Volume 2 - CH 3.2

Mikage Saeka Beyond Reach

Translated by 64990022

Chapter 3: Mikage Saeka Beyond Reach

Part 2

The next day, the school was festive.

“Hey, you’ve heard? Mikage-san!”

“Just now! That one—”

“Ahh. It’s over… my youth ends here—”

Hallways, classrooms, stair landings, everywhere.

The morning was quiet, but by lunchtime, everyone knew. Second year class eight was no exception, the commotion continued.

“What a mess…” complained Hiura.

The traffic in the hallway was heavier than usual today, so we refrain from trespassing on the rooftop. As a result, we had lunch in the classroom. 

“Mikage-chan… what a shame.” Reiji, without looking very disappointed, joked.

At least when compared to Minato’s, this atmosphere was way better this time. And since it wasn’t something to be shy about, everyone voiced out their thoughts. Although isn’t this spreading too fast?

“So, where did it start?”

“Mikage-chan herself. I just checked earlier.”

“Digging people’s info is still your job, huh?”

“Nope, pretty much everyone knows that.”

Hm… I guess everyone does.

“I heard the guy she’s dating is her childhood friend and does modeling! A perfect match for her, don’t you think?”

“Ahh, finally… there goes my chance…”

“You don’t have one from the start. They’ve liked each other for quite a long time.”

The information circulating was quite detailed. And accurate to boot. Saying she didn’t want to hide things, rather, wasn’t this too open?

“Yuzuki-chan, The Angel, now Mikage. We’re not short of rumors, eh, Akashi?” teased Reiwa.

“Urgh, enough with the same talk every minute? I’m going mad.”

“You’re always mad, Hiura”

“Then I’ll go on a rampage.”

“Please don’t, we don’t need any more topics.”

Nope, we don’t need any mess like, “Plus Four Hiura finally destroys the school building!”

“Still , Mikage-san had been silent the whole time. Don’t you think she’d have reported some progress before dropping the bombshell? I wonder what happened.” He looked meaningfully at me.

Somehow, his white teeth grin flet obnoxious.

“What are you getting at?”

“Hmm? Nothing,” He said frivolously, “You might know something, that’s what I’m saying.”

“Why should I know?”

“There’s no ‘Why should I know with you’, never.”

“Reiji.”

“Whoopsie. There, there, cool down, buddy. He’s moving away, right, so she quickly confessed.”

“So you were leading me around.”

“About what, I wonder.”

Tch, this guy…

Well, now that it came to this, Shida must have heard…

◆　◆　◆

–“I’ve heard”

When I sent a message to him that night, he called back right after. I shifted my gaze longingly to the tumbler containing melon soda.

–“it’s like you said… she was also trying to realize her own romance too…”

“Yeah…”

–“It’s over… my dream, huh…” listlessly, he sighed. “Congratulations on her part. I’m not happy, though. I hope she is happy…”

He’s getting a little incoherent…

But still, he still had to confess, I needed to make him. He might not realize it now, but there was on;y one choice that wouldn’t leave him with regret.

The answer would be a guaranteed denial, but I had to push his back. This feeling had to end, one way or another.

“Shida…”

–”Angel–”

“Eh?” We spoke at the same time. No, considering the connection lag, Shida spoke first.

–“You first. I need to make up my mind.”

“Nope, Shida, saying that you have to make up your mind made me nervous. Spill it now.”

–“I’m not sure if I should tell you, but…” he stammered. “But I had given up on Mikage-san since the start.”

That was disturbing. I had a hundred questions, but the best thing to do was probably hear what he had to say first.

–“before you called me… and even after we’ve started the consultation, I’ve no illusion that it would be a yes, Angel or not… I wasn’t expecting anything”

“So?” I urged.

I’m not even going to confess anymore. That was the only word I feared.

But all I could do was listen to him.

–“You’ve been trying to make my confession a success. For that, I’m incredibly grateful. But I didn’t want to win over Mikage-san or anything like that.”

“Shida?” I asked tentatively.

–“Still, I…!” his voice gained momentum. What would make him like that, I had no idea. “I still want to confess to Mikage-san!”

“Huh?”

Shida…

–“That’s lame, I know. I only want to get my feelings across and end it. That’s all.”

No, you’re not lame…

–“I know it’s crazy. Confessing is to ask someone out, or at least get their attention. It’s supposed to be an important thing and yet I…”

Yes, that’s it. That’s the spirit.

–“I want to have a proper ending…! For my own sake, I’ll tell her I like her. I’ll do it! I !”

“Huh…” I sighed incredulously.

That “I” in the end was grammatically incorrect, wasn’t it? Your lexicon’s dropping, Shida.

–“I don’t just like her romantically! I admire her as a person too! I’ll tell herr!! I’ve always admire you! Aahhhh—”

“Shida”

–“Y-yeah?”

“I’ll say my piece.”

“G-go ahead?”

You’re an idiot, Shida, but properly idiotic.

“Tell her! You’ll have your show! I’ll be watching!” Carried by the atmosphere, gone was my cool.

We might as well be idiots together.

–“Yuck, what’s that…?”

Forgetting my demeanor, we laughed and teased at each other’s lines. After a few solid minutes, our laughter came to an end.

–“You must have known, right? That I don’t have a chance.”

That was not an easy question to answer.

“It’s not about impossible or not, is it?”

–“Haha, I guess not.” He laughed amusedly. “The fact that she has someone she likes is as clear as day, and you still call out to me. Success isn’t in your intention from the beginning.”

“T-that’s not how I think…”

–“ No, no, I get it. You aren’t here to save me, but to make me take the plunge. Thanks for doing that. I finally know what I want.”

Hmm… he saw right through my intentions. You’re sharper than you let on, Shida. Or it was simply obvious when what I was doing was sending him to make an impossible confession.

–“So, how do I do?”

“Do what?”

–“The confession.”

Learn more

Pause

Unmute

I can’t decide if this guy’s smart or dumb.

“…Do whatever you like. Call her out, tell her your feelings.

–“That sounds… ordinary.”

“Like I said, whatever you like. Mind you, she has a boyfriend, so keep it within bounds.”

–“Agh! Why do you have to remind me that…”

“Don’t tell me you’ve already forgotten it…”

Maybe this idiot would just turn out fine. Probably.