I Got Into a Secret Relationship With a Girl Who Was Out of My League
I returned to the classroom and headed toward Roppou’s seat.
Roppou and Itsuka seemed to be talking seriously about something, but when they saw my bandaged hand, their expressions changed to ones of concern.
“Are you okay !?”
“Yeah, it’s not as bad as it looks. I just had to bandage it because the bleeding wouldn’t stop.”
“Are you really okay? Don’t push yourself too hard.”
“Yeah, thanks. Anyway, I have something I want to ask you. Is that okay?”
“Something you want to ask?”
“I don’t mind either way.”
“It’s about Nanamori.”
[ [……!] ]
When I mentioned Nanamori, the two of them exchanged troubled glances.
At this rate, they might not know anything.
Still, if there’s even a slight possibility…
“Say, you two are close with Nanamori, right? So, did you ever ask her about her family situation?”
“We were just talking about that.”
“Yeah. Both Akane and I finally got a message yesterday.”
“Yesterday !? What did you talk about?”
“Hey, Yagami kun ! You’re too close !”
“Oh, sorry…”
No matter how many times I messaged her, she didn’t respond.
So when I heard about it, I couldn’t help but confront her.
“I received the exact same message. The content was strange, so the two of us were showing it to each other.”
“Strange?”
“This.”
Roppou opened the app on her smartphone and showed it to us.
──Thank you for being my friend. I love you.
“……”
“After that, no matter what I sent, there was no response. Right?”
“Yeah…”
Not only did she come to my house yesterday, but judging from the text, it seems like she’s made up her mind. Did she not meet with the two of them?
“We hadn’t been able to contact her at all before that, so we were wondering what was going on.”
“So, the two of you don’t know anything either…”
“I’m sorry I couldn’t help.”
“No, it’s okay ! I’m sorry. I’m the one who’s confused…”
“…..You?”
“…..”
I slipped up.
“Even now, but I’ve been thinking for a while, Yagami kun…there’s something going on between you and Hoshina, right? You were eating dinner together the other day too.”
“…..”
“Is that reaction a yes?”
“Hey, Yagami kun ! If you know something about Hoshina, please tell us anything !”
The two of them looked serious as they pressed me for answers.
They were best friends. It was only natural that they wanted to know what had happened to Nanamori.
Besides, if they were going to ask about Nanami’s family, then I would have to tell them the details.
I took a deep breath and exhaled.
“Um…not here. Can we move somewhere else?”
“……”
The two nodded, and we left the classroom.
Fearing that others might overhear us, we went to an empty classroom.
It was on the floor below the same building where Nanamori and Shinji had hidden before.
It felt nostalgic to be sneaking around like that again, trying to keep our relationship a secret.
“First, I want to know, what’s your relationship with Hoshina?”
Roppou asked me a direct question. I tried to organize my thoughts to figure out how to answer.
I couldn’t exactly say we were casual partners.
“Well…”
“…If my guess is right, you two are dating, aren’t you? I don’t know how it happened, but you’re keeping your relationship a secret from everyone. Am I wrong?”
Another sharp observation.
But I had to deny it.
“Well…we’re close, but we’re not dating.”
“…Then what?”
“A stress relief partner?”
“Stress relief partner…?”
I couldn’t find a more appropriate word.
Then…
“And…maybe it’s just a one-sided crush.”
[ […! !] ]
To be honest, I didn’t think it would be this embarrassing to confide in someone else.
The two of them, who had been looking serious a moment ago, now have softer expressions.
Or rather, they look like they’re smirking.
“I get that Yagami kun cares about Hoshina. But there are still many things I don’t understand.”
“Yeah. I have some concerns too.”
“It seems like there’s more to it than just a one-sided crush. Do you have any idea about Hoshina’s transfer?”
“….Actually, I went out with Nanamori the other day.”
“Does that mean it was a date !?”
“Hey, Akane. I understand you’re excited, but don’t interrupt the story. It won’t progress, right?”
“Ugh…I’m sorry.”
“We can talk about all that after it’s over.”
“…..”
The aftermath is a little scary.
“So, continuing the story…on the way back, I met Nanamori’s father.”
“Hoshina’s father?”
“Yeah. Nanamori was acting strange at the time. I haven’t heard much about her family from her either, so I thought it would be nice to know more about that.”
“We heard it from Hoshina too…she said her family was really strict.”
“Well, I’ve heard rumors about that too.”
“She only has two days off a week? That’s impossible for a high school girl ! She even has a curfew on her days off…”
“It seems like it’s hard to change the days for her lessons too. She said she got really scolded once she did.”
…I didn’t hear about that.
Nanamori said she thought she couldn’t do it, but when she asked, she was able to.
Could it be that Nanami came to take care of me when I was sick, even skipping her lessons?
“She said that on weekends, there are usually dinners with other families…”
“Yeah. And Hoshina said that lately it’s been especially busy. She’s been introduced to various young masters from different families. But she said it’s unavoidable for the sake of the family.”
“…..”
So it was true what Nanamori said—the engagement had been decided long ago…
“Actually, I met Nanamori yesterday.”
“What? Really…?”
“What did Hoshina say !?”
“She said she’s getting engaged.”
My words left the two of them speechless.
“But Hoshina said she’s still in high school! She said she doesn’t plan to do it until after graduation !”
“…Even if Hoshina feels that way, her father doesn’t feel the same way, I guess.”
“…That’s cruel.”
“Yeah. But I think Hoshina will accept it. She’s always said she wants her father’s approval.”
…What the hell? Does getting engaged mean she’ll be recognized by her father? Is that really the reason?
“Besides, Hoshina’s family isn’t doing very well in business right now. I think that’s why they’re getting engaged.”
“…Poor Hoshina.”
Roppou muttered quietly.
Thanks to Itsuka and Roppou, the pieces that had been missing fell into place with a click.
For the sake of her family and to be recognized by her father, Nanamori decided to get engaged.
She might have accepted it, but it wasn’t what she wanted.
“Thank you, both of you. I think I understand Nanamori’s situation now.”
“You’re welcome.”
“What are you going to do now?”
“…I think I’ll go to Nanamori’s house.”
Itsuka whistled softly.
What’s with that reaction…?
“What are you going to do there?”
“I want to meet with her father and talk to him, if possible.”
“…Is that even possible?”
“I don’t know. But I can’t start without taking action.”
“…That’s pretty manly of you.”
“That’s the first time I’ve been told that.”
He smiled wryly at Itsuka’s praise. It felt a little awkward.
“To be honest, we don’t want to just say goodbye so easily either.”
“Yeah. We wish we could go too, but…we’ll leave it to Yagami kun.”
“…Thank you.”
The two of them are also Nanamori’s close friends. They probably feel the same way about not wanting to just say goodbye.
For that reason, they must respond to the feelings entrusted to them.
“But I never thought Hoshina liked Yagami kun.”
“Yeah. That’s surprising.”
“Well, I’m not so sure about that.”
“……….”
“What’s with that look?”
Because…I was told we were just casual partners…
I’m sure he has some feelings for me, but if that’s not the case, I don’t have the courage to face him.
…To begin with, I know better than anyone that no one could ever love me.
Still, if Nanamori felt that way about me…I couldn’t help but think that.
Maitoshi