[From Kotaro Nakayama’s perspective]
Was I a bit too hasty?)
Seeing Shiho’s apologetic face, I regretted confessing a little. It wasn’t like I was in a rush.
But using Azusa’s encouragement as a reason to confess might have been a bit cowardly… I came to my senses.
(I didn’t mean to trouble Shiho.)
—I want to date her.
That thought had come impulsively, and I had rushed ahead without considering her feelings.
I don’t want to let something like this happen again.
(The good thing about Kotaro Nakayama is that he considers the other person’s feelings.)
Considering the other person—that’s what Shiho taught me is my good point.
And yet, prioritizing my own desires… that wasn’t very “Kotaro Nakayama” of me.
It was good that I conveyed my feelings of love properly, but thinking there might have been a better way makes me feel even more apologetic towards Shiho.
“Sorry for suddenly confessing.”
When I apologized, Shiho shook her head frantically.
“No, don’t apologize. It’s my fault.”
“No, no, it’s me…”
“No, it’s because I’m a coward!”
Just as we were exchanging apologies…
“—Why are you saying that!?”
Suddenly, Azusa’s loud voice rang out.
I turned around to see Azusa empty-handed and, for some reason, puffing her cheeks in anger.
“Saying you can’t date because you like each other too much… even elementary school kids don’t say that nowadays!”
Azusa, unusually harsh with her words.
Hmm… could it be.
“Azusa, were you eavesdropping?”
Judging by her timing and the content of her anger, I felt like she had overheard our conversation.
“Th-that’s not it. I went shopping at a distant supermarket to give you two some privacy.”
“…Then where are the groceries?”
Right now, Azusa was empty-handed.
If she had gone shopping, this seemed odd.
“…”
At my point, Azusa became visibly uneasy.
Her eyes darted around, and she swayed nervously. Just like Shiho, why are they so bad at lying?
Were they too good-hearted or too straightforward? It almost made me worry.
“…Azu-nyan, you’re quite the little lady.”
“?!?”
Shiho, realizing Azusa had been eavesdropping, shrugged her shoulders in resignation.
Her demeanor was as if to say, “What can you do?”
She’s always so assertive with Azusa.
“You shouldn’t meddle in adult relationships. There are things in the world that Azusa doesn’t know.”
“Ad-adult? That’s an adult relationship?”
“Yes. Perhaps it was a bit too intense for you.”
“But we were just holding hands! We didn’t do anything more!”
Well, calling this an adult relationship might be a bit too heartwarming. Neither Shiho nor I seemed like we were experiencing a typical high school romance… If anything, this was more childish, just as Azusa pointed out.
However, Shiho didn’t seem to think so.
“It was intense, wasn’t it!? Look, just holding hands made me smile this much, it has to be intense!”
She moved her face close to Azusa, showing her beaming face.
Azusa, looking bewildered, seemed unsure how to respond.
“…If holding hands makes you smile like that, I guess it is intense? But wait—I don’t really understand love either, since I’ve never dated anyone!”
Well, that’s true.
I don’t really get romance either.
What’s right, what’s normal, what’s ideal—maybe the answers are different for everyone.
