𝙸𝚜𝚑𝚒𝚐𝚊𝚖𝚒'𝚜 𝙿𝙾𝚅

The Cheerleading Squad...they're annoying, all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, looking like they're having so much fun.

I used to wish they'd get wiped off the face of the Earth. But I was wrong to think like that.

I was really the pathetic one, inveighing against them when I didn't do a damn thing myself.

"Do we have any volunteers for the sports Festival Cheerleading Squad? Somebody? Anybody?"

Then I realized I should join the Cheerleading Squad myself. That should be the key to becoming a normie.

I raised my hand, volunteering to join the Cheerleading Squad.

But when I actually met the Cheerleading Squad, my logic was flawed.

It's not that joining the Cheerleading Squad will make you a normie, but that only normies join the Cheerleading Squad.

I made a terrible decision in a moment of doubt. Even one of my classmates, Onodera, is looking at me like 'Are you nuts?'.

"So, I'll be the leader. And I'm thinking Koyasu will be the vice leader. Everybody okay with that?

"Yay! We're totally okay!"

Just like that, the leader was decided.

"Our first order of business is deciding on Team Red's slogan. So, anybody got any bright ideas?" the leader asked.

Everyone immediately ran up to the board and started scribbling a bunch of stuff.

So, that's how it works. I can't participate that way. I see. There's no reason to even have desks in here.

"So let's choose between these three."

"They all suck!"

"What the heck is 'Instagrammable'?"

You guys are obsessed with being photogenic! Like the way you document every time you eat friggin' pancakes!

"All right, why don't we do this?" the leader wrote something on the board before stepping away to reveal what he had written.

Being Best Absolutely Yee-Crazy-Haa Instagrammable

"That's a definite yes!"

You mean a definite no!

But then again, they have better grades than me.

"I'll send it to your Instagram accounts from Line"

"Oh, man! Our Instagram Stories are gonna go viral!"

"I think our work's done here for today!"

I have no idea what they're saying.

"Let's make a Line group."

What's should I do? I don't even use Line. Would Skype work?

"Boo!" I jumped.

"Vice leader..." I mumbled. Was it necessary to scare me?

"You're Yu, right? I've heard about you. Don't you have Line? Tell me your mail address. I'll just mail you what's important." she said.

"Sorry for putting you to the trouble." I apologized.

"So, for our uniforms...the girls will wear boys' school uniforms, and the guys will dress up like girls! Everyone is responsible for borrowing from somebody." the leader explained.

"This is sick!"

"Who are you going to borrow from?"

"Trade with me!"

Huh?

After that, I managed to survive a few more minutes in there until it finally ended. I stepped outside and walked through the corridors of this school.

They're demons who are used to that place.

You guys have female friends, so it's easy for you to borrow their uniform, but I don't have anyone like that.

If I asked any of my female classmates to let me borrow their uniform, they'd freak out. There are the student council girls.

Iino would say...

'Forget it! I'd never be able to wear it again!'

I'd have the best chance asking Fujiwara, but...

'You would do something weird with it, wouldn't you?'

That's tough...she thinks I'm a pervert. Not that I blame her.

And then there's L/n, my goddess. I have the best chances if I ask her, but she's been avoiding me lately even though we've made up.

I shouldn't have read that manga. I was so hungry for romance, I acted without thinking.

I didn't take her emotions into consideration and just acted on my own will.

She'd just run away like usual and she wouldn't even look me in the eye! I'm such an idiot!

"There's Shinomiya-senpai, but I'm scared of her. I should probably just quit." I sighed.

"Did I hear you say my name?" I heard a familiar voice. I turned around and there she is!

"I'm sorry!" I attempted to run away but she grabbed my arm before I could escape her grasp.

"Why are you trying to run away?" she deadpanned. She's going to kill me! But...this is my chance.

We went to the Student Council room and I explained my situation to her. She agreed to let me borrow her uniform.

I tried it on and it fitted perfectly, but it was kinda tight around the chest area. She offered to do my makeup as well.

So, right now, I am sitting down while Shinomiya-senpai does my make-up. Is this my drag debut or something?

Actually, it's true that I'm worried about the Cheerleading Squad, but my mind is focused on someone else.

How do I apologize to L/n?

Should I buy her a flower? No, maybe a bouquet of flowers? L/n is a goddess, she deserves more than just a bouquet of flowers! How about a whole truck then?!

"By the way, is something on your mind? You're spacing out more than usual." Shinomiya-senpai pointed out, snapping me back to reality.

"Oh, um..." I stammered. I don't really want to talk to her about it, but she might torture me to death until she finds out.

And...maybe getting advice from a girl would help?

"It's about L/n, she's been avoiding me lately." I replied.

"Have you pinpointed the reason to this?" she questioned, applying some kind of lipstick.

"I did something bad to her a week ago. I got a bit too close and she didn't seem to like that and she's been avoiding me ever since. We've made up, but she would run away when I'm around. It's like back then." I explained.

"I don't know what to do...I really want to go back to being friends again." I sighed.

"Do you...really want to be just friends with her?"

Huh?

𝚈/𝚗'𝚜 𝙿𝙾𝚅

"Hey, cut that out! Why did you prank me like that?"

"Sorry. I'll fix it."

"Quit giggling. Well, I don't mind her being affectionate toward a fellow council member, but aren't they sitting a little too close?"

"I know right. That's a bit too close and how is Ishigami-kun so comfortable with that?" I agreed.

"I mean, it's not like I'm jealous or anything!" we both said at the same time.

I didn't know there was someone with me while I was spying on the two of them. I turned to the person next to me.

"L/n?!"

"President?!"

He quickly closed the student council door and pulled me aside. He immediately hushed me.

"Don't tell anyone about this." he demanded.

"If you keep your mouth shut, I'll keep mine too." I stated.

"Deal" we said at the same time before departing.

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𝟹𝚛𝚍 𝙿𝚎𝚛𝚜𝚘𝚗 𝙿𝙾𝚅

"So, uhm...I joined the Cheerleading Squad." Ishigami mentioned, trying to strike up a conversation to get rid of the tension in the air.

"Oh, th-that's great. Good f-for you." Y/n muttered, fidgeting with her fingers as she avoids eye contact with Ishigami.

Her cheeks are as round as her face, although her body doesn't have so many curves. They're always rosy, as if she's shy all the time, which isn't a lie at all.

There has been only one time when Ishigami actually seen her ashamed. That time when she got humiliated by the people in middle school after a specific incident.

Not only her cheeks, but her whole face turned red. Though the ears had been hidden among the strands of her hair, it was obvious that they were as rosy as her face.

When Y/n spots Ishigami, she immediately turns the other direction to avoid getting his attention.

If Ishigami spots Y/n first, he would try to grab her wrist so that she wouldn't run away, but Y/n is too quick for that.

The truth is, when Y/n is around him, she feels her shoulders, and in extreme cases, her arms burning with shyness, and her stomach becoming a dome because of the butterflies that always remain.

"We're here now, so uh...see you tomorrow." Ishigami waved. Y/n hadn't realized that they were standing in front of the gates leading to her mansion.

"Y-Yeah! See you..." Y/n mumbled, sad that he was already leaving. Even though the walk was mostly filled with silence, she enjoyed his company nonetheless.

𝚈/𝚗'𝚜 𝙿𝙾𝚅

I didn't want the walk to end, I wanted it to last forever. Even if it would repeat over and over again, I would still have that warmth whenever he stood next to me.

I promised to set my feelings aside for the sake of our friendship, but every time I look at Ishigami-kun, I can't help but run away from him.

I want to talk to him, go back to the way things were, but my mind goes blank whenever Ishigami-kun is around and I can't find the right words to say, so I end up stammering over my words.

Even though I keep telling myself that I don't like him, or that I have so many reasons as to why I can't like him, there's that one feeling in my chest that asks...

'What if?'

It's a simple question. That many ask others, themselves, but sometimes...your heart asks you that question itself.

It's like a war between your heart and mind. It's like a debate where the heart is the lawyer while the mind is the prosecutor.

This is the scenario

"What if he likes us? He calls us goddess and compliments us like... everyday! He has to like us!" the heart shouted.

"I don't disagree with you there, but it could be that he admires us and sees us as nothing more." the mind argued.

"Blah blah blah! No one wants to hear your opinion anyway!" the heart screamed.

"Oh, please use some logic. Being immature right now doesn't prove your point." the mind sighed.

"Plus, it's best if we put our feelings aside. If we like him, it will only ruin the bond that we have created over the year. Liking him will not do us any good. So forget your feelings and go back to normal, L/n Y/n." the mind demanded.

"Y-You're right. I should-" I got cut off.

"Yeah, right! Forget my feelings my butt! Stop lying to yourself! You obviously want to hold his hand, go on dates with him, become his girlfriend, and even kiss him!" the heart yelled.

"Wh-Wh-What?! Y-You don't have to admit it!" I shouted, getting embarrassed.

I can't lie to myself here. They are me after all. Even if I attempt to lie, I wouldn't be able to get away with it.

"Don't be ridiculous! Those are just mere fantasies. We have to think this logically and realize the pros and cons." the mind declared.

"I don't care about the pros and cons and whatever! We just want him to give us a hug!" the heart demanded.

"No, we don't!"

"Yes, we do!"

"No, we don't!"

"Yes, we do!"

"No, we don't!"

"Yes, we do!"

"No, we don't!"

"Yes, we do!"

"Shut it, the both of you!" the judge, silenced. The heart and the mind immediately shut their mouths.

"What about you? You are us after all, shouldn't you make the choice?" the judge asked.

End of scenario!

I should be the one to make the choice. I should make a choice that would be healthy for both my heart and mind.

Lying to myself and hiding my feelings for him is unhealthy. If I make it obvious, it might ruin our friendship.

I guess, it's fine to like him, just don't go overboard. If you want to like him then just watch him from the distance.

Ishigami-kun must be very confused, so don't make this any more complicated. Just apologize to him and get it over with.

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