22 Starting Today, I Am a Relationship Coach

"Kisaki, do you really think a girl would fall for someone because of such a 'grand' ambition as 'becoming the greatest delinquent in Japan'?"

"Why wouldn't she? The strongest delinquent in Japan—how cool is that!"

Kisaki Tetta replied with an air of self-evident certainty, looking somewhat displeased by Hojo Kyosuke's mocking tone.

"I see. So, you, too, have a wild heart deep down? Is it that after being a 'good student' for so long, you started craving the other side of the world?"

"That..."

Kisaki Tetta was momentarily stunned by the remark. Upon reflection, he realized that perhaps it was true. But he quickly retorted, "Aren't you the same, President?"

"Hey, hey. It’s one thing for others not to know, but Kisaki, how dare you say that? The only reason I became a delinquent is because of you. I am a serious, model student: top of my grade, aiming for Tokyo University, never skipping class, never getting into fights," Hojo Kyosuke said righteously.

Kisaki Tetta’s eyes widened, wanting to refute but finding no words. It was true; the reason Hojo had become a delinquent was entirely due to his own prodding. As for his studies, that went without saying—he had entered school with nearly perfect marks. If he wasn't a good student, no one was.

Kisaki wanted to curse someone, but he didn't know who—maybe himself.

"But if that's not the case, why would Hinata Tachibana fall for someone like Takemichi Hanagaki, who has no redeeming qualities?"

Hojo Kyosuke hadn't expected to hear the name of "celebrity" Hinata Tachibana here. It seemed Kisaki Tetta and Takemichi Hanagaki were all part of the same circle. Damn it, why wasn't Kisaki Tetta a woman?

"Tell me from the beginning. Why do you think that girl, Hinata Tachibana, would like Takemichi Hanagaki because of something like that?"

Hojo Kyosuke, whose romantic experience in both his past and present life was effectively zero, found it truly marvelous that he had become a love counselor.

And so, one lonely soul began to mentor another. One spoke with enthusiasm, and the other listened intently.

Kisaki Tetta thought of the three top-tier beauties who had come to watch the assembly last night. Could it be that the President was some kind of top-tier ladies' man? After some hesitation, he decided to ask for advice from Hojo, who looked like a winner in life.

"I was called a prodigy from a young age. In the sixth grade, Hinata Tachibana and I were classmates at a cram school. Back then, Hinata admired me, and I fell for her."

Leaning his hands on the railing, Kisaki Tetta looked up at the azure sky and began to recount the story hidden deep in his heart, one that no one else knew.

Are kids these days this mature? Talking about being in love in the sixth grade?

Hojo Kyosuke complained inwardly, then thought of Nao-hana at the graduation ceremony. Silently suppressing his urge to retort, he continued to listen.

"But that evening, after cram school ended, Hinata was surrounded by some middle schoolers. Then, a kid wearing a white bedsheet saved her."

At this point, Kisaki Tetta slammed the railing hard.

"Wait, how do you know about this?" Hojo Kyosuke spotted a blind spot.

"I... I saw it," Kisaki Tetta muttered.

"And what were you doing while Hinata Tachibana was being surrounded by those middle schoolers?"

"..." Kisaki Tetta covered his face with both hands.

"Were you afraid?"

"How could I not be? Back then, I was just a primary schooler who did nothing but study. How could I have dared to step forward against middle schoolers?"

Kisaki Tetta’s voice trembled, as if he had returned to that evening, trapped back in that weak, cowardly body.

"I hid around the corner, wanting to call the police, wanting to ask adults for help. I was looking for a way to save her. What could I have done if I went out there? Just get beaten up like that ridiculous hero? Wait for the middle schoolers to get tired and leave on their own?"

Kisaki raised his voice, as if defending his actions or perhaps comforting himself.

"And then?" Hojo Kyosuke didn't dwell on that point. A qualified emotional counselor knows how to strike a balance between tension and release.

"The next day, Hinata came to the cram school and excitedly told me that a hero had saved her yesterday. Listening to her words and looking into her eyes, I knew she had been taken away from me." Kisaki’s voice carried a sob. "After that day, I kept following Takemichi Hanagaki."

Hey, hey, Kisaki, you've got too many tropes going on here, Hojo thought to himself.

"'You know my hero is a delinquent, right? When I get to middle school, I’m going to become the top delinquent in Japan!' I heard Takemichi say that."

"Just as you said earlier, how could any girl fall for a guy because of the ambition to become the greatest delinquent? How could a delinquent possibly be a hero? At the time, I didn't accept it either. But Hinata loved Takemichi for wanting to be the top delinquent, and she treated him as her hero."

With that, Kisaki Tetta raised his head, wiped the tears from his face, and clenched his fist.

"So, from that moment on, I resolved to become the strongest delinquent in Japan. As long as I achieve that goal, I will definitely be able to take Hinata Tachibana back!"

"Hahahahahaha!"

Seeing that Kisaki had finished his story, Hojo Kyosuke could no longer hold it in and burst into laughter.

"You bastard! I’m going to kill you! I’ll definitely kill you this time!"

Kisaki Tetta’s face turned bright red as he stepped forward to grab Hojo’s throat—with the force of a playful scuffle, of course.

"Hahaha, Kisaki, you don't even have to do it; I’m going to die laughing right now." Hojo Kyosuke was laughing until he was out of breath.

He felt he had to apologize to Kisaki. He had previously thought Kisaki was a devious person with deep schemes, but he never expected him to be this naive.

"Kisaki, you’re actually deliberately forgetting that fact, aren't you?"

Hojo Kyosuke rested his elbows on the railing and leaned his back against it.

"What fact? What are you talking about?"

Kisaki Tetta held the same posture. Hearing this, he looked extremely uncomfortable and turned his head away.

"Hinata Tachibana doesn't love a 'hero' or the 'top delinquent.' She loves the person who saved her from those middle schoolers."

Hojo Kyosuke ruthlessly exposed the fact that Kisaki had been avoiding all along.

"That’s not true! Hinata only likes Takemichi because he wants to be the top delinquent—because he's a hero!"

"Kisaki, stop lying to yourself! The idea that you can win Hinata’s heart by becoming the top delinquent is just you numbing yourself, trying to forget that reality."

"Stop it..." Kisaki Tetta leaned against the railing, slowly sliding down until he was sitting on the ground, his face buried deep in his knees.

"You’re just trying to forget that when Hinata was in danger, you didn't step up to save her. You hid in the back, paralyzed by fear, unable to do a thing! You’re trying to forget that cowardly, powerless version of yourself!"

Listening to Hojo Kyosuke, Kisaki Tetta said nothing more, only his crying grew louder.