After Distancing Myself From the Childhood Friend Couple Who Looked Down on Me, I Started Interacting With a Small Animal-Like Beautiful Girl - Chapter 42

During lunch break, I spent time with Kouki and Shirou.

Later, I realized there might have been a chance to confess during lunch break, but it seemed strange to do it during a meal, and I remembered the baseball team senior who confessed to Ino-san the other day, so I didn’t change my plan.

Then, the time passed through the fifth and sixth periods.

Finally, after school–––the moment of the confession had arrived.

“Alright then, Yukito. Good luck.”

“I’m looking forward to the report~”

After Kouki and Shirou patted me on the shoulder, they joined our classmates and left the classroom.

I lightly clenched my fist and stood in front of Ino-san next to me.

“Ino-san, I’d like to move a bit. Is that okay?”

“…Hmm.”

Nodding slightly, I left the classroom with Ino-san.

On our way to the small classroom, I passed Daiki in the hallway. His face was presumably returning from the restroom as he wasn’t shining with confidence. His gaze was downcast, and his expression was shadowed.

As I passed by, I thought I saw Daiki give me a clouded look, but I didn’t have time to check. My heart was pounding too loudly, my mind was a mess, and I couldn’t focus on anything else.

When I opened the door to the small room, no one was there.

I let Ino-san go in first, then followed, and closed the door.

From that moment on, every sound faded away, both from outside and inside the school.

The classroom after school, bathed in the evening sun streaming through the windows, felt like another world.

Then, a pale orange light also shone on Ino-san as she was facing me, enveloping her small and delicate body. She looked like a light fairy, and I narrowed my eyes at her beauty.

Truly, what a dazzling person.

This kind of person was always by my side.

“…Ino-san.”

I wonder if my voice has ever trembled this much just from calling out a name.

My legs are barely holding me up, and I look like I’d collapse if I were even slightly bumped.

While mentally encouraging myself to stay strong, I look straight into those round eyes.

“Thank you for becoming friends with me… for being my friend. Now that spending time with Ino-san has become the norm, it’s unbelievably fun.”

“…Isn’t that a bit exaggerated?”

“That’s how much my days have changed. And I started changing a little bit, too. I started admiring Ino-san as you are always honest with your feelings.”

“I’m just saying and doing what I want.”

“Even if it’s ‘just that’ for you, Ino-san, it’s a really big deal for me. There were so many times I couldn’t move because I thought I wasn’t good enough… Even though I’m about to tell you, I was actually trying to keep it bottled up.”

“Eh…”

I feel pathetic and ashamed of myself for having nothing.

To want more than just friendship with someone so charming.

What pushed me forward, even though I was too scared to take the first step, was the jealousy Ino-san confessed to me at the family restaurant about Serika.

Because she shared her true feelings, I felt like I could step forward a little more and take a chance.

“Because Ino-san is always being yourself, it made me feel like I could be myself too.”

I smiled a little and stepped forward.

Taking a small breath, I carefully enunciate each word while savoring every syllable.

“–––From now on, I want to be by Ino-san’s side, not just as a friend, but as someone special. I want to keep watching Ino-san, living beautifully and following your heart.”

Extending my right hand, I voice those thoughts.

“I like you, Ino-san… Please go out with me.”

I couldn’t even maintain enough composure to summarize it concisely and convey it smoothly.

Maybe it didn’t work out after all.

But I have no regrets.

This must be proof that the cowardly me finally found the courage to step forward.

ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー

[Ino’s Side]

“I like you, Ino-san… Please go out with me.”

Yuki-chan’s voice vibrates my eardrums.

Although he was trembling a little, his genuine feelings certainly reached me.

Honestly, I even wondered if confessing was necessary.

It’s almost certain we both feel the same way, so maybe all I need to do is ask him out.

But I was more curious about what it would be like to hear it from Yuki-chan himself, so I waited until after school. I was more nervous than I expected.

Yuki-chan looked straight at me and conveyed his feelings one by one.

I never knew being with me meant so much to him. That I could be such a presence in his daily life, that I could affect him so deeply.

I thought I was just living as I pleased, but it seemed Yuki-chan saw it that way, and it was even bringing about change in him.

I forgot to blink or breathe, and just stared at Yuki-chan.

He’s holding out his right hand, waiting for me to respond.

His face is red, and it’s probably not just because of the setting sun illuminating the classroom.

“…Yuki-chan was the first. Yuki-chan was the first person I ever felt this strong desire to connect with on my own.”

“…Yeah.”

“I never really prioritized friends or lovers. Interacting with people was more of a hassle, if anything… But since I’ve been with Yuki-chan, I’ve never once thought it was a hassle. It was actually quite the opposite.”

“Yeah.”

I can’t organize my thoughts.

I thought it was just a matter of speaking my mind, that’s all.

After hearing Yuki-chan’s heartfelt words, I realized that wasn’t enough.

I want to tell him too. How special he is to me.

“I’m sure I’ll still get jealous over little things in the future. Like when Kouki… or when Yokokawa started calling Yuki-chan by your first name before I did, or when that childhood friend of yours was helped by Yuki-chan. I might throw a tantrum like a child.”

Even though I said I might cause him trouble again, Yuki-chan is smiling.

“I’m the type who doesn’t care about other people’s feelings. I think I’ll just end up messing Yuki-chan around.”

“It’s not too late. I’ve already been completely swayed by Ino-san’s heart.”

“…What’s that supposed to mean?”

Ah, I still can’t beat Yuki-chan after all.

Yuki-chan said I was straightforward, but he is much more straightforward.

“I’m not cheerful, and I’m honestly a pain to deal with. But is that still okay with you?”

I asked him that question because I wanted him to ease the worry lingering in my chest. Yuki-chan just gave me a gentle smile.

“It has to be Ino-san. No matter what sides you have, that’s the person I fell in love with.”

Just like that, he granted my wish. His voice was soft, his words perfect. He told me he accepted me exactly as I was.

Before I realized it, my vision blurred, and I was already throwing myself into his arms. I wrapped my arms around his broad back, pressing my face against him.

“I-Ino-sa–––”

“I like you. I like you too, Yuki-chan… Please go out with me.”

I couldn’t let him see my face right now, so I stayed clinging to him as I confessed. He had looked me in the eye when he told me his feelings. I never imagined I’d end up crying.

Then something warm slid across my back. His arms were holding me close. Yuki-chan’s voice whispered right by my ear.

“Of course, I’d love to… Thank you.”

My heart overflowed, but words wouldn’t come. Instead, I tightened my embrace around his back while letting my feelings speak for me.