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

Even though I could tell I’d messed up, Kokonoe’s voice sounded heavy, and her face clouded over. I must’ve said something bad.

“Ah, um.”

I realized back in middle school that whenever I tried too hard to please others, I was the one who ended up losing out.

Since then, I stopped forcing myself to go along with people.

Because of that, I spent more time alone. But I never really minded. It was my choice, after all.

Still, I guess I picked the wrong topic this time.

Since I wasn’t sure about the distance between us yet, I should’ve chosen something safer to talk about.

It was too late to regret it now.

I tried to think of something to smooth things over, but nothing came to mind.

“I’m sorry, I just said it the wrong way.”

Kokonoe said before I could say anything. When I looked at her again, the gloomy look on her face was gone.

“I don’t really mind being called the class Madonna. That’s just what other people decided.”

“Then what did you mean earlier?”

Even though I usually don’t bother with unnecessary things, I wanted to ask. Maybe it was to make up for making her upset, but I was honestly just curious.

“I don’t know if Gojou-kun has heard, but since I entered this school, a lot of guys have confessed to me.”

“I know. That kind of talk spreads whether we want to hear it or not. That’s how people started calling you Madonna, right?”

Kokone gave a small and vague smile.

What I said was true, but it probably wasn’t something she wanted to agree with out loud.

“I don’t plan on dating anyone right now. So, no matter who confesses, I always turn them down.”

Why she didn’t want to date anyone wasn’t something I should ask. There might be another landmine hidden there, like before.

If she wanted to talk about it, she would. If not, I shouldn’t step in carelessly.

“But, you know… even when I turn them down, no one gives up. They keep asking why not them? What’s wrong with them? And won’t take no for an answer.”

“Like what happened at lunch?”

When I said that, thinking back to what happened earlier, Kokonoe nodded softly.

Kokonoe Shinoba was beautiful and popular enough to be called the class Madonna. For someone to confess to a girl like her, that guy must be really confident.

Somewhere in their heart, they probably believe that they’re different and they can win her over. So it makes sense that they can’t give up easily.

“Gojou-kun might not understand this, but turning someone down is actually really exhausting.”

“What’s with the sudden diss?”

She’s not wrong, but still.

“When it’s not just once or twice, it really wears me down after a while.”

I started to get it.

She doesn’t plan to date anyone, that’s her stance. Even when someone confesses, she turns them down honestly. But they won’t take no for an answer. And having that happen again and again. That would drain anyone mentally.

“You’re clear about not wanting to date anyone, but people still don’t get it. And the fact that word hasn’t spread makes it worse.”

It’s funny that rumors about her always spread fast, but the ones she wishes would never do.

“…Isn’t there some good way to deal with it?”

Kokone looked up at me with her eyes pleading.

Because of her cute and baby-faced look, it made me want to protect her like a small animal.

I put a hand on my chin and thought for a few seconds.

“There is a way.”

Her face lit up immediately. She looked at me with sparkling, hopeful eyes.

I took a sip of my now-lukewarm orange juice before speaking again.

“In the end, people don’t really change just because you tell them to. You, of all people, should know that by now, right?”

“…Yeah.”

“So the key is to change your environment.”

“My environment?”

“Exactly. No matter how much you tell someone not to confess, people don’t listen. That’s why you create an environment where they can’t confess.”

I paused for a moment, then delivered my conclusion.

“You just need to get a boyfriend. If you do that, no one would try to confess anymore except for total idiots.”

“But I told you, I don’t plan to date anyone…”

“I know. That’s why you don’t actually need to get one. Just make up a fake boyfriend and stick with that lie. Problem solved.”

Honestly, not a bad plan if I said so myself.

It should also make up for what I said earlier that upset her.

“A fake boyfriend…”

Kokone muttered with a thoughtful look and mumbling something under her breath. Then her face suddenly brightened. I thought I heard her say something like, “Yeah, that could work…” but I wasn’t sure what exactly she had in mind.

After that, we simply enjoyed the rest of the beer garden outing. When it was time to leave, I said goodbye to the Kokonoe family and went home.

Since I’d done my job properly, Mom was in a good mood, and for once, I didn’t have to deal with any sort of punishment.

It had been an unusual day, but that was supposed to be the end of it.

Tomorrow, everything will go back to normal.

—Or so I thought.

“Hello, Gojou-kun.”

The next day, I heard that voice.

When Kokonoe Shinoba showed up at my house, I swear I could almost hear the sound of a crack forming in my peaceful everyday life.

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