I Ended up Getting Close With the Class Madonna Who Keeps Rejecting Confessions, Saying She Doesn’t Plan to Date Anyone - Chapter 17

April 7th.

The spring breeze made the curtains sway, and the sunlight coming through the window shone on my eyelids.

I got up, put on my school shirt, and buttoned it up. Then I grabbed my school bag and uniform, which I had prepared yesterday, and headed to the living room.

“Good morning.”

I looked around, but Mom wasn’t there. She must have already gone to work. She always said her motto was to rest fully on days off and work fully on workdays.

“Life is all about balance!”

I remembered her saying that.

“Good morning, big brother. Breakfast will be ready soon, so please sit and wait.”

Anju popped her head out from the kitchen and came out in front of me.

She wore the school shirt with a gray checkered skirt, and for some reason, even had on a navy blazer. I wondered why she was wearing it.

“Why are you wearing the blazer too?”

“I wanted big brother to see me in my uniform. And I wanted you to say I look cute.”

“I already said that before.”

The entrance ceremony was a few days ago. That morning, I woke up and had to look at Anju in her uniform enough times to last a lifetime. So I thought there was nothing new to say.

“Before is before, today is today!”

“You’re not going to say that tomorrow is tomorrow too?”

“…”

I had a bad feeling, and Anju’s silent look made it clear she would. If I keep giving in, she’ll probably ask every day. That would be annoying.

“I don’t give out cute things easily. I only say it when it matters.”

“So, that means the other day really mattered?”

“You can interpret it that way.”

Anju went back to the kitchen and was clearly happy. She took off the blazer on the way back, so she really had worn it just for me.

After washing my face and returning to the living room, I was speechless. The breakfast spread looked like a hotel buffet.

Scrambled eggs, sausages, French toast, salad, yogurt, and fruit. We only normally have toast and fried eggs, so this was a big surprise.

Steam rose from the cup, and the smell of coffee filled the room.

“What is all this?”

I asked Anju, and she snorted proudly.

“Since it’s my first day in big brother’s school, Mom specially allowed me to make it fancy.”

“What about my first day?”

I teased her, but I was also worried. Could I really eat all this? If not, I could save some for lunch, I guess.

I made a mental note to tell her to keep it simpler next time.

＊

After finishing breakfast and getting ready for school, we left the house.

Seeing Anju in a blazer, instead of the sailor uniform she wore in middle school, was definitely a fresh sight, but I didn’t comment. Saying anything might cause trouble.

As I locked the door, I noticed Anju looking around nervously. I asked, “Is something wrong?” “No,” she replied, short and simple.

She usually says exactly what she wants, and often more than necessary. If she said it was nothing, then there was no reason to worry. I started walking.

Once we were outside the building, Anju began scanning the surroundings again. Was she worried someone was following us?

“This is strange.”

She muttered seriously this time.

“What is?”

I looked around, but everything seemed normal to me.

“Normally, couples go to school together. But Shinoba-san isn’t anywhere to be seen.”

She put her hand on her chin, murmuring like a detective solving a tough case.

“…You can’t really say that for sure.”

We’d see her at school anyway, so there was no real need to walk together. I’d honestly rather have the freedom to go to and from school our own way.

“According to the data I gathered, over seventy percent of high school couples walk to school together. And most of those are couples who have just started dating. That includes you and Shinoba-san, too.”

“Yeah, but.”

I opened my mouth to argue, but Anju continued without pause.

“Furthermore, in your story writing, there’s a high chance the main character and heroine go to school together. That means, it’s normal in your mind, or rather, an ideal event for a couple. But if you don’t do it, it proves you don’t like Shinoba-san that much.”

This is bad.

What’s really scary is that even though what she’s saying is crazy, it still hits home.

“…Look, I just didn’t today.”

“Why not?”

Anju kept looking at me with that suspicious gaze. In her eyes burned a fire of doubt.

“Today’s your first day of school, so I was told to walk with you.”

“…Gasp!”

It was a sudden excuse, but it seemed to hit the mark. Anju’s expression froze in surprise.

“I didn’t want you to know I gave way, because I thought you might feel obligated. But since you asked, I had no choice but to tell you.”

I have to admit that was a pretty smooth excuse.

But now the problem was, I had to think about what to do from tomorrow.

Should we walk to school together, or come up with a good excuse to go separately?

“Shinoba-san really knows what she’s doing. That was a very high point for me.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

I had managed to get out of trouble. Without Shinoba knowing, and without her realizing it, her points with Anju had gone up.

The only problem was that I might have to walk to school with her in the morning as a result. I’d better figure that out…