Chapter 13 Confession
Chapter 13 Confession
Back in elementary—and even the first half of middle school—I used to crush it. Now I barely understood half the crap they threw at us. I’d get discouraged, motivation would die, and I’d just zone out or fall asleep at my desk.
I was doing exactly that, head heavy on my arms, chasing the sleep I’d lost the night before, when a finger poked the back of my skull.
“Hey. Wake up. This part’s going to be on the test, Iryoku.”
I lifted my head and found myself staring at the pretty face of my front-row classmate. No mouth mask this time.
“Good morning, Alice,” I grinned. “What are you doing in my dreams again?”
Her cheeks flushed pink. She frowned, spun back around without another word, and pretended to focus on the board.
I don’t know why, but riling her up like that always made me smile. It had become my new normal—these light, easy conversations, the stupid jokes. With her I could just… be. No weird tension, no overthinking every word.
I yawned, propped my chin on my hand, and half-listened while the teacher droned on about formulas and whatever.
Yeah… I think I already knew exactly why talking to her felt so effortless.
It wasn’t love, even though she was actually really cute. That small frame of hers gave her this innocent, almost doll-like look. And I knew she looked a lot like her older sister Yui, I had zero doubt she’d grow up to be just as pretty.
But to me she felt more like a little sister. Nothing more.
Sometimes I wondered if something was wrong with me. We were barely a week into high school and she was already drawing attention from half the guys in class. She behaved impeccably—righteous, quirky, and polite—yet she shut every single one of them down without hesitation. It honestly surprised me. Coming from an all-girls middle school, I’d figured she’d be easy to sweet-talk. That’s why I stayed close, ready to chase off any bastard who wouldn’t take “no” for an answer.
The bell rang. Class ended and the next one began. We stepped out into the hallway and I fell into step right beside her.
“Hey, stop following me,” Alice muttered, eyes straight ahead.
“But I like being close to you,” I answered with a grin. “What, are you ashamed to be seen with me?”
She pouted and looked away, cheeks faintly pink.
She suddenly stopped in front of a big wall poster.
Candidates for the Student Council.
“Don’t tell me you’re actually going to apply,” I said, raising both hands in mock horror. “Isn’t it boring to waste your time there instead of having fun at home… or doing literally anything else?”
“Shut it,” she shot back. “I think I’ll try. I heard it’s good experience for college applications.”
“Oh, you really are so mature,” I teased. “Already thinking that far ahead. I feel ashamed standing next to you Lady Alice.”
“Don’t make fun of me.”
“I’m not,” I said, more seriously this time. “I think you can do it. You’re righteous, serious, pretty, and smart. With your looks and that quiet charisma, you’d actually have a real shot.”
I paused, then added,
“Just… be careful with guys. Don’t trust everybody. Not even me.”
She looked down, jaw tightening. Without another word she turned and walked away.
The next day the damn girl actually did it. She didn’t just apply to join the student council—she put her name in to run for president.
I was waiting outside the school while she did some kind of interview with the current council. Bored out of my mind, I wandered around the front of the building, kicking at loose pebbles.
That’s when I spotted a small group of guys huddled near the side of one classroom. I drifted closer.
“I know what this is,” I muttered.
“Shut the fuck up, dumbass,” one of them snarled, smacking the other on the head. “Did you get what I told you?”
The second guy turned to the scared kid they had backed against the wall.
“Come on, spit it out. We need the cash for karaoke with the girls later.”
I sighed. Same shit, different school. Strong preying on the weak. It never changed.
I was already turning away, heading back to wait for Alice, when a soft but steady voice cut through the air.
“Hey… what are you guys doing? That’s against school rules. Bullying your classmate.”
I really didn’t want it to be her. But of course it was.
Alice stood right in front of the two older boys, her small stature looking even tinier between them. Still, she didn’t budge—arms crossed, chin up.
They both burst out laughing.
“Hahaha!”
She didn’t flinch.
“Enough,” she said firmly. “Give me your names. The teachers and your parents are going to hear about this.”
She actually pulled out a notepad and pen, waiting.
While they were busy laughing, the bullied kid bolted.
I was already walking toward her, cracking my neck, ready to step in. I knew I probably couldn’t take both of them easily… but I had my ways.
Then a new set of footsteps approached from behind the two bullies.
I froze.
Shit.
It was him—that huge third-year. The one I’d made a mental note to never get near. He wasn’t just tall; he was built like a damn gorilla on steroids. The brute from my first middle school looked like a total wimp next to this guy.
Dangerous as hell.
The third-year stopped, looked down at the scene… and sneered.
“Oh? You’re a very pretty little girl,” he drawled. “Why don’t you come with me? We’re going to karaoke. Come on… come with your senpai.”
His hand reached out toward her.
Alice’s face went pale. “Ah—”
She stumbled back, but her shoulders hit the wall. The three of them closed in, towering over her small body.
I couldn’t take it anymore.
In a flash my mind ran through every stupid option: bag to the big guy’s face, jump, kick, punch the others while he’s dazed… Yeah. Not happening. I’d probably need a blunt weapon just to do any real damage to him. And who knew who they were connected to? Retaliation would be a bitch.
So I kept walking forward instead, calm as ever, slipping my hand into my pocket and pulling out my phone.
I flipped it open in my palm, holding it up like a weapon.
“Hey, assholes,” I called, voice steady. “It’s really disrespectful to go around trying to touch someone else’s girl.”
All three of them—and Alice—turned to stare at me.
“This is already enough to call it sexual harassment,” I continued, still smiling. “Plus the extortion on that kid… and the physical assault. I’ve got it all right here.”
I looked at them, my grin widening just a little.
“Fellas.”
The gorilla on steroids’ face twisted with pure rage.
“Who the hell are you?” he growled.
I didn’t answer with words.
I glared straight back, letting the smile stretch into something unhinged—half-crazy, half-furious, eyes dark and glittering with pure threat. My voice rose, loud and sharp.
“Or is that what you want? You really wanna go at it?”
I probably looked a little insane.
The creature started walking straight toward me, cracking his knuckles.
“But don’t think I’m not prepared.”
My hand slid into my bag. Deliberately slow, acting like I was gripping something nasty in there.
“Well…” I said, voice low and sweet, “then there’ll be blood.”
The big guy froze mid-step, hesitation flashing across his face. “Fucker, you don’t know who you—”
Just then, a loud voice sliced through the air.
“Hey! You lot! What the hell are you doing over there?! You’re not extracurricular students, right? Go home already!”
I turned.
The fatso teacher was standing at the corner of the building, arms folded, looking thoroughly annoyed.
Good timing, fatso… Guess I judged you wrong after all.
We walked down the street together afterward.
Alice stayed quiet, eyes fixed on the ground. I tried small talk a couple of times, but she only nodded, still lost somewhere else.
Was that too much for her? I wondered.
The silence stretched. Shit. Maybe the whole thing had shaken her more than she let on.
Without thinking, I stepped forward and pulled her into a hug.
“Ah!” she yelped, body stiffening in surprise.
“Everything’s okay,” I murmured against her hair. “I’m here. Nothing’s going to happen to you.”
Her doll-sized body felt so fragile in my arms. For a split second my mind flashed back to Ale—bigger, softer, bouncier—but I shoved the thought away hard. No. Don’t remember that bitch.
After a few heartbeats I let go and stepped back, trying to play it cool.
“There… feeling better?”
Her gaze dropped to her shoes, cheeks still flushed, like she was fighting with herself over what to say next.
“Come on, cheer up,” I said. “If you’re serious about becoming council president, a little thing like this is nothing. Let’s go—I’ll buy you an ice cream like old times. What flavor do you want?”
I’d already started walking when her voice stopped me cold.
“I like you…”
I froze mid-step.
“Eh?”
I turned around.
Alice stood there, fists clenched at her sides, face burning crimson like she might explode if she didn’t get the words out fast.
“I like you, Iryoku. P-please… go out with m-me.”
My brain went completely blank.
I hadn’t expected that. Not from her. Not right now. Hell, not from anyone.
“…Okay.”
That was all I could say.
Alice blinked, eyes wide, like she couldn’t believe how easily the answer came.
And honestly…
Neither had I.