119 "Advice from a Senior"

After Hikigaya Hachiman voiced his objections, the lively debate resumed.

"Wait, wait! Doesn't this sound more like they were teasing you?" Hachiman argued, his tone sharp.

"Maybe they were playing truth or dare, or just bored and decided to mess with you. Like, 'Let's fake confess to that quiet guy in class and see how he reacts.' That kind of thing."

As he spoke, Hachiman suddenly remembered that the subject wasn't him this time—it was Tsubasa Tanuma.

"Even if you're a 'popular guy,' that doesn't rule out the possibility! You should observe more before jumping to conclusions, right?" Hachiman's voice grew more insistent as he looked around for agreement.

"Hmm…"

"But didn't we establish earlier that he has regular interactions with those girls?" Kanade Natsukawa chimed in, looking at Tsubasa, who nodded in confirmation.

"And if this were just a prank or teasing, wouldn't there be signs of animosity or exclusion in their usual behavior? If they hated him, their daily interactions wouldn't be so cordial."

"That's not necessarily true!" Hachiman countered, his voice rising. "People are complex creatures. Some are just naturally kind and polite—they'll smile at you, greet you, even chat with you—regardless of what they really think. They might even dislike you deep down but never show it!"

Though his voice grew quieter as he continued, Hachiman's determination remained firm.

"That's why I still think you need to observe more before acting. Avoid any awkward misunderstandings."

"…"

Kanade fell silent, reflecting on his own experiences. Memories of Shiina, senior classmates, and others came flooding back.

He had believed he was special to them, but in truth, their kindness wasn't exclusive to him. Anyone in his position would have received the same treatment.

"Maybe you're right…" Kanade sighed before turning to Tsubasa. "Sorry, Tanuma-kun. I might have led you astray with my earlier analysis…"

"No, it's fine. Actually, I think your insights were really thoughtful, Natsukawa-senpai," Tsubasa replied with a shake of his head, his tone earnest.

Tsubasa didn't seem too discouraged, but Kanade and Hachiman both felt a pang of guilt.

"So… should I just let things unfold naturally for now?"

Hachiman nodded silently. Kanade added, "Yeah, it's better not to make any rash moves just yet. Or you could try dropping some subtle hints, see how they react."

Even as he spoke, Kanade couldn't help but silently root for Tsubasa, hoping his optimistic interpretation wasn't entirely off the mark.

"Got it. I'll take your advice," Tsubasa said, standing and bowing deeply to the group. "Thanks so much for all your guidance. I've learned a lot."

The others waved off his gratitude with smiles.

"Well then, I guess it's my turn next," Miyuki Shirogane said, seizing the moment.

For a topic as personal as this, Miyuki wouldn't normally speak up. But after Tsubasa's boldness, staying silent seemed cowardly.

"There's this girl I've been… thinking about lately. We're in different classes, so it's hard to talk to her regularly. But we've hung out a few times outside of school. The thing is, I'm not sure she sees me as anything more than a friendly acquaintance."

"…"

"Who's the girl?"

"If you're asking for her name, I can tell you—it's Tamaki Ryo. She's the daughter of the head of the 'Ryuzoku' group…"

"…"

"…Is something wrong?"

"No, nothing. I'm just… surprised," Kanade said, shaking his head. "Go on."

"Our interactions have been getting more frequent lately. For example, we had lunch together recently, and I shared some of my bento with her. Afterward, she asked me to start making her a bento every day—said she'd pay me for it."

"…That's a bit…"

"It's complicated, isn't it?" Miyuki sighed. "Sharing a meal feels pretty personal, but she doesn't seem to view me as a romantic interest at all."

"Yeah, that's tricky…"

"I have some thoughts," Hachiman said, raising his hand.

It was a strange scene—someone as anti-social as Hachiman actively participating in a relationship discussion.

"By all means, let's hear it," Miyuki said, nodding seriously.

"It's just my opinion," Hachiman muttered before continuing, his expression unusually focused. "I don't know much about her personally, but based on what you've described… you should be straightforward with her. Tell her how you feel."

"That's easy for you to say…" Miyuki said hesitantly. "But you told Tanuma-kun to wait and observe first—why the double standard?"

"Because every situation is different," Hachiman said, waving dismissively. "Your case is unique because of her background as the daughter of a yakuza boss. Don't tell me you haven't considered that—it's pretty clear you're worried about how her family might view you."

"…I have thought about it," Miyuki admitted. "I'm concerned about whether they'd accept someone like me."

"Exactly," Hachiman said, snapping his fingers. "Growing up in that environment, she's probably had to deal with a lot of rumors and prejudice. People might think things like, 'She's from the yakuza; she must be violent,' or 'Better keep my distance.' She's probably had very few real friends."

Hachiman continued, his tone matter-of-fact.

"You're likely the only person she talks to regularly. So for her, whether you're a guy or a girl doesn't matter—it's not about 'liking' or 'not liking.' She just hasn't figured out the difference between friendship and romantic feelings."

He added, almost as an afterthought, "Of course, it's possible she really doesn't like you. I'm just saying it's worth considering the other possibility too."

Miyuki frowned, mulling over Hachiman's words. "So you're saying I should make my feelings clear?"

"Exactly. If she doesn't feel the same way, at least you'll know. But in her situation, she's unlikely to cut ties with you just because of a confession."

Hachiman leaned back, smirking slightly.

"Who knows? You might end up living out one of those cliched romance stories. Like, 'She rejected me at first but later realized she loved me all along.'"

His tone was dry, but the image in his mind was vivid. Lately, light novel titles were getting ridiculously long, practically doubling as summaries: "After Rejection, My Yakuza Crush Realized She Loved Me" or "I Cook Bentos for My Yakuza Crush and She Gradually Falls for Me."

Hachiman sighed internally. Where's my chance to star in one of those stories?!

"Success would be great, but even failure isn't the end of the world. Put in the effort, show some resolve—she might just be into that."

"…Confess directly, huh?" Miyuki murmured.

"Trust Hachiman on this," Kanade chimed in. "He's got a point. Sometimes, taking decisive action is the only way to break through."

Ultimately, Miyuki nodded. "Alright, I'll give it some serious thought. Thanks for the advice, guys."

"Hey, no pressure," Hachiman said, leaning back. "Just remember—if it doesn't work out, you can always join me in the realm of failed romances."

Kanade smirked. "Don't jinx him, Hachiman."

"I mean it!" Hachiman shot back, feigning indignation. "I'll curse you both if you keep looking at me like that!"

"Sure, sure~." Kanade laughed.