On the way to school in the morning, I surveyed the neighbourhood to check for any suspicious people before quickly rus.h.i.+ng down the road. Yesterday, the voice of Takatsuki-kun’s heart had certainly confirmed that he had intentions to abduct me, but after school,

“Takatsuki-kun, let’s go home together?”

“I want to go too!”

Takatsuki-kun was caught by the girls who were crowded around his table, and I was able to quietly escape the cla.s.sroom without any difficulties. What the heck happened for Takatsuki-kun’s brain to turn out this way. There must be something wrong with his sanity to want to keep me confined instead of a beautiful girl. But I know he thought of me favourably. Well– even if his feelings were a little off course… However, I didn’t have any other feelings other than friends.h.i.+p for Takatsuki-kun, and after seeing into Takatsuki-kun’s mind, I’m not sure if I can even do friends.h.i.+p properly anymore. But fortunately, n.o.body else knows about the dangerous feelings Takatsuki-kun harbours about me, and Takatsuki-kun doesn’t know that I’m aware of his feelings. It is after all, the best choice to not involve myself with Takatsuki-kun. If I can’t touch him, then I can’t hear his feelings for me. Yeah. I will not have anything to do with him as much as possible. I vowed to myself as I clenched my fist firmly and headed towards school.

“E–, first off, find a partner, stretch, catch the ball, and please advise each other on your forms. You can start.”

Is G.o.d a demon?

As I listened to the explanation given by the PE teacher in the middle of the playground, my face began to pale, and now Takatsuki-kun was smiling next to me. Yes, you may have guessed, my partner is Takatsuki-kun. At the time we were pairing up, I was asked to get the baseb.a.l.l.s by the PE teacher from the storage shed, while bringing back the basket of b.a.l.l.s, everyone had a partner, and Takatsuki-kun who was blus.h.i.+ng was inevitably paired with me. Strange. There’s no reason for Takatsuki-kun to fail to get a partner. Takatsuki-kun was the most popular person, he was always asked by someone. There’s no way he wouldn’t have a partner yet. I looked at Takatsuki-kun with bitter eyes, hm? What’s wrong? Takatsuki-kun had on a strange look before it turned into an angelic smile on his face, but I won’t be deceived. Takatsuki-kun was not an angel. He was a little devil. I won’t be deceived. I showed a serious look to Takatsuki-kun and said.

“So, let’s start?”

The other pairs had already started stretching. The other person was supposed to support the stretcher’s movement, helping them pull on arms and legs, so that they could stretch towards the back of the body. Until now, I was never really aware of it, but today’s opponent was Takatsuki-kun who was sick in the head. If I’m careless here, I may not be able to recover. I have to strengthen my mind.

However, despite preparing to challenge Takatsuki-kun’s strong feelings, Takatsuki-kun started to stretch his arms and legs by himself. What? Whaa? I was wary of having contact with him because of yesterday’s events, but perhaps I was needlessly worried? Takatsuki-kun began to bend and stretch seriously. Looking at Takatsuki-kun who was diligently engaged in stretching, I felt ashamed. That’s right. Takatsuki-kun always put his best effort into everything. Despite already being skilled in studies and sports, he was a very hard-working person. Yet, here I was. Other than the strange events from yesterday, Takatsuki-kun had never done anything else, but I was treating him suspiciously, what a great person I am. I was ashamed of myself.

And to redeem the thirst of my lowest self, I faced Takatsuki-kun. I stood behind Takatsuki-kun who was sitting on the ground bending over his feet.

“Takatsuki-kun. I’ll push your back?”

I touched Takatsuki-kun’s back.

“Thanks. You saved me. (Haahaa. Manaka so cute cute. Haa. Manaka’s wearing shorts, his bare legs are dangerous. Lick, I want to lick and savour them. Haaaah.)”

“I was right!!”

I reflexively pushed back, I shouldn’t have felt bad at all.