Chapter 176 – The Wind Rises, and Ryo Says She Doesn’t Care

Shibuya shopping street.

In front of a dessert shop, Aoki Kei’s words stuck in his throat.

There weren’t many people around.

Beside him, Ryo’s voice was clear as day.

‘Even if my thoughts are selfish, even if Kita won’t accept it, even if Niji-ka minds, even if my choice in the end is ugly—I don’t care, she had said. I’ll still support you.’

Kei didn’t need to think too hard to understand what she meant.

Ryo would indulge him.

She would support whatever choice he made—and then throw herself into it without hesitation.

Her voice lingered in his ear, along with the faint warmth of her breath from being so close.

So… what was he supposed to say now?

Her question was blunt. Her choice was clear.

The emotion behind it was unmistakable.

For a fleeting moment, Kei thought—

If the world were some utopia where you only had to answer “yes” or “no,” life would be so much simpler.

But reality wasn’t like that.

He wanted to tell her, ‘I really like you. I want to be with you.’

But pride held him back.

Responsibility held him back.

In the end, people have to bear the consequences of their words and actions.

So—

So…

Ryo’s face was delicate.

Calling it a “work of art” felt almost too cliché, but if he had to compare it to something… perhaps it was like the snow resting at the very peak of Mount Fuji—pure and breathtaking.

Her eyes, too, were beautiful.

At first glance, they seemed emotionless, but when they looked at him, it always felt like they hid a thousand unspoken things.

He remembered the first time those eyes had looked at him with a smile—when she had jokingly told Kita, “I’m with Suki-san now.”

And now, with those same eyes fixed on him, he had to give her his answer.

3:40 p.m. The street wasn’t too noisy. Kei finally spoke.

“Ryo.”

He took a half step back.

They’d been standing close, so his voice was quiet.

“I know exactly what’s in my heart. And because I know, I can’t just make a choice without thinking, like you said.”

“I like you—a lot. I’m perfectly clear about that.”

He looked at her, their distance just slightly wider now.

“But my feelings aren’t an excuse for me to act on impulse.”

He paused for a moment, then continued.

“And, Ryo—”

His voice dropped lower.

“That ‘I don’t care’ you just said—”

But before he could finish, she interrupted without warning.

She blinked slowly at the boy she’d known for over half a year.

“Suki-san.”

She stepped closer again, her eyes serious.

Her tone was cool, as always.

“When I say I don’t care, I mean it exactly as you understand it. I mean I don’t care about being acknowledged.”

“I won’t let myself hesitate. And when I can’t make a choice… then I think I just won’t choose at all.”

The space between them closed again.

Closer than before—her breathing was right at his ear.

Then Ryo slowly raised her hand.

Those cool, unreadable yet strangely full-of-emotion eyes stayed locked on him as her palm brushed against his cheek.

Her hand was warm and cool all at once.

“There are probably a lot of reasons, but… saying them out loud feels like such a hassle. There’s a lot I want to say right now, but—” She gave a small shrug. “It’s just a hassle.”

“So… let’s keep it simple.”

Her fingertips traced lightly along his face, then stopped.

She stepped back half a pace.

After a brief silence, her voice returned—unchanged, steady, exactly as it had always been.

“Suki-san.”

“Asking you to decide right now would be completely impossible.”

“I know your personality well enough to guess you’d say no.”

“But—Suki-san, I’ll wait for you.”

“Just like you’ve indulged me so many times before, I’ll wait for you—no matter how selfish you are. I’ll wait a long time.”

“And in the meantime—”

She stopped again.

For just a second, a dozen thoughts passed through her mind.

The way he’d avoided her question in Uji didn’t matter anymore.

Not knowing his past didn’t matter. His hesitation didn’t matter.

When it came to liking someone, overthinking only sent you backwards.

Her voice grew quieter than ever, almost as if she were speaking only to herself—a quiet, personal conclusion.

“And in the meantime…”

“Suki-san, I want to get to know you more.”

In front of the dessert shop, the cold wind blew past.

Kei stayed silent.

He didn’t know what to say anymore.

The meaning behind her words was crystal clear, but that only made him more unsure of how to respond.

It felt like a question harder than How do we make Kessoku Band conquer the world? had been placed before him.

What was he supposed to do with her feelings?

He’d promised Kita, Give me some time.

But after that time passed… would he make the right choice?

A faint frustration welled up inside him, along with a creeping sense of helplessness.

Kita’s promise.

Ryo’s heavy confession.

No matter what he did, no matter which way he chose, there was no perfect solution.

And as for the choice Ryo spoke of—

Even if she didn’t care, he did. And because of that, there was no way he could say yes.

So…

Kei’s thoughts were a mess.

Then, suddenly, her voice cut through them.

“C’mon, Suki-san. Let’s not think about all that right now.”

She stepped forward, passing him by, and gently took hold of his wrist.

“Let’s go eat dessert. I heard this place’s chocolate dumplings are amazing.”

Her voice was cool as ever.

Kei drew in a quiet breath.

Whether he wanted to speak or not, the words were stuck in his throat.

“…Alright.”

Silent. Slightly hesitant.

And then, he nodded.