After Distancing Myself From the Childhood Friend Couple Who Looked Down on Me, I Started Interacting With a Small Animal-Like Beautiful Girl - Chapter 14

The day of the actual test came in the blink of an eye.

Regardless of whether I am relaxed or clearly in a pinch, the three-day showdown begins.

I was able to calm myself down, perhaps because I had gone through the work twice and had been working hard on memorization.

Once this is over, a relaxing time with Maru is waiting for me.

I repeatedly imagined happy moments in my mind and continued to focus intently on the large sheet of paper.

And then–––.

“…That’s enough. The people in the back, please collect the test papers.”

The supervising teacher looks at the clock and quietly informs.

At that moment, a collective sigh of relief escaped from those around.

On the third day, during the third period, a somewhat thrilling event came to an end.

“How much did you manage to do?”

“Oh no, I might have messed up that answer over there…”

While listening to such a conversation, I remember the points that concerned me in the test answers.

I tell myself that it should be fine and push unnecessary worries out of my mind.

I hurriedly prepared to go home, thinking of Maru who was waiting at home.

“Yoshizaki, good work.”

“Yeah. Saitou-san, you too.”

Such greetings with her had become completely natural.

Perhaps because the feeling of liberation from the test is so overwhelming, no one is looking our way.

“Is Yoshizaki going home after this?”

“Yeah. Saitou-san too, right?”

“…I was planning to but.”

Saitou-san closed the zipper of her backpack and looked at me.

I tilt my head slightly and stare back.

Without even the slightest thought that I would hear something outrageous from that mouth.

“Can I go to Yoshizaki’s house?”

… …Eh?

“I-I’m sorry. Could you say that one more time…?”

“I asked if I could go to Yoshizaki’s house.”

“…”

It wasn’t a mishearing.

Without realizing it, my eyes were drawn to Daiki, who wasn’t paying any attention to me and was talking with the group members. Seeing him with that smug look on his face, he must be convinced that he got the best test results.

No, I don’t care about that right now.

The other day, Saitou-san told me that I shouldn’t worry about my childhood friend anymore, and I was starting to feel that way, but now this is happening again.

But I couldn’t help but notice because I heard yet another bombshell statement from Saitou-san…

“Then, may I ask the reason…?”

“Of course, it’s because I want to meet Maru.”

I was actually relieved when it was said as if it were a matter of course.

The reason I started talking to Saitou-san was originally because of my Maru. There’s no way she’d say she wants to go to the house of a classmate of the opposite sex for any other reason.

I was nodding inwardly as I somehow managed to calm the strange palpitations.

“…By any chance, did you have any plans after going home?”

I felt that Saitou-san’s tone of voice dropped just a little.

Because I got flustered on my own and created an awkward pause, it might have seemed inconvenient.

In a panic, I shook my head vigorously from side to side.

“No no! It’s totally fine for you to come over!”

“Are you sure it’s not a bother…”

“Not at all!”

“Alright then. I’ll be counting on you.”

Just as I felt relieved when Saitou-san’s tone of voice returned to normal, my heart started pounding heavily again.

Saitou-san is coming to my house, the cutest and smallest girl in the school.

It’s unreasonable to say not to be nervous.

“Let’s go home.”

After I finished getting ready, Saitou-san called out to me after she was carrying a backpack.

That’s right, going to my house means we’ll inevitably be on the same way back.

To me, who suddenly felt a surge of tension, Kubo lightly patted my shoulder and left with these words.

“Yoshizaki.–––Do your best.”

What is it?

Without even having the luxury to retort against what Kubo was imagining, I ended up heading to the entrance with Saitou-san.

ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー

The test ended around noon, so Saitou-san and I bought some food at a nearby convenience store and then went to my house.

Although there wasn’t much conversation along the way, there was no awkwardness, and we quickly arrived at my home, which was less than a fifteen-minute walk from the school.

“Pl-please go ahead…”

“Excuse me for intruding.”

On the intricately crafted doll-like face, there wasn’t a trace of tension to be found.

Without hesitation, when Saitou-san entered the entrance, a gray round face peeked out from the half-open living room door.

“I’m home, Maru.”

When I call out to the idol of our household, it comes running over with a soft “meow.” By the way, among the family, the ones who are most likely to be greeted by Maru are me and my mom. Dad gets a pretty cold response, and it’s become a familiar sight to see it walk past without acknowledging us, leaving us kneeling.

While being petted by me, Maru looked at Saitou-san with eyes that seemed to say, “Who is this person?”

“This person said you’re cute. Saitou-san, let me introduce you again to my pet cat, Maru…”

While introducing my pet cat and my classmates alternately, I turned to Saitou-san–––.

“… …”

The convenience store bag that was hanging from my hand suddenly fell.

With eyes that are normally half-lidded, she opened wide as if to the fullest, covering her face with both hands while her small body trembled.

“… …S-so cute…!”

There was Saitou-san, somehow managing to squeeze out a word.