Haibara’s Teenage New Game+ - Volume 6 - Chapter 1.5

First Interlude

The sun set, dyeing the sky crimson. It was evening on the third day of the school festival. No one else remained in class one’s classroom. All of the stalls had closed up by now, and the only event left was the light music club’s concert on the courtyard stage. When I looked out the window, I could see the audience going wild already.

I think Natsuki and Serika’s band is up next. Despite that, there was a reason I hadn’t headed to the courtyard and stayed in this empty classroom instead.

“I see everyone from class one is gone too,” said a voice.

I turned around to see that someone had opened the door and entered the room. It was Reita-kun. He was the most popular boy in our year...and the boy that had caught my eye. The reason I had stayed behind was because he’d asked me to.

“Does that mean class two is empty too?” I asked.

“Everyone went to watch Natsuki’s band perform. Though, we’re not quite finished cleaning up yet.”

“Aren’t you going to watch?”

“I will, but after I talk to you.” Reita-kun came to the window where I was standing and stopped two steps away from me. My gaze met his. I couldn’t take my eyes off of him because of the serious look on his face. “Miori, I have something important to tell you, though I’m sure you’ve guessed what this is about.”

“Huh?” I was at a loss for words. I didn’t have a guess—I had no idea why he’d called me here. “Reita-kun?” I tilted my head to the side.

He stared at me intently. He always wore a gentle smile, but right now he was looking at me with utmost sincerity.

Reita-kun stayed silent for a while. I soon picked up on the mood too. We were a boy and girl, alone in an empty classroom. Not to mention, we were considerably close friends too. Don’t tell me... The moment the thought ran through my mind, Reita-kun broke the temporary silence.

“Right, time for the direct approach,” he muttered and nodded to himself. He held his hand out towards me. “I love you, Miori. Will you go out with me?”

He wasn’t lying or joking. Reita-kun’s expression, tone, and atmosphere all told me he meant every word. They were the words I should’ve wanted to hear. After all, I’d come up with all sorts of schemes to date him. I was finally being rewarded for my efforts.

And yet, my heart didn’t soar. All I had to do was nod my head, but I couldn’t. The fluctuations of my feelings only reconfirmed...what I’d feared.

I truly had been interested in Reita-kun. When I first saw him on the day of the entrance ceremony, I really had thought he was good-looking. He was handsome, calm, and clever. Oh, he must be popular, I’d thought.

That had been my first impression of him. Curious what kind of person he was, I devised a plan to talk to him more through Natsuki. In the beginning, I’d taken a conservative approach. I had a feeling he was used to sidestepping girls that tried to get close to him like me. He was also a kind and considerate person. However, I couldn’t discern his true feelings.

But as we became friends, I began to see the sides of him that suited his age, and I found those parts of him cute. I had no doubt that I was into him.

I was the one who’d always initiated conversation at first, but somewhere along the way, our positions swapped. Reita-kun became the one to invite me out at every opportunity. Both of us must have noticed that change.

It wasn’t as if I’d come to dislike him. It was just...a different presence that had been dwelling in my heart first had rapidly grown, and before long, he was all I thought about. It had been growing all this time, and even continued right this moment.

Perhaps I used to love Reita-kun. There might’ve been moments where my feelings had swelled to be more than mere interest. But it was different now. There was someone else in my heart.

“I’m really sorry.” I wrung out an apology from my throat. “I know my behavior suggested otherwise. Initially I approached you because I was into you...but there’s someone else I love, so... I’m sorry.” Addled as I was, all that came out was a poor excuse.

Reita-kun kept his eyes fixed on me. Even now, his composure never crumbled. No, if anything...he seemed like he’d known this would happen.

“Is the one you love Natsuki?”

I thought I’d stopped breathing. How did he know? I’ve been hiding it this whole time. In the first place, isn’t it a preposterous idea that I’d love Natsuki when I’ve been helping him with his own crush? No one would do that unless they were a huge moron... Then again, I am doing that. I’m feeling very down now.

“What makes you think that?” I asked hesitantly. I kept the conversation going with a question as I hastily tried to think of a way to fool him. But it’d be insincere of me to lie when he confessed to me... Right? Then I should tell him the truth.

While I brooded over such worries, Reita-kun furrowed his brows. “Well, anyone could tell by watching you... Did you think no one knew?”

“Huuuh?! R-Really?!” Having caught me off guard, his sharp words cut like a knife, and I took critical damage. My reaction accidentally confirmed his assertion, but it didn’t seem like he’d been trying to trick confirmation out of me to begin with. Reita-kun had been extremely confident that I was in love with Natsuki.

“Can... Can you really tell just by looking?” I felt my cheeks heat up. My voice even trembled a little. This isn’t like me. I need to pull myself together, but I just can’t. I’m so embarrassed I want to disappear.

“You’re always watching Natsuki, which might be unintentional, but he’s all you ever talk about, even when you’re with me. Plus, he’s the only one you’re chummy with, so it’d be hard not to notice.” Reita-kun chuckled, amused for some reason.

Why is he laughing? Seriously. “Um... Then does that mean, uh, everyone else has also noticed?” If they have, then I’m beyond embarrassed!

“Hm, I’m not sure. None of them seem to have, at least.”

I felt a wash of relief. Y-Yeah! I’m not so obvious that everyone can tell by watching me. Reita-kun is just too observant; he’s way sharper compared to the others. Thank god...

“To be fair, I observe you much more than the others do,” he explained matter-of-factly.

I’m impressed he can say that without any hesitation. If it were Natsuki, he’d be so smug right now. I can see it already... He’d have that “I’m the man” expression on.

“Well, I already knew that you loved Natsuki. I came in assuming that.”

“Y-You assumed that?” I parroted his words, unable to follow what he was saying. I don’t understand what’s going on. Reita-kun confessed to me, and I rejected him. I have someone else I love, and he knew that. But he’s smiling calmly. “W-Wait... Then why did you confess to me? Didn’t you know I’d reject you?”

“I simply wanted to tell you how I felt. Is that so wrong?” He smiled cheerfully, flashing his pearly whites at me.

My heart quickened a little as I floundered around. In contrast to my fluster, Reita-kun breezily added, “That was a joke.”

H-Huuuh? This is why he’s so— Argh! I know why he’s so popular with girls. But unfortunately, I’m Natsuki devoted, so I won’t be swayed. No, wait, wait, wait. What does “Natsuki devoted” even mean? I’m not like that, though. It’s totally not like that. It’s not like I love that dummy or anything, okay? Don’t misunderstand! Who the heck am I arguing with... Ahhh! Jeez, this is all so convoluted!

“You’re funny when romance is involved. Or maybe it’s when Natsuki’s involved,” Reita-kun said, observing me closely as I cycled through a hundred expressions.

“Is that bad? I’m a beginner when it comes to romance!” I’d come to learn that it was pointless to act tough in front of Reita-kun these days (because he was too observant and would instantly see through my act), so I behaved defiantly instead. Oh, whatever. I don’t care anymore!

“In that case, will you go out with me to learn about romance?”

An absurd proposition reached my ears just when I was starting to despair.

“Of course, you can continue loving Natsuki. I won’t criticize you if you spend time with him. I don’t mind if you treat dating me like a practice run either.”

His offer was too good for me. I thought it was another joke, but the look in his eyes was serious.

“However, I’ll work hard to make you look my way.” His words permeated deep into my heart.

Reita-kun’s straightforward feelings, and his offer—dazzling like the light—sunk my heart deeper into darkness. If I fell in love with him, I could become happy.

Even if I continued to love Natsuki, I would only suffer. Right now, his heart was undecided between Uta and Hikari-chan, but there was no room for me. Of course there wasn’t: I hadn’t thrown down my gauntlet in the battle of love. I didn’t have the courage to butt in this late into the game.

Besides, I had cooperated with Natsuki in order to go out with Reita-kun. At least, that’s how it was in the beginning. So if I took Reita-kun up on his offer, I could naturally end my partnership with Natsuki. If I achieved my goal, he would have no reason to help me anymore.

I could distance myself from him and pray that my love for him would disappear. Reita-kun would date me while tolerating my feelings, and I would also work hard to fall in love with him. It was the best option for me at the moment. At least, that was what I’d thought at the time.

“I won’t be able to let go of these feelings immediately, you know.”

“I know, and I don’t mind.” Reita-kun nodded, wearing a gentle smile. “Even so, that’s how much I want to go out with you—and how much I love you.”

A part of me was genuinely happy that he loved someone like me. So I accepted his proposal.

When I think back on it now, I shouldn’t have done that. I was being overly reliant on Reita-kun’s kindness. I’d prioritized my own feelings too much...and made a grave miscalculation—I’d misjudged the size of my affections. I was wrong to think they were something that could be immediately discarded. That was my greatest mistake.

And of course, I would be punished for the crime I’d committed.