When I Told the Most Beautiful Girl in the School That My Confession Had Failed, She Suddenly Started Coming at Me With Unbearably Heavy Feelings - Chapter 4: Date and Overwriting

Chapter 4: Date and Overwriting

“Hinate-kun, are you free after this?”

Right after homeroom, Rinne came to my desk.

Still reeling from yesterday’s events, I nodded for now.

“Then come with me. There’s somewhere I want to go with you.”

“If you’re okay with me, sure…”

Rinne smiled brightly, took my hand, and led me out of the classroom.

…Was it just me, or had she been unusually forward since yesterday?

Until now, I hadn’t interacted with Rinne more than necessary.

I thought she lived in a different world from someone like me, who lingered in the shadows. I’d always compared my plain self to her, so talented and beautiful, and kept my distance.

That’s why I couldn’t believe someone as ordinary as me could be liked by Rinne.

Leaving the school together, we headed to the usual station.

Following Rinne’s lead, we arrived at a café inside the station.

“Welcome. Table for two? Please follow me.”

Guided by the waiter, we took our seats. Unlike Rinne’s calm demeanor, my heart wouldn’t settle.

“This place feels nostalgic. We came here together before, didn’t we?”

“Oh, you remembered?”

“Of course I’d remember a moment with a beautiful girl.”

“Tch, really…”

Back in middle school, I’d come here with Rinne once.

I couldn’t stand by while she was being bullied by upperclassmen, so I got into a fight with them, which escalated into a physical scuffle.

After being questioned and lectured by teachers, we came here together. I remembered it clearly.

It was a rough time, but causing a scene forced the teachers, who’d ignored the bullying, to act, and it got resolved. It was the best choice.

“That was a wild time… I came here covered in bruises, and seeing you okay finally put me at ease.”

“Nostalgic, isn’t it? …If you hadn’t helped me back then, I wouldn’t be who I am now. Let me thank you again—thank you.”

“Stop it already. You thanked me plenty back then.”

She treated me to cake here as thanks, didn’t she? Rinne wasn’t satisfied, but for me, that was more than enough.

I ordered the same cheesecake set as back then. Rinne ordered a chocolate cake set.

While waiting for the cakes, before I could think of what to talk about, Rinne spoke up.

“By the way, Hoshiumi-san, was it? How did you meet her?”

“…What, you digging up my heartbreak?”

“Just tell me. How did you get to know that girl?”

Overwhelmed by Rinne’s stunning eyes, I recounted how I met Nonoka.

As I told her about my heartbreak, Rinne’s expression grew darker. …Hearing about someone’s heartbreak probably isn’t pleasant.

“…And that’s what happened the day before yesterday.”

“Hmm… Going to the movies together, huh…”

Rinne’s sharp gaze traced my jawline. Snorting unhappily, she seemed angry about something. Why was she mad…?

“Here are your cake sets. Thank you for waiting.”

As I ate the cake, I glanced at Rinne.

“…Did you go to places like this with Hoshiumi-san, too?”

Muttering as if in a daze, Rinne stared at my mouth. Maybe it was my imagination, but her voice sounded lower than usual.

I nodded, struggling for words.

“Wow… You didn’t hang out with me like that.”

“We weren’t that kind of close, were we? Calling you out on a weekend felt kinda awkward.”

“It’s…” Rinne started but faltered, unable to continue. As if in defiance, she glared at me with those sharp eyes.

“…Sorry. I didn’t realize.”

“…Here, say ‘ah.’”

Rinne held out a small piece of chocolate cake, almost threateningly. Steeling myself, I accepted it.

The slightly bitter chocolate cream left a rich taste in my mouth.

“Good?”

“…Yeah, good.”

“I want to try yours. Ah.”

Following her lead, I fed her a small piece of cheesecake.

“Mmm, delicious,” Rinne said with a small laugh. Her girlish expression, so different from her usual cool demeanor, made my heart skip.

“…Glad you think so.”

“Feeling any better? About that girl?”

Rinne’s sapphire-like eyes peered into mine. Could she have noticed I was down…?

“…Are you trying to cheer me up?”

“Yes. You helped me when I was in trouble. If you’re struggling, I want to help you.”

“I see… Thanks. Even for that letter.”

“…Huh?”

“That letter yesterday was to cheer me up, right? Thanks.”

As I expressed my heartfelt gratitude, Rinne’s face suddenly clouded.

“…Clueless idiot.”

“Huh? Did I say something wrong…?”

“I’ll make you fall for me…”

I never figured out why Rinne was upset, and in the end, I had to treat her to another cake.

▼▽

“Hinate-kun, let me see your phone.”

At the station platform on the way home, I handed my phone to Rinne as she asked. She tapped at the screen before returning it.

The screen showed a username: ‘rinka.’

“This is…”

“My contact info. Call me if anything comes up. I’ll do the same.”

With a soft smile, Rinne boarded the arriving train and disappeared.

Her back today seemed almost cheerful.

Suddenly, she turned around. Grinning, Rinne mouthed something.

‘Don’t run away.’

That’s what it looked like she said.

The train roared off with a rumble, carrying Rinne away. I looked down at the phone in my hand.

Her contact info… The contact of the school’s Madonna, coveted by every guy in school, was now in my hands…?

Knowing it was shallow, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride as I waited for my train.