33 Chapter 33- Confession

"Why are you here?" Ryouya couldn't help asking upon seeing the familiar redhead standing at his doorstep with her breathing unsteady and face slightly red.

Well, considering her current outfit, which consisted of training shorts and a sports jacket, Ryouya guessed she had run all the way to here.

"I thought why not study here...I mean, is it okay, with you?"

The plan was to study for the mid-terms at her place in half an hour...for her to come here...

'Something is wrong... '

However, before Ryouya could ask anything from her, someone called from behind.

"Ara, Chiaki-chan? Why are you standing there? Come inside." It was given that being Ryouya's only friend Aiko was familiar with her.

Chiaki took her chance and walked in with a friendly smile, "Hello, Aiko-san. How are you these days? Sorry, I wasn't able to drop by recently."

Ryouya raised his brows. While this wasn't the first time he had seen this side of hers, he still got surprised seeing this unusually radiant self of Chiaki.

"Fufu, I see that you are growing your hair. It looks really pretty." Chiaki was taken aback by the sudden praise which made Ryouya squint his eyes.

Now that he notices, she indeed has grown her hair down to her shoulder unlike before.

"Ahaha...thank you for noticing." While scratching the back of her head Chiaki thanked in embarrassment.

Ryouya sighed at that before he invited the girl to his room. There was no point in debating about her sudden arrival.

***

"Hmm...it looks the same as always." In his room, Chiaki was back to her normal self as she assessed the room with her head going up and down in succession.

Thankfully, Ryouya had pasted a poster at the spot where he punched a hole in the wall. His room wasn't fancy, to begin with, so the poster of a baseball player looked a little odd.

Ryouya had no hobbies whatsoever, unlike those of his age. He does like reading romance and psychological novels but only when he visits the library or gets extremely bored.

"What were you expect-Oi! What are you doing?!" Ryouya raised his voice when suddenly Chiaki crouched down and began searching beneath his bed.

"Hmm~Searching for some 'materials'..." After hopping back to her feet, she finished her words, "But, you came out innocent. How cute, Ryouya."

Ryouya felt his eyebrows twitching and being complimented for not having porn mags which most of the guys hide under their beds.

'Well, who would buy such expensive things when I have internet...' Ryouya sighed at the ancient thought process of the girl.

"Can I ask something?"Chiaki raised her brows before turning her head toward him...only to find his previous demeanor had vanished and a frown marred his face.

Chiaki knew what this was going to be.

"Haa....I know you are going to ask me about yesterday and why despite having a boyfriend, I wanted to give my virginity to you, right?"

Ryouya had no hesitation in nodding.

From what he could perceive, not only caring but Souta was rather protective of Chiaki. He was handsome and seemingly loyal then what was there for Chiaki to cheat on such an ideal partner?

Chiaki exhaled audibly before she took hold of Ryouya's hand and made him sit on the bed before she knelt on the ground with her eyes never leaving hers.

While still holding his hand, Chiaki asked in a pleading tone, "Can you answer me something, honestly?"

Ryouya raised his brows in surprise, seeing this unusual self of hers surfacing as he replied, "Yeah?"

Chiaki halted for a moment, seemingly collecting herself before she finally parted her lips to ask something that had been weighing her down since the last day,

"A-Are you...are you attracted to me?"

Ryouya felt she had asked the same thing yesterday as well, and even yesterday he wasn't sure why she would ask something like this.

However, today, he had to tell her the truth since he doubted that, with that face, she was joking around.

"Physically, yes. You are beautiful, charming, and extremely hot. But emotionally, I see you as nothing more than the closest person in my life. You have been with me in my ups and downs without complaining or belittling me even though I have always been a burden to you. So yeah, that's it."

Although she never says it, Ryouya always felt bad that because of him, she has been mocked by others. How people held themselves from approaching her just because of her company.

Yet, none of that affected the girl. She always remained all the same and even tolerated Ryouya's harsh side. She knew he was just trying to create distance between them for Chiaki's sake but she rigidly held the spot of being his best friend.

He wanted to let her know his honest feelings but never knew her reaction would be so... mixed up.

It began with a bright blush, which soon turned into a satisfied smile, and ended with a sad expression. Ryouya didn't know a person could shift between moods this soon.

The room fell silent after Ryouya finished speaking his mind. However, the ice was soon broken when Chiaki confessed something that was entirely connected with what happened yesterday,

"Haah...Souta-kun and I have been in a fake relationship since the start." Ryouya frowned at that but he didn't interrupt her.

"He wanted to save himself from getting in between his best friend and his crush's way, so he sought my help. Apparently, his best friend's crush liked Souta-kun so he asked me to be his fake girlfriend for the time being...and since I also had some selfish reason in mind, I accepted his confession."

Ryouya didn't focus on Souta's reason for approaching her since there was something more concerning for him to discern,

"And why did you get into a relationship then?"

He would be lying to say, that Ryouya didn't already somehow guessed the reason, but he wanted to hear it from her.

Chiaki leaned back, resting her butt on her heels as her gaze fell down his face. She evidently looked unsure but in the end, she could no longer run away from this.

"I thought, you would take the hint but as I thought, I have to say it first after all."

Taking a long breath, her eyes redirected to match his, before she finally voiced it out, "Akihito Ryouya-kun...I am in love with you. It has been a while since I realized my feelings for you but due to my fear of getting separated, I never dare confess my feelings."

Her voice held a deep emotion akin to fondness blended with fear and Ryouya could guess the reason behind it.

After a small pause, she continued, "Our relationship wasn't progressing so I agreed to get into a fake relationship, to make you jealous...but that didn't actually work as I anticipated."

"And in the end, you thought if you seduce me, then I might consider dating you?"

Chiaki had no response to it. She couldn't retaliate against the charges since it was true. Lost in choices, yesterday, she cornered Ryouya into such a spot where he couldn't reject her.

Chiaki was barely holding her tears and she tilted her head and stared blankly at the floor. She knew whatever she did was just for her selfish desire to become one with Ryouya...but now everything was exposed and surely no one would like a scheming girl like her.

However, in response to her fear, she didn't receive any scolding from him nor was kicked out...rather...

"Ah?"

He kissed her...

****

A/N:- This is so gonna get fucked.

And here we are with the first permanent harem member. Yeah, you heard that right.

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