That 93: Confession of Love

That night.

Back in my cherished nest, Class 3-3,整理ing the items we've collected over time (like the "Cat-Neck Walking Stick")...

Kon, kon.

A soft knock sounds on the door.

"Hello?"

Answering, I open the door to find...

"...Good evening, Senpai."

There she stands—Tanaka Ritsuko, a sun-kissed beauty with a stunning figure.

"Is something wrong?"

"...Well, um. Would you like to have tea?"

In her hand was her favorite treat—Tako-ke no Sato (a chocolate confection shaped like a octopus with fluffy tentacles).

"It's fine, but you'll gain weight if you eat it before bed."

Then Ritsuko gave a faint, soft smile.

"...It's okay. I have a body that doesn't gain weight easily..."

"Really? That's impressive."

I'm slightly surprised.

As far as I know, this is the first time Ritsuko has ever shown such initiative.

For now, I'll recommend the guest desk—well, that's what I'm calling it.

"……Ah, thanks, Senpai."

Ritsuko seems unusually tense, for some reason.

So tense, in fact, that she can't even open the box of chocolate sweets she brought.

"U… uuuu…"

"Is something wrong?"

I ask her while preparing tea.

"S-senpai..."

Tilting her head slightly, Ritsuko swallowed hard and asked,

"Um… that girl you came here with… what's your relationship with her?"

"Alone together? Ah, you mean Ayaka-chan."

"Yes."

What kind of relationship, you ask...?

"We're friends."

"...Really? You're not… more than friends?"

Why is this girl so insistent, anyway?

And what does "more than" even mean?

What exactly is it referring to?

Perhaps picturing her lying sprawled in another room, fast asleep.

"Why would you say something like that?"

"……But"

Ritsuko lowered her gaze into the cup,

"Pairing..."

And muttered to herself.

Pairing? I nearly panic for a moment, but then remember the "friendship ring" that's now completely part of my body.

Ah, is this it? This is... um...

How on earth am I supposed to explain this?

I mean, I've never actually used it yet, so...

"Well, um... it's not anything special, really. Just... wearing it makes me feel at ease."

"Ah, at ease...?"

Oh no. I think I just said the wrong line.

"Um, can I ask just one thing?"

Ritsuko stood up as if she couldn't turn back now, firmly gripping my hand.

"Senpai... to you... what kind of person am I?"

"What do you mean, 'what kind'? Just a close junior, that's all."

"Is... is 'close' like, the kind of closeness where marriage would be possible!?"

Ugh. Wait. Come on.

"Please wait. In this country, same-sex marriage is..."

"Don't try to dodge it. The law isn't the issue. You just disappeared without saying anything at all....I've been really suffering these past few days."

"H-haah..."

Something about the situation felt off...

"I just want to clarify things. Your feelings, senpai..."

For a moment, I nearly froze, unsure how to respond.

But then I noticed Ritsuko's hands trembling.

Apparently, this wasn't something that could be brushed off lightly.

If only I could escape this moment like a light novel protagonist, suddenly suffering from temporary deafness.

Unfortunately, I actually have good hearing (that's not the point here).

"Um... "

I'm sorry, but I'm genuinely heterosexual by nature.

...about to answer.

In the corner of my vision, I catch sight of the "Bakeneko's staff."

A walking stick capable of freely changing its form.

If I had this...

Wouldn't the barrier of gender even matter anymore?

The thought crossed my mind just as hesitation began to take hold.

Even though it was only for a short time, the experience of being a man seems to be lingering on.

Depending on the situation… could something like that… actually happen?

My head started to spin.

It's a world full of hardships.

How comforting it would be to have someone by my side, sharing lonely nights with me.

"If you nod yes, Senior… I'm planning to stay here tonight and not go home."

"U-um… does that mean…"

"I'll spend the night with you, Senpai."

How much resolve must she have mustered to utter these words, given how quiet she usually is?

"Senpai... please answer me... am I... not enough?"

I clutched my head.

A world I never would have imagined just days ago now stood right before me.

Silence fell.

The atmosphere left no room for postponing a decision.

"………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………Um, well..."

Eventually, I opened my mouth.

My voice trembled more than I expected.

"…………I'm sorry."

I knew that even the slightest hint of humor in those words would be an insult to her.

"I have a duty that must be fulfilled. Only by doing so can I save many people."

"So you're saying you don't have time to be with me?"

"Yes."

"I see……"

Ritsuko's expression was utterly dejected.

What am I supposed to do now?

After something like this happened, how should I even face them tomorrow?

And I still have to use my "Subjugation" skill first thing in the morning.

"……But!"

Suddenly, Ritsuko lifts her head with surprising intensity.

"I can still like you, right! You don't… think of me as disgusting, do you, Senpai?!"

I'm taken aback.

Really… she is.

I can tell you're thinking of me.

Like this, until your face turns completely red.

A feeling I couldn't quite understand, unlike anything I'd felt before, had emerged in my chest.

Of course

Before I knew it, I was holding her hand.

And then, the next day, I'd be scrambling, wondering, "Why did I do something like that?" — and then, I'd kiss her cheek.

"Since tomorrow will be early, let's call it a day and get some rest, okay?"

She nodded repeatedly, like a slave obeying orders, downed her tea in one go, then left the classroom with mechanical movements.

Um...

Could it be that I just did something that made things unnecessarily complicated?

"Ha. Being popular with guys is tough, you know."

I said that (and just one minute later, there I was, banging my head hard against the desk).