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

“Welcome! May I take your order?”

“I’ll have one Strawberry Deluxe Choco Banana Special Parfait and an iced café latte, please.”

“I’ll take one hot coffee. With milk and sugar.”

“Got it!”

Scene change. A family restaurant.

After everything that happened, Sena-san asked me for advice, so we decided to move somewhere else.

I couldn’t say no, not after seeing those eyes. If I had, I’m pretty sure I would’ve ended up as fried chicken.

After a short wait, the parfait arrived. It was stacked tall like a tower.

The moment she saw it, Sena-san’s eyes sparkled. She grabbed the long spoon and started from the strawberry sauce and whipped cream on top, scooping carefully layer by layer.

Below that were piles of chocolate, banana slices, and cornflakes. At that pace, she’d finish it fast.

…Honestly, I have no idea what the concept of this parfait is. Sweet? Sour? Both?

Watching her eat dessert with a dreamy look, she seemed like any normal girl.

“Mmm~! So good!”

No, correction. She’s not just any girl. She’s the kind of beautiful girl I rarely ever see.

But seriously, where did that scary side from earlier go?

“Ow.”

Lost in thought, I took a sip of my coffee. It was hotter than I expected.

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.”

“Alright, then let’s get to the point… What should I do?”

Same question as before, but now, that crazy aura was gone.

I still couldn’t fully relax, but I tried to answer calmly.

“Um, Shindou didn’t like that giant pile of fried chicken, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Then making even more isn’t gonna make him like you more.”

“Why not? He won’t know till he tries. I just have to make him addicted, right?”

That’s a meathead way of thinking.

Coming from such a beautiful and delicate-looking girl, it’s even more shocking. Is this what people call gap moe?

What am I even supposed to do with that?

“Ahh~ How do I get him to notice me…”

Even if her way of thinking was a bit off, she really seemed troubled.

“When did you start liking him?”

“Eh? Umm~? That’s~”

She was blushing and stopped moving her spoon.

Wait? Hold on. The parfait’s gone! Where did that mountain of cream even go!?

“I think since elementary school. I didn’t realize it back then, but after we got separated in middle school, that’s when I noticed.”

The way she spoke and her face full of emotion, it really did look like a love-struck girl’s expression. It’s just my brain couldn’t keep up after all the weird stuff earlier.

Still, what she was saying matched the notebook’s contents perfectly. That made the situation feel even more tense.

“And even after we reunited, I’ve been trying all kinds of things, but it’s not going well.”

“Like what?”

“Hmm? Cleaning his room. Making him breakfast. Doing his laundry. Oh, and the other day, he left a used towel out, so I brought it home.”

“…”

She washed it? That’s what she meant?

“…How often do you do that?”

“About nine times a week.”

“…”

A week has seven days.

Wait? Am I the weird one here?

The way she said it so naturally made me feel like I was the one who was wrong.

“W-well, there’s a lot I could say, but first. Do you know the word limit?”

“Limit? Of course I do. Are you making fun of me?”

“No, no, not at all.”

She suddenly got scary. I wish she’d stop doing that.

Sena-san lowered her head and started fidgeting with the wet towel in her hands.

“For example. Does Sena-san have a favorite food?”

“Sweet stuff, I guess. Like what I’m eating now. Or chocolate.”

Yeah. Very girly. Seeing that side of her makes me feel relieved.

“Alright, so let’s say someone gives you a huge amount of chocolate. Like, so much it can’t even fit in your fridge. What would you do?”

“If it’s from someone I like? Then I’d be happy!”

No good. She’s not getting it.

I exaggerated on purpose, but I guess if it’s from someone she likes, the amount doesn’t matter.

“Bad example. Alright, what if it’s from a guy you don’t like?”

“Then I wouldn’t need that much.”

“Exactly.”

“…”

She suddenly stopped playing with the towel.

“…So you’re saying he’s not interested in me. That’s what you mean, right?”

Ah, crap.

I stepped on a landmine. That’s not what I meant. Well, it kind of is, but not like that!

Sena-san was smiling, but her eyes weren’t smiling at all.

“N-no, that’s not it! I just meant… there’s a limit to everything…”

“Limit.”

“Yeah. Even if it’s something you love from someone you like, too much of it just ends up being trouble. Like today, eating two kilos of fried chicken before club practice? You wouldn’t even be able to move. There’s only so much you can eat, right? Forcing yourself is never good.”

“…”

“Same with cleaning someone’s room. If you came over to clean every single day, it’d get tiring. It’d feel like you’re invading their privacy.”

“…Yeah.”

After I said that, the crazy look in her eyes finally faded. But now she looked kind of down, and not completely convinced either.

“Starting tomorrow, try making just the right amount of food. And not just the stuff he likes. Make it balanced. I think he’ll appreciate that more. As for cleaning, once a week is fine. Just trust me on this, okay?”

“…Okay. Thank you.”

She whispered her thanks and took a sip of her café latte through the straw.

“But Shiomi-kun, you’re amazing. You can even give love advice like that. You must be super experienced in romance.”

“Not really…”

“Oh.”

No, I don’t. It was just a one-sided crush. And the worst part? It was on the person I like. BSS.

Don’t look at me like that. I know it’s pitiful.

“Well, you know… this kind of advice is something anyone could give.”

“I see… right.”

Sena-san answered while stirring the ice in her glass with her straw. The ice clinked softly.

“Hey, do you think my love is too much?”

“Th-that’s…”