Hayasaka's POV.
Subaru: Really?
Mirin: During the start of Fall?
Hayasaka: Yes.
Then I walked past them.
Hayasaka: Follow me. Let's go to certain spot.
Then I lead them, to the maple tree.
Mirin: Of course, Kaedehara-kun's favorite spot in the whole academy.
Subaru: The Maple Tree.
Subaru: So? What's the connection of this tree to your love story?
Mirin: Beside from Kaedehara-kun's favorite spot?
Hayasaka: Well, I didn't met him here.
Hayasaka: I met him in a certain room.
Hayasaka: In the music room.
Subaru: The music room?
I then sat down under the shade while my friends followed suit. I placed the box of cake at the center and began telling them my story.
------------------
Hayasaka's POV. Flashback. 1 year earlier.
I'm currently walking on the quiet hallways of Shuchiin.
Hayasaka: This is nice.
Hayasaka: Peaceful and quiet.........
Hayasaka: No disturbances............
Until I heard a certain melody being played.
Hayasaka: Hm? Is that........? Piano?
Hayasaka: It's almost late.
It's already dusk and twilight is slowly approaching.
Being curious, I looked for the source of that melody. Until.............
I saw a certain door, just a little bit open, I peeked through that small opening and I saw a boy with black hair and blue eyes, playing the piano with pure gentleness.
(A/N: This is the melody that Ryota is playing during the flashback.)
The way his hands gently press each key, the sweet melody playing across the room. His gentle expression, his eyes glistening in the light of the setting sun..............
I was totally entranced by this sight..........
Hayasaka: Woah...........
Words couldn't even describe what I feel. It's just.............
I wanted to stay at this moment together..........
But this moment ended when he hit the last note.
Hayasaka: So that's it.......huh?
Then I heard his voice...........
???: Yuki...........
Hayasaka: .............
Just by hearing the tone of his voice..........it's full of sadness.
???: *sigh*
???: You may be long gone........
???: But the memories we had.......
???: Remains forever........
Hayasaka: Long gone.......?
Hayasaka: What does he mean.......?
Hayasaka: Now that I take a closer look at this boy..........
Hayasaka: Black hair and blue eyes........
Hayasaka: With a voice as clear as the waters.............
Hayasaka: So this is the rumored transfer student.
Hayasaka: What was his name again? I totally forgot........
But then I kinda slipped and I accidentally slammed the door which made a sound loud enough for him to hear.
I stood up quickly as he looked at me with concern.
???: A-Are you okay?
Hayasaka: ............
Now that I look at him closely..........
He's.........cute...........
???: Uh, hello?
Hayasaka: Ah!
I snap back from reality as I can see him standing in front of me.
???: Are you okay?
Hayasaka: Y-Yeah!
Then he smiled.
???: Oh, be careful.
Hayasaka: Yeah.......
???: Oh, you got a scrape in your knee.
I checked my knee and there is really a scrape.
Hayasaka: It's just a scrape.
???: Sit down over there.
He points at a vacant chair.
???: I'll get the first aid kit. So sit there.
Then I sat on the vacant chair and then a few minutes later, he came back with the first aid kit. He kneeled down and began cleaning my wound.
I was kinda blushing because he might saw my underwear but he's too focused on my wound.
Hayasaka: Pervert.
???: If you think that I'm looking trying to look what's under your skirt, you're the one who is a pervert.
Hayasaka: Wha—
???: Accusing me of being a pervert where I'm just cleaning your wound on your knee..........
Hayasaka: .........
???: Where I only wanted to help.
Hayasaka: ..............
???: So, what are you doing here? Eavesdropping?
Hayasaka: No, I just passed by when I heard some sound coming from here.
???: I see. Why didn't you knock?
Hayasaka: I don't know.
Then he looked at me in the eyes with his eyebrows furrowing a bit.
???: You........don't know?
Hayasaka: I don't want to disturb you.
???: I see.
Then he finished cleaning the wound as he put a plaster on the wound. He then fixed the first aid kit and returned it back.
Then he came back as he sat on the other chair beside me.
???: So.......
???: What are you doing here?
Hayasaka: Just walking..........
???: Shouldn't you be going home now? It's getting pretty late.
I looked at the window as the sun begins to set and the sky slowly changing it's color.
Hayasaka: I was just thinking..........
Hayasaka: When can I spend time with my mom again.
???: I see.
Then he looked at the window.
???: It's only natural for a child to look for the affection of their parents.
???: Well...........
???: I met a mother, whose husband died when their child was so young. Then, two years ago..........
???: The child also died........
Hayasaka: What?
???: The mother was left alone. Her husband's death was already painful, raising her child all by herself. But then, the child also died.
???: That's too much.........
???: For a parent to bear.
Hayasaka: That's sad.
???: Since then, I never had any news about the mother. Probably returned to her parents. I don't know.
???: So, you're saying that your mom doesn't have any time to spare to be with you?
Hayasaka: Yes.
???: Hehe.
???: Actually, your mom is probably looking for the opportunity to spend time with you.
???: If a child wants their parents' affection, the parents will find a way to fulfill their child's desire.
???: Well, after all, my parents are always busy. The thing is, we really have a rare opportunity to have a real family bonding.
Hayasaka: What is your parents' job?
???: They are owners of a café. Well, I'm also working at the café to help them.
???: Always busy because of the popularity of our café and there are always lots of customers.
Hayasaka: I see. But atleast, you are with them.
???: ............
???: I can't really give you an advice about your situation but..........
???: I know, your mother loves you. Maybe the time she's always busy, she's doing it for you, for you to have a happy life.
Then he stood up from his chair and grabbed his bag.
???: Well, I guess we should be going home now.
Hayasaka: Oh.........
I noticed that the colors of the sky began to transition from twilight to evening.
Then the two of us went out of the music room as we passed by the maple tree.........
I was walking behind him.
I asked him.
Hayasaka: By the way...........
???: Hm?
Hayasaka: What's your name?
He stopped walking as he turned around and smiled.
Ryota: My name is Kaedehara Ryota.
When he introduced his name, I feel like this is a dream. The red maple leaves dance through the cold night breeze, as he smiled.
Ryota: What about you?
Hayasaka: Hayasaka Ai.
Ryota: Nice to meet you, Hayasaka-san.
Hayasaka: Nice to meet you too, Kaedehara-kun.
Then as we parted ways on the way home.........
I pondered for a while until........
I remembered it now.
Kaedehara Ryota, the transfer student. One of the impures.
Yet despite being an impure himself, he really got along with the other students.
Well, he is popular due to his looks. But he is also popular because of how he treats people with kindness knows the proper way to approach them.
Even Kaguya-sama is impressed by his attitude. In fact, she even said that Kaedehara-kun is capable of standing his ground against her.
But despite all of that, he never made enemies in Shuchiin. It is because he avoids the people that could exploit him and has the potential to be his enemy.
He's observant. Too observant. No wonder why he had only a few friends.
Not to mention, he is also a member of the student council. No wonder why Kaguya-sama knows him.
But still.............
The rumors of him being cold hearted, because he rejected every girl that confessed to him............
Looks like those rumors aren't even true.
Once you met him properly...........
He's just as gentle as the autumn breeze.
He's..............
Too gentle........
Yet why can I see that his gentleness is also the source of his strength?
Until, I couldn't get him out of my mind. I continued observing him for months.............
Little by little............
I fell in love with him.
He's just too kind and whenever he's just looking at nothingness, I can always think of his calm expression.
He's not just beautiful in the outside but in the inside as well.
Then when I knew that he's also a member of the music club, I always tried to find a way to see him perform and he's just..........too handsome.
Then little by little, his popularity grew more and more.......
It seems like he's slowly becoming out of reach but it didn't.
We would talk sometimes when I approach him. That made me happy.
We were never close during the first year but during the second year........
Step by step.........
I'm trying to get closer to him........
And it seems to be working.
I just need to take it very slowly and know him little by little.
---------------
Back to the present.
Subaru: Oh! So that's how it is........
Mirin: You were charmed by him.......
Hayasaka: I wouldn't say charmed.......
Hayasaka: I was just drawn into him.
Mirin: Ooooohhhhhhh
Subaru: Now that we know the real reason why you fell in love, we've got the more reason to get the two of you together!
Hayasaka: Huh!?
Mirin: Oh, don't worry........
Then they smiled.
Subaru: The operation, "Make Kaedehara-kun fall in love with Hayasaka" starts now!
Hayasaka: Wha!? Hey!
Mirin: Now, now. Come on!
Subaru: Nothing's gonna happen if you just stand in there while other girls are making their chances to grab him.
Hayasaka: !!!
Then I just smiled.
Hayasaka: Oh, you girls.
Subaru: Hehe. You know, you two really are a good pair.
Mirin: Yeah.
Hayasaka: You think?
Subaru: Yeah!
Mirin: I even heard rumors that the secretary of the student council, Fujiwara-san is in love with Kaedehara-kun.
Hayasaka: Yeah. I also heard those rumors.
Hayasaka: Kaguya-sama told me and she even told me their history.
Mirin: So, you'd better get moving girl!
Subaru: That's right! If you wanna be Kaedehara-kun's girlfriend, then you gotta make yourself as his ideal girlfriend!
Hayasaka: His ideal girlfriend?
Mirin: Don't worry, will help you out!
Hayasaka: Thanks.
Subaru: Now, let's begin!
I remembered the advice that his friends gave me.
"Hit him with your true self."
Kaedehara-kun............
This time...........I'll make you fall in love with me..........
With my true self.