How to Fall in Love with Sakusa

Blurb:

My name is Xiachuan Xingnai, and I have a chuunibyou cousin who loves tennis and has a signature move called "The Waltz of Destruction."

As the manager of the Hyotei tennis club, my daily life for the past three years has basically gone like this:

"Xingnai, go get me my special mineral water."

"Xingnai, quiet down those unsightly fools."

"Xingnai, bask in the glory of my beautiful techniques! What's with that look?"

What look? The look of someone who wants to escape this magical world where playing tennis makes your senses disappear.

On the day of middle school graduation, I made up my mind: I was going somewhere without Atobe Keigo, and making a good friend who wouldn't shout out the name of a special move every time he hit the ball.

The guy touched his beauty mark and sneered. "Hah. Don't come crying back to me, begging me to take you in."

Having memorized my friendship guide from cover to cover, I confidently stepped into Inarizaki High School and picked out my target on the very first day: the black-haired guy in the seat behind me, staring intently at me.

I put on the friendly smile I'd practiced for ages. "Hey, do you need something?"

"...No." He pressed his lips together and looked away.

Chapter Three of the Friendship Guide: Take the initiative and show kindness to shy friends.

So I looked into his eyes and sincerely complimented him. "Your eyes are beautiful, like black opals beneath a lake."

He turned to look out the window, but the tips of his ears turned bright red.

On the second day of school, the volleyball club seniors heard about my experience as a manager and enthusiastically invited me to join.

I blinked and turned to look behind me. "Sure, as long as Sakusa says it himself."

Silence spread. The seniors gave awkward laughs and retreated under the heavy atmosphere.

I sighed regretfully. Getting his approval really was hard, but the Friendship Guide said I had to persevere.

So I kept sending him friendly signals until one day after school, he suddenly called out to me.

"Xiachuan."

He walked over to my desk. His eyes were as thick and inky as stirred ink.

"Do you like me?"

The Friendship Guide said that when a friend asks you to define your relationship, you should give an affirmative answer.

So I met his gaze and nodded sincerely. "Yeah, I do."

He stared at me, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly. His voice was as steady as a weather report.

"Then today is the first day we're dating."

▼Reader's Guide▼

# Oblivious, sweet-on-the-outside schemer x seemingly aloof, cold-faced softie

# 1v1 / BG / both are each other's first and only. There will be one-sided crushes, but they'll all be platonic.

# Third-person narration, with lots of out-of-character moments and headcanon details.

# The original story's match outcomes won't change, but this is a sweet, everyday slice-of-life story with almost no match scenes.

# Due to the author's personal preference, the male lead will love more deeply and give more. Please read with caution if that bothers you.

Theme: Love needs no reason