Confession

*Kiyoko Sasaki's POV*

//July 17, 2040//Tuesday//

"Wha-What!"

I was flustered at the question Ichika had asked me, and I blushed instantly.

"No, no! I don't have any feelings for Kei."

I shook my head a lot of times, and Ichika was just looking at me with a smirk on her face telling me that she knows what my heart tells about Kei right now.

"Sasaki, you know how to read what a person is thinking or what they are feeling, but I also can do the same when it comes to a person who likes someone."

I kept my mouth shut while looking down at the table, embarrassed at what Ichika said.

"HAHAHAHAHA!!! So you do have a crush on Machida!" Raku said.

Raku kept on teasing me but I kept quiet about it. Why am I not disagreeing with what Ichika said about my feelings for Kei?

Is it because I really have romantic feelings for him? My heart just kept beating faster, and my face was really heating up.

"Breakfast is ready everyone!"

"Oh, Megumin's food!" Asahi cheered.

Megumin gave each of us a serving of Steamed rice with grilled fish and Miso soup. She left two servings of the food she made on another table that is probably for Kei, and Hyakuzawa hoping that those two will eat what Megumin made.

As usual, the food that Megumin made really looks delicious. The fish was glistening, and the steamed rice was really fragrant as well as the miso soup. Megumin sat at our table, and we were ready to eat our breakfast.

"Let's eat!" Everyone said.

Asahi chowed down on the dish that she gave, followed by the others, and started eating. As for me, I was still disturbed by what Ichika asked me about Kei, and I just stared at the meal Megumin gave me without taking a bite.

"Sasaki, is there something wrong?" Megumin asked.

"Oh no, no, I'm fine. Sorry for spacing out."

"HAHAHAHA!!! Sasaki has been thinking about Machida, Megumin. She is in love!"

Megumin looked at me with a smirk on her face. I kept on shaking my head to disagree with what Raku had told her.

"That's not true. Don't believe this guy!" I said.

"Hoooo? But Ichika said that Sasaki has feelings for Machida.-"

"I didn't say that."

Ichika took a bite out of the salmon that she was eating, and glanced at me. I was really intimidated by Ichika, and I couldn't stop blushing because of this topic.

"I just asked Sasaki if she liked Machida or not. I didn't say that she has feelings for him."

Ichika gave me a faint smile while she was gazing at me. Ichika is really giving a big sister vibe after what happened last week when Asahi talked to her.

Ichika's personality became more mature when she spoke with us, and she became calmer when speaking with everyone. And what didn't change in her is how beautiful she really is.

"Asahi! You are eating junk food again!"

"Tch! Fine I won't"

Well, the way she talks to Asahi was still the same as before, but I guess that's fine.

"But you know what, Sasaki, You, and Machida are really a great match." Megumin said.

"H-Huh?"

I dropped the chopsticks that I was holding, and my face blushed immediately again.

Ugh… What is wrong with me today?

"W-What do you mean?" I asked.

"The two of you are the ones who were leading us from the start, and the two of you are always together. I always see the two of you as a good match." Megumin said.

"N-No! We are not. Besides, my mind works completely different from his."

"I completely agree with what Sasaki said about how different her mind works from Machida."

The embarrassment that I was feeling suddenly vanished when I looked at Asahi. He gave a serious look on his face while he was staring at his empty plate.

"When I first saw Machida. I really hated how he looks down on people. His attitude was similar to Ichi in some ways, and I detest his personality."

The topic changed from talking about what happened to Kei, and me earlier to this. We kept silent as soon as Asahi told us how he loathes Kei's attitude. I really wanted Kei to get along with everyone, and it saddens me that someone is talking about how they hated him.

"But you know what, I was really surprised when Machida pushed me to talk to Ichika last week. He might have an awful personality, but he is a good person."

I didn't expect that Asahi would say that as a continuation of what he said earlier. He gave a smile, and so did Ichika when she looked at him.

"I was at a loss of words when Asahi told me that Machida was the one who arrested my father for all the things he did to me. I might not know Machida that well, but I was thankful for what he did."

"Umm… Machida might be scary sometimes, and he can be really harsh with his words. But, even if he was like that, he never hurt us even once for no reason."

I remembered what happened to Kei, and Kanade at the lab. I was enraged at Kei for hurting Kanade, but Kanade told me the reason why he hurt her. Kanade was right, Kei never hurts anyone without a reason, and I didn't even feel a killing intent inside him even once towards us.

"Well, I trust the guy. Sasaki has been with him all the time, but I have never heard anything bad about him from Sasaki."

"Raku was right, but he even saved us when we first met him, and Ichi was going to kill us at that time. I appreciate what he did even if he told us that he just did it for himself." Megumin said.

I felt happy when I heard those things about Kei from everyone. I know that Kei had a difficult time getting along with them, but hearing those compliments felt me at ease.

"Waaah… Big Sister, are you really okay?"

I noticed tears flowing on my face as I smiled at the compliments everyone gave to Kei. Everyone was looking at me with confusion, and I immediately wiped the tears falling from my face.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I was just delighted to hear your thoughts about Kei. That's all."

"So you really do have feelings for him."

*SMACK*

"I do not!"

Everyone laughed as soon as I punched Raku on his arm. I can not understand what I am feeling for him. It's funny since I can know right away what the others are thinking or feeling, but I can't even tell what is the meaning of these mixed emotions that I am feeling for him right now.

But I am happy.

As Kei's partner, I really encouraged him to get along with everyone even if he was the one who promised that he would be on good terms with them. Hearing those things from these people about Kei delighted me, and I felt that there was progress with how Kei interacts with other people. Not as tools, but as allies who are willing to help him.

I just wished that Kei would be here to hear all of these compliments that came from everyone's mouths. Who knows what he would think, and what he would feel if he was here? I am happy, I really am.

I am glad that everyone appreciates Kei for what he did to them.

******** TO BE CONTINUED ********