Episode 237: Lovers Like Best Friends

「Mama~」

We found Kishiyama-san’s mother, who was supposed to be in the cafe, quite easily.

When the mother noticed her daughter, her eyes went wide seeing us with her. It was only natural, considering a complete stranger was bringing her daughter to her. If I really think about it, if Sara-san hadn’t been here, it wouldn’t have been strange if I’d been seen as a suspicious person.

「Listen, Takanashi-kun is Yuu-kun’s best friend. He came with me because Yuu-kun went somewhere else.」

She introduced me for the time being. If I’m framed as Yuji’s best friend, things should be okay for now. I decided to take over the explanation.

「Yuji had some urgent business to attend to, so I took his place.」

「I see. I’m sorry for the trouble.」

「No problem. Yuji might be a little late.」

「He went chasing after the Onee-san.」

She ruined my consideration in an instant. Still, now that I know she’s an elementary schooler, I can’t exactly tell her to read the room.

Regardless… elementary schoolers these days are something else…

「Yuji-kun did? Ahaha, well, well. That’s a shame for you too, Asami.」

「It really is. Even though he has someone like me.」

「Is that a line from an anime?」

「Yeah.」

I see, it’s just something she picked up from an anime… that makes sense. Hearing that, Sara-san let out a deep「Sigh…」

My job of delivering her was done, so I said my goodbyes to the two of them and left.

We still need to shop, but right now I’m incredibly curious about what happened with Yuji and Natsumi-senpai. Should I go check on them first?

「Sara-san, what should we do?」

「Let’s see… we still have plenty of time to shop, so shall we look for those two? I’m curious about them myself.」

It seemed Sara-san was also worried about them, so we decided to look for them before we finished our shopping. I hope the misunderstanding was cleared up properly…

「Regardless… I was shocked to find out that girl is an elementary schooler. I suspected her childish behavior was an intentional act… but now that I know she’s just acting her age, she’s quite cute.」

「I thought the same thing halfway through. I was bothered by her childishness, so I just took the plunge and asked.」

「I think it’s too early for an elementary schooler to wear makeup. Besides, it’s not good for the skin.」

I agree that it’s early for an elementary schooler to wear makeup, but is it actually bad for the skin?

…Come to think of it, I’ve never seen Sara-san wearing makeup. Of course I don’t think she needs it, but I just assumed it was normal for women to wear it. That’s why I thought she needed a vanity…

「Fufu… I do perform the minimum level of skincare. I just don’t wear makeup.」

Looking at her face, it seemed she realized what I was thinking. As usual, she saw through me easily.

「I don’t think you need makeup, Sara-san. I like you just the way you are.」

「Thank you. Since Kazunari-san says so, I’ll stay without makeup then.」

Even if she doesn’t wear makeup, having a vanity might still be useful. So, I decided to buy the vanity as planned.

While thinking about those things and walking toward the spot where those two likely headed, I saw a set of stairs and a door leading outside. They probably went one of those ways.

「Which way do you think?」

「…I believe the rooftop was supposed to be a garden-style space that doubles as a gardening corner. Mood-wise, that seems more likely.」

Mood-wise… huh.

That means Sara-san is considering the possibility of Yuji actually confessing. Though Natsumi-senpai was the one who went first, so I don’t know if she was thinking that far ahead.

But if that’s the case, we…

「Sara-san, will we be in the way?」

「…Let’s keep an eye on things and see. When Kazunari-san confessed to me, Natsumi was right there… so even if we end up seeing it, we’ll be even ♪」

Sara-san gave a cute giggle while saying that a bit mischievously.

Yuji POV

Did she go outside or use the stairs… I hesitated, but decided to head to the rooftop via the stairs.

Considering it was Natsumi-san, I didn’t think she’d just leave the building.

I ran up the stairs and stepped onto the rooftop, where a Western-style garden space spread out before me. Just as I was wondering where to start looking, I spotted a single hanging chair, like a cradle, swaying unnaturally. I could see someone sitting in it, and looking closely, it was likely Natsumi-san.

I approached quietly so she wouldn’t notice, then jumped out right in front of her to block her path.

「Hya!? W-W-What!?」

Startled by my sudden appearance, Natsumi-san fell into a light panic. It wasn’t just the surprise; there seemed to be some fluster from realizing it was me.

「I’ve been looking for you. I have a lot to talk about, but first, I’m going to clear up the misunderstanding.」

「……」

There was no reply, but perhaps because I said it was a misunderstanding, her prickly attitude had vanished. It seemed she was willing to listen.

Instead, she seemed to become strangely restless.

「That girl is my cousin. She was saying unnecessary things, but it was all a joke.」

「…」

She didn’t say anything, but she gave a small nod. She didn’t look surprised, so maybe she’d suspected as much. Regardless, I’m relieved she believed me.

「She’s an elementary schooler, by the way…」

「WHAAAAAT!?」

She looked so violently shocked that I could almost see a「CLANG」sound effect in the background. Apparently she really hadn’t noticed. Asami is definitely precocious, but she’s a genuine elementary schooler.

Natsumi-senpai hung her head, then slowly placed both hands on her chest while mumbling something under her breath.

Well… it’s that.

I really don’t want to say this, but Asami is probably on the larger side even among her classmates. Her height… and that, too.

And probably… even more so than Natsumi-san.

「Elementary schooler… ugh…」

I feel like I should follow up, but honestly, I don’t know what to say. If I say the wrong thing, I might get yelled at for sexual harassment. Maybe I should just change the subject?

「Natsumi-san, do you understand that it was a misunderstanding?」

My words seemed to bring her back to reality, as she hurriedly pulled her hands away from her chest in a startle. Instead, she let out a growl,「Uuu…」and glared at me threateningly. What is this cute creature?

Now, this is the moment of truth.

I’m certain that Natsumi-san’s behavior was jealousy. That means she thinks about me enough to get jealous… even if it was unconscious.

If she’s realized it, this might be over quickly. In that case, I intend to go for it all at once. Since we don’t get many chances to meet, we can’t afford to waste this opportunity.

If she hasn’t realized it… well, I’ll think about that then.

「Natsumi-san, why didn’t you listen to me? If you’d just listened for a second, I’m sure you would’ve understood.」

「Ugh…」

I didn’t mean to interrogate her, but it came out that way. I regretted not having a better opening, but the die has been cast. I have no choice but to keep going.

「I’m not blaming you, Natsumi-san. I just want to know why you came here without listening to me.」

I pleaded with my eyes, signaling that I wouldn’t stop until I heard the reason. I stared straight into Natsumi-san’s eyes and didn’t look away.

Eventually, seemingly unable to endure my gaze, she looked down slightly… and I could see her turning red.

I was so happy about that that I pumped my fist in my heart. I could feel that she was conscious of me. I don’t know if she’s realized the jealousy yet, but since I’ve seen her like this, I’ve decided to go on the offensive all at once.

As I kept my gaze fixed on her to prompt her to continue, Natsumi-san eventually started speaking with a hint of anger.

「Oh, fine!! Yes, yes, I know!! It was jealousy! Anyone can see it was jealousy, right!? Is that bad? I’m surprised too, you know!!」

The way she blurted it out half-desperately was just like Natsumi-san, and I almost laughed. Anyway, she’s clearly realized it was jealousy. If that’s the case, she should understand what that means… I hope.

「I understand the meaning of my actions. Since I came here, I’ve been thinking about what kind of person Tachibana-kun is to me. After thinking about everything since we met, I found one answer. Since I realized it, I’ve been so flustered I don’t even know who I am anymore, my feelings are a mess… I’ve never felt like this before…」

Natsumi-san didn’t seem to be able to explain it well either…

Judging by her state, I thought she was probably confused by her own feelings. I think she’d been somewhat conscious of me until now, but today’s events were so sudden that her feelings might not have caught up.

In other words, what I need to do now is make Natsumi-san acknowledge her own feelings. That said…

「「…………」」

We both stared at each other, unable to move.

I thought I could go through with it on momentum… but my heart suddenly started pounding. Thinking about the action I was about to take, I became unable to move forward due to the nerves.

Is a confession… really this nerve-wracking?

I realized the true greatness of Kazunari.

To do this not just in front of Natsumi-san and the others, but in front of Satsukawa-san’s mother too… Hayato often said he「respected」him, and I finally understand what he meant. I really do respect him for this.

「W… What?」

Since I suddenly went silent, Natsumi-san seemed to think it was strange. She’s looking at me suspiciously.

Deciding that the more I thought about it, the more the nerves would paralyze me, I decided to just say the most important part first, like jumping off a cliff.

「I… I like you, Natsumi-san.」

「……………Huh?」

She looked literally「blank,」as if she couldn’t understand what had just been said to her. But that was only at first; as she processed it, her face gradually… and then turned bright red. But I probably shouldn’t talk, since I was likely the same.

「W-W-W-What… what so suddenly…」

「It’s not sudden. I’ve felt this way for a long time. You just didn’t notice, Natsumi-san. Without noticing my feelings, you really led me around, didn’t you. You played with me.」

Maybe because I managed to say the hardest part, my rhythm came back. It might have been an unnecessary comment, but since I’ve been led around so much until now, it’s probably fine once in a while.

「What!? What’s that supposed to mean! Don’t say such nasty things like ‘playing with me’! I didn’t…」

「Do you really not realize it?」

「Ugh…… I-I admit I led you around…」

It seemed Natsumi-san had regained her rhythm too. I’m sure this is fine for us. A super-sweet relationship like Kazunari’s that makes everyone around them cringe just isn’t the style for me and Natsumi-san.

「Sigh… I was so flustered I even surprised myself just a second ago… but now I feel a bit drained. I always dreamed of a romantic confession like Sara’s, like in a drama~ but you really did it.」

「Then, should we start over?」

「No, it’s fine. It doesn’t seem like Tachibana-kun would do things for me the way Takanashi-kun does for Sara anyway.」

「That’s not my character. I’ll try my best to do it like Kazunari if that’s what you want, though.」

「That’s definitely not my character either. I could never be a pure maiden like Sara.」

I thought Natsumi-san was plenty of a maiden when she heard my confession… but if I said that, she’d just deny it.

The two of us had returned to our usual selves, but I couldn’t let it end here. If I went through all that effort to confess only for it to fade away, it would be missing the point.

「You don’t have to look like that, I know. I understand perfectly well what you just said.」

Natsumi-san smiled gently, and I could feel the maturity of a woman from her. She really is the reliable older sister type, a very Natsumi-san-like figure.

「I was thinking about all sorts of things by myself until just now. I’ve thought Tachibana-kun was different from other guys since the beginning. But that was because of Sara and the others, and I felt like you were someone I could be myself around, someone fun to be with, so I didn’t think about it in a romantic way.」

That doesn’t just apply to Natsumi-san. I think I basically saw her the same way. The fact that we hit it off probably has a lot to do with those parts of ourselves.

「I felt the same way. I saw you as a friend, a comrade, a guardian for Kazunari and the others. Until I realized my feelings, I was the same as you, Natsumi-san.」

「Yeah, I thought so. That’s why I thought Tachibana-kun was just a friend I was compatible with… leading you around was fun, after all.」

Natsumi-san said she enjoyed leading me around without even a hint of guilt. But frustratingly, I enjoyed being led around, so in the end, we both had fun.

「I realized that I thought of Tachibana-kun as special. Once I understood that my earlier actions were jealousy, it all hit me at once. My heart started pounding, I was panicking for no reason… I guess this is what they mean when they say it isn’t logical.」

Natsumi-san’s cheeks were turning redder and redder.

At this point, I’ve basically gotten my answer, but it isn’t over yet.

Don’t let your guard down until the very end… me.

「Hey, is someone like me really okay for Tachibana-kun? I know I’m not feminine like Sara, and I could never be as devoted to a lover as she is, not even half as much. I can’t pamper you, and I’m not that good at housework. Flirting might be difficult too. My chest is small, and…」

Listening to her talk, she makes it sound like she can’t do anything…

But what I want… no, what we are looking for, isn’t a super-sweet couple like Kazunari and his girlfriend. We’re fine with our own style.

And besides, the chest thing…

「Let me ask you instead, what kind of lover image are you looking for, Natsumi-san? Do you want to be all sweet, flirty, and lovey-dovey like Kazunari and his girlfriend? I don’t. I think that if our hearts are connected, then a relationship like we’ve had, where we have fun together, is fine. Well, I wouldn’t mind flirting once in a while, though.」

I told her my feelings exactly as they were. As expected, Natsumi-san has a habit of comparing herself to Satsukawa-san somewhere in her mind, but there’s no need for that. It’s true that Satsukawa-san is like the embodiment of a「man’s ideal,」but I like Natsumi-san. I want Natsumi-san.

「I feel the same way. I mean, you do want to flirt after all… Hmm, I can’t even imagine what I’d look like doing that.」

「I can’t imagine myself flirting either. Actually, after talking for a bit, I’ve always thought Kazunari and his girlfriend were a matching couple, but we’re pretty similar too.」

「…I was trying not to think about that. Now I won’t be able to say anything to Sara.」

It seemed Natsumi-san felt the same way, which made me happy in its own way.

Now then… I like talking with Natsumi-san, but there’s something I want to prioritize right now. If I don’t get a conclusion soon, I’m going to be in agony.

「I’ll say it again, I like you, Natsumi-san. Everything I said earlier is the truth. I like the Natsumi-san who is fun to be with and makes me feel comfortable. So, please give me your answer.」

This time I managed to say it without bracing myself. Or rather, I felt like I’d just broken through. We probably don’t need the romance that Kazunari and his girlfriend have. I’m sorry to Natsumi-san, but I think this is who we are.

「Sigh… honestly, not a single bit of mood or romance. I guess it’s just like us… I’ll tell you now, I still don’t quite have a real sense of it yet. If you tell me to act like a lover, I probably won’t be able to.」

「I know. That’s just who we are.」

「Ahaha, I guess you’re right. I lose… I admit it.」

After saying that, she looked up at me with a bright red face… and met my gaze on her own. Seeing Natsumi-san like this, so different from usual, my heart wouldn’t stop pounding. Even though I’d basically already received the answer, the nerves wouldn’t stop…

「I like you too, Tachibana-kun. If someone like me is okay…」

「I want you, Natsumi-san. …Please go out with me.」

Having heard the answer I’d been waiting for, I reflexively replied immediately. Natsumi-san went wide-eyed at my straightforward, momentum-only way of speaking, but then she burst out laughing.「Pfft…」Honestly… she never lets things stay serious until the end.

「Mmm-fufu, what a curious man. If you like being led around that much, then I won’t hold back. You look forward to it, okay?」

Natsumi-san said that firmly with a dazzling smile.

That smile was more dazzling than the sun shining overhead… that’s how it looked to me.

Even if our relationship takes a step forward, we might look the same as always from the outside. But as long as we know our hearts are connected, we’ll be fine.

「Well then… I look forward to working with you again. And… if you want to flirt, um, I’ll try my best… even though it’s embarrassing.」

「Ugh… I, I look forward to working with you too, Natsumi-san.」

「Yeah… I love you, Yuji ♪」

To say something like that so bashfully at the very end; she really is a devious person.

I feel like I’m already being led around in a different sense…

And so, we became lovers who were just like best friends.