When I Started Capturing the Academy Princesses, Things Turned into a Battlefield - V1 Chapter 10: The Goddess’s Secret

Chapter 10: The Goddess’s Secret

During lunch break, I sat across from Misuzu Tsuchiya in an empty classroom.

The morning had been too crowded to talk properly, so I suggested we meet at noon instead. Not that it helped much—my head was all over the place during class. But at least by now, I had calmed down enough to focus.

“Alright, tell me everything.”

It had been a long time since I last sat face-to-face with her. Even now, I couldn’t help but be struck by her beauty.

At Himegasaki Academy, there were three girls known as the “Big Three.”

Ever since they enrolled last year, their sheer presence had captivated the entire school. During the first student election, they completely dominated the top rankings, leaving behind a legendary record.

Misuzu Tsuchiya was one of them.

The reason people called her a goddess was simple—her looks.

She was slightly taller than average, with long, flowing black hair that gave her an elegant aura. Her features were more mature than most girls our age, and the small beauty mark under her eye was her most striking trait.

But what truly set her apart—the reason guys worshipped her—was her figure.

Even through her uniform, it was impossible to ignore her curves. Her overwhelming presence made her the undisputed favorite among the male students.

Seriously… just because of her face and chest, they call her a goddess? How shallow can people get?

For the record, back in middle school, the reason I fell for her was exactly because of her looks and perfect figure. She had me at first sight.

“…”

Wait… does this make me a complete asshole?

Well, I won’t deny it. I am a scumbag. But come on, can you really blame me? Not like that was the only reason, but still.

Honestly, when it comes to relationships in school, looks are everything.

For guys—being a pretty boy is everything.

For girls—being a beauty is everything.

That’s just how the world works. And if you throw in a stunning figure on top of that? It’s obvious they’d become untouchable.

For the record, I fell for Tsuchiya during a time when I was trying to improve myself after my first heartbreak.

Right when I was struggling to become cool, she hit me with some kind words. And just like that, I fell for her. Instantly. No hesitation. Looking back, it was embarrassingly pathetic, but that’s just how it is. Guys who don’t get much attention are weak to even the smallest bit of kindness.

“I told you this morning, right? I confessed over summer break.”

“—”

Even though I had mentally prepared myself, hearing her say it still hit hard.

“I liked that person for so long. I just couldn’t hold it in anymore, so I blurted it out.”

“…Wait. You mean the one you used to talk about back in middle school?”

Tsuchiya nodded, looking a little embarrassed.

If I remembered correctly, his name was Tsubasa.

And the only reason I even knew his name was because she had asked me for advice about him.

Just thinking about it still annoyed me. The girl I liked had asked me for help on how to win over some pretty boy. Of course, my mood had plummeted. Having to listen to her gush about how amazing he was had made me feel downright sick.

But I was the type of guy who couldn’t say no.

I was afraid that if I refused to help, she’d start to dislike me. So, I forced myself to be a good friend and gave her serious advice. Not that I even remembered much of what I said back then.

“But, you see… I don’t want to give up. That’s why—I was hoping you could help me, Yuma-kun.”

“Help you how, exactly?”

“I want to fix things between us. At least before I confessed…”

“So, basically, you want to make up?”

“…Yeah, that’s about right.”

So after confessing, things got awkward between them. And now she wanted me to step in and smooth things over.

She got rejected, but she still wanted to at least keep their friendship. Honestly, her dedication was something else. It didn’t look like there was any space for me in this equation.

“If you’re asking me for help, does that mean this person is a student here at Himegasaki?”

“Yeah. And, well… actually my best friend.”

Her best friend?

Even though we went to the same high school, I hadn’t noticed at all. Whenever I saw Tsuchiya, she was always surrounded by her close group of girls—there was never a single guy in sight.

Oi, oi… Ayane, you didn’t say anything about this. This isn’t just about capturing a Princess anymore.

She was already friends with him. And on top of that, she had already confessed. If she wanted to patch things up, that meant she hadn’t given up yet.

…Wait a second.

Isn’t this actually a golden opportunity? No—this could be the end of this whole Princess-capturing nightmare.

One of the top Princesses, Tsuchiya, was in love with someone. If they got together, then what would happen?

The answer was simple. The Princess would have a boyfriend.

As much as I hated the thought of watching Tsuchiya get all lovey-dovey with some guy, it would mean my job was done. All I’d have to do then is make sure the whole school knew about it. Once word spread, Tsuchiya would lose her Princess status.

And if Ayane didn’t screw things up, she’d take that empty seat for herself. Problem solved.

I had originally considered setting her up with someone just as a backup plan. But now, I didn’t even have to force anything—she already had feelings for the guy. All I needed to do was talk to him and push things in the right direction.

Sure, he had turned her down once. But if we played it right, it could still work out.

Guys are simple creatures. 

With a little push—her looks, her charm—he’d eventually give in. It was definitely a more realistic plan than me trying to win over Tsuchiya myself.

And with that, this entire mess would be over.

I had already let go of my feelings for Tsuchiya.

Alright. Let’s make this happen.

“Got it. I’ll help you.”

“Really?”

“Of course. Helping a friend in need is what friends do.”

I said it like it was pure friendship, but in reality, my decision was completely selfish.

Still, Tsuchiya looked genuinely touched.

“You’ve always been kind, Yuma-kun. You’ve listened to my problems, helped me when I needed it… I really appreciate it.”

Yeah… I definitely couldn’t admit that I barely remembered half of those conversations.

After thanking me, Tsuchiya’s expression turned serious.

“That’s why—I want to tell you something first.”

“Tell me what?”

“My secret. You’re already helping me so much, and it wouldn’t feel right not to be honest with you. Besides, you’d probably figure it out while helping me anyway, so I’d rather just say it myself.”

A secret?

Now?

Wait… was the person she confessed to someone unusual? Maybe it was an older person? If it turned out to be a teacher, things were going to get complicated. Worst-case scenario, the guy was already married—now that would be a disaster.

But reality always finds a way to be even more unpredictable.

“You see… I’ve always admired cool girls.”

“…?”

“That’s why—the person I confessed to is a girl.”

Mission failed.

If she wasn’t going to end up with some handsome dude, then her Princess status wasn’t going anywhere. In fact, depending on how certain people reacted, her popularity might even increase.

As the shock hit me like a hammer, a single question floated to the surface of my mind.

“Wait a second—so the person you like is that ‘Tsubasa’?”

“That’s right. The one I love is Tsubasa Shiranui-chan.”

“…”

Tsubasa Shiranui—one of the academy’s top Princesses.

She had an overwhelming fanbase among the female students, always surrounded by girls who practically worshipped her. With her regal aura and princely demeanor, she had a way of capturing hearts wherever she went.

I had seen her and Tsuchiya together plenty of times. Their relationship definitely fit the best friend category.

“You’re surprised, right?”

“Y-Yeah, I won’t lie. That caught me off guard.”

“…Is it weird?”

Tsuchiya looked a little nervous as she asked.

“It’s not weird at all. We live in an era where people talk about diversity all the time. Even guys admire handsome men. And when it comes to someone like Shiranui—she’s got that ‘cool prince’ thing going on, so I get it.”

Even though my brain was still struggling to process everything, I went with the safest response I could think of.

It wasn’t the most eloquent thing I’d ever said, but Tsuchiya visibly relaxed.

“I’m glad. I thought you’d say that, Yuma-kun.”

“Everyone has their own preferences and tastes.”

I mean, even I was being forced into this whole Princess-capturing mess because of my own tastes, after all.

“There are a lot of people who wouldn’t understand, so I couldn’t tell anyone. It’s been tough keeping it to myself. But… I felt like I could be honest with you, Yuma-kun. Back in middle school, you were always so supportive. Thanks to you, I was able to become Tsubasa-chan’s best friend. Your advice about aiming for the same high school was spot on. If I had confessed too soon, she might have cut ties with me completely.”

…Wait, that’s what I told her back in middle school?

I had no memory of it, but apparently, I had given her some solid advice.

It felt good knowing that Tsuchiya trusted me this much. But at the same time, I couldn’t shake the complicated emotions stirring inside me.

“Do you think I’ll be able to make up with her?”

She suddenly asked, snapping me out of my thoughts.

“O-Oh. Yeah. Leave it to me.”

“Really!? Thank you so much!”

Tsuchiya stood up and bowed deeply.

“Just sit tight and trust me. I’ll let you know as soon as something changes.”

Still thrown off by her unexpected confession, I blurted out a response without even fully processing the situation.