He Wasn't Worthy!

Some rejoiced while others grieved.

Nakajima Satoshi and Yasui Ryoto, who had long pursued Tsukishima Rin, learned that Tsukishima Rin had been decisively rejected. The suffocating feeling that had hung over them, as though they had been NTR'd, instantly vanished.

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They both took a deep breath, as though a crushing weight had been lifted from their shoulders.

In its place came the relief of surviving a disaster, along with uncontrollable excitement!

Nakajima Satoshi's lips curled upward against his will, forming an almost twisted smile.

Yasui Ryoto clenched his fists tightly, his knuckles turning slightly white with excitement.

Tsukishima Rin had been rejected.

That meant she was in the most emotionally vulnerable period after a breakup.

They both thought the same thing: if they took this chance to offer her warm comfort, wouldn't they be able to wildly raise her affection for them?

They even began silently thanking Natsume Chikage.

If not for his rejection, how could they have gained such a perfect opportunity?

However, when their gazes fell upon Natsume Chikage in the distance and they remembered that he had made their beloved white moonlight cry, a flicker of anger rose uncontrollably within them.

In the corridor connecting the school buildings.

None of the students had expected Tsukishima Rin to actually be rejected?!

"Who the hell is that guy? He rejected her? That's Tsukishima Rin!"

"He's insane! Having Tsukishima Rin confess to you is like smoke rising from your ancestors' graves!"

"He even rejected senior Tsukishima Rin? He's so cool! Hey, if I win him over, wouldn't that make me more charming than senior Tsukishima Rin?"

"Hopeless lovestruck idiot—I advise you not to get any ideas about my future boyfriend!"

"I think you're the hopeless one!!"

When Fujiwara Aoi realized that Natsume Chikage had not lied and had really rejected senior Tsukishima Rin.

She immediately jumped up in excitement!

That was senior Tsukishima Rin! He had rejected such an outstanding girl, which meant he really did not want to date anyone for the time being!

And now that so many people knew Natsume Chikage had no plans to date, they surely would not try to win him over, right?

Hehe, then it would be her turn to make a move!

After all, she worked in the same place as Natsume Chikage, attended the same school, and even lived so close to him. They would see each other all the time—wouldn't feelings naturally grow over time?

Thinking of this, she felt that the advantage was hers. Happily skipping along, she left the area.

Saionji Nanase continued staring at Natsume Chikage, curiosity filling her lively eyes. "Suzune, what do you think Natsume-kun said to reject that senior?"

"Not interested. Why don't you ask him yourself?" Seeing that the confession was over, Yukimura Suzune's cool expression remained unchanged as she prepared to leave without looking back.

"Why are you walking so fast? Wait for me." Saionji Nanase jogged after her.

Akita Sana, with her twin tails, muttered excitedly, "Still, that Natsume-kun really has guts. He even rejected senior Tsukishima!"

"I'm getting more and more interested in this guy."

"By the way, are you really not going to introduce him to me?"

"Heeey, Miki, I'm talking to you!"

But Kondo Miki seemed not to have heard her, her face filled with disbelief.

She simply could not imagine that the senior Tsukishima she had always admired really liked Natsume Chikage.

But someone as outstanding as senior Tsukishima was completely out of Natsume Chikage's league!

Why would she confess to someone like Natsume Chikage... It was truly incomprehensible!!!

Given how Natsume Chikage used to skip class all the time and stay home playing video games, he should never have had a chance to meet such an outstanding girl as senior Tsukishima Rin.

Yet senior Tsukishima Rin had actually taken the initiative to confess to him on the second day of school?

Could it be... that she had fallen in love with Natsume Chikage at first sight when she saw him on the first day?

That had to be it...

Thinking this, Kondo Miki furrowed her brow tightly, feeling that senior Tsukishima's actions had been far too rash and shallow!

No matter how she looked at it, senior Tsukishima had merely been bewitched by Natsume Chikage's appearance!!

She knew very well that Natsume Chikage was nothing but an empty shell.

The current him had neither talent nor background. He did not even possess the most basic academic ability expected of a student, always ranking at the bottom of his class!

If his family had not paid exorbitant tuition fees for him to attend this school before going bankrupt, he likely would not even have been qualified to enter it.

What was so good about someone who had only looks and no future?

Unfortunately, Senior Tsukishima confessed to him without knowing any of that. If she had known, she definitely would have lost interest in him.

Still, it was probably for the best that she had been rejected. That way, Kondo Miki did not have to waste her breath telling Senior Tsukishima about Natsume Chikage's circumstances.

It was just a pity that Senior Tsukishima had been rejected by Natsume Chikage in front of so many people. Her reputation at school would probably suffer from now on.

But one thing puzzled Kondo Miki: why exactly had Natsume Chikage rejected Senior Tsukishima?

Given his current situation, having such an outstanding girl like him ought to have been something worth celebrating.

Could it be because he felt inferior...?

That made sense.

Not only had Natsume Chikage's family gone bankrupt, but they most likely also owed an enormous debt.

Even with his part-time job at the café, he could earn only a few tens of thousands of yen a month at most.

Under those circumstances, it was understandable that he would feel too inferior to date someone as outstanding as Senior Tsukishima.

At least having that kind of self-awareness could count as one of his few small virtues.

"Hey, why are you ignoring me?" Akita Sana, with her twin tails, reached out and nudged Kondo Miki. "Miki, hurry up and give me Natsume Chikage's contact info, okay?"

"Give up. He really isn't worth pursuing." Kondo Miki repeatedly shook her head.

"How would I know if I don't try?" Akita Sana wheedled. "Just give it to me~"

"Seriously, you..." Kondo Miki was speechless. But she did not want her best friend to fall into that pit, so she told Akita Sana everything about Natsume Chikage's situation.

After learning about Natsume Chikage's circumstances, Akita Sana's mouth twitched nonstop.

"Bad grades, no talent... If he only owed a little money, I could accept that, since he really is totally my type looks-wise."

"But not only does his family have enormous debts, he also has a deadweight little sister. No matter how you look at it, dating him would be a disaster. Even I honestly can't handle that..."

Kondo Miki shook her head repeatedly. Just as she had expected, the moment her best friend learned of those conditions, she immediately backed down.

"I'm sleepy. Let's go back to the classroom and rest."

"Mhm."

Akita Sana did not say anything else this time. She obediently followed Kondo Miki as they left.