My Wife Alya Sometimes Teases Me in Russian

Ch-00

PROLOGUE
What It Really Means To Fall In Love

"милашка."

Nnngh!? Mmmrgh...

It all began with a single, simple Russian word. Whenever the moment presented itself, a girl with silky silver hair and smooth white skin would lean in, whispering sweet nothings in Russian to a boy at her neighboring desk, who would often find himself at her benevolent mercy.

But that was only the beginning. That lone word merely served as the prologue to their little game of shame, and a torrent of phrases was yet to come.

"Ой, покраснел, прям как ребёнок." <Oh, he blushed, just like a baby.>

Who are you calling a baby?!

"A у меня что, не серебристые волосы? Изменник!" <I have silver hair too, you know? You cheater!>

We're not even dating! Why are you suddenly accusing me of cheating?!

"Ну обрати же внимание и на меня." <Give me some attention, too.>

Don't you feel embarrassed saying something like that??

"Вот же я! Обрати внимание! Обрати внимание!" <Pay attention to meee! Look at meee! Talk to meee!>

Help! I'm going to die!

"Обрати внимание! Обрати внимание! Обрати же внимание!" <Pay attention to meee! To meee!>

I died.

The boy couldn't help but scream inwardly as the girl continuously fawned over him in Russian. To any other person of the opposite sex, her words might have seemed like an invitation. But for Kuze Masachika, it was pure torment. He knew she was just teasing him, and there was absolutely nothing he could do about it as she endlessly bombarded him with playful theatrics.

That is, until that one fateful evening.

"Я тебя люблю." <I love you.>

Those words, still wrapped in the softness of the Russian language, slipped from her lips as she took his hand and gazed at him with an inexplicable sense of happiness. Though he had heard many affectionate Russian phrases from her before, these particular words stirred something deep within Masachika.

It was an emotion he thought he had lost, a feeling he had buried long ago. For it to resurface now, he could only surmise it was because a girl had confessed her love to a boy—a typical psychological reaction, perhaps.

But if that was the case, then what about her previous antics? Those playful, loving words she had showered on him before—were they really meant just to tease him? Or...

Did they come from the very depths of her heart?

Looking back at it now, he probably made a bunch of reasons to convince himself that it was not the case—that they were merely spoken in the heat of the moment. She was probably writhing in embarrassment once she got home that evening. That was what he told himself.

However, that naïve teenage boy, so insensitive and inconsiderate, had failed to see the truth completely.

But what could he even say to that guy? That young scoundrel was none other than himself. He could only blame his lack of maturity for failing to understand his partner's feelings. He had been a coward, convincing himself that someone like him didn't deserve a partner like her.

As a result, she was subjected to misunderstandings. She was hurt, toyed with, and worst of all, she was heartbroken. She didn't have a choice but to suppress her own feelings because she learned that he had someone else dear to him, which was just another case of misunderstanding.

Upon knowing that, he began to hate himself. He despised his past self for breaking his promises to her. He wanted to protect her, but he failed. He wanted to cherish her, but he couldn't. He wanted to support her, but he failed in that regard as well. In the end, he ended up hurting her. And yet...

"Shut up and take my hand, you idiot, Masachika!"

...she reached out her hand to him, just as he did on the night he made a promise to make her the student council president.

Right after winning the presidential elections, she declared in front of everyone that he was a partner worthy of her and that she was also worthy of him. She assured him that he would never be alone again and promised to always be there by his side.

Despite his flaws, his weaknesses, and his inability to keep his promises, she reached out to him and accepted him for who he was, even though she was fully aware of everything. She extended her hand to this inconsiderate, insensitive, self-deprecating young man and, with unwavering confidence, declared her love for him in front of the entire Seirei Academy.

I see, so falling in love...means that you can't help but overlook all their flaws, no matter how visible they might be.

So, what did he do in the end? Naturally, in the face of an overwhelming crowd, one might expect utter embarrassment. They would flail around with a flushed expression and would ultimately make a fool of themselves. But logic had no place here, and Masachika's response was different.

As if all his troubles had finally faded away, a single tear traced down his cheek, and he reached out for her hand as a wry smile played on his lips. With a voice tinged with content, he said:

"Спасибо. Я тоже тебя люблю." <Thank you. I love you too.>

Who knew that his actions when he chose to become her partner and the words she blurted in the heat of the moment would repeat themselves in the most unexpected and opposite way?

It looks like I shouldn't have underestimated love.

With the weight of his past mistakes lifted and having confronted the silver-haired girl and her feelings, the dream began to fade. Peace settled over him, and at last, the one dreaming of the past finally found solace in their sleep.