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 35: Let's go to the music store!

Let’s go to the music store!

“Hey, Itsuki, let’s go to the music store today!”

“Huh… um, sure, but what about the club activities?”

“We’re taking a break!”

“Oh… is that okay?”

Akira often skips club activities for my sake. I’m happy about it, but on the flip side, it feels like a break-even situation because Nana-san frequently comes during our break time.

In fact, the original plan was for Akira to accompany me to the music store, but somehow, it feels like I’m the one following Akira to his destination now.

It’s kind of childish in a way, but it’s also very cute. But when push comes to shove, Akira is incredibly dependable… His duality is quite striking.

By the way, yesterday, I asked Akira to see Nana off. I thought that the best way to mend their strained relationship was for the two of them to speak honestly with each other. I haven’t asked what happened, and I don’t intend to in the future. I trust Akira and Nana-san completely. And I don’t think it’s right for us, a couple, to doubt each other in that way.

I really want to show Akira how much I’ve grown since we started dating.

However, Akira complained quite a bit about taking Nana-san home due to the plans we made to go to the music store. He must have really wanted to go there.

That’s why I can’t refuse his invitation today, even if I had other plans.

But even today…

“We’ve been waiting for you, Itsuki!”

We got caught by Nana.

“Why did you come here? You!”

Once Akira caught a glimpse of Nana and recognized her, he was once again back to being mean to her.

I wonder if he really wanted to go to the music store so badly, as he was in a very bad mood today for some reason, when he saw Nana-san’s face.

“I just came to talk to Itsuki for a little while today!”

“Why did you exchange contact information, then? If it’s just for a little while, you could have done that over there!”

“Stop being so loud… You have a short temper, Akira!”

…Haha, that’s true. Akira’s temper is a bit short right now.

“Just for a little while, I promise.”

But Akira gave in easily.

“Itsuki… Thank you for everything. Well, he’s… like that, but… we made up for now. I wanted to thank you, Itsuki.”

I see. They’ve really made up. Akira is a bit tsundere toward Nanana, too.

“No, I didn’t do anything.”

“That’s not true. If Itsuki hadn’t asked me, I don’t think we would have had a chance to talk, even though it was just for a little while.”

In the long run, I don’t think it would have mattered, but with these two, it might have taken a while.

“I’ll send a message again. He seems really upset now, so I’ll go.”

“Yes, please do.”

“Well then, Itsuki, see you later!”

It seems that Nana-san came all the way here just to thank me. She’s a polite person, despite her appearance.

“Akira!”

And on her way out…

“What’s up?”

“Ba~~~~~~~~ka!”

I teased Akira like a child and left.

“Kuh…!”

Akira was surprisingly more irritated than usual.

I didn’t know much about Akira’s social life outside of school, but it seems like he’s having a proper youth experience right now.

“Alright, today I’m going to play like crazy! I might even buy one for the training camp!”

Hey, I’m the one looking for a guitar, you know. 

Akira is surprisingly enthusiastic for this.

When we arrived at the music store, Akira’s mood improved.

“Hey, Itsuki, which one looks good to you?”

Akira’s eyes sparkled like a child. He must really love this.

“I’m not sure how to choose. Is it okay to pick based on looks?”

“Yeah, at first, I think it’s fine to choose based on looks. If you like the way it looks, it’s more inspiring to play. That way, you’ll improve faster.”

I see, that makes sense.

“Then maybe this one?”

“Oh, the Jazzmas!”

What the heck is that?

“F Company developed it as a jazz-specific guitar, but it’s been popular with young people lately, and even alternative and grunge musicians like it!”

I have no idea.

“Is… is that so?”

“This asymmetrical shape and the logo are cute, right?”

Using the word “cute” to describe a guitar.

“Y-yeah, they are.”

Well, now that you mention it, it might be cute.

“It also has excellent playability, so I recommend it!”

Another term I don’t understand.

“Oh, it’s only 120,000 yen! That’s reasonably priced!”

120… 120,000! And that’s reasonably priced?

“Isn’t this a good one? Let me try it out for now.”

“But I don’t have that much in my budget…”

“It’s okay, don’t worry about it.”

Huh… What’s going on?

“I’m giving it to you as a present.”

Ehhhhhhhhh!

No matter how much you’re earning, this is really not okay!

“Akira… this is not okay.”

“Why?”

“It’s not about ‘why.’ Accepting something so expensive, like 120,000 yen, is just too much!”

“Is that so?”

“It’s not ‘is that so,’ Akira, is your sense of value skewed?”

“I see.”

He’s unaware, it seems.

“The other members and Shizuka-san are like this though.”

Celebrities are something else.

“For ordinary people, 120,000 yen is a significant amount! So, I can’t accept it!”

Akira looks a bit disheartened. Did I hurt his feelings? But I can’t give in here.

“Alright! Itsuki, let’s do this! I’ll buy it! I’ll use it when I come to your place!”

He didn’t seem disheartened at all.

“That’s okay then?”

He’s looking at me with such sparkling eyes.

“Uh… yeah.”

I couldn’t refuse. I’m such a fool!

“Okay, let’s try it out for now.”

“Sure.”

Just as Akira was about to call the store assistant, we heard someone else playing their instrument.

“…”

I don’t know much about guitars, but this instrumental sound is amazing. In fact, it’s almost identical to the song that inspired me to try playing solo electric guitar, Ayato’s song.

“Hey, Itsuki, can we go take a look?”

“Yeah, sure.”

Akira also reacted to this performance.

His face went from playful to deadly serious in an instant.

The performer was a high school boy.

“The sound is so… captivating.”

“Wait, do you know him?”

“No… he’s someone I secretly admire.”

Huh… Akira secretly admires a high school boy?

I wonder what’s going on.

I had a feeling that we wouldn’t be leaving the store with a guitar so easily.