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 - Chapter 45

Episode 45: Prologue (2)

“―What’s the conversation all about?”

That night we went to the sea with Raito-kun and the others.

Hyouka-chan looked at me through the window from her room.

Our rooms are facing each other, so we can talk like this across the window.

“Sorry, it’s so sudden.”

“It’s nothing to worry about, it’s too late now. It’s a difficult subject to talk about with such a preface, isn’t it?”

As expected from a childhood friend I’ve been with since I can remember. She knows me well.

“There’s something I want to ask about Raito-kun…”

Recalling the events of the day, I gathered my courage to bring up the topic about him.

Hyouka-chan has been recommending him to me since we were in first year because they are childhood friends―I don’t think that’s the reason.She’s not kind or sweet enough to trust someone solely based on a simple relationship. Yet, she clearly seems comfortable around him.

I felt like Hyouka-chan had feelings for Raito-kun beyond friendship.

“Well… I expected it to come to this.”

Hyouka-chan sighed while brushing her hair back with her right hand.

It seemed like she already knew I would bring up Raito-kun’s topic.

“Do you like Raito-kun, Hyouka-chan?”

I asked straightforwardly.

Hyouka-chan, who doesn’t like to lie, sometimes dodges questions or changes the subject to avoid uncomfortable topics. I might anger her by indirectly asking, so I decided to be direct.

“Why are you asking me that?”

Instead of answering my question, Hyouka-chan countered with her own question.
She doesn’t like lying and sometimes avoids the truth by asking questions or changing the topic. I’m not sure if that’s the case this time, but I suspect it’s something she doesn’t want to talk about.

“Because you’re getting close to Raito-kun…”

“He initiated it first, or rather—It seemed like Misaki urged him to, didn’t it?”

“Ugh…!”

I gasped, her words hit a nerve,

“Y-Yes, I might have been motivated to retaliate out of spite…! But if it were an ordinary boy, Hyouka-chan wouldn’t let him touch her just because I urged it, right…? Besides, I don’t think she would touch a boy as retaliation…!”

I would absolutely get furious and report it to the police or teachers! I know that much!

“Who was the one who restrained me so I couldn’t resist?”

It seems Hyouka-chan decided to blame me for not resisting instead of mentioning her retaliation against Raito-kun.

“If you wanted to escape, you could have done it, couldn’t you…!”

I didn’t put much strength into holding her down. If she really hated it, she could have resisted with all her might. Since she didn’t, it was probably just for show.

“Sigh…we were talking about whether I liked him or not.”

Hyouka-chan sighed and redirected the conversation on her own.

I get it now. She switched topics without lying because it became inconvenient.

But the part I want to know the most is there, so I won’t make any unnecessary remarks.

“To be honest―I don’t know.”

“You don’t know…?”

Hyouka-chan, who dislikes lies, rarely tells lies unless necessary. I can’t recall seeing her lie before. So, I don’t think she’s lying this time either.

“I admit that unlike the other boys, I treat him special.”
“Is it because he’s a childhood friend?”

I doubt it, but I’ll ask just in case. If it’s different, Hyouka-chan will probably talk about it on her own.

“Well, I have memories of us being close when we were young… But honestly, until my mom mentioned his name, I didn’t recognize him even when I saw his face. That’s how childhood memories work, and if someone spoke to me in a friendly manner just because we used to be close, I might spit venom at them.”

Certainly, Hyouka-chan doesn’t seem to place much importance on the fact that they were childhood friends. It seems like they hadn’t met until they reunited in high school, and there was no indication that Hyouka-chan reminisced about the boy she knew from the same nursery school.

It seems they were only close to the extent that they didn’t mind being apart.

…However, it appears that within Hyouka-chan, there were memories with him that she would recall upon hearing his name. If he were truly insignificant, she wouldn’t bother to remember his name.

“So, why is Raito-kun special?”

“I owe him. That’s all.”

“……”

She answered like that, and she seemed annoyed.

She implied something so meaningful. Why would she say it like that?

She must know that I would be curious if she said it like that.

“What do you owe him?”

“He helped me in the past, that’s all.”

She answered like that and narrowed her eyes to show her displeasure.

Don’t ask any more, she said with her eyes.

It’s not just a matter of inconvenience—it’s probably something she doesn’t want to remember.

I’m curious, but… I didn’t want to ruin my relationship with Hyouka-chan.
“If he helped you, wouldn’t you develop feelings for him…?”

“Unfortunately, my thought process isn’t that simple.”

“Ugh…!”

Sorry for being simple-minded!

But it can’t be helped!

It was only the second time he helped me, and I was really scared at the sea, so Raito-kun, who came to help me, looked really cool…!

Moreover, he’s sometimes gentle even though he’s usually cold!

In fact, when we’re alone, he’s quite indulgent, and the difference between usual and alone is amazing!

Even I would fall for him!

Hyouka-chan’s words pierced my heart, and I desperately made excuses in my mind.

Of course, I didn’t say it out loud.

If I said something like that, it would be like admitting that we’re not really dating.

“Then how can you say you don’t know…?”

If you don’t like him, just say so.

Besides, I’m technically Raito-kun’s girlfriend.

That way, there won’t be any conflicts for sure.

“I think of him as special. I just don’t know if it’s romantic feelings or not.”

Hyouka-chan smiled troublingly.

Hyouka-chan is really honest.

She wouldn’t say these words in front of “his girlfriend” under normal circumstances.

I even feel like she’s convinced that I’m not the real girlfriend.

“However—Even when I see Misaki and Shirai-kun being lovey-dovey, it doesn’t bother me, and when I saw Misaki troubled in her first year, I thought it would be nice if Shirai-kun could be her boyfriend. So, I don’t think I like him.”

She probably thought about it and came to that conclusion.

The fact that it didn’t come to her until she thought about it worries me, but—I don’t want to be aware of it. It would be troublesome to be conscious of it. So, I decided to only say what needs to be said.

“Raito-kun is my boyfriend… I want you to understand that…”

Smart Hyouka-chan should get my point with just this.

“You don’t have to restrain yourself like that. I wouldn’t even consider making a move on Shirai-kun, for fear of souring things with Misaki.”

Hyouka-chan, who accepted my words, didn’t show a troubled smile like before but a warm one trying to reassure me.

I was sure she would answer me that way.

“Yes, I believe in you…”

Don’t worry, it’s Hyouka-chan.

She wouldn’t choose to have a troublesome relationship with her childhood friend.

So, I had no choice but to believe her.