After I Picked up a Notebook Filled With Intense Emotions, the Girls Started Acting Strange

After Yuu and the others left.

Arata was left standing there all alone.

(I’m a bother…? I make her uncomfortable…?)

He couldn’t process what just happened. His mind completely froze after being rejected by Mizuki.

Why? How? Since when?

Didn’t she like him? No… he can’t make sense of it.

Mizuki’s words had cut so deep that Arata couldn’t even think about what to do next or why he’d come here in the first place.

“Shindou-kun. Are you okay…?”

A worried voice reached him.

When he turned around, Yukina was there and looked anxious.

She wasn’t really in the mood either, but since they’d come out to hang out together, she at least tried to comfort him.

“…Yukina.”

“I wonder what’s wrong with Mizuki-chan. She’s never said anything like that before.”

It was true, Mizuki had never spoken to him like that.

Still, Yukina could understand why she might have wanted to.

“…I see. I get it now.”

“Huh?”

Arata suddenly lifted his head with his eyes full of confidence.

“That was her SOS.”

“…What?”

“Mizuki’s asking for help. I bet while she was talking to Shiomi, he started bothering her. She must’ve acted cold to me on purpose so I wouldn’t get dragged into it. That’s it.”

“…”

Yukina frowned and was unable to keep up with the wild turn of events.

Arata kept going, even more certain of himself.

“Mizuki likes me. But since I haven’t returned her feelings, things started to get complicated. Shiomi took advantage of her kindness. What a jerk…!”

His eyes still burned with intensity. He looked completely serious, not joking at all. Anyone could tell Mizuki had clearly rejected him, yet somehow his mind twisted it into this story.

(Is this really the same person who once saved me…?)

Yukina felt herself pull back a little, remembering how cool he had seemed back then. She shook her head. No…. she didn’t want to believe this.

Meanwhile, Arata’s imagination kept running wild.

“Damn it, Shiomi! How dare you hurt my precious childhood friend! I won’t forgive you. Is this your revenge from two years ago? Mizuki, I’ll definitely save you!”

“Two years ago…?”

That was back in their third year of middle school, the turning point of her life.

But Arata didn’t even hear her whisper.

“If that’s the case, I need to figure out a way to save her from him. Yukina, will you help me think of something?”

“W-well. I get that Mizuki-chan’s important to you, and that’s fine. But we came out to hang out today, right? So I’d kind of like you to focus on me a little, too… I have things I want to talk about.”

Yukina said it softly, a little hesitant.

Come to think of it, ever since the movie, Arata had been thinking only about Mizuki. It didn’t even matter that he was supposed to be spending time with Yukina.

At this point, Yukina wasn’t even thinking about enjoying the day anymore.

Her only goal was to find out if Arata was really the same person who had once saved her.

“What are you talking about? This isn’t the time for that.”

“Not the time…”

“Yukina, you care about me, too, right? Then you should help me.”

“…”

“Those words you said earlier, when you tried to comfort me. You really meant them, didn’t you? I can tell. Ever since we became second-years. No… especially lately, you’ve been trying to get closer to me. I’ve noticed.”

Arata’s eyes softened strangely, almost tender.

That look was so full of misunderstanding, and that left Yukina completely speechless for a moment.

‘No… that’s not it. I just wanted to know if you were really my savior, that’s all.’

She screamed it in her heart, but Arata kept going.

“W-wait…”

“No need to be shy. I understand how you feel. But Mizuki’s important to me too. You’ll help me, right?”

Arata stepped closer, his face showing not even a trace of doubt that she’d say yes.

Yukina froze. If she yelled again, he might panic or lash out. She remembered how that had gone before. But even fear couldn’t stop what she felt now.

“This makes no sense…!”

She couldn’t deal with him anymore.

That’s it, she’d had enough. She turned to leave, but Arata quickly grabbed her arm.

“W-wait, Yukina! Where are you going!?”

“L-let go! I’m going home!”

“Going home!? What are you talking about!?”

No, what are you talking about!? She screamed inside while trying to shake his hand off when suddenly,

“What are you doing, big sister?”

A lazy voice came from behind her.

Yukina turned and saw shoulder-length navy-blue hair swaying in the light.

A girl walked up, sucking on a lollipop, her ears full of piercings.

Her casual but intimidating presence made Arata shrink back a little. He let go of Yukina’s arm.

“Is this some kind of pickup attempt?”

“N-no! Yukina and I are friends… No, something deeper than that. A-and you are?”

“Yukina? Hmm. I’m her little sister. Are you sure you two are close?”

“Of course we are! Right, Yukina?”

“Eh? T-that…”

“That’s a pretty weak answer.”

“She’s just embarrassed, that’s all. She’s shy in front of her sister… Wait, sister!? Then. You must remember me!? I saved you once!!”

“Hmm, I don’t think so.”

“That can’t be right… You’re her sister, aren’t you!? I saved you from getting hit by a car!”

“Hm. Did you really?”

“…What!?”

“I’ve almost never been hit by a car… Who are you confusing me with?”

“…T-that’s!”

“So you don’t even remember what the person you saved looked like? The one who almost got hit by that car was our youngest sister. She was in first grade back then and now she’s in third. Even if you forgot her face, how could you mistake me for her?”

“Ah… I…”

When Yukina’s sister said that, Arata was struck silent.

Yukina’s eyes turned to ice as she glared at the man who had dared to call himself her savior.

Under that cold stare, it felt like everything around him was freezing solid.

Even Arata, as dense as he was, could tell he was in serious trouble.

But instead of panicking, he forced his brain to work overtime. He was searching for a way to talk his way out of this.

“Right. I remember now! It was a little kid! It happened so long ago that I just forgot! Yukina, you believe me, right ─Fweh!?”

A sharp sting and heat spread across his cheek. She’d slapped him. So much for talking his way out.

“Ah… ugh… ah…”

Arata let out a weak sound as he crumpled to the ground.

‘Why? Why did this happen to me?’

Confusion and anger flared up at once.