The young lady's words were like a knife's edge, slicing through the air and transforming what was meant to bring them closer into a competition.
Phoenix Academy Maggie didn't need anyone to remind her; the moment the words left her mouth, she realized she'd misspoken.
In her heart, she felt a sense of helplessness.
Ever since she was young, she had been educated to always be competitive, never to let anyone look down upon her, making it difficult for her to adopt a demure, clingy demeanor.
Only on rare, specific occasions would she allow herself to show vulnerability. But those were occasions Phoenix Academy Maggie never wanted to display before others.
"Maggie, don't underestimate my courage," Aozawa said, though he'd already made up his mind.
He figured he would have to be the one to take a small loss, to take the initiative and move closer. When two people interact, one person always has to choose to show weakness to move the relationship forward.
