After Becoming a Counselor for Girls, I Ended Up Producing a Lot of Potential Girlfriends Who Became Mentally Ill - Chapter 3

Chapter 3: Let’s Start as Friends

“To be in a relationship, huh?”

I recovered from being rejected too quickly. I couldn’t help but think that Kujo had lost her composure.

“You probably think I’m acting recklessly, don’t you?”

“Maybe.”

“I’m trying to comfort myself by finding an easy guy after being shocked by the rejection. That’s what I suspect you’re thinking.”

“…If I said I wasn’t thinking that, it would be a lie.”

I didn’t change my posture, always observing. I would keep watching to see how Kujo would respond.

“I’m serious but also unserious.”

“That sounds contradictory.”

“When I decide to do something, I go straight ahead. But sometimes, the direction I go in is an unserious one.”

She reached her hand across the table. Just before it touched mine, she pulled it back. I also pulled my hand away.

“As for love… honestly, I had cooled down halfway through. As we kept talking, I started to think maybe you were a better choice.”

“I don’t think it’s self-centered, but… the conversations might have been an excuse. I just wanted to talk to you.”

“Yeah, towards the end, that was the case.”

“Did you maybe think about coming to this place with me?”

“Yeah. Maybe he figured that out too.”

I had listened to her for so long, but I hadn’t noticed her feelings. Or maybe I just didn’t want to notice.

“Would you be saved if I said yes?”

“Huh?”

Her expression stiffened. Maybe she had expected a quick response.

“I don’t know everything about you, just as you don’t know everything about me.”

“That’s true.”

“As someone who’s lost the mask of being a counselor, I think I’d disappoint you. I don’t have the qualities or experience to make things exciting.”

When you spend enough time with someone, their true nature comes to light. That’s just how it works.

“Is there another reason?”

“I’m still talking to someone else. Until it’s resolved, I won’t feel at ease.”

“I don’t think there’s a rule against a person in a relationship giving advice… but you’re so serious in strange places.”

I felt like I was betraying her if I only focused on my own pleasure.

“You’re far lazier than the class president.”

“Is that sarcasm toward my serious but unserious self?”

“I’m serious, though.”

As I faced Kujo, who looked dissatisfied, my phone buzzed.

Shizuku: Seiichiro-sama! Urgent consultation tomorrow. I would like to meet alone. Please, I ask for your help.

Ah, it was probably the consultation I had been talking about.

It was Shizuku Nogami. A massive anime fan. We’ve been friends since middle school. She’s a small, energetic girl with a short haircut.

“Who’s the message from?”

“A girl. She wants to talk. She said we should meet alone tomorrow.”

“Even though you have another girl, you’re saying it so clearly.”

“I’m the counselor. This kind of thing happens.”

Even if I started a relationship, as long as I remained a counselor, I would still keep in touch with other girls.

I explained this to Kujo.

“…I see.”

“The reason I continue as a counselor is because I’m not seen as a romantic interest, so I can still talk to people without any baggage. Even if I receive a confession, I’d already decided I’d refuse it.”

“Have you had confessions before?”

“…I can say this is the first.”

I had hardly ever received confessions.

“I really wanted to get to know you more, though.”

“About talking to other girls…”

“I might not be able to accept that. I want you to be straightforward with me.”

Kujo took a sip of her drink, slowly licking her moist lips.

“There are lots of girls who want to talk to you. I know that.”

She kept her gaze on me while gently swirling her drink.

“But, while we’re like this, we’re alone together. I can have you all to myself.”

“Yeah, that’s true.”

Maybe it was the alcohol, but her face was red, and her eyes were half-lidded.

“Even though I’m usually serious, love is different. I’m greedy. When I want something, I work hard to get it. I’ve decided that.”

“Are you planning to get me?”

“Eventually, yes. But I can wait. I’ll wait until the day you finish being a counselor.”

It was strange.

Was this really Kujo?

She was acting like a hungry beast, aiming for me. I couldn’t give her a yes, but I was also afraid of rejecting her.

“I still don’t know you at all, Kujo. So…”

“Will you compromise with me?”

“Let’s start as friends, not as counselor and client. We’ll spend time like that and see if I’m disappointed or not after that.”

“Ah, friends with you, Seiichiro-kun? Is that okay?”

Her eyes sparkled, like a child who had just been given a gift.

“That’s fine. If we’re friends, I have no reason to refuse.”

She gave a triumphant fist pump.

“Hehe. So from now on, I want you to tell me about your other consultations too.”

“That’s hard. It’s all based on a promise not to tell anyone else.”

“Not allowed… I knew it.”

Kujo pouted, clearly disappointed.

“Well, that’s easy. I’ll find out who your other consultation partner is, and then I’ll just become friends with them. Simple!”

“Ugh, is that so?”

For some reason, I felt a sense of fear. I had just discovered a small part of the frightening side of Kujo.

“Ah, I feel so refreshed. Thanks for today. Let’s hang out again, Seiichiro-kun.”

It was unexpectedly getting late. I guessed this was where we’d call it a day.

“Same here. Today was an exciting day.”

And so, the Christmas date (?) ended, leaving only an unsettling confession and the result of starting as friends.