My System Always Wants to Force Me to Confess
Chapter 40: What to Do When the Underachiever Gets Cocky?

Chapter 40: Chapter 40: What to Do When the Underachiever Gets Cocky?

[Really a girl?]

[Absolutely! Genuine and ready to go!] Imamura Takuya’s message replied almost instantly.

Shirakawa Sawahei couldn’t help but stare at Tachibana Tomoku a bit longer, thinking that this Little Invisible Study Girl from his family was way too attractive to popular kids.

One Old Master Oga hadn’t gone far yet, and now suddenly another one appeared. Don’t they have skill cooldowns? Is everyone’s power truly unlimited?

What’s even more outrageous is that now even a girl has targeted Tachibana Tomoku!

Even though Tachibana Tomoku looks like she stirs a strong protective urge, you are still a girl, aren’t you? How are you going to protect her?

What’s that saying? Yuri is infinitely good, but... ahem, the hurdles in front of you left by many predecessors aren’t easy to cross.

Girl, your thoughts are very dangerous!

Wait, those silly delinquents can’t seriously have caught the confessing yuri girl, right?

Shirakawa Sawahei quickly sent a message over, and Imamura Takuya smugly replied: [Of course! Brother Shirakawa! Ever since you dealt with that bastard Oga Masato, achievements like this became rare.]

[I certainly wouldn’t miss out on such an opportunity! It’s just unfortunate that Ajie and Ishida wanted to steal my credit.]

[...]

Shirakawa Sawahei couldn’t help but feel genuine sympathy for that poor girl. She barely gathered the courage to confess to a fellow girl, Tachibana Tomoku, only to be caught on the spot by a few silly delinquents...

He could even imagine how silly the scene must have been when the three delinquents rushed over to capture her, competing for credit.

This blow is surely too much for a girl to bear. As Ishikawa Accounting would say, it makes you just want to go home and die a little.

[...You guys... let the poor girl go.] Shirakawa Sawahei couldn’t bear to say.

[Eh? Let her go!? Brother Shirakawa, but she’s a rival in love!]

What do you mean, a rival in love—Shirakawa Sawahei felt a headache and typed back.

[...Let her go.]

[Got it! I understand... as expected from Brother Shirakawa, I get it completely!]

[In Brother Shirakawa’s eyes, such minor characters don’t even count as rivals! Your path is towards the stars and the sea! Such trivial matters shouldn’t bother you.]

[...]

Shirakawa Sawahei ignored the fawning praises of the lickspittle delinquent, put away his phone, and continued doing practice problems.

Imamura Takuya also put away his phone and nodded slightly to the delinquents beside him: "Brother Shirakawa said to let her go."

"Of course, as my Ai Bo, his magnanimity is unparalleled!" Ishida Koji said in solemn admiration.

"Brother Shirakawa’s spirit and magnanimity are worth me following and understanding for a lifetime..."

"Hey, you can go now!"

"Our boss has spoken! We’ll let you go this time!"

The short-haired yuri girl crouching in the corner and trembling with her face covered, heard this, her shoulders trembling gently, she could never have imagined that her first confession in life would end in such a situation.

Feels like going home to die right away.

Shirakawa... Brother Shirakawa? Is there such a delinquent bully in our school? I have no impression at all!

Why are these delinquents connected to Tachibana...?

Why is my citrus-flavored love so difficult...?

The anime lied to me...

An incredibly dramatic confession from a short-haired Yuri Hime, muttering to herself in a corner, questioning all of life...

This small yuri side story didn’t have much impact on Shirakawa Sawahei. In the activity room with only four people, Shirakawa Sawahei was doing exercises, Tachibana Tomoku was practicing writing, while Asano Nazuki and Tsukimi Sakurazawa were chatting.

Time was dissipated lightly and pleasantly like this.

When the club time ended, Tachibana Tomoku suddenly mustered the courage to call out to Shirakawa Sawahei.

"Shirakawa... classmate..."

"When is your birthday?" Tachibana Tomoku’s face blushed, her eyes avoiding Shirakawa Sawahei completely, her fingers gently twirling the hem of her skirt as if deliberately having a quarrel with her dress.

The small gestures of nervousness from the pure, shy, deer-like girl in front of him didn’t escape Shirakawa Sawahei’s eyes, he wondered aloud: "What’s up?"

Tachibana Tomoku jerked with a scare at the words, her voice trembling: "It’s... it’s nothing... just... just..."

She gently bit her tongue tip to settle her twisted tongue: "Just really grateful that Shirakawa helped me out of trouble... so... I wanted to give you a gift."

Shirakawa Sawahei smiled: "It’s nothing... If you must thank me, just treat me to a meal."

He didn’t help Tachibana Tomoku for her gratitude, gifts didn’t even need to be considered, right?

Tachibana Tomoku’s lovely face showed confusion, she tilted her head in thought for a moment, then cautiously asked: "Then... is it alright if I do both?"

Hmm? You want it all?

Shirakawa Sawahei hesitated for a moment before saying: "Well... forget it, I don’t really celebrate birthdays."

"Oh..." Tachibana Tomoku’s expression looked a bit disappointed.

"How about this, just get me a cake for my birthday," Shirakawa Sawahei felt bad seeing the expression of disappointment in Tachibana Tomoku’s eyes, and reluctantly suggested.

"Let’s set the meal for next weekend, I need to schedule my part-time job around it."

"Mm... okay."

After simply setting a date, Shirakawa Sawahei packed up his things and headed out of the school.

He had a tutoring appointment with Ise Yu Yuzhijin that he had to attend. However, today he’d be going to a place more conducive to study.

Hopefully, Ise Yu Yuzhijin wouldn’t drop the ball this time...

Shirakawa Sawahei silently prayed. Though he never believed in such things, after spending time with Ise Yu Yuzhijin, he began to feel like maybe a belief in deities wasn’t so bad.

"Shirakawa-kun!" Ise Yu Yuzhijin waved to Shirakawa Sawahei as he arrived at the bus stop.

Their houses weren’t far apart, only about two streets. However, Shirakawa Sawahei lived in a rented apartment, while Ise Yu Yuzhijin’s home was a typical Japanese-style family house.

It resembled a Crayon Shinchan house a bit, with a yard where they could keep a dog.

"Did the Calligraphy Club activities end late today? You’ve arrived later than me."

"Something came up," Shirakawa Sawahei replied: "Your friend, she’s not going to be absent this time, is she?"

"Of course not! I’ve already talked to her! No matter if the world ends, we’re studying at her place tonight!"

"I feel like I’ve made amazing progress recently!" cute little Ise Yu boasted, her confidence soaring.

Ha, weakling.

Shirakawa Sawahei was used to this scenario, where normally struggling students, after a few days of serious study, would have this inflated sense of achievement.

Nothing much to say, if he wanted to solve it, one exam would be enough.