I Want to Have a Girlfriend Too - Chapter 20

If you are going to confess to someone…

 

( Alice’s point of view )

 

　I was asked by Senpai to come to the back of the school building after school.

　Senpai is one year older than me, and according to what I heard from the girls in my class, he is an ace on the basketball team and is quite popular.

 

　When he asked me, I wondered what was going on. But when he brought me here, I thought, “Oh, he’s confessing his feelings to me.”

 

　I’m not overly proud of it or anything, but I’ve received many confessions here…

　So when I come to the back of the school building, I think, ‘Here we go again.’

 

“I’m sorry you had to come all the way down here. I have something I really want to tell you.”

 

　…I knew it was a confession.

　However, this Senpai and I have never talked at all.

　It is quite common to get a confession from such a person. I’m happy with the confession itself, but I kind of know why they want to confess to me.

　…I guess I’ve gotten used to it, but I don’t like it.

 

“I like you. I want you to go out with me. “

 

　Senpai says in a calm voice.

 

　Most of the people who say this are only interested in my face or the title [I could go out with Alice Kagurazaka.]

 

　They don’t see the real me.

　I can’t help but feel it in their moods.

 

　That’s why, even though I don’t like to say this, I’ll still say it.

 

“I’m sorry, I can’t go out with Senpai.”

” Ah! Can I ask why? “

 

　Senpai is surprised for a moment but still asks without changing his tone.

　Is he trying to keep his usual cool?

 

“We haven’t talked much, and I don’t know Senpai very well.”

“Then, why don’t we just get to know each other after going out? “

 

　Senpai is still not convinced.

　…There are people like this from time to time, and I’m not sure what to do.

 

“Still, I’m sorry. I can’t go out with you. “

 

　When I say this, Senpai has a blue streak on his forehead, and his fists are clenched tightly and shaking.

 

　It is still painful for me to say this every time.

　I feel sorry for refusing his confession. I don’t like to say such a thing, and I feel that I am probably hurting the other person.

 

” ——— ! You’re getting ahead of yourself just because you have a nice face! “

 

　Senpai yells at me, a complete change from what he said before.

　Unexpectedly, I’m also startled.

 

“You were probably feeling superior because a boy confessed his feelings for you, weren’t you!? You’re probably watching the boys rejected by you and laughing at them, aren’t you! ? “

 

　Senpai yells at me with all his might.

 

　No! I never do that!

　I’m glad he confessed his feelings for me, but it hurts me to say no, and I don’t feel superior to him!

 

　But I was too scared to speak out.

　I shrank my body and tried my best to stand Senpai’s yell.

 

“Don’t get cheeky, dammit! “

 

　Senpai raised his fist at me.

 

　――Somebody please help me !!

 

　I know this cry from my heart would never reach anyone.

　Maybe this is my punishment for turning down so many people… but still, I’d like to…

 

“Somebody please help me !!! “

“Senpai, I won’t allow you to go any further!”

 

　I hear someone’s voice.

　I look up fearfully and see a familiar male student catching Senpai’s fist.

 

　I don’t think it was because he heard my cries.

 

　But,

 

“Tokimori-kun ! “

 

　Still, I was glad from the bottom of my heart that he came.

 

* * *

 

　I think I’ve done it.

　Because I left the bushes, they would know that I was peeping at them. But I couldn’t let this one go.

 

” …you, how long have you been here? “

“I really didn’t mean to peep, but I just happened to be here. Rather than that, Senpai, isn’t too much to use violence? “

 

　I let go of Senpai’s hand.

　Senpai pulls his hand back, clicks his tongue lightly, and glares at me.

 

　…don’t stare at me too hard because I’m scared.

 

“Why are you protecting her….? Uh, I know you’re doing it because you want this girl to like you, but this is a girl who plays around with guys to make herself feel superior.”

 

　Senpai says irritably and points at Kagurazaka.

　But I shrug my shoulders at his words and actions.

 

“I’m not here because I want Kagurazaka to like me.”

 

　Yes, I am not here because I want to be liked by Kagurazaka.

　I’m here simply because I can’t overlook it any longer.

 

“I don’t think it’s wrong for Senpai to confess to Kagurazaka. I think it’s okay for him to be disappointed in being rejected.”

“Then why !!”

“──── but don’t go any further.”

 

　I look at Senpai, who is yelling at me with his voice raised, and I look him in the eye and say something like that.

 

　Of course, he must not do anything violent.

　But Senpai should not be angry at Kagurazaka in the first place.

 

“Why did Senpai confess to Kagurazaka? “

” …that is “

 

　Senpai was puzzled as if it was something difficult to answer.

 

“You confessed because there is something in her that you like, right? Then you should be able to answer.”

 

　Yes, you confess to someone because there is a reason you like him or her.

　There is always a reason why you like them.

 

” …… “

 

　Senpai, however, seems to be unable to come up with anything and has fallen completely silent.

 

　Still, I continued the conversation.

 

“It doesn’t matter if you like her face. That’s a good reason to like someone. But it is Kagurazaka’s appearance, not what’s inside. If you like Kagurazaka only because of her looks, there is no way she will accept you. ────and it’s true she’s an idiot and a bit of a klutz.”

 

　But――

 

　I looked away from Senpai and glanced toward Kagurazaka, who was cowering in fear behind me.

 

“But Kagurazaka is kind to everyone, always cheerful, and always ready to do her best for anything. I may not have spent much time with Kagurazaka, but I know there are still other good things about her other than her face.”

“Tokimori-kun… “

 

　Kagurazaka must have heard me because she made eye contact with me.

　Kagurazaka’s eyes seem to be slightly moistened as if she was scared.

 

　Seeing this, I looked at Senpai again.

 

“Does Senpai know what’s good about Kagurazaka? I think you haven’t talked to Kagurazaka much.―No, you didn’t even try to get to know her, so how could you know?”

 

　Senpai has made no effort to get to know Kagurazaka.

　I, too, have confessed my feelings to a number of cute girls right off the bat, and I’ve tried my best to talk to them to get to know what’s inside.

 

　Because of that, I came to like them more because I got to know not only their appearance but also what was inside of them, and eventually, I liked what was inside of them more than what was outside of them.

 

“There is no way such a guy can go out with Kagurazaka, and Senpai has no reason to be violent after being rejected. In the first place, why did Senpai think he could go out with Kagurazaka? Was it because of his good looks and popularity? Isn’t that exactly what you said to Kagurazaka?”

 

　Senpai is a good-looking guy, and he must be very popular among the people around him.

　But it’s arrogant to think that this will guarantee him a relationship with Kagurazaka.

 

“Of course, you can be angry at Kagurazaka, but you should not be violent. That’s something you should never do ――and that’s why I stopped you.”

” ….. “

 

　Phew… that was a pretty long talk.

 

　After I talked for a while, I looked at Senpai.

　Then Senpai opened his mouth.

 

“…my bad… yea, you’re right…”

 

　Senpai turns to me and says ────

 

“…I must have drunk a few drinks somewhere today… I think it’s natural to be rejected after confessing to someone just because she has a nice face. I certainly didn’t know anything about Kagurazaka-san, but I still confessed to her――Now that I think about it, if it was me, there’s no way I could date someone like that.”

 

　Senpai then looked up and said.

　His expression was somehow clearer than before.

 

“Sorry, and thanks, you made me calm down and realize that was a stupid move by me…”

 

　Senpai then turns his gaze from me to Kagurazaka.

 

“Kagurazaka-san, I’m really sorry too… I don’t ask you to forgive me, but if you ever have a chance to talk to me again, please be friendly with me.”

 

　With these words, Senpai left the back of the school building.

 

　…Ah, I’m tired. Really, I think this is Saijouin’s role, not mine, right?

　I watch Senpai walk away and turn to Kagurazaka.

 

　Now we are out of trouble for the time being, ――but I wonder what I should do to Kagurazaka, who is half-crying behind me?