After Distancing Myself From the Childhood Friend Couple Who Looked Down on Me, I Started Interacting With a Small Animal-Like Beautiful Girl - Chapter 7

It was only after we arrived at the deserted second school building that Saitou-san finally let go of my arm.

Saitou-san’s strength was greater than I expected. As I was being taken away, I was strangely anxious, wondering if I, as a man, was losing.

“Why the second school building…?”

The second school building, which is rarely visited except when there are mobile classrooms, has a cool and quiet atmosphere.

We were standing between the first-floor corridor and the art room.

“It’s quieter over here… Because our class is noisy in every way except for the voice.”

Saitou-san says with a sigh.

It seems she also noticed the gazes from the entire class.

But that’s only natural. It’s only natural. Someone with a cute face and a size that makes them want to protect them, like Saitou-san, can’t help but attract attention.

“Yoshizaki.”

“Yes.”

“…It’s strange when you occasionally use honorifics. Just talk normally.”

“Ah, yes. No, yeah.”

She pointed out with a serious face.

I wonder if she thought I was joking.

“Are there any other photos and videos of Maru besides the ones you showed me yesterday?”

“Eh? Well, there is, but…”

“Send it to me. I want to see everything.”

“All of it?! I mean, I will send it…”

Dragged out of the classroom, I was then asked to send pictures and videos of my pet cat, leaving me with no choice but to feel bewildered.

Saitou-san further dropped a bomb there.

“If we connect on LINE, you can send it, right?”

… …Huh?

“Yes?!”

“Take out your phone. I will scan the QR code.”

“W-wait a minute…”

Saitou-san said as she took out a smartphone with a white cover from the pocket of her blazer.

She doesn’t care about me being upset.

“Come on, hurry up.”

Saitou-san thrusts her smartphone forward as she remains as expressionless as ever.

It seems that for her, connecting the lines is a done deal.

Surely, for Saitou-san, exchanging contact information with me is just a means to see the cat she’s interested in, nothing more. There is absolutely no other reason for it.

That’s right. The fickle Saitou-san wouldn’t keep a connection with someone like me, who is just a classmate.

Somehow, I felt relieved and was able to take the situation a bit more lightly.

“–––Understood. Alright, please.”

“Yeah, good.”

Saitou-san holds up her smartphone to the screen displaying the LINE QR code.

After a while, Saitou-san’s account was added to the LINE friend list. The icon is still a cat, with a close-up of its light brown face.

When I asked if it was a pet cat, it seemed to be a cat kept at Saitou-san’s grandparents’ house.

Thus, I completely made contact with the smallest and most fickle girl in the school.

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[Daiki’s Side]

“Saitou-san, I wonder where Yoshizaki went with her.”

“Hey, why is that guy talking to Saitou-san? If even that wimpy guy is good enough, then I might have a chance too…”

“It’s just the usual whim, anyway. Before you know it, they won’t even be in your line of sight anymore.”

Talking about the two who just left the classroom, group members Kouhei, Nanako, and Ami are chatting.

Listening to that from the side, I stabbed a frozen croquette with my chopsticks.

I release once, then stab again. Stab.

Why him?

I’m the one who wants to say that.

“You seem a bit grumpy, are you okay?”

Serika is peering into my face.

Even the cute, flirty gestures that used to be popular with guys just annoy me now.

“That’s not true. I’m just struggling because I can’t grab the croquette properly.”

“Aren’t you small-sized? Are you trying to aim for the airhead character too?”

“It’s not like that. Something just isn’t going right.”

“Woah~… Then, how about I feed you?”

Serika laughed mischievously.

With the angle also in play, it would have been unbearable for any random guy around. Since I was receiving affection from Serika, I had gotten used to it and didn’t feel as excited anymore.

Before I could reply with “Don’t tease me,” Kouhei wrapped his arm around my shoulder.

“Hey, Daiki. Getting a bite from your girlfriend, huh? I’m so jealous!”

“Seri, you’re really going for it~”

“As expected, the couple everyone envies. Showing off like that.”

Even Nanako and Ami are teasing with smirks.

Geez, their voices are so loud.

But thanks to that… look.

Among my classmates, there were a few people who kept glancing over at me.

There are those who look at me as if to say I’m a nuisance, and there are those who look at me with eyes mixed with jealousy and envy.

Receiving that gaze, my irritation subsided, and a sense akin to exhilaration filled my heart.

A smile that embodies the image of a friendly, refreshing, handsome guy slowly appears.

No matter how loud we are or how openly we flirt, just a glance is enough for no one to say anything.

Bright and approachable, and good-looking too, that’s me. And then there’s Serika, my childhood friend and girlfriend, who is stylish and cute. Even the other three, while not as striking as Serika and me, stand out in our school.

In their hearts, everyone thinks they can’t win.

“Daiki~. Here you go, ahh.”

Serika brings a halved croquette to my mouth.

I laughed, pretending it couldn’t be helped, and accepted the croquette being brought to me.

Suddenly, the face of another childhood friend flashes through my mind.

With a frail face and still socially awkward even in high school. Someone like Yukito, who has been in the group all this time thanks to Serika and my pity, could never be taken seriously by Saitou Ino.

Since long ago, his position has always been below mine.