The Gal Next to Me Is Trying Too Hard to Make Me Fall in Love With Her
โWhat was that just now!? Senpai!! Are you okay, Senpai?!โ
Ouran-chan’s voice echoed through the earphone in my right ear.
I placed my hand on the door to steady my breathing and whispered back, โI’mโฆ I’m okayโฆโ
โฆHuh?
Wait, umโฆ Huh? Huhโฆ?
Just nowโฆ Wh-what was that? What did I justโฆ see?
โAmagi-san? What’s wrong?โ
โ~~~~~!!โ
The door clicked open.
When Saeki’s at home with me, his outfit’s usually either his uniform or simple loungewear.
But today was different.
He was wearing that high-end white T-shirt Subaru bought him before, paired with gray slacks. His hair looked styled tooโto put it mildly, he was the coolest guy in the universe.
Ah, ahhโฆ whaโฆ whatโฆ?!
What theโฆ whaโฆ whaโฆ what?! Why?!
Why has Fashionable Saeki descended upon us?! Didn’t you just give me my surprise present a little while ago?! Today’s just a normal, ordinary day, right?!
โSaโฆ Saeki-san? Thatโฆ that outfitโฆโ
Hold itโฆ Hold it, hold it, hold it!
I pinch the back of my hand hard to stay in character, making sure he doesn’t see. I somehow bite down on the urge to throw my arms around him right now.
โHuh? Ah, ah, this? Subaru gave it to me, and I’d worn it once before putting it away, so I pulled it out again after a long time. My hair tooโฆ Wh-what do you think? I tried doing it myself, referencing videos and stuffโฆโ
โIt’sโฆ it looks good, I think. It really suits you.โ
It’s more than just โgoodโ!!
Oh no, oh no, oh no!! Myโฆ my feelingsโฆ my feelings are showing!!
Everything’s spilling out~~~โกโกโก
โReally?! I’m so gladโฆ!โ
No it’s not!! It’s not good at all!!
Stop just casually becoming World Heritage-level handsome!!
It’s a crime!? Handsome guys deserve the death penalty!!
โโฆUm, wh-why so suddenly? You could’ve just been normalโฆโ
โAh, hahaโฆ th-to be honestโฆโ
He laughed, looking embarrassed.
โIโฆ ever since Amagi-san started preparing for the role, I’ve been feeling a bit sulky.โ
He scratched his cheek with his fingertips, his gaze darting around.
Even that gesture alone had instant-death-level destructive power.
โYou suddenly stopped smiling at me, stopped saying things like โI like youโโฆ I started feeling lonelyโฆ No, really, I’m such a kid! I’m so sorryโฆ!โ
[Our plan worked perfectly, didn’t it?! That’s great, Amagi-senpai!]
Clap clap. Ouran-chan’s applause echoed near his ear.
โBut thanks to Subaru today, I realized Amagi-san is taking acting seriously too.โ
[โฆHuh?]
โI won’t sulk over silly things anymore! Please let me support you, Amagi-san, in my own wayโฆ!โ
[H-Huh!? What the hell are you talking about, you idiot brother!?]
โSoโฆ um, I tried dressing up. Last time I did it, you were really happy, Amagi-san. Going to school like this is embarrassing, but I thought I could manage at homeโฆ!โ
[Amagi-senpai, keep your sanity!! Don’t explode, absolutely don’t!!]
โLook forward to dinner too. For dessert, I’ve prepared that parfait you said you wanted to try before. A healthy one made with yogurt.โ
[Hold on, hold on!! He’s endlessly perfect, but that’s exactly why you’ve worked so hard to win him over, right!? If you show your true self now, it’ll all be for nothing!!]
โPlease, come in. Thank you for tutoring me again today.โ
[Amagi-senpai!! Hold on!! You can do this!!]
Watching Saeki’s retreating back, I let out a deep breath.
I exhaled all the air from my body, then took a deep breath to clear my lungs.
โโฆYeah, don’t worry. I can handle thisโฆโ
I tightened the muscles in my face and forced out the words.
I didn’t know how effective our current strategy would be against Saeki, who seemed to have suddenly let go of something.
But it was confirmed he was longing for physical contact with me. His frustration wasn’t just speculationโit was real. If that was the case, maintaining this persona was worth it.
Alrightโฆ Yeah, I’m calming down.
It’s fine, no problem at all.
Saeki, don’t scare me like that! A surprise handsome guy is cheating. I thought I was gonna nose-bleed and pass out.
But hey? That’s where, you know, Arisa-chan’s excellence comes in?
Don’t underestimate the self-control I’ve cultivated through daily practice.
A little bit of super-duper cool isn’t enough to break my act. Heh heh, too bad, Saeki!
Alrighty then. Haaah, what a hassle.
Should this pure-hearted Arisa-chan tease poor Saeki-kun, who’s dying for my attention, again today?
Should I push him until he can’t take it anymore, makes a move himself, and ends up messing me up completely?
Uheh, uheheheโก Get ready, Saekiโก
Today, I’m gonna make you want all of me, every single bit of meโกโกโก
โAhโ!โ
Just as I took off my shoes and started stepping into the room.
My feet tangled, my balance faltered, and a gasp escaped me.
The floor closing in.
The scenery flowing slowly by.
Oh no, I’m gonna fallโjust as I thought that.
โAre you okay?โ
At the last second, Saeki caught me, averting disaster.
Slowly, I lifted my gaze.
He looked down at me, his expression pure relief, as if he himself had been saved, flashing a completely unblemished smile.
Ahโฆ w-w-whaaaโฆ!
Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah โกโกโก
So cool!! I love him!! I love him so much I’m gonna die~โกโกโก
Why does this guy always save me whenever I’m in danger!?
When I got picked on by the student council, when I got sick, when I fought with Mom!!
Ugh~!! Ugh~~~!!
It’s so confusing it’s driving me crazy!!ใHe’s too much like my destined person, my brain’s boiling!! I love him too much~~~~!!
Oh, oh noโฆ!
My heart’sโฆ My breathingโฆ It’s hard to breathe!
I want to say I love him! I love him! If I said I love him right now, I’d feel better!!
Nnyah~โกโกโก I can’t take it anymore~โกโกโก
I, I’m gonna say itโฆโกโกโก
Even though I shouldn’t, I’m saying itโกโกโก
Noooooooโกโกโก I’m going to say it
What have I been pushing myself for all this time? It’s all for a happy tomorrow with Saeki.
I won’t loseโฆ I can’t lose!
Hmph, just ’cause you’re kinda handsome and kind and my favorite person, don’t get cocky! That cool guy charmโฆ it doesn’t work on me at all!
Alright, deep breathโฆ yep! That calmed me down!
Pulling myself together, it’s my turn now.
Let’s see how long that cool expression lasts!!
โExcuse me.โ
He said.
He effortlessly swept my legs out from under me and, for some reason, picked me up princess-style.
With the front door light behind him, Saeki looked down at me. He smiled purely, just for me and no one else.
โI remembered you asking for this when you were sick beforeโฆ Howโฆ how is it? I can put you down if you don’t like itโฆโ
He smiled uncertainly, looking embarrassed.
Like navigating darkness, he moved cautiously. Yet, he carried a strength determined to take one step forward. โOnly the desire to support me existed there.
Ah.
ใThis is badโฆ
โโฆAmagi-san?โ
โโฆโฆโฆโฆโ
โIs something wrong?โ
โโฆโฆโฆโฆโ
โAmagi-saโโ
โLike you.โ
โโฆโฆโฆโฆEh?โ
Ah, I sighed inwardly.
All the struggles of this past week. Every single one of them crumbled away with a loud crack right now.
โโฆOh wellโกโ
All strength drained from my body, and a sloppy smile escaped meโso obvious even I could tell.
My feelings for him made everything else melt away.
โI’m done forโฆโกโ
I love him, love him, love him.
I love everything about him, I love him so much.
My head feels like it’s going to explode.
Maiban