The Rejection that Changed Everything!

Mai slammed her fist on Yuuki's table and the lump of throat stuck in her mouth that wouldn't let her speak her mind, immediately dissipated as she said, "I'd like to have a word with you in private!" she didn't mean to sound so authoritative, but it just seemed to come out that way.

Oh goodness, I said it wrong didn't I?!

"Unh?" said a confused Yuuki.

"WHHHAAAAAAAT?!"

The entire class screamed at the top of their voices excluding a few like - Tomoe who didn't get surprised by much, and Mihara who already knew about Mai's undying crush on Yuuki.

In the Sakura Specialized Training College, gossip was currency, and news spread faster than wildfire on a hot summer day. So when it was revealed that Mai Takahashi, the epitome of beauty and popularity among the first-years, had a crush on Yuuki Tanaka, the most average guy in their class, it was unacceptable.

Everyone who heard the news gasped as if they'd just seen a unicorn trotting down the hallway. Mai, with her cascading honey-blonde locks and flawless smile, could have had any guy in the school swooning at her feet. Yet, somehow, her heart had set sail on the most unassuming vessel in the sea of young adult testosterone.

As the news rippled through the student body, disbelief morphed into outrage among the male population.

"It's the end of the world man, TAKAHASHI'S IN LOVE! She's gonna ask out Yuuki Tanaka!"

"WHAT?! THIS CANNOT BE HAPPENING...!"

"I've started showering twice a day just so she could notice me!"

"How dare that average son of a bitch?!"

"What does he have that we don't?"

It was as if Yuuki had personally offended every boy's sense of justice and fair play. They conveniently overlooked the fact that Mai's heart, much like love itself, had chosen its own mysteriously stupid path.

Meanwhile, poor Yuuki found himself unwittingly thrust into the spotlight, like a deer caught in the headlights of a particularly over-dramatic soap opera. He was suddenly the unwitting protagonist in a rom-com he never auditioned for, and the leading lady was the most sought-after girl in school!

As for Mai, she remained blissfully unaware of the chaos she had wrought upon the hearts of her male peers. To her, Yuuki was simply Yuuki – a kind soul with a smile that made her heart flutter, regardless of his status on the popularity scale.

...

The two potential couples, Mai and Yuuki, were now at a place which could only be called the default location for confessing feelings.

Hint: the School Rooftop.

Usually, it was always selected because of the privacy it offered—that made it a romantic enough place to have a meaningful conversation with someone you liked. However, the case was entirely different this time, because... almost the entire class of first-years, as well as some second-years, were watching the Mai and Yuuki from behind the doorwall like it was some sort of cinematic experience.

They couldn't even stop themselves from whispering.

"Takahashi is such an amazing young woman! Imagine being the one to ask out the guy in a relationship... can't be me."

"It makes sense now why she's so popular. A boldness like hers only comes with a once-in-a-lifetime beauty!"

"Yeah, yeah, stop the kiss-assery and let's watch!"

Mai stared boldly at Yuuki. She was so nervous that she wore a hardened facial expression that almost looked too furious, and even clenched her fists tightly; like she was about to fight.

"So, what'd you want?" Yuuki plainly asked.

"I..." Mai paused. She changed her statement, "Do you remember me?"

"No. I doubt we've spoken before today."

Her stone cold expression died off. Now, she looked like she was about to cry as she desperately said,"B... But you..." Her words came to a pause when she realized the futility of trying to make him recall anything.

He doesn't even remember me... I guess to him, it's all in the past.

She slapped both her cheeks a little painfully and spoke what her heart had be nagging her to say all this time.

"PLEASE, WILL YOU GO OUT WITH ME?!"

"No." The answer left Yuuki's lips like they were second nature.

"W-why?! But I..." she sealed her lips abruptly. Mai knew it was best to calm herself so she wouldn't say anything out of spite. She calmed herself and told him, "That was quite a vague answer. I once knew a boy who saved mr when I was a kid, and he told me to never back down from anything. So, I'll reiterate myself." Her expression went serious, this time she looked more like her confident, beautiful self, "Please, will you go out with me?"

"Again, no." For Yuuki, it was second verse same as the last. If she chose to be foolish and ask a third time, then he'd still say the same thing. "Also, that childhood friend of yours is an idiot... sometimes it's better to back down. If you want to save yourself from embarrassment at least."

Mai was holding back her eagerness to scream at him. Her face looked so red—she wanted to vent, but that would spoil her image. Somehow, she managed to calm herself, then she asked, "Okay then..." a heavy sigh blew out from her lightly colored, plump lips. "Give me one good reason you don't want me as your girlfriend, and I'll leave and never disturb you again..."

The students watching behind the doorwall, couldn't even hear a thing, but to them, it looked like a visually juicy scene to watch.

Yuuki smiled coldly at Mai and placed out three fingers. "I'll give you three reasons."

When he said this, it hurt Mai, enough that it even showed on her calm visage.

Three reasons? Does he really not like me that much...?

With a dramatic clearance of his throat, Yuuki started.

"One, I don't like women in general, so what would I find that's appealing about you that other women lack? Two, you're selfish... of course, you're free to say you aren't, but that's from the most unreliable perspective, your perspective. If you weren't selfish, you'd know asking me out puts me at a lot of disadvantages—First, all the guys crushing on your probably hate my guts. Second, if I decide to date you, they'll hate me even more. And third... if I reject you, they'll hate me as well. It's a no-win situation for me."

Each word that left his mouth made Mai clench her fist tighter and tighter. She was hurt, and while her face hid that, her eyes betrayed whatever pride she was trying to salvage.

And then, Yuuki's third reason, "You ruined my day, and possibly my entire term, with your nonsense. Now, everyone will only know me as the sour lemon who rejected Mai Takahashi, the Class Favorite."

Slotting his hands into his pockets, he yawned and walked away. "Hmm, I should check out the cafeteria with Ryota and see if they have those special burgers..." his focus had already shifted from Mai like she never even existed.

Sliding the doorwall open, he indifferently walked through the crowd of boys seething with pure anger. He couldn't even hear their threats and insults; the only thing he could hear was the sound of him comfortably whistling.

Still, the students didn't know whether Mai and Yuuki were now an official couple or not.

Mihara ran out onto the rooftop and placed her hand on a paralyzed Mai as she asked, "So, what did he say?! Is MaYuuki officially a thing?!" She'd already done the honors of shipping them in her mind.

"He..." Mai hooked.

"He what?" Mihara eagerly asked.

"He turned me down..."

"Wait, you're joking, right? HE REJECTED YOU?!"

Mihara's voice was so loud it echoed throughout the rooftop and sacred all the birds away.

All the boys immediately went into rage mode. They preferred to be angry now and then happy at the fact that they still had a chance with her later.

"Arrogant son of a bitch! Who does he think he is?!"

"Turning down my Glorious Queen Takahashi?! Unreal!"

"Way to blow your chance, retard!"

"YUUKI TANAKA, EVERY GUY IN THIS SCHOOL HATES YOU!"

It was this action that would change Yuuki's life forever.