How anyone can still have any positive things to say about the senpai from work baffles me.
Here's how the conversation should've went.
Senpai: Sorry, I lied.
Protag: Wait, what why?
Senpai: Well... I have good intuition and I just wanted the love to ripen.
Protag: You know... I think I loved you for 5 years. It took a lot of courage for me to ask you out, and your rejection crushed me emotionally for a while.
I tried not to let it show at work because I wanted to be professional, but it ate me up everytime I looked at you at work.
Senpai: ...
Protag: You're telling me that's your reason?
Protag: I don't think I can love a person who's fine emotionally hurting a person for such a shallow reason. You're not the woman I thought you were.
Senpai: ... but I'm a virgin.
<Author clearly trying to make the bitch more appealing because he realizes how shitty her actions are when looked at OBJECTIVELY>
Protag: Are we done here? See you at work tomorrow, don't ever call me out for anything unless it's strictly related to business.
@theexplodingchicken
The kouhai. There's literally no competition. Like not even close.