Be careful with the laid-back beauty who took a liking to me. Otherwise, it will be too late! - Chapter 16: He Gently Holds Her Trembling Hand

## Chapter 2

### Episode 16: He Gently Grasped My Trembling Hand

After parting ways with Kawai-kun and returning home, I lay on my bed hugging a teddy bear.

The joy of being confessed to and starting a relationship with him made me feel incredibly happy.

I’ve been confessed to a few times before. But the people who confessed to me were always people I wasn’t very close to. I wonder what part of me they liked—probably my appearance.

I had thought that my appearance was the only thing people liked about me, but he was different. He truly saw me for who I am.

“This is too much…”

We had just been together a little while ago, but I already wanted to see his face again.

I let go of the teddy bear and picked up my phone, intending to call him. But then I stopped. If I called him right after we had just been together, I might be bothering him.

Kawai-kun said he didn’t mind if I was clingy, but I still didn’t want to be disliked.

(I need to hold back… hold back…)

As I stared at my phone for a while, the screen lit up with ‘Hinata Kawai.’

“He’s calling!”

My sleepiness vanished instantly, and I sat up before answering the call.

“Kawai-kun!”

“Whoa! You scared me… Sorry, is now a good time?”

Embarrassed by my loud response, my face turned bright red as I stood before my phone.

(That was so embarrassing…)

“It’s fine. Did something happen?”

I hoped he wanted to call because he missed seeing my face too. I waited for his response.

After a moment, I heard his voice.

“Um… there’s no particular reason, but I just wanted to talk to you, Koga-san…”

(How adorable is that!)

“Actually, I was about to call you too… hey, want to switch to video chat?”

“Sure, that sounds good. I don’t do it often, so it might take me a bit.”

“Take your time…”

I often video chat with Yuina, so I pressed the button and waited for Kawai-kun to appear on the screen.

Anticipating his appearance, I saw him pop up on the screen, with bunny ears added, likely from accidentally touching something.

(Kawai-kun, are you trying to fluster me in this short amount of time!?)

“K-Kawai-kun… your ears…”

When I pointed it out, he realized it and frantically tried to cancel the effect, but he didn’t know where to press and was clearly confused.

“Huh? Oh, how do I fix this? Um, Koga-san, you have bunny ears too… they look really cute.”

Wanting to match with him, I put on bunny ears as well, and he noticed right away.

“You look cute too, Kawai-kun… let’s keep it like this.”

“What, like this? No way, a guy with bunny ears is just weird.”

“Is that so…? I think it’s cute.”

Today, Kawai-kun was both cool and cute. I could watch him for hours.

“Thanks… um, about us dating… do you want to tell our friends?”

“I want to tell Yuina and Shiina-san. What about you, Kawai-kun? Will you tell Kubo-kun?”

“Yeah, I think I will. Asahi has given me a lot of advice.”

“Really…? Maybe we should just tell others if they ask about it.”

“Got it. I’ll do that too.”

I thought it would be like in a manga to keep our relationship a secret, but I probably wouldn’t be able to. I tend to share good news right away.

We ended up talking for over an hour. Feeling incredibly happy, I got up to prepare dinner.

—

The next day during lunch, I was eating with Yuina and Shiina-san in the courtyard.

Since there were no people around, I told them that Kawai-kun and I had started dating.

Yuina and Shiina-san looked at each other and then simultaneously congratulated me.

“Congrats!”

“Way to go, Sa-chan! I figured you two would start dating.”

Yuina put her bento down and hugged me tightly. The tamagoyaki I was holding almost fell, so I hurriedly popped it into my mouth.

As I chewed, Shiina-san and I made eye contact, and she smiled at me. After swallowing, I thanked her.

“Thank you, Shiina-san, for your advice… I’m really grateful.”

“You’re welcome. If you ever need to talk, I’m here.”

“Thank you.”

(I wonder if Kawai-kun is telling Kubo-kun right now…)

—

After school, I went to meet Kawai-kun as usual and asked him to walk home with me.

“Koga-san, you’re quick to get ready.”

“I can be efficient when I try.”

I expected him to tease me for saying that, but instead, he reached out and patted my head.

“Huh… Kawai-kun?”

Surprised, he quickly pulled his hand away.

“Oh, sorry. I meant to compliment you…”

“No, I didn’t mind… I was actually happy.”

I was just a bit startled. It wasn’t often he touched me, so it made me very happy.

“Shall we go home?”

“Yeah, let’s go. Do you want to come over to my place today?”

I planned to make omelet rice today, so I invited him, hoping he would come. He nodded in agreement.

We left the school, took the train, and got off at the same station. Here, there were fewer people in the same uniform, so I moved closer and leaned against him.

I restrained myself from being clingy at school, so I planned to make up for it now.

“Yesterday’s call was fun. If you don’t mind, can I call you again when I want to hear your voice?”

“Of course. I’ll call you too when I want to hear your voice───”

“Hey, isn’t that Koga?”

“!”

I heard a familiar voice from behind and was reminded of the unpleasant things from middle school.

Not wanting to meet him, I hid behind Kawai-kun. Understandably confused, he looked worried.

“Koga-san…?”

“Sorry, Kawai-kun… I didn’t want to see him, so I hid…”

Clutching the hem of Kawai-kun’s shirt, I whispered. The person who had called out, Hosho, a former classmate from middle school, approached. He was now attending a different high school.

I wasn’t scared of him, just disliked him and didn’t want to see him. Yet, my hands were trembling. I wanted to move but couldn’t.

(Why…)

As I wondered why, Kawai-kun gently grasped my trembling hand. It felt as if he was reassuring me that everything would be okay.

“Kawai-kun…”