The Gal Next to Me Is Trying Too Hard to Make Me Fall in Love With Her
December 24th.
The day I’d been waiting for finally arrived, but school was business as usual.
So I went through the usual classes and headed home once.
I was meeting Amagi-san at the station at 6 PM. โI’m gonna make myself look super cute!โ she said, dashing off to the salon. She looked totally pumped.
I also prepared more carefully than usual and left home a little early.
Honestly, I don’t think I was quite as excited as Amagi, but I was really looking forward to today too.
My family home doesn’t have a tradition of doing anything special for Christmas. Not for ideological or religious reasons, but simply because it costs money.
Just another ordinary day with Christmas specials on TV.
Just another weekday.
That’s precisely why even this time spent walking outside amidst the somewhat frivolous atmosphere, just heading to the station, felt strangely special to me.
โWow, it really is crowdedโฆโ
5:30 PM.
In front of the station, there were people heading home, people just setting out, mothers carrying cakes back to their homes, men fidgeting as they waited for someoneโa diverse array of ways to spend Christmas.
This could take forever just to meet up.
I should find somewhere easy to spot.
โJust as I was thinking that.
โโฆโฆโฆโฆHm?โ
There she was.
Long golden hair radiating overwhelming presence even in the crowd.
Glamorous makeup and a summery vibe.
Anyone would recognize her as Amagi-san.
Butโ.
โWho could it beโฆ A pick-up? No, butโฆโ
I couldn’t see her face from behind, but judging by their build, two menโpresumably menโwere talking to her.
For a moment, I thought it might be a pick-up, but on a day like this, no man would attempt a hopeless pick-up on a woman who was clearly waiting for someone.
โFans, maybeโฆ Amagi’sโฆโ
Even if she’s not as famous as Subaru, Amagi-san still has a decent level of recognition in society.
Once, when I went to the convenience store with her, she was surrounded by middle school girls. It wouldn’t be surprising if she had fans like that.
She doesn’t seemโฆ annoyed.
So, she really is dealing with a fan. I’d hate to interrupt that. I’ll hold off on talking to her now.
โโฆโฆโฆโฆโ
I couldn’t make out what they were saying.
But it was clear Amagi was enjoying himself.
โโฆโฆโฆโฆโ
She was laughing. Her usual, hearty laugh.
In front of someone I didn’t know, some stranger.
โโฆโฆโฆโฆโ
Thump.
Before I knew it, I’d taken a big step forward.
โ
Arriving at the meeting spot earlier than planned, I used the glass window of a nearby cafe as a mirror to check my appearance one last time.
A wine-red knit top, a black long skirt with a slit, and bootsโa mature, sexy outfit Subaru-chan picked out for me.
My hairstyle was a center part, also aiming for a grown-up look. I especially liked how my bangs and the sides were softly curled.
Yeah, cute!! Me today is super cute!!
Wait, wait, hold on. The more I look, the cuter I get. Am I not justโฆ dangerous? Me today is way too perfect!?
Seriously, I’m so glad I asked Subaru for help! I’ve gotta thank her somehow next time! I’d get struck by lightning if I didn’t!
โWhere is Saeki? โก Will he even find me? โกโ
I couldn’t sit still, pacing back and forth for no reason.
The station area was busier than usual. I wanted to watch Saeki from afar, frantically searching for me, unable to find me but desperate to meet me.
Wait, isn’t this actually the first time we’ve ever met up like this!?
Whoa, I didn’t realize! That’s right, that’s right! We’re neighbors, so we’ve never actually met up to go somewhere!
Once I thought about it, this waiting time suddenly became unbearably fun.
My gaze falls to the watch on my left wrist. The second hand ticks away the time. Counting down until Saeki takes this hand and we walk together.
I can’t help but grin, tapping my foot restlessly.
AhhโI want to see him soon. I want to show him the new me. I want him to say I’m cute.
โHuh? Hey, isn’t that Amagi?โ
โWhoaโyou’re right.โ
Male voices from outside my field of vision.
Could they be hitting on me? Of all days, to approach a girl waiting for a guy? That’s just ridiculous. Ugh, give me a breakโฆ
I clicked my tongue softly and glared at the guys.
But I immediately recognized them and let out an โAh!โ
โHey, you two, what’s up? On a date?โ
โLike hell we are!โ
โWe’re just going for yakiniku with the soccer club guys who don’t have girlfriends.โ
Nothing special. Just guys from my class.
They laughed at my joke, then quickly looked puzzled.
โWhat are you doing here alone, anyway?โ
โYeah, yeah. Saekiโฆ was it? Didn’t you say you had a date with that guy from Class 2?โ
โYeah! I’m waiting for him right now! My Saeki isn’t up for grabs, you know?โ
โWe don’t want him!โ
They laughed together, then suddenly sensed someone else and looked up.
Between the two boys stood a black shadow, looking dazed.
For a second, a scream almost escapedโฆ Huh? Wait, isn’t that Saeki?
โEek!?โ
โWhoa!!โ
The two scattered left and right, letting out silly cries.
Saeki looked back and forth between them. A complicated frown was etched between his brows.
โN-no, wait! We’re in the same class as Amagi, it’s not like we’re hitting on her or anythingโฆ Right?!?โ
โHuh? Oh, yeah! It’s not like that! Sorry about that!โ
They started explaining themselves even though no one had said anything, gave me a quick nod, and left.
โโฆWas Saeki always like thatโฆ?โ
โI don’t know him wellโฆ but him being Amagi’s boyfriend makes senseโฆโ
I waved lightly at their retreating backs, then looked back at Saeki.
โฆDamn.
A white dress shirt under an indigo cardigan, topped with a brown checkered long coat. Black wide-leg pants below.
Simple attire, but the fabric had characterโvintage, perhaps? That calm yet solid aura suited Saeki so damn well it was ridiculous.
Huhโฆ wait, wait a sec.
Wait! Please, wait!
The stylish Saeki I saw before was insane tooโฆ but this, this seasoned-looking stylish Saeki is also crazy, right?ใActually, this version is way too much my type!!
Wh-what is this!? Haaaaaah!?
Is this okay!? Is it really okay to let such a handsome biological weapon out in public!?
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhโกโกโก I love it~~~~โกโกโก
Saeki is so cool~~~~โกโกโก
โโฆโฆโฆโฆโ
Suddenly sobering up, I noticed Saeki was still frozen with a troubled expression.
Our eyes met for a moment, but he quickly looked away. They met again, but couldn’t hold the gaze.
โWh-what’s wrong? Those two earlier, they really weren’t hitting on me, right? I didn’t get treated badly or anything?โ
Saeki is kind. Unbearably kind.
So surely, he must be ashamed of himself for worrying about my safety and being slow to come to my aid.
That’s what I thought, but he silently shook his head.
โI did realize it wasn’t a pickup. Yes, I didโฆ butโฆโ
โThen what?โ
โโฆโฆโฆโฆโ
โCould it beโฆ I look weird today? Not cute?โ
โHuh!? N-no, not at all! You’re cute! Super cute! More than anyone else! Cute! Really cute!!โ
Probably because he was flustered, he ended up speaking louder than he intended. Saeki’s cheeks flushed bright red as he covered his face with one hand, mortified.
โSo, what’s wrong?โ
At my question, his expression grew even more troubled.
But perhaps realizing he couldn’t escape, he took a deep breath and looked at me.
โโฆUmโฆโ
โHm?โ
โI, I’m going to say something really disgusting nowโฆ Please, don’t, you know, back away. Pleaseโฆโ
โI won’t back off no matter what Saeki says. So, what is it?โ
โUmโฆโ
โYeah?โ
โโฆโฆโฆโฆโ
โSaeki?โ
โโฆI felt uneasy.โ
โHuh?โ
โAmagi-san, who’s usually so cuteโฆ was chatting happily with someone else, and it made me feel uneasy. Before I knew it, I was interfering. Um, I’m, I’m really sorryโโ
My body moved.
Much faster than my thoughts could process.
I took a step, then two, spread my arms wide, and threw myself into his chest.
โ
Just like Subaru always does, Amagi-san talking to someone outside should be part of her job.
I knew that. I understood it perfectly well. Yet I gave in to a strong impulse and acted.
I thought I deserved to be scolded for thisโ
“I love you~~”
With the loudest scream I’d ever heard, which seemed to blow away the entire hustle and bustle in front of the station, Amagi-san jumped into my chest.
A sweet scent floated in the air. Warmth washed over my body. A violent softness made her cry.
She suddenly looked up at me. Her eyes, burning like the summer sun, reflected me with a blazing sparkle.
โWhat’s that? What’s that? What’s that~โกโกโก Jealousy!? You got jealous!? Saeki, you got jealous!?โ
โJealousyโฆ well, it’s not exactlyโฆโ
โIf it wasn’t jealousy, then what was it? โก Try saying something else for that fuzzy feeling! โกโ
โEh, umโฆโ
โHeheโก Heheheโก Ihihihiโกโกโก Saeki, you’re too cute~โกโกโก I love you so much~โกโกโกโ
โE-everyone’s staring at us, so let goโฆ!โ
Needless to say, this was right in front of the station.
Hugging someone like that in a place like this and screaming โI love you!โ at the top of your lungs was bound to draw attention.
Giggles, whispers.
Everyone passing by looked at us, laughed, and muttered something inaudible as they walked away.
โNo way~โก If I don’t do this, Saeki gets jealous, you knowโกโ
โโฆ!โ
No words of denial came out, and I clenched my back teeth.
Whether that pleased her or not, Amagi-san flashed a smug, condensed milk-sweet smile.
โI love you, love you, love you, love you so much~โกโกโก Saeki’s mine, and I’m Saeki’s, okay?โกโกโก I’ll never, ever let you go~โกโกโกโ
We’d only been together a few minutes.
But she was already running on full throttle, flooring the accelerator harder than ever. I felt an endless anxiety about whether I could keep up.
Maiban