He ended the call immediately after.

Kotonoha stared at the disconnected screen, her heart aching.

So you can't handle it when I say no once?

Then what about all the times you turned me down?

She felt deeply hurt.

She'd invited him so many times before—and he rejected her every single time. She was disappointed, sure, but she never took it out on him.

Now she refused him just once—and he gave her attitude?

She didn't understand why her love life had to be so hard.

Her ex-boyfriend, traumatized by male anxiety, refused to get intimate—only to hook up with her friend behind her back.

The boy she liked and pursued on her own turned out to be a playboy, flirting with countless other girls—and now even treating her more coldly and impatiently.

She just wanted a relationship built on companionship. Why was that so difficult? Nᴇw novel chapters are publɪshed on NoveI[F]ire.net

Kotonoha didn't understand.

This time, I won't be the one to reach out again!

She swore to herself.

Until Takashi contacted her first, she wouldn't message him again.

…

The next morning.

Kotonoha: [Takashi, please reply to me.]

Lying in bed, Kotonoha kept tossing and turning, waiting for Takashi's reply.

Scrolling up through her messages, it was clear she'd been texting him nonstop since midnight.

But all her messages had been read and ignored.

Which made her feel even worse.

Takashi isn't really mad at me... is he? she worried, biting her finger.

She wanted to act tough and wait for him to come to her first.

But lying there in bed last night, she realized—this entire relationship with Takashi was something she had begged for.

Even if she lost this relationship—what would Takashi actually lose?

Would a goddess suffer from losing a simp?

Stop watching so many idol dramas. Of course not.

A goddess wouldn't feel a thing from losing a simp.

And Takashi wouldn't lose sleep over losing her, either.

In fact, he might even be glad—finally free of the burden she represented. He'd have more time to spend with the other vixens around him!

Just imagining her time being taken by those other vixens made Kotonoha unable to sleep.

She stayed up all night doing assignments and sending apology money packets.

But this time, it seemed like Takashi was truly angry—he didn't even accept the red envelope.

Kotonoha was troubled. If even money couldn't keep Takashi by her side, what else could?

Maybe he's just talking to other girls and hasn't noticed my messages yet... I'll wait a bit longer, she tried to comfort herself.

But the comfort only made her feel worse.

She grew even more emo.

7:30 a.m., Kotonoha got out of bed—no reply from Takashi.

8:30 a.m., she ate breakfast—still no reply.

9:30 a.m., she did yoga—nothing.

10:30 a.m....

It's over. Takashi's really angry this time.

By 6 p.m., on the way to the birthday banquet in her parents' car, Kotonoha looked at her phone and still saw no response.

Only one thought remained in her head:

What should I do?

She felt lost and miserable.

Clearly, he was still active online—posting gym selfies from the afternoon, his lunch, even his plane ticket to Hokkaido—but he didn't reply to her.

At that point, Kotonoha couldn't even lie to herself anymore.

"Are you upset, Kotonoha?" Katsura Manami asked.

She'd noticed her daughter glued to her phone since morning, each time growing more disappointed.

"I'm fine."

Kotonoha didn't feel like talking to her mom.

Because in her eyes, if it weren't for her mother, things with Takashi wouldn't have turned out like this.

Now I can only wait for Takashi to come back and try to coax him face-to-face, she thought, dejected.

She felt like her love was truly pathetic.

And yet—Takashi had her completely wrapped around his finger.

Entering the hotel hosting Shinomiya Kaguya's birthday banquet with her parents, Kotonoha caught sight of the birthday girl herself.

Shinomiya Kaguya wore a champagne-colored gown that made her fair skin glow.

Her jet-black hair was elegantly styled up, paired with modest heels that enhanced her grace and nobility.

"Miss Shinomiya, happy birthday."

Kotonoha handed over the gift her parents had prepared.

"Thank you, Miss Katsura."

Shinomiya Kaguya gave a polite, practiced smile and accepted the gift.

"I hope you enjoy the evening, Miss Katsura."

"I will."

The two weren't particularly close. After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Shinomiya moved on to greet other guests.

"Miss, may I have the honor of a dance?"

"Sorry, I have a boyfriend."

"My apologies."

Carrying a small plate of fruit and cake, Kotonoha had just walked to the side when a few guys tried to chat her up.

Kotonoha didn't care for the atmosphere here.

Everyone seemed so fake.

Unlike Takashi—straightforward and genuine.

He might not actually fit those words in most people's eyes, but to Kotonoha, he was perfect.

She found a quiet corner and was about to sit down when she suddenly caught something from the corner of her eye and changed direction.

"Long time no see, Miss Sawamura."

Tonight, Eriri wore a deep blue gown. It had been a while, and there was a noticeable new coldness in her aura.

Eriri lazily lifted her eyelids and gave Kotonoha a quick glance—then immediately plastered on a fake smile.

"Long time no see, Miss Katsura."

"May I sit?"

"Be my guest."

"Thank you."

Kotonoha sat down and nibbled on her dessert for a moment. Then, hesitantly, she asked, "Takashi, he…"

"What about him?" Eriri instantly perked up, like her old self again.

Kotonoha: "..."

She had originally wanted to ask what to do if Takashi was angry.

After all, this woman was his ex-girlfriend.

She probably had a lot of experience—Kotonoha thought maybe she could learn something.

"Hurry up and say it! What's wrong with Takashi? Did something happen?"

Eriri got anxious seeing Kotonoha hesitate. She hated when people stopped halfway through a sentence.

"I don't know…" Kotonoha paused for a while before saying gloomily, "Takashi isn't talking to me anymore."

"I don't know what to do."

Maybe it was a case of shared pain, but Eriri could relate.

She ordered two lightly alcoholic drinks from a server, set one down in front of Kotonoha, and lifted her glass. "Cheers."

Say no more. Let the wine do the talking.

"Mm."

___

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