The Gal Next to Me Is Trying Too Hard to Make Me Fall in Love With Her
“Hey, Subaru-chan! My ‘innocent girl’ characterization plan totally backfired!”
Last night.
I happened to be working alongside Subaru-chan, so I called out to her during our break.
“Operation: Pure Girl Transformation, huh… I did think that character development was a bit odd, but so that’s what it was.”
Sighing, I shrugged and sipped my hot coffee.
Even just drinking coffee, Subaru-chan is still so cool…
“Is there any other way? Subaru-chan, you’ve known Saeki for a long time, right? Do you know any weaknesses or anything?”
“Weaknesses, hmm… From my perspective, your relationship seems more than perfectly fine. I don’t think you need anything special at this point.”
“It’s not enough! I want Saeki to like me even more!”
Subaru fell deep in thought after that.
She twirled her bangs, glanced at me, and nodded shallowly several times.
“I’m not exactly experienced in romance… but you know, Arisa-chan. I can tell you’re forgetting the most crucial tactic.”
“The crucial tactic…!? What’s that…!?”
“Simple. It’s what Mashiro does for you normally.”
Not understanding, I tilted my head.
What Saeki does to me…? That’s the important tactic?
…What does that mean?
“That doesn’t make sense! Saeki isn’t trying to get me to fall for him, is he?”
“No, that’s exactly it. That guy does it unconsciously. Between us, he’s had girls develop feelings for him that way before. …And well, I get flustered by it too, sometimes…”
“Huh? What? I can’t hear you!”
The last bit was muffled and I couldn’t make it out.
But Subaru-chan cleared her throat, saying “Nothing,” and rearranged her long legs.
“For example, who cooks the meals you always eat?”
“Saeki!”
“When you’re going through something tough or unpleasant, who do you turn to?”
“Saeki!”
“When you’re anxious or distressed, who do you lean on?”
“Saeki!”
“Hmm. So, have you ever cooked for Mashiro, or been relied on by him, or had he lean on you?”
Asked that, I searched my memory and froze in shock.
No.
Not once.
When I tried making omelet rice, I messed it up and Saeki finished it for me. When it came to studying, I basically forced him to rely on me. He never once truly leaned on me.
“That’s exactly it. It might sound old-fashioned, but that guy has way too many motherly skills. When it comes to letting others lean on him and spoiling them, he’s definitely in the realm of a master.”
“You’re probably right…!!”
“But using that maternal instinct to pamper and be kind is supposed to be one of the classic tactics women use to win over men. –You shouldn’t rely on tricks like acting pure or whatever. You should win his heart by healing and comforting Mashiro.”
“That’s too logical…!!”
◆
“—So, that’s why I decided today that I’m going to be his wife! I’ll become his wife and heal all the tiredness from Saeki, who’s always working so hard!”
“I-I see…?”
At first, it made no sense, but hmm, hearing her explain it, it’s actually a pretty solid strategy.
It’s true, Amagi-san has never taken care of me outside of studying. Not that I ever really thought much about it, though.
But when it comes to winning someone over romantically, taking care of them really is the classic strategy, just like Subaru said.
“…I see. But what exactly is this kotatsu…?”
“I just bought it. Winter means kotatsu, right? I thought it’d be nice and toasty, perfect for healing. Even hardworking Saeki would definitely get lazy and spoiled if he got in here!”
“Uh, right…”
“Never mind that! Just sit there all day today! Oh, and I’ve already finished cleaning and laundry, so relax! I’ll take care of everything for Saeki!”
With that, she shoved me forcefully into the kotatsu.
It was warm and comfortable. Definitely soothing.
…Feeling Amagi-san, who works so hard every day, fuss over me made me feel guilty, but well, just for today, it’s probably fine.
Besides, it seemed much safer than being subjected to some weird seduction tactic.
“Doryaah!”
“Whoa, wait!? Amagi-san!?”
Suddenly, Amagi-san hugged me from behind.
She pressed her ample curves against me as hard as she could, breathing hotly into my ear.
“I’m Arisa-chan, your wearable blanket♡ Helping my chilly husband warm up after coming home from outside♡”
“I-It’s fine! I’m in the kotatsu right now!”
“Oh my? But when I hugged you tight, your face turned red! That means you’re warming up, right?”
“That’s, no, it’s not…!”
“And anyway, Saeki is my husband now, right? Isn’t it a bit weird for a husband to talk to his wife like that?”
“Weird…? What do you mean?”
“So—!”
Her arms tightened around my neck.
Her lips brushed softly against my ear, sending a sweet, tingly sensation racing down my spine.
“I meant stop calling me by my last name, Mashiro?”
She’d just called me by my first name.
Like family, relatives, neighbors do. Like Subaru does. Nothing unusual about that. Nothing special.
—Or so it should have been.
My mouth curved into a smile against my will. My face grew hot. I found myself feeling happy.
“Oh my? Your ears just got even redder, Mashiro?”
“Eh, um…”
“Does being called Mashiro make you that happy?”
“Not really… I, I’m not happy, okay?”
“Mashiro!”
“Ugh…”
“I like you, Mashiro♡”
“H-hey, wait, hold on…!”
“Hehehe♡ Blushing like that over something like this… you’re so innocent and cute♡”
I know it’s strange.
I truly think it’s ridiculous over something like this.
But I can’t help feeling happy.
Being called by my first name by her makes me feel an overwhelming sense of being special.
“Come on, come on! Next is me! What does a husband call his wife?”
“…………”
“If you stay silent, this will never end! Besides, you promised you’d let me do anything to make you fall for me, so play along with me properly!”
That rainy day in September.
We did make that promise.
In exchange, she tutored me, and thanks to her, I achieved the requirement for living alone without any trouble. So, at least for this moment, it only makes sense to call her by her first name.
I took a small, deep breath.
I grabbed her hand, gently pulled it free, and turned to face her.
My face felt hot. My tongue went dry with tension.
Still, staring into those eyes shining brightly, I opened my lips.
“Alright… Ah, Arisa…-san…”
The moment I said it.
Like a switch had been flipped, Amagi-san stopped clinging to me and plopped down onto the floor.
Just moments ago she’d been smiling mischievously, but now the ease drained from her face. Heat rose from her lower body upward, and she covered her face with both hands, shrinking back as if to hide it.
“Wh-what’s wrong?”
“…Nothing.”
“No, it can’t be nothing… Are you okay, Arisa-san?”
“Unyahh!!”
She suddenly let out a high-pitched cry and peered at me through her fingers.
Moist eyes and a smirking mouth.
She briefly revealed that languid expression before hiding it again.
“What is this, oh no! When you call me by my first name, I get so happy my face turns ugly~!”
“Ugly… I don’t think so…”
“No way! It totally is ugly! I don’t look like a wife you should look!”
“…………Arisa-san”
“Auuu!!”
“Arisa-san?”
“Hyaa!!”
“Arisa san!!”
“Hey, stop it! Don’t play with me! Seriously, I can’t take it anymore!!”
This is funny.
I understood why Amagi-san liked teasing me. When someone reacts well, you just can’t help wanting to do it.
“Ari—”
Just as I tried to call her again.
Amagi-san grabbed my face with both hands, squeezing hard, and I swallowed the rest of my words.
“No first names allowed! If you call me that again, I’ll force an incredibly intense kiss on you—the kind you couldn’t tell anyone about! Got it, Saeki!?”
“…G-got it, Amagi-san.”
I wanted to complain about how she was the one who started this, but I obediently kept my mouth shut. …Because her eyes looked like she really might force a kiss on me.
“Alright, Saeki, you sit down! I’ll make dinner! You can stare at your wife cooking from behind all you want ♡”
Saying that, Amagi-san headed to the kitchen.
She cheerfully shook her ponytail as she pulled out cooking utensils and ingredients.
Her back radiated a joyful atmosphere. Like sunflowers swaying in the wind, her golden hair spilled warmth with every movement.
“…Arisa-san, huh…”
Someday, one day.
I hope a day comes when we can naturally call each other by our first names, as if it were nothing special.
Imagining that future, my lips curved into a smile.
Maiban