"Does Murakami like Sugaya-san?"
Akira-kun asked again, feigning ignorance.
Murakami, however, changed the subject, saying, "How did Akira-kun fall in love?"
He didn't pay attention to Murakami Kouki's clumsy attempt to change the subject, but thought for a moment.
"I just saw a girl I liked and actively pursued her."
"That's quite simple, then."
Murakami Kouki said with a hint of envy.
Akira felt that the usually gentle Murakami was a little inexplicably melancholic.
Could it be that his constant kindness had made others take him for granted?
"I always feel that Akira-kun is very easy to get along with," Murakami Kouki suddenly said, then began to tell his own story.
"Sugaya-san is my high school classmate. I started noticing her in high school. Although we were never in the same class, my heart would still flutter every time I walked past her classroom."
"Sugaya-san is a very social person; she has friends in every class, while my friends only exist within my own class."
"I always feel that I'm not a good match for Sugaya-san."
"Why are you using such a sad tone?" Akira patted Murakami on the shoulder.
"Murakami, are you troubled by Kashiwagi and Morita's relationship?"
"Eh? Akira , how did you know?"
What Murakami didn't say was that Akira hadn't been friends with Kashiwagi and Morita for long, yet he knew they were Sugaya-san's friends.
Akira shook his head without explaining. Of course, he wouldn't say he learned it from the manga later.
Kashiwagi and Morita both attended Marin's Halloween party, but Murakami was nowhere to be seen.
He wondered if it was because he was at home with his sister.
Murakami sighed, looking at Akira's reaction, and simply concluded, "Anyway, it's just a story of unrequited love."
"Do the two of you usually talk?"
"We chat often, but it's just a classmate relationship."
"I feel the chances are a bit low," Akira judged, feeling that with Sugaya Naho's lively personality, she didn't seem to have any thoughts of romance.
If she were to really fall in love with Murakami, who was right next to her, her image wouldn't seem to change much, would it?
"But I still want to convey these feelings to her, even if it's just to get over her."
"Is it because Kashiwagi and Morita are getting closer to Sugaya-san?"
Akira retorted directly. He had been secretly in love since high school, so why was he suddenly going to confess now?
Their time together in college would obviously be longer!
They could still deepen their feelings, and there was no news of Murakami transferring.
Then something must have happened that made him feel threatened, making him feel the need to let go.
After thinking it over, he still felt it was because of Kashiwagi and Morita.
Because they were friends, he probably wanted to extricate himself from this entanglement as soon as possible.
After all, the longer he dragged it out, the more painful it might become for him.
"Please help me, Akira-kun." His handsome face was full of eagerness.
"I really want to refuse," Akira mumbled, "but the purpose of the club is to help people achieve their wishes."
Akira sighed, "Can I tell Kashiwagi about this?"
"Eh?! Tell Kashiwagi?"
"We're in the same club! Besides, there are only four of us."
Murakami hesitated for a few minutes, seeming a bit unsure.
"It should be fine."
It seemed Murakami was more worried about the cheerful Morita.
After all, at first glance, two cheerful personalities might seem more compatible.
But Akira felt that the gentle Murakami was a better match for the lively and cute Sugaya Naho.
After all, the ultimate direction of love is compatibility, not just being in love.
Even if two people are deeply in love, the friction of incompatibility can eventually wear away that love.
As adults, they should be thinking about how two people can continue to be compatible together.
"Murakami-san, do you think your chances are high if you confess?"
Akira asked.
Murakami Kouki hesitated for a moment: "I feel like I'll be rejected outright."
"It can't be lower than Japan's unemployment rate, can it?" Akira grumbled, "After all, jobs are hard to find in society these days."
"Who links falling in love with finding a job?"
Murakami Kouki smiled, not quite getting Akira's point.
"However, Murakami-kun is truly excellent."
Akira turned his head to look at Murakami Kouki's handsome face, counting on his fingers as he explained to him: "Girls generally have a first impression score when they meet a guy, which is about his appearance, height, special skills, profession, etc., and his overall aura at first glance."
"And the reason why most girls reject unfamiliar guys isn't really because they're 'better off as friends.' It's simply because the guy's first impression doesn't meet the girl's criteria."
"After all, if a guy's first impression is truly excellent, then if a girl is with a guy who likes her, would it really be difficult for her to fall in love with him?"
"What Akira said is truly cruel."
Murakami Kouki gave a wry smile.
"And Murakami-kun has such a handsome first impression, and seeing Murakami-kun always gives off a very gentle feeling."
Akira praised him, wondering why Murakami Kouki became so self-conscious when talking about Sugaya Naho.
The last time he saw this kind of situation was in a manga, where Tadano always felt insecure about his abilities, thinking he wasn't worthy of the class goddess, Komi.
But his own conditions were already incredibly good!
"Then, besides the first impression, there's also the concept of a second impression."
"That is to say, aspects like personality, values, way of thinking, and whether he takes care of others form a girl's second impression of a guy."
"And Murakami is also outstanding in this regard."
Akira explained: "I think Murakami accompanying his sister doesn't make girls think this guy is weak."
"Because when girls face a tall guy like Murakami-kun, they always put themselves in a vulnerable position."
"If I were to make an analogy, it's like being in the position of a younger sister who needs to be taken care of. This kind of Murakami-kun is very popular with girls."
Sajuna, for example, loved to snuggle into his arms.
"Then, Akira-kun, are you saying my chances are quite good?"
Murakami's face showed a hint of happiness, as if things weren't so difficult after all?!
"I don't know."
Akira sighed, "Logically speaking, the chances are indeed quite good."
"But I always feel that Sugaya-san doesn't have any thoughts of romance."
For a girl who has no thoughts of romance, unless she actively develops feelings, it always feels incredibly difficult to open her heart.
"Let's discuss it at the club today."
Akira concluded.
Murakami Kouki nodded, feeling that his situation also made Akira-kun feel quite difficult.
Truly, she was Sugaya-san, just as he imagined.