"Mama!"
We found Kishiyama-san’s Mother easily at the cafe.
When she noticed her daughter, her eyes widened at the sight of us. It was only natural; total strangers had just walked up with her child. Come to think of it, if Sara-san hadn't been by my side, I might very well have been mistaken for a predator.
"Um, see, Takanashi-kun is Yu-kun's Best Friend. Yu-kun had to go somewhere, so he walked with me."
It seemed she was introducing me in her own way. As long as I was established as Yuji’s Best Friend, things should be fine. I decided to take over the explanation.
"Yuji had to step away for an urgent matter, so I took over for him."
"Is that so? I'm sorry for the trouble."
"Not at all. Yuji might be a little late getting back."
"He went chasing after a lady!"
She effortlessly ruined my tactful phrasing. Then again, now that I knew she was an elementary school student, I couldn't exactly expect her to read the room.
Even so... elementary schoolers are something else these days.
"Yuji-kun did? Ahaha, well, well. That’s a shame for you, Asami."
"It really is. Even though he already has someone like me."
"Is that a line from an anime?"
"Yeah."
I see, she was just parroting anime lines. That made sense. Sara-san let out a deep sigh beside me.
Now that our duty was done, we said our goodbyes to the pair and left.
Shopping was still on the agenda, but I was dying to know how things were going between Yuji and Natsumi-senpai. Should we check on them first?
"Sara-san, what should we do?"
"Let's see... we still have plenty of time for Shopping, so why don't we go look for them? I'm quite curious myself."
As expected, Sara-san was just as interested, so we decided to prioritize the search over the furniture. I just hoped the misunderstanding had been cleared up.
"Still... I was shocked to learn that girl was an Elementary School Student. I had suspected her childish behavior was a calculated act... but knowing she's just acting her age, she's actually quite cute."
"I thought the same for a while. Her childishness felt a bit off, so I just came out and asked."
"I think makeup is a bit premature for an elementary schooler. Besides, it isn't good for the skin."
I agreed that it was too early for a child to wear it, but was it really that bad for the skin?
...Come to think of it, I had never seen Sara-san wearing Makeup. I didn't think she needed it, of course, but I’d always assumed women just wore it as a matter of course. That was why I’d thought she needed a Dressing Table...
"Fufu... I do the bare minimum of skincare, you know. I simply don't wear makeup."
She must have realized what I was thinking by the way I was looking at her. She’d seen right through me again.
"I don't think you need makeup, Sara-san. I love you exactly as you are."
"Thank you. Since you say so, Kazunari-san, I shall continue to go without it."
Even if she didn't wear makeup, I figured a Dressing Table would still be useful for other things. I decided to buy one as planned.
With that settled, we walked toward the area where the two of them had likely headed. Soon, we reached a set of stairs and a door leading outside. They’d probably gone through one of those.
"Which way, do you think?"
"...If I recall, the Rooftop is a Garden-style Space that doubles as a Gardening Section. Atmosphere-wise, that seems like the most likely spot."
Atmosphere-wise, huh?
That meant Sara-san thought there was a chance Yuji would actually confess. Natsumi-senpai had been the one to run off, so I wasn't sure if he’d thought that far ahead, but still...
"Sara-san, won't we be in the way?"
"...Let's just observe from a distance. When you gave me your Confession, Natsumi was right there watching... so even if we end up seeing them, we’ll just be even. ♪"
Sara-san let out a cute little giggle, her expression turning slightly mischievous.
Side Yuji
Did she go outside or take the stairs? After a moment of debate, I decided to head for the Rooftop.
Knowing Natsumi, I didn't think she would have headed for the crowded exit while in that state.
I ran up the stairs and stepped out onto the Rooftop, where a Western-style garden stretched out before me. Just as I was wondering where to start, I noticed a Hanging Chair swaying unnaturally. Someone was sitting in it—upon closer inspection, it was almost certainly Natsumi-san.
I approached quietly, making sure she didn't notice me, then suddenly stepped out directly in front of her to block her path.
"Hya?! W-W-What?!"
Startled by my sudden appearance, Natsumi-san fell into a minor panic. It wasn't just the surprise; she seemed flustered to see that it was me.
"I've been looking for you. I have a lot to say, but for now, let me just clear up the misunderstanding."
"......"
She didn't reply, but her prickly attitude seemed to melt away the moment I mentioned a misunderstanding. It appeared she was willing to listen.
Instead, she just looked strangely restless.
"That girl is my cousin. She was spouting a lot of nonsense, but it was all a joke."
"..."
She remained silent but gave a small nod. Since she didn't look shocked, she might have suspected as much. Either way, I was relieved she believed me.
"By the way, she's an elementary school student..."
"Eeeehhh?!"
She looked so utterly floored that I could practically see a "Gaan!" sound effect behind her. It seemed she really hadn't realized. Asami is certainly precocious, but she's a genuine Elementary School Student.
Natsumi-senpai slumped forward, looking down, and began muttering to herself while clutching her chest.
That... well.
I really don't want to say this, but Asami is probably on the larger side for her age. Her height... and that, too.
And she’s probably... bigger than Natsumi-san.
"An elementary schooler... Ugh..."
I felt like I should say something to comfort her, but I honestly didn't know what. If I said the wrong thing, I risked being called a pervert. It was probably better to just change the subject.
"Natsumi-san, do you understand it was just a misunderstanding now?"
My words snapped her back to reality, and she hurriedly pulled her hands away from her chest. Instead, she let out a low "Uuu—" growl to try and intimidate me. What a cute creature.
Now, this was the moment of truth.
I was convinced that Natsumi-san’s reaction was jealousy. That meant she cared enough about me to feel that way... even if it was unintentional.
If she was already aware of it, this would be simple. I intended to go all the way. Since we didn't get many chances to see each other, I couldn't afford to waste this one.
If she wasn't aware... well, I’d cross that bridge when I got to it.
"Natsumi-san, why wouldn't you listen to me? If you’d just given me a second, you would have understood."
"Ugu..."
I didn't mean for it to sound like an interrogation, but that was how it came out. I regretted not finding a better opening, but the die was cast. I had to keep going.
"I'm not blaming you, Natsumi-san. I just want to know why you ran all the way here without listening. I want to know the reason."
I stared into Natsumi-san's eyes, signaling with my own that I wouldn't let her go until I heard it. I refused to look away.
Eventually, unable to withstand my gaze, she looked down... but I could see her face flushing.
I felt so relieved that I did a mental fist-pump. She was definitely conscious of me. I didn't know if she’d realized her jealousy yet, but seeing her like this was enough for me to push through.
As I kept my gaze fixed on her, Natsumi-san finally began to speak, her voice tinged with a bit of exasperation.
"Ah, jeez!! Fine, I get it!! It was jealousy, okay?! Anyone can see it was jealousy!! Is that so wrong?! I'm the one who's most surprised here!"
Even that half-desperate outburst was so typical of Natsumi-san that I almost laughed. At any rate, she had clearly realized it. If so, she should also understand what it implied.
"I understand what my own actions mean. Since I got here, I've been thinking about what Tachibana-kun is to me. After thinking about everything since we met, I finally found an answer. Once I realized it, I got so flustered I didn't know what to do, and my head got all jumbled... I've never felt like this before..."
Natsumi-san seemed to be struggling to explain it.
From the looks of it, she was just bewildered by her own heart. I think she’d been somewhat conscious of me before, but everything today had happened so fast that she couldn't keep up.
In other words, I needed to make Natsumi-san acknowledge her own feelings. That said...
""............""
We both ended up staring at each other, frozen.
I thought I could just ride the momentum... but suddenly my heart was hammering against my ribs. Thinking about what I was about to do made me seize up with nerves.
Is a Confession... really this terrifying?
I finally understood how incredible Kazunari is.
To do this not just in front of Natsumi-san and the others, but in front of Satsukawa-san's mother... Hayato always said he respected the guy, and now I finally knew why. He’s definitely worth respecting.
"W-What is it?"
My sudden silence seemed to confuse Natsumi-san. She was looking at me warily.
Knowing that the more I thought, the more I’d freeze, I decided to just throw it all out there with the intensity of a leap from the Kiyomizu Stage.
"I... I love you, Natsumi-san."
"...............Heh?"
She looked like she didn't even understand what I’d just said. Her face went completely blank. But that only lasted a second; as the realization dawned, her face turned a deep, burning crimson. I probably couldn't talk, though, because I was likely the same.
"W-W-W-What... so suddenly..."
"It's not sudden. I've felt this way for a long time. You just didn't notice, Natsumi-san. You led me around by the nose without ever realizing it. You totally toyed with me."
Now that I’d gotten the hardest part out, I was starting to find my rhythm again. It might have been an unnecessary jab, but after being dragged around for so long, I felt I was entitled to one.
"What?! What's that supposed to mean?! Don't make it sound so bad, like I toyed with you! I didn't really..."
"Wait, you really weren't aware?"
"Guh...... I-I admit I led you around..."
It seemed Natsumi-san was getting her rhythm back too. This was probably right for us. I didn't think the kind of sugary-sweetness that made people cringe—like Kazunari and his fiancée—really fit our characters.
"Haa... I was so flustered a minute ago that I didn't know what to do... but now the tension’s just gone. I used to dream of a romantic confession like Sara’s, something like a drama... but you really did it."
"Then, shall we start over?"
"No, forget it. It's not like Tachibana-kun is the type to do things for me the way Takanashi-kun does for Sara."
"It's not my style. But if you want, I can try to act more like Kazunari."
"That really isn't my style either. I could never be a Pure Maiden like Sara."
I thought Natsumi-san looked quite a bit like a maiden when she heard my confession, but she’d probably just deny it if I said so.
We had returned to our usual banter, but I couldn't let it end there. It would be a waste if my hard-earned confession just fizzled out.
"You don't have to make that face. I heard you. I perfectly understand what you said."
Natsumi-san smiled gently at me, and in that moment, she seemed like a mature woman. She really was the Big Sisterly Type—it was the classic Natsumi-san look.
"I was thinking about a lot of things while I was alone. I’ve thought Tachibana-kun was different from other guys since the beginning. But because of Sara and the others, I just saw you as someone I could be myself around, someone fun to be with. I wasn't thinking about romance."
That wasn't just her. I’d looked at her the same way. Our compatibility probably came from that shared ease.
"I was the same. I saw you as a friend, a comrade, and a Guardian for Kazunari and the others. Until I realized how I felt, I was just like you."
"Yeah, I thought so. That's why I thought of Tachibana-kun as a friend I got along with... and it was fun leading you around, too."
She didn't even sound sorry as she admitted she enjoyed dragging me around. The frustrating part was that I’d enjoyed it too, so I guess we both had a good time.
"I realized I saw Tachibana-kun as someone special. Once I understood that what I felt earlier was jealousy, it all hit me. My heart was pounding, and I was flustered for no reason... I guess this is what it means for something to not be logical."
Natsumi-san's cheeks grew redder.
We were basically at the finish line, but it wasn't over yet.
Don't let your guard down until the very end... me.
"Hey, Tachibana-kun, are you really okay with someone like me? I’m saying this myself, but I’m not feminine like Sara. I couldn't even manage half the devotion she shows. I can't be all sweet and coddling, I’m not great at Housework, and lovey-dovey stuff might be hard. Plus, my chest is small..."
She made herself sound like she was completely useless, but...
The relationship I wanted—no, that we wanted—wasn't some ultra-sweet Protagonist Couple style. We could have our own way of doing things.
And as for the chest, I didn't really care.
"I'll ask you back then: what kind of relationship do you want, Natsumi-san? Do you want to be all sweet, lovey-dovey, and sugary like Kazunari and Sara? I don't. As long as our hearts are connected, I think it's fine to have a relationship like we’ve had, where being together is just fun. Well, I wouldn't mind being a little lovey-dovey once in a while."
I told her exactly how I felt. As expected, Natsumi-san had a habit of comparing herself to Satsukawa-san, but there was no need for that. It’s true that Satsukawa-san was like the embodiment of a "man's ideal," but I loved Natsumi-san. It had to be Natsumi-san.
"I feel the same way. Though, you do want to be lovey-dovey... Hmm, I can't really imagine myself doing that."
"I can't imagine it either. In fact, listening to us talk, I’ve always thought of Kazunari and Sara as a Like-minded Couple, but it seems we’re much the same."
"......I was trying not to think about that. Now I won't be able to say anything to Sara."
It seemed Natsumi-san felt the same way, which was a relief.
Anyway... I liked talking with her, but I had to prioritize the goal. If I didn't get a clear answer soon, this would just be Slow Torture.
"I'll say it again: I love you, Natsumi-san. Everything I said earlier is how I feel. I love you because being with you is fun and comfortable. So, please give me an answer."
This time, I was able to say it without bracing myself. I felt like I’d finally broken through. We didn't need a romantic atmosphere like the others. Sorry, Natsumi-san, but this is just who we are.
"Haa... Seriously, not a shred of mood or romance. I guess that’s like us... I’ll tell you now, it still hasn't sunk in yet. So even if you tell me to act like a girlfriend, I probably won't be able to."
"I know. That's just like us, too."
"Ahaha, you're right. I lose... I admit it."
She looked up at me with a bright red face and let her gaze lock onto mine. Seeing her act so differently made my heart hammer in my chest. I knew the answer was coming, but the nerves wouldn't stop...
"I love you, Tachibana-kun. If someone like me is really okay..."
"It has to be you, Natsumi-san. ...Please go out with me."
Hearing the reply I’d been waiting for, I answered immediately. My blunt, momentum-driven words made Natsumi-san’s eyes go wide before she suddenly burst out laughing. "Pfft..." Truly... we couldn't keep it serious until the very end.
"Nfufu, what a weirdo. If you like being led around that much, I'll lead you around without holding back. Look forward to it."
Natsumi-san declared that with a brilliant smile.
That smile was more dazzling than the sun overhead... or at least, that was how it looked to me.
Even if our relationship had moved a step forward, we might look the same as always to an outsider. But our hearts were certainly connected, and as long as I knew that, everything would be fine.
"Well then... I look forward to being with you. And... if you want to be lovey-dovey, well, I'll try my best... even if it's embarrassing."
"U... Y-Yes, I look forward to being with you too, Natsumi-san."
"Yeah... I love you, Yuji ♪"
To say something like that so shyly at the very last second—she really was an unfair woman.
In a different sense, I felt like she was already leading me around...
And so, we became Lovers who were just like Best Friends.