The Gal Next to Me Is Trying Too Hard to Make Me Fall in Love With Her
After a while.
โUmโฆ Subaru? Subaru-san?โ
โHm? What’s wrong, Mashiro?โ
โNoโฆ What is thisโฆโ
I went to town with Subaru.
We decided on a gift without any trouble, and just as we were about to leave, Subaru called a taxi and we got in.
The taxi stopped in front of a building.
We were urged to go inside, sat down on chairs, and here we are now.
โIs this the best friend you always talk about? Oh my, what a handsome guy! He’ll shine even more if you polish him up!โ
โRight. Well then, please take care of us.โ
No matter how you look at it, this is a hair salon, and the tattooed person talking casually with Subaru, whether male or female, is a hairdresser.
โWait a minute! I didn’t hear anything about getting my hair cut!โ
โIt won’t be that drastic. We’ll just style it nicely and change into new clothes.โ
โClothesโฆ Why!?โ
โDon’t worry, the clothes are already prepared. By the way, this is my regular place, and the stylist, Erin, is one of the best in the industry.โ
โI didn’t hear that, and it doesnโt answer my question!!โ
The hairdresser says, โNice to meet youโชโ and starts preparing for the treatment in a lighthearted manner.
I really have no idea whatโs going on.
โI thought it wouldnโt be right for me to give you a gift and not give myself anything as your senior. So, I thought of a gift of my own.โ
โโฆSo, why are we talking about me getting a haircut and changing clothes?โ
โWell, because the gift is you yourself.โ
โI don’t understand what you meanโฆโ
Subaru smiled at me through the mirror.
Her blue eyes seemed to say, โI’ve come up with something interesting.โ
โThere’s no girl who wouldn’t be happy if her favorite guy transformed into someone incredibly cool. Let me know how Arisa chan reacts later; I’m really curious.โ
Click.
The scissors cut into my hair.
โ
“Ahhh I’m so happy!! I love Saeki so much!!”
As soon as I got home, I was writhing around in bed. Well, I guess it can’t be helped! It was the person I loved!
He’s been thinking about me for days, and even though he must be broke, he’s managed to scrape together some money and buy me a present! Just thinking about it makes my brain melt!
What’s up with Saeki? What? Does he like me?
Ahhhhh, I like him!~
Even if Saeki doesn’t like me, I like him!
I love you, I love youโกโก I love you so muchโกโก
โโฆNo, no! I have to forget about it quickly!โ
I remembered the exchange at school and slapped my cheek.
โThis is a surpriseโฆ This is a surpriseโฆ I don’t know anything about the present! I don’t know anything!โ
I clenched my face and kept a straight expression.
Ughโฆ No, no!
After a few seconds, my cheeks relaxed, and I made a sloppy face.
I need to do something to distract myself. Otherwise, I’ll be grinning until Saeki arrives. That would be creepy.
Alright! I’ll clean up a lot and invite him to my room!
I’m not very good at it, but maybe I’ll try cooking too? He might get excited about my homemade food!
I’ll buy some cake while I’m out shopping!
Today is the anniversary of my first gift from Saeki, so whatever I eat will be zero calories, right?
โLet’s do this!! Oh!!โ
โ
โSee you later, Mashiro. Good luck.โ
โโฆAh, uh, yeahโฆโ
It was past 7 PM.
After being dropped off at my apartment by taxi, I gave a vague response to Subaru’s encouragement.
โUmโฆ this hairstyle? And this outfitโฆ do they really suit me? Maybe I should just stick to my usual styleโฆโ
โHow many times do I have to tell you? They suit you perfectly. They’re so funny, it’s hilarious!โ
โAre you complimenting me!? I don’t want to be laughed at!!โ
โIt’s a good kind of compliment. Hahaโฆ oops, my bad. That was also a good kind of laugh.โ
โYou think anything goes as long as it’s meant in a good way, don’t you!?โ
Saying something vague, Subaru disappeared into the night with the taxi.
Watching the brake lights fade away, I let out a soft sigh and headed back to my apartment.
My feet felt heavy as I climbed the stairs.
Perhaps because I was wearing unfamiliar clothes, my joints didn’t seem to bend properly.
Ughโฆ I feel like I’m going to throw up from the tensionโฆ
Subaru and the hairdresser praised me, but does this really suit me?
I’ve never really cared about fashion.
My hair is always a thousand-yen cut.
My sister once played around with my hair, but she gave me a ridiculous hairstyle that was difficult to wash out.
My clothes are mostly hand-me-downs from my older brother or things my mother got from somewhere.
Since I started living alone, Iโve been to Uniqlo and Shimamura a few times, but Iโve only bought underwear and cheap T-shirts.
โThis salon feels really expensiveโฆ How much did my haircut cost?โ
โTwo thousand yen, including everything.โ
โTwoโฆ two thousandโฆ!?โ
โBy the way, the clothes you’re wearing now cost about 80,000 yen in total.โ
โโฆโฆโฆโฆโ
I recall the conversation at the hair salon.
A total of 100,000 yenโฆ For me, that’s an amount that could buy everything in the world.
I can’t believe they’d laugh at me for spending that muchโฆ
What if Amagi asks me, โWhy are you trying so hard?โ
Won’t she think I’m out of my depth?
Ughโฆ My head hurts.
โCome to my roomโฆโ
A message that came about two hours ago.
When I rang the intercom at her room as instructed, I heard her energetic voice say, โYou’re here!โ
โSaeki, Saeki! โฆ No, no, that’s not it. I don’t remember anything, I don’t remember anything! It’s a surprise, right? Okay, I’ve forgotten! Completely!โ
I couldn’t help but laugh at her overly loud soliloquy.
You’re so excited, Amagi-san.
It’s cute, butโฆ what if I disappoint her?
โWhat’s wrong, Saeki? At a time like thisโฆโฆ..โ
She opened the door with a big smile, looked up at me, and then froze.
She blinked rapidly, her wide eyes filled with my reflection. Her mouth remained open, like a broken robot.
โAh, Amagi-sanโฆ Are you okayโฆ?โ
I asked.
โBang!!
The door was slammed shut with tremendous force, and for some reason, it was locked.
Ehโฆ ? Could it be that I’m that terribleโฆ?
โ
โWhat’s wrong, Saeki? At a time like thisโฆ ..โ
When I opened the door, Saeki was definitely there.
But he was very different from the Saeki I knew.
His hair was styled. He was wearing a white T-shirt and gray pants. He had silver earrings and round glasses. He was dressed in a textbook-perfect, neat outfit.
It was unbelievable.
It was crazy.
It was abnormal.
It suited him.
โAh, Amagi-sanโฆ Are you okayโฆ?โ
When he spoke to me, I quickly closed the door.
I locked it with a click and crouched down on the spot, putting my hands on my chest.
โฆHuh, huh.
W-w-w-what? What is that handsome guy?
I mean, he’s always handsome, but today he was glowing! It was so bright I couldn’t look directly at him!
โUmโฆ I’m sorry. I’m being weird, right? I’ll change back into my usual clothes right awayโฆโ
โNo way!โ
I hurriedly opened the door again and grabbed his sleeve as he tried to go back to his room.
He turned around.
His earrings reflected the light and sparkled
Wow, wow, wowโฆโกโกโก
So coolโฆโกโกโก
Saeki, you’re the coolest in the worldโฆโกโกโก
No way, no way, no way, It’s already a world heritage site, isn’t it?
It’s so cool I don’t even understand it anymoreโก I might be getting annoyed nowโก
Ahhhhh, nooooooโกโกโก
The butterflies in my stomach!! They won’t stop!!
I’m going to die, die, die!! Don’t look at me!! I want you to only look at me, but don’t look at me now!!
โUmโฆ Amagi-san?โ
โHyo-wai!โ
โโฆWhat kind of answer is that?โ
I have to take a deep breath! I’m making Saeki uncomfortable!
Shoo-haaโฆ Shoo-haaโฆ
โฆOkay. I think I’ve calmed down a little.
โThis outfit is a gift from Subaru to Amagi-sanโฆ She said that she would be happy if I dressed up and gave it to herโฆ What do you think?โ
Subaru-chan!
What have you done!
Your hairstyle, clothes, and accessories all match perfectly!
You can’t just casually create such an incredibly cool, handsome weapon! It probably violates some international treaty! I’m going to die from cuteness overload!
โIt reallyโฆ.โ
โIt suits you!โ
โโฆHuh?โ
“This is bad, this is really bad, this is seriously badโก You’re too coolโกใSubaru-chan’s sense of style is too goodโกโกโก”
โAre you just pretending to be happy?โ
โHaaaaa!? Are you saying my excitement is a lie!? You’ve got some nerve, Saeki!! I’ll give you a kiss that’ll make you unable to get married!!โ
โWhat kind of threat is that!?โ
โShut up!! Just go into the room and show me that unparalleled, one-of-a-kind coolness up close!! Come here, you!!โ
โWait a minuteโฆ! Ah, ha ha ha!! Don’t poke my sideโฆ It tickles!!โ
And so, I successfully captured the handsome guy.
Maiban