The Story of Making a Popular Girl Dependent on Me - Chapter 14

That day, I went to school earlier than usual. However, Rokka hadn’t arrived yet, so I sat at my desk and started putting my textbooks and other things inside.

After spending some time alone, my friends started arriving at school. They put their bags on their desks and gathered around me.

We talked as usual, but I couldn’t help but glance at the door, wondering when Rokka would arrive.

(Rokka, I wonder when she’ll be here. I want to see her soon. And if I get the chance, I want her to kiss me again.)

Ever since Rokka kissed me, my heart has been filled with more affection for her than ever, and I can’t stop thinking about her.

As if my thoughts reached her, Rokka opened the door and came in.

Normally, I wouldn’t leave my friends’ conversation, but today, my feelings for Rokka took priority, so I left in the middle of the conversation and headed towards her.

I was so happy to see her that I couldn’t help but smile.

However, as I got closer, I realized that she wasn’t the only one who had entered the classroom.

Hidden behind Rokka, Riho Katsushika was also there.

(Oh, right. I think Rokka said yesterday that she was going out with Riho.)

As I got even closer, I saw it. Rokka and Riho were holding hands. Not just any hand-holding, but interlaced fingers, like lovers.

At that moment, my excitement about seeing Rokka plummeted.

(What? Why is Riho holding my Rokka’s hand?)

Noticing that I was staring at their linked hands, Rokka quickly let go.

(What’s with that reaction? Does she really plan to break up with me? But then, why did she kiss me?)

Confused and trying to figure things out, Rokka spoke to me.

“Oh, Setsune, good morning. I’m happy you came to me. I didn’t hear from you yesterday, are you okay?”

“…Yeah. I’m fine. I was feeling great… until just now.”

I really was feeling great until a moment ago. Ever since she kissed me on Friday, I’ve been looking forward to seeing Rokka. But when I finally see her, she’s holding hands with another girl.

Because of that, my mood is now completely ruined.

For now, I need to understand why Rokka and Riho came to school together.

“It’s unusual for you and Riho to come to school together, isn’t it? What’s going on?”

“We just happened to meet at the entrance, so we came together.”

“I see. By chance, huh?”

“Oh, the teacher should be here soon, so I’ll head to my seat.”

She didn’t give me a clear answer, but I realized one thing.

The unease I’ve been feeling lately is probably jealousy and possessiveness towards Rokka.

I don’t want to share her with anyone. I want her to be mine alone, a selfish feeling.

Unable to suppress this emotion, I watched Rokka until she sat down at her desk.

Back at my seat, I told my friends I wasn’t feeling well and asked them to return to their seats.

I looked over at Rokka and Riho. Riho started talking to Rokka.

Remembering the scene of them holding hands, I glared at Riho.

I kept watching Rokka and Riho, but nothing else happened. The bell rang, and our homeroom teacher entered the classroom.

Once class started, I managed to calm down a bit. Thinking logically, it’s not unusual for friends to hold hands or hug each other.

I have also engaged in such physical contact with friends before.

But I’ve never seen Rokka do that with anyone else, and this is my first time feeling jealous. I don’t know how to handle this emotion or who to direct it at.

So, during break time, I found myself feeling envious of Riho, who was talking to Rokka, and jealous that she held hands with her.

While I was lost in these feelings, someone suddenly hugged me from behind.

Unable to move, I turned my head to see Shizuku there.

“Asahina, what’s with the serious face?”

“Shizuku. It’s nothing. I’m just not feeling well.”

“Really? That worries me.”

As Shizuku hugged me, I realized that such physical contact between friends is normal.

Since I accept this, I have no right to complain if Rokka holds hands with Riho.

I understand, but just because I understand doesn’t mean I can accept it.

Rokka is my girlfriend. So, it should be my exclusive right to hold hands with her.

However, it’s unreasonable to ask Rokka to stop physical contact when I’m doing the same with my friends.

First, I need to set an example, so I speak to Shizuku.

“Shizuku, sorry, but can you let go?”

“Hmm? Sure, but what’s wrong? You never say things like that.”

“I’ll tell only you, Shizuku. I have a girlfriend. I don’t want to make her feel uneasy, so can you hold back on this kind of thing from now on?”

“…No way. Seriously? Who is it?”

“I’ll introduce you to her later, but for now, please promise not to do this anymore.”

“If that’s the case, I guess it can’t be helped. Okay, I won’t do it anymore, but you have to introduce me to your girlfriend.”

As I was asking Shizuku to refrain from hugging me, Rokka invited me to go home together today, so I quickly agreed and closed my phone.

After the afternoon classes ended, I quickly packed my textbooks and got ready to leave. I headed to Rokka.

“Rokka, are you ready?”

“I’m almost done. …Alright, I’m done. Let’s go home.”

“Okay.”

Rokka stood up and came close to me, so close that our shoulders touched, showing off our closeness. I looked at Riho.

But Riho was calmly getting ready to leave, not particularly bothered. Her indifferent attitude seemed to highlight the difference in our confidence levels, making me even more jealous.

Even after leaving school, my mood didn’t improve. Seeing this, Rokka took my hand and asked why I was upset.

“Setsune, you seem a bit upset since earlier. Did something happen?”

When Rokka held my hand, I remembered seeing her and Riho holding hands this morning, so I decided to ask about it.

“Rokka, you were holding hands with Riho this morning, right?”

“Yes, but we’re friends, so sometimes that happens. You do it with your friends too, right? You were hugged from behind today.”

“Yes, but still…”

“Hmm? Are you jealous of Riho, Setsune?”

“…”

“So that’s it. You were jealous. That’s why you were looking at Riho like that.”

Hitting the mark, I couldn’t say anything and just remained silent.

Now that she knew I was jealous of her friend, I started worrying that she might dislike me for it.

Perhaps sensing my anxiety, Rokka continued talking.

“Setsune. If you’re jealous, instead of looking at the other person, could you look at me?”

“Look at you?”

I’ve never been jealous before, so I didn’t understand, but typically, when you’re jealous, you look at the person you’re jealous of.

Yet, Rokka wants me to look at her instead. I didn’t understand the meaning, so I asked her.

“Yes. I’m happy that you get jealous, but I don’t like it when your gaze is on someone else.”

“I understand. I’ll do that from now on.”

“Thank you.”

Now that I understand what jealousy is, I realize this might be her way of being jealous too. So, I should respect her wish.

From now on, whenever I get jealous, I’ll look at Rokka. With that decision in mind, we each went home.