How to lose a girl with a poisonous tongue, starting from 100% likability (Volume 1) - 5 - Epilogue

 

Epilogue

 

“Ah, my head hurts so bad, take a break!

 

Sunashiro’s words, which I’ve grown tired of hearing, knocked in my ear. All I can do is sigh.

 

“Hey, hey, ……, I just took a break a while ago…”

 

It was Monday after school. It’s test week and student council is on break, so I’m in the classroom watching Sunashiro study.

 

“Well, well, let’s not worry about the details. I’ll get serious this time when this break is over.

 

But you know what? We’ve only got about ten minutes left. I’m sorry to rush into this, but since I have plans with my friends later on, I guess this is it for today.

 

I glanced at the classroom clock, propped my elbows on the desk, and stammered out a few words. It’s been less than an hour since we started and we’ve had to take two breaks. …….

 

Then Sunashiro looked into my face with a puzzled expression.

 

“…… Hey, Otajima. Are those rumors true?

 

“What do you mean, rumors?”

 

“Don’t be silly. It’s been talked about all day today, the rumor that you became friends with Himuro-san, of course it’s true.

 

“Ah, that’s it. ……”

 

He pulls his cheeks in a deliberate manner.

 

Since she acted so boldly in a shopping mall, which is a hangout for high school students, naturally someone – Saeki, of all people, had seen her.

 

The sightings spread quickly in the morning. It seems that someone contacted Himuro himself to inquire about the truth. …… Well, I’m sure it was mostly that ponytailed woman.

 

Himuro apparently made it clear that he was not a friend of Tajima-kun. I’ve decided to go out with Tajima-kun as a friend. He’s really invincible when it’s not me.

 

It sounds very similar to the words used by celebrities to cover up their own infatuation reports, but the nonchalant look on her face revealed it to be true.

 

“I’ve been telling you for a while now that it’s not a fact. I have to leave early today because I have something to do with a friend.”

 

“Well. Well, if you’re happy with that, I don’t really have anything to say about it, but that spirit of keeping Himuro-san around for the time being really annoys me. I’m sorry.”

 

Sunashiro swears at me and I reply with a dry smile. Well, I guess that’s what you’d expect from someone who’s seen most of what’s happened in the past. Because Himuro is Himuro up to now. Even so, there are rumors around him that he surrendered with a compromise plan because he was too persistent. I see…

 

“Well, I’m sorry but it’s about time for me to go. See you tomorrow, Sunajo.”

 

“Oh.”

 

I stand up and tell Sunajo, who is idly fiddling with his phone, and walk out of the classroom.

 

“Oh Otashima, I forgot to tell you one thing…”

 

Sunashiro stopped me just as I was about to leave the classroom and walk out into the hallway.

 

“I’ve decided to seriously try to go to college too, so I’m looking forward to working with you …….”

 

He fixed his eyes on his phone to hide his embarrassment, and said this in a brusque manner, perhaps because it was a very serious matter, not unlike Sunashiro who loves to make fun of people.

 

“Oh, leave it to me. I’ll cooperate with you as much as I can.

 

“Okay. I’ll do my best.

 

I left the school and headed for my destination.

 

The meeting place with my friends. It was a café…

 

“You’re late, Tajima-kun. It seems your punctuality doesn’t change even in your private life. My tea is already cold.

 

My friend, Ryouha Himuro, who had arrived earlier, gave me a hard look.

 

However, the voice in my heart was..,

 

（Thank goodness she came at 5 o’clock as she promised. I’m relieved that the meeting was successful.)

 

I was relieved that the rendezvous had been arranged, and I was happy as a girl in love.

 

I pushed the urge to smirk into the pit of my stomach and sat down on the other side of the table with a wry smile on my face.

 

By the way, about this phenomenon, the goddess who had been disappointed that I would have less time to play games after the long battle was decided told me, “I’ll leave it as it is until Ryoha can speak her mind 80% of the time, which will be convenient for her. Well, here we are.

 

“I don’t know about you, but it seems to be normal for friends to go into a random store after school like this, and have unproductive conversations with no particular agenda or purpose in mind. Now, Tajima-kun, give us something to talk about” (Hmmm, isn’t it great that we can be together on days when there is no student council meeting, Tajima-kun. You don’t have to feel lonely.)

 

“Yes, that’s right. We usually talk about our hobbies, TV, and other things we have in common.

 

“Hobbies and TV. ……”

 

“Well, to be honest, it doesn’t really make a difference if it’s a friend or a lover.”

 

“Well, since it’s the first time, I’d like to do something more like friends” (something I don’t think the student council can do)

 

“What do you mean by ‘like friends’?　I honestly don’t know the difference between a friend and a lover.

 

“…… I guess you’re right. I guess you’re too happy to be friends with the person you love to see the difference between friends and lovers.

 

You have such a sunny head that I could dry my laundry. Himuro smiles as if to say so.

 

“Big difference?”

 

I tilted my head, not understanding what he meant. Then he held up his index finger.

 

“Yes. First of all, friends don’t walk around holding hands. Too bad for you.”

 

She said this with a smug look on her face,

 

“And kissing is natural. This is Japan. And …… pairing things together is a bit much for just friends. Oh, and if you two make plans to meet outside of the school in the future, it’s a play date between friends, not a date. Please keep that in mind.”

 

It’s like he’s really having fun with the joke, but …… there’s a lie in it.

 

“Oh, oh …… I’ll keep that in mind ……”

 

“Hmm, I hope you’re disappointed that it’s not what you imagined. Sucks.”

 

A mischievous smile is sent to me from Himuro, who takes my apprehension the wrong way.

 

（I’m a little disappointed, but I think everything needs boundaries. We are friends now. (…… though it’s still a shame…)

 

Apparently, these were his true feelings.

 

“But you know, Tajima-kun. ……

 

It was an unusually gentle way for Himuro to start the conversation.

 

“And my friend said that …… it’s OK for us to go home together!　And also, you can go shopping, eat, and take a side trip. But, of course, it’s within the school rules.

 

Her gaze swept in the opposite direction from beginning to end.

 

In short, he wanted to tell her, “Let’s go home together after the student council meeting from now on.

The voice was mismatched, but it was sincere.

 

I think to myself, “Isn’t that already the level of a date?

 

Because I’ve only just finished the bizarre prologue.

 

First of all, I have to slowly move on to the daily life part of the story.

 

Work hard on academics, do the student council, and share the fun of having a good time with friends.

 

That’s our new daily life together.