In This World That Favors Men, I... ~Starting a Sweet School Life in a World With a 1:8 Gender Ratio~ - 54

Chapter 54: White Day Love Sonata Part 2

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A few minutes after Takeda entered the greenhouse.

“Okay, are you sure I should go first?”

“Yeah! Go before you faint!”

“Yuuko, you got this! Just don’t get a nosebleed!”

“M-My heart feels like it’s going to jump out of my mouth!”

I wasn’t joking and it wasn’t an exaggeration either. Holding down the pounding in my chest, I stepped into the greenhouse.

Huh?

I glanced around, but Takeda-kun was nowhere near the entrance. Did he disappear? Could this really be a dream?

“T-Takeda-… -kun?”

Feeling uneasy, I called his name.

“Over here! Go further in, on the right!”

There he was! Thank goodness. I almost thought he had vanished. The anxiety and nervousness made my eyes well up with tears. Following his directions, I walked deeper into the greenhouse along the right-hand path.

Then, I saw him—standing there against a backdrop of brilliantly blooming yellow flowers.

Ah… He was so breathtakingly handsome it made me sigh. The vivid yellow of the flowers complemented his radiant appearance so well that the whole scene looked like something straight out of a movie.

“I figured since we’re here, it’d be nice to have flowers around.”

He gave a slightly bashful, shy smile. Oh no. My soul felt like it was going to leave my body…! 

Wait—no! I can’t faint yet. The real thing is just getting started! Stay strong, me! This isn’t a dream… At this moment, Takeda-kun is mine alone.

“They’re so beautiful. What kind of flowers are these?”

“I only just learned this myself when I came here, but they’re called golden bell flowers.”

Golden bells. In my mind, church tower bells rang out in a resounding clang. Of course, in a golden hue. It felt as if they were blessing this moment between us today. When I looked straight ahead, Takeda-kun was gazing at me with those clear, deep eyes. So beautiful.

“Kobayakawa-san. Thank you for your confession the other day. I’ve been thinking a lot over the past month. About whether someone like me… Someone who tends to space out, would really be good enough for a girl like you, who gives her all in everything.”

“T-That’s not true! That’s exactly what makes you so charming, Takeda-kun…”

“Yeah. When you confessed to me, the way you said it made me realize that you really, truly liked me. But… I still don’t fully understand love. I’m not sure if I can return the same level of feelings to you.”

Not sure? A rejection? No way… Is he really turning me down now, after all this?

“But, I do know that I like you, Kobayakawa-san and I want to spend more time with you. If you’re okay with someone like me… Would you go out with me?”

Ah… A yes after the hesitation. T-Thank goodness. This isn’t a dream. The confession from Takeda-kun—the one I love—is real.

“Yes. Please take care of me. I’ll do my best so that you’ll fall for me even more, so… Will you keep watching me?”

“Of course. I look forward to it. And… Here, will you accept this?”

What he handed me was a neatly wrapped, small square box—one that looked like a jewelry case. Not sweets. Definitely not sweets.

Thank goodness. This isn’t a dream. Thank goodness. The White Day jewelry I’ve always longed for…

“Kobayakawa-san?”

“I-I’m just so happy… My tears won’t stop…”

My tear ducts burst apart. My heart was on the verge of exploding. No. My heart was already detonating. A full-blown detonation. 

“Since we’re here, do you want to put it on now?”

“Yeah.”

While I was wiping my tears with a handkerchief, Takeda-kun unwrapped the package and took out what was inside.

“I hope you like it.”

What emerged was a dazzling pendant with two connected stars of different sizes. Tiny, sparkling stones were embedded across its surface, reflecting light beautifully. At the center of the larger star, a clear green gemstone gleamed.

“It’s adorable. So, so adorable.”

I should have been happy with anything he gave me, yet the unexpected beauty of the jewelry made my heart race even more.

“I’m glad. Here, lift your hair a little?”

Takeda-kun was going to put it on for me. His arms reached around my neck, and I felt the soft chain brush against my skin.

“How is it? I think the clasp is fastened properly.”

Ah… I was overwhelmed. So moved that I couldn’t even speak. But I had to say something, or else Takeda-kun would be worried.

“…T-Thank you. I’ll treasure it forever.”

And just like that, my White Day—the one I had dreamed of since childhood—became an even more romantic and wonderful experience than I could ever imagined.

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“Yuuko is taking a while inside.  I hope she doesn’t pass out.”

She was running later than expected. Given how emotional she could be, I was starting to get a little worried.

“Yeah, I’m getting nervous too. Ah! Kyo-chan, looks like Yuuko is back. Look!”

At Shizu’s words, I turned toward the greenhouse, and sure enough, I saw Yuuko stepping out from the path.

“Ah, you’re right. Okay, I’m going in next.”

“Yeah. You got this, Kyo-chan!”

As I passed Yuuko near the entrance, I called out to her.

“Yuuko, congratulations! I’m heading in now!”

She looked completely dazed, lost in a dream. I wasn’t expecting much of a response from her though. That reaction was just like her. So, I walked straight down the same path she had just come from.

“Takeda-kun!”

“Arima-san, you’re fast.”

“Sorry, I got too excited!”

Takeda-kun chuckled softly at that.

“Arima-san, you’re always so energetic.”

“Ahaha! That’s my best trait! Thank you for the card, Takeda-kun. I was really happy.”

Takeda-kun’s cheerful smile… So cute, so handsome. I love him!

“I should be the one thanking you. When you confessed to me, saying you liked everything about me, it really made me happy.”

“Hearing you say things like that makes me love you even more!”

I couldn’t contain my excitement—but whatever. This was just how I was.

“I guess… I’m happy to hear that? Since we’ll be dating from now on.”

Dating. That’s what’s important. We have to deepen our bond.

“Hehe, I can’t wait. Going on dates, just the two of us… And don’t hold back because of exams, okay? There are three of us. If we schedule things right, we can definitely make time for dates!”

“Dates, huh? That sounds nice. Do you have anywhere you want to go?”

“Hmm… Somewhere we can walk arm in arm, maybe?”

“Arm in arm?”

Takeda-kun glanced at my chest for just a split second before quickly looking away, his face slightly flushed. Oh? What were you imagining? Fret not. I would make it come true for you.♡

“…You mean somewhere we can take a nice stroll together? Got it. I’ll think about it.”

“It’s a promise!”

The star pendant Takeda-kun had placed around my neck had a fiery red gemstone at its center.

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“Sorry to keep you waiting, Shizu.”

“Finally, it’s my turn. I’m so nervous… Here I go!”

“Good luck!”

With Kyo-chan’s cheer, I stepped into the greenhouse. Takeda-kun should be further in, right? There! He had the same gentle aura as always, though… It seemed he was a little nervous?

“Takahashi-san, sorry for the wait.”

“No, it’s fine. I wasn’t sure if I’d even get a card, so just being here makes me happy.”

“You weren’t sure? I thought we had gotten pretty close though.”

“Even so… Compared to the other two, I felt like we’ve spent less time together.”

“We’re classmates, so I don’t think it was that different.”

Was that so? It was very kind of Takeda-kun to say that to me.

“I’m happy. Um… I have a request… No, never mind.”

I almost said it out loud but held back. I didn’t want to come off as a pushy girl here.

“What is it? At least tell me what kind of request it is.”

Takeda-kun tilted his head slightly as he said that. Even that small gesture made my heart flutter. Would it be okay? Takeda-kun was kind after all… Maybe I could ask him to make the ultimate confession I had dreamed of since childhood come true…

“Um… There’s a confession scene I’ve always admired. If… If you wouldn’t mind, could you make it come true?”

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