The Heroines Want to Confess

"Nakano-san, are you alright?"

Fujiwara Chika supported Nakano Nino, her tone full of concern.

She knew about the five Nakano sisters—Fujiwara had an information network almost as powerful as Hayasaka Ai's.

The only problem?

Nobody really trusted her with secrets.

Fujiwara Chika had the aura of a walking megaphone—but in reality, she could keep things confidential if you explicitly told her not to share them.

Nino, still rubbing her forehead, responded gently—

"I'm fine."

Then, turning toward Sakurai Saku, her voice dropped into a cold, accusing tone—

"Why didn't you move?"

She was already frustrated from her fight with her sisters, and seeing this "culprit" right in front of her only fueled her anger.

Sakurai—grinned.

—Wait, why does Sakurai-kun look happy?

Fujiwara tilted her head in confusion.

She prided herself on her ability to read the room—

(Though most people who knew her would strongly disagree.)

But right now?

Sakurai's smile felt... off.

The truth was—

He wasn't happy.

Or rather—

He was so pissed off, he had started laughing.

"Are you blind?" Sakurai's voice was sharp, mocking.

"This path is wide as hell, and yet, you are the only one who ran straight into me."

"Maybe you should go ask the disciplinary committee if running around the school like a maniac is actually allowed?"

"It's in the school rules, isn't it? 'No reckless running in pedestrian areas.'"

He tilted his head.

"Or is your memory bad? No—wait—maybe your brain is just broken?"

Even though he had just promised Shirogane yesterday that he'd try again with these sisters—

Just looking at Nino's face pissed him off.

"Out of all these people, only YOU managed to crash into someone."

Nino's jaw clenched—she couldn't find a comeback.

"Oh, so I'm the guilty one, huh?"

Sakurai let out a sarcastic chuckle.

"Maybe instead of blaming me, you should ask yourself why this happened."

"Fine, I got hit by you—so I guess I was blind and unlucky."

Sakurai suddenly yanked Fujiwara away from Nino's grasp.

Then, with an exaggerated, mocking tone—

"Hope that next time you get hit by a truck, you make sure to ask it: 'Hey, why did you hit me? All the other trucks didn't!'"

Nino trembled with fury.

"YOU—!!"

Whatever sadness she had felt earlier—was gone.

Now, she was just enraged.

"I was just—"

Sakurai cut her off instantly—

"What? Were you about to pull the 'I'm a girl' card?"

He gestured toward Fujiwara, who was still blinking in confusion.

"Fujiwara got hit too, and you don't see her complaining, do you?"

Fujiwara's eyes widened.

—Wait, does that mean Sakurai-kun is complimenting me?!

Before Nino could think of a new argument, she swung her fist at Sakurai—

But he caught it effortlessly.

"Oh? So when words fail, you resort to violence?"

Sakurai's tone remained cool.

"If only you put this much effort into studying, you wouldn't be floating at the bottom of the grade rankings."

CRACK.

Something snapped inside Nino.

She threw another wild punch—

But this time, it barely connected, weakly tapping against his chest.

"Studying! Studying! That's all you ever talk about! It's annoying!!"

Her shoulders trembled.

"If we could learn, don't you think we would?"

"The teachers' lectures don't make any sense!"

"I—"

Her voice choked—her fists clenched uselessly.

"…I really did try."

Tears started spilling down her cheeks.

For a moment—

Silence.

Sakurai watched her cry.

Then—

He turned away.

Zero sympathy.

Grabbing Fujiwara's hand, he simply said—

"Let's go."

"Tch. How pathetic."

"If you just want to sit here and 'cry about it,' then go ahead."

"I have no interest in playing along with your self-pity show."

Then, without looking back—he walked away.

Fujiwara, unsure of what exactly happened, could at least tell that Sakurai was in a terrible mood.

Even though Nino looked miserable, Fujiwara didn't stay to comfort her.

Sakurai was already upset enough, and she knew staying behind would just annoy him more.

"Ugh, what a pain."

Yesterday, I actually thought these girls might be worth helping.

I was too damn optimistic.

Sakurai glanced at the students gathering around, eager for gossip.

He ignored them.

Right now—

Eating lunch was more important.

His entire lunch break had already been wasted dealing with this nonsense.

Meanwhile—Among the Onlookers

As Sakurai and Fujiwara walked away, the gathered students dispersed.

A few boys, seeing Nino crying, hesitated—considering if they should offer comfort.

But before they could act—

Nino wiped her tears and stormed off toward the school building.

In just a few seconds, the scene reset itself—

As if nothing had happened at all.

Most people assumed it was just a minor argument, so interest quickly faded.

At the Cafeteria—A Few Minutes Later

Sakurai and Fujiwara sat at a table in the farthest corner.

For a while—

Neither of them spoke.

Fujiwara quietly ate her food, the usual cheerfulness absent from her face.

She had originally planned to ask Sakurai if he liked anyone,

…but now, she couldn't bring herself to do it.

Right now—

There was only one question on her mind.

What the hell happened between Sakurai-kun and Nakano Nino?!

Their hostility was on another level!

As a self-proclaimed "love detective," Fujiwara needed answers!

Her curiosity was killing her.

She fidgeted, stealing glances at Sakurai.

He sighed.

"If you have something to ask, just ask."

Fujiwara flinched.

—Ah. Busted.

She had been staring too obviously.

"Umm…"

She hesitated, then cautiously asked—

"Why does Nakano-san call you… uh… that?"

"'Scumbag'?" Sakurai guessed.

She nodded.

He sighed, giving a brief explanation.

"I was hired to be their tutor."

"But they seem to think I'm some kind of playboy."

Fujiwara's eyes lit up like fireworks.

Big news!

Then—

She paused.

Wait.

…Doesn't this kind of involve me?

If Sakurai-kun is going to their house regularly…

Wouldn't that lead to some "romantic comedy" situations?

…Like in those shoujo manga?!

Wait—what if he falls for one of them?!

Fujiwara suddenly felt uneasy.

In a panic, she blurted out—

"Sakurai-kun! You should come over to my house this weekend!!"

Sakurai—without hesitation—

"No."

…Damn. That was fast.

As he picked up his chopsticks, he noticed someone approaching.

A Nakano.

Judging by the hair accessories—

Nakano Itsuki.

Huh.

Was she here to pick a fight too?

Or…

Had Nino already texted her to complain?