The next day after school, since there was no study session scheduled, Hashima planned to visit the library to meet Shiina Hiyori. However, just as he picked up his bag to leave, Ichinose Honami suddenly called out to him.
"Hashima-kun, can you help me with something later?" The pink-haired girl's cheeks were faintly flushed, as if she were somewhat embarrassed.
"What is it?"
Hashima glanced at Ichinose's expression, unsure why she had brought this up so abruptly.
"Let's talk outside. There are too many people in the classroom." Seeing that he didn't object, Ichinose quickly grabbed her bag and ushered Hashima out.
Once they reached a quiet corner, the girl slowly pulled out a pink envelope adorned with a heart-shaped sticker from her bag.
"Actually... I found this in my shoe locker this morning. Someone wants to meet me this afternoon."
After producing the letter, Ichinose fixed her gaze on Hashima's face, hoping to gauge his reaction.
"A love letter?"
After a quick glance, Hashima grasped its meaning. In the tender years of adolescence, such things weren't uncommon.
"Yes. I don't know how to handle it. I don't want to hurt their feelings, so I wanted to ask Hashima-kun for advice."
Not seeing the concern she had hoped for, Ichinose felt a pang of disappointment but pressed on. "What should I do?"
"If Ichinose-san doesn't reciprocate, just be clear and reject them outright."
Hashima had always held a firm stance on such matters—he didn't believe in confessing impulsively.
Romance doesn't fall from the sky. Unless the other person already likes you, mutual feelings are necessary for a relationship to blossom after one party takes the initiative.
But if someone sends a love letter just hoping for luck, they might as well buy a lottery ticket.
After offering his advice, Hashima suddenly realized something, his expression turning odd.
Wait.
"Her"?
Did Ichinose just say she didn't want to hurt "her" feelings?
Japanese distinguishes between "he" and "she" in pronunciation. So... a girl confessed to her?
"An outright rejection?" Ichinose mulled over the words. She had already made up her mind—having been confessed to by other girls before, she knew the best approach.
But this letter had given her an idea: to test Hashima's reaction upon learning she had received a confession.
Unfortunately, she was disappointed.
Aside from a brief flicker of surprise, the boy's demeanor remained calm, as if the matter didn't concern him at all.
"Yes. If you don't like them, I think it's best to make it clear. That's the only way to convey your true feelings, right?"
"Since they went to the trouble of sending this, they must have prepared themselves for rejection. Ichinose-san should respond seriously, even if it's a refusal."
"..."
After hearing his answer, Ichinose seemed to reflect for a moment before nodding. "Mm, I understand. I'll talk to her properly."
"Was there anything else, Ichinose-san?" Hashima checked the time. Shiina should already be at the library by now.
"No, thank you for your guidance. I'll remember everything you said today." Ichinose met his eyes, her tone carrying a firmness she had never revealed to anyone before.
"Mm, then I'll take my leave. See you later, Ichinose-san."
After Hashima walked away, the pink-haired girl murmured to herself,
"Have... I prepared myself enough?"
---
Arriving alone at the designated meeting spot, Ichinose waited a few minutes before spotting a familiar figure.
With her cute short hair and flower hairpin, Shiranami Chihiro's face was already flushed with shyness.
"Ichinose-san!"
"Chihiro-chan, you came." Ichinose smiled warmly at her approaching friend.
"Um... after reading my letter," Shiranami studied her expression nervously, "what does Ichinose-san think?"
"About that..."
The pink-haired girl paused, took a deep breath, and responded solemnly, "I'm sorry, Chihiro-chan. I can't return your feelings. Please give up on liking me."
"..."
Hearing this, the short-haired girl's face twisted into a pained smile, as if she had expected this outcome. "I see... Hah, of course it'd be like this."
"Even if I can't reciprocate in that way, we're still friends, Chihiro-chan. We'll still spend a long time together at school." Noticing her distress, Ichinose quickly softened her tone.
"Ichinose-san... you like Hashima-kun, don't you?"
Suddenly, Shiranami stared straight into Ichinose's eyes.
"Eh?"
Caught off guard by the blunt question, Ichinose's face immediately turned scarlet. Flustered, she hurriedly explained, "W-why would you say that? This is... actually..."
As she scrambled for a response, Shiranami spoke again.
"There's no one else here. Can't Ichinose-san tell me how you really feel?"
Though her heart ached, Shiranami pressed on. "I want to know what Ichinose-san truly thinks of Hashima-kun. If you want me to give up, can you at least answer this?"
"..."
After a moment of silence, the blush on Ichinose's face gradually faded. She glanced around, confirming they were truly alone, and placed a hand over her chest.
The emotions inside her weren't false—instead, they had only grown richer with time.
His expressions, the gentle distance he maintained while accompanying her, every word he had spoken, every moment they had shared, and the reluctance she felt to pull away when in his dormitory...
Countless scenes flashed through her mind, steeling her resolve.
Then, she lifted her gaze to meet Shiranami's and spoke slowly.
"Yes, I like Hashima-kun. Not as a classmate, but as a girl likes a boy."
"As someone who wants to be his girlfriend. As someone who wants to stay with him forever."
"That's how I feel about Hashima-kun. Do you understand now, Chihiro-chan?"