The Charm of the Popular Beautiful Succubus in Class Doesn't Work on Me ~ For Some Reason, This Beauty Keeps Trying to Hold My Hand ~ - 35

Chapter 35: Why Don’t You Date Him for Real?

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“Uoooryaa!”

Crack!

Thump!

Crack!

Thump!

The satisfying sound of the batting center echoed all around.

“Wow, Michihito-kun! You’re amazing! Keep it up!”

Right now, Michihito-kun was swinging the bat. He effortlessly sent the ball flying far into the distance. I had been feeling this way for a while now, but Michihito-kun was really good at sports. As far as I knew, he never joined the baseball club, but even a total amateur like me could tell that his swing was smooth and he had a good stance. To put it mildly, he looked really cool.

Guys who are good at sports just have this manly charm, you know? My heart is pounding so hard right now.

As for me… Well, I tried stepping into the batter’s box and took a swing at the 80 km/h pitches, but I couldn’t hit a single one. No, no, I wasn’t trying to make an excuse, okay? I could see the ball just fine, but the bat just didn’t follow the path I imagined. No matter how much I thought I was swinging where the ball was supposed to be, I just couldn’t hit it. 

At first, Michihito-kun had been really enthusiastic about coaching me, but at some point, he must have given up. He just left me to my own devices.

Ugh…

On top of that, I had pulled off the classic move of swinging so hard that I accidentally sent my helmet flying. Then, I accidentally stood right on home plate and ended up taking a pitch ball to the backside. Of course, the two of them were laughing their heads off at me.

Lately, I’m starting to think… Maybe I’m just not very good at sports…

“Hey, Sarashina.”

Kokubun-kun called out to me. I kept my eyes on Michihito-kun inside the net while listening to Kokubun-kun’s voice.

“What is it, Kokubun-kun?”

“Thanks for being Michihito’s girlfriend.”

Just a moment ago, we had been joking around like idiots, but now he suddenly took on a serious tone, making me turn my head to look at him. There, I saw him gazing at Michihito-kun with a gentle expression on his face. 

“You know… Michihito might look like that now, but back in our first year, things were pretty complicated for him.”

“First year?”

“Yeah. I see, so Michihito hasn’t told you, huh? He went through a rough patch back then. To be honest, it was pretty hard on me too since I was the only one left to support him.”

“…”

“But lately, he’s been talking about you so excitedly. It’s been so long since I’ve seen him look this happy.”

“……”

“For me, it’s pretty obvious. Michihito really likes you, Sarashina.”

My heart skipped a beat at that. 

“That’s why… I hope you’ll keep being there for him.”

Kokubun-kun’s voice sounded really gentle when he said so. Just listening to it made me realize, whether I liked it or not, that he had come here today just to tell me this. What was that about being “Sarashina-san’s Bodyguard?” What he said and what he actually felt in his heart was completely different. The way Kokubun-kun told me such embarrassing things so sincerely and bluntly like that made me think that Kokubun-kun was really a wonderful person indeed. 

Michihito-kun… You really have a great friend.

“I want Michihito-kun to be happy too.”

“That sounds like you’re talking about someone else. Shouldn’t it be ‘I’ll make him happy’ instead?”

“Fufu, isn’t that something a guy usually says? You should let Michihito-kun be the one to say it, not me.”

We both laughed at each other. 

“But I’m glad. I can tell Sarashina really love Michihito after all.”

“You doubted me?”

“Come on. Anyone would be skeptical if they heard that Michihito suddenly started dating the prettiest girl in our grade. And besides… I kind of thought you were fed up with romance.”

“Fed up…?”

His unexpected words made my body tense up instinctively.

Fed up… What does he mean by that…?

Maybe because my face showed my mixed emotions, but Kokubun-kun continued on. 

“You’ve been through a lot in the past, haven’t you…?”

His words made me gasp.I lifted my gaze to meet his. For a moment, we exchanged glances, as if trying to read each other’s thoughts. But then I realized there was no point in doing that, so I let out a quiet sigh.

“I don’t know how much you know or how you found out, Kokubun-kun, but… I’d appreciate it if you don’t tell Michihito-kun about it. He doesn’t know anything about it… yet.”

“Because you care about him… Right?”

“Of course. Michihito-kun is my boyfriend, after all.”

Saying that, I averted my gaze from him. After a brief silence, he hesitated for a bit before he said again. 

“If you’re so into each other, why not make it real?”

“…Huh?”

“I hit the nail on the head, didn’t I?”

“…You know?”

“Knew what?”

“That Michihito-kun and I are just pretending to be dating.”

“Oh? That’s news to me.”

Seeing his smug grin, I was left utterly speechless.

Crap… He got me there. He had started talking like he knew about my past, which threw me off my balance. I didn’t realize he was baiting me until it was too late. 

“You tricked me.”

I said, glaring sharply at him. 

“Hey, you’re the one who spilled the beans on your own.”

He kept his usual smirk, maintaining that carefree attitude of his.

Calm down… As long as I don’t get tricked any further, I should still be able to salvage this… Even though I always tell Michihito-kun to play his role perfectly, here I am, making a mess myself. How pathetic.

Taking a shallow breath, I tried to regain my composure. 

“Just like what Michihito-kun said, your personality is really rotten to the core, Kokubun-kun.”

“Right back at you.”

He shot me a sidelong glance.

“So, now that you know the truth, what exactly do you want from me?”

“I don’t know, something sexy, I guess?”

“You’re the worst.”

“Just kidding. My stance hasn’t changed. I just want you to keep supporting him.”

“Even though I’m just a fake girlfriend?”

“Even though you’re just a fake girlfriend. Michihito likes you. I can say that with confidence. I’ve been watching him for a long time after all.”

“You don’t consider the possibility that I might not like Michihito-kun in that way?”

“You know, for someone who seems so perfect, you’re terrible at lying.”

“…Huh?”

“With that dopey look you had, all ‘Wow, Michihito-kun looks so cool at bat,’ even an idiot could figure tell you’re head over heels for him.”

“Wha—?! I wasn’t making a dopey face! Quit making stuff up!”

“Yeah, yeah. Nice try. You’re totally flustered and your face is bright red now.”

Ugh… What is with this guy? Seriously, he’s the worst. Please… stop it. Stop making my face flushed hot. This is so embarrassing. Just quit it already.

“Sarahina.”

“…What?”

“Take care of Michihito.”

His sudden serious tone made me lift my gaze.

“W-what’s with the sudden change in attitude?”

“I just wanted to say it properly.”

“Yo-You’re being so selfish now…”

Don’t drop a heavy request like that on me… I… I’m still figuring things out myself, but… When you ask me to take care of him so genuinely like that… I…

While I was struggling with my thoughts, Michihito-kun emerged from the batting cage, fanning himself and complaining about the heat. 

“Man, I was on fire today. At this rate, Koshien won’t be just a mere dream.”

“You were probably practicing your swings just to show off for Sarahina, weren’t you?”

Gone was the serious Kokubun-kun from just moments ago. Now, he was back to joking around with Michihito-kun like when I first met them.

Ah… These two really are close, huh?

Watching them, I completely forgot how much Kokubun-kun had teased me earlier, and before I knew it, a smile had appeared on my face.

Alright, Kokubun-kun… I can’t say I will accept your request right away, but I will think about Michihito-kun in my own way. So… Just give me a little more time with me. I will think about him seriously, so…

“So, what were you two talking about while I was batting?”

“Oh? Curious, are you?”

“As her ‘boyfriend,’ I’d say I have a right to be.”

Kokubun-kun smirked and an ominous feeling crept up my spine.

No… Don’t you dare.

“Sarashina says she likes you a lot.”

FWAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!! What the heck is he talking about?!?!?! Seriously, what is his problem?!

Even without a mirror, I was certain my face must be blushing like crazy. 

“Haaah?! Are you stupid?! When did I say something like that?!”

“Huh? You don’t remember? You were grinning like an idiot, saying how cool Michihito-kun looked, knocking out home runs one after another.”

ARGHHHHHHHHHHH!! How can he say stuff like that with such a straight face?! There’s a limit to how much you can lie! There are things you can say and things you shouldn’t! At this rate, I’m seriously going to look like some girl who’s head over heels for Michihito-kun. I mean, we are pretending to be a couple, so I guess it wouldn’t be wrong… but still, I hate this. But… Ugh… I can’t do this today. I feel like Kokubun-kun has seen right through me. I’m just dancing in the palm of his hand the whole time… Good grief. I don’t think I can ever win against this guy…

“Michihito-kun…”

“What’s wrong, Kisara?”

Unable to handle the embarrassment, I lowered my head. My voice was trembling. I was on the verge of tears.

“This guy… is seriously the worst…”

At that, the two of them burst out laughing.

“Hey, Kokubun. Don’t go making my girlfriend cry.”

“Haha, my bad, my bad. But honestly, aren’t you actually kinda grateful to me? I mean, you get to see Sarashina looking this cute thanks to me?”

“Wha—?! Like hell I am! I definitely don’t think Kisara with a bright red face is cute at all!”

……………

“…………………………You two are dead.”

“”—Ah.””

After that, the crisp clank of a metal bat rang out through the batting cages, over and over again.

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