My Childhood Friend Is Just Too CuteโI Canโt Have a Normal Relationship!!
Time has flown by surprisingly fast since I became a sophomoreโa whole week has already gone by.
Iโve been keeping up with my classes just fine, and my relationships with people are going really well.
โIf I could just get a girlfriend, Iโd have nothing to complain about~โ
My plan to distance myself from the two people I talked to with Yamato hasnโt progressed at all.
On the contrary, just a week ago, I received a ridiculous threat from Alice.
โWhy are you looking so gloomy? Did something bad happen or something?โ
โItโs not exactly that. Iโm just thinking, โLife is tough, huhโฆโโ
โWhatโs that supposed to mean? Thatโs definitely not something someone your age should be thinking about.โ
โI guess youโre right. Iโm kind of jealous that you donโt seem to have many worries, Fumika.โ
โAre you making fun of me? Iโll punch you, you know?โ
She shot me a freezing glare. Iโd just spoken my mind, but apparently, she didnโt like it.
Actually, even though she said sheโd punch me, sheโd already kicked me.
โUmโฆ could you please stop kicking me?โ
โI didnโt punch you, so itโs fine, isnโt it?โ
โWhat an absurd argument.โ
I feel like Iโm about to cry.
โAnyway, letโs hurry up and eat lunch.โ
โOkay, okay. By the way, donโt you have any friends, Fumika?โ
โโฆIโll kill you.โ
โIโm sorry.โ
She glared at me so intensely that I realized this was a topic I shouldnโt bring up any further, so I apologized profusely and had lunch with Fumika.
By the way, Fumikaโwho (apparently) was asked by my mom to look after me once I entered my second yearโhas been making my lunch.
It tastes amazing. I could eat it every day.
โSeriously, you should at least make your own lunch.โ
โWell, I could make it, but itโs just such a hassle.โ
โThere you go again. You know you canโt actually make it.โ
โWell, whatever. Itโs really delicious, though. Thanks for making it for me every day.โ
Since she can make such a delicious lunch, Fumika will probably make a great wife someday. Yeah, I hope she finds happiness.
โW-well, itโs no big dealโitโs easy enough. B-but I donโt mind the compliment, though.โ
โIt really is delicious. Thanks, as always.โ
Eating a delicious bento really lifts my spirits. Iโm truly grateful.
If something comes up next time, Iโll try to help Fumika.
โMakoto~ Can I talk to you for a sec? Oh, were you in the middle of eating your bento?โ
โI just finished. Anyway, is something up?โ
โYeah. I was wondering if youโd join me for practice if youโre free. Itโs totally fine if you canโt, though.โ
โNah, I want to get some exercise after eating, so Iโll join you. Anyway, Iโm off, Fumika.โ
Fumika turned away, looking a bit sulky, but since she didnโt tell him not to go, Alice followed her to the gym.
โFumi-chan is so amazingโshe can even cook! Maybe I should learn too?โ
โIt canโt hurt to know how to cook, so why not ask her to teach you?โ
โHmm. By the way, Makoto, if you had to choose between a girl who can cook and one who canโt, which would you rather marry?โ
Once they arrived at the gym, Alice asked him that question while dribbling a basketball.
He hadnโt really thought about it much before, but hmm.
โEither oneโs fine, I guess. Itโs appealing to have a girl who can cook make me meals, and it sounds fun to cook for a girl who canโt, too.โ
โI see. Can you cook, Makoto?โ
โI can do it just fine. Iโm not super skilled or anything, though.โ
Iโve made sure to learn enough about cooking and housework to get by, so itโs no problem.
I consider myself capable of living on my own to a certain extent.
To begin with, if Mom hadnโt asked Fumika to look after me, I was planning to handle all the housework myself anyway.
โThen, teach me how to cook sometime!โ
โI think Fumika would be a better teacher, though.โ
โI want you to teach me, Makoto. Is that okay?โ
Iโm a softie when she says things like that.
Thereโs no real reason to force myself to say no, so why not?
โSure. Iโll teach you next time.โ
โYay! You promised, okay?โ
โOkay, okay. But if weโre going to practice, letโs get started soon. We donโt have that much time, after all.โ
โYouโre right. So, one-on-one, then. You can go first, Makoto.โ
With that, she tossed me the ball.
I dribbled it, tried to get past Alice, and headed for the basket, but sheโs a basketball team member after all.
There was no way I could break through that easily, and she snatched the ball right out of my hands.
โYouโve still got a long way to go, Makoto. You canโt aim for the world with skills like that, you know?โ
โIโm not aiming for that. Seriously, youโre really good.โ
โWell, I practice every day. If I lost to an amateur, itโd be a total blow to my pride.โ
โTrue. So, next time, Iโll be on defense.โ
Spreading my arms wide, I faced off against Alice.
Her dribbling form was so beautiful that I found myself mesmerized for a split second.
She capitalized on that moment, easily breaking through my defense and sinking a shot.
That was way too fast.
โPhew~ I win!โ
โI didnโt stand a chance from the start, though.โ
โWell, shall we play a little more?โ
โSure.โ
From then on, until lunch break ended, Alice and I kept playing one-on-one basketball.
The result? Of course, I lost every single game. Damn it.
ใโ
โSo, you got completely crushed by Alice.โ
โWell, yeah. Thereโs no way I could win against a pro.โ
โI guess youโre right. Are you heading home right away today?โ
โNo, Iโve got something to do, so you guys go ahead and head home first.โ
After school, with all classes finished, all that was left was to go home.
Alice headed off to club activities early, while Fumika and I were getting ready to leave in the classroom.
โW-well, if itโs just shopping or something, Iโd be happy to tag along?โ
โNah, Iโm going out with Yamato. Weโre eating dinner out tonight, so Iโm good.โ
โGot it. Have fun.โ
โHey-hey!โ
As if heโd timed it to coincide with Fumika leaving the classroom, Yamato called out to me.
โAre you two living together or something?โ
โWhy would you think that? Sheโs just coming over to make dinner.โ
โSheโs like a โcommuting wifeโ.โ
โDonโt make fun of me so much. Anyway, letโs get going.โ
Iโm going out with Yamato today.
But itโs not just a casual hangout. Yamato set me up on a group date with girls from another school.
โCome on, donโt get so worked up. The mixer isnโt going anywhere, is it?โ
โStill, try to understand how excited I am about this.โ
โSince that time, I havenโt been able to keep my distance at all. Did you even try to?โ
โI did! But before I knew it, one of us was always right next to the otherโwhat could I do?โ
Even when I try to keep my distance, they both crowd in on me, so thereโs nothing I can do about it.
Thatโs exactly why I had Yamato set up a mixer with girls from other schools this time.
โIโm totally jealous, but I guess itโs not the same for you. Well, letโs go.โ
โYeah.โ
And so, with my arm around Yamatoโs shoulder, I headed toward the family restaurant where the mixer was being held.
Maigetsu