I did not understand...
I was so very happy... yet, looking at Takanashi-san, a wave of embarrassment welled up within me.
His words made me so happy... truly happy.
He was really looking at me. He understood me.
To think he considered me more precious than anyone else...
"I care about that person more than anything or anyone else!"
His voice continued to swirl inside my head.
The words would not leave my mind...
To think that Takanashi-san thought so highly of me.
Ah, simply remembering it...
I was happy... and I was embarrassed.
But why did I feel so ashamed?
Was it not a joyous occasion?
I could not organize my thoughts.
I did not understand my own feelings.
Even as I stood there, Takanashi-san continued to speak.
"Aren't you just running away and acting cool by saying being friends is fine because you're scared of a confession and being rejected!?"
"Don't lump my feelings of love for Sara-senpai together with yours!!"
!!!
Love... Love...
Takanashi-san... loved me?
Countless men had told me they loved me before.
Yet, this was the first time I had ever felt happy to hear it.
I... I?
I did not know.
What did I think of Takanashi-san?
I considered Takanashi-san to be special.
Even things that would have caused me to feel aversion with other men were perfectly fine if it was Takanashi-san.
I loved Takanashi-san's smile. I wanted to do things that would please him.
And I felt that I could not yield that role to Natsumi, or to any other woman.
...I could not yield it to anyone else.
I should be the one to do things for him...
Was this feeling what they called love?
This was definitely unexpected.
I never thought Takanashi-kun would state so clearly that he loved Sara...
Sara remained frozen, unable to move.
Everything had happened too suddenly for her; she probably hadn't been able to process it all yet.
What should I do? It looked like things were under control here, so should I leave the rest to Yokokawa-kun and take Sara back with me?
Sara probably needed time to sort out her feelings.
Even as I was thinking that, I never expected that Sara would suddenly move and throw herself out into the open.
"...Takanashi-san."
!?
No way... this has to be a dream...
Why did I hear Senpai's voice here?
It had to be a hallucination. It had to be.
"Princess!? Why are you here!?"
When I spun around, Senpai was standing there, her face a bright shade of crimson.
Was she angry that I had been summoned?
Or... did she hear everything I just said?
Sara-senpai didn't seem to notice the Fan Club at all; her eyes were fixed solely on me.
"Takanashi-san... I am very happy to hear of your feelings."
At that moment, it was confirmed. She had heard everything.
That meant she had heard me speak of feelings that went far beyond the friend category. Rejection was a very real possibility now.
I was terrified to hear her answer...
"I have never been in love with a member of the opposite sex before. I did not understand the feeling called love. I disliked the men who approached me, and even when they said they loved me, I could not comprehend it."
Despite my fear, Sara-senpai began to speak slowly.
I had no choice but to listen.
"Hearing Takanashi-san's feelings and reflecting on myself, I realized that I have always been thinking of you. During class, at home, even before I sleep... I find myself thinking of Takanashi-san, remembering you. I love seeing your happy face. Taking care of you is my duty. Whether it is your bento or taking care of your everyday needs, I cannot yield those tasks to anyone else. I am certain I could not bear to see another woman doing them. I do not even wish to imagine it. However... is this feeling love? I simply do not know. Until now, I believed that I thought of Takanashi-san as a close friend."
It was only natural for Sara-senpai to be confused, given she had never been aware of romantic love before.
If I was going to tell her, I should have done it more gradually... not like this, in such a sudden outburst...
But Senpai, her face still flushed red with embarrassment, looked me straight in the eyes.
"Takanashi-san, I do not know if this feeling of mine is love. But if it is... if this is love, then I want to be with Takanashi-san and no one else. Therefore..."
After saying that much, Sara-senpai gave me a brilliant smile.
"Please, teach me what love is... make me realize that I am in love with you. I want to fall in love with you, my dearest you."
Sara-senpai had given me the best answer she possibly could.