Slap to the Face

"Stole… How did you do that?" With confusion in his eyes, Tadano repeated a word that's too familiar to me.

Of all the things I said, that's what he picked up, huh?

"That's something you, as a coward who couldn't confess to her if not for my urgings, will not understand." I shook my head.

Upon hearing it, his clasped fist tightened and he started trembling visibly from anger. However, he reined it in.

"You know, you and Ogawa have this similarity. You're both too scared to confess to her. For you, you're scared that she will stop being your friend. On the other hand, that guy just didn't have the guts to do it. If not for Nami meeting me, nothing would change." I continued.