After Distancing Myself From the Childhood Friend Couple Who Looked Down on Me, I Started Interacting With a Small Animal-Like Beautiful Girl - Chapter 37

[Daiki’s Side]

“I’ll sing next!”

“Yaay~!”

“Alright!”

Around the girl who stood up with a microphone, sounds of tambourines and maracas being shaken and voices hyping up the atmosphere filled the air.

The original group of people was already decided, but perhaps because the excitement of the sports festival hadn’t completely worn off, many people said, “It’ll be more fun with a bigger group.” So, I took the initiative to invite classmates and people from other classes, and as a result, the number of participants exceeded ten.

“Thank you for inviting me today, Ootomo!”

“I’ve always wanted to talk to Ootomo-kun~. I’m so happy you invited me!”

“Doesn’t Daiki sing really well?!”

As I recalled the words that had been directed at me, I pressed the button for melon soda at the drink bar. I set the glass I had finished pouring aside and placed another glass under the spout. This one was for Yuika, who had brought it over, saying she would pour it for me casually.

I’m a considerate boyfriend, a popular person with a friendly atmosphere. I performed so well at the sports festival that I could confidently say I contributed to the red team’s victory.

There probably aren’t many people as accomplished as this.

When I returned with glasses for two, this time Higashi and the boys from other classes were linking arms and singing enthusiastically. It was difficult to find a place where the pitch was correct, and it was unbearable to listen to.

Even though the singing is terrible, the others are enjoying themselves, swaying their bodies to the music and laughing heartily. Their thinking is that as long as they can make noise, it’s fine.

Shaking my head in exasperation at the childish behavior, I offer Yuika a glass.

“Thank you, Daiki-kun.”

“I’m your boyfriend, so of course I would.”

When I said that and smiled at her, Yuika smiled shyly.

No one would ever imagine that this person, with a smile that embodies purity and innocence, shamelessly reveals a completely opposite side of herself when she’s alone with someone, especially in bed. Even I, who have seen it many times, still wonder if she was a virgin until just recently.

That’s precisely why I can experience the fresh joy of fully coloring her in my own hues every time.

“Hey, hey, Ootomo-kun!”

I was tapped on the shoulder by someone with dazzlingly decorated fingernails.

A girl with loosely curled black hair dyed pink on the inside and her shirt unbuttoned a bit at the chest was standing in front of me. It was Yamaguchi from the couple next to me, the one I had spoken to and convinced to join the after-party. Glancing next to me, I saw Yuika smiling gently.

If it were Serika, she would have frowned and clearly shown her displeasure, but Yuika remained calm and composed without losing her composure.

The fact that I can be as carefree and easygoing as she is is also something I like about Yuika.

“What?”

“You have a childhood friend, right, Ootomo-kun? The one with Sasai-san and another childhood friend… You know, the one who’s close with Saitou Ino… Anyway, I was in the white team with those two.”

“…And the other one is Yoshizaki Yukito.”

“Oh, that’s right, Yoshizaki-kun!”

I softened my stiffening expression and, while maintaining a smile, mentioned the name that hadn’t come to me immediately. Yamaguchi’s face lit up as if to say, “That’s it!” and she pointed her flashy fingernail at me.

Why is the name of Yukito coming up here and now?

Bringing up my ex in front of my current girlfriend shows a significant lack of tact.

First of all, doesn’t she know that I broke up with Serika and am dating Yuika? I’m usually one of the fastest people to get rumors spread about them, so that’s strange.

I clenched my fist as if to contain my frustration while suppressing my emotions.

Unaware of my feelings, Yamaguchi began to chatter away.

“After the dance, Sasai-san looked like she was about to collapse. And then Yoshizaki-kun just caught her! After that, they went to the gym together and didn’t come out for a while, so I think he was helping Sasai-san.”

“That happened? I didn’t know that.”

Is he pretending to be a good boy again?

Serika’s being sick is probably half an act anyway. Even if she were genuinely unwell, there’s no one she can rely on right now. She probably pretended to faint right in front of us because if she showed herself looking weak, the kind-hearted Yukito wouldn’t leave her alone.

Holding back the urge to spit it out, I feigned surprise, and Yamaguchi continued, her cheeks flushed, “That’s right!!”

“It’s so cool that he can act immediately, and it’s also amazing that he’s kind enough to stay by her side! The gap between his slightly plain appearance and his actions is seriously incredible!!”

“I’m sorry, Ootomo-kun. This girl has been like this ever since the sports festival.”

As Yamaguchi spoke breathlessly, a girl who seemed to be a friend placed a hand on her shoulder and apologized with a wry smile. It was Kawai, one of the faces quite familiar in the class.

However, she also said something I didn’t want to hear.

“I was watching too, and yeah, that was surprising. I always thought Yoshizaki-kun was pretty low-key.”

“Come to think of it, he has been getting along well with Yokokawa lately, right? Even though they seem like completely opposite types based on their personalities, they both look like they’re having a blast.”

“I asked Yokokawa why they became friends. He didn’t tell me the details, but he said it was because Yoshizaki was there for him when he was struggling.”

“What’s that?! Yoshizaki-kun is such a nice person!!”

Following Kawai, one topic after another about Yukito, words praising Yukito, were brought up.

Before I knew it, half the participants were engrossed in Yukito’s story.

I kept smiling so hard my cheek muscles felt like they were going to cramp, waiting for a chance to interject.

“Just being on good terms with Saitou-san is already amazing. What kind of guy is he?”

“Maybe it’s because he’s kind? He seems like a gentle person just from his demeanor.”

“Maybe I’ll pop into his class and try talking to him sometime~.”

Yukito’s evaluation goes up.

The eyes of interest and attention towards Yukito are increasing.

Every time the words spoken by those around me flow into my ears, the volume increases, violently shaking my brain.

I didn’t even realize that the boys from the east and the other class had already finished singing a long time ago.

Why? Why is this happening?

I wish Yukito’s good qualities would just stay hidden. It would have been better if I were the only one who knew about them.

Why does that guy keep trying to go “above” on his own?

“Daiki-kun…”

A soft hand rested on my trembling one. Yuika was peering at me with concern.

Having regained some composure, I smiled at Yuika as if to reassure her that I was okay, and then called out to Yamaguchi and the others.

“Everyone’s being a bit dramatic. Yukito tries too hard to stand out because he’s self-conscious about being invisible, and he’s not nice to everyone. The fact that he’s getting along with Saitou-san and Yokokawa is just a coincidence.”

I speak as naturally as possible, as if I know, because we’re childhood friends.

Whenever Yukito’s evaluation seemed to be improving, if I mixed in some words that would lower his image, the deluded ones would quickly come back to their senses.

It was the same in my first year of middle school. Even that girl classmate I was close with, she easily switched her allegiance to me with just a little persuasion.

This time, too, there’s no problem at all.

Nothing–.

“Hmm, but it was sudden that Sasai-san collapsed. If he just wanted attention, wouldn’t he stop accompanying her after a while?”

Yamaguchi protests with a bewildered expression.

Before I could even open my mouth, everyone around me started talking at once.

“Yoshizaki doesn’t seem like someone who wants to stand out, does he? It’s more like he gradually started catching my eye after becoming friends with Saitou-san and Yokokawa.”

“It’s also pretty strong visually to have a super laid-back, beautiful girl and a flirty, handsome guy always nearby. Plus, that messy bedhead and glasses look of his kind of sticks in your memory.”

“And the fact that Saitou-san, who’s not interested in anyone, is the one going out of her way to talk to him… he must really have something special going on.”

“Anyway, if it’s okay with Ootomo-kun, could you set up a chance for me to talk to Yoshizaki-kun? I could definitely go and talk to him myself, but I thought it might be easier to get closer if his childhood friend reached out to him.”

Yamaguchi clasps her hands together and looks at me with hopeful eyes.

The moment I finally understood why this person was talking to me, I heard something snap inside myself.

“–––Shut up, all of you!!”

I stood up from the sofa and yelled from my stomach.

Everything was noisy.

Everything irritated me.

“I’m the one who understands Yukito better than anyone else!! So don’t go praising him and making a fuss like you know him, when you’re just outsiders!!”

As I glared at them, I momentarily held my breath.

Everyone there was looking at me.

The gazes from those who had started paying particular attention to Yukito were chillingly cold.

Negative emotions are clearly visible in their eyes towards me.

Just as the intro of a song someone put on started playing, the singing began immediately.

The melody was like a bell tolling the end, flowing slowly without any vocals.