After I Picked up a Notebook Filled With Intense Emotions, the Girls Started Acting Strange - Chapter 8

A few days had passed since I gave that advice.

The change was obvious.

Sena-san seemed to have stopped being so overbearing toward Shindou, just like I suggested. At first, she kept sending long complaints on the chat app (we exchanged contacts last time), but she gradually started gushing about him instead.

─Today he actually took my lunch!

─He was happy when I said I’d only clean once a week! Though he gets mad if I touch the shelves…

─I collect his laundry every day.

It looked like things with Shindou were going well. The laundry… Well, there’s a lot every day, so let’s just leave it at that.

Apparently, Shindou’s parents are usually busy and often away, so Sena-san would help out when she came over. The problem was that she was too controlling, and Shindou gave up first.

Well, if that’s getting better, there’s a good chance her feelings might succeed.

But… I felt like I was getting too involved. I advised without even being sure she was the owner of the notebook.

If she wasn’t the notebook’s owner and ended up dating Shindou…

Bad ending. Not just Shindou, but the notebook’s owner, Sena-san, and everyone would be unhappy.

Still, I couldn’t just give her careless advice while she looked at me with those sparkling eyes.

Damn it, Shindou. Why do I have to worry about someone who stole the person I liked in the past?

And even though she’s such a devoted childhood friend, why is he still so unclear about his feelings?

Compared to before, he’s a little softer now, but it still seems like he’s putting Sena-san in a tricky position just because she’s happy.

I wonder how Shindou really feels about her. If he can’t see her as a girl…

“Hey, are you listening? Shiomi-kun?”

“Ah, I’m sorry. What were we talking about?”

In front of me was a giant parfait in a tower-shaped container, like the one we had last time. Whipped cream piled high, muscat grapes on top. I wondered what kind of sauce it had.

“Even if you stare, I won’t give it to you. This is the Blueberry & Shine Muscat Deluxe Jumbo Parfait.”

“I don’t want it. Anyway, what were we talking about?”

“Well, things have been going really well lately, right? I think it’s thanks to Shiomi-kun’s advice! I just wanted to say my gratitude.”

“You’re welcome.”

So she came all the way to a family restaurant just to say that.

Since we exchanged contacts, we hardly talked directly, but… I guess this also counts as some kind of love advice.

“So. I need your advice again. Can I ask you?”

“Sure, no problem.”

“Thank you! So, I’m planning to invite Arata out for the first time. Just the two of us.”

“Oh? That’s good?”

…Wait, they’ve never hung out alone before? That’s the surprising part.

“Anyway, I checked, and this Saturday club activities are canceled. The teacher is on a business trip. So I plan to ask him to go to the movies that day.”

“Oh? Yeah.”

“Arata likes action movies, so I want to watch the latest popular one together. There’s a nearby theater, and the middle E row has the best view. You have to sit in the best seat, right? I already booked it.”

“W-wow… you’re planning ahead.”

“I’ll get caramel popcorn since that’s his favorite. And I’ll put a letter at the bottom of the popcorn. I’ll write my thanks and my thoughts for the future. A little surprise. After the movie, there’s a new ramen shop nearby that he wants to try. I heard him mention it, so I’ll go there. He’ll probably order tonkotsu, so I’ll pay the staff in advance and ask them to make it extra large. Another surprise! Then we’ll check out some clothes at the mall nearby. I already picked out matching ones. Oh, and underwear. His elastic is stretched, so I need to get new ones. Then we’ll go to a café─”

For the next few minutes, Sena-san went on and on, explaining her date plan in extreme detail.

“─So that’s the plan! But what if he says no?!”

“I think it’ll be fine.”

“…Hey. Are you actually listening?”

“…Ah, I’m listening.”

“Alright, so what did I say we’ll do at the convenience store?”

“…”

Oh no, I didn’t hear that part. Don’t include stopping at a convenience store in the date plan.

“G-get fried chicken.”

“…Oh, so you were listening. Then at least react properly!”

“Ah… haha… I’m sorry.”

I could only manage a dry laugh. That was too close for comfort. Looks like my answer was correct, don’t buy hot snacks. Don’t try to feed him karaage at every chance.

And what’s with all those surprise plans she snuck in? Will Arata even be happy? Some are made to look like accidents. What should I do…

I thought she’d realized by now that doing too much in just a few days could backfire.

I rubbed my head, thinking hard.

“What’s wrong? Headache?”

“Yeah, a little.”

This was just her feelings running away with her.

It’s better not to flat-out deny it. A gentle nudge in the right direction would work. That little obsessive side she sometimes shows… I shouldn’t trigger it.

“Well… I think it’s a good plan but─”

“Right!? And even so, I tried to be modest like you said!”

“Modest.”

“Yeah, modest.”

“…”

“…”

The silence was painful.

“It’s no good?”

“Ah, no…”

The moment I struggled for words, Sena-san’s mood dropped. Where had all that excitement gone? She looked at me with eyes that had lost a bit of their sparkle.

“I thought this would totally win Arata over…”

“Totally won over. Well, I don’t think it’s bad, but can I give a little advice?”

“…Yeah.”

“Planning where to go is good, but if it’s too perfect, he might feel like he’s just going through a schedule. It’s better to leave a little room for spontaneous things, like a casual stop somewhere. That way it feels more like you’re enjoying time together.”

“…I already included a casual stop at the convenience store.”

Buying karaage doesn’t count as a spontaneous stop.

“I mean, naturally. Share things that look fun in the moment, together.”

“…I see. That’s like, so Shiomi-kun!”

Sena-san’s bright mood returned. Almost there!

“Also, instead of you deciding everything, it might be good to let Arata make some choices too. If it’s hard, just ask him which he prefers. That way, he feels involved and enjoys it more.”

“Hmm hmm.”

“One more thing. I think one surprise is enough. Too many can be overwhelming, and he might not know how to react. Save it for the right moment, it’ll be more effective.”

“…Got it. I’ll do that.”

Maybe I went a bit overboard with the advice, but she nodded carefully at everything I said.

She seemed to completely trust me. It felt kind of strange. Just a few days ago, we barely had any interaction other than being in the same class.

“Haa… I’m no good. I knew doing too much was bad, but once I start thinking, I can’t stop.”

“That’s fine. Yeah, some parts were a bit much, but it shows how much you care. You can adjust it little by little. And I’m sure he’ll notice that too.”

“…Shiomi-kun.”

Sena-san, who had almost lost her spark again, brightened up at my encouragement.

Safe.

“Shiomi-kun, do you think something like this is too much?”

“…Well, I’d be happy that someone put this much thought into it for me. If you wanted to do something different, I could also suggest something, and we could decide together. That way we’d enjoy it even more.”

“……”

It was a similar question as before, but this time I could answer smoothly. That was my honest answer.

Sena-san stared at me silently.

…Did I pick the wrong words?

“Yeah, I feel better now!”

But, contrary to what I expected, she immediately gave me a huge smile. I let out a small sigh of relief.

…Shindou is such a troublemaker, being loved so devotedly by a beautiful childhood friend like this.

I’m not exactly the type to like Shindou, but I really hope Sena-san’s feelings work out.

I couldn’t help thinking that, if only I had ignored the notebook issue.

“Oh, can I ask you something?”

“Yeah? What is it?”

Right before we parted ways, I finally decided to ask about the notebook. My throat was a little dry from nerves, but leaving it unsaid wouldn’t help.

It was scary to ask, but if it really was hers, I felt like she would probably forgive me for looking inside. Honestly, I thought my trust level with her was higher than before. If a weapon suddenly appeared out of nowhere, I’d be done, but probably it would be fine.

…Alright.

“Remember, you said you lost your notebook before? Well, I actually found it the other day─”

“…Huh? Did I say that?”

“Huh?”

Her reaction was completely unexpected. It was like she had no memory of it at all, and I couldn’t hide my confusion.

…What does that even mean?

Outside the family restaurant.

Through the glass, they spotted a familiar classmate inside. Seeing a boy and a girl together made them frown, people who aren’t usually seen together.

“……”

Then, they quietly walked away.