The Boy with Sanpaku Eyes Who Helped Me When I Was Ostracized in Elementary School – After Spending Time Together for Several Years, I Confessed and Said "I Love You" — Part 1

I fought with the bullies because I wanted to help my friend who was being bullied.

From the next day on, I became the target of bullying.

Even the friend I had helped joined their side.

The fun world I had known was dyed in despair in just one day.

‘Red eyes are so gross.’

‘Your hair looks just like the monster that got defeated by the hero.’

‘You're probably just as bad as the others, you freak.’

Every day was painful.

Being ignored. Having my favorite hair and eye color insulted.

I just wanted school to end as quickly as possible.

And then, one day, he spoke to me—

‘My name is Souichi Hosoyama! Silver hair. What’s your name?’

—It was a boy with sanpaku eyes.

This boy, who called himself Souichi, had just transferred.

I figured he didn’t know what kind of situation I was in.

That’s why I had to push him away before he got dragged into it…

‘Ririka! Come with me!’

‘Huh? What? Huh?’

He easily pulled me, who had been cowering, out of the classroom hell, and then led me straight outside the school.

Where on earth was he taking me?

When I asked, he answered as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

‘To my house!’

Why?

‘So we can play together.’

With that, I had nothing left to say.

From that day on, my world slowly began to regain its shine.

We played games, watched TV, ate snacks until almost past curfew...

He would even walk me home, saying things like, ‘Hey, did you really think I’d leave you alone?’

I think he must have sensed how lonely I felt when standing at the doorstep.

I wanted the days spent with this incredibly kind boy to last forever.

Even though I knew that was an impossible wish...

‘Hey, haven’t you been getting a little too full of yourself lately…?’

‘Ah… ah…’

She was the boss of this class. A strong-willed, headstrong girl.

She always believed she was right and wouldn’t accept any other opinions.

She’s the one who had orchestrated the bullying against me.

Several other girls surrounded me, with boys grinning and watching from the sidelines.

I had forgotten. This place was still a living hell.

My body started to tremble. My vision blurred, and tears threatened to spill.

Until he appeared in front of me.

‘Hey, transfer student! Could you not interfere?’

‘Huh? Who are you?’

‘Wha—!?’

She froze, her face turning bright red, clearly caught off guard by his unexpected response.

He took my hand and tried to lead me out of the circle, as if it were no big deal.

Of course, she wasn’t going to let that happen...

‘Wait a second! I didn’t give you permission to pass through here!’

‘Why do I need your permission? I’m a man who won’t be tied down by anyone.’

‘H-Huh?’

‘You don’t get it, do you...?’

‘Th-That doesn’t even matter! Stop hanging out with her, and I’ll let everything that’s happened so far slide.’

‘I refuse.’"

"What… the hell!?"

"Are we done here? Then move out of the way."

"W-What are you talking about…"

"Move!"

"Ugh…"

His voice carried so much force that the girls who had surrounded us began to shuffle backward.

A path opened up naturally in front of us.

He glared at them, as if warning them off.

"You better be ready for what's coming! If you go against me, you'll regret it—"

"I'm with Ririka because I choose to be! If you get in our way, I won't hold back!"

My heart leapt.

My pulse quickened, faster and faster.

Happy. So happy.

My head filled with joy.

"If anyone tries to mess with me, I'll pay them back tenfold! And that goes for anyone who touches Ririka too!"

"W-Why do you care so much about her? You could just leave her alone…"

"She's my favorite. Do I need any other reason?"

As if to say the conversation was over, his grip on my hand tightened.

I squeezed his hand back, making sure I would never let go either.

"Come on, Ririka, let’s go."

He tugged my hand, and we started walking.

I couldn’t even manage a proper response.

Every time I tried to look at Souichi’s face, I felt my cheeks burn, and I ended up looking away.

Ah… I get it now…

This is what it feels like to love someone…

That day, I felt the stirrings of my first love.

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

Souichi must be some kind of magician.

It's like he can always read my mind.

He always grants me what I secretly wish for.

"I want you to stay over at my place this weekend!"

I had been thinking how nice it would be to spend the weekend with him, and he invited me just like that.

Of course, that made me happy, but what made me the happiest was when he complimented my eyes and hair.

It took a lot of courage to cut my hair, the one I had been growing out because of Souichi, and show him…

"It’s beautiful."

"T-Thank you…"

Ahh…!

My heart felt warm and fuzzy.

I must be blushing like crazy… How embarrassing.

No matter how many times I think about it, this warmth will never fade.

But still, Souichi is unusually forward today.

"Wh-What!? S-Souichi!? Why are you acting like this all of a sudden!?"

"Hey, come on, we’re close, aren’t we? Don’t tell me… you don’t like it?"

I shook my head vigorously.

Souichi, who normally seems to be able to read my mind, showed no signs of noticing my feelings.

In fact, he usually seemed like he wasn’t interested in girls at all.

It was rare for him to be this close, so snug against me.

This unexpected chance sent my excitement skyrocketing.

"O-Of course I don’t mind! Actually, I’m really happy, and I wouldn’t mind if we stayed like this for…"

"Huh? Did you say something?"

"N-No! Nothing!"

That was close…!

"If he had asked, he might have realized how I felt..."

I’ve decided that I’ll confess my feelings to Souichi only after he starts showing interest in me.

My mom has been teaching me how to train myself to become prettier, and I’ve started practicing cooking so I can become a good wife.

Ever since I realized these feelings, my dream has been to become Souichi’s wife.

If I married Souichi, I’d greet him in a big white house with a “Welcome home!” and he’d eat my cooking, saying “Delicious”… we’d even take baths together, like my mom and dad do...

Kyaa! What am I imagining!?

“Hahaha! What’s wrong, Ririka? You’re really off your game today, aren’t you?”

“Huh?”

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