The Classmate Who Is Adored by Everyone Smiles Teasingly Only at Me - Volume 3 Chapter 5.6

Unveiling 6

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After school, Chika went to the back gate alone.

Until now, she had come here either to “escape” or because someone had called her out.

But today was different.

Chika had chosen this place and called someone out.

Near the back gate at dusk, the sunlight was poor, and the passing breeze felt even colder.

As she fought the urge to shiver, Wakui arrived right on time.

“What did you want to talk about?”

She opened with those words, her eyes clearly showing hostility.

Scary.

Unaccustomed to people’s negative emotion, Chika felt like crying and her legs trembled. She wanted to run away.

―But.

She tensed her stomach and firmly planted her loafers on the ground.

She had decided to do this herself.

Therefore, she must accept all of Wakui’s feelings.

Taking a deep breath so as not to be noticed, she opened her mouth.

“I apologize for calling you out like this. However, there was something I absolutely needed to talk with you directly.”

“Talk?”

As if to say she had nothing to discuss, Wakui retorted curtly, sharpening her gaze even more.

Even such a trivial gesture could hurt, but Chika mustered up her courage and spun the words she had been contemplating.

“I’ve been thinking hard about this for a while. I understand how Wakui-san feels. From your perspective, I must seem like a half-hearted child, an annoying pest buzzing around Sōma-san. But knowing that, I’ve decided not to bend who I am. I will continue to be Sōma-san’s taste tester, and I will continue to ask Sōma-san to be my guardian. I will not yield this position to anyone, no matter what they say. If you try to come between us, I will resist with all my might and fight.”

I said it. I said everything I needed to say!

My heart was pounding so hard it hurt.

I could feel my blood heated with excitement, racing through my veins.

Gripping the left side of my blazer tightly, I looked straight at Wakui, who slightly raised the corners of her mouth with a hint of amusement.

“Is it a declaration of war?”

“You may take it that way if you wish.”

This was the conclusion Chika had reached after much thought.

Wakui’s feelings were wonderful, pure, and very strong.

In contrast, Chika was only trying to involve Sōma in her childish challenges. It wouldn’t be surprising if she were dismissed as trivial.

But even so, she wanted to be the one beside Sōma. She didn’t want to give that place to anyone else.

Even if she was mocked, scorned, pointed at from behind, or criticized as being wrong, she wanted to continue spending time with Sōma.

“Hmm. I see. So that’s how you’ve decided.”

Wakui, who had been looking at me, let out a disinterested voice.

“Chika, if you say so, then there’s nothing I can do. In that case, I’ll just have to take Ichinose’s side by force. I have no intention of giving up on Ichinose, not even a little bit.”

“I thought so. That’s why I wanted to make it clear.”

“Oh, I see. You’re strangely conscientious. Alright, I got it. See you then.”

Wakui’s expression suddenly turned cold, as if she had lost interest, and she waved her hand dismissively.

She then turned to leave, but after a few steps, she stopped abruptly.

“Ah… there’s something I wanted to ask. That thing with Chika earlier, I was really surprised, but what was that about? Were you trying to keep me in check? Or is it that you’re usually just pretending to be something you’re not?”

It seemed she was referring to the incident where Sōma was wiping down his body with a sweat wipe.

“No, both are genuinely me.”

Facing Wakui’s gaze, which seemed as if she was looking at something eerie, Chika denied it cheerfully.

“I’ve never once thought about disguising myself or deceiving others.”

“Despite that, you seemed too different.”

“Sōma-san is just too cute when he’s embarrassed, so I couldn’t help myself.”

“Cute, Ichinose? I’ve thought he was cool before but never cute. What you’re saying makes absolutely no sense to me.”

Wakui frowned deeply, clearly unable to relate even a millimeter.

“It’s unfortunate that you can’t understand.”

Chika had secretly hoped she would sympathize if she had any fondness for Sōma, so she felt a slight disappointment.

“Sorry, but I don’t even want to understand.”

“The more you tease Sōma-san, the cuter he gets.”

“Are you serious? That’s really creepy.”

As Chika muttered softly, Wakui shook her head vehemently, looking thoroughly disgusted, then laughed defiantly.

“But well, it was good to know that you’re not just a stuffed animal being tossed around by everyone in class.”

“…Why is that?”

“Because now I won’t underestimate you as a goody-two-shoes and let my guard down.”

With those parting words, she finally left.

“I’m completely hated now, aren’t I?”

Watching the retreating figure of the girl with golden and black hair, she muttered sadly.

How painful and sorrowful it is to be disliked by someone.

From now on, it’s unlikely that Wakui will ever speak to her in a friendly manner or share her snacks with her.

The thought made her heart ache.

But at the same time, she felt a sense of happiness.

She recognized Chika as a rival to be defeated.

In other words, she saw him as an equal.

Other than Sōma, she was the first to treat Chika as an equal.

So while she felt sad to be seen as a rival, there was also a part of her that was excited and thrilled.

“Mmhm, I’ll do my best.”

She encouraged herself with those words.

She had to continue being someone worthy of being Wakui’s rival.

She wouldn’t bend to criticism from others, no regrets, no hesitation.

An eyesore, a villain, a nuisance.

That’s perfectly fine.

This is the path she has chosen. Thus, she will walk it with pride.

With her uniform skirt fluttering in the cold wind, Chika started walking.