You Absolutely Mustn't Say Yes!

On the upper floor of the school building, at the open-air corridor connecting the two classroom buildings.

The afternoon sunlight filtered through the glass canopy, illuminating the area in a bright, warm glow.

A gentle breeze carried the faint fragrance of cherry blossoms, making this one of the students' favorite places to gather between classes.

Students stood in small groups, some leaning against the railings as they chatted and laughed, others chasing each other around, the place brimming with youthful energy.

After lunch, Saionji Nanase and Yukimura Suzune, who had arranged to go to the restroom together, were strolling through the area, intending to familiarize themselves with the campus along the way.

Yet at that moment, they noticed that nearly everyone was looking toward a certain spot in the school's back courtyard. Their hushed whispers carried an unmistakable sense of anticipation and curiosity.

Saionji Nanase's lively eyes were immediately piqued with interest. She lightly tapped a girl who was peering into the distance. "What are you looking at?"

After hearing the explanation, she blinked in surprise. "Huh? That century-old cherry tree at school has a legend like that? If a confession succeeds beneath it, the couple will grow old together? That's so romantic!"

She turned to Yukimura Suzune beside her, her voice full of anticipation. "And who exactly is that outstanding senior going to confess to? I'm really curious! Suzune, can we watch for a little while?"

Yukimura Suzune gave her a faint glance. "What aren't you curious about?"

Saionji Nanase smiled sweetly and linked arms with her. "Don't you need material for your novel, Suzune? A scene like this would make great material. Just for a little while, okay?"

After pondering for a moment, Yukimura Suzune nodded lightly. "Just for a little while."

Just then, a commotion arose from the corridor on the other side.

Kondo Miki, whose brows carried an innate air of pride, was being dragged toward them by the wrist by her best friend, Akita Sana.

"Sana, where exactly are you taking me?" Kondo Miki frowned slightly, her tone clearly impatient.

"Of course I'm taking you to watch something entertaining!" Akita Sana, her playful twin ponytails swaying, covered her mouth with a mysterious giggle and eagerly pointed toward the conspicuous century-old cherry tree in the back courtyard. "Look! I heard a really famous senior is going to confess to a boy there!"

"What does someone else confessing have to do with us?" Kondo Miki simply could not understand her friend's enthusiasm for gossip like this.

Akita Sana raised one finger and explained with a mysterious smile.

"It's Tsukishima Rin, the senior you've admired for so long. Aren't you curious what kind of boy someone as outstanding as her would like?"

Kondo Miki froze slightly. "It's Senior Tsukishima Rin?"

"Yep." Akita Sana chuckled smugly.

Kondo Miki stood there stunned, her pupils trembling faintly.

Tsukishima Rin... It was actually that Senior Tsukishima Rin whom she had quietly admired all this time?

The floodgates of memory burst open, dragging her back to an afternoon many years ago.

In the golden concert hall, the spotlight poured over the girl like moonlight.

Though Tsukishima Rin had been young then, the way she held her bow already possessed the poise and composure of a master.

The moment the first note flowed from her strings, the noisy concert hall seemed to fall under a spell, instantly becoming silent.

Her vibrato was as precise as machinery, yet full of the warmth of flesh and blood. Her bowing was crisp and decisive, every spiccato stroke like a work of meticulously calculated art.

What she played was no longer merely the symbols written on the score, but a tangible, surging torrent of emotion.

At times, the music wept and murmured, tugging at every beat of the listeners' hearts. At other times, it became a raging storm, sweeping through the hall with irresistible force and making people nearly forget to breathe.

Kondo Miki still remembered clutching tightly at the hem of her clothes, unwilling to even blink.

Only when the final note slowly faded into the air like a sigh did its lingering resonance finally continue to reverberate in her chest.

Then, as though everyone had suddenly awakened, thunderous applause erupted and went on without end.

It was at that very moment that a seed had been planted deep in her heart—she wanted to become someone like that too, someone who could command others' emotions through music and shine brilliantly onstage.

She had never expected Tsukishima Rin to attend this school as well, so she had joined the orchestra without hesitation.

Tsukishima Rin was now the orchestra's principal violinist. Her technique was superb, and she was highly regarded by both teachers and students.

Not to mention that this senior came from a musical family, possessed an elegant temperament, was immensely popular, and consistently ranked among the top students academically.

In Kondo Miki's eyes, this senior was practically flawless—a person she admired deeply!

Thinking of this, she could not help growing somewhat curious about the person this senior had fallen for.

Seeing that her friend was no longer objecting and was instead staring intently in that direction, Akita Sana knew she had finally caught her interest.

Just then, the watching students suddenly stirred, everyone's eyes focusing on the boy slowly walking toward the cherry tree.

"Who is that boy? What class is he in? I need all his information right now!"

"Oh my god, he's exactly my type!"

"Tch, he's only a tiny bit more handsome than me."

"Hahaha, that joke actually made me laugh."

The students had originally all been guessing which campus celebrity Tsukishima Rin would confess to—after all, those boys were not only famous, but also exceptionally good-looking and from prominent families, making them the objects of many girls' affection.

Yet Tsukishima Rin had chosen none of them. Instead, she had chosen a freshman whom most people did not know very well.

But the instant they saw Natsume Chikage, they immediately understood Tsukishima Rin's choice.

Natsume Chikage's looks and temperament were simply beyond the reach of ordinary students.

Before he appeared, the handsome boys on campus had all been more or less evenly matched in looks, often sparking arguments among the girls.

But his appearance made these girls feel that all their previous arguments had instantly become meaningless.

No wonder Tsukishima Rin had confessed to Natsume Chikage on just the second day of the new term.

If they had discovered this first-year newcomer earlier, they probably would not have been able to resist confessing before anyone else!

But they all knew just how outstanding Tsukishima Rin was.

Aside from the exceptional student council president, Mido Orihime, there was practically no girl among the second- and third-years who could compare to Tsukishima Rin.

Therefore, whether students or teachers, everyone now believed that after Tsukishima Rin confessed to him, Natsume Chikage would definitely say yes!

After all, Tsukishima Rin's family background, looks, and grades were all top-tier. She was the unattainable dream girl in countless boys' hearts.

Thinking of this, quite a few boys in the corridor began to feel both jealous and envious of Natsume Chikage.

If they could trade places with Natsume Chikage, they would agree without the slightest hesitation.

Akita Sana suddenly widened her eyes and excitedly slapped her best friend's arm.

"Miki! Isn't that the boy you know? He's actually at our school too?"

"Could he be the one that upperclassman is planning to confess to?"

"That can't be right! Didn't he enroll yesterday just like us?"

"He got noticed by an upperclassman on only the second day?"

"That Tsukishima-senpai is way too underhanded! She passed over the second- and third-years and actually stole one of our first-year boys?!"

Kondo Miki stood frozen in place, unconsciously biting her lower lip as she muttered to herself.

"He must... just be passing by, right? How could an upperclassman possibly like him..."

At the same time, Saionji Nanase recognized Natsume Chikage as well and froze where she stood.

"Eh... the boy that upperclassman wants to confess to is actually Natsume-kun?"

Yukimura Suzune said nothing. She merely frowned slightly, her cool gaze silently fixed on the scene below.

At that moment, there was another anxious figure inside the school building.

After hearing the news, Fujiwara Aoi hurried over to the corridor as well, nervously watching what was happening below.

Although she had long known that Natsume Chikage would not easily accept someone else's confession, she truly panicked when she learned that the one confessing was the renowned Tsukishima Rin.

She was afraid that Natsume Chikage would be swayed by Tsukishima Rin's outstanding appearance and exceptional qualities, and agree on the spot.

That could happen, couldn't it?!

Waaah~ Natsume-kun, you absolutely can't say yes!

What am I supposed to do if you do?

Fujiwara Aoi looked at Natsume Chikage and Tsukishima Rin beneath the cherry blossom tree, anxious and aggrieved.

She had finally met someone she liked and had planned to take the initiative to confess, only to learn that he did not want to date for the time being.

She had originally thought it would be fine to wait a while, but she never expected that, in the blink of an eye, an incredibly outstanding upperclassman would swoop in and steal him away.

How could there be such unfairness in the world?

Was heaven deliberately making things difficult for her?