The Gal Next to Me Is Trying Too Hard to Make Me Fall in Love With Her
โSaeki!!โ
Mid-December.
Only a few days left until winter break.
The classroom after school, filled with relaxed chatter about fun plans for Christmas and New Year’s, and the warm air from the heater, was suddenly filled with that familiar summer-like voice.
“Love youu~!!!”
Thud thud thud! She charged forward, arms wide open. That kissy face I’d seen so many times before.
But just two steps away from me, she slammed on the brakes with a screech. Her face flushed bright red as she crouched down on the spot.
โWh-what’s wrong? Are you okay?โ
โUghโฆ! I can’tโฆ!โ
โWhat is it?โ
โI remembered Saeki kissing me, and it’s making me so embarrassed! Ugh! I like him too much, I can’t handle it!โ
โHey, wait! Could you maybe not say that so loudlyโโ
โKiss me more until I stop feeling embarrassed!โ
โAre you even listening to me!?โ
She’s not listeningโฆ Yeah, there’s no way she is.
She never has, and probably never will.
โYou two should just start dating already.โ
โHuh? Aren’t you two already together?โ
โSaeki-kun is doing his part tooโฆโ
Glaring, whisperingโฆ I suddenly became the center of my classmates’ attention.
But this didn’t make me happy at all. โNo, that’s not it! It’s not like that!โ I desperately shouted.
โMashiroโฆโ
Subaru, sitting next to me, called my name.
When I looked over, she had this incredibly mean smile on her face and smoothly pulled out her smartphone.
“So, you finally did it. Congrats, you showed us what you’re made of. โWell then, I guess I should call your family now to confirm this inappropriate relationship.”
โWait, wait! It’s really not like that! It’s not like that!!โ
โOuran-chan absolutely loves your cooking, you know. I’m sure she’ll be thrilled.โ
โPlease stop! It’s fine, it was just on forehead! Ah, it wasโฆ playful, that kind of thing!โ
โโฆSaeki, was it just a game with me? Were you only after my body?โ
โStop making this complicated, okay!? N-no, that’s not it! It wasn’t like that at all!โ
โSo, you were serious after all. Definitely an improper relationship. I have to contact your family.โ
โAaargh!! No, no!! Just listen to me for a sec!!โ
Amagi-san feigning sobs, and Subaru gleefully teasing me relentlessly.
Why are these two so perfectly in sync? Did they plan this beforehandโฆ?
Seeing my flustered state, my classmates all giggled. Well, it would be funnyโif I weren’t facing the crisis of losing my place to live.
“Haaahโฆ Let’s call it a day and head home soon.”
I looked at Amagi-san.
She snorted, โHmph,โ and swayed her golden hair as she stepped left and right.
โSorry, Saeki. I totally get wanting to go home with me, but today, Arisa-chan has plans, y’know? โกโ
โHuh? Then why did you come to the classroom to pick me up?โ
โI didn’t come to pick up Saeki. Right, Subaru-chan!โ
Subaru patted my shoulder with a thump.
Standing up with her bag in hand, she looked down at me with a triumphant, handsome smile.
โI’m borrowing your girlfriend. Don’t worry, I won’t do anything bad to her. I’ll spare you out of friendship.โ
โWhoa, this is bad, Saeki! You gotta make me yours before Subaru-chan takes me!โ
โThat’s right, Mashiro. This is your last chance. Go all out and nurture your love.โ
โLet’s do it! Come on, Saeki, come here!โ
โI won’t do it, and I’m not going. โฆUm, so, does that mean you are going out with Subaru?โ
Amagi-san clung to Subaru’s arm, beaming, โIt’s a date!โ
The sudden contact cracked Subaru’s composed facade for a moment.
โฆWell, that’s satisfying. I’ll just savor Amagi-san’s utter chaos to the bone today.
โWhat about dinner?โ
โI’m eating with Subaru-chan!โ
โHuh? Really?โ
โNo? You don’t want to eat with me?โ
โI-I don’t dislike it, butโฆโ
โThen it’s settled! Let’s goooooo!!โ
โWhoa, wait, don’t run! Ah, Arisa-chan, you’re so fastโMyaaah!!โ
Amagi ran off, dragging Subaru along like she always did with me.
An outing for the two of them. Wonder what for? I’ll ask Amagi when she gets back.
โWell thenโฆโ
I let out a small sigh and stood up from my seat.
If Amagi’s not around, maybe I’ll go grab some ramen for the first time in ages. The rich, thick kind.
โHey, Saeki-kun!โ
Just as I was about to leave the classroom, a familiar voice stopped me.
Turning around, I saw the members who’d come to my house for the cultural festival preparations.
One of them stepped forward, looking up at me with eyes that seemed to gauge my mood.
โUm, wellโฆ I have a favor to askโฆ!โ
โ
A few days earlier.
โWhat should I wear on my Christmas date with Saeki to make him fall for me?โ
โHmm, good question. Want to go shopping together sometime?โ
โReally!?โ
โArisa-chan, remember when you stood up for me against those upperclassmen who were gossiping about me? I’ve been meaning to repay you for that.โ
That promise I made with Arisa-chan led to today’s outing.
We went to the department store, browsed around, and ended with a quick tea break before parting ways.
At least, that was the schedule I had in mind.
โBut.
โYou look amazing! Subaru-chan is too cute! โกโ
We got dragged into an arcade we happened to pass by and took purikura photos.
โHuh, wait!? That cake shopโI saw it on TV before! No one’s lined up now, let’s just grab something quick!โ
This time she dragged me into a cake shop for a rushed tea break.
โThis lipstick is cute! But it’s expensive, huh! But but, maybe I should buy it!โ
We finally arrived at the department store, but she was drawn to the department store cosmetics before even looking at clothes.
โWait, that’s not the point! Today’s the day we buy clothes, right!?โ
After agonizing over a ยฅ5,000 lipstick for about ten minutes, she finally seemed to remember our original purpose.
She grabbed my hand and pulled me toward the escalator. Before I knew it, two hours had passed since we left school.
How should I put itโฆ amazing.
I couldn’t think of any other word for it.
I knew Arisa-chan was energetic, but wow, I never imagined she was this completely driven by instinct and curiosity. She’s like an uncontrollable supersonic jet.
But.
Even though she was dragging me all over the place, strangely, I didn’t mind at all.
“Just realized somethingโthis isn’t the first time we’ve gone out together, is it, Subaru-chan!?ใThen today’s our first date anniversary! Let’s go somewhere together next year, and the year after that tooโก”
That probably isn’t flattery or pandering or anything like that. It’s because she genuinely enjoys spending time with me from the bottom of her heart.
Because she looks at me without a single distracting thought or trace of hesitation.
No wonder Mashiro likes her.
Or rather, how could anyone dislike this girl?
โAlright thenโโ
Anyway, we finally started picking out clothes.
As we headed to the store I’d researched beforehand, I glanced at Arisa-chan, happily walking arm-in-arm with me.
โFirst and foremost, if you want to make a good impression on Mashiro, you should avoid excessive exposure.โ
โHuh? Why? Isn’t sexy stuff something all boys like?โ
โThey probably do, and Mashiro’s no exception. But with that guy, worry comes before thoughts of โliking itโ or โit being sexyโ.โ
โWorry?โ
โLike, โIs she catching a cold?โ or โIsn’t she cold?โโฆ He’s the type to fret and fuss about that stuff endlessly, right? Warm seasons and loungewear aside, it’s best to avoid excessive exposure in winter outfits for going out.โ
โOh, I seeโฆ!!โ
Her eyes widened in understanding, then her gaze drifted downward.
Seeing she seemed concerned about her skirt’s length, I added reassuringly, โHe’s probably used to seeing that by now, so it’s fine.โ
โNow, about the clothes he likesโฆ I think he tends to be drawn to more mature, sexy styles.โ
โHmm hmm. What’s your basis for that?โ
โAccording to Ouran-chan, it seems Mashiro watched a lot of videos of older women doing that sort of thing.โ
โWow! Then it must be true!โ
โThat guy is sort of like the de facto eldest son of the Saeki family. While he’s caring, he probably also wants someone to be affectionate with.โ
As we talked, we arrived in front of the store.
Arisa-chan hugged my arm even tighter, looking up at me with eyes full of expectation. Even though we’re the same gender, I honestly thought she was adorable.
โRemember how I coordinated Mashiro’s outfit and made you go wild? That was me. Expect the same this time. โMashiro definitely won’t be able to stay calm when he sees you on Christmas.โ
โCan’t stay calmโฆ so, that meansโฆ that’ll happen!?โ
โSo that guy’s single life will end this Christmas, huh?โ
โWaaahhhhhhhhhhhโกโกโกโกโกโ
When I gave her a defiant smile, Arisa-chan bounced up and down energetically.
She really is adorable.
She has everything I don’t.
I’m glad.
That such a wonderful girl is by Mashiroโs side.
Maiban