Chapter: 22. The Love Battlefield Beside the Bad Girl
“Is that so…?”
In the resting area on the first floor of the Shikigikan.
Otokawa and Kanade were sitting across from each other at the dining table.
Meanwhile, Nahiyo, who was curious about what would happen next, volunteered to go to the kitchen to pour water for everyone.
But in reality, she was hiding in the shadows, secretly observing everyone.
At the dining table, Otokawa clarified to Kanade why he had just appeared in the girl’s room on the third floor, and that his relationship with Nahiyo was merely a misunderstanding.
Upon hearing this, Kanade slowly expressed his earlier sentiment.
Although he appeared to be relieved and understanding on the surface, his inner feelings were entirely different.
At that moment, Kanade had already sounded the highest level of alarm regarding this first-year boy in front of him.
The words coming out of the boy’s mouth—“I just met Senpai Hoshimiya today,” “We are merely seniors and juniors who met for the first time,” “I only respect and appreciate Senpai Hoshimiya for helping me today,”—contained some truth, but Kanade could also keenly sense that some of what he said was a lie.
The way he looked at Nahiyo reminded Kanade of his past self.
Putting aside Nahiyo’s views on him, this first-year student clearly had feelings for Nahiyo.
According to what he said, they had just met today, which obviously implied that he had fallen for Nahiyo at first sight…
Kanade felt a cold sweat start to form on his back.
It wasn’t surprising that a pure and cute girl like Nahiyo would be noticed by other boys at first glance.
Especially in this kind of situation, where he was anxious and in trouble, he just happened to encounter a bright and radiant beauty like Senpai Hoshimiya who was gentle and considerate in helping him.
Kanade asked himself that if he were in his position, he would undoubtedly fall for her at lightning speed.
—It can’t be that there weren’t many boys who had feelings for little Nahiyo in the past; why was he feeling anxious only now?
Kanade recalled his past with Nahiyo in Kawano City.
At that time, Nahiyo often had many boys interested in her, but perhaps because little Nahiyo had always been by his side, along with friends like Mana who helped her fend off other boys, Kanade was only now truly realizing the sense of crisis.
“Is that so…? So you and little Nahiyo are just seniors and juniors who met today…” Kanade didn’t even know why he suddenly said such a thing.
Moreover, he emphasized Nahiyo’s nickname and placed unnecessary stress on “just met today” and “seniors and juniors.”
“Jealous, jealous~~” Nahiyo secretly peeked out half her head from the kitchen wall, quietly observing everything.
Upon seeing Kanade displaying a strong sense of “possessiveness” towards her for the first time, Nahiyo couldn’t help but raise her mouth into a sneering smile, like a crescent moon.
“I’ve been nurturing Kanade’s possessiveness since childhood; it’s finally blossoming~~” At that moment, Nahiyo looked just like a little devil; if she had a demon tail, it would be happily swaying from side to side.
“Y-Yes, and my name is Otokawa Rakuya, a first-year student in the ‘Special Course’ at Ark Academy. Please take care of me.” Otokawa, who had just accidentally entered the girls’ floor, appeared a bit more reserved and timid compared to Kanade, introducing himself.
“Otokawa? Ah, no, sorry… cough cough!” Kanade shivered as if he’d heard something bad, and immediately feigned a cough to cover it up: “My name is Tsuki-Sora Kanade, a second-year student, and like Otokawa, I’m also in the Special Course…”
Usually, Kanade would have ended his introduction here.
But at that moment, his male competitive spirit inexplicably flared up, prompting him to unconsciously add, “Little Nahiyo and I have been childhood friends growing up together. I’m really sorry for any trouble little Nahiyo caused you today.”
Kanade deliberately emphasized his close relationship with Nahiyo, akin to a male animal declaring his territory.
Especially with his apology as if Nahiyo was “his,” he was trying to dissuade this first-year student in front of him.
“Wow, wow~~ Jealous Kanade~ How fresh~” Nahiyo continued to wag her little devil tail, “You clearly rejected my indirect confession this morning~ Yet when you saw me with another boy, you became so anxious~~”
A smile couldn’t help but emerge from Nahiyo’s lips.
“It seems like provoking Kanade’s sense of crisis really works~~ And Kanade has discarded his bull-headed tendencies… right? No, perhaps it’s precisely because of his bull-headedness that he’s worried about being taken away by other men?”
At that moment, as Nahiyo felt puzzled.
Otokawa, sitting across from Kanade, naturally recalled what he had witnessed this morning at the station—Nahiyo’s expression, which seemed to showcase a girl in love.
It was this guy!
Otokawa’s expression changed, involuntarily sizing up the tall and handsome senior in front of him.
Though he appeared quite ordinary at first glance, with common black short hair and an honest face, a closer inspection could reveal the charm hidden beneath his simple exterior.
Otokawa couldn’t help but feel deflated.
He had thought reuniting with Senpai Hoshimiya would be incredibly fortunate, but unexpectedly, her childhood friend, the one she liked, was also in this dorm… No.
Otokawa suddenly recalled a crucial detail.
Judging from the scene he observed that morning, it was unmistakably clear that Senpai Hoshimiya was interested in her childhood friend. However, their relationship was merely that of ordinary childhood friends; she could like such a stunning beauty yet not be romantically involved…
Otokawa’s gaze shifted to Yamamoto, who sat beside Kanade.
This was another handsome second-year student. The difference was that his attractiveness was quite conspicuous, exuding the vibe of a playboy.
From the distance between them, Otokawa could tell that the connection between the two was not shallow—
“Speaking of which, this senior seems to have completely ignored Senpai Hoshimiya moments ago.” Otokawa tried to recall the earlier scene and noticed something.
Girls as effortlessly beautiful as Senpai Hoshimiya would naturally attract the attention of even those boys who weren’t interested in her, if only due to the allure of beauty.
As all the critical clues came together, Otokawa suddenly understood.
The sinking feeling in his heart was rekindled.
“Yes, please take care of me, Tsuki-Sora senpai!”
“… Ah, yes, please take care of me.” What? Why suddenly so happy? Does this mean a boy like me poses no threat to him?
With such thoughts racing through his mind, Kanade’s anxiety returned.
As Nahiyo grew up, her charm and radiance would only become more pronounced; more people would inevitably start to take notice of her.
Boys like Otokawa would only increase.
—While he… remained stagnant.
—If possible, he wanted to become Nahiyo’s boyfriend.
—He wanted to be with her forever…
But he was also afraid, afraid that Nahiyo would once again be caught up in extraordinary disasters because of him.
Afraid that he wouldn’t be able to protect little Nahiyo, allowing her to be harmed.
When he snapped back to reality, Kanade had already found an excuse to leave the table to help Nahiyo.
While Otokawa and Yamamoto were alone, the former seemed somewhat timid and reserved.
“Are you alright, little Nahiyo?” Kanade’s voice sounded rather dry, and his steps appeared exceptionally heavy.
He didn’t know how to face his feelings for Nahiyo or how to confront her.
“Kanade-kun? I’m fine, it’s just that I can’t find that many clean cups at once, so I plan to wash them first~” Nahiyo responded in a cheerful tone.
When Kanade walked into the kitchen, he saw Nahiyo rolling up her sleeves and wearing an apron, washing glasses at the sink, dressed in an appearance as caring as a wife.
The sight before him undoubtedly stirred Kanade’s desires.
—He wanted to be with little Nahiyo.
—He didn’t want other men to see little Nahiyo dressed like this.
At that moment, Kanade realized he was a man with strong possessiveness.
—If little Nahiyo found out he was such a petty man, she would surely dislike him, right?
—No, I don’t want that, I don’t want little Nahiyo to hate me…
Just as Kanade felt his emotions boiling over, yearning to express himself—
A thick, black substance like sludge constricted around Kanade’s throat, rendering him mute.
His body became acutely heavy.
Something seemed poised to swallow him up into the abyss of darkness—
When a sprinkle of starlight from Nahiyo’s wrist illuminated the path ahead.
—What is that…
As Nahiyo’s sleeves rolled up, the star bracelet adorning her left wrist came into view.
That was a gift he had given to Nahiyo in middle school, a token of their promise they had once made.
(“If we grow up and still don’t have someone to accompany us for a lifetime…”)
—So little Nahiyo has been wearing it all these years.
“Well, I’m going out now~”
When Kanade came back to his senses, Nahiyo had already filled a clean cup with water and was preparing to leave the kitchen.
Just as she brushed past Kanade.
Nahiyo suddenly turned her head slowly, looking back at Kanade with a gentle gaze and a faint smile: “Take your time, Kanade-kun~”
“Because I’ll always wait for you~”
After Nahiyo spoke, she turned around and left with brisk steps, leaving Kanade surprised and delighted.
“Great~ Now my memory of the promise with Kanade-kun is successfully stirred up….” Nahiyo thought excitedly.
“Even if Kanade-kun really can’t become my boyfriend for various reasons in the future, I can use this promise of being together later to deal him a heavy blow…”
“My apologies for being late, I didn’t expect to see such a beautiful lady doing this—” By the time Nahiyo came back to her senses, Qinglong had appeared in front of her with a swift motion and took the tray containing several water cups from her hand.
“Eh? Q-Qinglong-senpai?!” Wait, isn’t that a bit too close? Nahiyo thought while trying to subtly distance herself from Qinglong.
Just as Qinglong seemed intent on pursuing her, a cold voice came from behind him.
“Student Council President, please don’t suddenly disturb my Nahiyo-chan.”
Mana had appeared behind Qinglong without anyone noticing, her platinum hair styled into neat twin ponytails, swiftly grabbing Qinglong’s hand that reached out toward Nahiyo.
“Ma-Mana-kun?! When did you—Ah! Ouch! Sorry, could you please let go? I think my hand might get broken—”
