How to lose a girl with a poisonous tongue, starting from 100% likability (Volume 3) - 5 - Chapter 4: The ending of the fair with Himuro-san

 

Chapter 4: The ending of the fair with Himuro-san

 

“Kare ni korai, Aito, let the invincible Nanger group come to you. Jiusiusius, isuru isuru isuru, turn end. Nanna’s victory is now assured.

 

“Ha, I don’t know about that. My turn, draw. Here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here.

 

“Wait a minute!　How many moves are you going to make?　Oh, my Gods! I can’t stand the feeling that I’m taking all the other gods under my chin…”

 

“You …… have a really nice personality. Okay, now all I have to do is get rid of those two archangels and I’m sure I’ll win… but hey, why are you calling me at a time like this, Mom? Oh my God, I’ve got to go…”

 

“Ha-ha-ha! You’ll be punished for trying to avenge God. Nanna’s a good girl. I’ve turned off the line notification. I win.

 

“Damn, it’s not funny that the reason I lost was because of the line from my parents. ……”

 

Nanna smiles her triumphant smile in front of my serious regret.

 

I mean..,

 

“Wait, wait, I didn’t come here for this, did I?

 

I shouted out loud as I finally came to my senses.

 

After I had lunch with my mother at a family restaurant, I was looking around a game store for something to buy when I got the money for my part-time job, when Nanna suddenly contacted me.

 

She said, “It’s time for you to seriously decide what you’re going to do.

 

I was like…. A chill ran down my spine. This was no time to be deciding which game to buy. I really shouldn’t have been deciding what game to buy.

 

I rushed to Nanna’s mansion, which I knew was close by.

 

But…

 

“Before we talk, let’s play a game of Shadopa. The final round of the Grand Prix starts tomorrow. Of course, Aito will be there, right?

 

Nanna invited me to join her and we started playing Shadopa in the waiting area.

 

By the way, the reason why we were in the waiting area is because Nanna said, “This is where the Wi-Fi is the best.

 

And now, after not one, but five rounds, I’m here.

 

“We’ll have to wait for revenge after we talk about the Koisai Festival.

 

He exhales as if to refresh his mind, puts his phone to sleep, and tucks it into his pants. I realize that it’s already three o’clock. I open my mouth again.

 

“I was just wondering, is there any way to cancel the Koisai Festival? For example, if it rains too much or something…”

 

“Oh, you mean like that? Are you saying that Aito should give up the once-a-year day to make a lot of money and get a lot of followers? Is that so?

 

“Well, I guess so. ……

 

Because this is half of Nanna’s fault, isn’t it?

 

“But, as it turns out, that’s impossible. But, as it turns out, that’s not possible. Also, I’ve reserved clear skies, so the day of the festival will be sunny with beautiful starry skies, not raining heavily.

 

“What?　You reserved clear skies?

 

Yes. Yes. We ask the weather god to make a reservation in advance so that we can be sure to have clear skies on this day. I ask the weather god to adjust the date so that the precipitation will not be so low that it will affect the crops. I think I heard that this year, they are planning to have the rainfall around the beginning of the summer vacation.

 

Oh… the sudden heavy rain on the day of the fireworks display on the first day of the summer vacation!　I wonder if God was involved in that. I was looking forward to it. …….

 

“Hmm. How about this, Aito? “I found out that I can’t go to the shrine because of my family’s religious beliefs…”

 

“I’m sorry to hear that, but my mom is helping out with a stall at the festival that day. ……”

 

“Well, that’s that. Then… how about a simple temporary illness?

 

“What if Himuro says he’s coming home to take care of me? No, if he’s really sick, that would be a very welcome development. ……”

 

I can’t help but sigh.

 

If I go to the festival like this, I’m headed for a bad end.

 

Even though I’ve been warned by God for a month now, I’m still hesitant to tell a simple lie, the least I can do to avoid the situation, even with only two days left.

 

I am still afraid.

 

Even if I could prevent them from going to the festival with a proper reason, I can’t help but feel that our relationship will be strained.

 

I have been afraid to lie because of the repeated misunderstandings and miscommunications even though I can hear their true feelings.

 

No matter how small the hole is, if it is there, it will surely affect our relationship someday, somewhere. I couldn’t help but think…

 

“Really, don’t you have anything for me? Is there really any way to turn down this festival with Himuro without regret?”

 

Realizing that this was probably just a pipe dream, he muttered to himself as if he was clinging to the heavens.

 

Slam.

And it happened at the same time.

 

“He …………?”

 

I opened my mouth and someone – Himuro – opened the door and walked into the store.

 

There was an instant silence, and the three of us froze.

 

Himuro and I stared at each other with stunned expressions, unable to move.

 

“Well, it looks like you were in the middle of something. ……”

 

Himuro was the first to open his mouth,

 

“Well, we’ll come back another day. Don’t worry, I didn’t hear anything. I didn’t know what he said except that he was talking about something just as the door was closing. You’re kidding, right? I can’t believe Tajima-kun is trying to refuse to go to the festival with me. …………)

 

Himuro said those lame lies in a nonchalant manner and turned on his heel.

 

Then he pretended to remember something and spoke again with his face hidden.

 

“Oh, I almost forgot. I’ve been unable to go to the Koi Rai Festival because I had to go to a convenience store. For me it was as trivial as going to the convenience store to buy a drink, so I forgot to tell you. Well, it’s a good thing we didn’t cancel.

 

Himuro said quickly and smiled at the end.

 

(So …… this is all right, isn’t it? Think about it, there have been many occasions when Tajima-kun has been affectionate toward me. I can’t even count them on my two hands. …… I can’t say, “No, I’m going with you for sure! I can’t say “No, I’ll definitely go with you!)

 

I tried to cover up my true feelings in this tearful voice …….

 

“……Then.”

 

 

 

I saw a small drop of water fly from her face,

 

“Wait a minute!

 

I found myself running and grabbing Himuro’s arm as she stepped out of the door.

 

I didn’t want us to be separated by a misunderstanding like we had been at the movie theater before.

 

As I cross my eyes with the astonished Himuro, the sound of the door slamming shut is the only sound around us.

 

“What is it, ……?　I mean, it hurts. ……

 

Oh, oh. I’m sorry, I just ………”

 

I let go of his hand in a hurry at the sound of his reproachful voice.

 

“Well, what …… is it …… for now?

 

Not …….

 

What?

 

“If you want to refuse, you can do whatever you want. That’s right, it was just a little bit of fun from the atmosphere, and I didn’t think anything of Tajima-kun from the beginning. (I want to go to the festival with Tajima-kun, you see, I prepared yukata for the occasion. I wanted to make Tajima-kun happy. Of course you want to see him. The man you love in a yukata. It’s blue, just like you said at the inn. ………… Or are you saying we’re not in love ……?)

 

I want to see it, of course I want to see it!

 

“But it was a very elaborate retort, even for you. I didn’t expect this, and I must admit that I admire it. Well, I dare to point out that I won’t suffer a single bit of damage from Damejima-kun’s rejection of my date, even if he’s run out of love for me. Hmmm…”

 

Covering her mouth with her hand, Himuro smiles as if to say she’s disappointed.

 

However, the expression on his face is not the usual mischievous one…

 

It’s a look of sorrow, as if he’s about to burst into tears at any moment.

 

 

…………

 

I bit my lip and turned my head, unable to continue to look at the sad face of Himuro. …….

 

(Oh no,…… don’t hate me,…… Tajima-kun, without you I will be alone again,……)

 

The true feelings of Himuro, wrapped in sadness, stabbed me deeply in the chest.

 

I couldn’t open my mouth.

 

I knew that my poor attempts to make things right would only hurt Himuro more.

 

Damn, how can I ………….

 

“……See you later.”

 

Himuro turns his back on me, tells me in a cold voice, and walks away.

 

This time I couldn’t stop him.

 

My body wouldn’t move.

 

My whole body felt as heavy as lead. My head felt as if it was inoperable.

 

I knew that a hasty, half-hearted explanation would only hurt Himuro more.

 

It’s hard to see Himuro’s sad face any longer.

 

So, I got scared. …….

 

“After all, it’s the same as in the movie theater. …… What are you doing, really? I’m ……”

 

I was left alone, my shoulders shaking as I let out my uncontrollable frustration.

 

“I’m sorry, Aito. It seems that I had turned off my notifications on my line so I didn’t notice the message from Ryoha and …… it …… got complicated…… …”

 

Nanna, who had somehow come out of the store and was nearby, said with an awkward look on her face.

 

Apparently, she had heard me talking to myself. I quietly shook my head and said it was okay.

 

“…… No, it’s not Nanna’s fault. This is my punishment for putting this off for over a month.

 

It’s a little strange to use the word “punishment” when following up with God, isn’t it?

 

“Aito …………”

 

Nanna seemed unusually depressed from the bottom of her heart, but I managed to act cheerful.

 

Besides, I had already made up my mind that since things had come to this point, I had no choice but to move forward.

 

“Don’t look so worried. I’ll have another chance to meet Himuro tomorrow at the student council meeting, and I’ll do my best to clear up his misunderstanding…I have no intention of ending things like this, of course.”

 

Yeah, whatever it takes!

 

The weather on Friday was as clear and sunny as yesterday.

 

“…………”

 

“…………”

 

The air in the student council chambers was the exact opposite of the dreary atmosphere that prevails here…

 

“Oh, you know… the ice room. ……”

 

“Oh, by the way, I haven’t yet tallied up the receipts for the sports festival expenses given to me by the third-year students yesterday. Tajima-kun, could you do it for me?”

 

Just as I was about to speak, Himuro’s ears twitched and she said quickly, “Oh, ah.

 

“Oh, yeah. I understand. ……”

It’s been like this all day.

 

Whenever I tried to talk to him about something, he would say he had something to do and try to force me to cut off the conversation.

 

As if he was afraid to talk to me.

 

I had noticed. I noticed that his hands were hardly moving today as he stared at his laptop.

 

That’s how shocked I was by yesterday’s incident. …….

 

Suddenly, I felt a sharp pain in my chest.

 

I can understand the pain in Himuro’s heart. Yeah, I also felt sad and lonely because I misunderstood that Himuro would leave me because of our misunderstanding during the fake confession fiasco with Aizawa.

 

So I want to clear up this misunderstanding as soon as possible.

 

 

 

I wonder if it would be okay to wait until the end of the week – after the Koisai Festival has passed – before clearing up the misunderstanding. That’s what I’m thinking. Then, the worst thing would happen – another love would come to Himuro because of Koirai’s boundary. This is the only thing that can be avoided.

 

No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no!

 

I shake my head vigorously, as if to shake off any idle thoughts.

 

Try doing that. Yeah, it’ll definitely put a wall between me and Himuro. Not only will we not be able to have an honest conversation, but we won’t even be able to fully enjoy the moment.

 

Besides, I really want to go to the Koisai Festival.

 

The special shrine that brought us together, as the last memory of our two summers with Himuro.

 

Oh, if only there weren’t such a boundary…

 

The story that began with God connecting our feelings for each other is now being folded up by that God… How can that be so ridiculous!

 

An uncontrollable rage rushes through my body, and my hand suddenly tightens its grip on the mouse.

 

What?　Wait a minute, God connected me to …….

 

It was a sudden flash of inspiration.

 

With this… ah, it might work!

 

I can truly enjoy the festival with Himuro without the fear of Koirai’s wards.

 

Yes, I have literally found the hope to make the impossible possible.

 

I’m willing to bet on it.

 

To have a happy ending with Himuro.

 

Well, now that I’ve decided that, I’ll have to invite Himuro to the festival again.

 

“-Hmmm… Looks like that’s it for today.”

 

Himuro looks up at the clock on the wall just after noon.

 

Then he quickly gets up to leave.

 

“Well then, Tajima-kun. I’ve got some things to do today. I’ll see you next week at …….”

 

But now, unlike usual, he is alone …….

 

I don’t want that!

 

“Wait!”

 

I shouted, standing in front of the door of the student council office and blocking the ice room from leaving.

 

“What, are you ……?”

 

“No,…… I just thought that word was funny. <<We’re supposed to meet again tomorrow. You know, we promised to go to the Koisai Festival.”

 

“We’re going to the Koisai Festival.　What nonsense! You’re the one who wanted to break that promise.”

 

The ice room’s stern gaze bared its anger.

 

This is punishment. This is my punishment for procrastinating on an answer to the question of how to deal with Koirai’s boundary.

 

So I take his anger head on and tell him the whole story.

 

“Actually, Nanna told me. She told me not to go to the Koisai Festival with Himuro because bad things would happen.

 

“……Yes. That’s why he got scared. You’re still a man without guts. You’re a scaredy-cat.

 

“Yeah, I think so myself. ……”

 

You really don’t have the guts to get yourself into this mess while you’re still worrying about it.

 

“But I’m sure there was a reason for it. There was a terrible reason why I hesitated to go to the festival with Himuro.

 

A terrible reason?

 

Yes. But I can’t talk about that reason here… so please!　Please, will you go with me to the Koisai Festival?　…… and I’ll explain it all to you there.”

 

I bow my head with all the sincerity I can muster. This is all I can say right now. …….

 

“…… can I ask you something?”

 

After a few seconds, Himuro opened his mouth.

 

“Can you tell me for sure if you still love me?”

 

He stared at me, slowly, as if wrestling with fear.

 

“Do you really have to tell me that?”

 

He laughs quietly and says, “Yes, I do.

 

“Yes, I do.”

 

“Well… ……. Well, then…

 

I’ll tell you what I’m feeling, and I’ll tell you how I’m feeling.

 

“Of course I love you.”

 

I said with a winning smile.

 

“…… Yeah. I hate it.”

 

“Oh, yeah. ……”

 

One voice!　What are you really saying ……?

 

“A man of such small capacity, who claimed to like me, but was about to give up on a date with me over such a trivial matter as a cowardly blow. And that too, without any explanation to me.”

 

Himuro, with a hard look in his eyes, glares at me accusingly.

 

“I’m sorry about that …….”

 

“But it seems that’s not the case now, is it?”

Himuro smiles quietly.

 

“Well, I’ll give you one chance now. If I’m not satisfied with it, I will never make a promise to Tajima-kun again. Please keep that in mind. Well, I don’t mind if it’s the last time. I’m sure you had a special reason to do so. I want to be with you forever. (Yes, I love Tajima-kun, too!)

 

…… Thanks, Himuro.

 

I’ll see you tomorrow. I’ll call you later to find out how much time I have. I’ll be looking forward to it.

 

“What’s that?　It sounds like a parting line, but we’re going to the station together. I think it’s the wrong time to say it.”

 

Himuro sighs heartily, “This guy is totally out of his mind. But his mouth was open in a thin, beaming smile…

 

I was relieved by his words and appearance.

 

I’m glad. I’m glad that I didn’t lose my happy life for the time being.

 

The only thing left to do is to jinx …… the Koisai Festival.

 

Yeah, that way we should be able to …… manage Nanna’s wards!

 

Saturday evening.

 

Saturday evening. The day of Koisai Festival.

 

I arrived at the entrance of the straight road just before the Enkou Shrine, where there are many food stalls, and I was in plain clothes, looking around for Himuro. The area around me was filled with people who seemed to be waiting for each other in the same way. As one would expect from a festival famous for love, the ratio of male-female combinations was quite high.

 

“Oh, there you are. Hey!”

 

Well, it took you 30 seconds to find me when I arrived here… but that’s just barely good enough.

 

I called out loudly, and the coldly smiling Himuro came towards me saying that.

 

I was so pleased to see him walking so quickly that I couldn’t help but relax my mouth.

 

“Well, let’s go then.”

 

“…… wait for me.”

 

“Hmm?”

 

“………… Thoughts.”

 

Himuro, dressed in a yukata, gives me a stern look as if urging me on.

 

As promised, Himuro in her yukata is, to put it mildly, superb.

 

The blue-based design perfectly suited her cool impression, and her unusual hair style, tied at the lower back of her head, combined with the special atmosphere of the fair, made today’s special day all the more special.

 

“Well, that’s just beautiful……… Oh, s**t, why else would I think of something like, “It looks good on you………. It’s always the same then…….Anyway, I’m really glad that I was able to come to the Koisai Festival with Himuro.”

 

“…… Yes. It’s very nice. ……I’d like to thank you in advance. ……Thank you.”

 

Himuro, with a light blush on her cheeks, looks away shyly.

 

I’m not sure if it’s a good idea to have a new one, but I’m sure it’s a good idea to have a new one.

 

“…… sorry Himuro, I’m in a bit of a hurry.”

 

I told him that plainly, and without waiting for a reply, I grabbed him by his slender wrist.

 

“What?

 

“Just follow me for now.”

 

With Himuro in tow, I staggered along the street lined with fair stalls.

 

I grabbed Himuro’s hand tightly, determined not to let go.

 

Because if Himuro meets someone else because of the festival’s warding, it would be more than just a problem.

 

We pass through the rows of food stalls and finally enter the Enkou Shrine.

 

We run up the stone stairs with a magnificent torii gate towering above us. At the top of the stairs, I let out a gasp, which was a bit lame. …….

 

But the last spurt.

 

I caught sight of the shrine of Enko Shrine in my line of vision, and I ran down the cobblestone pavement at a dizzying pace,

 

And then…

 

I let go of Himuro’s hand, put the money into the offering box, put my hands together, and shouted my wish with all my might.

 

“I wish that Ryouha Himuro will always love me!”

 

That’s right, almost all of the money from my part-time job this summer – 50,000 yen in offertory money.

 

The beginning of our love story.

 

Just as Himuro once did when he thought of me in the same way.

 

This… was the solution I came up with.

 

Just as poison is dealt with by poison, Nanna’s unscientific power is counteracted by her own unscientific power.

 

Even if this was a meaningless action against the wards that had been set up for the Koisai Festival, the higher gods who could give orders to the lazy goddess wouldn’t leave it alone.

 

Oh, I’m sure this will work!

 

“Whew!”

 

I let out a small breath, knowing that I had done it. Then I fearfully look at the ice room next to me …….

 

“Ugh…… ah……”

 

There was a moaning voice and unfocused, cringing eyes.

 

Himuro’s entire body was as red as a boiled egg, and he was shaking and trembling.

 

“Tajima-kun!”

 

Himuro, his face flushed, shouted.

 

“Hey, come here!”

 

With that, he yanked my arm and led me to the back of the shrine.

 

When the crowd had completely disappeared, Himuro let go of my hand, took a deep breath, and turned to face me, still with a blush on his cheeks.

 

“Oh, what the h**l was that an imitation of?”

 

“What was that… well, please, what was that ……?”

 

“Oh, no, Tajima-kun, you don’t think he knows about…?”

 

What?　You know …… what?”

 

I try to make a face. This lie is probably the only lie I need to tell.

 

“No, no, it’s nothing. Forget I said that.”

 

Soooo, Himuro takes another deep breath to calm himself down.

 

“…… and?　What does that have to do with the fact that …… you once tried to refuse my appointment?”

 

“Hey, Himuro.”

“What?”

 

Himuro flinched for a moment as I began to speak to him with a serious look in my eyes.

 

“You know this Koi Rai Festival jinx, right?”

 

“Huh ……?　You know that thing …… that more Kimishima students remember than the formula for the quadratic equation, the one that says if you spend time with the person you have a crush on, love will come true…”

 

“Yeah, that’s right. But that’s not what I want to talk about. Actually, there’s another jinx for this festival.

 

“One more thing?”

 

Himuro is puzzled, as if he has never heard of such a thing.

 

“It seems that there is a black anecdote about the Koi Rai Festival that one-sided love can be united, but on the other hand, even if two-sided love is united here, it doesn’t last long, and even if it does, it will break up.

 

“Yes, I didn’t know that ……. I see. …… That’s why Tajima-kun was trying to refuse my invitation the other day.

 

……. Nanna told me about it, and I was like, …… I mean, I was like …….”

 

It’s not really an anecdote, it’s the undeniable truth, but that doesn’t make it a …… lie. Yeah, because this was the cause of all this fuss, that’s for sure.

 

“Hmmm, even if it was. I think it was a groundless fear. Because we don’t meet the criteria for that anecdote. I’m glad you’re not mad at me.　It’s not that they don’t like us, it’s not that they’re no longer in love with us. It’s not that he’s no longer in love with me… for such a… such a… such a… such a… such a great reason!)

 

A heartfelt relief. Himuro, who could see it on the surface, put his hand over his mouth and gave a small smile.

 

I was relieved and happy, too.

 

However, from the …… picture, I wonder if it doesn’t look like a scene where he is being mocked for being so misunderstood….

 

“You don’t understand.”

 

“No, I don’t.”

 

Himuro immediately denies it and his eyes immediately widen. What a fool.

 

“But you’re inviting the opposite s*x you’re interested in to this festival because you want to take advantage of the possibility that… if the jinx rumors are true… So I thought, why don’t you just accept the jinxes that are good for you and ignore the ones that are bad for you?”

 

“Is that so, ……?”

 

“Yeah. What if this jinx is true and there’s something that’s preventing both relationships from working out. And if there’s a little bit of a heart in Himuro for me, and it’s going to be ruined because of this jinx……. You know what I mean?”

 

I kicked the ground in frustration, then looked at Himuro with a gentle smile.

 

“Because, you know, it’s just too much to expect that everything we’ve built up over the years will be ruined because of a god’s festival like this…”

 

This is a true thought from the bottom of my heart. …… Of course, there is also the part about an unfamiliar god.

 

Well, of course I’m grateful to this mysterious god for making me aware of Hishitsu’s feelings. …….

 

“That’s why I asked God for a favor just now. I don’t want to jinx it. I’ll give you all my money and ask you to grant my wish. He said that the people who pay the bills are more important than free content like the Koisai Festival.

 

“You’re an idiot. Tajima-kun, you really are an idiot. You’re a fool. You’re a fool beyond belief. If you’ve always loved… zero, it doesn’t mean you’ll always be zero. Idiot.”

 

The expression on Himuro’s face, which had lost its vocabulary for cursing, was so red that it looked as if the cool student council president had disappeared.

 

“But if it’s a hundred, it means it’s a hundred, and if it’s ten thousand, it means it’s ten thousand forever.”

 

That’s a great story, isn’t it? If I could have the sweet Himuro thinking about me all the time for 50,000 yen, I’d be happy to do it.

 

“Of course, I’m a greedy guy, I’d go for more than that. If it’s a hundred, then a thousand, if it’s ten thousand, then a hundred thousand…”

 

“What?　…………”

 

Himuro, who seemed to be filled with embarrassment and shame, exclaimed.

 

To be honest, I’m at my limit, too. My face was burning so much that it looked like it was about to boil.

 

After a while, Himuro regained his composure and spun his words in an indifferent manner.

 

“You are really a strange person,” he said, “I can’t understand whether your thoughts are positive or negative. You’re by far the most emotional person I’ve ever met in my life.”

 

I’m sure I’ve done the same.

 

I’ve never wanted to work so hard for someone.

 

“But you know, Tajima-kun. Life isn’t that easy. You’re not the hero of the story, and no matter how dramatic your confession is, you’ll never get to the happy ending. Watch me, Tajima-kun. We’ll get there, our happy ending!)

 

Is that so?

 

Yes, I’m sure. I’d say yes, but it looks like we’re in the wrong place this time. This place where they say that if you go with the person you love, you’ll get married. Unfortunately, yes, really.” (Ugh, I’m still the same old me. I’m so, so sorry! But you know, even if we take different routes, the goal we both want to reach should be the same. Right?)

 

Does that mean that you and I are finally going to become lovers?

 

I couldn’t help but look at him as I thought of this, and without a care in the world, he continued to speak.

 

So, Tajima-kun. That’s why I’m in love with you, Tajima-kun.

 

But, he froze in mid-sentence,

 

“This love …… love …………”

 

The heartbeat is accelerating without knowing how to stop it. I gulp and wait quietly for Himuro to finish.

 

Himuro himself probably doesn’t notice that his cheeks have turned vermilion.

 

“I’m going to test you to see if you’re suitable for love …… love… love!”

 

“Heh ……?”

 

I let out a small voice, puzzled by this unexpected turn of events.

 

It was a true confession. It was definitely a confession from the heart…

 

What did you say?

 

Before my stunned face, Himuro took a little distance and turned away from me, breathing a sigh of relief and saying “I could say it” in a small voice of joy. Cute.

 

It seems that what he just said was not a front, and that this “love interest” is exactly what he wanted to confess… …….

 

“Oh, um… ……”

 

What is it?

 

Perhaps because he was able to say what he wanted to say, Himuro turned around and seemed to be back to his normal self.

 

“Is that …… your girlfriend?　That’s …….”

 

Oh, it’s just as the saying goes, a man and a woman who have promised to marry are engaged, while a man and a woman who have promised to be in love are in love. How can there be anything wrong with that?”

 

No, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it. ……

 

“Hmmm, did you think I was going to say <let’s be lovers>? That’s shallow, Tajima-kun.”

 

“No, I mean, …… well, …… that’s just the way it goes. ……”

 

“I was just showing you the possibility of love, the possibility. I’m just trying to jinx your love at least a little, in my way of being nice. Well, the chances of me being in love with you are very slim at the moment, but I think it’s worth a try. But I thought I could say this honestly. Besides, I really want to be your lover, not your girlfriend. Yes, because we still have our reasons not to be lovers.)

 

Himuro laughed teasingly.

 

What’s that?　What’s the reason why we can’t be lovers?

While I was puzzled by the voice in my mind, Himuro continued to speak,

 

“Besides, there’s no way your mother would approve of my relationship with you. I thought Tajima-kun would understand that much better than I do.”

 

I let out a small surprised “ah” when I see the serious look in Hiduro’s eyes.

 

Is this the reason?

 

You acted on your own initiative, overcoming the opposition from those around you… and failed.

 

A mother who cares about her son with all her heart, who doesn’t want him to make the same mistake.

 

“Even marriage is supposed to go ahead only after the marriage proposal is approved by the parents. So it makes sense for us to follow that order as well. At least as long as your mother denies our relationship, I have no intention of going out with Tajima-kun.

 

Himuro understood my mother’s feelings,

 

“Otherwise, everyone won’t be happy. I don’t want to be in a relationship with such guilt. So I’m only going to be with you as my love interest. For now.”

 

“I see. ……”

 

Yeah, I don’t like it either. I hate it when my mom misunderstands how much Himuro thinks about us. I want to tell her that the girl I fell in love with is cute and nice, even though she’s a bit of a b***h and not always honest.

 

I was happy.

 

Because, unlike before, she was making a declaration with her true feelings, not with words of pretense. Because I was able to hear it from the mouth of Himuro.

 

I think this was probably the best he could do at this moment.

 

“I’m not sure if my choice of you will really be the right one. I will test it thoroughly. Well, do your best to make my zero likability grow. If you want to be in love with me, I’ll do my best. I’ll do my best so that Tajima-kun’s mother will understand that I love Tajima-kun very, very much, so that we’ll be a good match, so that in the future we’ll be able to cook together in the kitchen… (I’ll do my best!)

 

Himuro is still a bit of a wimp, but…

 

But still, thank you for thinking of me so much. I’m so happy.

 

I nodded my head vigorously with infinite joy in my heart.

 

“Yeah, I’ll do my best.”

 

“What?　Me too?

 

“Oh, no, …… sorry, I misspoke.”

 

“Yes,……, it’s just like Tajima-kun to be so clumsy at the critical moment. That’s just the way it is. I guess he didn’t find out. My true feelings are not ……!　What am I doing hiding what I have to tell Tajima-kun to make him feel at ease? My stupidity!)

 

“So, what exactly is the test?”

 

“…… I guess. I guess the most important thing is whether or not we can have fun together, so let’s have a mock date first. Of course, Tajima-kun will be the one to come up with the plan. I hope I don’t get a red mark” (I already have a perfect score everywhere with Tajima-kun. And, even though we’re not officially in a relationship, it’s totally OK to use the couple’s discount at movie theaters and the like. So please invite me to the cinemas and such as much as you want. (Heh heh heh)

 

“Oh, okay. I understand. I’ll try to think of various ways to make Himuro happy.

 

“Yes, thank you.”

 

It’s one thing to have zero expectations from the beginning, but having maxed out expectations is a lot of pressure, isn’t it? Let’s do our best at …….

 

And good news, Tajima-kun.

 

“Good news?”

 

I don’t have anyone I like right now.

 

What?

 

Is that so ……?

 

You’ve got one voice and …… you’re telling the truth?　What, what, you don’t like me ……?

 

“Yes, I do. So, depending on how hard you work, there’s a good chance that you could really have a romantic relationship with me, so I think it’s best to be on your toes. While my love is free,” she said, “I’m sure we’ve cleared up the misunderstanding. (Now you’ve cleared up that stupid misunderstanding that I like someone other than Tajima-kun. Don’t worry, I’m devoted to Tajima-kun.)

 

I see. So that’s how it is. ……. That was to clear up the misunderstanding, so you couldn’t hear my heart. It’s complicated. …….

 

“Well, at least I’ll try not to look at anyone but you that way during the test.”

 

“Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. Is that okay?

 

I scratch my cheeks with a wry smile as I feel embarrassed by his honest intentions as I look away from him.

 

“───Now, I ask you again, of course you’re going to try, right?　The test to become my love …… is to become my love (tentative).”

 

Himuro’s pearly eyes stare into mine.

 

When I decided to start out as friends with Himuro, I thought that we could walk together at the pace that the person I love wants.

 

So if Himuro really wants to tell me that, if he really wants me to go along with his slow love, my answer will not change at all.

 

“If it’s okay with Himuro, I’ll be happy to take the test. That test.”

 

I said, somewhat embarrassed, with a smile on my face.

 

“Yeah.”

 

Himuro said casually and looked away from me lightly. I was happy to see his mouth relax slightly, and I couldn’t help but notice it.

 

“Well then, I’m going to seal your temporary contract as a fiancee, so please close your eyes quickly.

 

“What?　The seal of temporary contract ……?

 

Tilting my head, I followed the instruction anyway.

 

But…

 

The moment I close my eyes, I realize…

 

Here, here, here… doesn’t this mean we’re going to kiss?

 

But the test to become a fiancee is like a provisional license for a provisional license, right?

 

Are you really going to kiss someone in such a distant relationship?

 

Is it okay to kiss?

 

No, no, I don’t think Himuro would do such a bold thing. ……

 

But, but that’s why he made her close her eyes… or there’s a possibility…

 

But, no, as the sound of Himuro’s footsteps approach, the pounding in my chest is getting faster and faster… I can’t think straight anymore… I can’t think straight anymore!

 

My heartbeat is so high that it feels like it’s going to explode. The only other sounds I hear are the clanks of the wooden clogs as Himuro approaches, and the area around me seems awfully quiet, as if it’s a lie that it’s noisy with the festival on the other side.

 

And then…

 

A small thump hits me on my right cheek…

 

“What the…?”

 

My face shakes and I reflexively scream and open my eyes.

 

Snap!

 

“To …………?”

 

I was hit by a blinding flash of light at the same time as I did that. I let out a muffled voice and look around with a hazy gaze, not quite grasping the situation.

Then, to my surprise, I saw Himuro smiling happily with a smartphone in his hand.

 

“What’s the matter?　What’s wrong? I wonder what on earth he was expecting. Kiss-jima-kun.”

 

On the phone he was happily showing off, there was a picture of my hideous state, so distorted and confused that I wanted to scream for it to be erased right now.

 

“Best shot. Too bad you’re a floating island. I’m not even your boyfriend yet, let alone your girlfriend, so there’s no way you’re kissing her. Idiot.”

 

“Oh, ah, …… right, right. ……”

 

Sweetly whispered, the best words I’ve ever heard. It’s the best cursing with a lot of sugar. It’s the ultimate in gap moe and fills my heart with a feeling of happiness.

 

A genuine tease in which only one voice can be heard. I’m sure that this means that the real thing is for the lovers to enjoy when they become lovers…

 

As if to make me realize this, Himuro in front of me was smiling coolly at first glance, but then he turned both of his ears red to the tips, as if to say, “Honestly, this is the best I can do right now.

 

So I said with a happy expression on my face.

 

“Well, I’ll save this indescribable feeling of loss for when the day comes. What a surprise.

 

“…… Well, fantasies are a personal choice. I can’t imagine such a future actually coming, but I think you can do whatever you want.”

 

Himuro shrugs his shoulders and turns his face away.

 

（Heh heh heh. We did it, we did it!　We’re finally moving up the ranks from friends to a relationship. Now, I’m going to work harder for our bright future together. Watch me, Tajima-kun. I love you ♡.)

 

I think there was embarrassment, joy, and a little bit of shame afterwards… and a little bit of a sense of accomplishment in coming to love. The reason why I was smiling as much as I could naturally.

 

My wicked love interest is really the best!