When I Helped Out At My Classy Classmate's Family Home, They Started Going All Out To Close In On Me From Every Angle. - Chapter 57: Uncool Me And Cool Ayame —5

Uncool Me And Cool Ayame —5

Ayame stood there, stunned.

Her wide, reddish-brown eyes were filled with shock. The skin around them was red and swollen—she must have cried endlessly for them to look like this.

The one who had driven her to this point, who had caused her such pain… was me. Guilt pierced through my chest like a spear.

Without a word, Ayame stared at me, her lips trembling as she spoke.

“Why…? Tetsu-kun, you rejected my confession, didn’t you?”

“I didn’t reject you because I disliked you.”

“Then… you didn’t hate me?”

“No. If anything, I find you incredibly attractive. When I’m with you, I feel at ease. When you smile, it makes me happy. And when you’re sad, all I want is to make it better. To me, Ayame… you are someone special.”

“Then… why did you turn me down?”

“…Because I didn’t think I had the right to accept.”

Ayame furrowed her brows, clearly confused.

I took a deep breath and admitted the truth.

“There’s someone else I find attractive, too. And… I’ve never been in love before. I don’t know if what I feel for you is really ‘love.’”

I paused, then looked straight at her.

“Ayame, you had a lot of people helping you—making sure I couldn’t escape, right?”

“…You noticed?”

“Yeah. No one would go that far unless their feelings were serious. Your love is deep, unwavering, and sincere. And I… I didn’t think I deserved to receive something so pure. I didn’t think I had the right. I’m sorry. I should have told you properly.”

Ayame said nothing. She simply held my gaze.

I took a slow breath.

What I was about to say was pathetic, disgraceful even. It would surely make her disappointed in me.

But after she had gathered all her courage to confess, the least I could do was face her honestly. It was my duty—the least I could do after hurting her.

So I met her eyes and spoke.

“When you confessed to me, I… I honestly wanted to just go along with it. I wanted to become your boyfriend.”

Ayame slowly lowered her gaze.

Silence filled the room.

Then, after a moment, she looked up again.

“…What is that supposed to mean?”

Her expression was carved with fury—undeniable, uncontrollable rage.

Ayame, always so gentle and composed, had never looked like this before.

I shrank back instinctively but at the same time, I felt a strange sense of acceptance.

Of course she was angry. How could she not be? No one would forgive a coward like me. It was only natural for her to give up on me.

“Do you have any idea how much courage it took for me to confess!?” she shouted. “Do you know how much it hurt to be rejected!?”

With sudden force, she stormed toward me.

I closed my eyes, bracing myself. At the very least, I could be the outlet for her anger. I wouldn’t resist.

A shock ran through my body.

But… it wasn’t a slap. Nor a punch.

Stunned, I opened my eyes.

Ayame was in my arms. She was holding me tightly.

“…I’m not letting go,” she whispered.

“You… you forgive me?”

“I don’t.”

“…Yeah, I figured.”

“If you ever reject me again…” She looked up, her eyes burning with intensity.

“I will never, ever forgive you.”

I widened my eyes in shock at the completely unexpected response.

Ayame looked up at me, her brows furrowed in irritation.

“What’s with that face? Did you think I’d be disappointed?”

“But… I did something so pathetic…”

“Do you not understand? I went to great lengths and sought help from many people just to be with you, Tetsu-kun. I did whatever it took to make this love a reality. That’s how deeply I’m attached to you. I’m a clingy woman.”

She declared it without the slightest hesitation.

“My love isn’t something so trivial that it would waver over something like this!”

I held my breath.

Just like that time, her lips trembled, her expression stiffened—but still, she took a deep breath and spoke.

“I love you, Tetsu-kun! I want to be your girlfriend!”

“…If you’re okay with someone like me.”

Hearing my reply, Ayame’s eyes widened.

Her delicate, sculpture-like beauty crumpled, and from her deep reddish-brown eyes, tears spilled like glistening beads.

“…Ugh… ah… Aaaahhh!”

She buried her face in my chest and sobbed uncontrollably.

It wasn’t just tears of joy. It was everything she had bottled up—the pain, the heartache, the sadness she had endured since I rejected her.

I was the one who made her cry. My own foolishness had caused her so much pain.

That’s why—I swore to myself that I would never make her cry again. I couldn’t let her cry again.

She had accepted someone like me.

I gently wrapped my arms around the fragile, delicate girl and held her close.

For nearly ten minutes, she cried, her emotions pouring out until, at last, her tears ceased.

When she finally looked up, her face was refreshed, yet her gaze remained resolute, her lips curved into a confident smile.

“Tetsu-kun, you once said, didn’t you? That you’ve never been in love before. That there are others you find attractive besides me.”

“Ah… yeah.”

As I nodded, Ayame met my eyes and made a bold declaration.

“I will make you fall in love. I’ll make sure you have eyes for no one but me.”

I had to admit—I was completely defeated.

With an oddly refreshing sense of surrender, I let out a wry smile.

Damn. She’s way cooler than I’ll ever be.