The Best Friend of the Person I Like is Secretly Approaching Me - Chapter 45

Chapter 45

It’s the morning of the first day back at school in a long time after a huge holiday weekend.

Mom kept asking me, ‘Are you okay?’ but I decided to go to school no matter what, fearing that any more absences would turn me into a shut-in.

My headache hasn’t gone away though, and just thinking about going to the classroom brings a dull pain to my head.

I wonder what Kaita who attended that gathering and other classmates will do when they see me.

His messages seemed apologetic, but just receiving an apology doesn’t really change things. I don’t plan to forgive him, but whether to forgive him or not isn’t for me to decide.

There was actual harm done, after all.

And then, going to the classroom means I’ll meet those two, Misa and Haru.

I managed to talk to them over the phone yesterday, but I don’t know how I’ll handle seeing them in person. It’s probably the same for the two of them.

I’m unsure about their reactions, but I have no choice but to go to the classroom for classes.

After taking a deep breath outside the classroom door, I opened it and stepped inside.

Immediately, my classmates who had already arrived turned to look at me.

I’m used to being the center of attention, but their gazes feel different this time.

“Seko.”

Standing dumbfounded at the entrance, Oda comes up to me.

He glances around and speaks in a low voice.

“Are you okay now?”

“Not fully recovered, but I can attend classes. Thanks.”

“No-no, no need to mention thanks, that’s what friends are for. …and about that incident, it’s spread to the classmates who weren’t there that day too. The soccer team members have been heavily criticized the other.”

“Is that why it’s like this?”

Usually, their eyes are filled with curiosity about ‘today’s confession time’, but today, there’s a hint of sympathy.

Among them, there are those who look guilty, probably the soccer team members.

“Seko.”

One of them, with such a look, approaches me. It’s Kaita.

“Kaita.”

“I’m really sorry You’re right, even if I was threatened by Senpai, there are things that are okay to do and things that are not. .”

“Raise your head, please.”

“I’ve apologized to Hinata too. I’m not asking for forgiveness, but please let me apologize.”

“Please, just raise your head.”

Kaita slowly raised his face, and I could tell he was genuinely remorseful, so I didn’t say anything else.

I felt everyone’s eyes on me as I walked to my seat beside Kaita.

Kaita seemed regretful. He tricked us and helped Arahira Senpai try to take Hinata away. He was regretting it all.

Of course, I wanted him to be very sorry about that. But what angered me most wasn’t that.

One soccer player said that for Seko Rento, Misa Yosaki was his number one. Haru Hinata was second or less, and she didn’t matter as much compared to Misa.

(TN: 一番, I’m using ‘the most’ instead ‘number one’ in Chapter 37)

Why did he think like that?

No, it’s not just him. Most of the other classmates probably share that view.

Haru Hinata is definitely not a peerless beauty like Misa Yosaki, but she’s a cute girl with many different charms.

Yet, the people around us seem to feel a huge gap between them.

So why did it turn out like this?

Frankly, it’s my fault.

While I never treated them differently when we hung out together, I did something special for Misa——Confessions.

And I did that without worrying about the eyes of those around us.

As a result, I instilled a sense of disparity in the minds of those around me.

Initially, I was angry with the soccer player, but analyzing the cause turned my anger towards myself.

I didn’t know where to direct this emptiness and anger…

Yet, when I was apologized to, I almost unleashed these dark feelings to others.

It’s the same with Arahira Senpai’s actions.

He confessed to Misa first, got rejected, and then set his sights on Haru.

She’s being treated as second by others too, and I’m likely the one who created this whole situation.

My head hurts——

I knew it; coming to the classroom made me think too much.

“Seko, are you okay?”

“Seko-kun, do you still have a headache?”

Haru and Misa came to my desk with worried looks.

I didn’t want them to look like that, and yet, here they are because of me.

I notice Haru’s bangs, and the hairpin that used to be there is gone.

Realizing this makes me feel a bit sad.

If I feel this way, Haru’s feelings must be even more distressed.

“It’s okay-it’s okay. I’m just going to space out during class if I need to.”

“You should listen properly if you’re attending. Tell me anytime if something’s wrong.”

“Thanks.”

“Want to go to the nurse’s office? Should I come with you?”

“No, it’s fine. I can’t afford to repeat a year, so I’ll stay in the classroom and attend the class. Thanks.”

Their concern warms my heart, but,

“So, no confessions today, I guess.”

“Well, he seems unwell, can’t be helped.”

“Somehow, isn’t Hinata-san being nice to Seko today?”

“They’re good friends, so it’s normal to worry about his health.”

Hearing such conversations from my classmates, my heart suddenly grows cold.

I never cared about whatever rumors were spread about me.

No, even now, I’m indifferent to backbiting about myself.

However, when I think about the two of them, I can’t help but feel guilty.

I know it’s irresponsible, but honestly—

——I wanted to run away from this place.

***

Lunchtime.

Although my constant headache meant I barely absorbed any of the content, I somehow managed to get through the morning classes.

Normally, I would have lunch with Misa and Haru in the classroom, but today I excused myself, saying I was going to the infirmary.

They both offered to accompany me, but I declined, feeling it would be too much to ask.

Maybe they thought it was best not to insist, as they backed off surprisingly easily.

Thanks to that, I was able to come to the back garden alone.

I hadn’t expected I’d need time to be by myself so much.

Sitting on a bench, I enjoyed the pleasant breeze and gazed up at the blue sky without thinking about anything.

Clearing the cluttered thoughts, I thought that this emptiness in my mind felt good.

Even though I realized I was giving up on thinking about it, I couldn’t bring myself to stop.

Then, I heard the sound of footsteps approaching. Two sets of them.

I wondered if I had stumbled upon another confession scene, but it turned out to be that junior couple.

(TN: Chapter 24.)

“Seko Senpai! It’s been a while!”

“It’s been a while. Do you remember us?”

“After all that happened, there’s no way I could forget.”

They had confessed in front of me and started dating, saying they respected me.

That’s when I realized I was infamous around the school for all the wrong reasons.

“Seems like things are going well for you two. Did you go anywhere during Golden Week?”

“Yes, uh… we went to Enoshima.”

“Ah, the classic date spot.”

“And after that, we went to Hakone…”

“Huh? Did you do all that in one day? Isn’t that a tight schedule?”

“Um… we went over two days.”

“…Two days for a day trip?”

“…No, it was an overnight trip.”

“Y-you! It’s too early for an overnight stay!”

“Kyaa, why did you have to say that, Ka-kun!”

“Well, I owe a lot to Senpai. Besides, I’m not embarrassed at all. I want to proudly tell people that I went somewhere with Na-chan!”

“Ka-kun…!”

“Na-chan…!”

It looks like the junior couple is doing really well, creating their own little world right there.

Well, it’s fine. I mean, I happened to be there at the moment they became a couple, so I’m happy they’re doing well.

But do they really need to do this in front of me?

Uh, maybe it’s just that I happened to be at their usual spot.

“I thought Seko Senpai would be here.”

“So you did it on purpose.”

“Yes. We’re in love.”

“…do whatever you want.”

As I give up on the overly smooth-sailing love story of my juniors, I hear more footsteps.

Today seems to be a day for visitors.

As I think this, Ka-kun says, “Let’s hide!” and ducks down with Na-chan. I’m pulled into it and crouched down too.

The newcomers are a boy and a girl wearing blue neckties and ribbons.

There’s a tense atmosphere between them.

…Another one, really?