Episode 46 – second time

The Salty Princess Told Me That I Was a ‘Convenient Keep’, so I Tested What Would Happen if I Introduced the Most Beautiful Girl at Another School as My Girlfriend

Sakaki Saori was uneasy.

After saying goodbye to Ochiha and the others, Saori returned to her classmates, but was immediately called out by a group of girls who had suddenly appeared.

“Why did you bring me here all of a sudden? What do you want?”

Saori was taken to a less popular part of the school building, where she glared at the girls in front of her with cold eyes.

“…!”

　The girls were intimidated by Saori’s intensity and were momentarily speechless, but the leader of the group stepped forward and said,

“You, please stop bothering Sakashima-kun.”

“Me, bothering Sakashima-kun… What are you talking about?”

“Stop playing dumb! We already know you’re forcing yourself on Sakashima-kun even though he doesn’t want you! You’re probably getting a big head from the boys calling you the ‘princess with the cold attitude,’ but Sakashima-kun is annoyed by it!”

The girls behind her joined in, shouting in agreement.

　Saori had never been directly confronted with such hostility from others before. She had always preferred to be alone, and lately, Ochiha had been protecting her from such people. So to be honest, Saori wasn’t good at handling this kind of situation.

…But that didn’t mean she was the type of girl to just stay silent.

“I’m sorry, but you have no right to say such things to me. …Besides, what kind of relationship do you have with Sakashima-kun? Why are you meddling in his social life?”

“We’re Sakashima-kun’s… friends.”

“Is that so? I’ve been spending a lot of time with him lately, but I’ve never seen him talking to people like you.”

“Well, that’s…”

The girls lowered their eyes involuntarily. Saori suddenly noticed that one of them was the girl who had bumped into her earlier while running in tandem.

“You’re the one who bumped into me earlier, aren’t you? …After doing something like that, how dare you talk to me?”

“…It was just an accident. Or do you have proof that I bumped into you on purpose?”

“Well…”

Saori couldn’t answer. The girl who had bumped into her twisted her mouth in a mocking smile.

“It was just an accident, yet you’re saying I did it on purpose? You lied to get on Sakashima-senpai’s good side and unfairly slandered me. …You’re despicable. Apologize.”

“Why should I apologize to you, the one who bumped into me? You’re the one who should apologize.”

“Oh, you said I bumped into you again without any evidence! You really are a liar, aren’t you?　You must have lied to Sakashima-senpai like that too! You’re despicable!”

The girl was aware that she was saying unreasonable things. But even if it was an unreasonable argument, if they surrounded her and kept making a fuss, the other person wouldn’t be able to say anything. Saori was different from the other girls in that it was hard to tell what she was thinking, but from the way she was acting now, it was clear that she had a crush on Ochiha

So, they decided to provoke her into an emotional outburst, take a photo of it, and threaten to show it to Ochiha. That way, this insolent girl would naturally disappear from his side. That’s what the girls were thinking, but…

“Ah, I finally found you. Sakaki-san, you said you were going to join everyone else, so what are you doing here?”

It was Sakashima Ochiha who appeared. He spotted Saori and ran over to her.

“Sakashima-kun…”

Saori hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to say, but Ochiha spoke first.

“Hey, are these girls Sakaki-san’s friends? I’ve never seen them before. What were you talking about?”

“────”

What did the girls think when they heard those words? They exchanged glances with expressions of confusion or hurt, then ran away from the scene.

“Um, Sakashima-kun…”

Saori turned her gaze toward Ochiha. He had a mischievous expression, like a child who had succeeded in a prank, and put his finger to his lips.

“It’s no big deal, right? …Actually, Sakaki-san, are you okay? I heard you were called out by a group of girls, so I rushed over here, but is there another problem?”

“…Nothing, really. We were just having a casual conversation.”

“Oh, okay, then.”

After the girls were completely out of sight, Ochiha let out a small breath. At times like this, even Saori couldn’t tell what he was thinking.

“Anyway, Sakaki-san. Everyone seemed to be waiting for you. Shouldn’t we get back to the field soon?”

“…That’s right, I had a promise to keep. I’d better hurry back before everyone gets angry.”

Saori and Ochiha started walking side by side.

“Sakaki-san, I have a favor to ask you… is that okay?”

Ochiha cleared his throat deliberately before speaking.

“What is it? If it’s something I can do, I’ll do anything.”

Saori turned her gaze toward Ochiha. Ochiha smiled again, looking like a child about to play a prank.

“Well then, in the afternoon class relay race, if our class wins, will you let me give you a big hug?”

“…What?”

Saori instinctively looked into Ochiha’s face. He smiled gently, looking a little embarrassed, and stared back at Saori. He had seen that expression many times before. Usually, he was more deliberately cheerful, and when he was alone, he would stare into the distance with a somewhat cold expression.

But when he saw someone in trouble, he always offered a helping hand with that expression on his face. When she saw Ochiha’s expression, she was overcome with a strange feeling, like a pain in her chest and a burning sensation.

—–Ah, I like this side of him

Saori thinks to herself once again. Even without such a promise, she would hug him anytime. Or rather, she wants him to hug her. But that’s not it. Ochiha is just trying to cheer her up when she is feeling down. Saori is genuinely happy about his thoughtfulness.

“All right. If you come in first place, I’ll let you hug me as much as you want.”

“All right! Then watch me. This time, I definitely won’t lose.”

Ochiha looks ahead with a serious expression. Saori can’t look directly at Ochiha’s dazzling profile, so she lowers her gaze, her cheeks reddening.

“…Good luck, I’m rooting for you.”

From afar, she can hear the noisy voices of many students cheering. A warm summer breeze caresses her cheeks. The pounding of her heart. The usual guy walking beside her.

“…………”

Wishing time would stop, Saori silently took a half-step closer to the guy she loved.

“Ah.”

But then the bell rang, and the afternoon events began. The two looked at each other and ran toward the field.
　

Maiban