Shizuka was not a shy person.
Because of her insatiable desire to be the best in as many areas as possible, she had participated in various competitions ever since she was a young child. Since her parents were fairly easy-going, they never pushed her to do anything she didn't want to and let her sign up for whatever she wanted. Although her areas of interest narrowed as she got older, Shizuka still liked being first whenever she did participate in something.
Through these efforts, Shizuka was seldom nervous or timid in her interactions with strangers. The one exception was Semi Madoka. For some reason, in front of Madoka, Shizuka, always felt a jumpy. Shizuka had assumed that this was due to the fact that, for the first time ever, she was confronting someone who was truly superior to her in all aspects.
Therefore, she had made a resolve to defeat Madoka. She hoped that by doing so, she'd be able to ease her unsettled heart. Unfortunately, this was easier said than done because Madoka effortlessly outshone Shizuka in all areas. Thus, Shizuka had never been able to be composed in her dealings with him. However, now, with her mind firmly made up and her goal within reach, Shizuka could start being her usual self in front of Madoka.
Seeing that Madoka didn't look shocked anymore but still wasn't responding, Shizuka wasn't quite sure what she should do, so she decided to reiterate. In a more steady voice she once again earnestly requested, "Please fall in love with me."
Instead of replying, Madoka moved closer to Shizuka and lifted a hand to touch Shizuka's cheek gently with the back of his hand.
Shizuka flinched as she had not expected him to make physical contact, but realizing that he seemed to be confirming something for himself, she didn't pull away.
With his hand still on her cheek, and in a voice so soft that she almost didn't catch it, Madoka said, "You're definitely real."
Shizuka blinked slowly. "You know, you've been saying that since earlier but why wouldn't I be real?"
Madoka withdrew his hand and stared at her expressionlessly. After a few seconds he asked, "So are you saying you want to date me?"
Shizuka wasn't quite sure how to respond to this. It's not so much that I want to date you as I want to make you fall in with me and expose your weaknesses. But if I told you that, you probably wouldn't date me.
Eventually, she decided that being vague was the best course of action to take in this situation so she replied with, "More or less."
"Is that why you've been acting strangely and your friends have been following me around these past few days?"
Crap, he knew.
A sheepish look emerged on Shizuka's face, knowing that denying it at this time would be pointless, she simply answered, "Yes."
Madoka continued staring at Shizuka and then after another long moment of silence, he tilted his head slightly and demurred, "What if I said no?"
Shizuka made a blank face. I kind of didn't think I'd even get this to this point but I've come too far to give up now!
"Then I'll ask you again tomorrow!" she declared without wavering.
"If I still say no?"
"Well...then I'll ask the next day and the day after that and the day after that!...I'll ask everyday until your reply changes!"
Ah, but this is our last year.
"Though I hope that you'll agree sooner rather than later, since we do have a bit of a time constraint," Shizuka added after a pause.
Madoka stared at Shizuka for a long while afterwards, with an unprecedentedly serious expression on his face. "How do you know you'll still feel this way tomorrow or the day after?"
Shizuka thought about this for a moment, and then calmly replied, "I don't...Realistically speaking, I have no way of knowing how I'll feel the day after tomorrow, tomorrow, or even a few hours from now."
Madoka's face held an unreadable expression as he listened to her.
"However...I want to treasure the feelings I have today...and today...I somehow feel like I'd be able to chase after you unceasingly."
As she articulated her thoughts aloud, Shizuka realized that it was true. For a reason unknown to herself, at this very moment, she honestly felt like she'd be able to chase after Madoka after graduation and perhaps even for a lifetime, if that's how long it took to surpass him.
At her bold confession, a trace of surprise flashed across Madoka's face, but it was quickly replaced with a somewhat bitter and faraway look.
"It'll be too late to change your mind later you know," he cautioned in a voice barely above a whisper.
Shizuka's heart felt strangely heavy. She had never seen the normally aloof Madoka in such a melancholic state.
For a fraction of a second, she even felt a strong desire to envelop him in a warm embrace but ultimately held herself back.
Instead, she found herself saying, "...If it's too much to decide in this instant...I wouldn't mind receiving a reply later."
Although she had said so herself, Shizuka couldn't help appearing dispirited.
Why do I feel so sad? Is it because I wanted to hear him say he'll date me now so I can have more time exposing his weaknesses...or is it something else?...And if it's something else... what is it?
A seemingly long stretch of time passed as Shizuka and Madoka were both consumed by their thoughts, until finally, Madoka said, "Okay. Let's date," with a small but undoubtedly genuine smile on his face.
Shizuka stared at Madoka with her eyes wide. Although she had indeed declared that she'd be willing to wait for his answer and that she wouldn't give up if the answer wasn't yes, she didn't actually think he'd agree so straightforwardly.
"You're agreeing here and now? Just like that? You're not making me ask tomorrow and the day after and the day after that?"
"Hm, well it's like you said, there is a time constraint after all." Madoka's smile grew wider. "Would you've rather I said no?"
"Yes! I mean no!" blurted Shizuka hastily.
Words, why do you keep failing me so?
She lowered her head and let out a quiet sigh. "It's not that I wanted to be rejected...but since you seemed to be kind of pensive and unwilling before...I didn't think things would wrap up like this," she admitted honestly.
Raising her head after a while, Shizuka peered directly into Madoka's eyes and smiled. "Truthfully, I'm relieved."
Madoka blinked slowly before a radiant smile bloomed on his already gorgeous face making him seem even more breathtaking. He smiled so widely that, two dimples Shizuka didn't even know he had, became visible, adding to his insurmountable charm. With his smile, the heavy atmosphere that had filled the room only moments earlier, rapidly dissipated, as if it had never been there at all. The effect was truly like seeing the long awaited sun peeking out from behind the clouds after a raging storm and knowing that all would be okay.
Shizuka felt her heart inexplicably skip a beat.
"I didn't realize you had dimples," Shizuka mused somewhat dumbly as she stared at Madoka.
"...Is that bad?" asked Madoka innocently.
"No...it's cuter than I expected." Realizing that most high school boys wouldn't enjoy being called "cute," Shizuka quickly amended, "I mean in a completely objective and aesthetic sense, they're rather lovely." Ugh why did I say lovely? Most boys wouldn't want to be lovely either right?
"They're lovely in an objective aesthetic sense?" repeated Madoka in a slightly questioning tone.
I knew he'd find fault with that...
"What I meant to say was that, I think most people would find it appealing, your dimple embedded smile that is."
"What about you?" asked Madoka with a hint of anticipation. "What do you, as an individual, think?"
After a startled pause Shizuka drawled, "I don't think my opinion would differ too greatly from the majority."
Hearing her response, Madoka made an incredibly pleased expression.
...Is he a narcissist?
Before she could ponder too deeply about this surprising discovery, Shizuka's phone vibrated in her pocket. That must be Fuu-chan and Mii-chan. They must be wondering why I'm not by my locker.
Feeling a bit like one of those annoying girls who ditched their friends for a guy that her sister told her often appeared in dramas, Shizuka decided that she needed to go look for Fuyuki and Mika.
"My friends are calling me so I should probably get going. You should head to class too."
As Shizuka turned to leave, she felt Madoka tugging at her sleeve. Shizuka looked down at her sleeve and then back up at Madoka. "Um, is something wrong?"
Letting going of her sleeve and pointing to her phone, Madoka said, "Contact information. Let's exchange them."
Shizuka blinked. "Right...as a couple we should probably do that."
"Give me your number, I'll call you," instructed Madoka as he pulled out his phone from his pocket.
Shizuka recited her phone number aloud. After a few seconds she could hear the ringing sounds from his phone as he called her.
All of a sudden, the sound of angry chicken clucks filled the room bewildering the both of them.
When she at last realized that the horribly disruptive sounds were coming from her own phone, Shizuka swiftly hit the answer button.
Ughhhhh! Kaori! This can only be her work! She must've secretly changed my ringtone for eating her pudding last week!
"This isn't my usual ringtone! My idiotic younger sister must've changed it as a joke, it's not like I like chickens or anything! Well, I mean like to eat chicken but not like this!" Shizuka clarified in a rush.
Madoka made no attempts to suppress his amusement. "I believe you."
Shizuka inwardly sigh in relief. How horrible would it have been if Madoka didn't believe and looked at her as if she was a complete lunatic.
Looking at her call logs, she found Madoka's number and proceeded to add him as a contact.
Struck by a flight of fancy, Shizuka decided to save Madoka's number in her phone as "Dimple Prince."
As she looked at the cutesy nickname on her screen, Shizuka couldn't help but reveal a small smile.
"Alright, I finished saving it," she affirmed as she reached for the door again. "I'll see you in class then."
"Later, let's have lunch together."
Shizuka who was seconds away from turning the doorknob and opening it to leave, dazedly turned to look at Madoka.
"Is that no good?" he asked as his seemingly soft pink lips formed a sad pout.
What's with these wounded puppy vibes he's giving out? What happened to the brooding guy from earlier?
Shizuka coughed lightly as she opened the door. "No, it's fine. Let's eat lunch together."
Outside in the hallway, Shizuka was greeted by the sight of a small crowd who had gathered in front of the student council room. It was evident that the word had gotten around that two of the school's idols had entered an empty room together and remained there for extended period of time.
At the two's long awaited emergence, the nearby students speedily scattered and began to gossip amongst themselves.
"What do you think they were doing in there?"
"Maybe student council work?"
"At this hour? They're not even in the student council anymore!"
As Shizuka was more than accustomed to having many people pay attention to her, she simply ignored the overly curious crowd as she stepped out.
Yet, before Shizuka could even take twelve steps away from the door, two students abruptly jumped out in front of her and blocked her path.