Matsueda Azusa even added helpfully, "You could just beat me up right here. That would solve everything."
Of course, that was a lie.
It wouldn't actually solve anything. What it would fix was Hayama's reputation. Matsueda's reputation would take a hit too, but he didn't care about that in the slightest.
If Hayama Hayato really hit him, then the "perfect guy" image he had carefully built would collapse instantly.
"So… don't just stand there pretending you didn't hear him, you idiot!"
But in the end, someone did make a move.
It just wasn't Hayama.
It was Miura Yumiko.
She grabbed Matsueda Azusa's collar tightly with both hands, leaned back to gather strength, and then slammed her forehead straight into his.
A dull thud echoed through the classroom, followed by a loud uproar.
Matsueda Azusa fell flat onto the floor.
Truly unstoppable.
He had just encountered a legendary existence—a human with a steel head and iron skull.
9. He Doesn't Like You
The smell of disinfectant filled the air.
Matsueda Azusa had been headbutted all the way into the medical office by Miura Yumiko. Of course, she had also headbutted herself in the process. That collision was mutual destruction; both of them had gone down instantly.
The students who witnessed it were stunned, and in the end, Hayama Hayato and Hikigaya Hachiman carried them over—one each.
Unfortunately, the school nurse wasn't around. With no other option, Hikigaya had to apply iodine to Matsueda's forehead and wrap it in gauze himself.
The result looked… questionable.
A bit like an Indian mummy.
Since class was still ongoing, everyone else left, leaving only Matsueda Azusa and Miura Yumiko in the medical office.
The atmosphere was awkward.
Hikigaya really should have taken this chance to skip class. Otherwise, leaving these two alone together was just asking for trouble. What if she wasn't satisfied yet and attacked him again?
Matsueda absentmindedly reached up to scratch his head, only to feel the thick gauze wrapped around it.
He glanced toward Miura through the curtain separating the beds.
Thinking back, that headbutt earlier might not have been purely impulsive. If no one had stepped in, Hayama would have said something she couldn't accept. And if Hayama had actually followed Matsueda's suggestion and hit him, that outcome would've been even worse.
So instead, she chose to be the reckless one.
That way, everything could be blamed on her.
Matsueda couldn't help but shake his head.
This was exactly why liking someone was a mistake—and love, even more so.
Everyone thought they were sacrificing themselves. Thought it was noble. Meaningful.
The curtain was suddenly pulled aside.
Miura Yumiko appeared, her forehead only covered with a small bandage—probably done by Hayama.
"Hey! Can you stop looking at me like that? It's disgusting!"
She glared at him.
"Save it," Matsueda replied calmly. "Instead of wasting energy yelling at me, you should go question Hayama."
Then he struck directly at the core.
"You don't even know why he rejected you, do you?"
Miura clenched her fists again. He was really asking for another beating.
But… she couldn't deny it.
"…Yeah. I don't know. So what am I supposed to do about it?"
She sounded like she had given up.
And in doing so, she also acknowledged something important—Hayama would reject her.
That much, she already understood.
Anyone with basic awareness could tell whether someone liked them or not.
The difference was obvious.
She punched the pillow hard.
"If you don't know, then figure it out," Matsueda said, rolling his eyes. "There are only a few possibilities."
He raised his fingers.
"First, he simply doesn't like you. Second, he likes someone else more. Third, there's some reason he can't be with you."
"So which one do you think it is?"
Miura frowned. "You're seriously analyzing this with me? I thought you hated couples."
"This isn't helping you get together with him," Matsueda replied flatly. "It's helping you understand why you should give up."
"Win without fighting."
Miura clicked her tongue but still followed his reasoning.
"Hayama… probably doesn't like anyone else. I've never seen him with another girl."
"That doesn't mean he doesn't," Matsueda shrugged. "But fine, let's ignore that."
"So which is it? Does he not like you, or does he have some reason?"
"Of course there's a reason!" Miura answered immediately.
Matsueda smiled faintly. "I knew you'd say that."
"Then answer this. If he wanted to be with you, but something was stopping him—what would you do?"
"I'd get rid of whatever's in the way!" Miura replied without hesitation. "Obviously."
"Exactly," Matsueda nodded. "Then why doesn't he?"
Miura froze.
"Let me answer that for you," Matsueda continued. "Because he doesn't like you. Or at least, not enough to overcome those obstacles."
"So in the end…" Miura muttered bitterly, "…it just means he doesn't like me."
"Exactly," Matsueda said. "You finally understand."
Miura fell back onto the bed, staring at the ceiling.
"I shouldn't have expected anything meaningful from you…"
"Am I wrong?" Matsueda stepped closer, looking down at her.
"Think about it. You like him, so when something blocks you, you try to overcome it. That's what liking someone looks like."
"But him? He's doing the opposite."
"What does that tell you?"
"…Stop talking."
Miura turned away.
Matsueda simply moved to the other side.
"I told you already."
"Ugh, you're so annoying!"
She suddenly sat up and grabbed the gauze on his head.
"Do you have to force me to say it?! Fine! He doesn't like me!"
"But so what?! There's still time!"
"I can make him like me. I will!"
Matsueda looked at her silently.
That expression alone said everything.
"Don't look at me like that!"
She yanked the gauze.
Matsueda lost his balance and stumbled forward, landing near her shoulder. Fortunately, he reacted in time and didn't fall directly onto her.
At that moment, the door creaked open.
"Oh? Did I come at a bad time?"
The school nurse, Kobiki Sayo, stood at the entrance.
Young, beautiful, and dressed in a way that made her look more like a rumor than reality. Even with her loose white coat, her figure was impossible to ignore, and the glimpse of black stockings beneath it made the situation even more awkward.
She paused for a moment, then covered her mouth and laughed softly.
"Oh my, I'll just wait outside. You two can finish first."
She said that—
But didn't move at all.
She just stood there, watching with interest.
"Hey! Get up!"
Miura panicked and shoved Matsueda away.
The force was ridiculous.
Matsueda nearly got thrown off entirely, but managed to steady himself. Unfortunately, his hand ended up pressing directly against Miura's forehead, pushing her head into the pillow.
"…Well, she's tough," he muttered, sweating slightly.
If looks could kill, he'd already be dead.
He quickly stepped back and raised his hands.
"Hey, hey—this isn't my fault. You're the one who pulled me."
"Student," Kobiki Sayo said with a teasing smile, "you can't act like a scumbag."
"You can't just say it was the girl's fault and walk away from responsibility."
"That's not how things work."