Be careful with the laid-back beauty who took a liking to me. Otherwise, it will be too late! - Chapter 2: Detour with Koga-san After School

Episode 2: Detour with Koga-san After School

The moment we met, I immediately remembered. He was the one who had spoken to me when I was in trouble and crying in the past.

It seems that Kawai-kun hasn’t realized it yet, but I’m glad we met again…

I wanted to hug him out of happiness, but I resisted the urge and tightly hugged his arm.

—

“Ko-Koga-san!? I-I mean, it might give off the wrong impression if you cling to my arm like this, so could you please let go?”

“Hmm… I want to stay like this, but I don’t want to make Kawai-kun uncomfortable… so I’ll let go…”

Koga-san, who had been clinging to my arm, looked a little disappointed as she let go of me.

“Kawai-kun, want to take a little detour? I want to eat crepes.”

Koga-san invited me to a detour after school with sparkling eyes. She had a cute, animal-like charm about her, and I felt like patting her head.

Since there was no reason to refuse, I was about to say “okay,” but at that moment, I felt my arm being grabbed by my childhood friend with beautiful black hair.

She was Maoka Oohara, my childhood friend whom I’ve known since kindergarten.

Like Koga-san, she is also academically excellent and good at sports. She is also reliable and a perfectionist. She is in the student council and is also a candidate for student council president.

Maoka is my proud childhood friend, and we often interact with each other’s families and occasionally have dinner together.

“Sorry for interrupting your conversation, but can I borrow Hinata for a moment?”

While still holding my arm, Maoka asked Koga-san, who was talking to me.

In response, Koga-san, puffing her cheeks like a squirrel, grabbed my arm just like Maoka.

“Nope. Hinata and I are going to eat crepes together. Can’t we talk tomorrow?”

I had intended to go with her, but I hadn’t said we were going yet. Nevertheless, Koga-san proceeded with the conversation as if I had agreed to go eat crepes with her.

After hearing Koga-san’s words, Maoka stared at me, her expression becoming frighteningly intense. I felt like I had done something wrong.

(Did I do something to upset her…)

“Crepes? Hinata, are you dating Koga-san?”

“N-No, we’re not dating—”

“We are. I’m planning to marry Hinata. Hehe.”

(Heh, she’s laughing, but she’s making outrageous statements!)

“O-Oh, really…”

Maoka seemed to believe Koga-san’s words, and she looked at me with a serious expression.

“It’s a misunderstanding, Maoka. There are no plans for Koga-san and me to get married, and we’re not even dating.”

“Is that so? Well, whether you’re dating or not doesn’t matter to me. I just want to talk for a bit. Hinata, can I borrow you?”

“Um, I’ve already said okay, but Koga-san…”

For the second time, Koga-san didn’t let go of my arm.

“Is this something you can’t talk about in front of me?”

Although Koga-san spoke in a relaxed tone, I felt a tremendous pressure in her voice.

No matter how much Maoka pleaded, it seemed hopeless, so she gave up, turned her back on us, and went back into the classroom.

“Shall we go, Koga-san?”

“Yeah, let’s go. I’m hungry…”

Koga-san said so and leaned against me.

“Are you okay?”

I hurriedly supported her body, so she didn’t fall, but she seemed tired.

“Thanks, Kawai-kun… I talked too much and got tired. I’ll feel better after eating crepes.”

“Then, we should go eat.”

“Yeah!”

She nodded energetically, so it seemed like she was just tired, as I thought.

—

After leaving school, Koga-san and I headed to the crepe shop. I didn’t know what to talk about since it was our first meeting, but there was something I was curious about earlier, so I decided to ask her about it.

“Koga-san.”

“What is it?”

When she faced me and smiled, Koga-san looked too cute, and I felt my heart skip a beat.

(Her smile is too angelic…)

“Earlier, you said you liked me. Can I ask what you meant by that?”

“Meant… I thought Kawai-kun seemed kind…? I wanted to be friends.”

I wondered why she used a questioning tone, but I wasn’t at all unhappy about being told she wanted to be friends.

It’s nice to be told someone wants to be friends. However, Koga-san seemed

to be unsure about how to keep her distance, as she was getting too close when talking to me.

Even now, Koga-san is close to me. It’s not that I’m moving closer to her, but she’s moving closer to me.

Concerned about the distance, Koga-san suddenly ran off and stopped at a certain place.

Wondering what was going on, I followed her, and the place where she stopped was a crepe shop.

She squatted down, pondering over which crepe to choose from the menu.

“Which one should I choose~”

Her eyes were sparkling as she deliberated, and I thought she looked cute.

(Is she a fan of crepes?)

I also squatted down next to her to look at the menu and spoke to her.

“There’s plenty of time, so take your time deciding. No need to rush…”

I was about to say there’s no need to rush, but I noticed Koga-san was staring at me intently.

“Hehe, it feels like a date when it’s just the two of us.”

“! I-It might seem that way…”

I realized something today while being with her. My heart can’t handle being with her.