CH 38

“Don’t confuse your love for Tsuzuri-kun with my love for him!”

When I heard Kotoha’s thoughts, I stiffened for a while.

I was convinced that she had feelings for me.

At the same time, a thought took over my mind.

I knew I had been pretending not to notice.

I was just afraid to face her because I was trapped in the trauma of my past.

When I realized this, I just stood there in a daze. In the end, I was just running away.

However, when I snapped out of it.

“It’s all over now!”

Ichijo’s shout, filled with deep hatred, pulled my consciousness back to reality.

At the same time. I have a bad feeling about this. Why is she shouting? The calm and cunning representative of the new students, Asuka Ichijo.

I huffed and turned my attention to them.

She was swinging her knife at Kotoha.

The expression on Kotoha’s face, as she just watched it seemed to be imprinted with deep fear and despair.

“Hey! What the hell are you doing!”

I hurriedly intervened between the two to stop them. I’m trying to help Kotoha, not to end it all here.

“…Tsuzuri-kun!”

In the nick of time, or maybe because of my appearance, the situation suddenly changed.

At my shout, Ichijo retracted his knife and was stunned. More than that…

“Kotoha! Are you okay!”

I hurriedly approached Kotoha to see if she was hurt.

“Are you hurt or something?”

I asked.

“No, I’m fine.”

Kotoha replied as she regained her composure. I’m a little relieved. After that—

I look towards Ichijo, the one who started it all.

“When did you get here, Sasaki-san?”

She said hastily as if her earlier madness had vanished.

“But more importantly, what were you trying to do with that …… knife? It’s a crime, as Kotoha said. Do you really think that a poor cover-up will save you?”

As soon as I said it, her face went pale.

Why couldn’t she realize that with her brain?

This is crossing the line. It is a criminal act that is nearly impossible to cover up.

They say that love is blind, but this was the first time I felt it.

I don’t know if she had been driven crazy by love or not. That doesn’t really matter now.

“Well, Sasaki-san! No, no, no! This is a misunderstanding!”

Ichijo, panicked by my words, is just trying to give an excuse.

There was no apology to Kotoha. The only thing she seemed to be thinking about was saving herself.

That’s your attitude at this point?

“What’s that?”

This irritated me, and I replied in a stern tone. When Ichijo heard it…

“Here, this is ……. Um, …….”

She was probably desperately trying to think of an excuse. Her gaze swam and she was pondering something.

“Huh, that’s enough.”

There was no point in listening to her. That’s what I thought, and I ended the conversation.

But she wasn’t going to give up.

“Well, wait a minute! I mean, we’re in this desolated space, how do you get here? Could it be that you’ve been following us from the beginning?”

That’s what she said.

“Yes, I was following you.”

It’s obvious. When I answered in such a straightforward manner, she took a turn. She shouts with a sad expression.

“Why! Why do you love her so much! Sasaki-san loves Shirayuki-san with all his heart—”

When I hear that, I wonder if you’ve been watching us properly so far. We’re definitely in love.

She forced her way in without understanding that, and to top it off, she hurt Kotoha over and over again…

I had reached my limit. My anger, which I had been suppressing until now, erupted like a raging fire.

“Of course!”

I shouted. With a fierce passion.

“That’s why I’m here! Because she’s important! Because she’s my favorite person! To protect her! To save her!”

I shouted. Just as you think.

“That…”

Ichijo stiffens at my anger. The way he looked, he seemed to be in some kind of shock.

“Don’t be silly! Don’t you dare try to come between us half-heartedly!”

And it also provoked my anger. How far will this person go?

For a while, all three of us remained silent.

It was I who opened my mouth again.

“I’ll keep quiet about this. I won’t tell the school about it, so your reputation won’t be ruined. Don’t worry.”

Hearing this, Ichijo looked a little relieved.

If I tell the teacher about this, everyone’s trust in her will fall to the ground. She would not be able to make use of her title as the new student representative. She must be quite afraid of that situation. That’s why,

“In return, do not harm Kotoha. No, don’t ever come near her again! If you do anything even the slightest bit strange, consider your life over at that moment!”

When she heard that, she seemed to be surprised by my words for a while. I’m still a little wary of whether she’s going to say something back….

“…”

There was no further action from her.

Finally, I felt that one of the problems was over.

And then…

After a moment of silence, I open my mouth.

“Kotoha, sorry. I’m late.”

“You’re late. If you were watching, you should have come earlier.”

Kotoha replied in a trembling voice. I’m sure the fear hasn’t worn off yet. That’s how I felt.

Once the exchange was over, a long silence followed. Neither Kotoha nor I had any idea what to say in this atmosphere.

How many minutes had passed? I’m not sure how many minutes passed, but Kotoha opened her mouth as if she had made up her mind.

“Tsuzuri-kun, I’m ……! I’m ……!

Her eyes moistened as she tried to convey something to me. The figure in the evening glow is—

It was the expression of a maiden in love, as seen in youthful anime and dramas.

I sensed what it was.

“Calm down, Kotoha.”

So, I thought, this is not the time. It’s not the right time yet, I told my “cowardly” self.

“Can you give me just a little more time?”

The answer I squeezed out was too pathetic. I wondered if I had disappointed her. I was a little worried.

“…Yes.”

She accepts me as I am. But this is not good enough. I can’t keep spoiling her.

“I’m so close to becoming someone worthy of standing beside you—”

I’m almost there. So, …….

“Tsuzuri-kun.”

The words didn’t last. It was because Kotoha interrupted my words with an enveloping warmth in her voice.

“……What?”

I was surprised by the suddenness. My heart starts to beat loudly, wondering what he is going to say.

But the next moment.

“You’re already cool enough, Tsuzuri-kun. You’re too good-looking for me, you know?”

My doubts were shattered to pieces. Because Kotoha answered that with a big smile on her face.

“……!”

I almost cried at her answer. She was pure and kind to a fault.

“Hey, Kotoha, …….

I think I should tell her how I feel. I decided to do so and tried to talk to her, but …….

“Come on! Tsuzuri-kun, let’s get a move on and get some dinner!”

My resolve was blown away by Kotoha. I’m not sure what to do.

“Hey, Kotoha!”

She looked like she could have been called a mood breaker, I scream in protest, but she runs off at full speed.

Probably it took a lot of courage to say that line, judging from the way she usually acts. Kotoha’s face must be as red as an apple by now.

“Well, whatever.”

I thought I had created a good atmosphere, but it was not concluded at the end.

It was sweet, gentle, and fun. The one and only irreplaceable relationship in this world.

That’s what we are.

Will we be able to find the happiness that lies ahead?

Will the two of us be able to overcome all the hardships together?

If I were to ask this question at dusk, when the sun and moon coexist, I would not get an answer.

I make up my mind again.

I’ll make sure that I’ll find happiness with Kotoha.

AN: If you like, I would appreciate it if you could give me bookmarks, impressions, evaluation points, etc.! The author’s motivation will skyrocket.

TLN: I picked up a new series, it’s called “Starting a Cohabitation Life with Her, I’m Going To Live With a Beautiful Girl In My Class“, I’ve translated 2 chapters so far and you can read it by clicking the title.

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