209 — A Battle Between Strong Characters

RAW


When I told them about the time I ended up pushing Haruto down, Shizuku-chan nodded with her arms crossed.

“As expected of Aya-senpai, the runaway love locomotive.”

“So? After you pushed Haruto-kun down, what did you do afterward, Ayaka?”

I averted my eyes from Saki’s curious gaze and answered.

“That’s, um…”

Back then, I was the one who approached Haruto first, and I think he responded to my feelings too.

He hugged me tightly and told me, “I love you.”

But...

“Haruto told me we should calm down for a moment, and he gently pulled away from me.”

“I see. That’s just like Haruto-kun. His self-control is really strong.”

“Haruto-senpai is just a coward.”

Saki nodded, saying, “That’s so like Haruto-kun,” while Shizuku-chan complained that “Haruto-senpai just doesn’t have enough guts.”

As I smiled awkwardly at their reactions, the café owner brought over the drinks they had ordered.

Shizuku-chan’s usually expressionless face softened slightly when the huge melon soda float was placed in front of her.

“But Ayaka really does love Haruto-kun, doesn’t she?”

Saki took a sip of her iced café au lait before saying that to me.

“Well, yeah. I mean, we’re engaged now.”

“Right, right. Speaking of that engagement, I want to know how you two ended up there.”

“Ah, I’m curious about that too.”

Shizuku-chan, who had been poking at her soft serve ice cream with a long little spoon, looked at me as well.

“Well, it started when…”

I told them about how I came to wish to spend my entire life with Haruto, and how I reported our decision to my parents.

Saki and Shizuku-chan quietly listened to everything.

“So, after spending a whole day thinking about marriage, we realized again that we really wanted to be together… and that’s how we ended up getting engaged.”

After I finished explaining, Saki nodded deeply and said, “Hmm.”

“You went through a lot. But, well… I don’t know how to put it, but that’s amazing. Being able to love someone that deeply… it’s honestly incredible.”

“Even after hearing Mom and Kiyoko-san’s stories, I still feel like I have a long way to go.”

Feeling embarrassed by Saki’s reaction, I took another sip of my café au lait and looked away.

“But when I think about being able to become Haruto’s wife, it makes me feel incredibly happy.”

“I see. I’m glad you met Haruto-kun.”

“Yeah.”

I nodded firmly at Saki’s words, and then Shizuku-chan, who had been silent until then, slowly began to speak.

“When we were in middle school, when Haru-senpai’s grandfather passed away, he was in a terrible state.”

“A terrible state? You mean he broke down crying or something?”

Saki tilted her head in confusion. Shizuku-chan stared at the melon soda in front of her and continued.

“No. It was the opposite. There was no change at all. Even though he had lost an important family member, he talked with us like normal, laughed at jokes… It was as if he was a robot programmed to continue living normally. But…”

Shizuku-chan’s eyebrows slightly furrowed as if she was remembering that time.

“After karate practice, I was worried about Haru-senpai, so I followed him after he left the dojo. And then… I saw him crying. Alone on the street in front of the gate, desperately trying to hold back his voice as he cried.”

“…Haruto has always been bad at showing his weaknesses.”

“Yes. When I ran over to him, he hurriedly wiped away his tears and forced a smile.”

“That’s so like Haruto.”

Even when Kiyoko-san collapsed, Haruto kept telling himself, “I have to stay strong. I have to become stronger.”

“Haru-senpai was smiling, but for some reason, I felt like he was rejecting me. Like he was saying, ‘Don’t come any closer.’ I couldn’t take that final step. I didn’t want to ruin my relationship with someone as important to me as Haru-senpai…”

After saying that while looking down, Shizuku-chan suddenly raised her face and met my eyes.

“But Aya-senpai stepped into Haru-senpai’s heart. I think that was something incredibly brave. I truly respect you for that.”

“Thank you, Shizuku-chan.”

I smiled at her straightforward words. Then Shizuku-chan’s serious expression suddenly turned into a mischievous grin.

“And the fact that Aya-senpai went all the way to getting engaged is exactly what I’d expect from you. It’s only fitting that you knocked me down into the role of the losing heroine.”

“I-I didn’t knock you down into the losing heroine…”

I don’t feel the need to apologize to Shizuku-chan about Haruto anymore, but hearing her say it so directly still makes me feel a little guilty…

“Why are you being so modest? Aya-senpai should just keep charging forward like a runaway locomotive, blowing everyone around you away as you crash straight into Haru-senpai.”

“Come on, I’m not running wild like that anymore, and I’m not crashing into him.”

“True. Aya-senpai is the one who gets crashed into, after all.”

“Wha—!? Don’t say weird things!”

What on earth is Shizuku-chan saying all of a sudden!?

“Huh? Did I say something strange?”

Shizuku-chan tilted her head innocently, pretending not to understand.

“Aya-senpai is such a natural airhead, so doesn’t Haru-senpai always have to correct you?”

“Ah! S-so that’s what you meant…”

“What else could it possibly mean? What were you imagining, Aya-senpai? Please tell me in detail.”

“I-I wasn’t imagining anything! There’s nothing to tell!”

Shizuku-chan said “Oh?” in her usual expressionless tone, but her eyes were laughing. She was completely grinning.

“You’re still such a pervert, as always.”

“I’m not!”

Whenever she gets the chance, she immediately tries to make me out to be a pervert!

I glared at Shizuku-chan with all my strength to protest, but it didn’t seem to affect her at all.

And then, with a completely calm expression, she continued speaking.

“Anyway, Aya-senpai, you’ve already been charging full speed ahead in this crazy love story, so there’s no point in getting cold feet now.”

After saying that, Shizuku-chan took a big gulp of her melon soda.

“Whether you push Haru-senpai down or get pushed down by him, you’re already married in spirit, so it’s not a problem. The real issue is those spineless guys trying to interfere with your relationship.”

“That might be true, but… I still want to build my relationship with Haruto properly…”

“A runaway love locomotive dreaming of an ordinary romance is impossible. After all, you’re already out of control.”

After saying that, Shizuku-chan pointed at Saki, who had been quietly drinking her café au lait while listening to our conversation.

“Give up on having a sweet and innocent romance like Saki-senpai and Tomo-senpai.”

“Cough! Cough! Wait!? What did you just say!?”

Saki choked on her café au lait and opened her eyes wide in shock.

“I was simply telling unstoppable Aya-senpai, who was dreaming of having a romance like Saki-senpai’s, that such a thing is impossible.”

“Wait, wait, wait! What do you mean ‘a romance like mine’!? When did I ever start a romance!?”

“Didn’t your heart go thump-thump when you met Tomo-senpai?”

“It did not!”

Saki strongly denied it. However, Shizuku-chan didn’t back down.

“Is that so?”

Shizuku-chan stared intently at Saki.

“By any chance, aren’t you carrying around the keychain Ryota-kun gave you and taking good care of it?”

She brought up the keychain Ryota gave Saki when we went to the amusement park during our triple date.

At that moment, Saki immediately placed her hand on the bag beside her.

“Hm? Could it be…”

When I looked at her, Saki paused for a moment before speaking.

“…I do carry it around, though.”

“Oh? Have you admitted your feelings for Tomo-senpai?”

“Not particularly.”

Saki calmly took the keychain out of her bag.

“I just like this because the design is cute. Besides, Ryota went out of his way to buy it for me, so wouldn’t it be a waste not to use it?”

With a confident smile, Saki held the keychain up toward Shizuku-chan.

“I’m not especially conscious of it or anything. I don’t have any special feelings for Tomoya.”

“...Hmm. As expected of Saki-senpai. Quite the powerful character. You’re on a completely different level from weak, weak Aya-senpai.”

“Hey, Shizuku-chan! What do you mean by ‘weak, weak’!?”

Is my evaluation really that low in Shizuku-chan’s mind? I’m still her senior, you know?

My complaints were completely ignored, and Saki smiled as she prepared her counterattack.

“Speaking of which, Shizuku-chan, how are things with Kazuaki-senpai?”

“Hm?”

“You were bragging about how you were going to do something couple-like and destroy your preconceived notions, remember?”

“I see. So that’s how you’re going to attack me.”

“Has anything happened since your amusement park date?”

When Saki turned the tables on her, Shizuku-chan remained expressionless and silent for several seconds.

Then suddenly, she took out her smartphone and started making a call.

“...It took you too long to answer, Kazu-senpai. We’re going on a date next Sunday.”

Shizuku-chan suddenly calling him and immediately announcing a date…

I couldn’t help but feel both impressed and amazed by her incredible initiative. Though, I suppose that’s just Shizuku-chan being Shizuku-chan.

“Starting before noon. Yes… no, this time it’s only me. Yes… Wait, what!?”

What happened?

Shizuku-chan’s eyes widened.

Her face was also turning red.

“S-S-Such cheap words aren’t enough to make me fall for you, you know!”

I wonder what he said to her?

Seeing Shizuku-chan this flustered was so unusual. Watching her panic like this was actually kind of cute.

“You’d better be prepared for Sunday! I’ll beat you in a one-on-one fight!”

Shizuku-chan shouted into the phone before forcefully tapping the screen to end the call.

Then she puffed out her chest proudly and looked at Saki.

“So? What do you think? I’m going on a date with Kazu-senpai next week!”

Saki responded with an awkward smile.

“Is that really a date? You said you were going to beat him in a one-on-one fight.”

“It’s a date!”

Shizuku-chan insisted firmly before leaning toward Saki.

“Next is your turn, Saki-senpai.”

“My turn? For what?”

“To invite Tomo-senpai on a date.”

“Why!?”

Saki’s eyes widened in complete confusion at the nonsensical flow of the conversation.

But Shizuku-chan didn’t stop.

“A ‘good job at the sports festival’ reward date. I’m going with Kazu-senpai, and Aya-senpai will obviously go on a date with Haru-senpai. If things stay like this, Saki-senpai will be the only one left out.”

“Wait, what kind of logic is that!?”

“It pains me as your friend to see only Saki-senpai being left out. Therefore, I shall become your cupid.”

“Wait!? Shizuku-chan!?”

Shizuku-chan once again operated her phone, this time trying to call Tomoya-kun.

Saki hurriedly tried to stop her, but before she could, Shizuku-chan pressed the call button with a “Boop.”

“Ah, hello. This is Shizuku. Is now a good time to talk?”

It seemed Tomoya-kun answered immediately.

“Actually, we’re having a girls’ gathering right now, and Saki-senpai has something she wants to tell Tomo-senpai. I’ll hand the phone over.”

“Wait!”

While Saki panicked, Shizuku-chan handed her the phone.

For a moment, Saki stared at the phone uncertainly. But then she clenched her expression, steeled herself, and put the phone to her ear.

“...Hello. It’s me. Yeah… no, it’s nothing important, but… um… after the sports festival, would you like to go somewhere together?”

Saki kept the phone pressed to her ear while continuously tracing the table with the index finger of her other hand.

“...No, just the two of us. Ayaka is apparently going out with Haruto-kun, and Shizuku-chan is going out with Kazuaki-senpai… Yeah… Yeah… It’s not some kind of reward or anything! We’re just going out normally! As friends! …Yeah… That’s right! That’s all! Then, the Sunday after the sports festival, at the station… Okay… Got it. We’ll talk about the details later… Yeah, bye.”

After ending the call with Tomoya-kun, Saki let out a long breath.

“Fuu…”

Then she returned Shizuku-chan’s phone and gave her a proud look.

“Well?”

“As expected of Saki-senpai. However…”

While taking back her phone, Shizuku-chan slightly raised the corner of her mouth.

“You didn’t actually need to force yourself to invite him on a date, you know? I never said anything about a date to Tomo-senpai. I only said, ‘Saki-senpai has something to tell you.’”

After saying that, Shizuku-chan showed a quiet, victorious smile.

“But the fact that you properly invited Tomo-senpai on a date means… you don’t completely dislike the idea, right?”

“!?”

Saki froze as if she had been struck by lightning.

After a few seconds, she calmly drank her café au lait and then spoke with a smile.

“Speaking of which, I want to look at some autumn clothes. Once we finish these, let’s do some window shopping.”

A blatant change of subject.

I stared at my best friend’s unnaturally cheerful profile.

Could it be that Saki really does have feelings for Tomoya-kun…?

But after that, Saki kept her guard up the entire time, making absolutely sure the conversation never went in that direction.