A Story About a Girl Who Took Life for Granted and Fell in Love With a Kind and Introverted Boy - Chapter 1.2

“Um…w-what is it that you wanted…?”

The boy I called to the rooftop, Kenji Saito, was like a little puppy.

He looked at me with timid eyes and sweat poured down his forehead.

With unkempt hair, a slender body, and a lack of confidence…

(Seriously?! He’s such a total introvert!)

I had no idea what he would be like until we met, so I thought, even if he wasn’t super cool, at least someone I could think, “It wouldn’t be so bad to date him.”

But this total introvert showed up…Sigh, this month is over. I really hate introverts the most. They never give clear answers to questions, talk really fast about things I don’t understand, and always seem unsure of themselves…It’s frustrating to watch.

(Huh? Wait a minute, thinking about it, summer vacation starts tomorrow, right…? Huh? Does that mean my vacation is ruined because of him!?)

As I felt the warm breeze blowing on the rooftop, I let out a big sigh. Then I cursed Mayu and Arisa, who weren’t here.

“Um…Tashiro-san, is something wrong?”

The introverted boy spoke to me, so I said, “Ah, um…” and looked down at my feet.

“…Um, who are you again?”

“Who…me?”

“Yeah. What’s your name?”

“…Uh, I’m Kenji Saito…”

“Oh, right, right. Um, so I was wondering if you’d like to go out with me?”

“…Huh?”

“I mean, do you want to date? Like, normally.”

“Huh?! W-what?! You mean T-Tashiro-san!? The one who’s rumored to be the cutest in class…?”

“Yep, lucky you, right?”

“……D-dating…like, uh, a couple? Not just going shopping or something?”

Wow…what a typical introvert answer…He doesn’t seem to get that dating means more than that.

Saying “Yeah, that’s right” feels a bit annoying, so I thought I might tease him a little.

“Are you sure you don’t already have a girlfriend or something?”

“No way! Not at all! I’ve never had anyone like that before…”

I figured as much. I wouldn’t be surprised if he never does.

“Then, is it okay to say we’re dating for now?”

“O-of course! Thank you! If I’m good enough for you, I’d love to!”

His face turned bright red as he said this to me.

Sigh…Why am I even doing this? Just because I lost at UNO, I have to go through this…Even if we’re acting like a couple, maybe I can just skip out on the dates?

Oh, but wait, Mayu mentioned something.

“During the time you’re dating, take at least five couple photos! That’ll be proof that you went on a date.”

Ugh, so annoying. Why does Mayu always think of such tiring things?

“And make sure the other person never finds out it’s a penalty game! If they find out, it won’t be fun, and it’ll ruin the mood!”

Ruin the mood…? I’m already totally over it.

“…Um, Tashiro-san?”

Kenji cautiously asked me. I answered bluntly with, “What?” and he stared at my face, saying:

“Why…do you…like me…?”

“……………………..”

“Uh, I mean…”

“…What? Just say it quickly.”

“Ah, I’m sorry! I mean, why did you decide to, um, like me?”

“……………………..”

“Um, T-Tashiro-san?”

“Well…it’s a bit embarrassing to say…”

“Oh, I see! Sorry for prying!”

Good, it seems like I managed to dodge that question. If I can get through to the last day like this, that would be fine.

“Ah, um, Saito, should we take a photo to remember this?”

“A photo?”

“Yeah, like a memento of us dating?”

I guess I should check off one of the five photos Mayu mentioned. Ugh, I just want to get this farce over with quickly.

“A-photo…?”

Kenji had an awkward smile on his face.

“What’s wrong?”

“Well, I’m…not very good with photos…”

“Huh? Why not?”

“Um…because it’s embarrassing…”

“Pfft, what kind of reason is that? It’s okay, there’s nothing to be embarrassed about.”

“No…well, if it were someone cute like you, Tashiro-san, I might not feel embarrassed, but for an introvert like me, there’s no charm to it…it would just show my disgrace.”

“……………………..”

Here we go…the classic introvert response that lacks any self-confidence. I mean, whatever. His level of confidence doesn’t matter to me at all.

“Well, come on, it’s a memory of being my boyfriend, right?”

“…What about you, Tashiro-san?”

“Huh?”

“Um, do you like taking photos?”

“Of course, I like it!”

“…Okay, I understand. Then I’ll take one too.”

“Huh?”

“If that makes you happy, that’s the most important thing. So, um…please.”

Kenji shut his eyes tight and stood at attention.

…What a serious guy. I can’t believe he’s so nervous about just taking a photo.

(Well, whatever…I’m too tired to think about it. Let’s just take it and get it over with.)

So, we took our first couple photo.

I put on a decent smile, while Kenji’s face was bright red and he looked embarrassed.

…Kenji, I’m sorry. At this moment…I didn’t even know what Kenji looked like until I confessed. Even though we’re in the same class, I had no idea about his face or name.

Honestly, it feels like a mess. I’m playing with someone’s feelings, yet I’m totally okay with it…It was like I only cared about myself, and nothing else mattered.

But…I think that day, the 24th, was good for me.

Because otherwise…I wouldn’t have been able to date Kenji.

…Kenji.

I’m really sorry.