Chapter 414: Confused Iroha!

That unexpected incident was undeniably her first kiss.

Not only did her first kiss go to Rei Ao's lips, but it also briefly touched…Rei Ao's…

It was so embarrassing.

Yet now, Rei Ao was bringing up that incident and asking a pointed question.

Though pointed, Isshiki Iroha didn't know how to respond.

If she lied and said it wasn't her first kiss, wouldn't that lower Rei Ao's impression of her?

But if she confessed it was her first kiss, that would imply how much she treasured it.

Wait—

That might actually be good.

After all, she was trying to get closer to Rei Ao right now. Acting like she cared might help.

Maybe she could get his attention. Of course, it meant testing her limits of embarrassment.

She took a soft breath.

Lowering her head, Isshiki Iroha answered quietly, "Y-yes, it was my first kiss."

"If it was also Senpai's first kiss, that'd make us even, right?"

"Sorry, I'm afraid we can't be even."

"Eh?"

Iroha blinked.

"Because it wasn't my first kiss."

Rei Ao spread his hands, being frank.

"I-it wasn't…?"

She hadn't expected that, and for some reason she felt an odd disappointment.

"Personally, I don't mind at all," Rei Ao went on. "But if Isshiki-san has feelings about it, you can let me know. I can't offer 'compensation,' but some form of 'comfort' is not out of the question."

He made it clear.

After all, it hadn't been his doing—she'd been the one rushing into him. If anyone had to make amends, it should be her. If the genders were reversed, one might even call it harassment. The fact that he was offering to "comfort" her was him being generous.

"Haha, it's fine—after all, it was my fault. I don't blame you, Senpai."

Iroha rubbed the back of her head sheepishly, telling herself in her mind, A guy as remarkable as Rei Ao having had a girlfriend is totally normal, so him not being a first-kiss newbie was easy to understand. She felt it showed his excellence. At least, that was the story she believed.

"Since neither of us minds, let's just leave it at that," Rei Ao said, nodding.

"Sure!"

Iroha agreed without hesitation. If Rei Ao hadn't brought it up, she really didn't want to mention it at all. It kept reminding her of awkward memories, so much so that she couldn't help sneaking peeks at a certain "place" on Rei Ao whenever she stood in front of him.

"Anything else, Isshiki-san?"

Rei Ao asked.

"Ugh, n-no, that's all."

She forced a smile. Her plan had been to leave a better impression on Rei Ao. Now she wasn't sure if she'd succeeded or failed. Then, just as she was feeling a little down, Rei Ao abruptly took out his phone.

"Isshiki-san, could I get your number?"

"Huh?"

She looked up in surprise. She definitely hadn't expected him to ask for her contact info first.

"O-oh, sure!"

Her mind short-circuited, and she quickly gave him her contact details.

"Got it. I look forward to seeing you next time."

After noting it down, he put away his phone, waved goodbye, and walked off to his classroom. Only after his figure was gone did Iroha realize something:

Why did Rei Ao suddenly want her contact info?

Watching his retreating back, she felt too awkward to chase after him and ask.

"… …"

She could only keep that confusion buried.

…

All morning, Isshiki Iroha was in a daze, her mind not on her studies. She kept puzzling over why Rei Ao asked for her info. So, wanting answers, she ran to the Service Club at lunchtime. As expected, people were there: Yukino, Yui, and Yumiko.

"What, you again?"

Yumiko saw her and scowled.

She currently disliked only two people: Yukino and Iroha—one was her old rival, the other a "stray cat" aiming for her man.

"Hehe, Senpais, I'm here looking for some advice."

"Advice?"

Iroha cleared her throat and explained:

"This morning, I 'happened to run into' Rei Ao-senpai again."

"Ah, you'd better mean really happened to," Yumiko cut in bluntly, not sparing her.

Fortunately, Iroha didn't mind. Everyone knew she was trying to pursue Rei Ao, so there was no need to hide it.

"Hehe, I was basically trying to make a good impression on Rei Ao-senpai."

She stuck out her little pink tongue, looking playful.

"Tch, I knew it."

Yumiko raised her chin, like she'd seen through it all.

Yukino quietly shut her book. There weren't many things that interested her, but Yumiko's concerns happened to be an exception.

"You're asking your question about that, I take it?"

Yui also asked curiously, "Does that mean you've managed to impress Rei Ao-kun?"

"?"

Yumiko looked at Yui in confusion—why was she so excited?

In fact, Yui wasn't worried at all. She knew Rei Ao wouldn't abandon her, would always hold her hand and kiss her, and they'd do happy things together. She was confident she couldn't lose. If she couldn't lose, then no need to be hostile. Yui was currently in a fulfilling, satisfied state—she just wanted to see some interesting drama.

"Ugh…"

Iroha looked like a small puddle of water on the desk.

"I don't really know. It feels like a failure—my plan got disrupted again. But then… at the end, Rei Ao-senpai asked for my contact info, and I have no clue why."

She gazed at Yui and Yukino with pleading eyes.

"Senpais, could you please analyze it for me?"

"What?! Rei Ao actually asked you for your contact info?"

Yumiko jumped up in disbelief. She herself had never been treated that nicely! She'd even tried giving him a love letter and thought she'd been rejected harshly, hurting for a very long time.

Now Iroha said Rei Ao—after meeting her just twice—asked for her number. For the first time, Yumiko stared at Iroha seriously. She was indeed pretty, but not that much more so than Yumiko, right? Could it be that she was exactly his type?

Yes—Yumiko was already sure that Rei Ao intended to take Iroha for himself.

~~~

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