[Vol 2] The Cheeky Junior Gal Becomes Too Cute When She Gets Attached to Me Chapter 7
“It’s been a while since we’ve gone home together, huh, Senpai.”
“Well, we’ve been busy with graduation ceremony lately. We’ve mostly been heading home with everyone else.”
Past six o’clock, the road to the station was filled with office workers in suits.
It was now mid-February.
The preparations for graduation ceremony had mostly come together, and things were finally starting to calm down.
“Seriously. You’ve been totally ignoring me lately, Senpai.”
“You sure have a lot of free time if you can show up every day like that.”
“Even if we can’t talk, I still want to be in the same space as you.”
Monaka wasn’t an official student council member yet, so there wasn’t much I could entrust to her for graduation ceremony.
Since she was always hanging around the student council room, she’d grown close with the other members, chatting with them often. Still, when we were in work mode, she was completely idle.
“...Doesn’t it get awkward?”
“Oh, totally awkward. I’m sure everyone’s like, ‘Why is she always here?’”
“You’ve got some serious nerves.”
“As long as you don’t think that, I’m fine!”
“Actually, I might’ve thought that once or twice.”
“Ehh? Did you not like me being there?”
“...Not really. I wouldn’t say that.”
“Thank goodness~.”
Under the dim sky, Monaka sighed in relief, pressing a hand to her chest.
She was so straightforward that it almost felt like she was trying to talk me into something.
I was, as always, running away from her words.
“But I really wanna become an official council member soon.”
Monaka looked up at the sky as she spoke.
She took out a test sheet tucked inside a clear file from her school bag.
“Look, four people have already signed!”
“So it’s just me and the former president left, huh.”
“Yup! When I asked Rui-senpai about Kuzuhara-senpai, she said it’s not the right time yet. She’ll set it up when the timing’s right!”
The test sheet already had four signatures.
I’d been present for the tests with Kawana and Hayato.
Kataseyama’s test had apparently started and finished before I even knew it.
Still, she’d passed without any issues.
Kugenuma-sensei’s test must’ve happened after they’d talked in an empty classroom.
I still hadn’t been able to ask about what Kugenuma-sensei said that day—or what Kataseyama told me afterward.
“Hehe, looks like it’s only a matter of time before I become General Affairs Officer.”
“Just so you know, becoming General Affairs Officer isn’t the goal, okay?”
“Of course! By the way, does ‘General Affairs’ mean the same as ‘Secretary’ ?”
“Not even close.”
“Then I’ll be your beautiful secretary, Senpai. I’ve always wanted to do that~.”
She made a little gesture of pushing up imaginary glasses.
That was a pretty biased image of a secretary… Not that it mattered, since she’d be General Affairs Officer, not a secretary anyway.
Sure, unlike other positions, General Affairs didn’t have a clear definition, so maybe it was hard to imagine.
But then again, even the accountant and the secretary didn’t strictly stick to their titles’ roles, so it wasn’t that important.
“Anyway, what kind of test should I give you…”
“Nothing pervy, okay?”
“So that’s off-limits?”
“Eh—uh, well, not... totally off-limits, maybe...?”
“I’m not doing that.”
Man, Kawana and Hayato came up with their tests so easily.
I wasn’t planning to fail her, but it didn’t feel right to not give her any kind of test at all. It was supposed to be part of the process, after all.
“What kind of test did Kataseyama have?”
“An interview!”
“Oh? Pretty straightforward.”
Interviews were common enough for entrance exams, so that made sense.
“Kataseyama and Monaka doing an interview… I can’t imagine how that went.”
“Well, um…”
Monaka looked up as she tried to recall.
Then…
“Hmph.”
Her expression soured almost instantly.
“...Did she scold you or something?”
“Not really~. Rui-senpai was super nice.”
“Then why the face?”
“I’m not mad.”
Man, I’ll never understand girls.
Did I somehow step on a landmine without realizing it?
Monaka kept glancing at me, clearly trying to make it obvious that she was upset.
She didn’t look genuinely angry, though—more like… sulking?
“...Want some snacks? My treat.”
“Hmph, you think I’m so easy that snacks can fix my mood? ...I’ll eat, though.”
“You’re eating anyway?”
“Just so you know, buying me snacks doesn’t guarantee I’ll cheer up!”
With that smug declaration, she darted into the usual convenience store.
Seriously, what’s with her…
Sighing, I followed her in and accepted the capsule chocolate she handed me with a bright smile.
I grabbed a bottle of hot tea and paid at the register.
“Oh, you even bought tea for me!”
“Not for you.”
Outside, I handed Monaka the capsule chocolate while she waited.
We walked over to the nearby park and sat together on a bench.
“So good~.”
“Looks like someone’s mood’s better already.”
“Ah! N-no, hmph.”
“You don’t have to force yourself to act grumpy…”
As usual, I still had no clue why she was even upset.
I sipped my tea and waited for her to finish eating.
“...Senpai, you and Rui-senpai get along pretty well, huh.”
Monaka muttered quietly.
“Hmm, well, we’ve been working together since last year. I wouldn’t really call it being close, though.”
“Huh. But she seems to know you better than I do. You tell her things you don’t tell me.”
She said that while slowly licking the chocolate with the tip of her tongue—something she usually finished in three bites.
I had no idea what she was talking about.
“There’s like, this sense of trust between you two. You totally trust Rui-senpai.”
Trust, huh. She wasn’t wrong.
I didn’t know what Kataseyama thought of me, but I did trust her abilities.
Whenever I left something to her, she’d always produce results beyond expectation.
That was something built over the past year of working together.
Maybe Monaka just didn’t like that.
“...So that’s why you were mad at me?”
“I wasn’t mad.”
Yeah, right. Totally was.
Monaka looked down, stopping mid-bite. The half-eaten capsule chocolate sat in her hand.
She glanced at me—and stuck out her tongue, covered in chocolate.
“I was just jealous ‘cause a prettier girl showed up.”
She puffed her cheeks and lightly punched my knee with a small fist.
“Rui-senpai’s cute, pretty, kind, popular, mature, and super gentle. Totally your type, right?”
“...Haha.”
“W-what?”
I couldn’t help but laugh. She looked so serious, it was kind of funny.
Jealousy, huh. So that’s how it looked from her side.
Honestly, Kataseyama and I didn’t even get along that well. Still, badmouthing her to comfort Monaka didn’t feel right either.
Monaka might’ve been satisfied, but I hated the idea of fake reassurance like that.
“Nah, I just thought it was funny, that’s all.”
“So my jealousy’s funny to you?”
Monaka pouted and looked down again.
I got off the bench, crouched in front of her, and forced her to meet my eyes.
Her slightly teary gaze met mine straight on.
“No. I just meant you’re way off the mark.”
“Eh…?”
“The one I think is cutest is you, Monaka.”
Her mouth fell open.
But I wasn’t done yet.
“The one I’m closest to is you.”
“Hya…!”
“The one I trust the most, the one I open up to the most—it’s you, Monaka.”
“Se-Senpai…”
Her face turned redder and redder.
Realizing it herself, she buried her face in her scarf to hide it.
“And also, the one I lo—”
“No more—!”
“Mph—!”
She shoved the half-eaten chocolate into my mouth.
The words I was about to say melted away along with the sweetness.
“You idiot, Senpai! Those lines are too sweet! I’ll die if I hear any more!”
My mouth was filled with chocolate—literally sweet.
Monaka flapped her hand like a fan, trying to cool her burning face.
I couldn’t talk right away, still chewing the chocolate she’d jammed in my mouth.
Once I swallowed, I washed it down with tea.
“You... you always say embarrassing stuff yourself.”
“It’s fine when I say it! Hearing it is... too much.”
“Got it. I won’t say it again.”
“No, say it sometimes.”
She tugged at my sleeve, peeking up at me shyly.
“...When I feel like it.”
“Okay! But make sure my heart’s ready first, or it might just stop.”
“That’s kind of terrifying.”
“Ahh, it’s still pounding so hard.”
After a while, even I started to feel embarrassed.
I sat back down on the bench, closing my eyes to calm down.
Why did I say all that so bluntly? That was basically a confession.
And that last part—what the hell was I about to say?
“Hmm~? Senpai, are you embarrassed now? After saying all that yourself?”
“You’re imagining things.”
“Your face is red, though~ You can’t even look me in the eyes.”
“You sure perk up fast when you’re the one teasing! You were the one blushing a second ago!”
Provoked, I looked straight at her again.
Then we both burst out laughing.
“Ahaha, we sound like a dumb couple or something.”
“...Hey, don’t lump me in with the ‘dumb’ part.”
“So mean! I’m hurt!”
Despite her words, Monaka’s face was glowing with a bright, satisfied smile.
“My mood’s totally perfect now!”
“Next time, fix it yourself.”
At least her moods were easy to read—good or bad, I always knew exactly where she stood.
I feel like I took quite a bit of emotional damage just trying to cheer Monaka up...
“By the way, what’s that thing you only tell Kataseyama?”
Well, it’s not like I tell Monaka everything either. There are probably things only Kataseyama knows.
Not just between the two of them—that’s just how human relationships work. Since everyone spends time differently, it’s impossible to share everything equally.
“If there’s something you want to know, I’ll tell you.”
“Mmm...”
Leaning back against the bench, Monaka hesitated before speaking.
“If you don’t want to talk about it, that’s totally fine.”
“Yeah.”
“Um... it’s about your dad, senpai.”
“Ah...”
Yeah, that’s something Kataseyama knows, but Monaka doesn’t.
I only ever told Kataseyama about that because I caused her some trouble back then and had to explain.
“It’s nothing that big, and not something I’d go out of my way to tell people.”
“Then that’s fine.”
“No, I guess I’ll tell you, Monaka. I don’t talk about this much, so... cut me some slack if I sound awkward.”
The sky was getting darker by the minute.
“So... my old man found some kind of fraud going on at his company one day. He’s the kind of guy with a useless sense of justice, so he tried to fix it... and got crushed from above.”
“That’s awful...”
“But he didn’t go public with it either. He knew if he blew the whistle, innocent employees would get caught up in it. So he tried to handle everything quietly, within the company. He wanted to fix everything and protect everyone at the same time—too greedy for his own good.”
He really was an idiot.
Even though he gave it his all, he was the only one who got hurt in the end.
“...Not really an uplifting story, huh? Sorry for ruining the mood.”
“No, thank you for telling me. I don’t really know what to say, though...”
Monaka trailed off.
I couldn’t think of the right way to respond either. There’s no good way to handle someone else’s trauma.
Empty comfort doesn’t help, and it’s not something you can just laugh off.
“...But I get it now. You’re a lot like your dad, senpai.”
“Like my dad...?”
“Because you’re full of justice too.”
“No way.”
Monaka always has this habit of interpreting my personality in the best possible way.
“I’m not some righteous guy. I’ve said it before—I just do what I want. I’m a completely selfish person. If anything, I’ve learned what not to be from my dad.”
“That’s not true. You helped me.”
“That just happened by chance. I won’t be like him. If it means getting the result I want, I don’t care what happens to other people. The reason I helped you... was just because I can’t stand it when the right side loses.”
My dad lost because he tried to have it all.
He couldn’t accept that he was part of the system, so he moved wrong. When you act assuming you’ll take the hit, you never gain anything in return.
That’s why I made up my mind.
Justice is pointless. I’ll act selfishly, rationally, and always in a way that benefits me.
“No, you really are like him. You’re just the same.”
But Monaka shook her head.
“Stop it. I hate my dad.”
“You don’t hate him, you hate yourself, right? That’s why you’re trying so hard to make yourself the bad guy.”
Monaka looked straight into my eyes.
“...Maybe you’re right.”
No matter how people praised me, I couldn’t accept it honestly. The only thing I believed in was results. But even then, no matter what results I got, I could never be satisfied—always chasing something better.
I have confidence, sure. Pride in what I’ve accomplished. But liking myself is a completely different matter.
That’s why, even if Monaka likes me, I can’t return those feelings properly.
Even if... I were to become her boyfriend, I’d probably end up hurting her.
In the end, I don’t trust anyone—not even myself. So I can’t return the same kind of feelings she gives me.
And yet, Monaka still refuses to leave my side.
“It’s okay. I love you, senpai.”
“...I don’t see how that makes anything okay.”
“Even if you hate yourself, I’ll fill that up with love—twice as much... no, ten times, a hundred times more.”
Monaka placed her hand on my knee.
“So it’s fine. Okay?”
“...It’s not like I’m struggling with anything though.”
“Then if you ever do, remember what I said.”
“Got it.”
I said it casually, but somehow, thanks to Monaka, my chest felt a little lighter.
Maybe I’ve been longing for someone who’d truly accept me, like she does.
Maybe that’s why being beside her feels so comfortable.
“Alright, enough gloomy talk! Let’s go home!”
Monaka clapped her hands and stood up.
“The frustration from Rui-senpai one-upping me is gone too!”
“So it was a dominance thing...”
“Now there’s no way Rui-senpai can beat me!”
“Beat you... at what, exactly?”
Like, who knows me better?
I don’t really think that’s something worth competing over...
We left the park and headed toward the station.
“Ah, but Matsurin might be a tough rival! Senpai totally likes the type of small, cute underclassman you just want to protect! And she’s smart too!”
“Yeah yeah, maybe so.”
“Gaaah!”
Monaka dramatically clutched her head.
“I’ll just have to make Matsurin dumber!”
“You’re planning to drag others down instead of improving yourself!?”
“Because there’s no way I could ever get smarter!”
“Don’t say that with such confidence!”
Honestly, even if you got smarter, that’s not what this is about...
The station came into view. We both commuted by train, but our directions were opposite, so this was where we’d part ways.
As we passed through the ticket gate, Monaka stopped suddenly.
“Hey, senpai. I have a favor to ask.”
“Yeah?”
“Keep this Sunday open!”
“Why the formal tone? Sure, but what for?”
“It’s a secret! Promise, okay?”
“Uh, okay.”
“Promise promise, okay?”
“Yeah yeah, I got it.”
Wait, this girl who always calls me out of nowhere wants to make a plan?
And a secret one, at that. What’s this all about?
“Yay! Then, bye-bye!”
Monaka pumped her fist and skipped off toward the platform.
I stood there, still confused and left behind.
“I have no idea what’s going on... but, Sunday, huh.”
I opened my phone’s calendar and added the reminder.
“Ah...”
I happened to notice next Monday’s date—February 14th. Valentine’s Day.
And Sunday was the closest weekend to it.
“No, no, calm down, don’t get your hopes up.”
Getting nervous around Valentine’s is something every guy goes through.
But still... showing up on the day with high hopes and walking away empty-handed—that kind of heartbreak has happened enough times already.
Still, with how close we are now... maybe I can expect something?
She said it was a secret—maybe it’s a surprise? Then maybe I shouldn’t act like I know?
...Thinking about it too much was definitely going to make it hard to sleep until Sunday.
And then... Sunday arrived.
Every time we saw each other at school, Monaka would say things like “Remember the promise?”, “It’s on Sunday!”, “If you forget, I’ll cry!” —over and over again.
Because of that, even though I tried not to think about it, I couldn’t help feeling restless.
Yet she still refused to tell me what the plan was, saying it was a surprise for the day.
“So, this meeting spot is...”
I stepped off the train as the station announcement played.
The place she told me to come to... I’d heard of it before. It was the station closest to Monaka’s house.
Feeling a bit tense, I walked toward the ticket gate.
“Ah! Senpai, over here!”
On the other side of the gate, Monaka was waving at me.
I waved back lightly and passed through.
Even in the small crowd, Monaka stood out.
“Good morning, senpai!”
“It’s already past noon.”
“Then good afternoon!”
She was full of energy right from the start.
Monaka was wearing warm, cozy-looking clothes. Her hair was partially braided, with a red ribbon that gave her a bright, festive look.
Over a white coat, she wore a red one-piece dress and a beige knit cardigan peeking out from underneath.
“How do I look? Cute?”
“I was just about to say that before you asked.”
“Ehh~ I couldn’t wait!”
Smiling, Monaka swayed side to side.
“Okay, then I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that!”
“Unfortunately, time doesn’t rewind.”
“Then rewind it! Start again from when you walked out of the gate!”
“Too much work...”
“Mmm, fine then, don’t rewind—just say it. Go on!”
Monaka clasped her mini-bag behind her back, leaned forward slightly, and stared right into my eyes, waiting.
“You’re cute.”
“Ehehe.”
Her face brightened into a wide grin.
She really did put more effort into her look today—she looked adorable. When she smiled, the glossy sheen of her lip gloss caught the light, and it made my heart skip a little.
Unaware of my thoughts, Monaka tilted her head with a relaxed “hmm?” expression.
For someone who wanted me to notice her, she sure didn’t notice how much I was actually staring.
“So, where are we going today?”
“Hehe, good question.”
Monaka folded her arms and smiled meaningfully.
“Today... I’m inviting you to my house, senpai!”
“...I kinda had a feeling.”
“No way! I thought you’d be so shocked you’d fall over!”
“What kind of variety show reaction do you think I’d have... I mean, this is your stop.”
“True!”
I did expect it, but that didn’t mean I was mentally prepared.
A girl’s house... The only other girl’s room I’d ever been in was my sister’s, and that was years ago. Going to a girl’s place at this age... unless you’re dating, that’s basically unheard of.
“Ah, but don’t worry! My mom’s at work, so nobody’s home!”
Maybe she noticed my silence and took it the wrong way, because she waved her hands in a panic.
“I did think about introducing you to my mom to lock things in a bit, but I decided not to!”
“You thought about it!?”
“I considered it, and then rejected it after careful thought.”
Meeting her mom would be terrifying.
Although... going over while she’s gone might also be a bad idea.
“My house is just over there.”
Monaka tugged lightly at my sleeve with her fingertip.
“Let’s go?”
Looking closer, I noticed her fingers were trembling slightly.
She was nervous too—looking up at me with anxious eyes.
“Yeah, let’s go. I didn’t bring any gifts though.”
“You don’t need to. I’m the one who invited you out of nowhere.”
Monaka took my hand and started walking.
...From an outsider’s view, we probably looked like a couple.
Given our conversation just now, even I’d think we were dating if I saw us.
“My mom runs a hair salon in the shopping district near the station.”
“Oh, she owns it?”
“Yup! Cool, right? That’s why she’s always home late.”
We passed through the shopping street and entered a residential area.
It wasn’t exactly a big city, but it was a lively enough neighborhood. With plenty of people around, a hair salon would probably do well here.
Monaka still hadn’t let go of my hand, but I didn’t pull away.
It was embarrassing, sure—but just for today, I’d let it slide.
She clearly put a lot of effort into today. I could at least match that much.
“That’s why, before I met you, I was always bored after school. No one’s home when I get back.”
Come to think of it, Monaka’s never mentioned her dad before.
I had a hunch, but yeah... it seems her mom’s a single parent.
“...And you don’t have any friends either.”
“Ahh, you’re not supposed to say that~! But now I do! Like Matsurin!”
“Anyone else?”
“You, senpai.”
She pointed at me.
“We’re close, right?”
“Yeah.”
Friends. Yeah, I guess that’s what we are—maybe even more like friends than senior and junior.
She’s definitely the person I talk to the most these days.
A while ago, I never would’ve imagined being this close with a girl like her.
“We’re here!”
Monaka let go of my hand and spread her arms proudly.
Though, it was just a five-story apartment building—we hadn’t reached her room yet.
We took the elevator up to the third floor.
Monaka led the way and unlocked the door.
“Come on in.”
“A-ah.”
At this point, my nerves were at their limit.
Going into Monaka’s room? Just the two of us?
Could I even stay calm...?
“Excuse me for intruding...”
“You’re not intruding~”
“It’s just a figure of speech.”
Was that a Kansai-style response, like 'If you’re intruding, go home' ?
I gave a wry smile at her playful remark and took off my shoes, lining them up neatly.
“I did clean up, right?”
“How should I know?”
“Now I’m worried! Wait in the hallway for a sec!”
With a clatter, Monaka darted into the room ahead of me. She opened the door and disappeared inside—probably into her own room.
I did as I was told and stood idly in the hallway. Since it wasn’t my house, I couldn’t exactly move around freely.
After a short while, the door opened again.
Monaka peeked her head out and gestured for me to come closer.
“Y-you can come in.”
“O-oh.”
Urged by Monaka, I stepped into the room she was in.
The moment the door opened, a sweet scent wafted toward me. I couldn’t tell if it was from fabric softener or a room fragrance—my nerves were too tense to tell.
Then my eyes took in the sight of her room.
It was exactly what I’d expect from Monaka—cute and tidy.
The wallpaper and furniture were white, creating a calm and cozy atmosphere. Gentle light filtered through the lace curtains, and pink cushions and stuffed animals were neatly arranged around the room.
It wasn’t just cute; it looked like the kind of room that belonged to someone who lived carefully and thoughtfully. It really reflected Monaka’s delicate nature.
“Hey, don’t stare so much~”
“...Sorry.”
“You’ll have to make it up to me by letting me into your room next time, okay?”
Monaka nodded to herself, satisfied with her own idea.
“There’s nothing interesting about my room though.”
“Hehe, I think I’d still have fun. Anyway, Senpai, sit here. I’ll take your coat.”
Monaka crouched down and placed a cushion in front of the low table.
I took her up on the offer and sat down on the cushion.
As she hung my coat on the wall, Monaka glanced at me and grinned.
“It feels weird having you in my room.”
“I can’t really relax either.”
“You can think of it as your own room! Or better yet, you could just move in today!”
“Nah, I’d prefer a quieter place to sleep.”
“I’m quiet when I sleep! I don’t even snore!”
Monaka protested, then tilted her head slightly.
“Wait… are you assuming we’d sleep together?”
“Ah… no, I just meant if I lived here, that’s what would happen. It’s your room, after all.”
“Oh no, Senpai’s having weird fantasies~”
Monaka exaggeratedly threw herself backward with a playful scream.
“Just because it’s a closed room doesn’t mean you can do weird stuff, okay? No attacking allowed!”
“I’m not gonna attack you…”
“But… if it’s just a little bit, then it’s fine.”
“A ‘little bit’ can turn into a big deal real fast, so I’ll pass.”
“Boo~”
What am I supposed to do with that…
Still, hearing her say attack made me too aware of things. This was, after all, Monaka’s room.
As I tried to stay calm, Monaka stood up.
“I’ll go get some tea!”
“Want me to help?”
“Nope, nope! You’re the guest, Senpai!”
Monaka cheerfully left the room.
Being left alone only made me more nervous.
She’d told me not to look around, so it felt awkward to do so.
I didn’t want her to think I was snooping, so moving around was out of the question.
In the end, I decided the safest move was to sit still with my eyes closed.
“...Meditating?”
When Monaka came back, she looked at me curiously.
“I was just focusing my mind.”
“You’re so weird~”
Monaka sat beside me and placed two plastic bottles of tea on the low table.
“Hey, Senpai, did you know?”
“Know what?”
“Tea from a bottle is faster and tastier than making it yourself!”
“So much for the art of tea…”
Well, that’s very Monaka of her.
You always see people in dramas making tea in fancy teapots, but honestly, it’s a hassle.
We sat side by side on the cushions, leaning against her bed as we drank tea.
After taking a sip almost at the same time, an awkward silence fell.
“S-Senpai…”
“Yeah?”
“Uh, w-wanna do something? Like… play cards or something?”
“Oh, sounds good! Though there’s not many games you can play with two people.”
Even though we talk all the time, things somehow felt stiff.
It was just the two of us in this completely private space—so different from the student council room.
“Then how about not cards, maybe a game!”
“Got one?”
“...No.”
“That’s a fail, then.”
Monaka hugged her knees and buried her face in them.
“Ugh, I knew it… I thought I’d planned everything so well…”
“Ah, no, we don’t have to do anything. Just talking’s fine.”
Monaka tilted her body to the side and rested her head on my shoulder.
“I like talking, too. But you know, I wanna get even closer to you, Senpai.”
She leaned her head against my shoulder, her voice soft and sweet.
“...I’ve been so emotional lately, huh?”
“Well, that happens sometimes.”
“You won’t hate me for it?”
“Of course not.”
It would be pretty hard to hate someone like Monaka.
There’s no way I could hate a junior who cares about me this much.
And as a girl too, she’s…
“I’m glad.”
Monaka looked up and smiled bashfully.
That kind of thing didn’t even need to be asked.
“But, you know… ‘not hating me’ isn’t enough.”
“Huh?”
“I don’t want to stay as just your friendly junior.”
Monaka’s eyes grew serious as she looked straight at me.
“I want you to fall in love with me, Senpai.”
“...I…”
Her straightforward words brought back the memory of her New Year’s prayer—
‘I wish I could go out with Senpai.’
Dating someone… being lovers. A little while ago, I couldn’t have imagined it.
When you’re in high school, lots of people start dating.
But that’s still just a fraction of everyone. I always thought it had nothing to do with me.
...Because I didn’t think I was someone who deserved to date anyone.
I’d always been too focused on myself, too indifferent to others. I wasn’t the kind of person who should have a girlfriend.
But with Monaka… I felt like I could cherish her.
“Wait. Don’t say anything yet.”
Monaka pressed her finger gently against my lips.
“I don’t want to hear your answer right now.”
Her eyes trembled slightly as she spoke.
“The reason I called you here today was to confess properly. Valentine’s Day is tomorrow, but we won’t have much time after school. And I wanted to be the first to give it to you.”
She stood up, quickly left the room, and came back with something hidden behind her back.
“Senpai.”
Monaka knelt beside me.
I turned my body toward her.
“Happy Valentine’s Day. This is the chocolate I made just for you—my real one.”
From behind her back, she revealed a heart-shaped box. It fit perfectly in her palms, tied with a ribbon and tagged with 'To Senpai ♡.'
“Will you take it?”
“Of course.”
I took the box with both hands, like I was receiving a diploma. Hearing her call it her 'real' chocolate made my chest tighten.
Monaka still didn’t let go. She opened her mouth, hesitated, then shut it again. After a deep breath, she nodded and spoke softly—
“I like you, Senpai. Please go out with me.”
Her voice trembled, but her words were sincere.
It was a real confession—nothing like her usual teasing.
“Don’t answer yet,” she said before I could speak.
“...Why not?”
“Because I know you’re struggling with things. I know you care about me at least a little, and that you’re kind enough to say yes just so you won’t hurt me.”
Monaka’s voice wavered as she finally released the box.
“I know I’d be happy if we just started dating now. But I want you to say yes because you really mean it, not just because I pushed you into it… even if that’s selfish of me.”
She squeezed her hands tightly on her lap.
“So… tell me your answer on White Day, okay? I’ll be waiting until then.”
“...Got it. On White Day, for sure.”
“Yeah!”
Monaka smiled brightly and nodded.
If I gave an answer now, I probably would’ve said yes. I had no reason to refuse.
But Monaka chose to wait—probably for my sake.
Pathetic. Because I couldn’t be honest, I’d made her carry this burden.
“Alright, enough of the serious mood! Come on, eat it already.”
“...Sure. You did taste-test it, right?”
“How rude! I take my chocolate seriously, you know!”
“You eat the same kind of chocolate all the time though.”
As we bantered like usual, I carefully opened the box.
Inside were six round chocolates, each nestled in a small paper cup.
A heart-shaped pick was taped to the underside of the lid.
“Truffles, right?”
“Ding ding! Correct!”
They were round chocolates dusted with cocoa powder.
I took the pick and poked one of the truffles.
“Alright, here I go.”
“Ah!”
“You’re staring too hard. It’s hard to eat like this.”
“Can I record it?”
“That makes it even harder!”
“Then I’ll just burn it into my memory!”
Monaka leaned forward, eyes fixed on me without even blinking.
Giving up, I popped a truffle into my mouth.
“How is it?”
“Haven’t even tasted it yet.”
“Hurry up!”
As soon as I bit down, the cocoa powder’s bitterness and a pleasant coolness spread across my tongue.
When I cracked the outer shell, smooth ganache oozed out, melting gently with a creamy sweetness that filled my mouth.
“It’s really good.”
“Right?”
Monaka smiled with relief and delight.
“You want some too? It’s delicious.”
“I made them, remember!? I’ve eaten so many already my body’s probably half chocolate by now.”
“You overdid the taste tests.”
“I couldn’t give Senpai anything less than perfect! Those truffles are the best of the batch!”
So she must’ve made a ton of them.
In that case, I’d better savor it. After all, this was her real chocolate.
“Ahh, now that I’m relaxed, I’m kinda hungry again. I’ll grab some snacks.”
Monaka rubbed her stomach and started to stand—
“Ah…”
She suddenly lost her balance and began to topple forward.
“Whoa—careful!”
I lifted myself slightly and caught her as she fell toward me.
But I wasn’t exactly stable either, so we both tumbled backward, ending up sprawled on the carpet in an embrace.
Thankfully, neither of us hit our heads.
“You okay?”
“S-sorry… my legs went numb from sitting too long.”
Still unable to move, Monaka smiled awkwardly while resting against me.
Her face hovered close, eyes locked with mine.
“Hehe… guess this is kinda lucky.”
“...That’s my line.”
“Heh, you’re such a perv, Senpai.”
“Don’t make up weird nicknames.”
Even as I replied lightly, my heartbeat quickened.
Monaka straddled my waist, leaning her weight on me.
“I’m so bad… I know I shouldn’t, but I can’t help it.”
She braced her left hand beside my head and leaned in closer.
“I’m getting greedier… I want you, Senpai.”
“...Didn’t you say attacking was off limits?”
“It’s okay if I’m the one doing it.”
Monaka tucked her hair behind her ear—then, without hesitation, pressed her lips to mine.
The soft sensation sent a shock through my mind. My entire being—my every sense—was filled with Monaka.
Our eyes met for an instant, then she closed hers slowly.
“Nnn…”
It was a long kiss.
My hands, hovering awkwardly in the air, slowly moved toward her back.
Just as my fingertips brushed against her—
“Nooooo!”
Monaka suddenly pulled away, sitting upright with a quick motion.
And then, in a fluster, she quickly got off me. Jumping onto the bed, she buried her face into the pillow.
“What the heck am I doing!? Idiot, idiot senpai!”
“C-Calm down!”
“Senpai, you’re way too calm!”
She flailed her legs and smacked the neatly folded blanket with her hands.
I wasn’t calm—I just couldn’t process what had happened. It just didn’t show on my face.
“Anything more than this… no, I can’t. Seriously, I can’t handle it.”
Her muffled voice came through the pillow.
“Senpai, you should go home. Seriously, you have to.”
“O-Okay.”
“Don’t agree so easily! You’re supposed to push me down!”
“Which is it then…?”
“No, wait! Forget that! Go home!”
Letting out a muffled groan, Monaka went quiet.
She still didn’t lift her face, but the only visible part—her ear—was bright red.
She stayed face-down on the bed, completely still.
…Honestly, that was close.
If Monaka hadn’t stopped herself, I really don’t know what I would’ve done.
Even though I haven’t even given her an answer yet.
“Please go home. I’m at my limit today.”
Monaka turned her face toward me and spoke in a strained voice.
“I’ll probably regret it later—wonder why I let you go.”
“And I’ll probably regret not pushing you down.”
“Should we just do it, then?”
“Don’t say stupid things.”
I gently patted Monaka’s head as she finally began to calm down.
“Thanks for the chocolate. I’ll take my time eating the rest at home.”
“…Okay.”
“And… about White Day.”
I carefully put the heart-shaped box back into my bag.
Then, standing up, I placed my hand on the doorknob.
“Wait for me.”
“Yeah.”
Leaving Monaka still lying on the bed, I stepped out of the room.
I put on my shoes and opened the front door.
Behind me, I heard hurried footsteps—Monaka came running.
“Senpai!”
When I turned around, she was waving with a radiant smile.
“Bye-bye! I love you!”
“…See you tomorrow.”
Stepping outside, I watched her until the door closed behind me.
With the soft click of the lock, I whispered quietly—
“I love you too.”
She probably didn’t hear it.
…How am I supposed to face her tomorrow?
And so, the next day arrived, weighed down with that uneasiness.
I ran into Monaka right after entering the school building, near the shoe lockers.
“Senpai… look at this…”
Without even a proper greeting, Monaka pointed toward the bulletin board.
There, a single notice was posted.
It read, in bold letters—
“Notice of an Emergency Student Assembly.”
And below that… my thoughts went completely blank as I read the next line.
“Regarding the No-Confidence Motion Against the Student Council President and the Upcoming Re-Election.”
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