Chapter – 06
An Unexpected Side
“O-oh⊔
A vast array of sweets filled the entire table. They all looked delicious, but there was absolutely no way we could finish this amount.
Still, the one who brought about ninety percent of this spread was none other than the arrogant girl sitting in front of me, struggling to contain a grinâKotori. She was holding her fork, glancing around the table, wondering where to start.
“Wh-which one should I go for⊔
“Doesn’t matter, does it? You’re going to eat all of them anyway.”
“You just don’t get it. With this sort of thing, what you eat first is incredibly important.”
“That so?”
For my part, I wasn’t particularly into sweets. I saw them as just dessert after a meal, so I was eating curry instead. Everyone has their own way of enjoying a sweets paradise, I suppose. Kotori was pulling a face at me for it, though.
“Alright, I’ll go with this one.”
She finally seemed to decide, taking a big bite of a shortcake that was nearby. Her face softened into a goofy, relaxed smile as she savored the dessert. It was so unexpected that I found myself staring, and Kotori noticed.
“Wh-what are you looking at?”
“Oh, nothing. I just thought it was surprising that you have such a cute side.”
“Whaâ?! Sh-shut up⊔
She hadn’t seemed to realize her expression had loosened, and she patted her face, trying to force it back into her usual sour look. Was it really that embarrassing for her to genuinely enjoy sweets? What is she, a teenager?
“But why did you bring me to this sweets place? It’s not like I’m particularly fond of sweets.”
“That’s⊠it just happened that Fuyunose-kun was around when I felt like going. There’s no other reason.”
Kotori said this with a composed, prim expression. Come to think of it, I’d noticed her glancing around the area for a while now. Curious, I looked around too.
The shop was filled mostly with high school girls who had just finished classes for the day. There were groups of friends, and couples tooâjust like us, maybeâŠ
“Ah, I see.”
“What?”
“Kotori, you don’t have any friends, so you find it hard to come to places like this alone. That’s why you invited me, right?”
“Whaâ?! What are you even talking about, spouting such baseless nonsenseâŠ?! What on earth are you basing that on?!”
“Well, you don’t have any friends, do you?”
“Th-that’s⊠it’s not that I *don’t* have them, I just don’t *make* them. I haven’t found anyone I click with.”
“So you don’t have any, then.”
“âŠFuyunose-kun, you’re quite talkative today. Remember this.”
“Ahaha, I’ll prepare myself.”
Kotori, flustered by my composed attitude, started gobbling down sweets to calm herself.
Watching her, I felt an inexplicable sense of peace.
The usually so prickly Kotori, after all, probably does want friends normally. I’d somehow thought of her as a tyrant who reigned with cruelty, but even she likes sweets, and even she wants friends.
Is this what they call a sense of familiarity? In any case, this was a moment when, of my own accord, I felt the distance between Kotori and me shrink.
In the end, Kotori ate every single sweet on the table.
—
â â â
The after-school bell rang.
It was Tuesday. Time for club activities.
“Heeeeey Taro! Let’s go, let’s go, club activities, GO!!!”
Kappin~! If only there were a sound effect to match, Higashikawa made his entrance.
“Let’s go.”
I got up lazily, slung my bag over my shoulder, and walked alongside Higashikawa.
“Man, what should we do today!”
“Senpais can’t make it today because of that career guidance meeting, right? So it’ll just be us.”
“Which means⊠it’s just the two of us alone in the clubroom after school⊠Fuhehe, this is getting spicy!!!”
“The only one getting spicy is you.”
“Fuhehe!!!”
Higashikawa was Higashikawa as always. Feeling a strange sense of reassurance, I walked down the hall.
Our clubroom is in the old school building across the way, not the new one where classes are usually held. The old building isn’t used much for classes now; most rooms are either empty or used for storage.
However, the fourth floorâthe top floorâis where the cultural club rooms are. That said, not many people join clubs these days, and it seems we’re the only cultural club with a room in the old building.
As we walked, chatting about what to do, a familiar face came out of the staff room.
“Ugh, Fuyunose-kun.”
“Can you not react like you just saw a cockroach?”
I’m supposed to be your boyfriend, for now anyway.
“Anyway, what are you doing?”
“Homeroom duties. Fuyunose-kun is⊠ah, that person from the other day.”
Kotori’s gaze landed on Higashikawa, who was beside me. He stiffened nervously, straightened his back, and spoke hurriedly.
“H-hello! I’m Higashikawa Usagi! Pleased to meet you!!!”
“Higashikawa Usagi⊠Ah, I see. That’s how it is.”
She seemed to realize something, and gave me a meaningful glance. I wasn’t sure what she’d figured out, but it was probably good for me.
Still wearing that composed expression, Kotori turned her gaze back to Higashikawa.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Kotori Saya. And regrettably, I seem to be Fuyunose-kun’s girlfriend.”
“*I* should be the one saying that. Why is it regrettable? Also, stop acting like you were forced into it. The situation’s completely reversed.”
“Oh? I could have sworn it was Fuyunose-kun who pleaded with me to go out with him?”
“What world line are you from?”
Seriously, she had it completely backwards.
As I bickered with Kotori as usual, Higashikawa watched us with his hand on his chin.
“I see, she’s already tamed Taro, huh⊠impressive, Kotori-chan!”
“Why am I the one being tamed?”
“Higashikawa-san, you’ve done a fine job training him too.”
“Whaâtraining?! Kotori-chan⊠th-that’s really good if you’re trying to seduce me sexually, really good!”
“âŠFuyunose-kun, you have some rather unusual friends.”
“I’m aware.”
Leaving Higashikawa aside, who was panting excitedly, I talked with Kotori.
“By the way, Kotori, are you free now?”
“I’m not.”
“I see. Well, I’m heading to the clubroom now. Want to come? We’re short on people today.”
“Did you hear what I said? I said I’m not free.”
“I can tell you’re free without even asking. Come on, let’s go.”
I took Higashikawa, who had a slovenly expression, and headed towards the clubroom.
“Hey, don’t just steamroll ahead!”
Who are you to talk? I sighed, then turned back to look at Kotori.
“We’re in a relationship that gives me practically no benefit. The least you can do is come along.”
“Gh⊔
Knowing that Kotori surprisingly holds conventional values, she predictably winced at my words. It seemed she did have some thoughts on that matter.
“Haah, fine.”
Kotori followed behind me reluctantly.
I turned my feet towards the clubroom once more.
