Episode 88: Same as Before?

「I see, let me say congratulations then.」

At night, I made a phone call to Yuji.

Because I wanted to talk about these kinds of things with a voice directly.

「I’ll do my best so that Sara-senpai can understand properly.」

「Even so, you’re practically like a couple already. Let me say it clearly, I think you were already basically a couple even in your state until now.」

Is that how it is?

I certainly loved Sara-senpai, but since Senpai didn’t think that way, I thought it was quite different.

「This is just a guess, but I think it’s fine even if you keep going like you have been. Since the conditions are already in place, I think she’ll realize all sorts of things soon enough.」

「Is that so?」

Were the preconditions really that settled?

I guess there’s a part of me that was just being swept along by leaving it to Senpai.

But Yuji really understands things well.

Even though we’ve only ever talked on the phone and I’ve never even introduced Sara-senpai to him…

「Let me introduce you next time.」

「Yeah, I’ll look forward to it.」

「What should we do? Should I say congratulations?」

I wonder.

I have heard Takanashi-san’s feelings, but I do not believe I have been able to give a proper answer.

After coming home and calming down to think about various things, even if I were asked if anything will change starting tomorrow, I think I could only say that I will continue in the same way for the time being.

Thinking about it that way, I feel it is difficult.

「Natsumi, there is one thing I would like to ask…」

「Hm? What is it, love talk already?」

Love talk… will it turn into that kind of conversation?

It is a problem that there are so many things I do not understand…

「Right now, I am thinking that I want it to be tomorrow quickly so I can meet Takanashi-san, but if I am asked if I have never thought that before, I have thought that until now as well.」

「Yeah, and?」

「I make bento for Takanashi-san, and if he says it is delicious, I am happy. I want to do things that will make him happy.」

「Uh-huh.」

「But that is also what I have been thinking until now. Even though I have decided to fall in love, when I think about it like this, the things I want to do for Takanashi-san do not seem to have changed from before…」

「………」

Ah, I see…

The point is, even if the person herself hadn’t realized it, the feelings Sara felt and the things she was actually doing until now were already at a lover’s level.

So, even assuming the two of them became a couple today, the things they do basically won’t change.

To put it the other way around, you could say they’re a couple even if they just keep acting like they have been.

In other words, she’s pumped up for it, but she’s confused because she can’t see any difference from how things were before.

Eh?

What am I supposed to say in a case like this?

…In Sara’s case, the part that will differ is the heart.

For now, I’ll just explain that and put my hopes on Takanashi-kun.

「Er, first of all, I want you to understand that what you were doing for Takanashi-kun until now was already far beyond the range of being friends. You were always doing things for Takanashi-kun that you would do for a lover. So it’s no wonder you feel that way.」

「I see… In other words, I just was not conscious of it, and I was already like a lover to Takanashi-san… with Takanashi-san… love…」

She looks composed, but she’s definitely conscious of it.

But that’s probably because she’s starting to realize it, so it’s not a bad thing at all.

「I understand. In that case, I will first try to act as I have until now starting tomorrow. There may be things that I will come to understand. Anyway, right now I want to meet Takanashi-san soon. I want to talk a lot, and do things that will make him happy…」

…Maybe because she’s conscious of it, I feel like her feelings for Takanashi-kun are heightened.

She sure says「same as before」well after all that.

But for the current Sara to move to the next step, she might need that feeling unique to love.

I wonder what that would be…

「Good morning, Sara-senpai.」

「Good morning, Takanashi-san.」

When I’m in front of Sara-senpai, I end up remembering yesterday’s events.

Senpai’s smile, her cuteness when she asked me to teach her about love.

「I love you… Takanashi-san.」

When I remember that voice, my face…

「Takanashi-san, is something wrong? Your face is red?」

「No, when I look at you, Sara-senpai, I remember all sorts of things from yesterday.」

It’s no use, once I’m conscious of it, even more…

「Takanashi-san, excuse me.」

Sara-senpai, who had been looking at my face, said that and lightly leaned against me, reaching out her hand to my head.

「Please calm down. I am the one making a request of you, Takanashi-san, so I can only do this much…」

While saying that, she slowly and carefully strokes my head.

The happiness showed on my face in spite of myself, and seeing that, Senpai suddenly asked me.

「Takanashi-san… are you happy when I do this for you?」

「Eh… that?」

Has she ever confirmed things so directly until now?

I’m happy, but saying that is honestly embarrassing.

「…No, it is nothing. I have done this for you before, and I can tell by looking at your face that you are happy. Since last night, I have wanted to see your happy face all this time…」

Sara-senpai shows an incredibly happy expression and narrows the distance as she leans against me even more.

W-what, Sara-senpai’s behavior is…?

「No, um, Senpai… we’re on the way to school…」

「Takanashi-san…」

Sara-senpai looks firmly into my eyes.

As if being drawn in, I meet her eyes too, and Senpai smiles happily…

「Hey? How long are you going to be flirting? You’ve completely forgotten about me, haven’t you?」

I came to my senses hearing Natsumi-senpai’s displeased voice.

「…Good grief, what was my agonizing yesterday even for… how is this ‘the same as before,’ the flirting has clearly increased…」

Continuing from yesterday, it seems I’ve soured Natsumi-senpai’s mood…