Chapter 329: What’s It Like to Like Someone?

“Did Nanami call you here?”

“Yeah.”

Himekoji nodded. As he answered, he instinctively turned to look at Nanami.

And Nanami averted her eyes, lowering her head as if flustered. The girl’s gaze stayed fixed on the tips of her toes; lost in thought, she seemed miles away.

“And the reason? Do you know?”

Yukinoshita’s question was short and sharp, instantly pulling Himekoji’s attention back.

“No.”

Himekoji answered honestly.

It wasn’t just that he didn’t know; he was actually confused himself.

Logically, if Nanami was looking for him, the meeting spot shouldn’t have been the Service Club, right?

“We accepted Nanami’s request.”

“Request?”

Hearing that word suddenly only deepened Himekoji’s confusion.

“Nanami’s request was—”

“Eh? Yukinoshita? Wait! Forget the request! This is fine, really, this is enough…”

Hearing this, Nanami felt her heart nearly stop.

This kind of thing couldn’t be told to Himekoji, right?

It’d be mortifying!

Wasn’t it just like confessing? Or even worse: a confession delivered by someone else, with both parties present.

So uncool!

Nanami’s sudden panic didn’t stop Yukinoshita Yukino’s next words.

The word “give up halfway” had no place in Yukinoshita’s dictionary.

“Nanami’s request was—asking us to be her practice partners.”

“Eh?”

This time, Nanami, Yuigahama, and Himekoji were the ones in unison.

Hikigaya, however, seemed to have expected this, wearing an ‘I knew it’ expression.

“Yukino-chan, you got it wrong, didn’t you? Nanami’s request was clearly… Mmph!”

Yuigahama’s words were abruptly cut off as Nanami expertly covered her mouth.

This kind of thing, practice really did make perfect.

Flustered and embarrassed, Nanami desperately signaled Yuigahama with her eyes.

She was utterly exasperated inside—

And this was her sensei? She couldn’t adapt at all!

Compared to her, Yukinoshita was obviously much more reliable.

Even though Nanami had just been scared half to death by Yukinoshita a moment ago, thankfully it was a false alarm.

Yukinoshita was helping her!

Yes, an ally!

If she swapped Yuigahama for Yukinoshita as her teammate… then this request might… work!

Nanami took a deep breath, already emerging from the sadness brought on by earlier witnessing the pervert’s ‘kabedon’ on Hikigaya.

Wasn’t this pervert always like this?

From the moment she made her decision, shouldn’t she have been prepared for this?

Aoyama Nanami had no retreat and didn’t want one!

If she couldn’t even accept this, how could this love possibly continue?

To like every version of Himekoji Akito, to like every facet of Himekoji Akito – even the parts she couldn’t possibly like, she would strive to change them!

Aoyama Nanami would become the one who changed Himekoji Akito!

She would bring back the old Himekoji.

The Himekoji who belonged to her.

…

“Practice partners?”

Himekoji seemed to guess something, but didn’t dare be sure. He looked at Yukinoshita questioningly.

“Yeah. Over fifty people are expected for the heroine auditions for ‘Love Metronome’. With only a week or so left, more efficient practice methods would be better.”

Yukinoshita stated this flatly.

It sounded like she had done quite a bit of homework about auditions.

“So?”

Himekoji still didn’t understand.

“So you will play the male lead and practice with Nanami.”

As she spoke, Yukinoshita thrust the script straight into Himekoji’s hands, allowing no argument.

“Me? That won’t work… Playing the male lead, I have no idea how to act…”

Himekoji waved his hands awkwardly.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to help Nanami, but with his amateur skills, he would only mess things up.

Actually, back when Nanami first started voice actor training a year ago, Himekoji had practiced with her. But he was so bad then, Nanami teased him mercilessly.

Even after all this time, remembering it still made him blush with shame and embarrassment.

…

“No problem. Because acting skills aren’t needed.”

Himekoji didn’t understand Yukinoshita’s meaning at all.

“Acting skills not needed? Wait, a character that doesn’t need acting skills? That doesn’t even exist!”

“I said they aren’t needed, so they aren’t. It’s fine if the actor is you.”

“That sentence sounds completely full of problems!”

“Pervert-kun, don’t push it, okay? As a member of the Service Club, I’ve overlooked your frequent absences. But now that a request has appeared, I expect you to do your small part, since you are one of us.”

“We use ‘small part’ when being humble about ourselves!”

Himekoji realized Yukinoshita had shifted tactics and was now trying to pressure him with duty.

But—

Was he hearing things right?

Yukinoshita actually said something like “one of us.”

Was… was that acceptance?

While Himekoji’s mind was still turning that thought over, Yukinoshita had already started issuing orders all on her own.

“Aoyama, begin.”

“Huh? Huh?! Now? Here here?”

After stealing a glance at the others in the Service Club, Nanami’s cheeks flushed instantly.

“Mhm.”

Yukinoshita merely gave an ordinary nod, then took a sideways step, clearing the space directly in front of Himekoji.

Their gazes consequently met. Himekoji stared blankly at Nanami and blinked.

Nanami jolted back to attention with a “Nngh!” Taking a deep breath, she realized this wasn’t the time for shrinking back or getting shy.

So, steeling herself, she charged forward whatever it took, stepping two paces ahead to stand directly in front of Himekoji. They were face to face, barely half a meter apart.

“Well then, let’s start from the scene I marked, Pervert-kun. Just read straight from the script.”

“Huh? Ahh, oh…”

Everything just felt bizarrely rushed.

Himekoji glanced down at the script he was holding, feeling a bit dazed.

“Start now.”

Yukinoshita urged.

“Wait! Yukino-chan, you’ve got it wrong! It wasn’t supposed to be until Nanami’s… Mmmph!”

This time, it was Hikigaya who covered Yuigahama’s mouth.

“Just watch quietly.”

Hikigaya had a headache over Yuigahama’s complete lack of perception.

This idiot… still hasn’t caught on?

…

“Start?”

Himekoji glanced at Nanami, wanting to follow her lead.

Nanami nodded seriously at him.

Himekoji had seen that serious look on her countless times before. Strangely, this time he sensed something subtly different about it.

Yuigahama, her mouth still covered, watched the two of them with astonishment.

Something she had either unintentionally or deliberately brushed aside suddenly forced itself back into her recollection.

The name she hadn’t called out was the only one missing from those twenty-eight boys: Himekoji.

Besides that, there was also a faint memory… hadn’t something else happened?

A year ago, Nanami and Himekoji were very close. There were even rumors floating around that they were dating.

Could it be…?

The person Nanami liked was actually Himekoji?!

And the scene unfolding before her eyes right now…

Was… a confession?

Nanami launching her confession to Himekoji?

And the confession method… had come straight from her own hands!

It was the plan she’d poured her heart into for several sleepless nights, referencing countless cases, doing endless research, running simulations in her head over and over, analyzing every possible outcome before finally piecing it all together.

How could this happen, Nanami…?

After she took Nanami on as her apprentice, taught her everything she knew without holding anything back?

This plan… was the one she was going to use on Himekoji herself…

And to think she got beaten to the punch.

Well then…

“Go for it.

Nanami.

I’m cheering you on!”

For a split second, her heart felt strangely empty, as if something terribly important had vanished.

The heavy weight pressing on her chest nearly stole her breath away.

But, even so, Yuigahama wholeheartedly cheered Nanami on in her heart—

Go for it bravely, Nanami-chan!

Before this cowardly teacher of hers could muster up enough courage herself.

…

The first line was Himekoji’s—

“You said you suddenly had something to tell me… what is it?”

He almost recited it straight off the page, his delivery stiff and utterly unnatural.

“Hmm, it’s… rather important.”

In stark contrast to Himekoji’s performance, Nanami quickly slipped into character. It was as if she’d suddenly flipped a switch; even her way of speaking seemed different.

Truly professional – one couldn’t help but marvel.

“…”

“I… I’ve wanted to say something to you for a long, long time.”

You could practically feel all those moments just listening— the countless times she started to speak, only to stop, unable to continue.

Her struggle was palpable, her internal conflict wrenchingly clear through her voice alone. Countless times she’d wanted to speak up, countless times she’d backed down, only to be filled with regret and frustration at her own lack of nerve…

How could her acting be this incredible?

It practically made you forget they were just practicing.

“I see…”

Influenced by Nanami, Himekoji’s heart began pounding wildly, entirely out of his control.

“Yeah, I… I-I’ve wanted to for a long time…”

His heart felt abruptly seized. An inescapable sensation enveloped him.

“Gulp.”

Himekoji swallowed dryly. He’d already read Nanami’s next line on the script beforehand. His whole body instantly broke into a nervous sweat.

Nanami took a deep breath before delivering the line—

“I’ve always liked you! I like you so much!”

Boom!

His brain felt like it had been slammed by something heavy. His thoughts went utterly blank.

A chill ran down his spine, and once the shivering started, it was hard to stop.

Himekoji Akito didn’t even know why he was reacting like this.

“…”

A short silence hung between them, so thick it felt like choking right then.

Only one line remained. Once this line was said, this part of the play would be over.

That last line belonged to Himekoji Akito—

“I feel the same way! I’ve always… li-li-li-like…”

The script clearly said, “I’ve always liked you.”

Such a simple, short line. Yet it stuck in Himekoji Akito’s throat like a jammed tape, impossible to force out smoothly.

Even though it was just a planned line, without any real meaning.

But for a Pervert like Himekoji Akito to say “like” to a girl was way too much pressure.

On top of that, he felt strangely aware of Yukinoshita’s gaze from the corner at this very moment.

His head and body started getting hotter. Under Yukinoshita’s unblinking stare, his words became even more tangled.

“Li-li-li-li…”

Still couldn’t say it.

Couldn’t do it.

Some things are just impossible.

“Like”… that was something Himekoji Akito couldn’t confess to anyone.

Even though it was just a line in a script…

He felt annoyed with himself. His mouth kept stumbling, his face flushing bright red with heat.

Yet, a frantic voice inside kept pushing—

Say it! Hurry up and say it!

Haven’t you had enough of living like this?

Then try finding some courage to change!

Even if life gets worse because of it, so what? What’s really so bad?

What’s really so bad?!

…

“Li-li-li…”

“W-w-wait, Himekoji-kun, d-don’t be so shy! You’re making me start to feel awkward too…”

Aoyama seemed affected by Himekoji’s poor performance. The girl turned her flushed face away, flustered, fanning her cheeks with her hand.

“S-sorry… That’s why I said I couldn’t do it…”

Himekoji pressed a hand to his forehead, feeling down.

He knew it was just acting, yet he couldn’t even hold Aoyama Nanami’s gaze. If their eyes accidentally met, he’d panic and quickly look away.

“You seemed quite capable just a moment ago, Pervert? You can propose, but you can’t confess?”

Yukinoshita couldn’t stand it and delivered a sharp, cool remark from the sidelines.

“I…”

Himekoji had no real comeback.

“If you’re here to help, act like it! Don’t mess up the work everyone put in!”

Everyone’s work…

Himekoji Akito started to ponder the meaning of those words, but Yukinoshita’s next remark immediately pulled all his focus.

“Listen, Pervert-kun, watch the script! Get into it! You like her, right!”

Yukinoshita pointed directly at Aoyama Nanami, looking straight at Himekoji with serious eyes. She radiated a strong, pushy energy that left no room for escape.

Aoyama Nanami’s heart lurched.

Himekoji Akito’s did too.

“You like her, right!”

Yukinoshita’s voice sounded so certain. Himekoji even felt like he was completely exposed under her gaze, stripped bare.

“I… I…”

Did he like her?

The question instantly flooded his mind, echoing back with no answer, like yelling at a cliff.

Himekoji Akito froze right there.

Aoyama Nanami wasn’t much better. Her palms became damp with sweat in an instant.

She really wanted to hear the answer, so very much. But before the hope came fear.

After all, wasn’t it too soon?

Wasn’t it too sudden to start digging to the bottom like this?

Because she didn’t have one hundred percent confidence of winning.

If she got rejected now, there’d be no chance for recovery later. The entire series of planned moves in her notebook would be shelved forever.

The best time for a confession should be carefully planned, just like before—

In the Amusement Park, in the Ferris Wheel, after a k-k-kiss.

So,

“Yukinoshita, th-that…”

“Calm down, Aoyama,” Yukinoshita explained smoothly to Nanami, composed now that she was done probing. “The ‘I like her’ I meant was about her role in the script.”

“Huh? Ah, of course! Her role! Just her role… I see…” Aoyama Nanami’s face flushed deeply red. She started babbling things that not even she understood, trying to hide her awkwardness.

“Whew— Well, time for my comments.” Yukinoshita let out a breath smoothly. This person was like that—absolutely cool and precise no matter what she said or did.

Even now, playing the part of judge, her tone felt perfectly natural.

“The Pervert’s problem was already mentioned. Nothing more to add. After all, Pervert-kun’s only purpose in this script is to serve Aoyama-san; helping her improve and pass the assessment.”

“Huh? No need to make my role sound so lowly and tragic… Like… like some tool that gets thrown away after use…” Himekoji grumbled, trying to distract himself.

Because he didn’t want to think about the question anymore.

Pondering it any deeper, he felt something terrifying, something uncontrollable, might happen.

Yukinoshita, of course, ignored him. She turned to Aoyama.

“Aoyama, you’re focusing too much on ‘acting’. What you need now is to convey those feelings more naturally.”

“More… naturally?”

Aoyama Nanami repeated Yukinoshita’s words, thinking them over.

“Right. For example, treat it like it’s your own confession.”

Yukinoshita emphasized the words “your own”.

“Huh?!”

“Ah?!”

Both Himekoji and Aoyama made sounds of surprise at the same time.

“Alright then, try again.” Yukinoshita was very strict. She didn’t even give them a break, clapping her hands to signal them to continue.

“…”

Silence instantly fell in the Service Club room. Only the sound of their rushed breathing filled the air.

Himekoji Akito and Aoyama Nanami, the two involved, were so nervous they were barely holding it together.

Both were intensely preoccupied with that sentence—

“Treat it like it’s your own confession.”

…

The first line was still Himekoji Akito’s.

Everyone’s gaze in the Service Club gathered on his face.

Since they were here… it seemed he just had to get through it…

Even though his level of acting mostly seemed to be holding Aoyama Nanami back.

But if there was even a tiny chance it could help her, Himekoji Akito was willing to try his best.

Yukinoshita didn’t pass out requests randomly. Since Yukinoshita had involved him, that meant she believed he could do it.

At least about that, Himekoji Akito was sure he understood Yukinoshita.

So… let’s try it!

Himekoji Akito made up his mind.

For the first time since becoming a Pervert, he tried to understand the feeling of liking someone.

What was it like… to like someone?

…