36 - Tojo Ayaka's Thoughts⑤

RAW

I walk side by side with Otsuki's grandmother on a narrow road in a residential area.

When I told her I was going to visit Otsuki, she said, "Let's go together. I'll show you to our house."

Under the refreshing summer sky in the morning, Otsuki's grandmother walks next to me with a big smile on her face.

I'm drawn in by her smile too, but inside I'm in the biggest panic of my life.

Why does Otsuki's grandmother think I'm his girlfriend? Really?

That thought has been going round and round in my head for a while now.

"Um, um... what did Otsuki say about me?"

From what my grandmother has said so far, it seems that Otsuki told her that I was his girlfriend...

Otsuki, did you think of me as your girlfriend?

If that's the case, what should I do... Ah, I can't help but grin.

But it's weird, right? It's not like Otsuki.

Considering his personality up until now, it's a little strange to just tell grandma that I'm his girlfriend without telling me, right? Well, I'm very happy about it, though.

While I was thinking about this, grandma told me with great amusement how Otsuki had told her about me.

"Haruto said that Ayaka was very cute. He said that your smile is especially lovely, and that you're a big sister who cares about her little brother."

Wow!! Ha, ha, I'm so embarrassed!!

I feel like my face is going to burst into flames!!

...But, I see, Otsuki likes my smile... I see... Hehe.

"Hehehe..."

"Ayaka-san?"

"Oh, no, no. I'm really happy that he said that, Otsuki-kun."

Oh, that was close.

If I let my guard down, my face would loosen and a sloppy smile would overflow.

I couldn't look that sloppy in front of Otsuki-kun's grandmother. I had to get myself together!

Like that, I continued walking for a few minutes, occasionally chatting with the grandmother.

Finally, I arrived at Otsuki-kun's house.

From the outside, it looked a little old, but it was just an ordinary house.

But to me, just because it was Otsuki-kun's house made it look very special.

"Please come in."

The grandmother opened the front door first and handed me a pair of slippers.

"Oh, thank you. I'll come in."

I put on the slippers and went in to Otsuki-kun's house.

Ah, I can smell Otsuki's scent.

I take a deep breath so grandma won't notice.

"Haruto's room is on the second floor, so come this way."

"Ah, yes. Sorry."

Grandma leads the way to Otsuki's room.

I follow her up the stairs.

With each step I climb, I feel my heart beating faster.

My heart is pounding because I'm about to enter Otsuki's room and I'm about to hear why he called me his girlfriend.

"Haruto, can I come in?"

Grandma asks as she knocks on the door.

After a short pause, I hear a reply.

"Yeah, sure."

Otsuki's voice sounds a little lifeless.

Hearing this, my tension reaches its peak.

I was happy to meet Otsuki, worried about his health, awkward about visiting his room, and had doubts and expectations about him calling me his girlfriend.

All these emotions mixed together and I couldn't understand what was going on.

In front of me, his grandmother opened the door and entered Otsuki's room.

"Haruto, your girlfriend has come to visit you."

"...Huh? Your girlfriend?"

I could hear Otsuki's confused voice.

I took a deep breath, then steeled myself and went inside the room.

"Oh, Otsuki. Are you feeling okay?"

"--?! Tojo-san..."

When Otsuki's eyes met mine, his face was one I'd never seen before, and I wanted to capture it on camera.

First he looks at me with tired, dull eyes, then he opens his eyes in shock, and his face goes pale.

"Haruto, who would've thought you'd have such a cute girlfriend?"

"Uh, uh... uh, no, well, grandma, you know..."

Otsuki looks extremely shaken up.

I'm used to seeing him usually so mature and calm, so he looks a little young now.

"Otsuki, this. I bought some fruit. Do you think you can eat it?"

"Huh? Ah, well, sorry. Thank you for taking the time."

Otsuki seems a little confused by my sudden conversation. "Ayaka-san, you bought a lot for Haruto. You've got a really good girlfriend."

"Um, yeah... Ah, no, it's not that..."

Otsuki-kun seemed to want to say something, but he hesitated, unable to find the words.

Then Grandma looked at the bag full of fruit I was holding and said.

"Well, shall I peel them for you?"

"No, I'm sorry about that, but if you let me use the kitchen, I'll do it."

"It's fine, it's fine. Don't worry about it. Ayaka-san, please stay by Haruto's side."

"Well, I'll take you up on that offer."

I bowed my head and handed the bag to Grandma.

Otsuki-kun and I were left alone in the room.

"......"

"......"

An awkward silence flowed through the room.

Otsuki has had his head down for a while now.

"Um, Otsuki? How's your cold?"

"...Yes, it's getting better..."

Otsuki sounds weaker than usual and sounds very depressed.

"Um, you see... Your grandmother just told me that, um, I, um... I'm your girlfriend..."

"Sorry!"

Before I could finish, Otsuki got off the bed and bowed down to me.

What?! Hey, wait a second, Otsuki!

You've got a cold so you should stay in bed!

Without giving me a chance to say anything, Otsuki started apologizing to me.

"I'm really sorry for lying and making you feel uncomfortable, Tojo-san! I don't know how to apologize... I'll tell my grandmother that it was a lie, Tojo-san..."

"Hey! Wait a minute!"

I interrupt Otsuki-kun's apology.

"I'm not angry or anything, and I don't feel uncomfortable. I'm just really curious as to why you lied and said I was your girlfriend."

I say with a serious look in my eyes.

Otsuki-kun looks me in the eye for a moment, then suddenly looks down and looks away.

"That's..."

"There must be a reason, right? I mean, Otsuki-kun isn't the type of person who would normally lie like that."

"..."

I continue to stare patiently at Otsuki-kun, who is silent and looking down.

Then, in a small voice, he starts to speak.

"The truth is, when I was little, I lost both my parents in a traffic accident."

"What?! So... that's what happened..."

I was so shocked by this fact that I instinctively covered my mouth with my hands.

Otsuki continued speaking in a listless voice.

"So I was raised by my maternal grandparents, but when I was about to enter middle school, my grandfather passed away... and now I live with my grandmother."

Otsuki spoke with his head drooping and listless.

Hearing him talk like that, I felt the urge to give him a big hug.

I couldn't imagine it.

Right now, I naturally have a mom and dad, and a little brother, Ryota.

I'm surrounded by my family.

But for Otsuki, his only family is his grandmother...

Then I suddenly remembered something.

Previously, when I complained about being teased by my mother, Otsuki spoke with a melancholy tone about how grateful I was to have a mother.

Maybe I had been insensitive in front of Otsuki, who didn't have his parents...

A feeling of anxiety welled up inside me.

Otsuki raised his eyes, which had been looking down until then, and continued talking while looking at me.

"So, the day before yesterday, my grandmother collapsed from heat stroke."

"What! Was she okay?"

"Oh, yes. Luckily, she was able to go to the hospital right away, so nothing serious happened."

"I, I see."

The day before yesterday was when we went to Animal Crossing Park, right? It was really hot, wasn't it?

But I never thought something like that would have happened on that day.

"But I was really upset when my grandmother collapsed and had to be taken to the hospital."

Otsuki said helplessly.

Yeah, if my only family member collapsed, I might panic.

"So, my grandmother regained consciousness soon after we arrived at the hospital, and during our conversation, we started talking about my girlfriend..."

Otsuki seemed a little awkward, and paused before continuing.

"My grandmother had been asking me if I had a girlfriend yet, and I usually just let it go, but at that time... well, I felt a strong desire to reassure her..."

"And so, you said that I was... well, a girlfriend?"

"Yes... and then Tojo-san popped into my head... and then..."

Otsuki spoke as depressed as ever.

Although I felt sympathy for his background and circumstances, his words also made me feel happy.

When you thought about her, you thought of me... that means...

In my mind, Otsuki's words are being interpreted in a way that is convenient for me.

But if he didn't have at least some affection for me, that wouldn't happen, right?

Desperately trying to keep the corners of my mouth from turning up, I nod slightly in affirmation of my interpretation.

In contrast to my excitement, which felt like I was about to soar, Otsuki continued apologizing, looking truly remorseful from the bottom of his heart.

"I'm truly sorry. Even though I was trying to reassure my grandmother, I... told the worst lie a human being can have, and caused trouble for Tojo-san..."

Otsuki's face became small and dejected.

Seeing him like that made my heart pound.

Otsuki is usually so mature and reliable, but right now he was dejected, just like Ryota after he'd been scolded by his parents.

There was a huge contrast to his usual self.

I want to hold him to my chest, stroke his head, and tell him it's okay.

"I'll make sure to tell my grandmother that I lied, so..."

"Wait!"

I interrupt Otsuki, speaking a little louder.

At the same time, my heart starts beating faster, and my chest feels a little tight with tension.

Now that I've caught a glimpse of Otsuki's feelings, his affection, if I wish for him, I'm sure... he'll accept me. That's what I feel.

It's the relationship I've been longing for ever since I realized my feelings for him.

It felt like it was right in front of me.

But...

But...

Now that I know his feelings, his thoughts, I want them even more.

They are his pure feelings, without any sense of inferiority or guilt.

I've become greedy with this love.

So...

If I reach out and grab the thing that's right in front of me,I deliberately turn my eyes away from this "relationship" that could turn out to be a mystery.

And then, I slowly open my mouth.

Seeking his pure feelings.

"...Okay. I'll pretend to be your girlfriend. I'll be your girlfriend in front of grandma."

Otsuki freezes, his mouth open in shock at my words.

It was so unlike him, but I found it endearing, and I let out a small smile.

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Ayaka's feelings for Haruto: I want to hug him...