Takeshi Kimura:

   "W-What is it, Mizuha?" (Reiji)

   "W-What do you think it is? I'm searching for you everywhere and here you are!" (Mizuha)

   "Searching for me?" (Reiji)

   "Yeah! You're coming with me to our classroom!" (Mizuha)

   Mizuha grabbed his hand and tried to take him with her. But Sanae held his other hand.

   "No! Miyano-kun isn't going anywhere!" (Sanae)

   "Who are you to talk!? Miyano is coming with me!" (Mizuha)

   "Hey you two! Stop! Please!" (Reiji)

   "T-Takeshi-san! We need to do something! This is bad! STOP EATING THE DAMN POPCORN!" (Izumi)

   "Huh? Isn't it too fun to watch and chill?" (Takeshi)

   Two beautiful girls and an idiot boy. A very common harem moment in a romcom manga. Although Izumi was insisting me to stop them, I really wanted to enjoy the moment.

   "Miyano! Why are you not coming with me?!" (Mizuha)

   "J-just stop for a moment. Sanae and I were having an important talk here!" (Reiji)

   "Is that more important than me?!" (Mizuha)

   "W-Wait. You're crying?" (Reiji)

   "I'm not! I hate you!" (Mizuha)

   Suddenly Mizuha left Reiji's hand and started running away from them. More importantly, she dashed towards our direction! But she didn't notice both of us and just ran away.

   "T-Takeshi-san, where is she going?!" (Izumi)

   "Probably finding some good place to cry alone." (Takeshi)

   "Shouldn't we follow her?" (Izumi)

   "Not really. No need for that. By the way, what are Reiji and Sanae doing now?" (Takeshi)

  I looked at them, Sanae was still holding Reiji's hand to stop him from following Mizuha. Reiji was in a dilemma right now.

   "Takeshi-san!" (Izumi)

   "Hm?" (Takeshi)

   "We need to stop Mizuha" (Izumi)

   "You don't need to worry that much, Izumi-san." (Takeshi)

   "But I saw her going to the rooftop!" (Izumi)

   "Yeah we don't need--- Wait, WHAT?" (Takashi)

   Rooftop? She went to cry there? Yeah probably. What else will be the reason! Don't overthink! There's no other reason for her to go there....

   "Takeshi-san?" (Izumi)

   "Yeah... let's go there!" (Takeshi)

   I began running towards the stairs. As much as I wanted not to involve with her, I just couldn't help but worry. I knew I was overthinking. Izumi also followed me. 

   We walked up the stairs and looked to open the door to the rooftop.

   "Eh?" (Takeshi)

   "What happened?" (Izumi)

   "The door is locked from that side?!" (Takeshi)

   "W-What!? Where is she? What is she doing?" (Izumi)

   "How can I know? Oi Mizuha! Mizuha!" (Takeshi)

   I shouted from inside, but no answer! Now I was feeling the tension! What would be she doing there locking the door?

   "Oi Mizuha! Open the door! What are you doing there!?" (Takeshi)

   Wasn't it a comedy manga?! Why is this all hinting towards a tragedy?!

   Even Izumi started to panick and shout. I desperately hit the door. And in the end Mizuha answered from there...

   "Is it you, Miyano?" (Mizuha)

   "No. I'm Takeshi." (Takeshi)

   "Then get lost. I'm not opening." (Mizuha)

   "Oi! Open the door!" ( Takeshi)

   "Listen, Mizuha, if you don't open, we will call the teachers!" (Izumi)

   Brilliant, Izumi-san! That should be enough to make her give in.

   "If... if you go to the teachers, you won't see me anymore!" (Mizuha)

   "WTF!!" (Takeshi)

   "YOU STUPID! OPEN THE DOOR!" (Izumi)

    I couldn't help but call my friend. Only he could do this now.

   "Oi! Come to the rooftop already!" (Takeshi)

   {Huh? Why?} (Reiji)

   "Mizuha is trying to do something awful here! Come already!" (Takeshi)

   He suddenly cut the phone. I was confused, but then I heard the footsteps coming down from the stairs. He was really fast.

   "W-Where is she?! Mizuha!" (Reiji)

   "Miyano?" (Mizuha)

   As soon as she heard Reiji's voice, she replied.

   "Mizuha! Open the door! What are you doing?" (Reiji)

   "I won't!" (Mizuha)

   "Oi that's cheating! You said you would open if he asks!" (Takeshi)

   "Shut up you egg!" (Mizuha)

   Hey, the disrespect to me! The real egg is your dear Reiji here!

   "Please open the door, Mizuha!" (Reiji)

   "Why are you caring about me? You can go hang out with your Sanae!" (Mizuha)

   "I can't leave you here! You're important to me!" (Reiji)

   Silence... for some moments. Then Mizuha slowly opened the door. She looked at Reiji, with tears in her eyes.

   "If.... I'm important for you... then why don't you understand me!?" (Mizuha)

   Mizuha leapt onto his chest. Reiji was surprised by all of this. But he didn't resist. Mizuha was hugging him tightly.

   "Mizuha?" (Reiji)

   "I like... Miyano. Why don't you see it?" (Mizuha)

   "Mizuha... I'm sorry I didn't see it before." (Reiji)

   "Aww. Aren't they cute?" (Izumi)

   "I don't know about 'cute', but I know that both are idiots." (Takeshi)

   "Shut up you egg!" (Mizuha)

   "Oi! Watch your mouth!" (Takeshi)

   "Fufu...." (Izumi)

   Izumi-san chuckled after hearing our nonsense. It did put a smile on my face. My mood was very bad for a long time. But at least I could see Izumi-san's smile to brighten up my day. 

   "Hm? What are you staring at, Takeshi-san?" (Izumi)

   "N-Nothing. I was just thinking... can we leave here, to give them space?" (Takeshi)

   "Ah you're right." (Izumi)

   But as we were about to leave this place...

   "M-Miyano-kun! What are you doing!" (Sanae)

   "Ah S-Sanae?" (Reiji)

   Ah sh*t here we go again....

 

                               ♤

   When the school was over, I went to take my bike. There I found Izumi-san. She was trying her best to take her bike without making all the other bikes fall. I smiled and went to help her.

   "Ah Takeshi-san. Thank you."

   "No worries. How about we go home together?" 

   "Eh?" 

   Oh no! Why did I ask her that? She will obviously think that I'm trying to get close to her.

   "W-Well. Don't get me wrong okay? I-I don't have any ulterior motives!"

   "Fufu... you look so funny whenever you're tensed, Takeshi-san."

   "Is that so? Haha."

   Good. At least she doesn't think me of a bad guy. I hope I'm not a trouble for her. I should just die again if that's the case.

   We both decided to walk with our bikes for some time. I asked her,

   "By the way, Izumi-san, what happened with the three of them in the end?"

   "Oh. Sanae decided she would go to the teacher."

   "Teacher? Why?"

   "Well... Reiji-san can't decide whom to choose between them. But tomorrow is deadline day. So if he fails to choose tomorrow, his name will go to the lottery box. And both Sanae and Mizuha don't want it..."

   "I see... but what will the teacher do?"

   "I don't know."

   To be honest, whatever the hell they do, I don't care. However I was having some different thoughts in my mind.

   I was reluctant to say it, but I think I will regret my whole life if I don't...

   "Umm... Izumi-san... did you decide... someone you want to go out with?" 

    Izumi-san looked straight to me. I know she was thinking me of a suspicious person. She might even get my intentions right now.

   My intentions were probably clear as daylight: I wanted to go out with her. She is a very cute girl. And I already like her so much.

   At the very least, I don't think there's anything wrong with asking, right? 

  The worst she can say is "no".

  Izumi-san sighed and said, 

  "No. I haven't."

  That means I have a chance. I raised my fist and decided to ask her out. But before I said anything--

   "But I don't want anyone to go out with. And whoever I get in the lottery, it will be a disaster..."

   "Eh?", I didn't understand her.

   "It's because of my unrequited love to someone else... I just... can't go out with anyone! I don't know what to feel for the guy who will get randomly chosen with me."

    "Your unrequited love?"

    "Yes. There's no chance of me getting him. But I can't leave him out of my heart!"

    I didn't know what to say... but it looked like I have done something really wrong asking her. However I couldn't stop anymore and asked another dumb question. 

   "Umm... can I ask who is this?.... if you don't want to say it's also okay!"

   "It's.... Reiji-san...."

   She then sat on her bike and left without saying anything else. I stood there in daze. 

   My heart just sank a little.... 

    

 [To be continued]