I asked him to be my pretend-boyfriend but after a while I fell for him, but I can't seem to admit that fact! - Chapter 34: You guys, sort it out on your own.

You guys, sort it out on your own.

“You are Asai… Asai Akira, right?”

“Yeah.”

“The Asai Akira?”

“Is there another Asai Akira that you’re referring to?”

“Sorry, I’m just a bit flustered.”

After learning that Akira is Asai, Natsuna’s attitude changed. Akira had an expression on his face that said, “What is she even talking about?”

“I’m Natsuna.”

“Huh, are you really Natsuna?”

“That’s right.”

“Your face… it looks completely different. Did you have a plastic surgery?”

“No, I didn’t! I’m just like I used to be. It’s a sign of growth!”

If Natsuna had been a friend of Akira from back when he was still in his rebellious phase, it was probably when he was in sixth grade and the first year of middle school, so it wouldn’t be surprising if she had grown and changed already by now.

“No way, you must have done something like a plastic surgery, because you look completely different.”

“I’m telling you I didn’t! It’s a sign of growth!”

Even though Akira now knew that she was an acquaintance, he remained harsh.

“Oh, I see. It must be Shizuka’s doing then.”

Akira had already suspected that this was the case.

“Uh…”

And she didn’t deny it.

“Itsuki, can I borrow the bathroom?”

“It’s fine, but…”

Natsuna… could it be?

“I’ll go wash off my makeup!”

Just as he suspected.

“Akira! Even without makeup, I’m beautiful. Wait for me, I’m going to show you how much I’ve actually grown!”

“Eh, stop, what if it’s a dream?”

“It’s definitely a good dream.”

“A nightmare.”

“Just wait for me!”

I guided Natsuna to the bathroom and returned to the room to talk to Akira.

“Hey Akira, Natsuna mentioned that she looks like the person from your troubled times. You think you could be a bit nicer to her? It’s painful to watch.”

“Oh… I didn’t mean to be so harsh, but it seems like the way I used to talk comes out when I’m with her.”

I feel like I want to meet the Akira from that time.

“Is there something that’s making you be so harsh at her?”

“Well, it’s not like there was something, but it’s not that either.”

Something did happen.

“Natsuna isn’t to blame. I was just a kid back then…”

Oh, this might lead to a deeper conversation… I was thinking that when:

“I’ve removed my makeup! Look, Akira!”

Natsuna returned.

“……”

In conclusion, she was cute without makeup. In fact, she was incredibly cute. Even without makeup, she could easily work as a model.

However, she looked incredibly youthful without those makeup.

In other words, when she removed her makeup, she looked like a completely different person again.

“See! She looks like a different person, doesn’t she! It’s a scam! A scam!”

“How rude! It’s not a scam! Besides, I look cute, don’t I?”

“Indeed… you look cute.”

“See, Akira! Itsuki gets it!”

“Itsuki is kind and she’s trying not to hurt your feelings, you unfortunate person.”

“What do you mean by ‘unfortunate person’!?”

“Look in the mirror! Look in the mirror!”

These two are way too close.

“Anyway, your business here is done, Natsuna. Go home.”

“It’s been so many years since I heard those words from a friend.”

“You’re not a friend of mine; you’re a bad influence.”

“I know… I get it.”

In response to Akira calling her a bad influence, Natsuna’s expression suddenly darkened.

“I… I’ve wanted to apologize to you for so long. But then I changed all my contact information, and when I went to your house, you wouldn’t come out… and before I knew it, you became famous… What do I have to do to get your forgiveness?”

And then, she burst into tears.

It seems like a heavy conversation.

“Hey, Natsuna… you’re misunderstanding from the start. I’m not mad at you.”

“Liar!”

“I really am not mad.”

“Lies!”

“No, seriously, why do you think I’m lying?”

“Because… you changed your contact information and didn’t tell me.”

“But you changed it first. That’s why I left a message with Shizuka-san with my new contact information.”

“…”

“I went to your house every weekend to see you, but you never came out.”

“We were busy with ‘Inherit Sound’ studio sessions and a nationwide tour.”

“…”

“Even now, you still don’t notice me!”

“But you didn’t notice me either!”

“…”

Well… to be honest, it’s kind of like an “Okay, okay” kind of conclusion.

The true story is like this:

Natsuna, along with Akira, got beaten up by Maki Makoto. She was also taking singing lessons with Akira. When ‘Inherit Sound’ was forming, Akira initially wanted to ask Natsuna to be the vocalist. (E/N: Maki Makoto is the girl who beat up Akira as heard from the previous chaps on his past.)

This would be quite a shocking fact for the fans.

However, Natsuna had been invited to the modeling world by Shizuka, who she met through Maki. She then chose the modeling path from thereon.

From Akira’s perspective, having Natsuna as the vocalist meant they could cover ‘Yumeon’ songs and aim for the Budokan with Maki’s songs that’s why back then he invited her to help him with the cover of the song. He initially didn’t understand why Natsuna refused though, but when he saw her working hard towards her goals, he realized that Natsuna had a lot of determination and she thought of her decision to reject it thoroughly.

When Akira said, “I was just a kid,” he was referring to the initial rejection of Natsuna and his subsequent negative attitude.

He had actually asked Shizuka to convey his apology for that, but it seems the message didn’t get through.

…I kind of understand.

Well, I just want to tell them: Sort it out between yourselves.