Ever Since I Carried Out the Penalty Game of Accidentally Confessing "I Like You, Please Go Out With Me" in the Class Group Chat, the Girls in My Class Have Been Acting Weird — Part 3

Standing there was Higuchi, the library committee member.

It wasn’t surprising to find her here—it was her territory, after all.

“Got a minute?”

I understood her words to mean several things:

“Can I sit next to you?”

“Can I talk to you even though you’re reading?”

“Can I borrow some of your time?”

Though people often said Higuchi was quiet and hard to read, I’d learned from my occasional conversations with her that she was just shy.

“Yeah, sure.”

Unlike Fujino or Kano, Higuchi probably wouldn’t turn this into a hassle.

She didn’t seem interested in romance or gossip.

I figured she just wanted to recommend a book or something.

“So, about yesterday… what was that?”

“…Oh no.”

Apparently, even my safe haven, the library, wasn’t immune to the fallout of my accidental confession.

“It’s not what you think, Higuchi. That was just…”

Maybe it was safe to tell Higuchi the truth.

It was just a dumb penalty game, after all—

“Are you going out with someone?”

“Huh?”

“If you are, will you stop coming to the library?”

“No, no, it’s not like that.”

“Because if you do, I’ll be alone again…”

“It’s fine, Higuchi. I come to the library because I like it here. Whether I have a girlfriend or not doesn’t matter.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, really.”

“That’s a relief…”

Ah, Higuchi, you’re so reasonable.

If she had reacted like Fujino or Kano, I don’t know what I would have done.

“Actually, yesterday’s thing was just a penalt—”

“I’m so glad… This means I still have a chance… hehe.”

Higuchi… you too?

What am I supposed to do now? That makes three of them!

There’s no way I can just end this by saying, “It was a prank, guys!”

At this rate, I might need to commit seppuku to make up for this.

“W-well then, Higuchi, I’ll come back to the library again later.”

I chose to ignore her last comment, quickly stood up, and left.

That’s it—I’m done.

Even if it’s boring, I’ll lock myself in a restroom stall for now.

No, better yet, I’ll skip the afternoon classes and hide out in the nurse’s office.

Yeah, that’s a plan. I’ll claim stomach pains from stress.

“Ah… okay… see you later.”

With Higuchi looking a little lonely, I fled the library as fast as I could.

And so, after school.

I was finally kicked out of the nurse’s office and forced to attend the final homeroom session of the day.

The moment I stepped into the classroom, I felt the sharp stares directed at me—far more intense than they had been in the morning.

“(They say he’s been lying in bed, heartbroken from being rejected.)”

“(Seriously? That’s hilarious!)”

Could you not laugh? I can hear everything!

I endured the needle-like stares during homeroom, standing and bowing mechanically at the end.

As soon as we finished, I tried to bolt out of the classroom at top speed—

“Hey!”

“Wait!”

“Hold up!”

No… please spare me!

The curious girls had already blocked my path.

“Yoru Nagi, what’s the deal? Who did you confess to?”

“Is it true you got rejected?”

“Do you even have someone you like?”

The questions came in an endless barrage, and something inside me finally snapped.

Self-destruction mode: activated. If this is how it’s going to be, so be it.

“HASHIOKA! TAJIMA! Don’t you dare run away from this!”

I bellowed at my so-called friends, who were trying to slip out unnoticed, and called them over.

“We’re all in this together, aren’t we?”

“Uh, I don’t understand what you mean, comrade.”

“Same here… no clue, boss.”

“Shut up! Let’s apologize together—on three!”

“Yes, sir…”

“We’re really sorry!”

The three of us executed a synchronized, flawless kneeling bow before the girls.

With our foreheads pressed to the floor, we confessed everything.

* * *

“Oh, so that’s what happened.”

“Typical dumb boys, right?”

“I thought something exciting had actually happened…”

The moment we spilled the truth, the girls lost all interest and left the classroom.

The only ones remaining were us three, plus Fujino, Kano, and Higuchi.

“Hey, Yoru Nagi?”

“Y-yes?”

The first to speak was Fujino.

“There are better ways to apologize, don’t you think?”

“Please don’t make me commit seppuku!”

I couldn’t even muster the courage to look at her.

“But… maybe Yoru Nagi wasn’t really at fault?”

Higuchi timidly interjected, seemingly defending me.

Yes! Higuchi for the win! The real culprit here is Hashioka!

“Well, that’s true. You’re not the type to pull stunts like this,” Kano chimed in.

“Yes, exactly! Thank you!”

With Higuchi and Kano siding with me, I thought I might actually get off the hook.

“But… wouldn’t it be unfair if you didn’t get any punishment?”

“Yeah, I think so too.”

“He should face some kind of consequence, don’t you think?”

Wait… weren’t you three barely acquainted? Why are you suddenly so in sync?!

“Alright, here’s what we’ll do. Yoru Nagi, you’re going to tell us who you really like. That’s how you can make it up to us.”

“Who I like…?”

“Yeah! Come on, spill it! Do you like someone? Maybe one of us, even?”

Ah, I see what you’re doing here…

It feels ridiculous to have to face a punishment for a punishment game, but we were in the wrong, after all.

Besides, I couldn’t keep this charade up much longer.

“Alright… I do have someone I like.”

“Spit it out, then! Be a man and say it clearly!”

“Fine. Here goes.”

Resolving myself, I pulled out my phone, unlocked the screen, and showed them my home screen.

“Wait, who’s the girl in the photo with you?”

“…My girlfriend.”

For a moment, there was stunned silence.

Then all five of them shouted in unison:

“YOU HAVE A GIRLFRIEND?!”  

[The End]

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