Chapter 117: No More Pretending, I'm Laying My Cards on the Table
Sato Maya sat not far from him, her cheek resting on one hand, her eyes sparkling as she looked at him. The smile on her lips simply wouldn't stay down; her entire being radiated a pink "I'm in love" glow.
"Maya is at it again..." Matsushita Chiaki whispered to Hasabe Haruka beside her.
"How many times now?" Hasabe Haruka inquired.
"From the moment she entered the classroom until now, she's looked at him twenty-seven times—and in less than five minutes."
The two looked at each other and laughed simultaneously. These two displayed an amazing power of observation in the most unexpected ways.
Especially regarding the "chance" encounter at the game center yesterday. In truth, the two of them had gone there intentionally just to watch the drama unfold. However, they hadn't expected to see Karuizawa Kei and Sakura Airi along the way. Honestly, it was hard not to see them.
They hadn't stuck around for the final segment of Sato Maya's confession, though. Since Sakura Airi and Karuizawa Kei were already involved, joining in would have slightly ruined the atmosphere—and it would have made them easier to discover.
In Matsushita Chiaki's eyes, Katsuragi Keima was a target worth watching. If Keima really could lead the class forward, then she might consider revealing a bit of her own true strength.
Meanwhile, Hasabe Haruka squinted slightly, observing Keima. She was someone with a somewhat eccentric personality, but when she met someone on the same wavelength, she became a completely different person. Personally, she felt she was quite on the same wavelength as Katsuragi Keima. Haruka believed they were the same kind of people. She held favorable feelings for Keima in her heart.
But Haruka wouldn't say it out loud. After all—
Her gaze moved to Sakura Airi. At this moment, Karuizawa Kei and Sakura Airi were sitting in their respective seats, pretending to read. But their eyes couldn't help but drift that way. They saw Sato Maya looking at Keima with a smile. That smile was the same as last night's. Heartfelt.
"She seems to be in a very good mood," Sakura Airi whispered.
"..." Karuizawa Kei nodded.
Then, they saw Sato Maya stand up and walk over to Katsuragi Keima.
"Keima-kun, good morning!"
Keima looked up. "Mm."
"Are you going to the game center again after school today?"
Keima was silent for a second. "Depends."
"Depends on what?"
"If there are any new games."
Sato Maya laughed. "Then I'll wait for you!"
She turned and went back to her seat. After sitting down, she rested her cheek on her hand again and resumed watching Keima. Kei and Airi watched this, and that complex swirl of emotions rose up again.
'She's really waiting for him. And he didn't refuse.'
What did this mean?
"...What he said about 'there's still hope' is true," Kei whispered.
Airi nodded. Yes, it was true. For Maya-san, it was true. But for them?
The two exchanged a look, then both looked away simultaneously. They continued pretending to read. But in their hearts, they were both thinking the same thing.
What should they do next? No one knew the answer. But they knew that this silent war had only just begun.
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During the break between classes.
Sato Maya walked over to Kei and Airi's seats and plopped down.
"Kei! Airi!"
The two looked up at the same time. "W-what is it?" Kei was a bit nervous.
Sato Maya rested her face in both hands, a dreamy smile on her face. "Tell me, what does it feel like to like someone?"
Kei and Airi looked at each other. What kind of question was this?
"I-it's..." Kei stammered, "Heart racing? Thinking about him? Being happy just to see him?"
"Yes, yes, yes!" Sato Maya nodded vigorously. "That's exactly how I am now! Every time I see Keima-kun, my heart races! Seeing him play games makes me think he's so cool! I want to write down every single word he says!" She covered her face, surrounded by pink bubbles. "Yesterday, when he said 'do as you wish,' I almost flew away from happiness!"
Kei and Airi fell silent. Do as you wish. He said "do as you wish." But...
"Maya," Kei asked cautiously, "what... exactly happened yesterday? What did he actually say?"
Sato Maya looked up, her eyes bright. "He said he has some things he must do and can't date right now."
The two felt a simultaneous sense of relief.
"But—"
Their hearts leaped into their throats again.
"But he said he was very happy to come out with me. He said he used to think reality was boring, but now it's a bit more interesting. He also said..." Maya covered her face again. "He also said thank you for liking him."
Kei and Airi looked at each other.
'Was that a rejection or not?'
"So, he didn't say yes to me," Sato Maya said. "But he didn't close the door either. He said he doesn't know when he'll finish those things or what will happen after. So he can't give me a promise."
She clenched her fists. "But he said 'do as I wish'! Do as I wish to wait for him! Doesn't that mean there's still hope?"
Kei and Airi were silent. Yes. There was still hope. For Maya, it was a good thing. But for them? It sounded like... a polite way to decline?
"Um," Airi asked softly, "aren't... aren't you sad? Being rejected..."
Sato Maya paused. Then she smiled.
"Of course I'm sad. When he said he couldn't date, I almost cried. But..." She looked up, her eyes seemingly shimmering with unshed tears, "but when he said those things, his expression was so serious. He wasn't brushing me off; he was truly answering me seriously. Do you know? The feeling of being taken seriously makes me happier than a casual 'yes' would."
She stood up. "So, I won't give up! I'm going to wait for him! Wait for him to finish those things, and then I'll confess again!"
She skipped away. Leaving Kei and Airi staring at each other.
"She... she's really amazing," Airi whispered.
"Mm..." Kei nodded. So brave. So direct. So... enviable.
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Lunch break. In the cafeteria.
A few girls sat around a table. Sato Maya was still excitedly talking about yesterday. "And when he said 'thank you for liking me,' you guys, his expression was so serious!"
Matsushita Chiaki inquired curiously, "So, you're waiting for him now?"
"Mm!"
"For how long?"
Sato Maya thought about it. "I don't know. But no matter how long, I'll wait!"
Matsushita looked at her, a smile on her lips. "Maya, are you serious?"
"Of course I'm serious!"
The girls all laughed. Kei and Airi laughed along. But the smiles were somewhat forced.
After eating, they walked out. Hasabe Haruka intentionally lagged behind and walked next to Karuizawa Kei.
"Kei."
"Hmm?"
"Are you okay?"
Kei was startled. "W-what?"
Haruka looked at her. "Stop pretending. I've seen that expression on your face."
Kei was silent. After a long while, she spoke softly. "Haruka, do you think... I'm a bad person?"
"Bad?"
"Maya is my friend. She's so happy, yet I'm..." She couldn't finish.
Haruka looked at her and laughed. "Kei, there's nothing wrong with liking someone. Maya likes him, you like him, Airi likes him—everyone likes him. This isn't anyone's fault." She paused. "Besides, you know how He is. He treats everyone the same right now. Maya has hope, you have hope, Airi has hope. Who knows how it'll end?"
Kei looked up. "What... what do you mean?"
"It means don't overthink it." Haruka patted her shoulder. "If you like him, like him. If you want to wait, wait. Anyway, that blockhead Kami-nii-sama won't have an epiphany anytime soon."
She walked ahead. Kei stood there for a long time. Then she smiled. "You're right." She followed after.
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After school in the afternoon.
The study group proceeded as usual. But today's atmosphere was exceptionally subtle. Sato Maya sat closest to Keima, glancing at him occasionally. Kei sat in her spot, pretending to solve problems while her eyes drifted over. Airi kept her head down, taking notes diligently—though a close look would reveal her notebook was blank.
Kushida Kikyo flipped through her reference book, occasionally looking up and then quickly withdrawing her gaze. Horikita Suzune felt the anomaly in the atmosphere but said nothing. She only glanced at Keima once before continuing to explain the problems.
Hasabe Haruka sat in the corner, observing the others. Matsushita Chiaki sat next to her with a smile. Time ticked by. The study group soon ended.
The group began packing. Sato Maya stood up and walked to Keima. "Keima-kun, are you going to the game center tomorrow?"
She had asked this several times today. Keima looked up. "I don't know."
"Then I'll ask you again tomorrow!"
"Do as you wish."
Sato Maya laughed and skipped away. Kei and Airi watched, and the complex emotions surged again.
'Do as you wish.'
Again, "do as you wish." He said it to Maya. He said it to others. What exactly did this "do as you wish" mean?
"Let's go," Kei said softly.
They packed up and left the library. In the hallway, Hasabe Haruka caught up. "Kei, Airi!"
The two stopped. "What is it?"
Haruka walked up to them, lowering her voice mysteriously. "Did you notice? The way God looked at Maya today was different from before."
The two were stunned. "D-different?" Airi asked nervously.
"Mm." Haruka nodded. "Before, he looked at everyone with that same deadpan face. But today, when he looked at Maya, it was like... something extra was there."
"Something extra?" Kei pressed.
"I can't quite put my finger on it." Haruka shrugged. "Maybe it's a hallucination. But you two should still be careful~"
She walked away, leaving Kei and Airi staring at each other.
'Something extra? What was it?'
They couldn't imagine it. But the feeling of unease was growing stronger.
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On the other side, Katsuragi Keima let out a long breath of relief.
"Affection didn't drop; instead, it increased." Keima muttered to himself as he looked at Sato Maya's card in his hand.
Choosing to tell Maya his true thoughts yesterday was a gamble. It could have easily rendered all his previous efforts moot. Today, Keima had actually been confirming Maya's state, which is why he gave her a bit more attention.
Fortunately, the result was good. It seemed her affection would reach 100% soon. Who should be the next target? Forget it, don't think about it. Playing games was the most important thing.
Keima quickly put Maya's card away and took out his handheld. At the same time, his words to her yesterday echoed in his mind.
He was supposed to absolutely loathe reality. And yet now, it seemed he was starting to like it, bit by bit.
Was it because of a certain person? Or rather... because of certain people?
"Kami-nii-sama, what are you doing?"
Elsie's voice pulled Keima's thoughts back to reality.
"Playing a game."
"But your character hasn't moved at all."
"Is that so?" Keima realized he had been spacing out for quite a while.
'How can I not be serious while playing a game!'
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Night. The girls' dormitory.
Karuizawa Kei lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling. The events of the past two days had turned her head into a mess. She rolled over. If... if Keima really has feelings for Maya, what should I do?
She didn't know. Her phone vibrated. She picked it up. It was a message from Sakura Airi.
[Sakura Airi: Karuizawa-san, are you asleep?]
[Karuizawa Kei: No.]
[Sakura Airi: I can't sleep...]
[Karuizawa Kei: Me neither.]
Kei stared at the screen. She knew exactly what Airi was worried about.
[Sakura Airi: Do you think Haruka-san was right about that "something extra"?]
[Karuizawa Kei: I don't know.]
[Sakura Airi: ...]
[Sakura Airi: Karuizawa-san, I'm scared.]
[Karuizawa Kei: Scared of what?]
[Sakura Airi: Scared that Keima-kun really falls for Maya-san. Then I... then I would...]
She didn't finish. But Kei understood.
[Karuizawa Kei: Don't overthink it. That blockhead won't have an epiphany so easily.]
[Sakura Airi: But...]
[Karuizawa Kei: No buts. Even if he does have an epiphany, we...]
She couldn't finish either. Even if he did, what could they do? However, there were some emotions Karuizawa Kei didn't want to hide anymore.
She opened another message window—
[Karuizawa Kei: Maya, are you free?]
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