Prove Your Eternal Love. There Shall Be No Heroine Correction. - Hint 1

The last day of summer vacation. I looked at the piles of documents for the Cultural Festival on my desk and thought back to my elementary school days.

I used to procrastinate a lot of homework because I was too busy having fun, and then put it all together on the last day of school. I would regret it every year, but I was never able to improve on it.

The day I saw Shirase-kun crying hard and fell in love at first sight. Why didn’t I call out to him? I followed him with my eyes, I researched him, my feelings for him grew, and yet I didn’t express my feelings to him until much later. I put off the most important thing, and to top it all off, he was taken by that girl of all people. I felt nothing but regret, and my hands stopped.

As if to punish me, the pile of papers on my desk suddenly doubled in height and exceeded my eye level. Soon an equal number of stacks are added to Shirase-kun’s next to me.

“…Eh, are you insane?”

Shirase-kun asked with a stunned look on his face. President Fuyuki cowered her shoulders in an exaggerated manner.

“That’s a foolish question. We have long since lost our minds. You should come over to our side as soon as possible.”

“No, you can’t. Please open your eyes.”

“My eyes? Hahaha, don’t worry. My eyes are scary awake.”

The President poked and prodded the empty energy drink cans arranged like medals on her long desk with her fingernails, laughing like a child as they shook unsteadily.

“Aogashima-san. Are you all right? Isn’t it too much?”

“But that state is where my work is in the best shape.”

Shirase-kun asked in a whisper, to which I replied in a whisper. Shirase-kun has been treating me with the same sense of distance since then. So, I was also keeping a very calm attitude. At least, I tried not to make him feel guilty for turning me down.

“But there’s no way this will ever end.”

Our job was to check the documents submitted by each of the exhibits. …but there was so much of it that I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Fufu, really, despair.”

“I’ve never seen anyone talk about despair with such glee.”

“But, Shirase-kun. Isn’t this kind of thing fun?”

“…Well, you never know. You might be feeling some sort of adrenaline rush.

Besides, there were things that made me happy. As long as I have the documents in front of me, Shirase-kun would be next to me. Even if he doesn’t like me, that was okay for the time being.

I accepted this result. According to the angel who appeared in front of me, I lost the game. The fact that the girl was next to him was also due to the game. But that was just for now.

Not many relationships last long. Someday it would be my turn. When that time comes, I would definitely make Shirase-kun regain the feelings he had for me.

“Ah. …Sorry, I have to take a call.”

Shirase took out his vibrating smartphone from his pocket and got up from his seat. I nodded and watched him go out into the hallway. The only person who would call him would be Tokiwa Nagisa. So I quietly opened the door from inside the room and peeked out to see how he was doing.

“I’m surprised at how much work I can’t seem to finish. There’s a huge amount of paperwork.”

“…Sorry. That sounds a little harsh.”

“Ah, Aogashima-san is here, too. …Yeah. I can’t leave because we have to work together. I’m sorry, but you’ll have to go home first.”

“…Yeah, right. I miss you too. But look, it’s the weekend. Yes, yes.”

“No, it’s good to hear your voice. Well, I’ll call you later in the evening.”

“Haha. Just make yourself comfortable and wait for me.”

I don’t know what that girl was saying on the other end of the call. He looked a little troubled, but even then he seemed to be enjoying himself. There seemed to be no room for intrusion.

Shirase-kun hung up the phone. I hurried back to my seat. I was sure that everyone around me knew how much I like him. If you wanted to laugh at it, call it an unfulfilled love, call it one-sided, laugh at it all you want. But in the end, I would win. I would get him.

Shirase-kun returned to the conference room and lovingly stroked the bag that stood on the luggage rack right next to the entrance, and the tiger cat strap that hung from it. I know that this was a little different from Shirase-kun’s taste. So I was sure it was matching with hers.

“…Did something good happen?”

“Eh. Well, I guess,” Shirase-kun responded with a grin, which was a little cute, but I was not happy at all. I also didn’t like the way he touched his face in surprise when I pointed it out. So I mumbled, “Hmmm,” in a cute way.

“Shirase-kun. …Did you start going out with that girl, by any chance?”

A question I have been too afraid to ask until now. But I felt like it was the only time I could ask.

“Going out with her…No. Not yet.”

When such an unexpected answer came back, I couldn’t help but smile. But I was an adult. I would never embarrass him. Then do I still have a chance? I didn’t ask him about that.