Yuigahama hadn't messaged him in a long time.
It seemed to be right after he and Yukino confirmed their relationship a few days later, Yuigahama suddenly became gloomy and withdrawn.
Even someone as dense as Ryan could tell:
Yuigahama probably liked him.
From her very first day in the Service Club
her constant blushing and secret glances
he had already sensed something was off.
But back then, his entire heart was focused on Yukino.
Even now, that hadn't changed.
Besides, he was used to being liked.
Back in school, he received love letters almost daily.
Girls would drag him behind the school building just to confess.
If he responded to everyone, he'd die of exhaustion.
Now, staring at his phone, he saw a message from Yuigahama.
Yuigahama:
"Ryan, are you still awake?"
Ryan:
"Not yet. What's up?"
Yuigahama:
"Nothing much… I just wanted to ask how you've been lately.
You haven't been coming to school for a long time."
Ryan:
"I'm fine.
But I won't be going to school anymore."
Yuigahama:
"Ehh? Why?
Did something happen at home?"
Ryan:
"Didn't you ask Yukino?
I'm playing soccer full-time now.
I might join the national team or go overseas.
Search 'Blue Lock Project.'"
A pause.
Yuigahama:
"…I see.
Well, you are amazing at soccer.
Even someone like me who never pays attention knows you carried the team to nationals."
"Wait, I'll look up Blue Lock."
After a moment
Yuigahama:
"Waaah!
That program is terrifying!
Abandoning the lives of 299 others…
Are you really okay in there?"
Ryan:
"It's fine, it's fine.
Don't you know?
I'm the strongest."
Yuigahama:
"You always say that… but competing with so many people is still scary."
Ryan:
"Why are you still awake? Don't you have school tomorrow?"
Yuigahama:
"Just a little insomnia… so I sleep late.
Um… are you and A-Yuki doing well lately?"
Ryan:
"Pretty good.
We just went on a date last week."
On the other side
Yuigahama lay face-down on her bed,
her two large buns squished flat, her legs kicking uncontrollably.
She was on the phone with Miura Yumiko.
"Yumiko… do I really have to say it?"
"Why not?
You're just as good as that snow-woman Yukinoshita."
"But he's already dating A-Yuki…
Wouldn't I be interfering?"
"Haven't you been listening?
I found out Ryan's dating two upperclassmen too
that superstar Sakurajima Mai and the gorgeous Kasumigaoka Utaha.
They all know about each other and they all accept it."
"If he can date three, why can't he date four?"
"That's… but still…"
"Fine then.
Spend your whole life watching the guy you love be happy with other women
while you sit in the corner like a stray dog licking your wounds."
Yuigahama fell silent
her heart squeezed painfully.
"So what should I do…?"
"Confess.
If it works, great
if not, at least you'll have tried.
Better than regretting it in thirty years."
Yuigahama took a deep breath.
"…Okay.
I understand."
Back in Blue Lock, Ryan noticed the messages stopped.
He was about to turn off his phone
When suddenly, another notification popped up.
He opened it
And yelled:
"WHAT THE HELL?!"
The shout jolted awake the other three in the dorm.
Chigiri burst out first.
" Ryan!
What are you doing?!
People are trying to sleep!"
Kunigami followed immediately.
"Seriously.
We have training and a match tomorrow."
Aryu slow but dramatic joined in.
"If I don't get my beauty sleep,
my hair will dry out.
That would be unfashionable."
Ryan lifted his phone like it was a bomb.
"I GOT CONFESSED TO."
"WHAT?!!" ×3
In less than a second, the three appeared at his bedside.
He showed them the screen:
Yuigahama:
"Ryan…
I like you.
Please go out with me."
Chigiri grabbed him by the shoulders.
" Ryan!
You already have THREE girlfriends!
Why are you still attracting more women?!"
Kunigami yelled:
"Yeah!
Can you treat them properly like this?!"
Aryu sparkled with admiration.
" Ryan having three girlfriends is so…
so fashionable."
"Can you NOT talk about that right now, Aryu?!"
Ryan groaned.
"I didn't entice her!
She contacted me first!
Back in school she already liked me
but after I started dating my second girlfriend,
she stopped messaging me much.
Then tonight she suddenly showed up, we chatted a little,
and she confessed out of nowhere."
"In all my years in the dating battlefield,
I've NEVER seen someone confess like this."
Chigiri shook him harder.
"WHY is your woman-magnetism so ridiculous?!"
"Because I'm charming, obviously.
You know Kimura Takuya?
People call him Little Ryan."
"SHUT UP."
Chigiri snapped.
"You look like this and you STILL question why girls like you?!
Sometimes you're prettier than a girl!
I swear you must attract men too
I'm starting to think you're gay!"
"EXCUSE ME?!
I LIKE GIRLS!!"
Kunigami asked the real question:
"So… are you going to accept?"
Ryan froze.
If he rejected her
it wasn't like he wanted to.
He honestly liked Yuigahama.
She was bright
a little sun who lit up anyone near her.
Even Yukino, cold and aloof as she was,
enjoyed her company.
She let Yuigahama call her weird nicknames
and didn't mind physical contact.
If anyone accused Ryan of being scum
They'd be right.
After all, he was already dating three girls.
Even he wouldn't believe he wasn't trash.
But he couldn't just accept without asking his girlfriends.
He respected them enough to give them a choice.
Not that he doubted their answer…
They usually listened to him.
Ryan shoved the guys out of his room
and sat down alone.
He stared at the message on his screen.
Trying to decide…
how to reply to Yuigahama.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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