LMLCG – Episode 29 – Becoming Friends

“Alright, let’s get going. We’ve spent quite a bit of time talking, so we’re a bit later than usual.”

“I don’t have any student council duties this morning, so we still have plenty of time.”

“I’m okay even if we cut it close, so if you’re okay with it, let’s take it easy.”

If there’s no need to rush, we might as well take our time.

I still want to talk, and above all, I want to savor this happy time until the last possible moment.

“Um, we were talking about Natsumi-senpai, right?”

“Huh? What was it again?”

“I believe we were talking about the President, weren’t we?”

Ah, right, that’s it.

Rather, Sara-senpai really was listening carefully to what I was saying.

“Oh, yeah. We were talking about Daichi. But honestly, there’s nothing special between us. Daichi and I are just childhood friends. Nothing more, nothing less.”

“I see. So is it the same with Sara-senpai, then?”

“With the President, we only talk about student council matters. The only guy I consider a friend is Takanashi-san.”

Wow, it’s a bit embarrassing when she says it so directly…

Natsumi-senpai is giving me a teasing look.

But still, Senpai has fully recovered now. She really does look so happy when I call her Sara-senpai…

“Sara only interacts with Daichi and the rest of the student council members in a businesslike way. So don’t worry, Takanashi-kun.”

“Uh, right? Okay…”

So she means I don’t have to worry because she’s not creating any conflict in the student council?

Not that I was worried about that to begin with, but still, good to know.

“But I never thought the day would come when Sara would make a guy friend. When she came to me for advice the other day, I couldn’t believe it when I heard that the friend was a guy.”

“I’ve always avoided interacting with men to begin with. Even now, I have no intention of associating with any besides Takanashi-san.”

Somehow, it feels like Sara-senpai has been speaking her mind to me more and more.

It’s often hard to know how to respond, but I’m happy, to be honest.

“Um… I’m glad to hear that, Sara-senpai.”

“Fufu… Let’s continue getting along from now on, okay?”

“Hey! I didn’t expect to get left out like this!”

Natsumi-senpai’s playful complaint rang out.

Yeah, that last exchange was kind of embarrassing.

“Uh, Natsumi-senpai, you said you’d heard about me before, right?”

“Yeah. Though only vaguely. Just that you’d been a good friend.”

I see.

If she heard any detailed stories about me, they’d probably be depressing, so it’s fine this way.

“That’s why I want us to learn more about each other and become friends going forward. I’ve taken a liking to you too, Takanashi-kun.”

“Ah, thank you. I’m really glad to hear that.”

“I’m happy that you and Natsumi have become friends, Takanashi-san. Now the three of us can enjoy our time together from today onward.”

Sara-senpai said that with such a happy… joyful expression.

Since meeting Sara-senpai, I’ve gained a second friend. And I believe even if Natsumi-senpai finds out about the real me, she’ll still be my friend.

So, little by little, I want to open up more.

As we got closer to school, naturally more students started showing up…

Sara-senpai is amazing on her own, but with Natsumi-senpai too, we’re attracting a lot of attention.

…I feel like most of them are from girls, though.

Still… why are the two of them walking with me in the middle?

The stares I get from being the in the middle are intense… full of envy and other things.

They probably think someone like me doesn’t belong here.

I know that without anyone telling me.

“Natsumi-senpai, good morning~!”

“Morning.”

“Natsumi-senpai, you’re so cool today too!”

“I’m a girl though…”

Yeah, I can see how Natsumi-senpai would be popular with girls too.

“Satsukawa-senpai, good morning!”

“…Good morning.”

“Mornin’, Satsukawa-san, you’re looking cute today too!”

“…”

Oh. She totally ignored them.

“…Oi, what’s up with that guy?”

“…Can you believe he’s walking with those two with a face like that?”

Yeah, yeah, I knew people would say stuff like this.

I’m used to it… Wait, huh? Senpai, wait…

“Just now… I heard something incredibly unpleasant.”

“Eh?”

Ehh!?

She went and confront those guys!?

“Your ugly personality is clearly written all over your face. You’re a hundred years too early to be insulting my precious friend.”

“Wha…”

“…That guy’s screwed now. He just made an enemy out of Satsukawa-senpai.”

“…And he did it right in front of Yuuzuki-san, too. What an idiot. He’s gonna get shunned for sure.”

“…She called him her friend. A guy… right next to Satsukawa-san.”

“…It’s fine, they’re just friends… she said they’re friends, so it’s fine… friends…”

What…?

Is something supposed to happen if you anger Sara-senpai or Natsumi-senpai?

“Sara~ Just toss that idiot aside, he’s done for~”

…The girls around us are taking photos of them with their phones and whispering something… Feels like something’s definitely going here…

“Don’t ever show your face in front of us again. You’re an eyesore.”

With those cutting words, Senpai left the two pale-faced guys and came back to us.

And when our eyes met… she smiled.

“Sorry to keep you waiting. I just happened to overhear some really annoying nonsense.”

“Ah, um…”

“Come on, Takanashi-kun, let’s get going.”

“…Understood.”

In the end, I never got to ask what that was all about.

…As a loner, I had no way of knowing any of that, later, photos of “the idiots who pissed off the Goddess and Natsumi-senpai” spread through various RAIN communities, reaching tons of students…