Heartbeats and Illusions

The aquarium visit, followed by a delightful dolphin show, seemed to slip by in no time. The day had been full of energy, yet evening brought a tranquil charm to their surroundings.

The park offered various attractions, but not all of them were free. As the sun dipped below the horizon, the bustling activity began to mellow. Twilight painted the park in soft hues, while colorful ribbons of light popped up around them, adding a dreamy and romantic touch to the atmosphere.

Standing before the grand Ferris wheel, Natsukawa Kanade exhaled softly, a mixture of relief and satisfaction washing over him. "Is this the last stop?" he muttered under his breath, looking up at the towering wheel.

The day had been a whirlwind of activity. Since meeting up in the morning, Isshiki Iroha had ensured they covered every corner of the park, save for the occasional break for a meal or a movie. Even the unforgiving heat of midday hadn't slowed her down. Now, as the cool evening breeze danced around them, it brought a refreshing reprieve from the earlier exhaustion.

"Why do I get the feeling, Senpai, that you're just tolerating all this?" Iroha puffed her cheeks in mock anger, her hands on her hips. She glared at him with exaggerated indignation, a stark contrast to her seemingly boundless energy.

"It's not that," Kanade replied with a shrug. "I actually enjoyed it."

"Oh? Then why do you look like a tired grandpa?"

Kanade chuckled softly, scratching the back of his head. "I was just reflecting. It's like finishing the final episode of an anime you've been following for years. Satisfying, but also a little bittersweet."

"Hmm…" Iroha tilted her head, clearly not getting his metaphor. But instead of prying further, she grabbed his arm and tugged him toward the Ferris wheel. "Well, bittersweet or not, the day isn't over yet! Come on, Senpai, let's go!"

Despite his earlier weariness, Kanade couldn't help but be swept up in her enthusiasm. With a resigned sigh, he followed her into one of the cabins.

Inside, the two sat across from each other, chatting occasionally while gazing out at the view. As the cabin ascended, the park below transformed into a sea of shimmering lights. The cityscape beyond came alive, neon signs flickering like stars in the night. It was a breathtaking sight, one that made Kanade momentarily forget his fatigue.

"Wow…" he muttered, leaning closer to the glass to take it all in. From this vantage point, the bustling streets, towering buildings, and tranquil park merged into a vibrant tableau.

"Beautiful, isn't it, Senpai?" Iroha's voice interrupted his thoughts, her tone unusually soft. Then, with a mischievous grin, she added, "So many people… like little ants scurrying about!"

Kanade turned to her with a raised brow. "Way to ruin the mood, Iroha."

"Hehe, sorry, sorry!" She waved her hand dismissively, her grin widening. "But seriously, Senpai, isn't this romantic?"

"Romantic?" Kanade echoed, his tone laced with skepticism.

Iroha leaned forward, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "You know, there's a legend about Ferris wheels. They say couples who ride one together are destined to break up... unless they kiss at the very top! Then, they'll be together forever!"

Kanade narrowed his eyes, clearly unimpressed. "You can't seriously believe that. It's just a marketing gimmick to draw in hopeless romantics."

"Oh? Then you're saying you're not romantic, Senpai?"

"Romantic or not, I prefer to base my beliefs on facts, not fairy tales," Kanade replied matter-of-factly. "If anything, lasting relationships are built on understanding and communication, not superstition."

"Wow, such wisdom, Senpai!" Iroha clapped her hands mockingly, her grin never faltering. "But don't you think sometimes it's fun to indulge in a little whimsy? After all, legends exist for a reason!"

"Sure, but not when they're clearly created by some marketing team."

Iroha sighed dramatically, crossing her arms. "Fine, fine. Mr. Logical. But, you know…" She trailed off, her gaze softening as she leaned closer. "What if we tested the legend ourselves?"

Kanade blinked, caught off guard. "Huh?"

"I mean…" Iroha's cheeks turned a faint pink, though her mischievous smile remained. "Why not? We're already here, and it's not like we'll lose anything by trying."

Shy? Embarrassed? Perhaps, but facing such a stubborn senpai, she knew that unless she made her feelings crystal clear, he'd never catch on. If she didn't act now, who knew how long she'd have to wait for her wish to come true?

"..." Natsukawa Kanade sat silently, his thoughts swirling.

Confess? To him? From that mischievous kouhai who always seemed intent on catching him off guard?

No, no, no. That's completely absurd, right? They'd only known each other for a week.

"Oh, I get it," Kanade said, a faint laugh escaping him. "This must be some kind of rehearsal. You know, part of that 'gathering materials' thing you do. Like confessing to someone just for practice. Or maybe…a punishment from one of those silly games—truth or dare, maybe?"

Isshiki's expression didn't waver. Her voice, clear and steady, pierced through his weak attempts to deflect.

"Iroha likes you, Senpai."

"..."

...

...…

Kanade's thoughts froze. Something about this didn't sit right.

Why him?

He wasn't special. If anything, he was as ordinary as they came—no charming personality, no standout skills, nothing that would attract someone like Isshiki.

And then it hit him.

This wasn't love. It couldn't be.

No, it had to be something else—respect, admiration, or even curiosity. It was like those girls who had nervously left him love letters in his shoe locker before. They didn't know him, not really. They were drawn to an image of him, one that wasn't real. A carefully curated facade of "Natsukawa Kanade, the cool and dependable senpai."

But the real Kanade? The one who had his own doubts, flaws, and insecurities? They didn't know him, and maybe, they wouldn't have liked him if they did.

"Sorry, Isshiki," Kanade said finally, shaking his head. His tone was firm, but there was a gentleness to it. "I think there's been a misunderstanding."

"Misunderstanding?" Her head tilted slightly, her expression caught somewhere between confusion and disappointment.

"Yes, a misunderstanding—on several fronts."

For a moment, Kanade was reminded of his own past. Of the times he had stood where Isshiki was now, brimming with emotions he didn't fully understand, only to be gently let down by the people he admired.

At the time, it hurt. He hadn't understood why they rejected him, but later, he realized they had been right. His feelings weren't as deep as he had thought. They weren't love—they were a mix of admiration and a longing to be closer to someone he thought was out of reach.

And now, standing in their shoes, Kanade realized he couldn't let Isshiki fall into the same trap.

"Isshiki," Kanade began, his voice softer now, "I think you might not have fully realized what you're feeling right now. What you call 'love' might actually be something else entirely."

"Something else?" she echoed, her brow furrowing slightly.

"Yes," Kanade said with a small nod. "We've only known each other for a week, haven't we? Think back to when we first met. You wanted me to teach you how to become the student council president. That's the key here."

"The feelings you're experiencing—they're admiration, Isshiki. You respect the idea of what it means to be a student council president. You admire the role, the person who holds it. And somehow, you've projected those feelings onto me. But that's not the same as love."

He paused, his gaze steady but kind. "Love is…different. It's complicated and messy, and it takes time to understand. I know because I've made the same mistake before. I thought I was in love when I wasn't. I didn't understand what I was feeling, and I ended up hurting people because of it. I don't want you to go through the same thing."

Isshiki stared at him, her usual cheeky demeanor absent. Her lips parted as if to respond, but no words came out.

"I'm sorry, Isshiki," Kanade said, lowering his head slightly. "I don't want to hurt you, but I need to be honest. What you're feeling isn't love."

For a moment, there was only silence between them. The gentle hum of the Ferris wheel filled the air as they ascended toward its peak.

Natsukawa Kanade had done a lot of things he wasn't proud of, but his biggest regret was confessing his feelings to those girls without fully understanding his own heart. Each time, he had hurt them, even if unintentionally.

But at least now, he had learned. He could try to make things right.

"..."

A long silence hung between them until Isshiki Iroha let out an exasperated sigh. Her expression, a mix of frustration and resignation, was almost comical.

"Senpai... you've never been in love before, have you?" she asked, her voice tinged with exasperation.

"Uh… that doesn't really matter here, does it?" Kanade replied, visibly flustered.

"Of course, it matters!" Iroha snapped, crossing her arms. Her tone carried a surprising amount of bite for someone so small. "Senpai, you don't get it at all!"

Her words landed like a sharp jab, catching Kanade off guard. He was used to her teasing, but this was different.

And she wasn't wrong.

After all, from her perspective, he had just rejected Iroha's confession.

"What admiration? What yearning? In the end, you just don't like Iroha, right?" Iroha's voice rose slightly, her frustration spilling over.

"…" Kanade remained silent.

"You've spent all this time analyzing it, but you don't even understand Iroha at all, do you? Hmph!" She puffed out her cheeks indignantly, her frustration giving her the air of a sulking child.

"And now you're trying to say Iroha's feelings aren't real? Well then, Senpai, I'll prove it to you!"

Before Kanade could react, Iroha suddenly stood up.

Kanade stiffened, unsure of what she was planning. His mind raced with possibilities—was she about to storm off dramatically? Throw something? But instead, she simply walked over to him, plopped herself down beside him, and—without hesitation—grabbed his arm.

"…"

Her grip was firm, and before Kanade could protest, she leaned her head against his shoulder.

"Uh… Isn't this a little too close?" Kanade muttered, glancing down at her in disbelief.

"Senpai, please don't say anything," Iroha replied, her voice calm but decisive. "This is also part of the 'collection.' Today's mission isn't over yet. Right now, it's Iroha's time!"

Kanade blinked, unsure whether to laugh or sigh.

"…If it's part of the deal, I guess I don't have a choice," he mumbled, trying to convince himself that this was all part of her usual antics.

"Senpai," Iroha said suddenly, her voice quieter now, "do you like Iroha? Even just a little?"

"Ah, well… that should be—"

"Iroha doesn't want to hear it anymore!" she interrupted, cutting him off sharply. "Shut up, Senpai."

"…"

"Senpai!"

"…What now?" Kanade asked, resigned to her unpredictable nature.

"Be prepared to wake up!"

"…?"

Her cryptic statement hung in the air, leaving Kanade unsure of what kind of chaos she was about to unleash next. One thing was certain: dealing with Isshiki Iroha was never boring.

=========

Hey there;

Have you dropped a stone to support the story?

Please do so.

I only got nearly 40 stones last week before the reset. Oh well.

On a happier note, shoutout to Lost_Writer for joining my Patreon. Your support is literally my motivation.

Good day/evening.