Chapter 21
Kanashizuku is Charming
“Something bad…? What’s wrong so early in the morning?”
Kanashizuku looked confused as I rushed over to her in a panic. I quickly explained that Yuimi had decided to come to my classroom during the third period break today—to check for herself whether or not I had been getting involved with other girls.
“I see… so you want to come up with a plan for that?”
“Exactly. I want to hide somehow, or make up some excuse—anything to deal with this.”
We were finally getting into the main issue when Kanashizuku, after thinking for a few seconds, said something shocking.
“Honestly, maybe you don’t need to come up with a plan at all.”
“…Huh?”
Don’t need a plan?
“W-What do you mean? If Yuimi finds out I’ve been hanging around girls, she might get provoked and—”
“I used to think that too, but if finding out makes Yuimi-chan act out, then it’s only a matter of time anyway. It’s not like you can go through life never talking to another girl again. And even if you try, it’s impossible to keep it hidden from her forever. So maybe… it’s fine if she finds out now?”
…I understood what Kanashizuku was saying.
Even if I avoided it this time, there would eventually come a day when I’d have to face this problem head-on.
Maybe it was better to confront it today—to take a step forward toward facing Yuimi properly.
As I was lost in thought, Kanashizuku gently placed her hand over mine and said,
“It’ll be fine. It’s scary if you have to face it alone, but I’ll be with you.”
“Kanashizuku… yeah, you’re right.”
Luckily, I had a friend who was willing to face this problem with me.
If I didn’t take this chance, when would I ever be ready?
“Alright. Today, I’ll introduce you to Yuimi as a friend. That’s okay, right?”
“…A friend?”
I looked to her for confirmation, but Kanashizuku’s expression was oddly hesitant.
“Kanashizuku…?”
“Eh? Ah, yeah, that’s fine… just introduce me as your friend for now.”
“Got it, I will.”
She sounded a little reluctant, but since we’d agreed on a plan, I decided not to press her about it.
“…Come to think of it,” Kanashizuku said suddenly, “Yuimi-chan is really cute, isn’t she?”
“…What?”
Just when I thought the conversation had settled down, she threw that out of nowhere.
“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”
“Nothing, just… she really was cute. Her face, her slim figure, her cheerful and confident attitude… If you said she was your type, I wouldn’t be surprised. She’s the complete opposite of me.”
Her tone darkened slightly as she said that. Opposite of her?
“Well, maybe your personalities are different,” I admitted, “but you’re also beautiful, slim, and attractive, Kanashizuku.”
“…Huh?”
When I said that, her dimmed eyes suddenly lit up in surprise.
“Yuimi’s like a little sister to me, and you’re a friend, so I don’t really think about it much—but if I look at it from an outsider’s perspective, both of you are really attractive girls.”
“…Me?”
“Yeah. I think you’re charming, Kanashizuku. You really didn’t realize that?”
“It’s not that… I just didn’t expect you of all people to think that way about me. That surprised me more than anything.”
She said it softly, but with a faint smile of happiness.
“Still, I meant what I said in a purely objective sense. Don’t worry, I don’t go around consciously thinking about that stuff all the time.”
When I said that, Kanashizuku reached out and lightly pinched my cheek.
“Wh–What was that for!?”
“Nothing.”
Though she puffed her cheeks and looked away, she didn’t seem truly annoyed. In fact, the corners of her lips lifted slightly as she muttered something under her breath.
“…So that’s what you think of me… I want to tell you how I feel about you too, Ichito…”
Her voice was too soft for me to catch.
After that morning’s long talk, Kanashizuku and I spent the rest of our free time together.
Before I knew it, time had flown by—
and the third period break, when Yuimi was supposed to come to my classroom, had finally arrived.
