308 Chapter three, 2017, conflict: 9 (1/2)

Ulf understood the situation with Christina couldn't stay the way it was for much longer. Even though she was with Ryu now she still needed his support, and he hers.

Together with Thomas, the freshman arrival, there were only three of them who could share the experience of being both teenagers and fully grown adults with a life left behind.

Add that Christina's grandfather requested Ulf's support. And she really needed it, or at least needed to do something. Almost daily she received a confession, most of them not even from students at Himekaizen, and Ulf suspected there were a number of stalkers lurking in the shadows as well.

So she needed a solution, and she created one, and Ulf could never have guessed even if he had tried.

The day after his suspension ended Ulf arrived at school and felt his chin drop. He stared through the gates flanked by sakura trees all green. The bloom was long gone.

Christina sat in a chair just inside. Behind her an infinitely embarrassed Ryu held a placate that proudly announced: ”Confession queue. Rejections and no bad feelings guaranteed.”

There was a queue.

Ulf shook his head. 'Ina, my Ina. No wonder I loved you the way I did.' Which was a lie. He still loved her, but admitting it hurt too much.

First in line was the idiot Nori. Maybe not an idiot this time. He must have known he'd be rejected with his own girlfriend watching the spectacle, but in doing so he'd help his idol to an easier second year. Ulf suddenly liked the guy a lot better.

”What the...”

”Morn, Yukio, welcome to Himekaizen. A school day like any other.”

The queue filled up, mostly with guys from the old fan-club. Some of them had girlfriends with them who surprised Ulf by nodding with approval.

'I just love them all.' A demonstration of friendship.

Beside him Kyoko slapped Yukio on his back. ”Can't miss this opportunity,” she said and laughed mouth wide open.

'Kyoko, that's most unladylike of you. Outright improper I'd say.' Ulf grinned. Then he joined in her laughter.

She winked at Yukio, and promptly joined the queue.

'Now that's gutsy! Yukio hold on tight to her. You'll never find anyone better. No, dammit, most of the guys here won't find anything close.'

As if he had heard Ulf's thoughts Yukio grinned widely. ”Right out of an anime, wouldn't you say?”

”If I recall correctly I have yet to see this in any anime,” Ulf laughed in return.

The queue slowly dwindled. A warm wind blew over the gravel and made the paper placate shudder. Guys grinningly received their rejections. Freshmen stared in utter disbelief. And Ulf, Ulf found it impossible to stop laughing. Especially when Kyoko found leniency in the eyes of her princess to the roaring approval of the students present.

Ryu, he blushed even deeper, but he never ceased looking at Christina, and Ulf noticed a softness to his eyes that spoke volumes about how the Prince of Himekaizen had fallen into the trap he dug together with Christina.

'If you're really in love with her, then I give up. You too, my love, I wish you the best.' With a tinge of regret, and surprise at how easily he admitted his love, Ulf turned on his heels and made for the school building. He left the last chance to rebuild their relationship behind him.

It hurts.

He almost succumbed to the need to look over his shoulder. The show hadn't been all play. Ulf knew that. If he had lined up with the others he wasn't certain what the outcome would have been.