After I Saved Kirigiri San, a Cool, Sharp-tongued Gyaru, From a Pick-up, She Started Coming Into My House the Next Day
Chinatsu stopped the cab in front of my house.
“Chinatsu……sorry. Because of me…..your part-time job.”
“I’m sure the owner will understand if we talk to him, and he said it’s okay for a day or so ! Because we are the poster girls !”
“Y-yeah.”
“Oh, and one more thing ! We’re childhood friends, so if anything happens, don’t try to deal with it on your own, come talk to me about it !”
Chinatsu said in a gentle tone with a smile on her face.
“I know. Thank you so much, Chinatsu.”
“Then I’ll be going ! I’ll leave the rest to Yuu kun !”
The cab carrying Chinatsu left for the front of the station.
I feel like I owe her so much that even if I bought her a hundred crepes, it wouldn’t be enough. I promised to buy her food truck on impulse, but it looks like it’s going to become a reality…
“Come on in.”
“Y-yeah……”
I went back inside immediately because there was a possibility that Fumio would find us outside.
“I guess you won’t be able to see your father anymore.”
Then Misuzu mumbled with a sad expression on her face. Her eyes were red from crying in the car.
“You see. I knew he was a terrible father, but I wanted to trust him a little. But it turned out I couldn’t…”
Perhaps Fumio was not always like that.
Misuzu probably wanted to believe in her father because she knew what he was like when they were happy. But in the end she was betrayed. I wonder what does it feel like to cut ties with your real father.
If I were in Misuzu’s shoes, how would I feel…..? I realized how lucky I am to have supportive parents.
“Kinoshita, thanks. You even went this far…just for me.”
Her voice was weak and feeble, not like Misuzu at all.
She must be feeling quite guilty. It’s only natural that she would feel that way after having just gone through some difficult times.
“Well, don’t worry about it. It’s just what I wanted to do……”
“Kinoshita.”
I scratched my cheek to hide my embarrassment.
Then Misuzu asked about her mother. She probably knew that she was causing a lot of trouble with money and was worried about it.
I told her that I ran out of school and went to see Mika san at once. Then I told Misuzu that she had some savings.
“Really? Then I guess I worried my mother too……sorry. Mom…….”
She put her hand on her chest and looked relieved.
If possible, I should report the situation to Mika san right away today, but it is evening and it would be difficult to visit her anymore.
Too much has happened today for Misuzu. First of all, she must rest her body.
“After everything that happened today, let’s go see Mika san tomorrow.”
“Yeah !”
Misuzu’s smile returned.
Seeing that, I was relieved and relaxed.
“I mean, the way you say my name since earlier…..”
“Your name……?”
“You called me ‘Misuzu’ instead of Kirigiri.”
“Ah…….”
I never noticed it until just now.
After meeting Mika san, I naturally started calling her “Misuzu” because calling her Kirigiri would cause various complications.
“My bad. I’ll just call you by your last name if you don’t like it.”
Haga told me that some women don’t like to be called by their first names because it sounds too friendly.
If I make her dislike me before I can tell her what’s important, it would be all for nothing, so what a mistake I made…
“No. Call me by my name.”
She spoke in a gentle voice as she gazed at me.
I was drawn into Misuzu’s beautiful eyes and naturally looked away.
“I-I see. Then I will do so…….”
I suddenly felt embarrassed and tried to distance myself from Misuzu, but then I finally realized that I had been holding her hand the whole time.
Perhaps she had noticed it a long time ago.
“Ah, no……this is….um, I’m sorry ! I, uh…..I’m desperate not to make Misuzu worry ! If you feel sick, please wash your hands right away !”
Perhaps I’m so embarrassed right now that my face is turning red.
However, Misuzu did not give me a sharp look and kept staring at me as if she was waiting for something.
Should I tell her now?
Should I tell her how I feel about Misuzu, which I have been harboring for a long time, here?
After taking a breath, I looked at Misuzu with a serious expression.
I have been thinking about Misuzu for a long time, but her face is still well-defined. She has a sharp nose and small lips. And glossy black hair. Her seemingly cool and sharp eyes are wet with tears and shiny.
I could not take my eyes away from Misuzu.
“Misuzu……I’ve been wanting to say something to you for a while.”
Before I knew it, I had opened my mouth.
“Yeah.”
Misuzu seemed to realize what I was about to say.
“I like you, Misuzu–that’s why I want you to go out with me.”
I was able to deliver the line I had prepared for a long time without getting nervous as I expected.
I know it is inappropriate to make a confession in this situation. To be honest, I should have done it after Misuzu calmed down and her family problems were settled, but my feelings had become that much more uncontrollable.
“Ah, s-sorry. I really wanted to ask you out on a date and confess my feelings at a place with a nice view, but I’m sorry it had to go this way……”
It’s too late to regret it now. In this terrible situation, the answer will probably be no.
Love makes you lose your reason and common sense.
“I like you too. Yuuma.”
Contrary to my expectations, Misuzu said with a gentle smile that seemed to envelop me.
“Eh…….”
I couldn’t help but raise my voice.
What did she just say? Could it be a great success?
“What is it? What’s with that reaction?”
Seeing me in a daze, Misuzu puffed up her cheeks and started to get angry.
“No, I thought you would say no……because of the situation and, you see, there’s no mood or anything…….”
I didn’t expect an easy yes, so I didn’t know how to react.
“So what. I don’t think Yuuma has time to think about mood or anything like that.”
“That’s another way of putting it……”
But I couldn’t say anything back.
“I’m glad to hear that. Thanks.”
Misuzu smiled at me.
I felt that the word “happiness” was probably for this moment, even if it was an exaggeration.
“I mean, since when did you start liking me?”
“No……it’s……a secret……”
She suddenly asked me something that’s hard to answer,……. I can’t tell you that.
“Fess up !”
Misuzu is as angry as ever, with her cute face. There’s no escaping this.
“You see, on the way back from visiting Mika san for the first time…I think that’s when I realized my true feelings…”
“Hmm. So you fell in love with me yesterday and confessed your feelings to me now? That’s quite bold of you, Yuuma.”
Misuzu nodded her head, as if she was convinced.
“Then when did you start to like me, Misuzu…..?”
I know it is an embarrassing question, but I don’t know when I will be able to ask her if I miss this timing, so I decided to ask her boldly.
Then, after thinking for a moment, Misuzu opened her mouth.
“T-there’s no way I can tell you that…….”
Misuzu, perhaps not expecting to be asked, began to fiddle with the tips of her hair with a blush on her cheeks.
“W-what the heck. You’re trying to make me the only one embarrassed……”
Yes, we should be fair to each other here.
“O-okay…..when you saved me from those playboys….I think.”
“That long ago !?”
“Yeah so? What’s wrong? I mean, are you the type of guy who didn’t notice?”
“The oblivious type.”
I was confident that she did not dislike me, but I was surprised that she had such a good impression of me from the beginning.
Maybe I’m just insensitive.
“I thought I was pretty forward with you…..you see, I gave you cookies, cleaned your house, taught your how to cook, and so on.”
If you think about it, it’s weird to hang out in a stranger’s house. I probably should have realized this sooner, but I can’t turn back time, so I’ll just have to accept it.
Then Misuzu sighed in exasperation and continued shyly.
“Besides, it was cool that Yuuma saved me from those playboys……”
“I-I see…..thanks for that.”
I know very well that it was my fault for asking, but when someone says that to my face, I feel a complicated mix of emotions; happy and embarrassed at the same time.
“Well, leaving aside the fact that you were about to get hit…”
“You don’t have to recall that part……”
“I mean, are you sure you wanna be with me? If you date me, you won’t be able to have the peaceful school life you spoke about, y’know? Because I get confessed to every day, and other guys might stab you, right?”
Actually, it’s not that I wasn’t concerned about it, but it didn’t matter to me now.
“It might not be “peaceful” anymore, but I think I can live a “peaceful” school life….though I’m not sure myself…….”
To be honest, there is a possibility that I will be stabbed, but now that I have confessed, I have no choice but to move forward.
If you want to stab me, come at me anytime !
“As long as I can go out with Misuzu, I don’t care about that anymore.”
I made it clear to myself that I was going to stop caring about what others thought.
I will start a new school life with Misuzu. That’s what I decided.
There will probably be many people who will be damaged by my going out with Misuzu, but time will tell. I hope so.
“You say that so seriously? I’m kinda embarrassed……”
Misuzu’s cheeks are stained with embarrassment. She has been showing a lot of cute expressions, from anger to laughter.
“Well, I’m sorry.”
“I won’t forgive you.”
Then, after a short silence, they looked at each other again.
“Yuuma.”
Misuzu called my name.
“I love you. Misuzu—“
“Me, too.”
We kissed each other tenderly, as if we were confirming our love for each other.
I think our first kiss was awkward. I was nervous, but I was able to accept it naturally because I was kissing Misuzu.
Misuzu accepted me, too. That alone filled my heart with contentment.
I will never let go of her again. I will support Misuzu from now on.
I hugged Misuzu while making a strong vow to do so.
Maigetsu