I couldn't help but feel excited — and nervous. Yesterday, I actually asked Senpai to meet me on the school rooftop.
Now, here I am, standing still, clutching a slightly wrinkled letter in my hand. A love letter. Obvious, isn't it?
I've liked Tachibana Rei for a long time. Ever since middle school. She's always been popular — beautiful, smart, stylish. Everything about her seemed untouchable.
I remember it so clearly. That day back then, she looked at me… her lips curled into this soft, almost teasing smile. I thought she liked me. But she never said anything — just walked away. We hadn't spoken since. Still, I couldn't stop fantasizing about her. I kept believing: one day, I'll confess.
"I wonder if she even remembers me…"
While lost in thought, I heard footsteps approaching. My heart tightened.
And then — she appeared.
"I'm sorry. I thought you were someone else," Tachibana said before I could open my mouth. Her hair fluttered with the rooftop breeze, the sunset casting her in a warm glow. Her words, however, were ice cold.
"You're not my type, Ikaru-kun."
Her voice was calm. Her face, indifferent — like she'd been through this too many times. I was just another name on a list of disappointments.
"Oh, and about that time you thought I looked at you — I wasn't. I was looking at the guy behind you. Isn't he hot? What's his name again?"
She smiled, waiting for my answer. But I had none.
So… she wasn't looking at me at all back then…
I felt my heart crack. The letter in my hand crumpled under the pressure.
Still, I looked her in the eye and spoke, trying not to break.
"Senpai, I've liked you for a long time. I wanted to know you more. But… being rejected this way just made me realize I was never special to you."
Tachibana paused. Maybe she realized how cold she had been.
"I'm sorry, Ikaru. There's already someone I like."
She turned and walked away. Her perfume lingered in the air long after she vanished.
I stood there. Alone. My chest felt hollow.
"So it was a failure, huh…"
There's no such thing as true love in this world.I fucking hate it.
The wind howled louder once she left.
Or maybe it was just my imagination — this rooftop was silent, but my mind was a storm.
I dropped the crumpled letter to the ground. It fluttered once, then settled quietly next to my feet, like even it had given up.
"I hate this… I hate this so much…"
I crouched down, staring at the floor tiles as if they could offer me comfort. My chest felt like it had a hole in it. Empty. Pointless.
And then—
[SYSTEM BOOTING...]
My head snapped up.
What… was that?
I looked around. There was no one here. Just me. And yet—
[Welcome, Ikaru Shinji.][You have officially failed your first Confession Quest.][As compensation, the "Rejection System" has been installed.]
"What the hell…?"
I stood up slowly, eyes scanning the rooftop like someone was pulling a prank.
[CONFESSION FAILED - STATUS: REJECTED][+50 Rejection Points Earned][New Skill Unlocked: Emotional Fortitude Lv.1][Would you like to enable Tutorial Mode?]
A glowing screen — like a game HUD — appeared before me in the air. Transparent. Floating. My mouth went dry.
Is this… a dream? Or have I finally lost it?
I reached out to touch the screen — and to my horror, my finger actually passed through it, sending ripples like water across the interface.
"This isn't real… this isn't real…"
[Denial Detected. Emotion Level: 83% Despair][System synchronization at 100%][User compatibility: Exceptional.]
[Congratulations. You are now bound to the Rejection System™.][Your path to love shall now be… gamified.]
A new icon appeared — a heart with a crack through it. It pulsed once.
Then, I heard a voice. Clear. Robotic. Slightly… sarcastic?
"Greetings, Ikaru Shinji. You've officially hit rock bottom. Don't worry — things can only get worse from here."
"Let the Game of Rejection begin."
And just like that — my reality broke.