Hand-in-Hand Lovers

Kumaguwa Nahoko has a reputation as the girl who is always willing to lend a hand. In truth, her endless generosity stems from a far less flattering place: no matter how inconvenient a request may be, she simply cannot bring herself to say no. Every favor she grants, every smile she offers, is less a genuine choice than an inability to refuse. So when her classmate Sasabi Naoki asks her out, she says yes—not because her heart flutters, but because turning him down feels impossible. What begins as an acceptance born of weakness takes a painful turn when Nahoko discovers the truth about the boy she is now dating: Naoki is a player, someone who treats romance as a game and gives little real weight to the feelings of those around him. Caught in a relationship she entered without ever consulting her own heart, Nahoko faces a dilemma far greater than any favor she has ever granted. Can she finally find the courage to speak up and tell Naoki what she truly feels, instead of simply going along with whatever comes her way?