Suki dakedo Suki dakara Uketorenai

When Fujiwara’s longtime crush, Tachibana, finally confesses her feelings, the world seems to tilt on its axis for him. Overwhelming euphoria floods his senses—after all, this is the moment he has secretly dreamed of. Any ordinary person would seize such happiness without a second thought, eagerly accepting the affection they have yearned for. Yet, as quickly as his elation rises, it is met with utter bewilderment. Rather than whispering tender words or offering a heartfelt gesture, Tachibana chooses to declare her devotion in the most baffling way possible: she thrusts a thick wad of cash directly into his hands, as if love itself could be measured in yen. For Fujiwara, the gesture crosses an unspoken line. He is deeply uncomfortable with the notion of reducing romance to a financial transaction, and the very idea of profiting from someone’s affections leaves a sour taste in his mouth. With a heavy heart, he turns her down, unwilling to let money taint what should be pure and genuine. But Tachibana is not so easily discouraged. Misunderstanding his refusal as a simple rejection of her method rather than her feelings, she launches into a series of endearingly clumsy and increasingly creative attempts to prove her love is real. Each new, bizarre tactic leaves Fujiwara caught between exasperation and an undeniable fondness, as he struggles to navigate a relationship that refuses to follow any conventional rulebook.