection?”

Certainly, Misaki often shows a childish personality for her age, so I often feel like protecting her…

While we were talking like that―.

“Big sister, dinner is ready, so eat it.”

Misaki came.

She had been cooking happily until a moment ago, but now she came to me with her cheeks slightly puffed out, clinging to my arm.