Don’t Worry! ‘Cause I’m An Amazing Girlfriend

Translated by rsa16
Edited by bachi
I kinda forgot this nove l existed ngl.

Read the PDF version here -> HERE

⛧─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───⛧

“Hmm…. This pink-haired girl is pretty cute. Hey, do you mind if I use her as my character?”

As usual, it was after school.

After slipping into the literature clubroom—more or less a second home for us by now—we kept at our usual RPG session, steadily progressing through the story.

“Sure, but that’ll probably throw off the balance of the party, huh… Well, I guess I’ll switch mine too, then.” As I watched Yuzu select the pink-haired lumberjack loli as her character, I decided I’d use the female elf mage. 

In the past, I’d always balance the party with only my own preferences in mind. Since I started to play with Yuzu, however, I've gotten into the habit of adjusting to her own little requests. In addition, Yuzu was now quite familiar with the game’s controls—her battle and exploration skills had reached a solidly intermediate level.   

“We’ve gotten pretty far now, haven’t we? How much more to go, you think?”

“We’re already on the second disk, so… probably until the end of next weekend, at most?” It was an educated guess, judging by the length of other games in the series. 

Though, for some reason, I found Yuzu with a slightly troubled expression on her face.

“By the end of next weekend, huh…”

“Why? Something wrong with that?” I asked.

She gave a small shake of her head in response, though the conflicted look on her face didn’t leave. “Not with the game, no. It’s just… there’s a bit of an issue elsewhere. You know, with the thing.”

Though Yuzu’s words were rather vague, I understood what she meant.

“Kotani and Sakuraba?”

“Yeah.” She slightly nodded in response, looking a bit downcast. “The truth is, Aki still hasn’t asked Souta out on a date.”

“…The heck? It’s been a whole week!”

Yuzu had given Kotani the tickets last Monday. And it was now the next Tuesday. It hadn’t been just a week—it’d been a whole eight days.

So what the hell had happened for her not to hand it over?

“I guess I underestimated how shy Aki was… but there’s also the fact that Souta’s literally never alone! Like, generally he’s busy with club activities and stuff, but even when he’s not, he’s still surrounded by people.”

I see. Given how shy Kotani is, calling out Sakuraba directly must feel too overwhelming for her. So, she’s probably been waiting for a chance to naturally be alone with him—yet that moment just won’t come. 

“Souta’s free time is limited by his club activities. If she doesn’t manage to ask him out, this thing they have together is just gonna keep dragging on,” Yuzu said.

And… the longer that goes on, the longer my arrangement with Yuzu will continue, and the further away the day I get my hands on the Robo Bus becomes. 

Ugh… this is the kind of situation I really wanted to avoid.

“She’s literally so beautiful—I don’t get why she won’t just go for it and ask him out already! It’s not like he’d say no, would he?” I said.

She’s attractive and influential. If only she just had as much confidence as Yuzu did… Well, that’s probably asking for too much. But still; if she even had a tenth of Yuzu’s confidence—that would be plenty enough.

“If it were that easy, she wouldn’t be struggling, would she? You really don’t understand a girl’s heart at all, Yamato-kun.” Yuzu looked a little annoyed, maybe thinking I sounded dismissive. “In RPGs, you need to prepare when you’re going up against a higher-level opponent, right? This is the same thing. Souta’s not just any other dude—he’s the most popular guy in class. His words and actions carry weight.”

Though I was a bit irked by how Yuzu was praising Sakuraba, I quietly continued listening.

“Aki’s… Our group revolves around Souta. So, clashing with Souta is like giving up your place in class. It makes sense why Aki’s being cautious, you know.”

“…I see.”

It seemed that romance among normies came with higher stakes than I had realized.

If Kotani lost her place in their friend group, she’d probably just end up in the next most prominent one—a tier below Yuzu’s. However, to her, that was virtually the same as exile. And for some people, that was an even deeper humiliation than unrequited love.

Or, out of jealousy and resentment towards her previously vivid and beautiful self, it’s possible she might simply end up without being accepted anywhere.

If that happens, she, a girl who once was the most popular among all the normies in class, would end up plummeting all the way down to the very bottom—right alongside me.

“Yuzu…”

“What?”

“…No, never mind.”

The words I was about to say got caught in my throat.

—What would you do if that happened?

If Kotani falls, would you follow her down? Or would you take the throne she once held instead?  

As I was about to ask, however, the answer suddenly hit me.

The reason Yuzu’s dating me right now is to lower her normie levels; by doing so, she avoids jealous attention from those around her. And so, if she ever gets pushed out of Sakuraba’s circle, she’d then be able to smoothly blend in with the group slightly below them. And if Yuzu joins another group first and helps smooth things over between them, it’d be easier for Kotani to fit in too. 

It was more or less the perfect insurance policy for her. There’s no way that someone as perceptive about social dynamics as Yuzu wasn’t aware of it. 

Swallowing that realization down and burying it within me, I forced a change of topic. “Well anyways, nothing’s gonna happen unless we can get Kotani to ask him out, so I guess I’ll try thinking about what we can do.”

“Yeah, fair enough. Only someone as lucky as you could get super attractive people to approach you without doing a thing, Yamato-kun.” 

It seemed that Yuzu also felt that there wasn’t much to be gained by pushing the topic any further, so she went along easily. Although, I had serious doubts about what she just said.

“I’ve never once thought of this situation as lucky, though.”

“Are you okay in the head? Getting to spend every day alone with me is literally like winning the jackpot!”

“Huh, guess I ended up using my luck on something really weird, then. I wish my luck would’ve hit the jackpot for real.”

Think of how many games I could’ve bought.

As I began internally counting those hypothetical lottery winnings, Yuzu glared at me, pouting her cheeks. “Ugh, what’s there to even complain about…? Oh wait, I get it. Yamato-kun, you must be wanting to take our relationship to the next level, don’t you?!”

“You definitely don’t get anything.”

“Oh no, you don’t have to hide it! Of course you’d get frustrated if you’ve spent all this time with a beautiful girl like me and still haven’t made any progress. You’re just acting spoiled!”

“Well, that’s true. At least, I’ve started wanting to take our relationship far enough so that we can actually communicate better.” I never thought that we’d still be unable to hold a decent conversation.

“Don’t worry! ‘Cause I’m such an amazing girlfriend; I can pick up on your feelings even if you don’t say them out loud!”

“Please, could you pick up on the feelings that I do say out loud?” I sighed in exasperation. 

As I did this, Yuzu, for reasons unknown, began repeatedly patting her thigh. “So that’s why today, I’m giving you a special treat—a lap pillow! So? You excited? Well, I mean, of course you are.”

“‘That’s why’ my ass! Where the hell did you even get that?!” The utter lack of logic in this exchange was simply insane—I felt the onslaught of a headache coming.

Yuzu dramatically pouted her lips. “Aww, so you’re saying you don’t want me to give you a lap pillow, Yamato-kun?” 

As she said that, my gaze briefly flickered to her legs.

Her uniform’s skirt, slightly shortened, revealed her smooth, pale thighs. 

Not too thick, not too thin—they radiated just the perfect amount of allure.

“…No, I don’t want one.”

 “Oh, you hesitated a bit there.” She immediately caught my moment of indecision, sharp-eyed as ever.

“Gah…”

“Wow. Even you’re still a teenage boy, huh?”

In an effort to escape the awkwardness I felt from being exposed; I averted my gaze. Yuzu, however, mercilessly leaned in as she watched me do so.

"Hey, hey, you totally just got flustered, didn’t you? Come on, you don’t have to force yourself to deny it~!"  

“You’re so annoying!”

Still tugging at my sleeve, she continued to pat her thighs with rhythmic taps, almost in an inviting manner.

I mean, honestly, it was a pretty tempting offer—but just imagining myself getting a lap pillow from Yuzu felt oddly like surrendering something vital within me on a deeply spiritual level. So yeah, I’ll have to pass on this one.

"Besides, can a girl who nearly collapses just from a little physical contact even manage to give a lap pillow in the first place? I’d hate it if you suddenly went limp and we both ended up sliding off the chair," I argued back, summoning all my mental strength to string my words into a rebuttal. 

Surprisingly enough, that seemed effective, and Yuzu showed a flicker of unease. “Br-bringing up things from the past again...! I’m not the same person I was back then! And, as long as it’s not another sneak attack, I’m totally fine now!”  

“Well, talk is cheap. You don’t have to push yourself, okay, Yuzu-chan? I’m a gentleman, you know—I’ll graciously let your little bluff slide with a smile.”

As I began to regain my footing in our little banter, Yuzu bit her lip in frustration, visibly annoyed. 

“Fine! If you’re gonna go that far, then just try it already, I dare you! Go ahead! Give into your desires and dive onto my thighs! That is, if a coward like you can even actually do it!”

“You’re on! Just don’t go fainting and pinning me under you this time, got it?!” 

Huh, so this is what they mean by “an eye for an eye.”

I had originally been trying to avoid the lap pillow, but somehow, we both ended up getting completely fired up instead. For a brief moment, I considered pulling back and calming down, but by this point, retreat wasn’t an option.

“A-alright! I’m doing it!”

“O-okay!”

Both of us feeling awkwardly tense, I slowly lowered my head onto Yuzu’s thighs. 

The sensation of it was perfectly soft, with a noticeable warmth. Along with that came Yuzu’s sweet scent, now so close.

“…”

“…”

Neither of us said a word.

Because of that silence, I could hear everything. My slightly fast breathing, the ridiculously loud thumping of my heart—all of it became painfully clear. I felt thoroughly embarrassed. But, unwilling to back down, I fought to maintain my composure. 

After about ten seconds of silent internal struggle, I finally sat back up, lifting my head off her thigh.

“It’s still too early for this stage…”

“Yeah… I feel so defeated.”

Both sides emerged equally injured, leaving behind only an awkward tension in the air. Come to think of it, how did we even get to this point anyways?

“Yeah, as a couple, we’re definitely still at Level 1, huh? We really need to take a few steps to make progress,” Yuzu said in a reflective manner, her face turning red. Oddly enough, her voice was accompanied by a strange sense of ambition.

“I mean, now that I think about it, does it really matter if we don’t make progress? The people who actually need progress are Sakuraba and Kotani.” I said logically. Once again, however, Yuzu pouted her lips in frustration.

“True… But still, don’t you think you should show me a bit more obsession and affection, Yamato-kun?”

“What for?”

“To make me happy, of course,” Yuzu boldly declared.

Mildly exasperated, I shrugged my shoulders. “I’m already maxed out on affection right now. I can’t really go any further. Plus, the game’s starting to need some level-ups more than we do.”

Though my change of subject was a little forceful, Yuzu’s eyes lit up regardless.

“Oho… so it’s time to play level-up rock paper scissors, huh?” 

“Loser has to level up the entire party by three!” I declared.

I clenched my fingers into a fist dramatically, and Yuzu did the same, thrusting her fist toward mine.  

The awkward tension from earlier dissipated, and the club room was instead filled with the determination and fighting spirit of two people ready to duel.

Leveling up in RPGs—both the greatest part of the game and at the same time its biggest hassle.

And thus, the battle to impose that task onto the other began.

“Bring it on! And—”

““Rock, paper, scissors, shoot!”” 

⛧─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───⛧

Leaving Yuzu behind to level up alone in the clubroom, I decided to wander through the hallway for a bit of a change of pace.

I don’t particularly dislike grinding levels. On the other hand, Yuzu belongs more to the “not a fan” side of things, so she’s probably struggling right about now. Still—we develop a fondness for the characters precisely because of that hard work we put into them, so I hope she’ll learn to enjoy it. 

“Maybe I’ll grab her a drink or something.” 

Being the kind and supportive boyfriend that I am, I decided to buy her an energy drink to cheer her on. Surely this’ll move her to tears of gratitude. 

With that thought in mind, I headed down the first floor and went across the hallway to the cafeteria. 

It was then that I bumped into her.

“…” 

Standing by the vending machine, idly fiddling with her phone, was Kotani. As I appeared before her, she gave me a brief glance before returning her attention to the screen, seemingly losing her interest.

Since I had no particular reason to talk to her either, I ignored her and went about buying my drink.

Suddenly, Kotani began to speak.

“Where’s Yuzu today?”

It was extremely abrupt. Plus, she was still staring at her phone too, so for a moment I thought she was talking to herself. 

But of course, that couldn’t be the case.

“Who knows? Maybe she’s hanging out with her friends or something,” I lied on instinct, not wanting to expose the fact that she was commandeering the clubroom. 

“Huh… Even though you two are dating, you’re not with her?"

“You know, I’m not really the clingy type. Besides, isn’t it you who’s weirdly alone for once?”

“…So what? It’s none of your business,” she said, shutting the conversation down. It was almost as if she was telling me to ‘shoo’ after she didn’t need me anymore.

However, I didn’t miss the brief glance she cast towards the gym.

Oh, I see. She’s waiting for Sakuraba to finish practice.

It makes sense—if she tries her luck after his practice, it’ll probably be easier for them to be alone than usual. It seemed that she was trying to move their relationship forward in her own way, summoning her courage to approach him.

With a slight smile, I grabbed the hot tea from the vending machine and walked away from Kotani.

“Now then, what to do…” I muttered to myself. 

Instead of returning to the Literature Club room, I came near the staff room. Well, there’s probably still a bit of time before Yuzu finishes her leveling session, so I figured I might as well kill some time here while I wait. I tucked the tea into my blazer pocket.

After waiting around for a few minutes, the Japanese literature teacher emerged from the staff room, carrying a rather hefty stack of materials. 

“Good afternoon, Sugawara-sensei,” I called out. 

The middle-aged man turned to me with a slightly surprised expression on his face. “Oh, you’re that first year, Izumi! What brings you here at this hour?”

“I stuck around to get a little studying in on my own. By the way, those look pretty heavy—do you need help carrying them?” I offered.

“Ah, yeah, that’d be great,” Sugawara-sensei nodded appreciatively. He handed me half of the load. “You saved me…”

“No, no—I’m just trying to get a few extra points on my grade, so don’t worry about it.”

At my candid remark, a wry smile rose to his face. “Is that so? Well, I suppose I can embellish them a bit.”

“Thank you, sir. It always pays to give things a try.”

It was an unusually considerate and witty bit of small talk for someone like me. Maybe spending so much time with Yuzu has done something—her techniques were starting to rub off on me.

Arriving at the Japanese Language Prep room, I found a chaotic pile of documents and teaching materials awaiting me. 

“Wow… No matter how many times I see it, this place is something else.”

Faced with a scene practically on the verge of turning into a garbage dump, I couldn’t help but feel a weird sort of respect for it.

He averted his gaze. “Well… teachers are always pressed for time, you see,” Sugawara-sensei muttered awkwardly.

The teacher’s notorious inability to organize was common knowledge among the students. Which, to be honest, was precisely why I’d come here in the first place.  

“If you’d like, do you want me to tidy up for you?”

“You?”

“Yeah. That is,” I decided to offer him a business proposal, “provided you show some moderate consideration for my record.”

Sugawara-sensei hesitated a little before finally nodding.

“…Alright. I’m counting on you, Izumi.”

“Understood—leave it to me. If you wait about an hour or so, I should be able to finish by then.”

“Okay. I’ll check back around then.”

With a smile, I saw the teacher off as he left the prep room.

“So far so good.”

Once I saw Sugawara-sensei completely disappear, I stepped out into the hallway.

⛧─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───⛧

After leaving the Japanese Language Preparation Room and taking care of a small errand, I went back to the vending machines in front of the cafeteria.

Kotani was still there. Noticing my return, she gave me a brief, suspicious glance before promptly returning her attention to her phone.

“Kotani,” I called out to her.

“...What?” she replied disinterestedly, not even bothering to look up from her phone.

“Sugawara-sensei told us to clean up the Japanese Language Preparation Room together.”

Hearing that, she grimaced in clear displeasure as she finally lifted her gaze from her phone. “...Why us?”

“Probably because your modern Japanese grades suck. He said if we clean up, he’ll bump them up a bit. I just happened to be nearby and got roped into it. Totally annoying, huh?” I lied smoothly. Thank God I had asked Yuzu about Kotani’s grades beforehand.

I guess what I said made her feel guilty, as Kotani let out a long, deep sigh and put her phone away. 

“…What a pain. Whatever… Nothing I can do. It’s as good an opportunity as ever, I guess,” she grumbled. Without waiting for me, she started walking off.

Naturally, she had no intention of walking alongside me. Briskly, she strode down the hallway on her own. Following her path, the two of them returned to the language prep room.

“No matter how many times I see it, this is just awful,” Kotani muttered in exasperation, taking in the disaster zone we called the prep room. 

Still, it was up to us to clean it. No point in just standing around and complaining.

“I’ll handle the heavy lifting. You take care of the smaller stuff.”

“…Mm.” Though reluctant, Kotani nodded firmly.

I had mostly expected her to just dump the work on me and leave, but… she didn’t. Maybe it was because I was Yuzu’s boyfriend, or maybe Kotani was just more responsible than I had assumed. Either way, we now had a time, a place, and a solid reason: it was the perfect time to talk to her alone. Even people who hate each other have to end up talking when there’s work to do.

“So, Kotani. I’ve been meaning to ask—were you able to ask Sakuraba out on a date?”

The stack of papers in her hands slipped from her grasp and scattered onto the floor.

When she turned to face me, her entire face was burning red.

“W-what are you swuddenly swaying swuch w-weird things for…?”

She’s so flustered she’s practically turning into a cat… ^[1] Seeing such a pure reaction makes me start to feel kind of guilty.

“My bad. Yuzu mentioned she gave you an extra amusement park ticket, so I just figured you might’ve invited Sakuraba.”

“S-so that’s what you meant…”

Hearing my explanation, she took a deep breath to collect herself before responding.

“…It’s not like I decided to invite Souta or anything,” she muttered under her breath unconvincingly. Reaching into her pocket, Kotani pulled something out and thrust it toward me.

It was the very same amusement park ticket Yuzu had given her.

“The hell? Wait… are you asking me out?”

“Of course not. Give it back to Yuzu. I don’t need it after all.” She shoved the ticket at me forcefully.

I wasn’t convinced. 

“Are you really okay with this? Even today, weren’t you waiting for Sakuraba so you could ask him out?”

She shot me a glare filled with pure annoyance. 

“I wasn’t. And seriously, this has nothing to do with you. Could you quit poking your nose in my business? It’s creeping me out.”

Despite her trying to shut me down, I refused to back off. 

“Oh, but it does have something to do with me. I have my own reasons for wanting you and Sakuraba to get together. In fact, I was the one who told Yuzu to give you that ticket in the first place.”

Kotani tilted her head at me in confusion.

“…Ha? Why the hell are you meddling so much?”

“I’m not ‘meddling’! I’m doing this for me. I didn’t really want anyone to hear this, but… well, basically—I don’t like having Sakuraba hanging around Yuzu all the time.”

“Oh… so that’s why…”

Hearing my reason, Kotani looked half-surprised, half-understanding.

“I need someone to get Sakuraba away from her. And if you think about it—realistically speaking, you’re the only one I can ask, right?” I decided to give her a bit of a confidence boost. “Anyone can see you’re the girl he’s closest with.”

“Y-you really think so…?”

I watched as she fiddled with her hair, looking slightly flustered but not entirely opposed to the idea.

“Like I said before, I’m not the clingy type. But that being said, I am a little uneasy having some ridiculously handsome guy hanging around my girlfriend while he’s still single. So, Kotani, I need you to make a move on him. For me and Yuzu’s sake.”

When I made my request, Kotani just stared at me.

“…What?” I asked, not sure what that look meant. 

She gave a small shake of her head.

“No, it’s just… you really are dating Yuzu, huh? To be honest, I was kinda half-convinced up till now.”

“Don’t say it. I already know we don’t look like a good match.”

The fact that she still had doubts made me grimace.

“Sorry. But seriously, what do you even like about Yuzu? She and you are complete opposites.”

For the first time, Kotani seemed genuinely curious about me, piling on the questions. I hesitated for a second, wondering how to answer, but to my surprise, the words came out naturally.

“Well… you’re right. But I think that’s exactly why I like her. Even when we look at the same thing, she sees it completely differently from me. She feels things completely differently from me. It’s fresh, and I guess it just… feels nice.”

I was a little shocked at how easily that came out. 

But somehow, deep inside, I knew that those sensations weren’t a lie.

“Plus, when someone’s too different from you, you don’t have to be so self-conscious. It makes things easier. Being with her is just… comfortable.”

For some reason, Kotani laughed at my response. 

“Wow, that was one lovestruck speech. Meanwhile, I’m over here, single as ever...”

“…You totally made me say all that, Kotani.” Being teased like that made me feel suddenly embarrassed. 

But maybe that satisfied her, because this time, she gave me a genuine, unguarded smile. 

“Well, whatever. Now that I think about it, Yuzu’s super popular. It’s not too weird that you’d fall for her. What is weird is that Yuzu actually fell for you.”

“Mind your own business. I’ve got this charm, you see—it’s kind of like dried squid. The more you chew, the better it gets.”

A tracksuit and dried squid-type guy, that’s me^[2].

Right when our conversation naturally came to a stop, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed from the hallway. For a moment, I thought it might be Mr. Sugawara, but it was still too early for our scheduled time.

That left only one other possible candidate.

“Sorry, Izumi! I’m late!”

Bursting through the door, slightly out of breath, was none other than the guy we’d just been talking about—Sakuraba Souta himself.

“S-Souta? What are you doing here?” Kotani asked, visibly flustered by the sudden appearance of her crush.

“Oh, well, morning practice has been rough lately, so I accidentally dozed off during Modern Japanese class the other day. I’ve been told that the teacher was pissed and gave me this as punishment—cleaning up the prep room. Izumi filled me in a little while ago.”

Yep. Before going to find Kotani, I’d made a little detour to the gym and caught Sakuraba during his break.

“Club’s just a meeting and some optional training today, so I’m free now. I know I’m late, but I’ll try my best to help finish up. Let’s get this over with.”

“Y-yeah,” she nodded. 

Kotani’s response sounded softer, somehow almost sugary, her voice slightly nasal. A far cry from how she’d been talking before.

Either way, with the three of us, the cleanup went way faster.

Sakuraba had both stamina and dexterity, and Kotani, now noticeably more motivated, was working at full capacity. Thanks to them, we finished everything a whole five minutes before the teacher was supposed to check in.

“Phew… I think that’s everything? Sorry for dragging you into this, Izumi. You really helped me out.” Sakuraba wiped the sweat off his forehead, flashing me an easygoing, appreciative smile.

“Nah, don’t worry about it.”

“Oh yeah, instead of making you come all the way to the gym every time something comes up, why don’t we just exchange contact info?” Sakuraba then casually pulled out his phone, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

For an introvert like me, asking someone I wasn’t that close with for their contact info took a certain amount of courage in order to be able to pull it off. But normies like Souta are able to pull it off effortlessly. It was amazing.

“Well… sure.”

I had no reason to refuse, so I went along with it and exchanged contacts with him.

First time I’ve exchanged numbers with a guy from my class since starting high school.

“Alright then, I’ll go tell the teacher we’re done cleaning up. You and Kotani can head home first.”

The moment we finished swapping contacts, I smoothly set things up to give them some alone time. This was exactly why I went through the trouble of calling them both here.

The plan was simple—give them time together, make it easier for Kotani to invite him to the amusement park…! Now that I’d gotten this far, I could finally relax. All that was left was to have Yuzu give the ticket back to Kotani again.

…Or so I thought.

But to my surprise, Sakuraba shook his head.

“I said I’d stick around till the end, didn’t I? I’m not just gonna leave you behind, Izumi.”

Gah… What is this guy? Some kind of saint? I’m supposed to be his romantic rival, damn it! He just completely wrecked my plan.

Right at that moment, as if on cue, the prep room door opened.

Sugawara-sensei had arrived.

“Oh… Looks nice and clean in here, Izumi.”

He glanced around the room, a satisfied smile on his face. Then, his eyes landed on the other two.

“Hm? Oh, did Sakuraba and Kotani help out too? Alright, I’ll throw in a little bonus for your record while I’m at it.”

“…Help out?” Sakuraba reacted to the unexpected comment.

“…Bonus?”

Kotani too.

They turned to each other and exchanged glances, sensing something off in the flow of conversation.

Eventually, their gazes turned to me. But I ignored them and flashed a smile at Mr. Sugawara.

“Yes, thank you very much. I’m lucky to have such kind friends. Ahaha.”

“Well then, I’m locking up, so all three of you, out of the prep room.”

Still looking as if they were caught under a fox’s spell^[3], Sakuraba and Kotani followed the teacher’s instructions regardless and stepped out of the room. After locking the door, Mr. Sugawara gave us a few more words of appreciation before heading back to the staff room.

“Alright, don’t forget about that grade boost, okay?” I called after him to make sure he got the message. 

The moment he disappeared; I felt an immediate crushing pressure growing behind me.

“…Well now, Izumi.”

“…Care to explain what exactly is going on?”

I turned around to find two very not amused extroverts glaring at me coldly, already piecing things together.

Hah… You see, introverts like me turn to stone when too many extroverts stare at us like that. So, if you could please tone it down, that’d be great.

“Well… my bad. As you can probably tell, I volunteered to clean up for the grade boost, but it turned out to be way too much. So… I tricked my classmates who were still on campus into helping me. I’m really sorry.” I bowed my head in apology.

Kotani let out an exasperated sigh, equal parts disbelief and irritation.

“Unbelievable. You’re the worst. Just so you know, I’m definitely telling Yuzu about this.”

Oh, come on. I just managed to build a tiny bit of goodwill with her, and now it’s all tanking straight to hell.

“…Well, at least we’re getting that grade boost. But if that’s what was going on, you could’ve just asked us for help, Izumi. I wouldn’t have minded.”

Sakuraba wasn’t as openly pissed as Kotani, but he still frowned at me in disapproval.

Perfect.

This was, in fact, my Plan B.

“No, seriously, I do feel bad. So… here. Consider this an apology.”

With that, I pulled out—

The amusement park tickets I’d just gotten back from Kotani. I practically shoved the tickets into their hands, one for each of them.

“…This…” Kotani widened her eyes, gripping the ticket.

“I went there with Yuzu the other day, but I ended up with some extra tickets. Going twice in such a short time feels a bit much, so… as an apology, I’m giving these to you.”

“You…” 

She immediately caught on to my intentions. 

I shot her a look—Do it. Invite him.

It was the perfect setup for her and Sakuraba to go to the amusement park together. If she let this slip, she’d probably never get another chance.

Kotani glanced between the ticket and me a few times before finally making up her mind. She turned to Sakuraba.

“W-what do you think, Souta? He… does seem sorry, and rejecting them outright would be kind of mean, right?”

“Well, yeah, you’re not wrong. No point in dragging it out, either.”

Sakuraba’s expression flickered for a second when I mentioned my date with Yuzu. But in the end, he really was a good guy—he accepted my apology without making a fuss.

That was Kotani’s cue. She took a deep breath and took it a step further.

“Since we have them anyway… w-wanna go together?”

The situationally aware man that he was, Sakuraba smiled softly and nodded.

“Yeah, that sounds good. I mean, considering how we got them, might as well go together.”

—WHOO!

I clenched my fist silently in a victory pose. Kotani was probably doing the same in her head.

Relieved that the plan had worked, I immediately turned around on my heel to head out.

“Glad to see I’ve been forgiven. Well then, before you two change your minds, I’ll be heading out. Sorry about today, both of you.”

“Yeah. See you tomorrow,” Sakuraba gave me a casual wave.

“…ank you,” Kotani mumbled something that sounded like gratitude.

With their send-off, I quickly made my exit.

“…Alright. Well, that’s one less remaining issue I have to deal with.”

Now that I was alone, I crossed my arms and thought things over.

With that, Sakuraba and Kotani’s relationship has now taken a step forward. Who knows where it would go from here? But, at the very least, they were closer to the goal than before.

Which meant, there was only one issue at hand.

“…Now that I think about it, I’ve left Yuzu alone for over an hour now.”

Going back to the literature club room was gonna be rough. But running away wasn’t an option either.

“…Guess I’ll just have to face the consequences.”

With a deep sigh, I set off on my way back to the club room—though not so much returning as turning myself in.

After that, needless to say, Yuzu was thoroughly sulking when I got there. And so—I ended up treating her to dinner that night.

⛧─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───⛧

──Since I’m going on a date with Souta, I need your help picking out an outfit.

It was on Friday when Aki, blushing, brought up this request.

Yuzu, surprised at the news but relieved that Aki was finally able to ask him out, gladly agreed to help her best friend.

“Hmmm… I think this one’s better. Since it’s your first date, a skirt would be better, right? Wanna try it on?”

That afternoon, after school, Yuzu was playing dress-up with Aki at a nearby shopping mall, choosing a fashion look for Aki’s upcoming date.

“W-Wait, I’m supposed to wear this…? Isn’t it a little… too cute?” Aki said hesitantly, holding up the pleated skirt Yuzu had picked for her.

Fashion that appeals to the opposite sex often differs from fashion that appeals to the same sex, and Aki tends to prefer the latter. As a result, she felt a bit awkward about the outfit Yuzu was suggesting, which screamed "I’m aiming for a guy."

“No, no, guys actually like it when you’re a bit obvious. My boyfriend was like that too.”

“Is that so…”

Apparently, the opinion of someone with a boyfriend carried a lot of weight, and Aki, though still shy, quickly retreated into the fitting room.

“By the way, I can’t believe you were actually able to ask Souta out. It’s been a while, and I honestly thought you’d given up,” Yuzu spoke through the curtain of the fitting room.

She had thought she might need to help Aki out more to get things going smoothly, but it seemed that had been an unnecessary worry.

“Oh, yeah… Well, your boyfriend kind of worked things out for me, actually.”

A surprising answer came back.

“Wait, seriously? That’s the first time I’m hearing this.”

Yuzu’s eyes widened in surprise, and through the curtain, Aki lightly chuckled.

“It’s true. The other day, when I was waiting for Souta to finish his club activities…” Aki began to recount the events that led to her being able to ask Souta out.

“Something like that happened…?” Yuzu was unable to hide her surprise.

Though usually an introverted and quiet person, Aki had apparently shown an unexpected side of herself when it came to something like this.

Well, even though that had happened, the lack of communication between them still made Yuzu think that Aki’s communication skills were still very much introverted.

“When you started dating Izumi, I thought, ‘Why him?’ But now, I kind of get it.”

“R-Really? Well, I’m happy you approve, Aki.” 

I’m happy, but… I can’t help but feel a little uneasy.

It was as if Yuzu wanted to keep Yamato’s good qualities to herself.

“Mmm… I guess I’m surprisingly possessive, huh?” Yuzu muttered to herself, just quietly enough so that Aki couldn’t hear her. 

Yuzu generally took pride in the fact that she had a relatively objective understanding of herself. However, the next few words from Aki completely shattered that sense of self-assurance.

“Well, it seems like he likes you a lot, too. I was worried if he was treating you right, but that doesn’t seem to be an issue.”

“Eh, w-wait, what? I want to hear more about that!” Yuzu’s voice rose higher than she expected it to.

Did Yamato like her? This was information she couldn’t afford to miss. She needed to know more.

“Well, it’s not a big deal. He just kept bragging about how much he likes you,” Aki said, brushing off Yuzu’s eagerness and casually opening the fitting room curtain. “How does this look? Does it seem weird?”

Aki anxiously checked herself out in the new skirt. Well, from her standpoint, the impending date was probably more important than talking about Yamato.

…But Yuzu wanted to dive deeper into that conversation. How did Yamato brag about liking her? What exactly did he say?

Despite her inner conflict, Yuzu put on her best outward appearance—she was good at acting cheerful—and forced a smile.

“Yeah, it looks great on you.”

But she still wanted more information about Yamato.

She had to hold back the words that were about to spill out. It would be obviously unnatural to abruptly change the subject and bring it up again. From Aki’s perspective, Yuzu and Yamato were already dating, so she probably thought they could share those lovey-dovey moments with each other privately.

“I’m sure Souta will notice. There’s a clear difference between the usual Aki and the look you have on right now.”

Yuzu tried to push aside her lingering curiosity and focused on helping her friend with her outfit.

“I hope so…”

“Of course! You’re cute, Aki. You should be more confident!”

Yuzu couldn’t help but think she sounded a bit like a jerk for saying it so bluntly. But her feelings of wanting to support Aki were genuine.

However, how genuine it was didn’t matter. Because even though she was providing all that support, Yuzu was still hiding the most important piece of information from her.

She could think of many logical excuses as to why—like how it wasn’t right to speak of something she only overheard, or how it would only cause unnecessary confusion among everyone. 

But in the end, it was all just for herself.

Because Yuzu wanted to protect the place where she feels comfortable. 

She wants to protect the fun group that she’s a part of.

And so, with that in mind, she played the role of a fake couple with Yamato. She avoided Souta’s feelings and supported Aki in her endeavor instead.

To put it mildly—

I’m a horrible person.

“Yeah… I’ll give it my best shot,” Aki replied.

“That’s the spirit!” 

…As she was thinking this, Yuzu also felt a sense of justification. Because, no matter what, she couldn’t respond to Souta’s feelings. So, even if he were to confess to her, she would lose everything and gain nothing.

Aki, Souta, Yuzu, and Keigo.

Everyone would only end up with a loss at the end.

So, even if it’s cowardly, it was smarter to handle things cleverly and settle it in a way that causes the least harm. It was at least some form of consideration for her friends.

“—Hey, Yuzu.”

Aki’s voice, tense and urgent, pulls Yuzu out of her sea of thoughts.

“What is it?”

Looking at Aki’s unexpectedly serious expression, Yuzu straightens up.

“I’m going to confess to Souta during the date,” Aki says.

“Huh…?”

“I’m sure it’ll be really hard to get the courage to invite him again after this. So, I’m going to take this chance to confess.”

Seeing the determination in Aki’s words, Yuzu could recognize her sincerity.

Aki may be shy when it comes to love, but she’s strong at her core. Having said this much, Yuzu knew for sure—she was definitely going to confess.

“R-right, I see. Yeah! I’m sure it’ll go well! I’m rooting for you!” Yuzu squeezed her best friend’s hand tightly, sending her support.

—So, this is it, huh?

At the same time, Yuzu felt a complex feeling of loneliness wash over her. 

The arrangement she had with Yamato was supposed to last until Aki confessed. So now, all those carefree, relaxing, and fun times spent in that clubroom will soon come to an end.

“If I knew it would end up like this…” she muttered.

“Yuzu? Did you say something?”

Aki’s puzzled voice brings Yuzu back to reality.

“No, nothing.” With her signature practiced smile, Yuzu, once again, hid her true feelings. 

I can’t say it. I can’t say that if I knew it would end up like this—

—I would have made our arrangement last longer.

⛧─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───⛧

According to Yuzu, the date between Sakuraba and Kotani was set for this upcoming Saturday. It was a rare day when their schedules aligned, coinciding with the basketball team’s rest day after an away game. 

On that decisive day, Yuzu and I also ended up going on a date that was a bit unconventional, yet in a way not too different from the usual.

“Well done! It seems that you’ve shown up. Are you ready, Yamato-kun?” Yuzu, dressed in her school uniform, struck an enthusiastic pose with her arms crossed. 

We met at the back gate of the school. I, also dressed in my uniform, nodded, equally as fired up. 

“Of course. My determination is ten times stronger than yours.”

Kotani and Sakuraba were going on a date. That meant, our relationship was likely nearing its end as well. In the midst of this, however, one problem arose—

The RPG that we had been working so hard on was showing no signs of wrapping up anytime soon. 

At this rate, we might not be able to finish before Kotani’s confession. Fearing this, Yuzu and I decided to wear our uniforms, go to school on Saturday, and spend the entire day in the Literature Clubroom playing games. You could call it a ‘mystery date.’

“Okay? Yamato-kun. Don’t get complacent just because we’re in a familiar school. The school grounds are a battlefield. If any teachers see us, we might be called in for questioning. So, we need to make sure we move like ninjas. Be stealthy!”

“Right. And you better be careful not to get tripped up yourself.”

For some reason, we both shared an unnervingly mischievous smile. I’m aware that we looked kind of stupid from an outsider’s perspective.

“Well then, let’s go!”

At Yuzu’s signal, we began our covert school date. We snuck in through the back gate, checking for teachers every time we turned a corner, sometimes hiding in empty classrooms to avoid being caught by the teachers who were doing rounds.

After much sneaking around, we finally reached our beloved Literature Clubroom (which we had commandeered without permission).

As soon as we entered, we locked the door.

“Alright, first hurdle cleared.” 

“Yep. But now, the real challenge starts.”

With practiced hands, we eagerly began setting up the game. We put on one earphone each, just like always, and started the game. 

Last time, we had just discovered the identity of the final boss, so now we were headed straight for the grand finale. I was controlling the long-haired swordsman, and Yuzu was still playing the lumberjack loli character. 

We worked together, defeating enemies little by little and progressing through the story.

“Thanks,” Yuzu suddenly said, sounding a little sheepish. “I heard from Aki. She said it was thanks to you that she was able to get the date.”

“Well, that’s my job.” I answered without taking my eyes off the game.

Yuzu glanced at me briefly.

“I heard it was a pretty thankless role, though.”

“If I get disliked by someone who I wasn’t even involved with to begin with, it doesn’t bother me at all. My grades even went up, so it all worked out for the best.”

Personally, I was pretty satisfied with that job. It had its benefits, after all.

“I see.” Yuzu nodded quietly, as if she understood. “…Aki said she’s going to confess today. It looks like she’s going to rely on the momentum of finally getting a date to do it.” 

For a brief moment, my character’s movements froze. 

However, I quickly resumed giving commands through the controller, and the character moved again.

“I see.” I managed to squeeze out a response. 

This relationship was supposed to end when Kotani confessed. If that’s the case, today would likely be our last day together as a couple. Thinking of it as just another regular date made it feel oddly anticlimactic, and I couldn't help but give a wry smile.

“…Thanks.” 

Once again, Yuzu murmured a word of gratitude.

“You said that already,” I replied, and Yuzu shook her head.

“It’s not that kind of thanks. This ‘thank you’ is for sticking with me this whole time. Honestly, it was a pretty thankless job, wasn’t it?

“Now that you mention it, yeah, I guess. I might’ve been better off working a regular day job, for the sake of time efficiency.” I nodded sincerely in agreement.

Yuzu puffed out her cheeks, glaring at me. “Hey. This is the part where you’re supposed to say something like ‘I enjoyed spending time with Yuzu-chan so much, it was actually a win-win for me.’”

“Right, right~” I shrugged and half-heartedly agreed with a sigh.

Did my implied meaning get across? 

Yuzu glared at me, looking dissatisfied. Seeing her like that made me laugh involuntarily.

“…Well, I did enjoy it a little, I guess. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have gone along with it so faithfully.” I admitted honestly.

Unexpectedly, Yuzu looked down, seemingly embarrassed.

“W-Well, when you say it so directly, it kind of makes me embarrassed…”

“You’ve still got no defense, huh?”

“Leave me alone.”

Yuzu, as if trying to cover up her feelings, started handling the controller more roughly. I didn’t feel like pushing any further, so we just silently focused on the game together.

After a while—

“Hey, you know…” Yuzu murmured. “Our relationship kind of feels like an RPG.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I tilted my head in confusion.

Yuzu answered without looking away from the screen.

“Well, think about it. To reach the same ending in the same story, we’ve been playing roles that are completely different from our real selves, all while moving the story forward for Souta and Aki. It’s pretty much the same as the game we’re playing right now, don’t you think?”

“…Well, I guess that’s true.” 

In the game, I’m playing a long-haired swordsman who doesn’t resemble me at all, and Yuzu is playing a young lumberjack girl, completely different from her. In the game, we’re completely different characters, fighting together toward the happy ending. 

It’s the same as how we’re struggling in reality, pretending to be lovers for the sake of a happy ending. It’s completely unlike our original selves.

“Maybe that’s why…? Why it was so fun.” Yuzu smiled, as if reflecting on a long ago past.

“At first, I really didn’t want to do it. I thought we’d never get along, you weren’t even my type, and I was anxious about whether anyone’d actually think we were a couple if we did this.”

Yuzu’s honest words came out without any pretense, and I replied in kind.

“Same here. I thought getting involved in the whole ‘normie’ mess was a joke. You’re a narcissist, your reasons for picking me were pretty rude, and I thought we’d never get along.”

But even so, Yuzu still tried to get along with me.

Even if we didn’t click, even if we were both reluctant, and even if there was anxiety.

She put in the effort to make it enjoyable for herself, and more than that, she worked hard to make sure I had fun too. That’s probably where it all started. Something must have clicked between us, two people who were completely opposites.

“Yeah, we both really didn’t want to at first. But… yeah. Looking back, it really was fun after all.”

“…Yeah.”

I affirmed Yuzu’s words without feeling embarrassed, as she spoke them with a sort of bittersweet tone. 

It was definitely fun. It was a special time. And although I’m not someone who enjoys interacting with others much—

I still felt it was something I’d regret losing.

⛧─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───⛧

Several hours passed—we had been playing quite a bit.

This was the first time since I started dating Yuzu that we’d spent so much time playing games together, and it felt strangely nostalgic. As we got lost in the game, we finally reached the final boss by the time evening rolled around.

“Heal! Yamato-kun, heal me!” Yuzu called out to me for help, frantically running around to dodge the boss's attacks.

“I’m casting a spell right now, hold on a sec.”

“I can’t wait! Hurry up—ahh! Did I die!?” The lumberjack girl, blasted by the boss’s attack, collapsed lifelessly.

“Hey, what the hell, why’d you die! We can’t hold the line if we lose the frontliners!” I complained to Yuzu as I quickly switched to a resurrection item.

“Because this guy’s so strong! I can’t even kill him!”

“Well, it’s the final boss, of course he’s tough! At times like this, you need to focus on being a wall to protect the backline!”

“I’m not playing like that! I’m the main character here!”

“What do you mean ‘the main character’? What happens if the main character dies?!”

While we argued, I revived Yuzu with an item.

“Alright! I’m alive again! I’m charging in!”

“You’re rushing too much! Where did you throw away your ability to learn?!” Desperately casting healing magic to keep the battle going, I did my best to maintain the front lines. 

After a few more minutes of intense combat, we finally managed to defeat the final boss.

“That took so long… I didn’t expect a second form…”

“Boss form changes are a big thing in RPGs. Most of the time, the final form isn’t even human anymore.”

Exhausted, Yuzu slumped in her seat, while I was filled with a sense of accomplishment. Silently, the two of us watched the final cutscene, soaking ourselves in the happy ending. 

Eventually, that too came to an end and the credits began to roll. Yuzu let out a deep breath, as if releasing all the tension from her body. 

“Whew… It’s over! Good work, Yamato!”

“Yeah, good work!”

Sharing a mix of pleasant fatigue and satisfaction—the true charm of RPGs—Yuzu and I exchanged a strong high-five. A sharp clap echoed through the room, followed by a subtle, lingering sting in my palm.

Gripping my hand tightly, I quietly watched as the credits rolled.

Meanwhile, Yuzu picked up her bag and began rummaging through it.

“Let’s see… ah, found it. Here, Yamato-kun.” What she handed me was RoboBus II R, the game I had originally wanted. The reward for clearing our “dating RPG.”

I had wanted this game for so long. Yet, for some reason, I hesitated for just a moment before accepting it. 

“Yamato-kun?” Perhaps suspicious of my reluctance to take the game she offered; Yuzu tilted her head in confusion.

Snapping myself out of it, I took the game from her hands.

“Ah, yeah. I was just caught a little off guard. I guess this means we’re officially ending things, huh?”

“Yeah. Unless, plot twist, Aki totally chickens out and doesn’t confess after all.”

Yuzu’s joking tone made me chuckle. It was a possibility, after all. “In that case, we’ll just have to start over again and go back to the drawing board.”

“Pfft, even though you’ve already got the game? You’re still willing to go along with our facade?” Yuzu said with a chuckle, looking oddly pleased.

“Well, that’s what we promised, isn’t it? If that happens, just call me.”

With a firm salute, Yuzu nodded. “Roger that.” 

As the credits came to an end, silence filled the room.

“Hey. Since this’ll be the last time we’re together, can I ask you something that’s been on my mind for a while?”

“…Sure. What is it?” I nodded and turned to look at Yuzu. 

She met my gaze, her eyes steady as she asked.

“Yamato, why don’t you ever make any friends? While we were together, I had a lot of fun spending time with you, and I’m sure you could make friends pretty easily in general.”

“That’s a pretty brutal question to ask a loner.”

If it were anyone else, that question might’ve cut deep, but since it was me, I only felt a slight sting. For your average loner, though, hearing that from a normie like her could be fatal.

Still, since she asked, I might as well answer. It’s the last time we’re together, after all.

“…It’s not like there’s any big reason behind it. I just prefer being alone over hanging out with friends. I’m a naturally introverted guy, you know?”

If she was expecting some dramatic backstory or some kind of traumatic past to explain my relationships—sorry to disappoint, but this was just how I’ve always been. 

For some reason, I struggle with interacting with strangers.

For some reason, I struggle with faking smiles.

And for some reason, when that crucial time in April came by—when new classmates started forming friendships—I struggled to speak up.

I could hold a decent conversation one-on-one with someone I was comfortable with. But throw me into a group of five people talking to each other, and I’d naturally fall silent. That’s just the kind of socially awkward guy I am.

“Huh… Is that all?”

Yuzu, an absolute social powerhouse, didn’t seem to fully grasp my reasoning. She frowned slightly, unconvinced.

“That’s all there is to it. Well… there was one time when I tried to change, though.”

Humans were inherently social creatures. Not being able to connect with others is undeniably a weakness. So back in middle school, when club participation was mandatory, I played basketball—a team sport—to push myself. 

Sometimes referred to as “interpersonal skills,” being able to talk to people well isn’t just a matter of a personality trait—it’s a learned, technical skill.

Knowing when to nod at the right moment. Putting on the right level of friendly smile. Bringing up the right topics of conversation.

It’s all just technique.

There are geniuses like Yuzu who have that technique naturally from when they’re born, but even if you're not like that, with the right training and experience, anyone can acquire a certain level of skill.

“I joined the basketball club, and for a time, I thought I’d overcome my introversion. I even thought I became a more outgoing person. I was the point guard, after all.”

So, if I really wanted to deceive myself, I probably could make friends now. But the truth is, I can’t see the value in making friends just like that.

“‘Thought’ you became one?” Yuzu caught the past-tense phrasing in my words. She raised a puzzled eyebrow, and I nodded to confirm her curiosity.

“Yeah. In the summer of my second year, I became the captain of the basketball club. Everyone was happy for me, saying they had no complaints as long as it was Izumi… and that made me happy. I worked hard to try and lead the club.”

From tactics and training to even personal issues and relationship problems, I found joy in being relied on, and I felt fulfilled by the sense that I was supporting everyone around me. 

It wasn't my style at all, but I got so swept up in all of it, to the point where I couldn’t even recognize that anymore.

“I was trying my best, but… it just kept getting harder and harder to breathe. The more people relied on me, the more I felt like I couldn’t escape… That’s the sort of thing I started understanding.”

That was the weight of responsibility. There are things that can’t exist without me. So, I can never run away from it. As soon as I realized that, places I used to enjoy started to feel like a prison.

“I guess I should’ve been able to enjoy it, like you do, Yuzu.”

“Yamato-kun…” Yuzu called my name gently, a concerned tone in her voice.

I responded with a bitter smile.

Achieving something together with everyone. Arguing sometimes, helping each other sometimes, overcoming difficulties, and pushing through together. 

Those were definitely wonderful things, but—

I was suffocated by that very wonder.

“When I retired from the basketball club, and the time I spent with my teammates and juniors came to an end, what I felt wasn’t loneliness—it was relief. I was surprised. I had convinced myself that I was an extrovert, someone who wanted friends. To be honest, I didn’t want to admit the truth.”

I repeat, humans are social creatures, after all.

Humans are creatures that seek to fulfill their need for validation and happiness by how much others recognize them.

And yet, I couldn’t find meaning in that way of thinking.

I chose basketball because I thought it was better to play with teammates, but does that mean individual sports like tennis or golf are inferior to basketball? Is listening to music alone, immersing myself in it, inferior to going to karaoke with friends? 

When I asked myself these questions, I couldn’t nod in agreement.

“I know this might just sound like the whining of a loner, but I think I was cursed by ‘the curse of communication.’”

Yes, a curse. That’s the best way to put it.

“I made friends just to be proud about the number of them. It wasn’t about wanting to get along with the person in front of me—I just wanted that status of having friends. And I wanted to escape that label—no, the bottom of the hierarchy—where I was a loner. That’s all.”

Between people with communication skills and those without, of course, having them is better. No matter how I interpret myself, as long as I am a creature that lives in groups, that will remain an undeniable fact. 

But it’s just one skill among many. For example, being able to cook is better than not being able to, but does that mean someone who can’t cook is definitely unhappier than someone who can? 

Not necessarily. It’s just one element in the many factors that shape happiness.

“So, I decided to throw it all away. I thought, ‘If someone enjoys being alone, then they should be alone.’ That’s how I feel.”

That was my answer to Yuzu’s question. A loner’s answer, an ordinary way of existing.

“I see.” Yuzu nodded simply after hearing this. Cautiously, she asked, “…Then, was it kind of suffocating for you to be with me?”

I couldn’t help but smile bitterly.

“Well, I ended up a loner naturally because I was looking for the most comfortable way for me. It’s not that I hate people, nor am I fixated on being alone. If I find someone I click with, talking to them is fun.”

Hearing this, Yuzu’s expression brightened instantly. “Right! When I think about it, there’s no way you’d feel suffocated having to be with a perfect, extroverted, beautiful girl like me!”

“Wait. I just said it’s fun talking to people I click with, not that I click with you.”

“What’s that supposed to mean!? Which is it, then!?”

Seeing Yuzu flustered was so amusing that I had to look down to keep myself from bursting out laughing.

“You’re teasing me, you jerk!”

Yuzu lightly hit me with her bag in protest, and somehow, it was kind of cute.

—And so, our last day together passed.

Translator's Notes:

[1]: He says she’s turning into a cat because Kotani stutters by using nya (にゃ). in her words. I don’t think I have to explain this, but if you're uncultured, that’s equivalent to meow in English. It is also heavily fetishized. What she says in Japanese here is: N-nanta, nyani kyuni hen nya koto wo (な、あんた、にゃに急に変にゃことを). She says nyani instead of nani (as in, nya + nani) and henn ya instead of hen na. The joke is a little hard to translate into English.

[2]: Refer to Chapter 2. Yuzu calls him a tracksuit-type guy, where he’s like a comfortable but styleless option. This is a reference to that.

[3]: There’s more to this phrase. The original phrase used was kitsune ni tsumamareta (狐につままれた). Literally, this expression translates as “caught in a fox’s clutch.” I rephrased it a bit because I didn’t think it sounded right in the sentence. This actually refers to Japanese folklore, as foxes are often associated with deceit and illusion. It more generally means to be caught in a stupor, as if your mind goes blank when an unexpected event (usually something deceitful) occurs. For example, you may use the phrase if you came home only to find out that all your wife’s belongings are completely gone.

This is really more of a fun fact though, to be honest. I don’t think it affects reading experience too much.