I was Rejected 10,000 times by My Childhood Friend, but After I Gave Up, I Suddenly Started Getting Popular? - Ch. 2 - Episode 2 p1

Lala’s Summer Vacation of Competition

Summer vacation had started.

My own summer vacation of competition—

***

As I roll around in my bed, I snuck a look at my phone.

It had been hot as any other midsummer’s day would be. But, my mom always says that it was too early to use the air conditioner. So, instead, I opened the window and turned on the fan. However:

“It’s sooo hot~uwehh~”

I could hear the bell crickets chirping from outside.

It’d probably be cooler if I had set up some wind chimes in the room, but we didn’t have any. So no.

“Aahh, it’s still so hot.”

If it were just hot, then everything would be fine. But when it was as humid as it was, my skin felt sticky and uncomfortable.

I took a bath, but I felt like my body got rather hot after taking a bath.

“Maybe if Senpai fanned me with a uchiwa, it would be much cooler…”

(TL: An uchiwa is a traditional Japanese handheld paper fan.)

I muttered that to myself, as Senpai obviously wasn’t here.

Wait. That’s right. I was supposed to decide on a date location because my senior couldn’t.

We didn’t even decide on a day… Is he disinterested by any chance?

No, that couldn’t be true. I’m sure Senpai is looking forward to it!

“Because he gets to go on a date with me… ehehe~”

Well, it seemed that I was gonna have to take the lead here!

At least that’s what I thought, so I shot Senpai a text message.

[Here’s a message from Senpai’s adorable Lala! Since summer vacation has already started, why don’t we go on the heartbreak date the day after tomorrow? I’ve got no club activities that day.]

He was such a lazy person to let the girl take the lead. Senpai, that is. 

After some time, I received a reply from him.

[That’s cool with me.]

That was short.

He didn’t understand the feelings of a young maiden at all! Though, that is one of the better and more interesting things about Senpai, in a way.

[Would you mind if we went to Enoshima then? Since it’s summer vacation and all.]

Many of the junior high and high school students near here would go on dates in Enoshima.

And plus, it was summer. Enoshima was the perfect place.

Besides, I remembered Senpai telling me about how he liked the ocean.

[That’s fine. When and how do you want to meet up? You can decide, Lala.]

[Then, let’s meet up in front of the ticket gate of the station nearest to our high school at ten o’clock in the morning. I won’t forgive you if you’re late, okay?]

[Got it.]

[Look forward to seeing me in my casual clothes, okay?]

[…]

I didn’t expect that “…” from him.

Oh, Senpai, aren’t you just so shy?

[Well, I’ll see you the day after tomorrow.]

[Mhm.]

That was how the details of my date with Senpai were determined.

To be honest, I was supposed to take my time and go to Enoshima at the end of summer in order to have a better chance at winning him over.

But things had changed.

Now I have my biggest rival.

“No way… Momiji-senpai is talking about Senpai…” 

That reaction from the morning.

The way she looked at Senpai was that of a maiden in love.

I’m sure of it. Momiji-senpai likes you.

Technically, I never heard that from Momiji-senpai’s mouth, but my girl’s intuition told me so.

But if that were the case, why did she reject him 10,000 times?

That was the only thing that I couldn’t figure out.

No matter how much I think about it, I couldn’t think of a plausible reason for someone to refuse the confession of someone they liked.

Well, in any case, Momiji-senpai was definitely a strong opponent.

Because they were childhood friends, and he liked her before.

Since he had confessed his love for her 10,000 times, his love for her must be intense. That kind of love could easily be awakened in Senpai once again.

That was why I had to go on the offensive with my aggressiveness, which was the only thing I had over Momiji-senpai.

Senpai wanted to find a new love; I had the advantage, at least for now.

We have a date planned; this was a crucial opportunity.

On this Enoshima date—

I will tell Senpai my feelings.

Even though I had only known him for about two months, from the moment I met him, I knew I liked him.

From that point on, I couldn’t take my eyes off him.

I started to follow him with my gaze, everywhere.

This love was real.

This feeling: I want to tell you of it.

“Alright! I’m gonna give it my all!”

I had never confessed before. This was my first love.

Definitely, it would come true.

With such determination in my heart, I went on the heartbreak date.

Summer vacation, the fateful summer vacation, had begun.