Be careful with the laid-back beauty who took a liking to me. Otherwise, it will be too late! - Chapter 19: Confession from Childhood Friend

### Episode 19: A Confession from a Childhood Friend

“Ah, now that we’ve started dating, there’s something I’d like to do.”

She said this as she pulled away from me and leaned in close.

“What? I want to hear!”

“Um… I’ve always called you by your last name, but I want to call you by your first name…”

“Calling you by your first name! That’s lovely… I think it’s a great idea. Hinata-kun? Hinata? Which do you prefer?”

“Either is fine. Whatever’s easier for you.”

I never imagined I’d be so happy and embarrassed to be called by my first name by someone I like.

At the same time, it reminded me of the first day of school when she called me by my name.

(I remember she said it was a nice name…)

“Then I’ll call you Hinata. Will you call me Saya?”

She looked at me with sparkling eyes, waiting eagerly for me to nod. When I did, she looked like she wanted me to say her name right away.

“Sa… Saya.”

“! O-one more time!”

“One more time? Sa… Saya.”

“No, I want to hear it once more!”

“Saya… Are you okay?”

Saya fell towards me and hugged me, then grabbed my hand with a happy expression.

“Just being called by my name by the person I like makes me this happy…”

As she basked in her happiness, her stomach growled.

“Ugh… So embarrassing…”

Not wanting me to see her face, Saya grabbed a cushion nearby and hid her face behind it.

“Shall I make dinner? I’m thinking of making potato salad and ginger teriyaki chicken. How does that sound?”

I was ready to change the menu if she didn’t like it, but she peeked out from behind the cushion and opened her mouth.

“I want to eat that…”

“Okay, let’s make it.”

“Yeah, let’s make it…”

Saya put the cushion back on the sofa and followed me to the kitchen, clutching the hem of my shirt tightly, as if she didn’t want to let go.

“What do you think? I can make the potato salad, so should I?”

“Thanks. I’ll make the ginger teriyaki chicken then, so could you handle the potato salad?”

“Yeah, leave it to me!”

Saya took the potatoes we bought at the supermarket and smiled brightly.

I focused on making the ginger teriyaki chicken while Saya worked on the potato salad. At one point, she got tired from mixing and took a break.

“Hey, Hinata…”

Since I wasn’t used to her calling me that yet, my heart skipped a beat.

“What’s up?”

I turned around to see Saya looking sleepy.

“I’m tired…”

“Ah… um, the potato salad looks pretty much done, so you can rest if you want.”

After finishing cooking the chicken, I turned off the stove and went over to her. Saya leaned on me.

“Do you want to sleep on the sofa?”

“Mm…”

Since she was half-asleep, I led her to the sofa.

When we reached the sofa, she sat down and curled up.

(I thought it was unusual that she hadn’t been sleeping in school lately…)

I gently covered her with a knee blanket and returned to the kitchen.

***

“Mm… something smells good.”

As I was setting the table with dinner for two, Saya slowly woke up.

“Saya, good morning. Did you sleep well?”

I looked back at her as she sat up on the sofa. Saya hugged me.

“H-Hinata, I love you…”

“Thanks, I love you too.”

I gently patted her head, and she looked so happy.

“I haven’t been sleeping well lately… I said I’d help with dinner, but I only managed the potato salad, sorry…”

“It’s okay. Just making the potato salad makes me happy… Let’s eat dinner.”

Since everything was ready, we started eating. The potato salad Saya made was delicious. Saya also said the ginger teriyaki chicken I made was very tasty, so I considered it a success.

“Thank you for the meal. It was very delicious.”

“You’re welcome. I’ll walk you to the station.”

It was already dark outside, so I didn’t want her to go home alone.

“Thank you.”

She started getting ready to go home a little while after we finished eating. Saya had wanted to see my mother, but it was too late today, so we planned to do it another time.

Apparently, she wanted to announce that we had started dating together.

“Oh yeah, I’d like to greet your parents too.”

“My parents… yeah, someday…”

For the first time, I saw her force a smile. I might have said something that made her sad.

After she was ready, we stepped outside. I left a note for my parents, saying I was walking Saya to the station, so they wouldn’t worry if they got home before I did.

“Hinata, can I hold your hand?”

She grabbed the hem of my shirt tightly and looked up at me with pleading eyes.

“Yeah, of course.”

When I agreed, she held my hand and intertwined her fingers with mine.

(Isn’t this what they call a lover’s hand-hold…!?)

“Let’s go to the station.”

“Y-yeah.”

As we started walking towards the station, both of us noticed something simultaneously.

“Hinata and Koga-san… good evening.”

Standing outside her house, we bumped into Maou.

Maou immediately noticed that we were holding hands.

“Good evening, Oohara-san. Are you going somewhere?”

“Yes, to the convenience store. Congratulations, Hinata. I’m happy for you.”

“Thanks, Maou.”

Although I was happy to be congratulated, something about Maou’s tone bothered me.

After a brief silence, Saya spoke up as Maou was about to leave.

“Hinata, it’s okay if you don’t walk me. I want to talk to Oohara-san.”

“Oh, okay… got it.”

I guessed she wanted to have a girl talk. So I let go of her hand and headed home.

“You look like you have something to say to me, Oohara-san…”

It wasn’t Saya who had something to say. It was Maou.

Saya could tell that Maou had something she wanted to say to her.

After a moment of silence, Maou made up her mind and spoke.

“There’s nothing… No, actually, there is. Please don’t tell Hinata, but I like him.”

She confessed straightforwardly to Saya.

“I like him… but I don’t intend to confess my feelings. Hinata looks happier when he’s with you, and there’s no room for me between you two.”

“…Are you okay with that?”

“I’m okay with it… Just don’t tell Hinata that I like him, okay?”

“I won’t. It’s up to you to tell him how you feel.”

“…Thanks.”