After I Picked up a Notebook Filled With Intense Emotions, the Girls Started Acting Strange - Chapter 7

The day after, I got advice from Shiomi-kun.

At five-thirty in the morning, I went over to Arata’s house and started making breakfast.

I made fried food, his favorite.

I thought he might get bored with just fried chicken, so I added different flavors and made a few variations.

Of course, it wasn’t just breakfast.

I picked up the laundry he’d left lying around yesterday, washed it, cleaned the dishes, took out the trash, and tidied every corner of the house.

Well, since I clean every day anyway, it wasn’t that messy, but it’s become part of my routine.

Once I finished, I finally went to Arata’s room.

I unlocked his laptop, checked his browsing history, turned it off, and put it back in place.

Then, for a while, I just looked at his sleeping face before gently shaking him awake.

That’s pretty much what my daily routine used to be.

Both of Arata’s parents run a hospital, so they’re rarely home.

That’s why I’ve been taking care of him myself.

But according to Shiomi-kun, I’ve been overdoing it.

I wasn’t sure if his advice would really work, but one thing was clear. The way I’d been doing things until now wasn’t making Arata happy.

Since he went out of his way to give me advice, I decided to give it a try.

—And also, because he helped me.

With that thought, I went to Arata’s house later than usual that morning.

I made a simpler breakfast this time.

When it was time to wake him up, I told him we were having rice, miso soup, and grilled fish instead of fried food.

He was so surprised he jumped right out of bed.

For his lunch, I followed the menu Shiomi-kun suggested and packed it into a smaller lunch box.

Arata looked a little suspicious, but he accepted it anyway.

At school, I held back from sticking close to him like I usually did.

I tried to control myself.

And then, little by little, Arata’s attitude began to change.

The annoyed look he always had started to soften.

Just like that, a few days passed with me following Shiomi-kun’s advice, and any doubts I had about him completely disappeared.

He really was right after all.

…Speaking of which, that notebook…

◆

I—Shindou Arata—haven’t exactly had an easy life so far.

Back in the day, I was stupid, short, and a total coward. I used to get picked on a lot in class.

But every time that happened, my childhood friend, Mizuki, would step in and help me.

And me? I just watched from behind.

…Well, I didn’t complain because I got saved in the end. I didn’t even say thanks.

I mean, it’s kind of embarrassing, right?

A guy being protected by a girl? Not exactly cool.

So honestly, I don’t like thinking about those days. It’s a past I want to forget.

Then, in middle school, Mizuki transferred away, and everything changed.

I shot up in height, my voice got lower, and before I knew it, I started catching the attention of girls.

I also started noticing the way guys acted inferior around me, and I admit, I enjoyed that.

I couldn’t forget that feeling. So I worked harder. Studying, sports, and even paying attention to my clothes.

The more I improved, the more I realized I was capable. I started seeing myself as someone who could get things done.

Before long, I had both guys and girls around me.

I wasn’t the one being chosen anymore. I was the one choosing. That’s me. Everything revolves around me. That’s how I lived every day.

Then, in high school, at the end of my first year, my childhood friend Mizuki came back.

She had changed a lot. Back then, she was boyish and reckless, but now she had become a proper and elegant beauty.

Seeing her fuss over me, it didn’t take long to realize that she had a crush on me.

Of course, that felt amazing.

The one who used to protect me was now completely into me.

I had changed, too, more than Mizuki even. And now I could show her the best version of myself, up close.

This time, I was the one in control. That thought gave me an incredible feeling of superiority.

But… Mizuki didn’t know her limits.

She’d always been reckless, but I didn’t expect her to go this far.

Just saying her fried chicken was good made her cook a ridiculous amount the next day.

Talking to another girl would make her glare at me. Honestly, that’s… a bit much.

But lately, she seems to be calming down.

Maybe she’s finally realizing she needs to be the right girlfriend for me.

…Well, even so, Mizuki is still just a backup.

She’s beautiful now, but I never know when that reckless personality will pop up.

And then, speaking of beautiful girls, there are others too.

Orihara Yukina.

I’d heard rumors about a pretty gal since my first year. I only really started talking to her in my second year. At first, she seemed super girly and hard to talk to, but once we started chatting, we got along easily.

I guess that’s thanks to my improved communication skills.

She’s genuinely interested in what I say, and she gets my hobbies really well. We just click.

Sometimes, she even buys the same things I do. For example, pens are just because they seem useful.

Does that mean she wants to match with me?

I don’t know why, but she often brings a tracksuit during P.E. class. Even if I say I don’t need it, she brings it anyway.

I could choose her, but I’ll keep her as a backup. Gals like her seem like they’d sleep around easily. I want my first time to be special.

And lastly, Kuroe Rei.

I saw her in another class during my first year and fell for her at first sight. She’s probably my top choice right now.

Her looks are overwhelming, her movements elegant, and she has an unshakable attitude. The more I can break that strong image, the better it feels.

Back in the first year, lots of guys tried to get close to her, but they all failed. No one managed to become friends with her.

When we ended up in the same class in the second year, I didn’t know how to talk to her at first either.

But I got lucky and was able to help her when she was in trouble, and that made her open up to me.

I’m not sure if she’s in love with me yet, but she doesn’t talk to other guys. That’s just a matter of time, I think.

Sometimes, she can be a bit harsh to Mizuki or Yukina, but that’s fine by me.

Hehe. Truly a collection of choices.

Life is better than it was in middle school. Especially in the second year, life was at its peak.

For now, Rei is my main choice, but Mizuki and Yukina still have a chance.

Who will I choose?

The race has already started.

Well then. I’m looking forward to tomorrow.

…No, maybe a harem wouldn’t be so bad after all?