The Gal Next to Me Is Trying Too Hard to Make Me Fall in Love With Her
“Hey, isn’t that the guy who went viral?”
“Wow, it’s true! Let’s take a picture…!”
“Don’t do that. It’s rude.”
A few days after the school festival.
Saturday evening.
McDonald’s in front of the station.
Two college-aged women whisper to each other as they watch me eating fries from a distance.
“Hahaha. You’re a celebrity now, Mashiro. Good for you.”
“No, it’s not good…! I get teased at school all the time, and today a middle school student I don’t even know asked for my autograph. How long is this going to last…!?”
“The public isn’t that bored. Don’t worry, it’ll die down soon.”
Sitting across the table from me is Subaru, disguised with a cap and sunglasses.
She takes a sip of coffee and smiles amusedly.
[It’s because I like you, Amagi-san.]
[No, that’s not it… But I do like your positive attitude!]
[Anyway, 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!]
[Let’s go. You’re not alone, Amagi san! I’ll always be by your side!]
The incident at the school festival.
The exchange at the school entrance.
Someone filmed it and, of all places, posted it on social media… and it went viral.
Panicking, the person who filmed it deleted the video.
But it was too late; someone had already copied it and shared it everywhere.
A school-wide assembly was hastily held yesterday regarding this matter, and the use of smartphones within the school was banned as a general rule.
…Well, no one will follow it anyway.
“I can put up with it, but… I wonder if this will have a negative impact on Amagi san’s work…”
“It’s a difficult situation. If we’re not careful, it could ruin our plans.”
“…”
“Don’t look like it’s the end of the world. Don’t worry, our agency doesn’t have a rule against romance. We’re not idols. Besides, she must be prepared for the risks of balancing work and youth.”
That may be true, but it doesn’t make me feel any better.
I don’t regret what I did… but I should have at least been more careful about who saw us. We could have gone into an empty classroom or something…
“More importantly, are you okay?”
“Huh, me?”
“If that video spreads, your parents will inevitably find out. Whether it’s considered inappropriate conduct is debatable, but if they tell you you can’t live alone anymore, I don’t think you’ll be able to argue.”
“Ah… yeah, that’s right. I don’t really understand, but it’s okay. When I explained that we’re not dating, they seemed to accept it.”
“Pretty understanding. The conditions for living alone are pretty strict, though.”
“Yeah, that’s right. I was a little surprised… Well, as long as I can continue living the way I am now, I don’t really care.”
My parents don’t use social media, but my siblings do.
They would definitely tell on me for breaking the rules.
I thought it was over, but the result was the status quo.
If I had to stop living alone, Amagi would be depressed, so in that sense, I’m really glad.
“By the way, what’s up today? You called me out of the blue on a holiday. And since we met up, we’ve just been chatting here.”
“Well, I guess they’ll be here soon to pick you up.”
“Pick me up?”
Three people—my classmates—entered the store. They surrounded us and said, “Hey, how’s it going?” Subaru’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Eh… Mashiro, what’s going on…?”
“It’s the cultural festival after-party today. I wanted Subaru to come too. You’ve never been to school events because of work, and you’ve never been to an after-party either, right?”
“Well, that’s true, but showing up at an after-party for an event I didn’t even participate in… everyone will hate me…”
One of the classmates said cheerfully, “That’s not true.”
“You helped with the preparations, so we actually wanted you to participate!”
“Besides, thanks to Saeki’s fried bread, this cultural festival was the most profitable one yet, so no one would complain even if he invited anyone.”
“Thanks for inviting me, Saeki-kun! Everyone is waiting for you!”
Subaru opened her mouth in surprise, then relaxed slightly and hid it by drinking her coffee.
She couldn’t attend the event because of work.
That was normal for Subaru.
But I knew that she didn’t really accept that.
I knew it… but I hadn’t done anything about it until now. Even though we were best friends
“I’m sorry for lying. But if I had been honest, I thought you wouldn’t come.”
“…Well, yeah, I guess so. That’s pretty cool of you, Mashiro. Where did you learn to be such a ladies’ man?”
“Ladies’ man… Well, I don’t really want to be popular with girls.”
I’ve recently learned that it’s okay to be a little more selfish.
That girl, running at full speed with the scorching summer on her back, taught me that.
led by the hand by a classmate and starts walking.
I slowly follow that familiar back.
It’s mid-November. It’s about to get really cold.
Looking up at the sky, now completely darkened by night, I think to myself.
Even though we’re about to have a fun party, and even though it has nothing to do with our class, Amagi’s face pops into my mind. She’s always in my head.
Next month is Christmas. Amagi would surely want to spend it with me.
I have a date planned, so I have to save up money until then.
“Saeki, what are you doing?”
“Oh, no. Sorry, I’ll be right there!”
As I close the distance between myself and my classmates, my eyes are drawn to the people I pass by.
I wonder if Amagi would like it if I wore clothes like that…
Things that didn’t matter to me before.
Everything I see and hear.
It’s all connected to her.
It’s fun. Taking one step forward, looking to the right, looking to the left.
Because maybe there, I’ll find the seeds of her smile.
◆
Today, Saeki is celebrating the end of the school festival.
I was alone in my room, exchanging messages with my mom. We were planning to go out for a meal together for the first time in a while.
We needed to sit down and talk things through until we both felt satisfied, about what had happened so far and what was to come.
The doorbell rang.
I wasn’t expecting any visitors, and it was already dark outside.
I didn’t want to answer the door, but I asked, “Who is it?” through the door.
“Is this the Amagi’s house?”
“Yes, it is, but…”
Her voice was calm but fresh and cute.
When I unlocked the door and opened it, there stood a middle school-aged girl with distinctive side-swept bangs.
“Um… who are you?”
“My name is Saeki Sakura. I’m the younger sister of Mashiro, who lives next door.”
“Eh…!? Saeki’s younger sister!?”
“That’s right. My brother is always being taken care of by you.”
She bowed politely.
Now that I think about it, their eyes look a little similar.
…She’s cute. Isn’t she too cute? Saeki, you have such a cute little sister! Why didn’t you introduce her to me sooner!
“If it’s your onii san, he is out today. Is there something you need?”
“Subaru chan told me that oni is out. That’s why I came to see you, Amagi-san.”
“Me? Why…?”
When I asked her, not understanding, her black eyes shone mysteriously.
“I’ll be blunt.”
She took a half step forward.
Her face, looking up at me, resembled Saeki’s, but she had a mysterious smile that he would never have.
“—Please let me help you take onii’s virginity.”
――――――――――――――――――
Chapter One is complete.
Maiban