When I Started Capturing the Academy Princesses, Things Turned into a Battlefield - V2 Chapter 25: The Tangled Path of a First Love

Chapter 25: The Tangled Path of a First Love

“I liked you the whole time, but I just couldn’t work up the courage to confess. I kept thinking, ‘Maybe one day, he’ll notice me.’ I tried dropping little hints here and there, but you never caught on. And in the end… I lost before I ever got the chance to say anything.”

Tsukihi’s voice was calm, but I quickly raised a hand to stop her.

“Whoa, hold on! I don’t remember anyone confessing to me!”

Because there wasn’t.

If Tsukihi had confessed back then, I would’ve said yes—no hesitation.

That much I can say with total confidence.

“I guess… it was more like I lost before I even had the chance. I thought you and Tsuchiya-san were dating. So I gave up on my own.”

She pointed at a photo of Tsuchiya in the album.

“Me and… Tsuchiya?”

“You suddenly started acting distant. I wondered what happened and started paying more attention… And then I kept seeing you chatting and laughing with Tsuchiya-san every day. So yeah… I figured you liked her.”

Funny. I could’ve sworn I was the one who got my heart broken back then.

I remembered seeing her at the mall with that handsome upperclassman and thinking I didn’t stand a chance.

I didn’t want to be in the way, so I stepped back.

“For the record, nothing ever happened between me and Tsuchiya.”

“I know. But you liked her, didn’t you?”

…I couldn’t deny it.

“It was so obvious, you know. You were always trying to talk to her, and sometimes you’d ‘just happen’ to run into her after school. It was totally transparent.”

So… she’d noticed, huh.

Yeah, back then, I really did have a thing for Tsuchiya.

After thinking Tsukihi had rejected me, I decided I needed to be more proactive.

Looking back now, I probably wasn’t all that subtle about it.

“That’s around the time you suddenly started looking cool, you know.”

“Wait, seriously?”

“You totally changed. You started dressing better, even did your eyebrows. And I swear, you looked way more fit, too.”

Technically, it had started a bit earlier.

After thinking Tsukihi wasn’t interested, I threw myself into self-improvement.

I figured the issue was me—I just wasn’t putting in the effort.

So I gave it everything I had and focused on leveling up.

But the changes probably didn’t become noticeable until later.

Right around the time I started crushing on Tsuchiya, actually.

So yeah… it made sense that she misunderstood.

“I thought, ‘Ah, Yuu-kun’s trying to win over Tsuchiya-san.’ It was obvious.”

She wasn’t entirely wrong.

Well… not completely, but the reason behind it was different.

“It hurt, but I didn’t give up on my first love. I worked hard so you’d notice me, too. I even started growing my hair out—wanted to be more like Tsuchiya-san. I studied how she acted and tried to be more gentle and graceful. I even wanted to make my chest grow, but… well, that one didn’t exactly work out.”

Tsukihi had changed a lot during middle school, too.

She’d always been cute, but little by little, she started becoming really pretty.

Back then, I just assumed it was because she’d started dating that handsome guy.

Figured she was leveling up to match his type.

Turns out… she’d actually been modeling herself after Tsuchiya.

Now that she mentioned it—the long hair, the calm and graceful vibe—yeah, there was definitely a resemblance.

Totally unrelated, but just to be clear—

It’s not like Tsukihi’s flat or anything.

It’s just that Tsuchiya’s on a whole different level.

Tsukihi’s… well, she’s perfectly normal-sized.

“Remember when you asked why I suddenly started trying to get close to you again? It was because I finally realized it had all been one big misunderstanding.”

“…Wait, so that means—you talked to Tsuchiya about it?”

Tsukihi nodded.

Ah. That explained it.

I’d noticed the two of them getting closer lately—this must’ve been why.

Once they cleared things up, I guess they hit it off.

“She told me straight. You two were never dating. And she doesn’t have any romantic interest in you at all.”

Yeah… makes sense.

Her preferences were kind of an open secret, anyway.

“Really, I was such an idiot. Jumped to conclusions, got all moody and heartbroken over nothing. I wasted so much time playing the tragic heroine. If only I’d had the guts to just ask from the start.”

…So she’d been just like me.

I thought Tsukihi had a boyfriend and let myself spiral into full-on self-pity mode.

Only recently did I learn it was all one big misunderstanding.

“If only I’d had the guts to ask.”

Yeah…

That one stung a little more than I’d like to admit.

If I’d just asked whether she was really dating that handsome guy,

I probably wouldn’t have given up on her so easily.

“After we started high school, you and Tsuchiya-san seemed kinda distant.”

“We were. I backed off.”

By that point, I’d already let go of my feelings for Tsuchiya.

Of course there was distance.

If I’d kept acting all friendly like before, my heart definitely wouldn’t have handled it.

“I thought maybe you broke up… but I was too scared to ask. I didn’t want to hear that you were still together and shatter the tiny bit of hope I was clinging to. So I waited, just hoping for a sign. I figured that once I was sure you’d broken up, I’d step in and be the one to comfort you.”

And I had no clue.

Then again, ever since high school started, I’d been in full-on introvert mode—

Buried in my hobbies, barely paying attention to anyone around me.

“The turning point was a little while ago. I overheard something—you and Tsuchiya-san saying you were just friends. After that, I talked to her directly… and finally realized I’d been wrong this whole time.”

“…So that’s what happened.”

My mind instantly jumped to that moment on the stairs—

The one where I saw her eavesdropping.

Yeah, that was probably it.

Right after that, Tsukihi suddenly started acting way more forward.

No doubt about it. That was the moment.

“Once I realized it had all been a misunderstanding, I started thinking things through… And that’s when I went full throttle with Operation: Super Aggressive Tsukihi. Honestly, I was planning to confess during our date. But then Kazama-san swooped in with her confession and threw everything off. On top of that, I got sick, and, well—look at me now.”

She let out a sheepish, self-deprecating smile.

I had no idea.

That she’d been watching me this whole time…

That she’d tried to become more like Tsuchiya…

While I struggled to find the right words, Tsukihi gently patted my shoulder.

When I glanced over, her face was calm—oddly refreshed, even.

“I did a lot of thinking while I was resting. About how I’ve always been kind of a coward… How I tend to overthink everything… How I kept trying to confess in all these weird, roundabout ways.”

That last part—“roundabout ways”—definitely got my attention.

But for now, I just nodded along.

“Kazama-san’s confession hit me hard… But now, I’m actually kind of thankful for it. Because having a rival finally pushed me to face my feelings. Even though I’d planned to confess during our date, I honestly don’t know if I would’ve gone through with it.”

She took a small breath.

“I dragged this out way too long, but I’m saying it now—so listen closely, okay?”

“…Yeah.”

“I love you, Yuu-kun.”

Tsukihi reached out and took my hand.

Her palm was damp with nervous sweat, and she was holding on like it meant everything.

“I wasted so much time… taking the longest detour like a total idiot. But I finally said it. I’ve always loved you—always.”

“…Tsukihi.”

When I quietly murmured her name, she let go of my hand.

What… what was I even supposed to say?

I’d kind of sensed this was coming.

The atmosphere practically screamed confession time.

But even so, I had no clue how to respond in that moment.

“Um… c-can I give you my answer at the cultural festival?”

The moment those words left my mouth, Tsukihi flopped back onto the bed and yanked the blanket over her head.

She did it with so much force, she ended up completely buried underneath.

“Alright then. I’m gonna rest now so I don’t get worse. Thanks for coming to visit.”

Yeah… that was her polite way of saying, You can go now, please and thank you.

She’d clearly used up every last ounce of courage just now.

Even under the blanket, I could see her body trembling slightly.

“…Thanks. I’ll give you my answer at the festival.”

With those words, I quietly left her room.

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[Afterword]

Thank you so much for reading!

Updates will be a bit irregular from here on out.

Apologies in advance!