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 ~ - 42

Chapter 42: Naruse-kun, You’re Sarashina-San’s ‘Boyfriend,’ Right?

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“Hello!”

On my way home, I heard a voice call out to me at the school gate—it was Akanashi. She stood there leaning against the gate, idly twirling a strand of her shoulder-length flaxen hair as if she was waiting for someone. A black violin case rested on her shoulder, a tangible reminder that the performance earlier had not been a dream.

“Huh? Akanashi? Are you waiting for someone here?”

“Geez… How dense can you be? Of course, I was waiting for you, Naruse-kun!”

She straightened up from where she had been leaning against the gate, pouting as she closed the distance between us.

“Huh? Me?”

“Yeah. Don’t tell me you didn’t understand my message?”

“Message…? You mean whatever you said on stage earlier?”

“…Yeah.”

“Ah… Sorry, but with all the applause, I couldn’t hear what you were saying at all.”

Hearing my response, Akanashi muttered, “Well, I guess that makes sense,” as if talking to herself. Her expression showed a mix of disappointment and, for some reason, relief.

“That’s fine, then. I guess I just got caught up in the moment. When our eyes met, I blurted it out without thinking…”

As soon as she said that, her face turned red as if realizing she had said too much, and she abruptly changed the subject.

“By the way, how was my performance?”

“Oh, it was seriously amazing. How do I put it… It was so moving that I couldn’t stop clapping.”

“Hehe, right? Since you were watching, I guess I got a little extra fired up.”

Akanashi beamed, her large eyes sparkling as she puffed out her chest with pride.

“Congratulations on making it to the national competition. You’re really amazing, Akanashi.”

She looked a bit surprised at my words, as if she hadn’t expected such a direct compliment from me. 

“Hearing you praise me so formally like that is kind of embarrassing, but… Thanks. I guess all the hard work I put in my lessons paid off, huh?”

She smiled shyly while casting her gaze downward a bit. 

“But still, I never imagined you could compete at a national level. I don’t think you’ve told me about this before?”

“Yeah.  I used to barely make it to the finals, but recently, I decided to really give it my all again.”

“I see. You’re amazing, Akanashi. I mean it. You were like a completely different person while performing… You were beautiful.”

“Are you complimenting me? Because it kind of sounds like you’re saying I’m not usually beautiful.”

Akanashi smirked mischievously, teasing me.

“No, that’s not what I meant! You’re usually more on the cute side, but when you were playing, it was… Elegant? Ugh, it’s hard to put into words.”

“Haha, it’s fine. I get what you’re trying to say. I feel the same way when I play. I feel like I’ve become someone else.”

“I see… Anyway, the whole school was buzzing about how cute you are. Looks like you’re officially joining the ranks of the school idols.”

“I-Idol? No way… I never wanted to be popular or anything either…”

Akanashi averted her gaze, her expression complicated. But then, as if she had gathered her resolve,  she turned back to me with a serious look on her face. 

“Hey, Naruse-kun…”

“…Yeah?”

“I have a favor to ask. Will you hear me out?”

“A favor?”

“Yeah. It’s about the national competition.”

“What about it?”

“This year’s national competition will be held in October… In Tokyo.”

“…Tokyo?”

“Yeah. So… if possible, I want you to come watch.”

“Eh…? Me?”

“Yeah. If you cheer for me, I feel like I can play even better. So, if you could, I’d really appreciate it if you would come watch me perform…”

She looked straight into my eyes as she spoke. In her gaze, I could see both anticipation and uncertainty.

Going to Tokyo for Akanashi’s competition…

The first thing that flashed through my mind was Kisara’s face. I didn’t know how much of a difference my presence would make, but if Akanashi wanted me there, I did want to support her. It was a four-hour trip from Hiroshima to Tokyo by bullet train. Not an impossible distance to travel, but… Even though I was just pretending to be Kisara’s boyfriend, but I was still her ‘boyfriend.’ October was still far off, but not checking with Kisara first would feel wrong.

“…Is it too much? Is Tokyo too far?”

Seeing my hesitation, Akanashi’s face clouded with doubt.

“Uh, well… I’m just not sure what Kisara would say about it…”

The moment I said that, Akanashi’s expression went completely blank.

“What does Sarashina-san have anything to do with this?”

She stepped toward me, her voice devoid of the brightness it had carried just moments ago. Her sharp gaze made it obvious—she was mad.

“Umm.. Actually, I started dating Kisara recently.”

For a moment, Akanasshi seemed to be at a loss for words, but then, she quickly regained her composure. She started speaking in an eerily calm tone for some reason. 

“Huh… So that rumor was true. I thought you were just trying to protect Sarashina-san and acted on pure instinct… After all, that seemed like something you’d do.”

“Uh… no, that’s…”

“…What?”

Akanashi’s piercing presence made me almost spill the truth, but I caught myself just in time. I couldn’t break my promise to Kisara.

“I’m really dating Kisara.”

“Hmm… You don’t sound very convincing. I don’t trust you right now, Naruse-kun.”

“What do you mean? I literally just said I’m really dating Kisara.”

“Then…”

“…”

“Can you shout, right here and now, ‘I love Kisara’ at the top of your lungs?”

“…Eh?”

She didn’t miss my brief hesitation.

“Hey… Naruse-kun.”

“Y-yeah?”

“I already warned you, but you still chose Sarashina-san in the end.”

“…”

“I know what I’m going to say is something really selfish, but… Do you know why I worked so hard on my violin?”

Akanashi looked at me with eyes that had lost their shine.

“Ever since ‘that incident,’ I’ve been running away from reality… Thinking I had no right to stand by your side… I couldn’t forgive myself for ‘that incident.'”

Akanashi tightened her grip on the violin case.

“That’s why I made up my mind. When I become more confident in myself… When I become a woman who won’t be ashamed to stand beside you, Naruse-kun… At that time, I…”

She bit her lip tightly as she lowered her gaze. I could see her hand, the one holding the violin case, trembling slightly.

“But in the end, you… Haah… I’m really an idiot.”

“…”

“Naruse-kun, I understand your point. You don’t have to tell Sarashina-san about the national competition. Just forget about everything I’ve said today.”

With that, Akanashi spun around on her heel and started walking toward the station.

“Ah… wait, Akanashi. Since I’m already here, let me walk you to the station-“

“It’s fine. Naruse-kun, you’re Sarashina-san’s ‘boyfriend,’ ight? I can’t possibly let someone else’s boyfriend walk me to the station. Besides…”

Akanashi turned around to face me one last time. She glared sharply at me before continuing.

“Dating someone half-heartedly like that… Don’t you think you’re being disrespectful to Sarashina-san?”

After that, Akanashi didn’t look back, nor did she stop walking. I stood there in daze, as her figure grew smaller and smaller.

Disrespectful to Sarashina-san, huh…?

That one last remark echoed deep, deep inside my heart.

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