The Girl Everyone Admires Loves Me… and I Don’t Remember Why. - Chapter 8: Takanashi Mitsuki's Landmine.

Takanashi Mitsuki’s Landmine.

Takanashi Mitsuki’s POV.

“Hey, Takanashi. Come on, it’s fine, right?”

It was lunchtime.

I was heading toward our usual spot to eat with Miyase-kun, just as we’d promised, when an upperclassman suddenly called out and stopped me.

“How about after school today? Come hang out with me.”

Apparently, the reason he’d stopped me was to invite me out.

This same senpai had asked me before, actually.

After I turned him down that time, the invitations had stopped entirely… so why, all of a sudden, was he trying again now?

My answer, however, was already decided.

“I’m sorry. My response hasn’t changed since last time. I’ll have to decline.”

I’d refused him back then too, but now I had an even clearer reason.

That reason was, of course, Miyase-kun.

If I were going anywhere, I wanted it to be with him.

“Then if you’ll excuse me, I’ll be going.”

“W-wait a second—”

The senpai’s voice carried a trace of irritation.

I just wanted to get to Miyase-kun as quickly as possible…

“You’re not dating anyone right now, are you? Then what’s the harm in going out just once?”

“It’s true… I’m not dating anyone at the moment.”

Not yet, at least.

“But my answer still hasn’t changed.”

I’d heard this senpai had a bad reputation with girls, and there weren’t many good stories about him in general.

To be blunt, I had no interest in getting close to him.

Even if I hadn’t already realized my feelings for Miyase-kun, I still wouldn’t have accepted this invitation.

“Why not?”

His voice no longer bothered to hide its frustration.

“Why is that guy okay, but I’m not?”

“…That guy?”

“Don’t play dumb. I’m talking about the one you were with at the shopping mall after school yesterday.”

So someone had seen us.

That mall was popular with students from our school, so it wasn’t surprising something like this might happen.

“What is he to you, anyway?”

“He’s a classmate… and a friend.”

A person I like. My first boyfriend. My future husband…

All those phrases floated through my mind, but in the end I settled on the honest truth of our current relationship.

Yet the senpai still didn’t seem satisfied.

And then—he said this.

“So some boring, worthless, total loser introvert like him is fine, but I’m not?!”

“…”

…Did he just insult Miyase-kun?

Miyase-kun has saved me countless times. He’s helped me more than I can count.

He’s the person I love, my benefactor, someone irreplaceable and precious to me.

And this person just… insulted him?

“…I’m going now.”

“Hey, we’re not done talk—”

“No matter how many times you ask, my answer won’t change. And I will never, ever accept your invitation—not now, and not in the future. Goodbye.”

“…Huh? W-wait, Takanashi?”

I stated it clearly, then walked past the stunned senpai who stood frozen with shock on his face.

After that, he never called out to me again.

***

Miyase Tomoya’s POV.

“…Sorry. I kept you waiting.”

A little while after lunch break started, Takanashi arrived at our usual hidden spot, right on time.

“No, don’t worry about it. I literally just got here myself.”

“Yeah, okay. Then let’s eat!”

“Sure.”

…Something’s off with Takanashi today.

“Hey, Takanashi.”

“What is it, Miyase-kun?”

“Did… something happen?”

“…”

Her movements froze.

Looks like I hit the mark.

“You just seemed… I don’t know, less energetic than usual. A little angry, maybe? That’s the vibe I got.”

“…Looks like I can’t hide anything from you, Miyase-kun.”

“Mind if I ask what happened?”

“Actually, a little while ago, someone said something bad about a person who’s very important to me. It upset me a bit.”

Ah, so that’s why she seemed angry.

“But I’m fine now, so don’t worry about it.”

“You sure you’re not forcing yourself?”

“Yeah. Thank you for worrying about me.”

She smiled as she said it.

It was brighter than before, but still not quite her usual radiant self.

“Still—if there’s anything I can do, just say the word. I want you to be your bright, happy self, Takanashi.”

“…”

She paused for a moment, thinking.

“…Then, can I ask for one small thing?”

“Of course.”

“That side dish… could I have some?”

She pointed at the rolled omelet I’d bought from the school store.

“Sure, go ahead.”

“Thank you.”

Just as I was about to transfer the omelet to her bento,

“Could you feed it to me?”

“…Huh?”

…S-seriously?

“You said if there was something I wanted, I should feel free to ask, right?”

“Y-yeah, I did.”

No turning back now.

I carried the piece of rolled omelet toward her waiting mouth.

“Fufu… it’s delicious.”

“G-good, I’m glad.”

“Miyase-kun… your face is bright red.”

“C-can you blame me? It’s my first time doing this.”

“I-is that so… So I’m your first…”

Her cheeks flushed deeper by the second.

“You’re just as red, you know. And you look… kind of happy.”

“Th-that’s because… No, never mind. It’s still a secret.”

“Huh? Now I’m curious.”

“N-not yet! You can’t know yet!”

And with that, the topic was firmly closed.

By then, Takanashi had completely returned to her usual cheerful self.

The rest of lunch break passed just as enjoyably as the day before—filled with easy conversation and quiet, shared smiles.