Volume 1 - CH 6.3

[Shu Pov]

“……?”

“What’s wrong?”

After school, I was helping Iori-senpai with her work again.

I was about to finish it when I felt something that I can’t describe in words, but in the end I couldn’t figure out what it was.

Iori was tilting her head at me, but soon took her gaze away from me to concentrate on the rest of her work.

After a while of silence, we both finished our work for the day.

“Fuu, good work, Shu-kun.”

“No, no, good work, Iori-senpai.”

“….Fufu♪”

When I told her this, for some reason Iori-senpai smiled happily.

As I was thinking that Iori-senpai is still a person who smiles beautifully, Iori-senpai looked straight into my face and said this to me.

“When I call you, you look like you’re in trouble, but when the work starts, you concentrate on it and help me until the end. I think you’re wonderful like that.”

“…….Thank you”

I felt the heat building up in my cheeks when she told me I was nice.

To tell the truth, as Iori-senpai just said, it is true that I feel that it is troublesome, but I do not dislike the fact that she relies on me like this ……Because I am rather happy, I want to live up to her expectations as much as possible.

(…… though I also have a bit of a sense of superiority)

Iori-senpai is adored by many students as the beautiful student council president at this school.

It was no surprise that she was adored by the guys, and I heard from her that she had received numerous confessions of love from guys.

While many people are attracted to Iori-senpai in this way, I feel a sense of superiority in the fact that she depends on me.

“Let’s go home today.”

“I understand.”

I left the student council room with Iori-senpai and headed for the entrance.

It is already reasonably dark, and the only people in the school are the students who are outside doing club activities and the teachers who are still in the staff room.

Ayana and Towa should have already left, so I am alone today.

“Shu-kun, since we’re here, let’s hold hands.”

“…… Eh?”

Why? Before I could even ask such a question, my hand was in hers.

I couldn’t bear to look away from Iori-senpai, who was holding my hand and staring at me intently, but Iori-senpai was looking at me and giggling.

This person is always like that… it bothers me like this, it bothers me… but I didn’t mind having her treat me like that.

“Is your heart pounding?”

“….”

“Fufu….Does that mean I have a chance?”

Iori-senpai is always saying such things that make me nervous.

To tell the truth, I don’t even know why she thinks so highly of someone like me. It’s because I am not a match for a beautiful woman like Iori-senpai.

I once asked her why she cares about me so much, and here’s what she said.

[If you go out with me, I’ll tell you, but what do you want to do?]

Would I go out with Iori-senpai? I remember that I was naturally attracted to her words, but from the way she looked at me, I thought she was absolutely joking, so I said okay then.

(No matter how far I go, I’m just a normal human being… I just don’t have any redeeming qualities.)

Towa would tell me not to be so down on myself, but even so, I don’t think I’m going to be able to fix this personality of mine unless I have a lot of problems.

I am aware that I have low self-esteem and that I look down on myself too much, but I have always been like this, so I can’t easily fix it.

(It’s true that Iori-senpai is a beautiful woman,……, but I like Ayana. She is always by my side. That’s why I can’t have that kind of relationship with Iori-senpai.)

I’m a guy too, so I sometimes get carried away by Iori-senpai’s sweet words. But I still love Ayana.

I’m not going to give up on her, she’s been by my side all this time and I’m going to make her happy from now on. …… Yes! I’ll make her happy!

“Iori-senpai, we should move quickly.”

“Yeah”

I was thinking about Ayana, and I wanted to see her so badly.

Just as I was thinking about stopping by Ayana’s house once before going home, I heard a voice behind me that was not mine and Iori-senpai.

“Oh, Shu-senpai!”

“Eh? Mari?”

“I knew it was Shu-senpai!”

It was Mari, a junior, who called my name and came running up to me.

Compared to the more mature Iori-senpai, Mari is a boyish, slender looking girl who is more often described as cute and pretty than beautiful.

“Are you leaving now, too? Can I join you?”

“Sure. Shu-kun, is it okay with you?”

“Sure. Shall we go home together?”

“Yes!”

Mari replied happily and cheerfully and got in line next to me, but then she quickly closed the distance between us and took my arm.

As if to counter Mari’s shy but happy smile, Iori-senpai also let go of my hand that was holding hers and closed the distance even more as she hugged my arm.

(…… soft)

I almost feel my nose stretch out at the discreet and loud touch.

As if to put up at least a semblance of resistance, I somehow managed to mend my expression and did my best to bluff that I wasn’t aware of anything in particular.

“Uchida-san, aren’t you getting a little too close?”

“Honjo-senpai, aren’t you too close? Please move away from him.”

The two of them were fighting each other as if they were competing for my attention.

If Ayana saw me in such a moment, she would misunderstand me, and I was thankful that she was not by my side for now.

“I just don’t want you two to argue too much with me in between.”

“…….Right”

“Of course”

I said this, and they both stopped arguing.

I let out a relieved, if slightly disappointed, breath as they not only stopped arguing, but also let go of my arm that was holding me.

I don’t know what kind of feelings the two of them have for me. But I wonder if this is what it feels like to have people fighting over me, and I am a little troubled.

(…..I’m so self-conscious!)

I’m ashamed of myself for thinking like a harem hero.

No matter how much Iori-senpai and Mari may like me or appeal to me, I have Ayana …… So don’t get weird expectations of me, Shu Sasaki!

I was in the midst of putting myself to the test in my mind when Iori, looking at Mari, said something like this.

“Well, what’s the connection between you and Uchida-san?”

I was about to answer, but Mari answered first.

“I often run on weekends and holidays. I met Ayana-senpai when I used to run as well, and she introduced me to Shu-senpai. I’ve always been devoted to club activities, so I really enjoyed talking with the two of them. …… ehehe.”

“I see.”

As I listened to Mari’s words, I too was remembering those days.

That day was an ordinary day off and I was just lounging around at home, but Ayana contacted me and asked if I wanted to meet her now.

I was so nervous when I first met Mari that our conversation was awkward.

“Told you, Shu-kun, Mari is a good girl.”

By having Ayana follow up and interact with Mari as well, I was able to get to know her as well as I do now.

The two of us have been meeting more and more often without Ayana, and sometimes I accompany Mari on her runs. …… Of course, I couldn’t keep up with her stamina and gave up early on.

But it’s a coincidence, isn’t it? It was thanks to Otonashi-san that I met Shu-kun, and it was thanks to Otonashi-san that I met Shu-kun, too.

“Is that so?”

“Yeah”

It is true that it was thanks to Ayana that I was able to get to know Iori-senpai as well.

When we had class discussions, Ayana would often take the initiative in leading the group and organizing the opinions of everyone.

Ayana asked me to accompany her to the student council office, and that’s where I met Iori-senpai.

（I already heard about Iori-senpai, but I had the impression that she was a cold and scary person.)

At the time, I was scared because of that, but thanks to Ayana, who is good at dealing with people, being by my side, we became friends in the same way as I did with Mari.

That’s how I became friends with Iori-senpai.

“So, I guess Otonashi-san is the Cupid between us, Shu-kun.””

“It’s true! …… Well, Shu-senpai doesn’t seem to notice me at all.”

I don’t want you two to stare at me.

They looked at me, flustered, not knowing how to react, and both of them let out a sigh.

“…… Not good”

“Not good indeed”

“Did I do something wrong?!”

I couldn’t help but to make a loud comment.

It was loud and the two of them apologized for making fun of me too much, but it was nothing to apologize for. ……

I have gotten to know them both through Ayana and have become good friends with them, and I can say without a doubt that they are a very big part of my life.

(I don’t dislike it, in fact, I love it.)

The days I spend with Ayana and Towa, and the days I spend with Iori and Mari are really important to me.

Well, after all, I feel most at ease when I am by Ayana’s side ……I guess?

Then I wondered if it was wrong that I was thinking about Ayana, and I noticed that Iori-senpai and Mari were giving me indescribable stares.

“…..What?”

‘No, I just thought that Otonashi-san is a formidable opponent.”

“It’s true. Ayana-senpai is too strong!”

Why did Ayana’s name come up there……

Although I felt as if she had read my mind, there is no doubt that in a way I am always thinking about Ayana.

She understands me so well because we have spent our entire lives as childishly familiar people.

She is always smiling next to me, and her smile is truly my treasure.

“……I love Ayana.”

I whispered so that the two of them could not hear me.

I may get laughed at for saying it this way, but I can tell that our parents are close to each other.

Ayana has been by my side all this time without a single look of disapproval, so I’m sure this thought will reach her. …… so I’m sure it will be fine.

“Ah, that’s right, Shu-senpai!”

“What’s wrong?”

“Otonashi-senpai is the same, but Yukishiro-senpai is also amazing, right!”

I nodded my head.

Thinking back, this was the first time Mari had asked me about Towa, and I was about to answer whatever she asked me, as long as I knew what she was talking about.

“I had a chance to talk to him before, but there was something I couldn’t ask him at that time. Yukishiro-senpai is a very good soccer player, right?”

“Ara, is that so?”

Unlike Iori-senpai, who reacted as if she was interested, I felt as if a shadow covered my heart.

Towa is my best best friend,……, but even so, the topic of soccer between us is kind of a taboo.

“When I was in junior high school, I went to a different school, but I still remember that there were rumors that he was a very good soccer player. However, I heard that he had an accident and was seriously injured and had to quit playing soccer.”

Although she asked me if I knew the details of that time, I could not immediately answer Mari’s question.

Because that incident was …… no, it was already over.

Even Towa forgave me, and it’s over!

[I guess that means these things can happen. Don’t worry too much, Shu, I’m really glad you’re okay.]

See, even Towa in my memory says so ……, so it’s okay.

But still I decided to muddle my words to Mari.

“Actually, I don’t know if I’d …… go that far either. I’m sure it must be frustrating for Towa, and I don’t think you should pry too much into it.”

I concluded that this would probably be better for Towa.

The two women did not ask me any deeper questions about this topic after hearing my words, and they soon moved on to other topics.

“….Phew”

I was relieved that Towa’s topic was over.

Keeping a calm demeanor while conversing with them, I thought to myself that Towa is my best friend.

Yes, …… Towa is my best friend.

(But the truth is ……)

I was …… jealous of Towa, my best friend, who can do anything.

I was very envious of Towa, who was good at studying, good at sports, had many friends, and got along very well with Ayana.

I envied him for having everything I didn’t have, but at the same time I was jealous.

[…Eh?]

[I’m sorry, but you won’t be able to make the tournament, and soccer might be difficult.]

When I accidentally overheard words coming from Towa’s hospital room and saw the dumbfounded expression on Towa’s face through a small gap, I couldn’t help but think, “Serves you right.”

But that was not my true intention, it was just my jealousy that drove me.

Still, I laughed and giggled at the sight of Towa on the bed, devastated by the painful reality of his situation.

(At that time, I certainly did laugh at Towa. And at that time, I also felt a slight sense that someone else was there.)

Maybe someone saw my laughing face at that time. ……