The Gal Next to Me Is Trying Too Hard to Make Me Fall in Love With Her
January 1st.
After welcoming the New Year in the air with Amagi, I somehow managed to shove her—who was screaming about staying over—into her room and collapsed into a deep sleep.
When I came to, it was past seven in the morning.
A late wake-up for me, but today was a day off from both my part-time job and school.
With nothing planned except going back to my parents’ place, I was about to drift back to sleep—when suddenly.
“Saeki!!”
The sound of the front door opening. A voice I knew well.
The winter room temperature felt like it wanted to preserve me forever, but with the clatter of her footsteps echoing through the house, it somehow felt a little warmer.
“Good morning~~~♡♡♡”
“Ugh!!”
Amagi, who appeared suddenly, dove onto my futon.
A sound like a squashed frog escaped from deep within my body.
“Wh-what’s wrong… so early in the morning…!”
Sleepy-eyed, I looked at Amagi using my futon as a mat.
Perfect makeup, dressed like she was ready to go out anytime. Wh-why is this person fully geared up at this hour…?
“Because today, we are going to Saeki’s parents’ house, right!? That means it’s the marriage introduction!”
“No, it’s not.”
“Once I realized that, I woke up super early! Hey, when are we leaving!? Now!?”
“No, we’re not.”
“Do you think Saeki’s parents will like me!? What if they hate me!? Hey, what do you think I should do!?”
“First, could you get off me and let me sleep a little longer…?”
“Can I sleep next to you?”
“No.”
Even after I refused, she forced her body in beside me, giggling happily, “So warm♡”
Her scent, her touch, her warmth felt so good that sleepiness hit me instantly, and my eyelids drooped.
A noisy year had begun.
We had lunch together before setting off.
People heading to work, people returning home, people going to the New Year sales. Riding a train more colorful than usual, I got off at the station nearest my parents’ house. Passing through the ticket gate, my feet headed in the opposite direction from home.
“My parents are apparently going to the shrine for hatsumode. Let’s meet them there.”
“So, we’re meeting them already?! I’m so nervous!”
“Just act normal. …But don’t say anything weird, okay?”
“Okay!”
I thought that was a pretty untrustworthy answer.
Holding hands, we headed toward the shrine. We walked up the gentle slope, matching our strides.
A path I’d walked countless times from birth until graduating middle school. The vending machine where I got my first winning ticket. The park where Subaru cried.
Sharing these familiar sights with Amagi-san felt a bit embarrassing, like she was peeking into my childhood, yet also a little proud.
“…Ah.”
Three middle school classmates were walking towards us, probably returning from their New Year’s visit too.
They noticed me too, and our eyes met for a moment. Instantly, their expressions turned strange, and they began whispering secrets among themselves.
Ah… well, I guess this happens sometimes.
That video that went viral because of the school festival incident.
Just like it did around my parents’ place, it wouldn’t be surprising if it was the talk among my former classmates.
Were they praising her? Bashing her? What were they even talking about? If they were saying cute things about Amagi-san, that’d be fine…
“Getting cocky for a loser like you?”
“Hah, cut it out, man. She can hear you.”
“Used to be just Seiji’s sidekick, but now he’s all high and mighty.”
As we passed, I heard their mocking laughter.
I breathed a sigh of relief, truly relieved.
Good. They weren’t saying bad things about Amagi-san.
As long as she wasn’t being slandered, nothing else mattered.
Of course it didn’t. Sure, thanks to Amagi-san, I’m popular with the class now, but back in elementary and middle school, I was undeniably a nobody. I had no place to belong, so I stuck with Subaru all the time.
For someone like that to suddenly start talking tough online the moment they got into high school, and then walk around with someone as beautiful as Amagi-san… well, it’s no wonder people would want to make fun of him.
“…Huh? Amagi-san?”
I realized our clasped hands had come apart.
No way, I thought, and spun around sharply.
Sure enough, there she was, her strong footsteps echoing as she approached the three of us.
“Hey, you—!!”
The three of them turned around, all of them staring wide-eyed and frozen in shock.
I couldn’t see the expression on Amagi-san’s face.
But from her voice alone, I could tell she was incredibly angry.
“Just now… you were talking about Saeki, weren’t you?”
“Huh? …W-well…”
“Stop it.”
“…Ah, no…!”
“Don’t badmouth the person I like.”
“It wasn’t badmouthing…”
“At least say it somewhere Saeki and I can’t hear.”
Her voice itself was calm, but the aura emanating from her back was sharp and cold as a blade.
The three facing her were clearly intimidated into silence, unable even to step back.
…I just remembered.
When someone badmouthed Subaru, who was from the same agency, Amagi-san charged right in, even though the person was a senior.
Then there’s no way she’d overlook someone badmouthing me.
Ignoring it wasn’t even an option.
“Got it?”
“”“…………”””
“I asked if you understand!!”
“”“We… understand!”””
Her angry voice was full of force.
The three straightened their backs simultaneously and answered in unison.
“Hmm! Well, see you later!”
Amagi-san’s bright voice instantly drained the tension from the air.
“Bye-bye!” she waved, as if her anger had been a lie. The three boys didn’t seem too upset either, grinning sheepishly as they waved back and walked away.
…Damn, she managed to wrap things up nicely in the end.
She’s the strongest… this person.
“Um, Amagi-san…”
“Hm?”
“Ah, thank you. For getting angry for me…”
I genuinely felt relieved that Amagi-san hadn’t been spoken ill of. There was no doubt I was relieved the target was me.
But.
I’m human too. Hearing bad things said about me hurts. I dislike it.
I do feel guilty for making her, someone with a social standing, take on unnecessary risk. But even so, this feeling of satisfaction is real, impossible to fake.
“It wasn’t for Saeki’s sake. Like I said before, I just got pissed off hearing someone badmouth someone I like!”
She said it casually, then laughed.
Brightly, cheerfully, flashing her white teeth.
It was unbearably cool, dazzling, and I wanted to be like that too… Yes, I felt it strongly.
Maiban