The Story of Making a Popular Girl Dependent on Me - Chapter 21

Three days have passed since Rokka came to my house and we spent time together.

She acted as if nothing happened that day, making me wonder if it was all just a dream. However, looking at the chat history from that day, I realized that Rokka did come to my house, so it was indeed real.

Although Rokka didn’t do anything unusual to me since that day, I couldn’t help but keep thinking about what happened then.

As I kept looking at Rokka, our eyes met, and I felt a mix of embarrassment and joy, my heart racing. Moreover, she smiled at me with a sidelong glance.

(What’s with that sidelong glance?! It’s so alluring combined with Rokka’s coolness!)

Captivated by Rokka’s mysterious charm, I quickly turned my face away in a fluster. Despite trying to calm down, my face kept getting hot, and even though the droplets around me expressed concern, I managed to brush it off.

After school, as I was getting ready to leave, Shizuku approached me.

“Setsune, can I ask you something real quick? Is now a good time?”

“Sure, what’s up?”

I actually wanted to finish getting ready quickly and go to Rokka, but I thought it would be okay to listen to Shizuku for a bit.

“I didn’t understand something in the last class, so I was hoping you could explain it to me.”

“Alright. What didn’t you understand?”

“It’s this part…”

I spent some time teaching Shizuku, and when I checked the time after we finished, about 40 minutes had already passed. I hurriedly looked around the classroom, but Rokka was nowhere to be seen.

I quickly said goodbye to Shizuku, grabbed my bag, and rushed out of the classroom. Running to the nearest station, I didn’t cross paths with Rokka along the way.

“Huff, huff. Rokka…”

Arriving at the station, I caught my breath and searched for her, but she was nowhere to be found, so I reluctantly went home alone.

That night, I couldn’t shake off the curiosity about why Rokka had left on her own, so I decided to message her.

“Rokka, why did you leave without saying anything today? At least say something before you leave next time. I would have gone home with you if you had. Please make sure to say something next time. Don’t leave me behind.”

As soon as I sent the message, it was marked as read. I waited for a reply from Rokka, but no response came, even after waiting for a few minutes.

So I sent another message, but this time, it’s not read either.

Feeling increasingly frustrated by her lack of response, I kept sending her messages, but ultimately, there was no reply from Rokka that day.

The next morning, I was a bit upset from the start because I still hadn’t received a message from Rokka.

So, I decided to confront Rokka about yesterday when I saw her at school, quickly got ready, and left the house.

Entering the classroom, Rokka hadn’t arrived yet, so I sat at my desk quietly, waiting for her.

There were still few people coming to school, but it seemed like they sensed something different about me, as there were fewer people around me.

After a while, Rokka opened the classroom door and walked in. As soon as I saw her, I approached her and grabbed her wrist.

“Come with me.”

I said and pulled her out of the classroom into the hallway. Without saying anything, she followed me, and we reached a secluded spot. Turning to face Rokka, I hugged her tightly.

“Rokka. Rokka, Rokka…”

I had planned to question her about yesterday as soon as I saw her, but seeing Rokka in front of me made me too happy to focus on that.

Rokka, sensing my emotions, hugged me back gently, filling my heart with happiness.

(Ah, it’s Rokka. She smells like Rokka. Bliss…)

As I held Rokka in my arms for a while, she asked me what was wrong. So, still hugging Rokka, I raised my head to ask her about yesterday again.

“Why did you leave alone yesterday? Why didn’t you reply to my messages? I was waiting for you all this time. I saw the message had been read, so I was waiting for a reply, but you didn’t respond even after waiting for hours. I sent you multiple messages, but you didn’t even read them. Why? Why didn’t you reply?”

Recalling yesterday’s events, I unintentionally glared at Rokka a bit, but she started explaining without minding it.

“Sorry? Yesterday, when I was leaving, it seemed like Setsune was talking to her friends, so I couldn’t approach you. And about the message, I thought I had replied, but maybe I forgot to send it properly because I was studying. I’m sorry for making you anxious.”

To confirm if Rokka’s words were true, I silently stared into her eyes. Seeing no sign of lies in her eyes, I decided to believe her explanation for now.

“…I see. If that’s what Rokka says, then it must be true. I’m sorry for suddenly saying all that. Also, from now on, please say something before leaving. Even if you’re with your friends. Please.”

“It’s fine with me, but is it okay with Setsune? Before, it seemed like you needed time with your friends, so I didn’t interrupt.”

Indeed, until now, I considered both Rokka and my friends important, valuing time with both. But now, Rokka seemed more important and significant to me. If I spent more time with her, I felt like I didn’t need conversations or playtime with friends anymore.

“It’s okay. I’d rather not be left alone without saying anything, and they’ll understand if we talk.”

“Got it.”

Rokka said and hugged me tightly again. Then, she leaned in closer to me, gently kissed my forehead.

Although I was a bit surprised by her sudden gesture, I was more delighted that Rokka showed her affection through actions, and I naturally smiled.

After that, we released our arms from each other’s backs and walked back to the classroom. To ensure she wouldn’t leave on her own like yesterday, I made sure to remind her to go home together today.

“Oh, I’ll make sure to go home with Rokka today, so I’ll come to get you when I’m ready.”

“Got it. I’ll be waiting.”

After getting Rokka’s consent, we returned to the classroom and headed to our respective seats.

During lunch break, as I was eating with Shizuku and others as usual, I heard someone calling Rokka near the classroom entrance, so I looked in that direction.

There was a girl I had never seen before standing near the entrance, looking at Rokka.

When I looked at Rokka, she seemed to notice the girl too and stood up to walk towards her.

Rokka and the girl started talking. I couldn’t help but be curious about it, so I stopped eating and stared at Rokka and the girl.

(What’s going on? That girl has never been around Rokka before, right?)

Observing the two while thinking about it, for some reason, the girl blushed.

(Huh? What’s with that reaction? It’s like she’s… towards Rokka…)

As I thought about it, an unfamiliar feeling of anger and jealousy filled my heart, unlike anything I had felt before.

After a while, it seemed like the two had finished their conversation as the girl returned to the classroom.

Rokka also turned back to return to her seat and our eyes met.

Unable to shake off the scene from earlier, I unconsciously glared at her.

(After school, I definitely need to question her…)

Deciding to find out more about that girl when we go home together today, I struggled to contain my jealousy and anger, as the end of the school day approached.