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 40

Chapter 40

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“…Morning.”

When I opened my eyes, an unfamiliar ceiling was above me.

Now that I think about it, I had stayed over at Takamiya’s house.

Takamiya is… not here.

Did she wake up first?

As I got out of the bed that felt different from usual, the door to the room opened.

“Oh, you’re up.”

“Ah… Good morning.”

“Good morning. Did you sleep well?”

“Well, I guess. Uh, what time is it?”

“It’s still six in the morning. You can sleep until breakfast is ready.”

“No, it’s okay. I’ll help, too.”

I stood up and straightened the blanket.

I don’t have the audacity to go back to sleep in someone else’s room.

But strangely enough, while I was so conscious of being alone in the room with her last night, I feel at ease now.

Maybe the excitement from last night was just because of the situation.

I convinced myself of this as we left the room together.

◇

“Hey, that miso soup is delicious, right? My aunt taught me how to make it.”

“Yeah, it’s good.”

“Hehe, I’m glad. There’s more if you want some.”

I was having breakfast, which Takamiya had made, in the living room where I had visited yesterday. Takamiya seemed to be in a better mood than usual.

“Did something good happen?”

“Huh, why?”

“No, you just look happy.”

“Not really. But I don’t remember the last time I had breakfast with someone. I always ate alone in the morning.”

She stared at the steaming miso soup as a sad expression crossed her face.

Seeing her like that, I remembered what she said before we went to sleep last night.

“Thank you for coming.”

That was the only honest thing she said, and I felt like I had seen just a little bit into her heart.

She must have been really lonely.

Thinking about how she had been enduring that for so long, I was glad I came.

And I was relieved I didn’t make any reckless decisions.

“So, after we eat, I guess I’ll have to go home. What about you?”

“I’ll go, too. I need to apologize to my aunt.”

“…Alright.”

I would have preferred to go home first and clear up my mother’s misunderstanding, but going home with Takamiya after staying out all night would be awkward, even though nothing happened.

I could already imagine my mother’s smirking face.

“By the way, did Takamiya’s mom never come back?”

“I guess not. I don’t really know, and I don’t care about that kind of person.”

Takamiya dismissed it with a tone of disgust.

It seemed like she and her mother had some sort of trouble.

Should I ask her about it, even though she’s in a good mood this morning?

I hesitated, but then she smiled a little, as if amused.

“You’re curious, aren’t you, about my relationship with my mom?”

“Huh, no, it’s not like that.”

“You don’t have to worry about it. It’s true that we don’t get along.”

“…Is it because of your father?”

“Yeah, sort of. But I guess I’m the type to get blamed unfairly.”

“Unfairly blamed?”

“They say the divorce happened because I saw something I shouldn’t have, among other things. But now, I get it. She probably didn’t have anyone else to blame.”

Takamiya was talking about it while smiling a little.

“…Takamiya didn’t do anything wrong. It’s messed up for her to say those things to a child.”

“Yeah, it was messed up. But I try not to hold onto anger or resentment now. My mom probably avoids me because it’s awkward, but that’s fine.”

She took another sip of miso soup while checking her phone.

“Ah, it’s from Mika.”

“Is it an invitation?”

“No, it’s just a good morning message. Hehe, we’re close, huh?”

“Ah, I’m jealous.”

“You’re jealous of me and Mika? Ryofu-kun, you really…”

“It’s not like that! I just think it’s nice to have a good friend like that.”

“A friend, huh? Do you want one?”

“I don’t know. I think it would be fun to have one, but it’s not easy to find someone who understands you.”

Lately, I’ve been thinking that if I had a friend I could share my worries with, maybe some of my frustration would disappear.

I wonder what Takamiya talks about with Mika.

I wonder if she talks about me.

“Huh, you’ve changed a little.”

“Me? Really?”

“Yeah. When we first met, you had this look like you didn’t want to get involved with anyone. I thought you had chosen a mama’s boy recluse as your boyfriend.”

“If we’re talking about first impressions, you were the same. When you first approached me, you were complaining about getting stuck with a self-centered guy.”

“Really? You thought that?”

“Yeah, but that’s not how I feel now.”

I quickly corrected myself, realizing I said too much. Takamiya just looked at me with a confused face.

Then, she suddenly laughed.

“What’s so funny?”

“Nothing. It’s just funny how flustered you are. I know I can be self-centered. Mika always tells me that.”

“Well, if you know, you should change.”

“We’re both like that, aren’t we? You should do something about that gloomy fringe and your terrible fashion sense.”

“…I’ll work on it.”

“Yeah. So, what did you mean by ‘I’m different now’?”

Takamiya narrowed her eyes and looked at me straight on.

“There’s no big meaning. Well, you’re more serious, I guess, or more organized.”

“Is that it?”

“…I think you’re a good person.”

I couldn’t quite express how I felt about Takamiya.

I might like her, but I’m not sure what kind of liking it is.

Saying I enjoy spending time with her could be just the result of me having been lonely before.

So, I settled for safe words.

She’s a good person, at least to me.

There’s no one better than her.

“…What’s that?”

Takamiya pouted a little, looking bored.

“What do you mean, ‘what’s that?’”

“Then, what about Maria?”

“At least to me, she’s a bad person.”

“Hehe, then I’ll forgive you. Hey, can you go home first? I’ll stop by Mika’s place before I go.”

“Ah, alright.”

“Wait, did you think about coming with me to meet Mika? You can’t, okay?”

“I told you, there’s nothing going on…”

By the time breakfast was over, two hours had passed.

“Well, I’ll head out first.”

“Okay, see you later.”

I left Takamiya’s house and headed home after my first-ever sleepover.

“Ugh, it’s so bright.”

I squinted at the morning sun that had fully risen.

It had been a dreamlike time.

It wasn’t a moment I could wholeheartedly call happy or joyous, but…

I turned around and looked up at the house where I had just slept.

I took a deep breath.

“…Yeah, this is the only way.”

It had been in the back of my mind since yesterday, but I had been pretending not to notice.

I wanted to be with Takamiya just a little longer, even if only for a short time.

But if I want to win the election, this is the practical course of action.

I need to win back the votes of the guys, or it’ll be a certain loss.

I don’t want to see her lose to someone like Jinguji.

What happens to me doesn’t matter.

I just want Takamiya to be liked by everyone.

I want her to shine more.

I absolutely want her to win.

I’ve had enough of this dream.

Even if I don’t do it now, the same result will happen in ten days anyway.

The timing is better now.

Today, I’ll talk to Takamiya.

…I’ll break up with her.