I’m a Shy Loner and I Was Confessed to by a Beautiful Girl Who Has All the Boys in School Smitten, but It Turned Out to Be a ‘Fake Confession,’ So I Politely Declined. As a Result, I Ended Up Learning About Her Hidden Side and She Started to Cling to Me

“Yes, lie on your side with your right side down, bend your knees deeply, and take slow breaths. You can use the bed for a while. It’s also okay if you don’t attend classes.”

“Yes…”

I lie down on the bed in the nurse’s office as the teacher advised. Honestly, I feel much better and think I could attend classes without any issues.

But, I don’t want to go! I don’t want to go back to the classroom!

After all, I threw up in front of everyone and they had to clean it up! How am I supposed to face them in the classroom?

They might have already given me a nickname like Puke Mountain or something…

Alright, let’s skip the rest of the classes for today.

I made up my mind, closed my eyes, and fell asleep three seconds later.

I had a nostalgic dream.

It was back in middle school, during a physical education class where we were playing soccer. The PE teacher was also the soccer club advisor and would demonstrate various techniques during class.

The teacher was the encouraging type and would praise us for even small things.

Once during class, I tried to mimic one of the teacher’s cool moves.

“Wow! Sato, you might have a talent for soccer!”

The teacher was amazed, but I brushed it off and tried to teach the move to a soccer-playing friend of mine.

I thought my friend, who had been playing soccer for years, would definitely be able to do it.

But he couldn’t.

“Forget it! There’s no way I can do such a complicated move!”

I told him it wasn’t that hard and demonstrated it again in front of him.

If a beginner like me could do it, so could you!

My friend looked at me with a demonic expression and said,

“You are—”

… What a terrible dream. It reminded me of my dark history in middle school.

When I opened my eyes, I saw the ceiling of the nurse’s office. It seems I had slept through until after school.

“Ah, you’re awake.”

“…Kuromiya.”

“Good morning. You were really sound asleep. Are you feeling okay?”

Stop making that worried face… It just reminds me of how foolish I’ve been!

“Ah… Yeah, I feel okay now…”

I can’t look at Kuromiya’s face because of my guilt.

“What, you didn’t want to go back to the classroom so you decided to sleep here, did you?”

Damn, how did she know?

“Uh, well… I was afraid to go back. I caused everyone a lot of trouble.”

“It must be hard to go back after vomiting in front of everyone…”

Good, she understands.

“Is everyone calling me ‘Puke Mountain’ or something?”

“What’s with ‘Puke Mountain’? Hana took care of it, so you should be fine.”

Shirasaki…!

“Here, your bag.”

Kuromiya curtly handed me my bag.

“Thanks… Wait, did you come here because you were worried about me?”

“What!?”

Her face turned bright red.

“Don’t get me wrong. I wasn’t worried! I was just killing time!”

So she’s a tsundere…

“But about basketball! If you were so good, you should have silenced Kaneda with your skills from the start.”

“That’s…”

She’s right. I could have crushed Kaneda at any time.

“I understand that. But I didn’t want to hurt Kaneda, or anyone else for that matter, because of this talent of mine.”

“…”

“When I reached out to Kaneda, I had a flashback of someone I had hurt in the same way back in middle school… That’s probably why I threw up.”

I clenched my fist.

“So why did you go so far to help me?”

“That’s… because it was my fault to begin with, and I wanted to help you too…”

I paused, unable to put my feelings into words.

“…If you have something to say, say it clearly.”

Kuromiya stared at me as she spoke.

“…I had ulterior motives.”

“Huh?”

“I thought maybe you’d start liking me a little if I saved you from Kaneda.”

Hearing my confession, Kuromiya’s eyes widened in surprise.

“…Are you saying…”

“Right now, our relationship is… ambiguous. And I want to move beyond that.”

Kuromiya said nothing, probably because she felt the same way.

“I want to take the next step.”

“So you’re saying… you mean it like that?”

Her cheeks flushed, and she looked away, flustered.

“Well… yes.”

“!! So, why? What was the trigger? What made you decide?”

There are too many questions, Kuromiya.

“I don’t know the trigger or the deciding factor. It’s just that being with you has been fun…”

“…Hmm, really?”

Her energy seems to have skyrocketed.

No doubt about it, she’s in an excellent mood right now!

Maybe this is my chance?

“If you’re a man, then say it clearly.”

“…Kuromiya.”

“…!!”

“Will you be my friend?”

“…What?”

“No, I mean… Will you be my friend!!”

“What? What?”