The Gal Next to Me Is Trying Too Hard to Make Me Fall in Love With Her
โArisa-chan? She’s not here, and I didn’t assign her to work at the reception desk in the first place.โ
โโฆWhat?โ
After knocking several times, the door closed, and after wondering what to do next, I headed for the haunted house. I wanted to see what kind of haunted house the fearful Amagi-san had created as the person in charge.
However, it was Amagi’s friend sitting at the reception desk.
When I asked where she had gone, I received a completely unexpected answer.
โNo, but she said she had work to doโฆโ
โHmmโฆ But there’s no such thing.โ
I didn’t understand what was going on.
A little while ago, I would have thought that she didn’t want to be with me and lied to me. But now, I can say with certainty that Amagi would never do such a thing.
โOh, it’s Saeki!โ
โHey, good job. Saeki, this fried bread was delicious!โ
The two people who always have lunch with Amagi-san arrived. โYou’re late!โ the receptionist said in a loud voice, and the two of them sat down, smiling but looking apologetic. It seemed that they had come to relieve someone else at work.
โUmโฆ Do you know where Amagi-san went?โ
โArisi-chan? Oh, I saw her at the entrance a little while ago.โ
โShe was talking to a really beautiful person.โ
โA beautiful personโฆ?โ
When I asked them again, they both nodded.
โHey, is that Arisa chan’s mother?โ
โI don’t know. She doesn’t seem like her at all, does she?โ
โNo, but her face looked very similarโฆ Hey, what’s wrong, Saeki-kun?โ
The dots connected.
I thanked the two of them, turned on my heel, and started running.
[Is something wrong?]
[โฆHuh? No, nothing!]
I finally understood the meaning of her expression at that time.
Our school festival attracts many visitors from outside the school. Parents of students are no exception.
I’m sure it was a message from Amagi’s mother. She must have told her that she would come today and wanted to see her, which is why she had that expression on her face.
Earlier, when I was with her, the phone rang. But she didn’t answer it.
Probably because she would have gotten emotional.
She didn’t want me to see her angry.
If I were to understand her feelings, I should have stopped. I should have accepted her back as if nothing had happened after she finished talking to her mother.
But I didn’t think that would be good for. Amagi.
I know I’m being arrogant, but I thought there was something I could do.
I look ahead. I take a step forward.
I muster all the courage and confidence she gave me.
โโฆ!โ
When I reach the front door, I gasp.
Facing Amagi, who has a dark expression on her face, is a woman so beautiful that I forget to breathe.
She had long, lustrous black hair and was wearing a gray pantsuit. Like Subaru, she had a cool aura about her, but her coldness was on a completely different level, like an ice queen.
Every feature of her face was frozen, not moving a muscle.
I couldn’t see any similarities between her and Amagi, but their faces were definitely the same.
It was as if she had black hair, had lost her innocence, and had become more mature.
They are complete opposites.
I know I shouldn’t feel this way about other people, but to be honest, she scares me.
โLeave me alone!โ
Her voice echoes.
Silence falls over the entrance hall, where students and visitors are coming and going, and everyone looks at Amagi
โIf you don’t like me, just say so! Go home already!!โ
A single tear fell onto the mortar-finished floor.
โI hate Mom so much!!โ
I didn’t miss that sound.
โ
Just as I was about to enjoy the cultural festival with Saeki, I received a message from Mom.
[I’m coming to see you today.]
I never answer the phone, so she must have finally lost her patience.
I don’t like my mom. She always rejects me.
But if she comes to school, there’s nothing I can do. Even if I run away, they’ll call me over the intercom, and I don’t want to cause Saeki any unnecessary worry.
So today, I decided to meet her quietly.
โLong time no see, Arisa.โ
โโฆUh, yeah.โ
Her face shows no emotion at all.
I have no idea what she’s thinking, and it’s scary. โฆShe wasn’t like this before.
โWhat’s wrong today?โ
โThere’s no reason for a parent to check on their child. You already ignore my calls.โ
โโฆI’m sorry.โ
โAre you okay?โ
โAhโฆ y-yes, I’m fine?โ
โAre you eating?โ
โโฆWell, sort ofโฆโ
โBut you seem to have lost some weight.โ
โI’m a modelโฆ I have to watch my figureโฆโ
She spoke calmly.
Her voice was flat, like ice gliding across the surface.
I felt tense.
Even though it’s just a casual conversation, and she’s actually worried about me, I feel like she’s scolding me.
โHow long are you going to keep modeling?โ
A slight edge crept into her flat voice.
Her cold, reddish eyes looked down at me. I touched the bracelet Saeki gave me and whipped my timid heart into action.
โโฆWe’ve talked about this so many times already.โ
โHow long are you going to keep doing this?โ
โButโฆ!โ
โHow long?โ
โIt’s not about how longโฆ until I can support myself! Don’t worry, I won’t be a burden to Mom!โ
Silence.
Complete silence.
I break out in a cold sweat. I can’t breathe. The gaze is heavy and painful, and I want to run away.
โBesides, I’m managing to live on my own, and my grades are the best. You have no right to complain! I’m going to a good university, and I’ll manage the tuition on my own! Do you still have a problem with that!?โ
Mom sighed.
She furrowed her brows. Her face was so beautiful that even that alone gave her an overwhelming presence.
โDo you think I don’t know?โ
โWhat?โ
โYou’re receiving money from your grandmother, aren’t you? You’re not managing on your own.โ
โNo, that’s not trueโฆ! She’s just worried and transfers the money on her own! Besides, I haven’t used a single yen of it!โ
โReally? But you’ll use it if you’re in trouble, right?โ
โI won’t use it!โ
I blurted it out and was startled when a girl passing by saw me
Calm down. Take a deep breath, me.
I don’t know about Mom, but I don’t want to fight. I want to settle this peacefully if possible.
โYou really don’t need to worry about moneyโฆ Actually, things have been going well lately! I just got cast in a web commercial, and I’ll be in a drama too, even if it’s just a small role! โฆAnd this month, I’ll be featured in a magazine! Boom!โ
This is still a secret from Saeki. I want to buy the magazine together when it hits the shelves and show it off.
Usually, even if I’m featured, it’s just a few small photos.
But this time is different. Iโll be the main feature on that page.
Like my mom was when she was young.
This breakthrough will make my mom proud.
Sheโll acknowledge how amazing it is.
โThatโs what I thought.
โSelling yourself short, taking risks, earning money in an unstable wayโฆ Itโs completely ridiculous. Stop it soon.โ
Those words completely denied everything Iโve been building up bit by bitโwhat Iโm doing now, what I want to do. It felt like she was mocking the many people who support me, and above all, Saeki. It felt like Iโd been punched in the gut, like the little girl who once admired Mom.
My head hurts.
My vision is blurry.
Hot, cold, and painful emotions well up from the depths of my stomach.
โJust leave me alone!!โ
The words burst out.
โIf you don’t like me, just say so!! Go home already!!โ
Breaking through the rational barrier in my throat, I shouted with all my might.
โI hate Mom!!โ
โ
โโฆAmagi-san?โ
โHuh!?โ
Amagi-san’s mother left without saying a word, and a few seconds passed.
When the commotion returned to the entrance, I timidly called out to her.
As soon as she saw me, she widened her eyes, wiped her tears with the back of her hand, and cleared her throat.
โI’m sorry, I’m sorry for showing you such a strange side of me! Did you lock the roof properly? It takes quite a bit of skill to do that.โ
โAmagi-sanโฆโ
โThe receptionist job? That was a lie, I’m sorry. To apologize, I’ll treat you to something! It seems like it’s quiet right now, so how about we go to a maid cafe for second-year students?โ
โAmagi-sanโฆ!โ
“What? About my mom?ใDon’t worry about it, it’s fine.”
I just stare at her silently.
She sighs in response to me.
โSaeki, you’re overthinking it! It’s fine! Really, it doesn’t matter anymore!โ
She takes my hand and tries to walk away.
I don’t respond, and our connected hands tense up.
I turn around and pull her closer to me. Gently, yet relentlessly.
โIt’s okay, it’s okayโฆ You can’t convince me with that look on your face.โ
If Amagi is smiling from the bottom of her heart, then it’s okay to go out and have fun.
If that’s what she really thinks, then I’m fine with it.
But that wasn’t the case.
She didn’t even have a fake smile.
All she had was a sad, regretful, and dissatisfied expression.
It’s not okay.
I can’t just let it go.
โWhen your mother called earlier, you said you didn’t want to talk or that you’d never do it, butโฆ you really want to be friends, right?โ
There was no response, and she bit her lip.
She didn’t deny it.
She just gripped my hand tightly and trembled weakly.
โโฆWe’ve talked so much before. So many times, dozens of timesโฆ! But it’s still like that! It’s impossible to get along!โ
โAre you giving up for that reason?โ
โWhat do you mean, โthat reasonโ? You don’t know anything, so don’t say such selfish things!โ
I realize that my question is insensitive.
In fact, Amagi roughly lets go of my hand, looks at me with disgust, and bares her hostility as she yells. It’s the first time she’s ever looked at me like this or yelled at me, and I feel like backing away.
โIโฆโ
That’s why.
I take a step forward and accept it.
I don’t look away from her.
โI think I know a little bit about you, Amagi-san.โ
It was dusk in September.
I remember her waiting for me at school, believing my lie, and the smell of rain and sweat.
โYou suddenly confessed your feelings to me, and even though I rejected you, you didn’t give up and even used studying as baitโฆ I thought you were a really messed up person.โ
The memory of her finding me running back and smiling as if there was nothing dirty in this world flashes through my mind.
โWhat’s more, you pressured me with dirty things almost every dayโฆ I told you no, dozens of times, didn’t I? Did you give up after that, Amagi-san?โ
She puts away her hostility towards me and lowers her gaze.
She slowly shook her head.
I don’t have anything that I can be passionate about or desperate for. Unlike Amagi, I have nothing in my hands.
That’s why I’m going to grab it now.
Her hand.
โLet’s talk to your mother again.โ
โโฆWhat?โ
โI’ll go with you.โ
A slight sparkle returned to her eyes as she looked up at me.
A tiny, tiny flame had definitely been lit.
โIf it doesn’t work today, let’s go home together. If that doesn’t work, let’s storm the workplace together. I’ll be by your side when you make the call. I’ll help you draft the letter or email. I’ll do anything I can. I’ll stick with you until we find a solution that both of tiy can agree on!โ
As I lined up the words, I despaired at how shallow my current abilities were.
It was someone else’s family matter. I had no right to interfere. I knew that.
I knew it, but I didn’t let go of Amagi’s hand.
I didn’t want to let go.
โโฆBut if I talk to my mom again, I might get emotional. I’ll yell at her and show her all the ugly parts of myselfโฆโ
โIt’s okay.โ
โI might yell at Saeki like I did earlier, or take my anger out on you.. I might do a lot of terrible thingsโฆโ
โI don’t care.โ
โHow can you say that with such certainty!?โ
โBecause I like you, Amagi-san.โ
The moment I said that, an old man I didn’t know muttered, โAh, youth,โ as he looked at us.
Her face turned red like burnt iron, and I realized that I had said something ridiculous, and what’s more, I had said it at the school entrance where many people were passing by.
โNo, that’s not what I meantโฆ But I like your positive attitude, Amagi-san!โ
I said awkwardly, took a small breath, and held her hand tightly once again.
โAnyway, I want you to make up with your mother! I don’t want to see you giving up and saying it’s impossible or that there’s no point! I love seeing you doing what you love with all your heart and smiling!โ
Even I know it’s a selfish motive.
But strangely, I have no regrets. I don’t feel the slightest bit that I shouldn’t have said such a thing.
โLet’s go. You’re not alone, Amagi-san! I’ll always be by your side!โ
I pull her hand. Forcefully, just as Amagi-san has done to me countless times before.
From behind me, I hear a faint but clear โthank you.โ
I nod without turning around. I step outside.
Still wearing my indoor shoes, I kick the asphalt.
Maiban