Volume 1 Chapter 2 - The game starts

Chapter 2:

The game starts

[Without further ado, get ready to face the second chapter]

- Hey. You're Kenta Ieda... Mmm... So, can we talk?

- Huh? - Kenta was surprised. At that moment, an unexpected thought flew through his head that this could be a confession of love:

*Is that... no, it can't be that Akemi will confess to someone like me. Don't think like that, or I'll deeply regret it.*

- Talk? With me? Y..yes of course. Something happened?

Akemi was a little confused. Her flushed cheeks and embarrassed expression became noticeable. It seemed that she would not say anything and run away, but in spite of everything, she continued to speak:

- Kenta, do you have a g...gir. Hmm, do you have a girlfriend? - shouted Akemi through her embarrassment.

- What? Girlfriend? Huh... - You could tell from Akemi's expression that she was really embarrassed, but at the same time, she was actually interested in this issue. - Not. I don't have a girlfriend.

- Really? What a joy to hear it.

Akemi said it like she was really happy.

- Oh, I mean, that's not what I meant. Just, would you... would you not want to...

At that very moment, a thought flashed through Kenta's head, so fast that he didn't have time to pull himself back. This thought brought dreams to his mind that maybe Akemi would actually confess to him and they could live happily ever after in tender romantic love all the time.

- Would you like to be my pretend boyfriend?

All his dreams were shattered in an instant.

- What... do you mean?

- You see, there is a guy in our class who I like, but he does not pay attention to me. Therefore, I want to make him jealous, and therefore, please, become my pretend boyfriend.

At that very moment, the whole world froze. Yes, it froze at the very moment when only he and Akemi were standing on the roof during the lunch break and only the bright March sun was witness to this scene. And at that moment, Kenta remembered something. Something very important:

*So Akemi also has someone she loves. All clear. Otherwise, I would have been mad at her for such a daring proposal, but now... that means unrequited love, right? Somehow this is all familiar. Painfully familiar...*

* * * * *

2 years ago

Harumi Middle School

And again, the familiar lunch break. It feels like this particular moment is the same in literally every school, but in this junior high school, everything was, like, different. The windows were often open during lunch and the whole class was filled with laughing groups of different students. Kenta during his junior high school did not look like the Kenta he would become in high school. At that time, he, like all ordinary students, was in a friendly group consisting of Kenta, his friend Yoshiro Fukui, Yoshiro's girlfriend Azumi Hattori, and the most special girl for Kenta in the whole school - Ai Iwasaki.

Ai Iwasaki is a real beauty. Her short stature, sweet childlike features, pretty figure, stylish clothes, and delicate white and pink hair made her a sweet and innocent girl that the whole school would not mind dating. She was extremely popular in the junior high school that Kenta went to and many guys had their eyes on her, but to Kenta she was more than just a cute girl. She was a dream to him, a dream so close, but still an incomprehensibly distant dream.

- Ieda-kun! - suddenly there was a sweet female voice in the class. It was Ai. She ran up to Kenta with a light run, put her hands behind her back and said - Are you ready for an English lesson?

Kenta was embarrassed, trying not to show it, he turned towards Yoshiro and mumbled:

- Yeah... sort of. Wait, wait, English, today? And I'm not ready.

- What about you, Fukui-kun?

- I'm ready, as always. - Yoshiro spoke confidently. Then he turned to Kenta and winked with a smile.

He teased Kenta for a reason, as he knew that today was an important day for Kenta. The day he tells all his feelings to Ai.

Yoshiro came close to Kenta, leaned against his ear and whispered:

- Just don't be afraid, buddy. Believe you will succeed. The moment of truth has come. - Yoshiro push Kenta with his shoulder closer to Ai, as if hinting that it's time to do it. Yoshiro himself grabbed his girlfriend Azumi by the waist, turned around with her, and together they went into the depths of the classroom.

- Iwasaki-san, do you mind walking with me? - Kenta asked, a little embarrassed.

- What is Ieda-kun? Something happened?

- Ah... no, I just have to say something.

- Oh sure. Let's go.

She cutely galloped forward with her hands clasped behind her back. Kenta trailed behind.

They went to the roof. The warm March wind blew Ai's delicate hair, making Kenta admire her more and more.

*The moment of truth has arrived. Now or never. I don't know what will come of this, but I absolutely do not want to retreat. All this time, I was just a friend. But now everything will be decided, and no matter how everything turns, I will make her fall in love with me. Here you will see. And one day, I will put a sparkling ring on your ring finger.*

[Hi everyone. Well, here's the second chapter. In terms of volume, it is smaller than the first, but I decided that it would not be convenient for you to read large chapters, so I divided them into such compact ones. I try to publish new chapters as often as possible, so I hope you will like it. Anyway, thanks for reading all of this and see you in the next chapter.]