The Gal Next to Me Is Trying Too Hard to Make Me Fall in Love With Her
“What was that just now!? Senpai!! Are you okay, Senpai?!”
Ouran-chan’s voice echoed through the earphone in my right ear.
I placed my hand on the door to steady my breathing and whispered back, “I’m… I’m okay…”
…Huh?
Wait, um… Huh? Huh…?
Just now… Wh-what was that? What did I just… see?
“Amagi-san? What’s wrong?”
“~~~~~!!”
The door clicked open.
When Saeki’s at home with me, his outfit’s usually either his uniform or simple loungewear.
But today was different.
He was wearing that high-end white T-shirt Subaru bought him before, paired with gray slacks. His hair looked styled too—to put it mildly, he was the coolest guy in the universe.
Ah, ahh… wha… what…?!
What the… wha… wha… what?! Why?!
Why has Fashionable Saeki descended upon us?! Didn’t you just give me my surprise present a little while ago?! Today’s just a normal, ordinary day, right?!
“Sa… Saeki-san? That… that outfit…”
Hold it… Hold it, hold it, hold it!
I pinch the back of my hand hard to stay in character, making sure he doesn’t see. I somehow bite down on the urge to throw my arms around him right now.
“Huh? Ah, ah, this? Subaru gave it to me, and I’d worn it once before putting it away, so I pulled it out again after a long time. My hair too… Wh-what do you think? I tried doing it myself, referencing videos and stuff…”
“It’s… it looks good, I think. It really suits you.”
It’s more than just “good”!!
Oh no, oh no, oh no!! My… my feelings… my feelings are showing!!
Everything’s spilling out~~~♡♡♡
“Really?! I’m so glad…!”
No it’s not!! It’s not good at all!!
Stop just casually becoming World Heritage-level handsome!!
It’s a crime!? Handsome guys deserve the death penalty!!
“…Um, wh-why so suddenly? You could’ve just been normal…”
“Ah, haha… th-to be honest…”
He laughed, looking embarrassed.
“I… ever since Amagi-san started preparing for the role, I’ve been feeling a bit sulky.”
He scratched his cheek with his fingertips, his gaze darting around.
Even that gesture alone had instant-death-level destructive power.
“You suddenly stopped smiling at me, stopped saying things like ‘I like you’… I started feeling lonely… No, really, I’m such a kid! I’m so sorry…!”
[Our plan worked perfectly, didn’t it?! That’s great, Amagi-senpai!]
Clap clap. Ouran-chan’s applause echoed near his ear.
“But thanks to Subaru today, I realized Amagi-san is taking acting seriously too.”
[…Huh?]
“I won’t sulk over silly things anymore! Please let me support you, Amagi-san, in my own way…!”
[H-Huh!? What the hell are you talking about, you idiot brother!?]
“So… um, I tried dressing up. Last time I did it, you were really happy, Amagi-san. Going to school like this is embarrassing, but I thought I could manage at home…!”
[Amagi-senpai, keep your sanity!! Don’t explode, absolutely don’t!!]
“Look forward to dinner too. For dessert, I’ve prepared that parfait you said you wanted to try before. A healthy one made with yogurt.”
[Hold on, hold on!! He’s endlessly perfect, but that’s exactly why you’ve worked so hard to win him over, right!? If you show your true self now, it’ll all be for nothing!!]
“Please, come in. Thank you for tutoring me again today.”
[Amagi-senpai!! Hold on!! You can do this!!]
Watching Saeki’s retreating back, I let out a deep breath.
I exhaled all the air from my body, then took a deep breath to clear my lungs.
“…Yeah, don’t worry. I can handle this…”
I tightened the muscles in my face and forced out the words.
I didn’t know how effective our current strategy would be against Saeki, who seemed to have suddenly let go of something.
But it was confirmed he was longing for physical contact with me. His frustration wasn’t just speculation—it was real. If that was the case, maintaining this persona was worth it.
Alright… Yeah, I’m calming down.
It’s fine, no problem at all.
Saeki, don’t scare me like that! A surprise handsome guy is cheating. I thought I was gonna nose-bleed and pass out.
But hey? That’s where, you know, Arisa-chan’s excellence comes in?
Don’t underestimate the self-control I’ve cultivated through daily practice.
A little bit of super-duper cool isn’t enough to break my act. Heh heh, too bad, Saeki!
Alrighty then. Haaah, what a hassle.
Should this pure-hearted Arisa-chan tease poor Saeki-kun, who’s dying for my attention, again today?
Should I push him until he can’t take it anymore, makes a move himself, and ends up messing me up completely?
Uheh, uhehehe♡ Get ready, Saeki♡
Today, I’m gonna make you want all of me, every single bit of me♡♡♡
“Ah—!”
Just as I took off my shoes and started stepping into the room.
My feet tangled, my balance faltered, and a gasp escaped me.
The floor closing in.
The scenery flowing slowly by.
Oh no, I’m gonna fall—just as I thought that.
“Are you okay?”
At the last second, Saeki caught me, averting disaster.
Slowly, I lifted my gaze.
He looked down at me, his expression pure relief, as if he himself had been saved, flashing a completely unblemished smile.
Ah… w-w-whaaa…!
Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah ♡♡♡
So cool!! I love him!! I love him so much I’m gonna die~♡♡♡
Why does this guy always save me whenever I’m in danger!?
When I got picked on by the student council, when I got sick, when I fought with Mom!!
Ugh~!! Ugh~~~!!
It’s so confusing it’s driving me crazy!! He’s too much like my destined person, my brain’s boiling!! I love him too much~~~~!!
Oh, oh no…!
My heart’s… My breathing… It’s hard to breathe!
I want to say I love him! I love him! If I said I love him right now, I’d feel better!!
Nnyah~♡♡♡ I can’t take it anymore~♡♡♡
I, I’m gonna say it…♡♡♡
Even though I shouldn’t, I’m saying it♡♡♡
Nooooooo♡♡♡ I’m going to say it
What have I been pushing myself for all this time? It’s all for a happy tomorrow with Saeki.
I won’t lose… I can’t lose!
Hmph, just ’cause you’re kinda handsome and kind and my favorite person, don’t get cocky! That cool guy charm… it doesn’t work on me at all!
Alright, deep breath… yep! That calmed me down!
Pulling myself together, it’s my turn now.
Let’s see how long that cool expression lasts!!
“Excuse me.”
He said.
He effortlessly swept my legs out from under me and, for some reason, picked me up princess-style.
With the front door light behind him, Saeki looked down at me. He smiled purely, just for me and no one else.
“I remembered you asking for this when you were sick before… How… how is it? I can put you down if you don’t like it…”
He smiled uncertainly, looking embarrassed.
Like navigating darkness, he moved cautiously. Yet, he carried a strength determined to take one step forward. —Only the desire to support me existed there.
Ah.
This is bad…
“…Amagi-san?”
“…………”
“Is something wrong?”
“…………”
“Amagi-sa—”
“Like you.”
“…………Eh?”
Ah, I sighed inwardly.
All the struggles of this past week. Every single one of them crumbled away with a loud crack right now.
“…Oh well♡”
All strength drained from my body, and a sloppy smile escaped me—so obvious even I could tell.
My feelings for him made everything else melt away.
“I’m done for…♡”
I love him, love him, love him.
I love everything about him, I love him so much.
My head feels like it’s going to explode.
Maiban