The Gal Next to Me Is Trying Too Hard to Make Me Fall in Love With Her
“Saeki!!”
Mid-December.
Only a few days left until winter break.
The classroom after school, filled with relaxed chatter about fun plans for Christmas and New Year’s, and the warm air from the heater, was suddenly filled with that familiar summer-like voice.
“Love youu~!!!”
Thud thud thud! She charged forward, arms wide open. That kissy face I’d seen so many times before.
But just two steps away from me, she slammed on the brakes with a screech. Her face flushed bright red as she crouched down on the spot.
“Wh-what’s wrong? Are you okay?”
“Ugh…! I can’t…!”
“What is it?”
“I remembered Saeki kissing me, and it’s making me so embarrassed! Ugh! I like him too much, I can’t handle it!”
“Hey, wait! Could you maybe not say that so loudly—”
“Kiss me more until I stop feeling embarrassed!”
“Are you even listening to me!?”
She’s not listening… Yeah, there’s no way she is.
She never has, and probably never will.
“You two should just start dating already.”
“Huh? Aren’t you two already together?”
“Saeki-kun is doing his part too…”
Glaring, whispering… I suddenly became the center of my classmates’ attention.
But this didn’t make me happy at all. “No, that’s not it! It’s not like that!” I desperately shouted.
“Mashiro…”
Subaru, sitting next to me, called my name.
When I looked over, she had this incredibly mean smile on her face and smoothly pulled out her smartphone.
“So, you finally did it. Congrats, you showed us what you’re made of. —Well then, I guess I should call your family now to confirm this inappropriate relationship.”
“Wait, wait! It’s really not like that! It’s not like that!!”
“Ouran-chan absolutely loves your cooking, you know. I’m sure she’ll be thrilled.”
“Please stop! It’s fine, it was just on forehead! Ah, it was… playful, that kind of thing!”
“…Saeki, was it just a game with me? Were you only after my body?”
“Stop making this complicated, okay!? N-no, that’s not it! It wasn’t like that at all!”
“So, you were serious after all. Definitely an improper relationship. I have to contact your family.”
“Aaargh!! No, no!! Just listen to me for a sec!!”
Amagi-san feigning sobs, and Subaru gleefully teasing me relentlessly.
Why are these two so perfectly in sync? Did they plan this beforehand…?
Seeing my flustered state, my classmates all giggled. Well, it would be funny—if I weren’t facing the crisis of losing my place to live.
“Haaah… Let’s call it a day and head home soon.”
I looked at Amagi-san.
She snorted, “Hmph,” and swayed her golden hair as she stepped left and right.
“Sorry, Saeki. I totally get wanting to go home with me, but today, Arisa-chan has plans, y’know? ♡”
“Huh? Then why did you come to the classroom to pick me up?”
“I didn’t come to pick up Saeki. Right, Subaru-chan!”
Subaru patted my shoulder with a thump.
Standing up with her bag in hand, she looked down at me with a triumphant, handsome smile.
“I’m borrowing your girlfriend. Don’t worry, I won’t do anything bad to her. I’ll spare you out of friendship.”
“Whoa, this is bad, Saeki! You gotta make me yours before Subaru-chan takes me!”
“That’s right, Mashiro. This is your last chance. Go all out and nurture your love.”
“Let’s do it! Come on, Saeki, come here!”
“I won’t do it, and I’m not going. …Um, so, does that mean you are going out with Subaru?”
Amagi-san clung to Subaru’s arm, beaming, “It’s a date!”
The sudden contact cracked Subaru’s composed facade for a moment.
…Well, that’s satisfying. I’ll just savor Amagi-san’s utter chaos to the bone today.
“What about dinner?”
“I’m eating with Subaru-chan!”
“Huh? Really?”
“No? You don’t want to eat with me?”
“I-I don’t dislike it, but…”
“Then it’s settled! Let’s goooooo!!”
“Whoa, wait, don’t run! Ah, Arisa-chan, you’re so fast—Myaaah!!”
Amagi ran off, dragging Subaru along like she always did with me.
An outing for the two of them. Wonder what for? I’ll ask Amagi when she gets back.
“Well then…”
I let out a small sigh and stood up from my seat.
If Amagi’s not around, maybe I’ll go grab some ramen for the first time in ages. The rich, thick kind.
“Hey, Saeki-kun!”
Just as I was about to leave the classroom, a familiar voice stopped me.
Turning around, I saw the members who’d come to my house for the cultural festival preparations.
One of them stepped forward, looking up at me with eyes that seemed to gauge my mood.
“Um, well… I have a favor to ask…!”
◆
A few days earlier.
“What should I wear on my Christmas date with Saeki to make him fall for me?”
“Hmm, good question. Want to go shopping together sometime?”
“Really!?”
“Arisa-chan, remember when you stood up for me against those upperclassmen who were gossiping about me? I’ve been meaning to repay you for that.”
That promise I made with Arisa-chan led to today’s outing.
We went to the department store, browsed around, and ended with a quick tea break before parting ways.
At least, that was the schedule I had in mind.
—But.
“You look amazing! Subaru-chan is too cute! ♡”
We got dragged into an arcade we happened to pass by and took purikura photos.
“Huh, wait!? That cake shop—I saw it on TV before! No one’s lined up now, let’s just grab something quick!”
This time she dragged me into a cake shop for a rushed tea break.
“This lipstick is cute! But it’s expensive, huh! But but, maybe I should buy it!”
We finally arrived at the department store, but she was drawn to the department store cosmetics before even looking at clothes.
“Wait, that’s not the point! Today’s the day we buy clothes, right!?”
After agonizing over a ¥5,000 lipstick for about ten minutes, she finally seemed to remember our original purpose.
She grabbed my hand and pulled me toward the escalator. Before I knew it, two hours had passed since we left school.
How should I put it… amazing.
I couldn’t think of any other word for it.
I knew Arisa-chan was energetic, but wow, I never imagined she was this completely driven by instinct and curiosity. She’s like an uncontrollable supersonic jet.
But.
Even though she was dragging me all over the place, strangely, I didn’t mind at all.
“Just realized something—this isn’t the first time we’ve gone out together, is it, Subaru-chan!? Then today’s our first date anniversary! Let’s go somewhere together next year, and the year after that too♡”
That probably isn’t flattery or pandering or anything like that. It’s because she genuinely enjoys spending time with me from the bottom of her heart.
Because she looks at me without a single distracting thought or trace of hesitation.
No wonder Mashiro likes her.
Or rather, how could anyone dislike this girl?
“Alright then—”
Anyway, we finally started picking out clothes.
As we headed to the store I’d researched beforehand, I glanced at Arisa-chan, happily walking arm-in-arm with me.
“First and foremost, if you want to make a good impression on Mashiro, you should avoid excessive exposure.”
“Huh? Why? Isn’t sexy stuff something all boys like?”
“They probably do, and Mashiro’s no exception. But with that guy, worry comes before thoughts of ‘liking it’ or ‘it being sexy’.”
“Worry?”
“Like, ‘Is she catching a cold?’ or ‘Isn’t she cold?’… He’s the type to fret and fuss about that stuff endlessly, right? Warm seasons and loungewear aside, it’s best to avoid excessive exposure in winter outfits for going out.”
“Oh, I see…!!”
Her eyes widened in understanding, then her gaze drifted downward.
Seeing she seemed concerned about her skirt’s length, I added reassuringly, “He’s probably used to seeing that by now, so it’s fine.”
“Now, about the clothes he likes… I think he tends to be drawn to more mature, sexy styles.”
“Hmm hmm. What’s your basis for that?”
“According to Ouran-chan, it seems Mashiro watched a lot of videos of older women doing that sort of thing.”
“Wow! Then it must be true!”
“That guy is sort of like the de facto eldest son of the Saeki family. While he’s caring, he probably also wants someone to be affectionate with.”
As we talked, we arrived in front of the store.
Arisa-chan hugged my arm even tighter, looking up at me with eyes full of expectation. Even though we’re the same gender, I honestly thought she was adorable.
“Remember how I coordinated Mashiro’s outfit and made you go wild? That was me. Expect the same this time. —Mashiro definitely won’t be able to stay calm when he sees you on Christmas.”
“Can’t stay calm… so, that means… that’ll happen!?”
“So that guy’s single life will end this Christmas, huh?”
“Waaahhhhhhhhhhh♡♡♡♡♡”
When I gave her a defiant smile, Arisa-chan bounced up and down energetically.
She really is adorable.
She has everything I don’t.
I’m glad.
That such a wonderful girl is by Mashiro’s side.
Maiban