[The Bible Boy of Shitenhoji has a secret he must never reveal.
The person he has loved so carefully all this time is his childhood friend.]
Natsume Yayoi has always thought that having the genius tennis player Shiraishi Kuranosuke as her childhood friend has one great advantage: he's “useful.” A reliable alarm clock every morning, homework help around the clock, someone to carry her heavy schoolbag, and the perfect cover whenever her mother checks up on her. She takes his constant companionship for granted, never looking too closely at the tenderness and restraint hidden in his gaze.
Until one day, a finger brushes against his without thinking, and a question asked through tears shatters their careful balance.
“Kuranosuke... do you... maybe...”
“I do. I like you. I have for a long time.”
Sweetness quietly blossoms, and trials soon follow. Her strict mother's watchful eyes are everywhere, and chance encounters at school keep putting them in danger. They have to act distant in public, yet steal little finger touches in secluded corners, brush knees beneath the desk, and use secret signals only they understand to share their feelings.
This is an “undercover operation” that demands their utmost effort. The Bible Boy's perfectionism goes into planning every “accidental” meeting, while the tennis club's astonishing agility helps them evade every suspicious gaze. On one side is the burning thrill of first love; on the other, a promise of youth they must keep.
When absolute composure meets breathtaking obliviousness, and the perfect facade is on the verge of crumbling, their story is only just beginning, sweet and bittersweet.
[Childhood friends + mutual pining pays off + secret relationship + sweet moments + coming of age]
So pretty! The interaction written by the author made me smile like an aunt 🤭