The Ice Angel
A couple of days later, school life had returned to its usual rhythm.
Or at least that's what I thought.
I was sitting at my desk, chatting quietly with Mei while we waited for the teacher.
Until someone approached my desk.
"Shimizu-san."
I looked up.
A boy from my class.
"Yes?"
He seemed quite nervous.
He scratched the back of his neck slightly before speaking.
"Could you come with me for a moment? There's something important I want to tell you."
…
I looked at the boy.
Then at Mei.
Mei looked back at me.
I blinked.
Something important?
"Right now?"
"Y-yes."
"Ah…"
I got up slowly and followed the boy down the hallway. As I walked, a strange feeling started to grow inside me.
No.
It couldn't be.
He probably just wants to ask me something about class.
Or maybe he needs help with an assignment.
Yes.
That makes much more sense.
…
That had to be it.
Definitely.
A few minutes later we were in a quieter part of the school.
"Shimizu-san…"
He swallowed.
It can't be that…
"For a while now… I've had feelings for you."
My brain shut off.
…
Ah.
And of all things, this had to be the one I got right…
I looked at him for a few seconds.
How am I even supposed to react to something like this? It never happened to me in my past life. Not even once.
This is so much more uncomfortable than I imagined…
"I… um…"
I scratched my cheek slightly.
"I'm sorry."
The boy lowered his gaze a little.
"I don't think I can return your feelings."
He stayed quiet.
Finally he smiled with a hint of sadness.
"I understand."
I gave a small bow and he left.
…
…
…
A few days later during PE, I was sitting on the side of the court taking water during the break when a shadow appeared in front of me.
"Shimizu-san."
I looked up.
Another boy.
"Yes?"
"Could you come with me for a moment? There's something important I want to tell you."
…
I went completely still.
"…"
No.
Don't tell me…
I slowly looked up at the sky.
Again?
…
…
…
The next day, I was about to have lunch with Mei and Yuuna when I heard a voice.
"Shimizu-san."
I looked up.
…
Another one.
A fairly well-known boy in school with a face full of confidence was standing in front of me.
Several people nearby started watching.
"Is that Takeda?"
"Is he going to try?"
"I heard Shimizu turned down Makoto from the soccer team."
"Really?"
Great.
Now I have an audience.
The boy smiled.
"Could you come with me for a moment? There's something important I want to tell you."
I closed my eyes.
Breathed deeply.
That line again.
Had they all coordinated to say the exact same thing?
I stood up.
"We can talk here."
The boy seemed surprised.
"Here?"
I looked around.
There were too many people watching us.
I didn't want this turning into a spectacle.
"Yes."
He took a deep breath.
"W-well, I like you, Shimizu-san. Will you go out with me?"
Silence.
I felt every gaze in the room lock onto me — exactly what I needed during lunch.
"I'm sorry."
The boy froze.
"Ah…"
"I really am sorry. But I can't."
"I understand…"
His smile began to fade.
"Yeah…"
Then he gave a small bow.
"Thank you for hearing me out."
And he left.
I watched him go.
…
Poor guy.
I sat back down with Mei and Yuuna.
Rested my elbows on the table.
"I'm exhausted."
Yuuna smiled.
"You've become very popular lately."
"Y-you think so?…"
Mei tilted her head slightly.
"That was the fifth one to confess to you this week."
Then she let out a small laugh.
"I heard some boys calling you the 'Ice Angel.'"
Yuuna smiled.
"It suits you. It matches your hair."
I puffed out my cheeks and Mei made an effort to hold back her laugh.
"I have to admit Yuuna has a point," she said, covering her mouth.
"It's not funny…"
I opened my bag.
"And it feels like they all agreed on the same opening line."
I took out my lunch.
"I'm going to start dreaming about it…"
Yuuna's gaze dropped to my food and she went still.
"…"
Mei looked too.
"…"
"What?"
I'd brought an ichigo sando — soft bread, cream, and strawberries, one of the best things you can get at a convenience store.
Yuuna pointed at the sandwich.
"Don't you think that's too sweet for lunch?"
Mei looked at it with some curiosity.
"It does look good…"
Then she looked at Yuuna.
"Though I think she has a point."
"What are you two talking about?"
I lifted the sandwich.
"This is the best lunch for four hundred yen."
"That doesn't answer the question."
"Besides, eating onigiri every day gets old!"
Yuuna sighed.
"You're going to gain weight if you keep eating that for lunch."
"Huh?"
Yuuna looked at me.
Then slowly let her gaze drop.
…
I got a little uncomfortable.
"W-what?"
"Nothing."
Pause.
Yuuna looked back at me.
"Although, thinking about it…"
"Yes?"
"Maybe all that fat will just go to your chest."
"…"
My face heated up immediately.
"W-what are you talking about?!"
Mei brought a hand to her mouth.
She was trying not to laugh.
"Mei…"
"Sorry."
She didn't look sorry at all.
Yuuna smiled calmly.
"I'm just saying it might not be so bad."
"I don't need that kind of nutritional analysis!"
I looked down at my sandwich.
Sighed.
"Fine…"
I took a small bite.
"I'll try to control myself a little."
…
I finished eating and looked at my empty plate with a certain sadness.
"It's hard to control yourself when something tastes this good…"
While I contemplated the remains of my lunch, I heard a voice behind me.
"Shimizu-san."
I looked up.
"Huh?"
I glanced to one side.
Nothing.
"Shimizu-san."
This time it came from behind.
I turned around.
And there he was.
"Takagi-kun."
Kenji approached calmly.
"I've been looking for you, Shimizu-san."
"For me? Why?"
He stopped in front of us.
"There's something important I want to tell you. Could you come with me after school?"
…
I blinked.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
No.
It couldn't be.
Not again.
"Something important…?"
"Yes."
A shiver ran down my spine.
No.
Don't tell me…
I looked at Kenji.
Then at Mei.
Then at Yuuna.
Back at Kenji.
"Well… I'm not sure I can."
"Why?"
"It's just…"
My brain started desperately searching for an excuse.
"I have to go with them."
I pointed at Mei and Yuuna.
Perfect.
A completely reasonable excuse.
Kenji, however, didn't even hesitate.
"I wanted to see the two of them too."
He pointed first at Mei.
"Hirano-san."
Then at Yuuna.
"And Cough Syrup Girl."
Yuuna narrowed her eyes.
"I see you want me to hit you."
Kenji let out a small laugh.
"I'll see the three of you after school."
And with that, he left.
I watched him walk away.
"…"
The three of us?
I looked slowly at Mei and then at Yuuna.
"The three of us?"
"That's what he said," Mei answered.
My brain started working overtime.
Wait.
Is Kenji going to confess too?
To all three of us?
At the same time?
…
What kind of shameless person tries to have three girlfriends and expects them all to be friends with each other?
That's not even a love triangle.
That's a polygon!
Although he did say he was looking for me first…
So… me…
I brought a hand to my cheek and my heart gave a small jump.
"…"
Wait.
WHAT AM I THINKING?!
"Who even cares!"
The words came out of my mouth at full volume.
Mei and Yuuna looked at me, and I just smiled, pretending nothing had happened.
"…"
"…"
Yuuna shrugged.
"Either way, we'll have to see what he wants."
"Yes," said Mei.
I nodded too.
But my mind was still stuck on the same thing.
A confession to all three?
This was going to be a disaster.
The afternoon passed surprisingly fast, and as we walked toward the exit, I couldn't help thinking about what was waiting for us.
Stupid Kenji.
Because of him I couldn't concentrate on anything all afternoon.
Otome game protagonist or not, if he really plans to confess to all three of us… I'm going to put him in his place.
"Shimizu-san!"
I looked up and saw Kenji waiting a few meters ahead.
We approached and Yuuna got straight to the point.
"Well then, what did you want to see us for?"
Kenji seemed to get nervous.
"N-no need to rush."
"Then?"
"Let's go to the café on the corner."
…
I went still.
The café?
I looked around and nothing seemed out of the ordinary, but my imagination had already started running.
It can't be.
Did he set up a public confession?
In a café?
Does he want to put us on the spot in front of everyone to pressure us socially?
My expression turned serious.
How could someone be so despicable?
In my imagination appeared a café completely decorated with handmade banners, balloons, and flowers. Even a small group of students holding a schedule of whose turn it would be.
"…"
I shook my head slightly.
No.
That was too much.
Kenji couldn't be that much of an idiot.
Right?
To my surprise, the café was fairly quiet. I looked around and saw no banners, no flowers, no groups of students.
I felt relieved.
Good.
Maybe I was overreacting.
"Ah."
Kenji stopped.
"There he is!"
I followed his gaze to a man sitting alone at one of the tables in the back.
He looked to be in his mid-thirties.
He wore a dark suit and had his long hair pulled back behind his head. A few days' worth of stubble covered the lower half of his face.
He had a serious, tired air about him.
Kenji raised a hand.
"Sasaki-san!"
The man looked up, and recognizing him, raised his hand too.
We approached and a few minutes later the four of us were sitting around the table.
Silence.
I looked at Kenji.
Then at the man.
Then at Mei.
Then at Yuuna.
Back at the man.
…
What on earth is this?
Wasn't Kenji supposed to confess?
Who is this guy?
Mei seemed to have exactly the same question.
"Um…"
She looked at Kenji.
"Takagi-kun."
"Yes?"
"Who is this man?"
The man let out a sigh.
"Kenji-kun…"
Kenji tensed.
"Yes?"
"Don't tell me you brought them here without telling them anything."
Kenji smiled uncomfortably.
"Sorry."
He stuck his tongue out slightly.
"It was easier this way."
The man closed his eyes for a few seconds.
He seemed to regret having agreed to the meeting.
"I see…"
He reached inside his jacket and took out several business cards.
He handed one to Mei first.
Then to Yuuna.
Finally he placed one in front of me.
"There's something I'd like to talk to you about."
He paused.
His gaze stopped on me.
"Especially you, Shimizu-san."
I picked up the card, looked down, and read the name.
Ichiro Sasaki.
Below it was a title.
My eyes opened slowly.
"A film director?!"