"Takanashi-kun, are you heading to the Student Council now?"
We were approached while making our way to the Student Council Room.
The girl hadn't addressed me, but Takanashi-san. She looked familiar, and she seemed to be on quite friendly terms with him.
"Yeah. Shinjo-san, are you off to the tennis court?"
"Ehehe, you can tell?"
"Of course. Anyway, cheer for Natsumi-senpai for me, too."
Since the Sports Festival, Takanashi-san has been approached like this much more frequently.
It concerns me, especially since even students from other grades call out to him now, but his response is usually along the lines of, "I don't really know who they are."
Looking at his expression, he doesn't seem to be lying.
However, what truly weighs on me is the fact that so many of them are women...
And today, he seemed to be speaking with her even more familiarly than usual.
I believe she might be a classmate of his, which might explain the comfort between them.
Yet, seeing Takanashi-san smiling and chatting with other women leaves me with a bitter taste in my mouth.
In the past, I simply disliked how forward those women were with him...
But now, I find myself frustrated even with Takanashi-san for returning their smiles so easily.
What is this feeling?
I despise myself for harboring such thoughts toward the Takanashi-san I love so much.
"Big Brother, over here!"
"Alright, wait up!"
"Kyaaa!"
Mio-chan squealed with delight as I gave chase. Her hair, tied in tiny tails, bounced cutely as she ran.
"Mio-chan, don't run so fast! You'll fall!"
Todo-san called out, her face tight with worry.
I felt the same. Watching a child run always makes me nervous—they look like they could trip at any second.
On my way back from shopping today, I’d been tackled from behind by Mio-chan.
She had been out for a walk with Todo-san and insisted I join them. That was how we ended up playing in a nearby park.
I was idly thinking about how surprisingly good her balance was when she suddenly took a tumble.
"Mio-chan!?"
I rushed over and picked her up. Her face was scrunched up, looking like she was one second away from bursting into tears. I quickly held her close and started rubbing her reddened knee.
"There, there... the pain is all gone, see?"
"Mio-chan is a big girl; she won't cry. You're so brave."
As Todo-san and I fussed over her together, the threat of tears vanished, replaced by a bright smile.
"Good girl, Mio-chan."
"Oh? Is that Takanashi-kun and Mio-chan? Who’s the other girl?"
Natsumi spoke up as she spotted them in the park.
I followed her gaze and saw Takanashi-san just as he was picking up the fallen Mio-chan.
Then, a woman nearby hurried over to him and began stroking the head of the little girl in his arms.
...Who is that? Why is she being so familiar?
No, if she is related to Mio-chan, it is only natural for her to be an acquaintance of Takanashi-san as well. It is wrong of me to think such selfish, judgmental things.
The two of them looked as though they were comforting the child together.
There it was again... that feeling.
"My, my. They look just like a certain couple I know."
Natsumi glanced at me with a smirk.
A certain couple... She was likely referring to the time Takanashi-san and I looked after Mio-chan together.
I see. So that was how we appeared to others back then.
......Wait.
Does that mean...
Takanashi-san is doing the exact same thing with another woman that he did with me?
He is smiling at that woman just like he smiled at me.
Which means a woman who isn't me can do the same things for him.
It means that while I am not looking, all the things I want to do for Takanashi-san might be done by someone else instead.
I don't like it.
I hate it.
I have been by Takanashi-san's side all this time. Why are you trying to move into my spot?
Please stop. Please get away. That is my place... It is mine alone.
And Takanashi-san, please... don't smile at her like that.