The Cultural Festival was getting closer.
And with it—
The pressure.
By the end of the week, the classroom had transformed into something almost unrecognizable. Decorations lined the walls, soft lights were tested, and trial menus for the Romantic Café were being passed around.
Everyone was working.
Everyone was excited.
…Everyone except me.
"You're spacing out again."
I blinked.
Aizawa Reina stood beside me, holding two cups of trial drinks. She handed one to me with a small smile.
"Try this," she said. "It's one of the menu options."
I took a sip.
"…It's good."
She tilted her head. "Just 'good'?"
"It's really good," I corrected quickly.
She laughed softly. "That's better."
But even as we shared that light moment, I could feel it—
Eyes.
Watching us.
Judging.
Waiting.
The Problem
"Alright, listen up!"
One of our classmates clapped his hands to get everyone's attention.
"We've got an issue."
The room quieted.
"What is it?" someone asked.
"Our café needs something to stand out," he explained. "Other classes are doing crazy stuff—live performances, cosplay contests, even mini concerts."
Murmurs spread across the room.
"So?" another student said. "We already have a romantic theme."
"Yeah, but that's not enough," he replied. "We need a main attraction."
A pause.
Then—
"All eyes should be on our Lead Host and Lead Hostess."
My stomach dropped.
"…Wait," I said slowly.
He pointed at us.
"You two."
The class erupted in agreement.
"Yeah! That makes sense!"
"They're perfect for it!"
"Do a performance!"
My mind went blank.
"A performance?" I repeated.
"Exactly," he said. "A live romantic skit. Something that'll draw a crowd."
I turned to Reina.
She looked just as surprised.
"I… I'm not sure," she said softly.
But the class was already hyped.
"Come on, Aizawa-san!"
"You'll be amazing!"
"And him too, I guess," someone muttered.
Laughter followed.
That stung more than I expected.
A Challenge Appears
"Interesting idea."
A calm, cold voice cut through the noise.
Kurosaki Yuna stepped forward, her presence instantly commanding attention.
"If you're going to perform," she said, "then it should be done properly."
The room fell silent.
"What do you mean?" someone asked.
Yuna's gaze shifted to me.
"Let him prove himself."
My chest tightened.
"Prove… myself?"
"Yes," she replied. "Right now."
The class buzzed with excitement.
"A test?"
"This is going to be good."
Reina frowned. "Kurosaki-san, that's unfair—"
"It's necessary," Yuna interrupted. "If he fails here, he will only embarrass the class during the festival."
Her words were sharp—but not entirely wrong.
I clenched my fists.
"…What do I have to do?"
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
"Confess."
My brain stopped.
"…What?"
"To Aizawa Reina," she said calmly. "Right here. Right now. In front of everyone."
The classroom exploded.
"No way!"
"This is insane!"
"Do it! Do it!"
My heart pounded violently.
This wasn't practice anymore.
This was a trap.
I glanced at Reina.
Her eyes were wide, her cheeks flushed with shock.
"I'm sorry," she whispered.
But it wasn't her fault.
Yuna stepped back, crossing her arms.
"Well?" she said. "Show us."
Silence fell.
All eyes were on me.
There was no escape.
If I refused, I'd be labeled a coward.
If I accepted—
I took a deep breath.
Fine.
You want a performance?
I'll give you one.
The Confession
I stepped forward.
Each step felt heavier than the last.
Then I stopped in front of Reina.
She looked up at me, her eyes trembling slightly.
For a moment—
Everything else disappeared.
The whispers.
The stares.
The pressure.
All I saw was her.
"Aizawa Reina," I began, my voice steady despite the storm inside me.
She held her breath.
"I—"
This is just an act.
It's just for the class.
So why does my heart feel like this?
"I… like you."
The words left my lips.
And the world went silent.
Reina's eyes widened.
Her face turned bright red.
The classroom held its breath.
"I like you," I repeated, more clearly this time. "From the moment you sat beside me… my world changed."
My chest tightened.
Why does this feel real?
"Being with you… makes me want to be better," I continued. "Stronger. Braver."
My voice softened.
"So… will you stay by my side?"
Silence.
A long, fragile silence.
Then—
Reina lowered her gaze, her cheeks glowing.
"…That's not fair," she whispered.
My heart skipped.
"Huh?"
She looked up at me—her eyes shimmering.
"…You're making it hard to tell what's real."
My breath caught.
Before I could respond—
Applause broke out.
Loud.
Thunderous.
"That was amazing!"
"Bro actually did it!"
"That felt real!"
The tension shattered into excitement.
But I couldn't move.
Because Reina was still looking at me.
And in her eyes—
There was something I couldn't ignore anymore.
The Observer
At the back of the room, Kurosaki Yuna watched silently.
Her expression unreadable.
"…So that's your answer," she murmured.
For the first time—
Her gaze held something new.
Not coldness.
Not amusement.
But something far more dangerous.
Interest.
Aftermath
As the crowd continued to buzz, Reina stepped closer to me.
"…That was just acting," she said softly.
"…Yeah," I replied.
But neither of us sounded convinced.
She hesitated.
Then smiled—a small, fragile smile.
"…Let's do our best for the festival."
"Yeah," I said.
But deep down—
I knew something had changed.
That "performance"…
Wasn't just acting anymore.
End of Chapter 9
Preview of Chapter 10:
Reina struggles with her feelings after the "confession"
Yuna corners the protagonist for a private conversation
A new rival girl is introduced