The Gal Next to Me Is Trying Too Hard to Make Me Fall in Love With Her
The atmosphere surrounding her as she shouted in the corner of the parking lot was completely different from before.
Ah… I understood in my heart.
This is Amagi-san. It’s the same atmosphere she always has.
I don’t understand why she’s so different at school and now.
But I was relieved about one thing.
[My mom seems to hate me… So I don’t want to talk about it! I never want to talk about it!]
Those were Amagi’s words from some time ago.
From what I heard just now, it seems unlikely that her mother hates her.
“Mom…?”
Amagi’s mother turned around abruptly at Amagi’s voice.
Her face was far from the icy expression I saw at school, instead showing anxiety and confusion.
She stared at us with wide eyes, then backed away silently like she was escaping from a wild beast.
“I won’t say anything else, so please don’t say you hate me!! I’m sorry, I’m such a bad mommy!!”
“Wait, Mom!?”
She cried out something with tear-filled eyes, then quickly got into the car, started the engine, and drove off.
If this continues, neither of them will understand what’s going on, and neither of them will gain anything.
What can I do…
Is there anything I can do…
Think, think, think.
—I threw my body in front of the moving car.
“Ahhhhhhh!! S-Saekiii!?”
A strong impact shook my entire body.
Strangely, I didn’t feel any pain.
But it was like my consciousness had faded, like the connection between my brain and limbs had been severed, and I couldn’t move my body properly.
“What are you doing, Saeki!? What are you doing!?”
“What should I do? That’s it, the police! I have to turn myself in!”
“An ambulance! Mom, call an ambulance first!”
“Right, right! An ambulance… What’s the number again?”
Amagi’s mother got out of the car and started fussing over my head.
It was incredibly loud.
Perhaps because their voices were so similar, it felt like there were two Amagi-san.
“I’m… I’m fine. Nothing’s wrong, so…”
I managed to stand up and took a small breath.
I wiped the blood from my nose with the back of my hand and turned toward Amagi-san.
“You have more important things to do than worry about me!”
“Eh…?”
“Isn’t that why you came after me?”
The mother stopped. That was all I could do for now.
Only Amagi could go any further. It was meaningless unless she went.
I took her hand and pulled her gently. I brought her closer to her mother and smiled and nodded to show her that everything was okay.
“…!”
She nodded back and turned her gaze toward her mother.
I let go of her hand and took a step back.
“Um, that… Mom…!”
Her mother was full of concern for her, but when she saw her daughter in front of her, her expression changed.
“I’m sorry!”
Amagi bowed her head vigorously.
Her mother’s eyes widened, her mouth opened slightly, and she froze.
“I lied when I said I hated you! The truth is, I love you!”
She grabbed her mother’s hand and pressed forward with force.
Just like she had done to me, just like she always did to me, she said what she wanted to say with all her might and did what she wanted to do with all her might.
“I’ve always, always loved you and admired you… My stage name is Amagi Arisu! I love you, Mom! I love you so much!”
Tears welled up in her mother’s eyes.
This person had her own circumstances, and even though it wasn’t her true intention, she had no choice but to be harsh to Amagi.
It’s natural for there to be various issues within a family.
Above all, Amagi is her daughter. She must have had a really hard time.
“Ugh, ugh…! A-Arisa! I love you too!”
Sge hugged Amagi and cried. Like a child, like a bucket had been turned upside down.
Amagi started crying too, and passersby gathered around to see what was going on.
I’m not sure, but I guess they made up.
I don’t know how much of a difference my actions made.
I feel like they would have made up even if I hadn’t done anything… or rather, Amagi san would have handled it well.
Even though I knew that, I felt a sense of accomplishment.
I don’t know if it was the right thing to do, but I’m glad I took her hand and started running, even though I don’t know if it was the right decision.
My stomach growled. My stomach was demanding lunch.
The sound must have been loud. The two of them stopped crying and stared at me.
“Um, well… shall we go back to the cultural festival and eat something…?”
At that suggestion, the two of them nodded in unison.
◆
We returned to the cultural festival and had a light meal together.
Immediately after that, Mom left. She had work to do.
“I’m sorry… I’m sorry for dragging you into this mess during the cultural festival…”
“Don’t worry about it. I just got involved on my own.”
In the shade of a tree at the edge of the field.
Saeki’s profile, watching the people passing by with a smile.
Our eyes met unexpectedly, and for some reason I felt unusually embarrassed and looked away.
“Is something wrong?”
“Huh? No, nothing!”
“Really? Is there something else on your mind about your mother?”
“There is, but I’ll ask about it later. It’s fine! It’s not relevant right now!”
His face comes closer.
I’m happy. I’m happy, but I’m embarrassed. My heart is racing so fast I can’t control myself, and my body temperature rises suddenly.
“Your face is red. If you’re not feeling well, you should go to the infirmary—”
“It’s fine! I’m totally fine! Actually, you should get yourself checked out, Saeki!”
“Ah… Well, I’ll think about it.”
I could tell right away that he was just being lazy and not going to do anything.
I stared at him intently and poked the area around his shoulder, which had been acting strange since earlier. “Ouch!” he exclaimed, scratching his head awkwardly.
“You’re going to the hospital, right?”
“…Y-yes.”
I watched him nod and exhaled softly.
The cold wind carried away the breath I had exhaled. The wind was cold, but my chest felt hot, and I didn’t feel cold at all. Just having him beside me made me sweat lightly.
“Um… well…”
“Yes?”
“Thank you. For forcing me to come out with you…”
When I was sulking and thought it was over, if he hadn’t taken my hand, I probably would have completely broken ties with my mom.
I would have pretended to agree even though I didn’t, and run away.
Because he didn’t allow that, I can feel this clear-headedness now.
I can laugh without any guilt.
The image of his back, forcibly pulling me along, is burned into the back of my eyelids and won’t fade.
I think this will stay with me forever.
“I… I like Saeki… more… more…”
—I fell even more in love with him.
Those words won’t come out.
Why? How come?
I don’t understand. I love him, I love him so much, but the words are stuck in the back of my throat.
Sweat pours out endlessly, but my mouth is unusually dry.
“Don’t worry about it,”
Saeki said with a smile.
Quietly, like the winter moon. With a sense of reliability that illuminates the dark night road.
“I just like the positive Amagi, and I wanted to protect that. I can’t stand seeing Amagi not smiling.”
He said he liked me.
I know it doesn’t have any strange meaning, but I’m so happy I feel like I’m going to faint.
I couldn’t speak.
I couldn’t look him in the eye.
At least, I wanted to hold his hand. I hoped that my feelings would be conveyed, even a little.
His hand was just a few inches away.
A distance that should have been easy to bridge.
But now, it felt too far. My body felt rusty, unable to move properly.
“Like this?”
“―――!!”
He understood my intention and took my hand.
It’s big. It’s moderately bony, hard, and warm.
I don’t want to let go.
I want him to be mine.
Just as much as I want him to take me away again, forcefully, and carry me off.
“Saeki…”
I squeeze out the words.
My face is flushed.
His gaze is so painful it’s delightful, unbearable.
“I like you too… I love you!!”
There’s no response.
He just furrows his brow in confusion, blushes, and smiles softly. He grips my hand tightly. It feels like he’s saying he feels the same way, and I can’t maintain a normal expression.
I understand why I’m so embarrassed.
This is no good. This is bad.
I… I’m falling even more in love with Saeki.
More and more and more.
To the point of no return.
To the point where I can’t even bear to look at anyone else.
I’m in love with all my heart.
Maiban