Chapter 398: Reverse Smoking

"Honestly… I was so caught off guard."

Tsubame's cheeks turned slightly red, and she fidgeted.

"Most guys who confessed to me before were all like, 'Wanna try dating and see how it goes?'—kinda vague. That's easier to turn down. But this time…"

She remembered Ishigami, in front of all those people, handing her a huge heart-shaped gift and saying, "This is how I feel."

Her face went red again, and she looked down.

"If you ask me, for rejecting someone, you should go ask another girl."

Rinji leaned back on the bench, speaking casually.

"Find someone who gets confessed to a lot. Like Shinomiya. She's a great example. Every year, a bunch of idiots confess to her. Just watch how she handles it."

"Kaguya-san… I already asked her."

"Oh? And what did she say?"

"Kaguya's stance… was honestly confusing." Tsubame tapped her chin with a finger. "At first, she told me to reject him cleanly. But then she said outright rejection was too harsh."

"Tch, indecisive as usual."

Rinji scoffed and said to Tsubame,

"You have to be clear and firm. If you leave any ambiguity, it can lead to real trouble."

"Eh?"

"If the rejection isn't thorough, the guy might think he still has a shot. He'll keep bothering you, gradually getting worse—showing up wherever you are, following you when you go out alone..."

"Yikes!"

Tsubame shuddered at the thought.

Just imagining it gave her chills.

"And because he never gets closure, his behavior will spiral—stealing your underwear, mailing you creepy stuff, and even threatening any new boyfriend you get. And it all starts because you didn't reject him properly."

Tsubame trembled uncontrollably.

If that ever really happened, she didn't think she could handle it.

"So just reject him early. You'll be saving yourself and helping a lost soul find their way," Rinji shrugged. "I just don't see what's so hard about saying no."

"Because… once I reject him, we probably can't even be friends anymore."

Tsubame muttered.

"We go to the same school. It'll be awkward seeing him again. And I'm scared I'll hurt his feelings too badly…"

"It won't be that bad."

Rinji reassured her.

"I was rejected by a girl once too. But we're still on good terms. We talk at school, and we even hung out during the festival. Sure, it hurt at first—but give it a year and he'll be fine."

"I see…"

"Exactly," Rinji said with a smile. "If it comes to it, just tell me that boy's name. Once you've rejected him, I'll give him some psychological counseling."

He was already thinking that if the guy kept pestering her, he'd just drop him in Afghanistan. There was no way he'd allow any mess to get in the way of Ishigami's love life.

"Thank you very much, Rinji."

Tsubame stood up and bowed to Rinji.

"You'll need to guide Yu-kun a bit when the time comes."

"Yeah, no problem... Wait, who did you just say?"

"Yu-kun," Tsubame said. "Isn't he a good friend of yours? Rinji, you usually care a lot about him, right? So for this matter... huh? Rinji, why are you sweating so much?"

Rinji still wore the same calm expression in front of her, but sweat was dripping from his forehead onto the floor.

"No, I'm fine."

Rinji spoke as he trembled slightly, pulling out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, taking one and putting it in his mouth.

"Not a problem at all."

"Ah! Rinji, you can't smoke in school, and you put the cigarette in backwards!" Tsubame cried out.

At that moment, Rinji had shoved the lit end into his mouth and was trying to light the filter.

Cough cough. "Um, Koyasu-senpai... I think... directly rejecting a guy like that could be a little too cruel. After all, he worked up the courage to confess. Not giving him even a chance seems harsh."

"Eh?! Why the sudden change of heart?"

'Obviously because the one who confessed was Ishigami!!'

Rinji, sweating buckets, forced himself to sound calm. "Thinking it through, Ishigami's a good guy. His character is solid, he's kind... at least give him a chance..."

'You idiot, Ishigami! How could you confess something so huge without telling me first?! Do you even realize how much trouble delayed intel can cause—'

As Rinji mentally berated Ishigami, a sudden realization hit him.

———

"I sent her a giant heart-shaped object."

"They say giving someone a heart-shaped gift at the Hoshin Festival leads to eternal love~"

———

'It's me who screwed up ahhhhhhhhh!!!!'

Rinji's eyes turned into endless spirals.

"Um, Rinji, I think I should still..."

"Koyasu-senpai, this kind of thing needs to be considered carefully," Rinji said, lowering his head in persuasion.

All he could do now was silently apologize to Ishigami.

"But what about the consequences you mentioned earlier..."

"That kind of thing would never happen with Ishigami. We've worked together for so long—I know him."

"I see..."

Tsubame let out a small sigh, then stood up and stretched.

"Rinji and Kaguya-san know Ishigami-kun well, but honestly, I don't know him as much. So I guess I'll just take things step by step. Making a decision too early would be rash."

"Haha, senpai, I'm really glad you think that way." Rinji gave a dry laugh.

---

Click.

After walking into the student council office, Rinji silently closed the door. Ishigami was sitting on the couch, playing a handheld game.

Seeing Rinji return, he turned and asked, "So... what did Koyasu-senpai say?"

"She... didn't say anything specific, and she's not mad. You can go talk to her tomorrow without worry."

"That's a relief."

Hearing that, Ishigami let out a deep breath of relief.

Rinji then walked over, sat beside him, and put a hand on his shoulder.

"Ishigami, I just realized I did something really unfair to you."

"Huh?"

"If there's anything you want, just say it. I'll do my best to make it happen."

"You make it sound so serious," Ishigami said, assuming Rinji was joking. "Then... how about you dress up as a maid?"

"..."

"Hey hey hey, you're not rejecting that?!"

Ishigami stared at Rinji with wide eyes.

"What exactly did you do!?"