Motive!

Kayo Tsubaki. An example of perfectness. She is a model student of the high school I go to. She has the strike record of being in the top 3 since she entered high school, whether it's a small test or terminal exams, she excelled in each subject. But this wasnt her most prominent trait which made her popular.

Her looks were incomparable to any other girl in the school. She has black long hair which seems to look lustrous and bewitching. Her big round blue eyes make many ogles at them and the coldness her eyes carry makes various shivers too. Her body could be what people say, god's grace of perfection. Her curves were attractive enough to become a model or idol if she wanted but I never saw her even on any social media until now.  She looks so beautiful and elegant that many people already have left the thought to even approach her and those who dared to do so, only failed miserably.

She never invites attention but attention draws toward her inevitably wherever she goes. 

We were in the same class in the second year. I didn't think much of it as I was also one of those who admired her from the sidelines and never dared to think any further.

But in the second half of the year, I started talking to her as a normal classmate. Since I was in the baseball club and she was in the cheerleading club, we often came across.

Slowly we started chatting randomly in class too, making various gazes penetrate my soul, but I never cared about it. Surprisingly after some time, she started inviting me to eat lunch with her. I only had one friend in class who also had a girlfriend so I agreed with her.

Ever since we ate lunch alone together. Our distance decreased slowly and I started liking her to some extent. I mean she was beautiful but I was never a person who falls for appearance so after knowing her a little and finding her inner self beautiful too, I naturally started getting fond of her.

But everything came to a crash. In November just before our final terms, a rumor started circulating that she was datingthe captain of the football team. The captain was a handsome hunk unlike me so I also started to think about it. I wouldn't have believed it until I saw them sitting in a cafè together and chatting happily.

My first crush crushed my heart but it wasnt like I was deep in love so I got over it. After I saw her in the cafe I started ignoring her little by little and stopped eating with her. She was restless at the start but after some days she stopped asking and before anything else could happen, the final exam arrived. 

After the exam, school generally gives us two weeks' leave for preparation for the new semester. And because of my parents, I already started to forget about that matter until this blond man arrived in front of me, asking to become his, daughter's all of a sudden.

"Can you explain what you want to say". I was startled by his previous statement but still wanted to know what's his words meant.

" My daughter is madly in love with you. And I think you are oblivious of this fact right?" I subconsciously made an 'eh' sound before nodding.

"Well she is a shy girl so she won't tell you by herself but let me tell you this. She loves you very dearly. The time she spent with you, is being treasured by her until now and there isn't a doubt that she will leave her parents if it's for you". Being shocked would be an understatement to define my current state. I was bewildered and confused. 

'Tsubaki loves me?' This question was still lingering which I haven't swallowed completely.

Well, I was elated to hear it but still, it was too good to be true.

"See it yourself". He took out his phone and after tapping on it a couple of times pass it to me.

I gasped after I saw the image on it.

'What the heck. A room filled with me. My photos of all kinds. Whether it was laughing or playing baseball. Candid or blurred it was all framed and spread on a white wall. There was other stuff too in which I only recognized some, like a bento box which she offered me once just a day before I stopped eating with her. The bento design was so peculiar that I recognized it one glance. Other than that, I saw some half-used stationery and napkins stored in closed glass cases. It looked highly protected and treasured.

"All these are related to me?" I asked in complete disbelief. It was creepy and dark to see your photo hanging on someone else's wall and the most striking thing was that the quantity was this massive.

"I am deeply sorry to say but yes". He gazed downward with visible sadness on his face.

I sighed and after returning his phone, I said.

"Please continue what you were saying". Since I knew Tsubaki loved me, I wanted to know why her father especially, the Norihito Tsubaki, approached me instead of the person in question herself.

"She is a real sweet girl so please dont think of her as weird or creep". He said.

" No I won't and believe me, I know how beautiful she is from the inside so you dont have to worry about my perspective about her". A very big smile formed on his face before he nodded and continued.

"The thing is that she is a very talented dress designer and an excellent chef even better than I was in my days. But recently after you stopped talking to her she became gloomy. She barely showed any emotion on her face and recently she has stopped even talking to us. Being talented and stuff is another thing but as a father, my heart aches when I see her like this. I can do anything in my power to make my lily smile again so Kazuya kun..." He fixed his gaze on me before continuing.

"Will you become my daughter's lover? I promise I won't let you struggle at any point in your life and you dont have to get troubled about your debts and money problem, I will handle it all. So can you give my lily a life? Please". He was pleading with his eyes without any hidden meaning. He was a heartfelt father who only wants his daughter to be happy. But the problem was...

" Sorry, Norihito san I can't accept your offer". His shoulders slumped down immediately with sorrow covering his surrounding.

"But that doesn't mean I can't help you with Tsubaki". He shot his eyes toward me.

" I won't ask for money or anything else as I dont want compensation for this kind of thing. It will make me feel miserable. But I will do what I can do for Tsubaki and you Norihito san". A warm smile formed on his face.

"Thank you Kazuya kun. Thank you".