I’m Not Doing This With A Friend Chapter 182 - Special Side Story 3 ~ COMPLETE

The day after the club’s demon hunt.

 

Leonian confesses his feelings to Sylvia without any preamble.

 

“I think I like you.”

 

“…What?”

 

Sylvia looked at Frederick, who was in the clubroom alongside her, to make sure she wasn’t hearing things.

 

He, too, was looking at Leonian with his mouth open in disbelief.

 

From the looks of it, at least he wasn’t hearing things.

 

Despite being experienced, this was something Sylvia had never thought of before, and it baffled her.

 

Of course, I was aware that Leonian was getting into me. That’s what I was aiming for.

 

But it was only yesterday that we officially introduced ourselves and met, wasn’t it?

 

We’ve only known each other for a day, and he’s confessing?

 

As Sylvia’s thoughts lengthened, Leonian spoke up, looking a bit nervous.

 

“…Don’t you like me?”

 

Looking at his sunken eyes, Sylvia realized.

 

This man seemed to have no sense of romance at all.

 

But then again, if that’s what he thought was endearing, then perhaps she’d hit the nail on the head.

 

Sylvia smiled brightly and answered his question.

 

“I like you, too.”

 

Leonian, who had been nervously chewing on his lower lip, instantly brightened up.

 

Until he heard Sylvia’s next words.

 

“But if you’re asking me out formally, I’m afraid I have to decline.”

 

Sylvia was tempted to accept his confession and start a casual relationship with him.

 

But it wasn’t time yet. Love that comes easy sometimes doesn’t feel cherished.

 

She needed time between herself and Leonian.

 

Sylvia threw a small word of hope to Leonian, who was hardened by the rejection.

 

“We just met yesterday, and there’s a lot we don’t know, right? We’re in the same club, so I hope we can get to know each other slowly.”

 

“…Ah.”

 

Leonian’s expression loosened as he realized he had acted too hastily.

 

“I’ve embarrassed you. I guess it’s better to take it slow, as you say.”

 

“Thank you for your understanding, Leon.”

 

Sylvia smiled sheepishly as she took Leon’s fingertips in hers.

 

And with that, Leon was once again convinced that he had fallen for her. Her lovely laugh, and the way his heart was pounding, were proof.

 

Frederick, meanwhile, looked at them and muttered in disbelief.

 

“…That works? That’s it?”

 

💫

 

A failed confession.

 

After that day, Leonian and Sylvia grew closer.

 

They stayed together throughout club hours and even went on dates on the weekends.

 

And by the end of the semester.

 

Sylvia and Leonian were so close that hugging and holding hands became second nature.

 

Sylvia gradually realized that she should make things official, and she waited to see when Leonian would confess.

 

He had been telling her that he liked her ever since he first dated her, so all she had to do was wait.

 

I could have confessed first, but since I’d dumped him every time, I figured I should try my luck.

 

“Woo-hoo.”

 

The thought of a swooning Leonian made her chuckle.

 

Sylvia walked to the clubhouse with light steps.

 

Just then, a loud explosion sounded from somewhere and smoke rose.

 

Boom!

 

Sylvia was startled and rushed to the source of the explosion.

 

The explosion had occurred in an exterior part of Building C, which was off the beaten path.

 

Seeing the devastated building, Sylvia suddenly remembered why she had enrolled in the Arena Academy in the first place.

 

She should have prevented the bastard from Lysianthus from destroying the Academy!

 

She’d been so caught up in Leonian’s charms and enjoying her youth that she’d forgotten.

 

‘He must have caused this explosion!’ 

 

I was grinding my teeth at the faceless bastard from Lysianthus.

 

Sylvia’s eyes widened when she saw a familiar face emerging from the dust pit.

 

“…Leon, Senior?”

 

“Sylvia?”

 

When she realized it was Leonian, she gasped and quickly ran over to him.

 

“Were you at the scene of the explosion? Have you been hit anywhere?”

 

Sensing her concern, Leonian lifted the corner of his mouth to reassure Sylvia.

 

“You needn’t worry. I brought this building down.”

 

“…What, you did?”

 

No way, the brat from Lysianthus was Leonian?

 

Sylvia’s mind went white as she realized the truth.

 

She deliberately closed her eyes and ears to anything that involved Leonian’s rumors.

 

Instead, she wanted to get to know him for herself, to find out what he was really like, rather than rely on rumors that she couldn’t be sure of.

 

So whenever her friend Haley tried to tell her something about Leonian, she wouldn’t listen.

 

It was a mistake that would come back to bite her in more ways than one.

 

He had the audacity to brag about destroying the Academy building.

 

It was outrageous.

 

Sylvia spat out a laugh and turned and walked away.

 

She didn’t want to talk to Leonian anymore.

 

💫

 

“I like you.”

 

With that, Sylvia scowled.

 

This was the second time…

 

She hadn’t counted since Leonian’s confession had gone beyond the dozens, but she couldn’t even begin to estimate.

 

“I’m going to have to decline, Leon.”

 

She casually walked past Leon, who was blocking her path.

 

But Leonian called after her, as if he hadn’t heard her rejection.

 

“Sylvia, it’s a beautiful day, wouldn’t you like to go on a date?”

 

“I don’t want to.”

 

“Then I guess I’ll just have to meet you in the clubroom after class. Do you want to get something to eat?”

 

Leonian’s casual manner made Sylvia stop in her tracks and stare at him.

 

…She was obviously looking at him to scare him away.

 

As she stared at his face, her anger melted away.

 

What a stupid silver-haired bastard.

 

Handsome doesn’t have to be my favorite.

 

Looking at that face made me resent my lot in life. Why does Leonian have to be the bastard of Lysianthus?

 

After realizing that Leonian was the one responsible for vandalizing the Academy, Sylvia distanced herself from him.

 

Leonian was baffled by her change in demeanor, but that didn’t stop him from confessing his feelings.

 

This resulted in this.

 

Sylvia tried to compose herself and glared angrily.

 

“You’re not fast enough, you just cut me off.”

 

Leonian pursed his lips, looking as helpless as a puppy caught in the rain.

 

“I’m just, I’m just happy to be next to you…”

 

“That’s great for you, but what about me, the one being chased?”

 

Suddenly remembering the building he’d blown up a few weeks ago, her temper flared, and she said something she normally wouldn’t have.

 

“I don’t care if you like me or not, I just wish you’d stop walking around in front of me, because it’s annoying to look at your face.”

 

Then it happened.

 

A tear fell from Leonian’s eye.

 

Sylvia, who hadn’t expected the brusque Leonian to be moved to tears by her words, was greatly embarrassed.

 

“Uh, what…?

 

“I thought you were in love with me. I thought you would accept me when I was ready to confess.”

 

‘Apparently, I was the only one who was mistaken.’

 

Leonian added, and gave her a small bow, not bothering to cover his tear-streaked face.

 

“I’m sorry. I’m quitting the club. You can rest assured that I will never appear in front of you again.”

 

He disappeared, and it felt like he would be gone, never to be seen again.

 

Sylvia’s eyes fluttered wide.

 

Even though she had wanted this so badly, her heart sank when he actually said he would never appear in front of her again.

 

I guess I liked him more than I thought.

 

“Wait, senior!”

 

I quickly grabbed Leonian, but he quickly turned his back on me.

 

Impatient, Sylvia used teleportation to stand in his way.

 

Then she tugged at Leonian’s tie. Leonian’s eyes fluttered open as he was pulled helplessly away by Sylvia’s touch.

 

He felt her soft touch between his sensitive lips.

 

Sylvia kissed Leonian on the lips.

 

Even as she felt the romance of their first kiss, her mind began to rationalize her actions.

 

So what if Leonian’s disposition was bad?

 

Perhaps I should fix it. He had always been a gentle lamb in my presence, so it would be fine.

 

After a brief kiss, Sylvia wrapped both hands around Leonian’s cheeks.

 

“… I like you too, so don’t cry.”

 

Leonian stared at Sylvia for a long moment, dumbfounded, before he slowly opened his mouth.

 

“But just looking at my face annoys you…”

 

“That’s because I like you so much, but I can’t accept your confession.”

 

“Can you tell me why you can’t accept a confession?”

 

“Well, because I don’t want to go out with a wreck of a man.”

 

“…That.”

 

For the first time in his life, Leonian, who had never once been noticed by others, deeply regretted his behavior.

 

“…I will, I will try.”

 

‘So accept me…’

 

Sylvia thought as she held Leonian in her arms, wondering if he would disappear if she let it slip away.

 

Perhaps she was the one who had been seduced.

 

《Special Side Story — Complete》