Chapter 4
[You only used Mrs. Tanaka as a tool. This incident gave you a perfect excuse to distance yourself from her. As one of the Japanese who claimed to be able to read the air, Mrs. Tanaka quickly sensed your intentions, and you two became strangers.]
[Having dealt with Mrs. Tanaka, you shifted your focus back to Asano Nao. You decided on your strategy: create opportunities for Asano Nao to approach and talk to you.]
Minami Yuuki nodded. Yes, this is the approach he would take.
In romantic relationships, or rather, in all interpersonal relationships, the one who takes the initiative is at a disadvantage. The initiator cannot control the other’s response, cannot be sure if the other will accept or reject.
In contrast, the passive one conserves energy, responding to action with inaction. The success of this encounter, at least for this meeting, depends entirely on him. He is in an invincible position.
[Three days later, you get an opportunity. It’s a rainy day. You walk out of school, deliberately not using the umbrella in your bag, and walk home in the rain.]
The scene played out in Minami Yuuki’s mind.
Thunder rumbled, lightning flashed across the sky, like a hammer shattering foggy glass, the cracks spreading rapidly.
[You walked very slowly on purpose, pretending to be melancholy. When you got near Asano’s house, you stopped and leaned against a wall, head slightly lowered, watching people pass by.]