The Day After I Told My Shut-In Genius Childhood Friend, Who’s Highly Dependent on Me, “I Got Confessed To,” She Showed Me a Hypnosis App

◆ “Momose Nanaka”

After school.

I looked at the message from the student council president again.

“I wanted to talk a little about Mizumura Honami-kun. If it’s okay, could we meet after school? For example, at—”

(Why would the president want to meet someone like me?)

Kirisaka Shino. Or, the student council president.

To me, she feels like a kind of star.

She stands out a lot. She’s tall, has delicate, almost androgynous features, and even the small things she does look graceful. Her voice carries well, so when she stands on stage at an assembly, the whole room falls silent without her saying anything.

With her looks and charisma, she’s very popular with the girls. And not unpopular with the boys either. She’s just generally loved by everyone at school. Teachers think highly of her, too.

She even has a fan club at school. A friend of mine once joined and was really happy about it. Apparently, there’s some kind of screening to get in, so it’s not easy. It’s strangely strict.

(But why would the president want to meet me…?)

I tilted my head as I was still puzzled, but I started walking to the café she had mentioned.

My steps felt heavy.

Honestly, I was nervous.

I wasn’t even a fan club member. I just thought she was beautiful and seemed really competent. That’s all. So being suddenly asked to meet her was confusing and scary.

(…She said it was about Honamin…)

I remembered Honamin had said the president is in the literature club. So she’s a senpai to Honamin.

…Could it be related to that?

(Maybe she wants another member for the club?)

I shook my head. No, that can’t be it. If it were, Honamin would’ve told me himself.

(―What if… the president likes Honamin too?)

That was the one possibility I didn’t want.

Right now, I’m already trying to figure out how to deal with Shinonome Mio, who’s insanely strong. And if the president jumps in too…

“I can’t handle a three-way struggle…”

The president is just as beautiful as Mio.

Of course, she even has a fan club.

I, as just an ordinary classmate, was caught between my childhood friend Mio and the school’s popular president…

“Ugh… this is so depressing…!”

I muttered to myself. My chest even hurt a little.

I was letting my thoughts make me feel negative. And just at the worst moment, I arrived at the café.

I can’t let this happen. I’m finally meeting the president, so I have to act cheerful.

(…Right, nothing says the president likes Honamin anyway.)

“—Welcome.”

It was a small and privately-owned café.

After I went inside and said I was here to meet someone, they led me to a quiet four-person table in the back.

And there she was, and she was sitting there.

She stood up and waved at me.

“Hey. I’m sorry for making you walk all the way here.”

“N-No, that’s fine…”

“You’re Nanaka-san, right? Please, have a seat.”

“Yes… Thank you.”

She smiled warmly and pointed to the seat across from her. I hesitated for a moment, hugged my bag close, and then sat down.

“Since we don’t have much time, I’ll get straight to the point.”

The president smiled in a way that could charm anyone who looked at her.

“I want to be in a romantic relationship with Honami-kun.”

◆

…A few seconds.

I was completely speechless. It was exactly as bad as I had imagined.

“U-um, so.”

“What is it?”

“The president, you mean you want to be in a relationship with Honamin…?”

“That’s right.”

I was so shocked that all I could do was repeat her words.

The president nodded calmly and picked up the cup she had asked for. Even that small movement looked elegant. No, wait.

“Th-then why me?”

“You went out with Honami-kun the other day, right?”

I didn’t even wonder how she knew. The president just looked like she knew everything.

“Yes, we went out but.”

“So I thought maybe you’re close to Honami-kun.”

“I guess you could say that.”

“Right. That’s why I thought ―Maybe you could help me.”

“―Help you?”

What exactly does she mean?

“I want you to be a go-between for me and Honami-kun.”

“…Huh?”

“Think about it. I’m in a different grade, right? And even though I try to act normally, I still stand out a lot. So it’s hard for me to be near Honami-kun… But you can talk to him in class so…”

No.

No, no, no.

All the nervousness I felt just moments ago suddenly disappeared.

(That’s impossible.)

I surprisingly could stay calm and just let her words pass.

“―I’m sorry. I can’t do that.”

“Huh?”

“No matter what you ask, president, that’s impossible.”

“Why not?”

If that’s all she wanted, there’s no reason for me to stay here. I started to stand while glaring at her smile.

Even if she asks why.

“Because I like Honamin too.”

There was no other reason. No matter how amazing the other person was, it didn’t mean I had to give up. And becoming a love rival’s cupid… that’s just—

(Absolutely impossible!)

“…Is that all you wanted to say? Then I’ll be going!”

“Ah… no, I’m sorry. Wait a second, Nanaka-san. I was wrong. I’ll take it back.”

“…Huh?”

Just as I was about to stand, the president’s voice stopped me.

“…You mean you’re taking it back?”

“Yeah. I just wanted to see how you felt, but that was careless of me. I’m sorry for saying something that upset you.”

The president bowed her head at a perfect angle.

…I didn’t understand what was going on at all.

“…Can you explain what you mean?”

She looked up. Her mood was different from before.

A moment ago, she had seemed like a dreamy girl in love, but now, she had the sharp presence of the usual president.