I Know the Reason

Everyone's here to gossip!

Nervous, my heart is racing, and there's a strange mix of excitement and anticipation.

But... was it Asakusa- kun who received the confession?

Who confessed their love?

Will he accept the confession?

If he starts dating someone else... will he still come to the library as usual?

Shiina Hiyori's thoughts suddenly became a bit chaotic.

But she didn't have time to let her thoughts wander any further.

Because the girl who arrived even earlier than Asakusa Toru was slightly obscured by him.

The white stockings that reached past her knees rubbed together, and the dress she wore when they met last month was now on the girl's body again. Her rather cute hair fell down, obscuring part of her expression.

Shiranami Chihiro spoke very softly.

"Have you read the letter?"

"Ah, I've seen it." He nodded calmly.

The girl cautiously revealed her desire for confirmation:

"So, your response is..."

"... Before you respond, you should have something to say, right?" After a moment of silence, Asakusa Toru sighed silently, "What's written in a letter isn't a confession, you know."

Although the love letter contained a lot of random and nonsensical writing, the only thing it didn't explicitly say was, "I like you."

A confession is when someone expresses their true feelings.

"Yes, I like you, Asakusa Toru." Raising her head, Shiranami Chihiro, her hesitation gone, declared decisively, "Please, go out with me!"

She reached out her hand and bent down.

In a normal confession process, if the other person grasps this hand, it means they have accepted the confession and their feelings.

Before taking that hand, both the one confessing and the one being confessed to need time to make a decision.

"..."

So...

Ichinose Honami was getting restless.

"Ugh..." Ichinose Honami pursed her lips, making a soft sound, and clenched her hands.

She never expected that the person who confessed his feelings would be Shiranami Chihiro.

... Although, although, it doesn't seem unusual for Asakusa- kun and Chihiro to be together; on the contrary, it seems quite reasonable.

But, for no apparent reason, a subtle rebellious feeling stirred within me.

If it were just me following and spying alone...

No, she didn't know if she would step forward and interrupt them at that moment.

But the troubles are the same.

If he accepts...

If he refuses...

My mind is a mess.

It was this chaotic state of mind that suddenly made her notice something different.

"Huh?"

When did another person appear among those peeking under their heads?

"..."

The timing of the confession is crucial; don't make a sound to disturb them, just watch quietly.

This is a very important matter.

No matter what happens, don't interrupt this process.

But Ichinose Honami's hand still unconsciously rested on Shiina Hiyori's shoulder.

"?!" Almost instantly, Shiina Hiyori's immersive state was shattered.

She almost cried out.

If it weren't for the two girls above and below them who immediately fell silent.

"Sh--"

"Sh--"

Never mind all that! Let's see!

Shiina Hiyori and placed her hand to her lips.

"Pee..."

Hey, you're on the right track.

If you're going to peep, you should have the right attitude. Everyone's here to peep; no one is superior to anyone else.

Shut up, all of you!

After a brief interlude, the three women's spying resumed.

"..."

The bent-over body and outstretched hand created a tense atmosphere.

Silently watching Shiranami Chihiro, Asakusa Toru did not respond for a long time.

He had been thinking about a way to refuse without being so direct.

It's not that I have to refuse; if the relationship isn't officially a boyfriend-girlfriend one, Asakusa Toru feels he would gladly accept it.

But clearly, what the girl in front of him wanted was not some other twisted relationship.

What she wants is an exclusive relationship where she can assert her dominance, a relationship where she can put her arm around someone's shoulder and act intimately in front of everyone.

Yes, a relationship that marks him in front of everyone.

If Shiranami Chihiro had made this decision with a full understanding of who she was, he wouldn't have been so conflicted.

It's rotten, but the essence of vocational school lies in its corrupt interpersonal relationships.

But she didn't know.

Her relationship with Kushida Kikyo and Sakura Airi was not something she could casually reveal.

This is what puts Asakusa Toru his current dilemma.

Or why not just taint yourself and ask Chihiro to form a pure physical relationship with you?

"... So, it still doesn't work?" Just as Asakusa Toru was still not responding, as if she had gotten an answer from this reaction, Shiranami Chihiro withdrew her hand.

Tears welled in the corners of her eyes, and the girl's words were slightly choked with emotion.

"I knew Asakusa- kun still prefers Ichinose, but if you really like Ichinose just start dating already!"

As if giving up on herself, Shiranami Chihiro turned her head away, unwilling to face Asakusa Toru, and shouted:

"--Anyway, she likes Asakusa -san a lot too!"

The sound echoed in the open space behind the stadium.

In an instant, Ichinose Honami was peeking from the corner, blushed bright red.

With just a quick glance up, Shiina Hiyori knew that Shiranami Chihiro was right.

But... why aren't they dating yet?

"... Thank you, Asakusa- san, for coming here to hear my feelings." After a moment of silence, Shiranami Chihiro bowed again.

As she straightened up, she wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes with her small hands.

"I'm happy, but I also hope Asakusa- san can be more honest with herself." She said with utmost seriousness, "If possible, please date Ichinose."

Before Asakusa Toru respond, she turned and ran away.

Her elegant dress fluttered in the air, shimmering tears falling. Asakusa Toru, momentarily stunned, turned the corner—

"--" His heart stopped beating.

Draw your head in and squat down.

Draw your head in and squat down.

Draw your head in and squat down.

The synchronized movements caused the girls to press their backs against the wall, nervously holding their breath for fear of being discovered.

Fortunately, they were lucky; Shiranami Chihiro, who ran away, didn't seem to be looking in their direction at all...

Yeah, right.

Chihiro had already spotted the iconic long, gold-flecked hair in the corner.

That was her purpose in coming here; that was why she chose to confess her feelings.

Let's date.

Let's date as she wishes.

They should have started dating a long time ago.

She confessed her feelings just to give them a push and to get them to date.

Shiranami Chihiro had already confirmed Ichinose Honami's GPS location. If Honami didn't choose to track her, she would proactively send her a message asking her to come over.

But since Asakusa approached Honami to discuss it, and since Honami has taken the initiative to follow her, she doesn't need to do anything unnecessary.

Competition breeds a sense of crisis, and her words, which subtly reveal the nature of their relationship, will undoubtedly give them a push.

This is a birthday gift delivered early, in Shiranami Chihiro's personal style.

What if Asakusa Toru really accepts the confession?

Let's date then.

Then the only option is to start a relationship and give Honami other gifts.

After all, she didn't dislike being with Asakusa Toru. Her feelings might not have reached the point where she felt compelled to confess, but if things really progressed to a romantic relationship...

It doesn't seem like it's entirely unacceptable.

More importantly, if they start dating...

Then it's okay to do that, right?

SOX.

Chapter 182 I know the reason

Asakusa Toru was indeed stunned.

He truly hadn't expected that Shiranami Chihiro Shiraha's confession was a deceptive scheme disguised as a pretext.

On the surface, it's a confession, but in reality... it's a forced pairing.

He's urging me to Ichinose.

As soon as Shiranami Chihiro said those words, he realized that she didn't really mean to confess.

Given his style, what he would naturally do after realizing this is...

--She accepted the confession without hesitation.

Hmph, you think I'll date Ichinose just because you tell me to?

No way, I want to date you, the little mascot.

Little hair clip, little skirt, little white socks.