PHASE 36 - THIS REJECTION WENT WAY WRONG!

I asked around the classroom to unveil the mystery of this love letter. According to my classmates, this was sent by Ron Dillian, a famous guitarist in this school. Some of my classmates refer to him as the Heartthrob Rockstar. I think we already had a collaboration event with their band and the Idol Club, so I already know the guy.

It makes me feel bad that he fell in love with the wrong woman. I only have my eyes, my heart, and my soul to Rikkun, and for Rikkun alone. So I have to reject him politely.

It’s already afternoon, but the sunlight is not so warm. Winter is still about to end, but snow has finally melted. The cherry blossom tree’s leaves are still beautiful even if there’s not plenty of them.

There stood the man who fell in love with me.

“I...I’m glad that you appeared, Miss Tiara Hikari.” Ron bowed. He has this innocent blush on his face as if he’s a fourteen-year-old child. No wonder why he’s called a campus crush.

Suddenly, he bowed, mustering all the courage he got.

“Miss Tiara Hikari! I have a crush on you! Please go out with me!”

“M-Mister Ron Dillian…” I held my chest and bowed. “I...I’m sorry… I’m already in love with somebody else, so… I can’t accept your feelings. I-I’m sorry… I appreciate your efforts, but… I think you deserve a girl better than me.”

“M-Miss Tiara Hikari…” Ron’s eyes gave a hint of tears. “T-Thank you for at least coming here! I didn’t expect that you would reject me so politely! You’re a real angel!”

I held the heartbroken heartthrob’s hand and cheered him with my childish smile. “We might still be friends if you want!”

“I-I’ll be glad to!” Ron smiled.

Then we shook hands as we made the Friendship Handshake. It’s been a while since I sang this to someone...

“Ron Dillian is my friend~ Oh I’m grateful that I have met him~”

“Miss Tiara… Your voice is really like those of a goddess!” Ron’s eyes are sparkling.

“Ahaha..” I scratched my head. “T-Thanks! I’m flattered that you like it!”

“Thank you!” Ron bowed once again. “Thank you for giving me the kindest rejection ever!”

“What the actual fuck is this?” Somebody said.

“E-Eh!?” Ron and I were dumbstruck when somebody finally spoke.

It was the Arrogant King.

I actually forgot that Rikkun is just beside me the whole time! And something feels off from him. This is a rare scene where Rikkun would actually use profane language, and that means… he’s pissed.

“Oh Tiara, stop joking around,” Rikkun said with an annoyed tone. “You are bragging about a handsome fella confessing to you. Where is that handsome fella? Is he behind that disaster standing in front of you?”

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“W-What?” Ron muttered with his eyes wide open.

“Geez, Rikkun! Stop!”

“Pfffft!!! AHAHAHAHA!!!” Rikkun laughed out loud until he depleted air from his lungs. “Oh! Oh! This is a prank! This is a social experiment! Okay, okay, joke time is over. There’s no way an ugly ass man will confess to you. Where is that suitor at?”

“He-He’s right in front…” I muttered.

Rikkun looked at the boy, and then to me, and then back to the boy, and finally to me.

“No.” Rikkun is in denial.

“Yes,” I answered.

“No.”

“Yes!”

“NOOOOOO!!!” Rikkun shouted! “Are you serious? He ain’t nobody’s heartthrob! This is a joke, right? This is a joke! PLEASE TELL ME THAT THIS IS A JOKE!!!”

The last time I saw Rikkun this angry is when he’s accusing me of the deaths of his three friends. And I’m feeling the very same embarrassment as before.

“Bitch! Look at him! Look at that face! He is ugly! Look! LOOK!!! And he has the nerve to confess to you!? I’ve been a great friend to you! I taught you so many things! Where did I go wrong!”

Ron must have read the atmosphere between us, so he decided to leave. “M-Miss Tiara, I think I have to go-”

But suddenly, the poor rejected boy was targeted by Rikkun’s pointing finger. “Who brings this shit inside the school!”

“W-What!?” Ron replied.

Rikkun’s words are now judging the poor Ron from head to toe. “Hey bro, did you lose a bet!? Are you playing Truth or Dare? Did you draw the short end of the stick!? Coz you ugly ass fucker had the nerve to show your ugly ass face in front of Tiara!”

Sniff. Sniff. Ron started to cry. He covered his face and then ran away from the scene. “U-Uwaaaaaaah!!!” Ron was broken enough that he went to tantrums.

“There! Run away, you coward! Don’t show your face again! Try eating magnets, maybe it’ll make you slightly attractive!” Rikkun shouted.

After that, the afternoon waves of wind became silent.

I’m painfully suppressing my anger right now. I can’t handle Rikkun’s arrogance towards other people. It seems really wrong. He doesn’t have to be so harsh on his words. My rejection is going so well, but he ended up ruining it. And here I thought I can gently break someone’s heart making it less painful.

Sigh. I’m such an idiot. I’ll just talk to that poor man next time I had the chance.

But for now, I have to punish some arrogant man standing right next to me.

“!!!”

<>

After that scene, we both decided to go back to the classroom to get our bags. Everything looks yellowy-orange due to the afternoon sunlight, and since it’s quarter to five, nobody is here in our very own classroom.

It’s just the two of us.

Come to think of it, this is my best chance to say what I feel. This is the time I can give him the homemade chocolate that I have been formulating for days.

“U-Umm, Rikkun…” I pinched his sleeve.

“Uwah!” Rikkun immediately shielded his face, thinking that I will punch him again. When he realized that I’m shyly bowing, he realized that he’s overreacting. “W-What is it again, you brutal boxer?”

“I… I need to say something to you,” I said. I hope I’m speaking clearly because I think I’m eating my words!

“W-What is it?”

My lips failed to move! What should I do!? I want to confess! How could I do it?

“You look pale. Are you sick?” Rikkun felt my forehead with his gentle palm. “Your temperature is quite high. Should I get a nurse?”

“N-No, that’s not necessary.”

“You certainly look not fine. I’ll go get a nurse.”

He was about to go away, but I will never let him go! “W-Whoa there, Rikkun! H-Hear me out first!” I immediately caught his hands.

“...T-Tiara…” Now his face is all red.

I reached out of my pocket and pulled a red pouch that contains all my feelings, all my emotions, all my love. It’s my Valentine’s Chocolate. This is my greatest creation yet, in all seven million timelines that I have tried! This chocolate will win over Rikkun’s heart… and eventually, his dic- I mean, his love!

“P-Please accept t-this!” I bowed as I presented my gift.

“...Tiara…” Rikkun’s face is all strawberry!

As he is about to reach my ultimate present, there was a loud explosion! The glass window beside us got shattered, and a person fully covered with black ninja clothes has breached in this very room!

“I’ll be taking these!” The ninja said as he snatched my chocolates! Then that burglar immediately ran away!

…

Rikkun and I took five whole seconds before we can get a grasp of the situation.

“G-Give it back!”