After My First Love Who is My Classmate Became My Family, My Childhood Friend Became Really Sweet to Me - Chapter 27

Determination/…eh?/Childhood Friend’s Request

Hinata and Tsukino were really surprised at my words.

That’s how absurd it must’ve been.

In such a heavy atmosphere, I suddenly asked Hinata to go on a date with me.

“E-Eh? Yuto, what did you say just now?”

“I want to go on a date with Hinata. Not as an older sister and a younger brother, but as classmates.”

“…I’m sorry Yuto. I’m a little confused at what are you saying.”

“I’m being serious Tsukino… I think the date is necessary for us to continue living together as a family.”

Then I turned my attention to Hinata.

“I know how Hinata feels. You may think I’m a meddlesome person, but I don’t want you to think that everyone will hate you if you don’t push yourself.”

I clenched my fists tightly.

“You’re my sister because of you’re my family, Hinata doesn’t need to be the honor student to become my sister, and I don’t want Hinata to worry whether I will hate her or not. Hinata and I are family, and that’s all to it. I will not hate her for such stupid reasons.”

“…Yuto.”

“But I still see Hinata as a girl, as a potential partner, not as my family.”

I wasn’t lying when I told her I was trying to forget my unrequited love for Hinata.

However, I still found myself getting nervous at Hinata’s words and behaviour, and every time I did, I just distract myself pretended not to see it. I have always reminded myself that Hinata and I are family and I should not have such feelings for her.

But that didn’t change anything–so I’ve decided.

I want to face Hinata as my first love one last time.

“If I still have any feelings for Hinata, then the distance between us will remain the same. So, I want to spend a day with Hinata as classmates one last time. If I do that, I will be able to put my feelings for Hinata to an end.”

I bowed deeply.

“So, please. I want you to go on a date with me… I want us to go on a date so that we can move on and continue living together as a true family.”

“W-Well, I’m glad Yuto feels that way, but…”

Embarrassed, Hinata looked at Tsukino shyly.

“I’d rather you not say things like ‘I like you’ or ‘date’ in front of Tsukino…”

“I don’t mind it at all. I know Yuto likes Hinata-san.”

“Tsukino-chan!?”

While Hinata was panicking, Tsukino’s expression didn’t change at all. She is a really strong girl.

“I understand how you feel about Hinata. But for my own personal reasons, I was planning to tell Tsukino that Hinata and I are going on a date later.”

I wanted to tell Tsukino about it because she is my childhood friend who confessed her feelings to me.

Also, I don’t want to do anything unfair to Tsukino like sneaking around and dating other girls while I’m procrastinating her feelings.

I thought it would be better for Tsukino to be there like that rather than tell her about it later, so that there would be no misunderstanding.

“I see. Yuto, you told me everything for me. Yuto must’ve thought that if he went on a date with Hinata behind my back, I would feel really sad and hurt.”

“…? What do you mean Tsukino-chan?”

“I don’t think you know this Hinata-san but—”

“W-Wait a minute. Is it okay to say that? It’s something really important to Tsukino, isn’t it?”

“It’s fine. I was thinking of telling Hinata-san about it someday. Hinata-san is involved in it after all.”

“…I’m involved in it?”

When Hinata tilted her head dumbfoundedly, Tsukino said it with a blank expression, there was no visible emotion on her face.

“I like Yuto, and I confessed to him a while ago.”

“………eh?”

I was so stunned that I looked like a pigeon shot with a pea-shooter.

(‘a pigeon shot with a pea-shooter’ is a Japanese idiom that means a look of shock or staring with wide eyes and an open mouth)

Ten seconds had passed since Tsukino said it and Hinata hadn’t move an inch.

Eventually, Hinata seemed to had accepted the reality.

“…Yuto and Tsukino-chan are childhood friends, right?”

“Yup, but still, I like Yuto. I want to be the most special person to him.”

“…”

Hinata was speechless. That’s how unexpected Tsukino’s feelings must’ve been.

“But Yuto still loves Hinata-san. So, I promised to wait for him until Yuto sees Hinata-san as a family. …I was so happy that Yuto asked Hinata-san out on a date right in front of me, you know?”

“…I’ll do my best to respond Tsukino’s feelings. So Hinata, please. For us living together as a true family, will you go out on a date with me for the last time—…?”

Suddenly, I noticed Hinata kept muttering ‘Tsukino, likes, Yuto…?’ over and over again as if she had lost her mind.

“Umm, Hinata…?”

“Hiyahh!? E-Eh, what’s going on?”

“We’ll continue what we’re talking about earlier… would you go on a date with me?”

“…Yuto and I, going on a date.”

In a small voice, Hinata said.

“Umm, yeah. If you say so, I can go on a date with you. I’m very happy that you are worried about me.”

“…I’m glad to hear it. It’s a relief Hinata doesn’t hate me.”

“…p-please take care of me.”

As Hinata bowed to me, I turned my attention to Tsukino.

“I’m so sorry Tsukino, I know you have feelings for me, but will you allow me to go on a date with Hinata?”

“…hmm.”

However, Tsukino wasn’t happy about it. The person who is procrastinating her feeling wanted to go on a date with another girl. No wonder Tsukino didin’t like it.

“If that’s the case, I have a favor to ask, okay? If you can grant it, I’ll allow you to go on a date with Hinata-san.”

“A favor to ask…?”

I’ve promised Tsukino that I’ll fulfil all of her request as much as I can… but, if Tsukino asked me a favor that way, it means that it’s a favor that I would normally refuse.

That’s why I wanted to date Tsukino as a girl, as a potential partner, not as a childhood friend.

But, what kind of favor would Tsukino ask?

I was asking Tsukino’s permission to go on a date with Hinata, because of it, I was willing to do anything for Tsukino.

“Yeah, sure. It doesn’t matter what kind of request you will ask. Just tell me what does Tsukino want me to do.”

“Thankyou. Then, I have a favor to ask of Hinata and Yuto.”

“Eh, not only Yuto, but me as well?”

“Yup, it has something to do with Hinata-san. Let’s see—”

Then, Tsukino told us her ‘request’.

A request that left Hinata and me speechless, a request that we never expected.