"Well then, congratulations are in order."
That night, I called Yuji. I wanted to talk about something like this directly, person to person.
"I’m going to do my best to help Sara-senpai properly understand her feelings."
"To be honest, you’re practically a couple already. I’d even go as far as to say that you were already acting like lovers before this happened."
Was that really the case? I knew I liked Sara-senpai, but since she hadn't shared those feelings, I thought our situation was fundamentally different.
"I think you’ll be fine just continuing on as you have been. The foundation was already there, so I’m sure she’ll start noticing things on her own soon enough."
"You think so?"
Had we really established that much of a baseline? I suppose there were times when I just let myself be swept along by her pace. Yuji seemed to have a good handle on the situation, though. Even though we’d only talked over the phone and I’d never actually introduced her to him...
"I’ll introduce you to her sometime soon."
"Yeah, I’ll look forward to it."
"What should we do? Should I say congratulations?"
I wonder. I have heard Takanashi-san’s feelings, but I do not believe I have given him a proper answer yet. After returning home and calming down to think, even if I were asked if anything should change starting tomorrow, I could only say that I intend to keep doing exactly what I have been doing. When I look at it that way, it all feels rather complicated.
"Natsumi, there is one thing I would like to ask..."
"Hmm? What is it? Love Talk already?"
Love Talk... is this what constitutes such a conversation? There is so much I do not understand; it is quite troubling.
"Right now, I find myself wishing for tomorrow to arrive quickly so that I may see Takanashi-san. However, if you were to ask me if I have ever felt this way before, the truth is that I always have."
"Yeah, and?"
"I want to make a Bento for Takanashi-san, and it makes me happy when he tells me it is delicious. I want to do things that bring him joy."
"Mm-hmm."
"But those are all things I have felt until now as well. Even though I have resolved to experience love, when I think about it like this, the things I wish to do for Takanashi-san do not seem to have changed at all..."
"........."
Ah, I see...
Essentially, Sara just hadn't realized it herself. Her feelings and the things she’d been doing for him were already at a "lover level." That’s why, even assuming they officially became a couple today, her daily routine wouldn't actually change.
To put it another way, they could be considered a couple even if they just kept doing what they’d always done. She’d been all fired up for a big change, only to be tripped up when she couldn't find one.
Wait, what am I supposed to say to that? In Sara's case, the only thing that’s really going to change is her heart. For now, I’ll just explain that much and leave the rest to Takanashi-kun.
"Okay, first, you need to understand that the things you were doing for Takanashi-kun were already way beyond the scope of a 'friend.' You’ve been doing things for him that people usually only do for their significant others. It’s no wonder you feel this way."
"I see... In other words, even if I was not conscious of it, I was already treating Takanashi-san like a lover... with Takanashi-san... lo... love..."
She's trying to stay composed, but she’s definitely becoming self-conscious. That’s a sign that it's finally sinking in, so it’s definitely a good thing.
"I understand. If that is the case, I shall try to continue as I always have starting tomorrow. Perhaps I will come to understand something. At any rate, I simply wish to see Takanashi-san as soon as possible. I want to talk with him, and do things that will make him happy..."
Her feelings for Takanashi-kun seem to be surging, probably because she’s finally aware of them. I can't believe she just said this was "the same as before." But for the current Sara to move to the next step, she might need to experience the kinds of emotions that only come with love.
I wonder what those would be...
"Good morning, Sara-senpai."
"Good morning, Takanashi-san."
Standing before Sara-senpai, I couldn't help but remember everything that happened yesterday. Her smile, and the pure, heart-wrenching way she asked me to teach her about love.
"I love you... Takanashi-san."
Just thinking of her voice made my face heat up.
"Takanashi-san, is something the matter? Your face is quite red."
"No, it's just... looking at you makes me remember everything from yesterday."
It was no use. Being conscious of her only made the blushing worse.
"Takanashi-san, if you'll excuse me."
Sara-senpai watched my face for a moment, then leaned in close and reached her hand toward my head.
"Please, try to calm yourself. Since I am the one who asked this of you, Takanashi-san, this is all I can really do for now..."
As she spoke, she began to slowly and gently stroke my head. My happiness must have leaked onto my face, because as soon as she saw it, she asked me a point-blank question.
"Takanashi-san... does it make you happy when I do this for you?"
"Eh... well, yeah."
Had she ever been this direct before? I was definitely happy, but admitting it out loud was incredibly embarrassing.
"...No, it is nothing. I have done this for you before, and I can see by your expression that you are pleased. Since last night, I have wanted nothing more than to see your happy face, Takanashi-san..."
Sara-senpai gave me a radiantly happy smile and leaned even closer, closing the distance between us. W-Wait, what’s gotten into her?
"Uh, Senpai... we're on the School Route..."
"Takanashi-san..."
Sara-senpai looked me straight in the eyes. As if drawn in by a vacuum, I met her gaze. She smiled beautifully, and then—
"Hey. How long are you two planning to flirt? You’ve completely forgotten I’m even here, haven't you?"
Natsumi-senpai’s irritated voice snapped me back to reality.
"...Honestly, what was the point of me worrying so much yesterday? How is this 'the same as before'? You’re clearly being more lovey-dovey than ever..."
It seemed that, just like yesterday, I had managed to sour Natsumi-senpai’s mood.