CH 11

“I like you. Please go out with me.”

“I’m sorry, I can’t.”

“Hmm !?”

She rolled her eyes.

“Won’t you think over it a little more?”

“But–“

It’s not like I’m dating Yua, but I can’t become someone else’s lover because I’m accepting the ‘girlfriend thing’.

The reason for this is, of course, a secret.

“I don’t even know your name.”

“Ishimizu.”

Ishimizu san bluntly told me only her surname.

“So, what’s your answer?”

“No, I can’t.”

“Then what’s the point of that exchange ! 　Give me your name !”

“Oh, I’m Izuma. The ‘Izu’ is from–“

“I don’t care about such a thing”

— [Such a thing] …….

Even though the explanation for this somewhat unusual surname is a no fail-joke.

“What are you dissatisfied about?”

“I’m not though.”

Ishimizu san glanced up at me and said in a low, husky voice, 

“Normally you would say ‘OK’ to be able to date such a pretty girl.”

“Eh…”

Sure, she’s beautiful, but she’s got a lot of confidence.

“Do you have a girlfriend?”

“No.”

“Do you have someone you like?”

“……No.”

“What’s with that?”

“Anyway, there are a lot of good guys out there, and it shouldn’t be me !”

I turned on my heel and ran away.

“Ah, wait a minute…!”

I heard Ishimizu san’s voice, but I kept running without looking back.

◇ 

“So that’s what happened-“

The next morning, I told Makabe about Ishimizu san’s confession to me when I met him at the school entrance.

“Am I actually popular?”

“Do you know what a mirror is? You should use it because it’s very useful.”

“I’m using it ! !”

His sarcasm hurts.

“I’m aware that I have a plain face. But you know what they say, there are three times in a man’s life when he will be popular.”

“And if you believe that, then Santa Claus is real.”

“Don’t destroy the dreams of a gloomy person……!”

“If you’re so proud of yourself, why did you say no?”

“That’s because she’s…..kind of scary.”

Even if it’s not because of Yua, anyone would be at least wary if someone who didn’t know your face or name suddenly confessed to you. It could be pranks, badger games, or invitation.

“Scary, huh….. Is she a gyaru by any chance?”

“Yeah, she is.”

“Slender, long legs.”

“Y-yeah.”

“Fierce, beautiful, brown, bob hair.”

“How do you know her? Is she famous?”

“Well.”

Makabe pointed around my shoulder.

“She’s right behind you.”

I turned around as if I was being played, and saw Ishimizu san standing there close by.

“Whoaaa !?”

Is this a horror story?

Ishimizu san said disappointedly.

“I’m still not convinced. Why was I turned down?”

“Why, because….. hey?”

When I turned around, Makabe had already disappeared.

–That bastard…. !

It seems like he doesn’t get involved in any kind of trouble.

I sighed loudly.

“Okay. I get it.”

“Then.”

“Once again, I refuse.”

“You refuse after all…. !”

“I’m not interested in going out with anyone right now. It’s the same if an idol or actress confesses to me.”

I raised my hand turned my back on Ishimizu san as I had done yesterday and started to run away.

“Wait a minute.”

She quickly walked alongside me.

“I knew there was someone you liked.”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“If you’re not seeing anyone, why don’t you just go with me?”

“That’s not what this is about.”

“I’ll be the second place then.”

“Second place?”

“You have a true love, right? That’s fine. You can play with me in the meantime–“

I stopped. Then I stared at Ishimizu san’s face.

“What is it?”

“What’s with that kind of thing?”

“Why are you suddenly angry?”

“I’m not. But am I too fastidious? Is it normal to have a relationship for fun or something?”

“……That’s normal.”

“I see……. Then, I have a clear reason to reject you. –I don’t have any intention to date people just for fun.”

“……What’s that?”

“I’m not denying your freewheeling mindset. That culture exists, too. But I can’t do it.”

“……”

“Look, I’m such a pain in the ass. You’ve lost interest, haven’t you?”

I went up the stairs. Ishimizu san didn’t follow me any further.