After deciding to give up, I became popular

But this is in public! Doing such intimate things will definitely cause misunderstandings!

I can't cause any more trouble for Kanade!

"Le-let go."

"No." Natsukawa Kanade shook his head, firm and decisive. "I absolutely won't let go."

He really didn't know what was happening, nor did he know what to do, which was why he had to stay with Shiina. At least, he had to ask her what was suddenly wrong. He couldn't let her leave with such a gloomy mood.

"Why are you suddenly so an… unhappy? There must be a reason. Is it because I did something?" He stared intently at Shiina, using his eyes to tell her he was serious.

In his view, if it wasn't related to him, Shiina would definitely be willing to share it with him. So, the reason for her unhappiness could only be because of him. But what exactly was it?

It couldn't be just because she heard him talking to other girls, right?

"Wa-wait until we get back. Let go of me, people will see us…" Looking around, she noticed that people were already paying attention to them, which made Shiina Mahiru even more flustered.

"That's not the reason, is it? Rather, what if they do see us?" Natsukawa Kanade himself was a little angry.

He really considered Shiina a good friend, but she always seemed ashamed to reveal their relationship.

"I understand you don't want people to know we live next door, but is it really not okay to just have normal conversations at school? This level of interaction won't cause misunderstandings at all!"

"…"

They've already misunderstood! Shiina Mahiru thought.

Their intimate interaction couldn't be called a 'normal conversation' at all!

Usually, she was always careful, thinking it was best not to reveal anything, but Kanade, that idiot, didn't seem to notice at all, so everything was completely exposed!

"I-I'll tell you later, just let go of me."

"No, tell me what's wrong first." Natsukawa Kanade's stubbornness also flared up. He had already gone this far, so he couldn't give up halfway.

Perhaps doing this would really make Shiina unhappy, but he would apologize for what happened later. Right now, he needed to focus on the present.

"…"

So, Shiina Mahiru took a deep breath, glared at him fiercely, and seeing that he was still unmoved, pretending not to see her, she turned her head away, disgruntled.

"You're so gentle to other girls, but you're so forceful with me. Go hang out with your friends, why are you bothering with me…"

Anyway, it was Kanade who asked her to say it, so even if he really got angry after she said it, she wouldn't care… she wouldn't care!

"Uh… it's just that…"

"Just?" Shiina looked at him.

"No, I mean… it's just… because they also take care of me…" Natsukawa Kanade quickly corrected himself.

Shiina really showed an angry expression now, but it was precisely because of this that he breathed a sigh of relief.

"Actually, the reason I was able to become the president was also because of the support from Shinomiya and the others. But whether it's them or Shiina, they are all my good friends, there's no higher or lower, I can guarantee that!"

He roughly understood.

—My best friend's best friend isn't me.

Shiina must have fallen into such a low mood, right? Because she was also someone who didn't have many friends. Before he met her, she seemed to have been living a mechanical and lonely life. Even after they became close, he hadn't seen her have any other friends.

Although saying it like this might sound a bit narcissistic… but Shiina must be afraid that he—her friend—would be taken away, right?

Just like a child, when they have a beloved toy, they want to show it off to other friends, but if they are asked to hand it over to play with, they will definitely be unwilling, and even worry that the toy will be snatched away.

"Don't worry, I will be Shiina's good friend forever, and I will never leave without permission!"

"…"

Who wants you to be friends forever, you idiot! The angel girl thought to herself.

117. Who asked you!

As Natsukawa Kanade expected, after he said "I will never leave you" to the angel girl, her expression visibly improved.

Although her attitude towards him was still not amiable, and even had a hint of dislike, it was precisely because she could express it directly that people could breathe a sigh of relief.

—Verbal rejection is never the problem, cold indifference is the most hurtful sharp knife.

"What are you still doing following me? Aren't you the student council president? Hurry up and do your own things."

The surrounding onlookers had already left, and the angel girl's heart was filled with the courage to throw a tantrum.

She put her hands on Natsukawa Kanade's back, wanting to push him away with force, but she was too weak, and couldn't move him even after trying for a long time.

"Ugh…"

Why are you so strong! I can't push you at all! Idiot!

Since brute force didn't work, she had to glare at him with a warning look, but unexpectedly, he was completely unmoved, and even brought his face closer.

He was very close, his breath tickled her face, and her heart too; his eyelashes blinked, which was very beautiful. Although he was a boy, his well-defined lips were also very sexy…

"Wh-what are you doing?" Shiina Mahiru pushed him away, nervously.

Her heart was beating very fast, and she even started to let her imagination run wild.

Could it be that Kanade was going to do th-that?

Even though she knew in her heart that these were all wild thoughts, and the atmosphere in reality shouldn't be like this, she couldn't help but think so.

I-it's all because he's too good-looking! Why did he have to be so good-looking! He must have used this face to bewitch countless girls outside!

Thinking like this, her heart finally filled with dissatisfaction towards him again, and her hands became stronger, able to resist him.

"I don't remember Kanade being such a frivolous person. Could it be that his serious appearance in the past was all a lie?"

In any case, she didn't want him to guess her inner thoughts, so she had to use these words to force him back, to hide herself.

"Uh, you misunderstood, it's just that there seems to be something dirty on your face." Natsukawa Kanade shook his head.

Such an action did seem a bit intimate, and it wasn't suitable to do it outside.

"And it's moving, I suspect it might be some kind of small bug."

After all, the place they were studying at was in the forest, so they might have encountered one.

"!" Shiina Mahiru was startled.

It would have been fine if he hadn't said it, but after he said it, she felt her face really become a little itchy, but she didn't dare to scratch it with her hands, and could only look at him with a pitiful expression, grabbing his sleeve for help.

"He-help me…"

The trembling voice seemed to carry a sob, making Natsukawa Kanade feel a little guilty and self-reproachful.

"Yes! I'll get it off for you right away."

So, he carefully leaned forward, and his right hand gently stroked her face…

So soft.

His first feeling was that it was very soft, glutinous, and had amazing elasticity when pressed lightly, making people want to hold it forever…

"Kanade?"

"Ah! Yes! I feel it! I'll catch it right away!"

"…"

His fingertips gently glided over, causing a ripple that made her cheeks slightly hot, and time seemed to pass very slowly. Kanade's hand was still acting up on her face…

Were there really so many bugs to catch?

She didn't understand, it wasn't honey syrup, how could it attract so many bugs.

"I-isn't it done yet…"

"S-soon…"

"…"

He had already said that, so what could she do? She could only… trust him.

After a long time, she finally felt the mischievous hand escape, and a sense of loss suddenly arose in her heart…

She must be going crazy! She actually felt that this experience was quite good!

"Th-thank you…"

"Y-you're welcome…"

"…"

"…"

"I-I'm leaving first!"

The throbbing in her heart was about to be covered up, so Shiina had to cover her face with her arm, not wanting him to see it.

At this moment, she was so grateful, grateful that there were only the two of them here, that their relationship wasn't exposed and they weren't disturbed, but she couldn't bear Kanade's intimate actions after all.

This was something that had never happened before!

"She left…" Natsukawa Kanade murmured, still feeling the warmness he lingered with reluctance in his palm.

Was he doing too much? He thought so, but after savoring it, he didn't think it was a bad thing.

…

After that day, he didn't see Shiina again. Even if they happened to meet, she would quickly run away, and he couldn't talk to her at all. The evening self-study time came quietly like this.

Pushing open the dormitory door arranged by the school, Natsukawa Kanade stretched out his hand, wanting to greet the people inside.

"Hello everyone, I'm Natsukawa… Kanade."

He originally thought that he might be able to meet some new friends, but he didn't expect that all the people in his dormitory were acquaintances.

"Oh, Natsukawa is also in this room, what a coincidence." — A greeting from his student council colleague, Shirogane Miyuki.

"Good evening, President." — A response from his classmate, Tanuma Tsubasa.

And, the thoughts of his close friend, Hikigaya Hachiman, who uttered the violent statement—"I want to die…".

"No matter what, you don't have to say such things when you see me, right?" Natsukawa Kanade teased Hikigaya Hachiman, who was muttering to himself.

If they were unfamiliar people, he would feel a little uncomfortable getting along with them, and he would always have to deliberately maintain the dignity of being the student council president, but since they were all familiar friends, it was no problem, and he could relax more.

"You know that's not what I meant, right?" Hikigaya glared at him and put down the paperback book in his hand.

If Natsukawa Kanade was there, he wouldn't be able to pretend to be aloof and unapproachable. This guy would definitely come over on his own and break his carefully prepared "perfect shield".

"So you guys know each other." Shirogane Miyuki nodded, relieved. Since Natsukawa Kanade knew them, he would leave it to him. He wasn't suitable for this kind of work anyway.

"Yeah, we were in the same club before." Natsukawa Kanade nodded and explained, "Hachiman is a very good person, I think you guys can become friends too."

"Hey, don't make decisions about my life without my permission!" Hikigaya Hachiman complained.

But even so, he still began to carefully look at the other two.

Just from their appearance, they don't seem like bad people (normies)… Well, since Natsukawa Kanade has said so, it means that these two are really the kind of people he can get along with… Anyway, whatever!

Even if something happens, he'll blame it on this guy! Who told him to start the topic without permission!

"…Hikigaya Hachiman, nice to meet you."

"Shirogane Miyuki, nice to meet you."

"Tanuma Tsubasa, I'm glad to meet you, Hikigaya-kun."

"Natsukawa Kanade, I'm glad…"

"Who asked you!"

Natsukawa Kanade: ╮(╯▽╰)╭