I Ended Up Pretending to Be the Boyfriend of a Beautiful but Tough Classmate for Just a Month, but It Seems That She Has Awakened Her Yandere Tendencies Because of That. - Chapter 36

Chapter 36

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Sigh…

“What’s wrong? You just got here and you’re already sighing. Do you miss Suzukaze-kun that much?”

“It’s not that…”

After sitting down at the table with Mika in the family restaurant where we were supposed to meet, I slumped over and explained everything that had happened today.

“I see. Maria’s quite a persistent girl, huh?”

“Right? She just confessed to me out of the blue, and when I turned her down, why does it have to go this far?”

“Well, I thought this kind of thing might happen eventually if you kept rejecting all those confessions. That’s why I suggested you make up a fake boyfriend. But I guess it was too late.”

“What a disaster. I was in such a good mood after going to the aquarium, too.”

Before I ran into Maria, it had been a really good day. Of course, there were moments that made me remember the past, which made me feel down, but even those moments were part of it. All in all, it had been meaningful, fulfilling, and fun. Plus, she even said we should go again.

“Hehehe, she said we should go again.”

“I thought you were feeling down, but you’re grinning all of a sudden. You’re so unstable. What, did things progress with Suzukaze-kun?”

“Not like that… well, he did say he wanted to go to the aquarium again.”

“Heh, that’s good. So, did you at least hold hands?”

“I-I didn’t do anything like that. It wasn’t a place where we could show off or anything.”

“Hmm. Then what’s up with the photo you’ve been staring at since earlier?”

“Ah, well, this… I took it as a good luck charm. I was thinking of showing it to the guys.”

“Though, your face looks totally melted in that picture.”

“E-Eh, it’s acting! I thought it’d be more convincing if we looked close.”

“Hey, why don’t you stop being so stubborn?”

Mika laughed but still looked straight at me.

“…It’s not stubbornness.”

“Then what is it? You don’t need to worry about me. If you like Suzukaze-kun, just be honest about it.”

“I can’t!”

I raised my voice, cutting Mika off. Then I quickly realized what I’d done and looked at her, and she was looking at me with a kind expression.

“…Sorry, Mika, for raising my voice.”

“It’s okay. I said too much too. But, why do you hold back so much?”

“…”

It wasn’t just because Maria said something to me earlier.

I had been troubled for a while.

I kept thinking that I was just like the girl who hurt Suzukaze-kun. Without thinking about his feelings, I kept rejecting people, pushing them away.

Maybe I shouldn’t be with Suzukaze-kun at all. In the end, I might hurt him, too. When I think about that, I just can’t be honest.

“…I’m not…”

“Wow, you’re in pretty deep. Real, huh? Can I ask you something, Riara?”

“Ask? Sure.”

“As a general question, if you’re in a relationship with someone you like, would you want to be with them all the time?”

“Eh? Isn’t that normal?”

“But, you both have friends and hobbies, right?”

“I don’t get why you’d prioritize that.”

“…Alright, one more. Would you do anything for your partner?”

“Of course! If I really like someone, I’d want to support them, maybe even take care of them.”

“Hmm.”

Mika frowned.

I tilted my head, wondering why she was asking such weird questions, and she nodded as if she came to some conclusion.

“Riara, you’re totally messed up.”

“Messed up? I’m fine.”

“No, not like that. You’re a yandere.”

“A yandere? Me?”

“Yeah, a pretty extreme one. Your emotions are way too heavy. Well, with your dad’s situation, I can understand it, but don’t you think you should lighten up a little?”

“Are you talking about Suzukaze-kun?”

“Yeah, right now. But you know, just because you’re dating doesn’t mean you’re getting married.”

“What are you saying? If you’re in a relationship, it should be with the intention of marriage, right?”

“Forget it.”

Mika sighed in exasperation, took a sip from her straw, then looked up at the ceiling before turning back to me.

“To sum it up, you’re just saying Suzukaze-kun is important to you, right?”

“…Important, huh. Yeah, I guess so.”

“Ah, you finally admitted it.”

“I-It’s not like I like him or anything.”

“I know, I get it. But don’t you think it’s okay to be honest about how you feel now?”

“…I’ll think about it.”

“Alright, think it over. Anyway, I’m hungry. Let’s order.”

The conversation didn’t go any deeper during dinner.

But even as we ate, I couldn’t stop thinking about Suzukaze-kun.

What is he doing right now?

What does he really think after hearing about my conversation with Maria?

What does he think about the promise I made with him?

All these questions kept swirling in my mind, and I couldn’t focus on Mika’s conversation at all.

Sigh…

When I got home, I was always alone.

The entrance was dark, and so was the hallway.

I turned on the lights in each room, trying to chase away the loneliness.

But when I went back to my dark room, I felt like the loneliness was crushing me again.

It had always been like this.

I’d wait for the night to pass, hoping to see Mika again, because I liked her. She was my only friend, my irreplaceable person.

I always thought that as long as I had Mika, that would be enough.

For so long, that’s what I thought.

But now…

“I want to see him.”

As I lay in bed looking at my phone, it wasn’t Mika that crossed my mind.

I wanted to see Suzukaze-kun.

I don’t know what this feeling is, but I just want to talk to him.

I can’t wait until tomorrow.

I want him to contact me.

I want him to come see me.

“Is this what Mika meant by being honest with my feelings?”

I’ve been thinking about what Mika said, but I still don’t fully understand what this feeling is.

I don’t know yet, but…

“I want to see him.”

I know that this feeling is real.

So, I sent him a message.

I hoped he’d see it.