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

I’m sure I, Kuramiya Nene, will never “truly love someone.”

I’m a gorgeous girl idolized by the boys at school.

But what everyone is smitten with is the “me I pretend to be.”

Everything I say or do is calculated to make people like me.

That’s my “public” face.

In contrast, my “private” face is feisty and foul-mouthed.

A face I never show.

Why do I pretend? Because no one is interested in the real me.

Don’t get me wrong; I quite like my “public” self.

Because both “public” and “private” make me who I am, Kuramiya Nene.

So if I were to truly love someone, it would be someone who earnestly engages with both sides of me.

I want to meet someone who truly sees me.

I’m always wishing for such a miracle to happen, but deep down, I know it won’t.

But if there’s someone who finds my “private” self more approachable and prefers the real me, maybe there’s a chance.

“Um… Miss Kuramiya?”

“What is it?”

“Why did you call me after school?”

I was at a family restaurant with my classmate, the lonely, unpopular Sato Juubei.

“Huh? We’re obviously here to discuss what to do about Kaneda, aren’t we?”

“Wait, does that have anything to do with me?”

“Because you turned down my confession!”

“Uh…”

“Today, Kaneda told me, ‘I’m breaking up with my girlfriend, so wanna go out?’ How ridiculous! He just got his sixth girlfriend yesterday. He’s disgusting, hitting on girls left and right.”

It was a terrible day; he even tried to touch me multiple times.

“That is… pretty creepy.”

Sato agreed, looking genuinely sorry for me.

“Right? I don’t know what he’ll do next, so I called for an emergency meeting. Understand?”

“Ah, yes…”

Sato looked both convinced and unconvinced as he sipped his drink.

“Sigh, I guess my only option is to make you, a lonely guy ignored by girls, my fake boyfriend to divert Kaneda’s attention. So, let’s date.”

“Huh? You expect me to say ‘yes’ just like that?”

“What? You get the privilege to spoil me, hold my hand, and have deep conversations. Isn’t this a no-brainer?”

“Is this some idol handshake event? It’s a clear ‘no,’ you know!”

I kicked Sato’s shin, annoyed at his comment.

“So you’re saying you’d rather not be Kaneda’s girlfriend that badly?”

“Any affection from someone I don’t like is nothing but a nuisance. I’d rather let a cockroach escape than be his girlfriend.”

Besides, Kaneda wants to date the “public” me. I could never like such a guy.

“Then why not just give him a hint?”

“A hint?”

You mean subtly imply that I have a boyfriend without explicitly saying so? Not a bad idea.

“You’re surprisingly clever for a loner.”

“Ah, thank you? So, I’ll be going now.”

“No, we’re going to take photos for my social media posts.”

I grabbed Sato’s wrist, who was oozing ‘I-want-to-go-home’ vibes, and we moved to a nearby sports facility.

We ended up playing bowling, something I’d always wanted to try.

After completing the registration and getting the equipment, we just had to wait for the scoreboard.

“How about a wager? If you win, I’ll treat you to a juice. If I win, you’ll have to do whatever I say.”

“That’s not fair at all…”

Ignoring Sato’s dissatisfied expression, we started our bowling match. The result?

“Hehe, a grand victory for Nene-chan! Now, what shall I have you do?”

As I basked in the afterglow of victory, we walked back home.

“Ah, the photo! I feel like we forgot to take it.”

“Are you kidding me?”

“Ah, well, at least we had fun bowling today.”

“Fun? With you?”

“Come on, you were over the moon when you made a strike.”

“That was…”

Was I having fun today? Was I really enjoying myself without putting on an act?

“Also, you’ve been speaking so normally today. What happened to your usual stammering?”

“I’ve never stammered like that. But maybe I felt more at ease because you’re so assertive.”

“Hmm.”

Could it be?

“Hey…”

I was a bit nervous. So I turned away from Sato, who was beside me.

“Do you find the ‘private’ me easier to get along with than the usual ‘public’ me?”

If there’s someone who prefers the ‘real’ me and finds it more approachable, maybe, just maybe…

“I want to be friends with someone like that.”

“Huh? No, I don’t think—Hey, stop hitting me with your bag!”

“Shut up! You can’t even read the atmosphere!”

Ah, I was so stupid for having hopes!

I already know that nobody will accept me as I am!

“Because if I agreed with you, it would mean denying the ‘public’ you, wouldn’t it?”

“…What?”

Sato’s words made me pause.

“Both the ‘public’ and ‘private’ you are still you. Saying one is better than the other is wrong.”

“…”

If I were to truly love someone, it would be someone who engages respectfully with both my ‘public’ and ‘private’ selves.

“You still have the ‘do whatever I say’ card.”

“Huh? Now? What should I—”

“I want to kiss you.”

“…Eh? Uh, what does that mean!?”

Before Sato could finish, I stole his lips. After our lips met, I thrust my tongue into his open mouth.

“!?”

Ah, this feels… really good.

I entwined our tongues, gradually becoming more intense. Ah, tracing his mouth makes my body twitch. This spot is sensitive…

“Ahh!”

Sato, whose face turned bright red, forcibly broke away from me.

“…Kuramiya, what the—”

“…Sato.”

“Y-Yes!?”

“Will you marry me?”

“…Huh?”