I Tried Pulling When Pushing My Childhood Friend Didn’t Work, and It Totally Broke Me Inside - Chapter 7.5

“Daisuke looked like he wanted to go outside again today.”

“Really, that child still doesn’t understand, does he?”

I came to see Daisuke’s mother, no, mother-in-law.

“And this is the marriage registration form. It’s for father and mother.”

“Alright, I’ll make them sign it.”

I had another reason for coming today.

“Um, where is mother?”

“Kaori? Do you need something from her?”

“Yes, it’s something very important.”

I can’t forgive her for giving Daisuke that strange advice.

“Did you know that Daisuke confessed to me many times?”

“Yeah, Kaori told me about it often.”

Mother’s bad habit is that she talks too much.

“And the day before yesterday, he confessed again.”

“And Yuna-chan turned him down. On his way home, Daisuke got some strange advice from Kaori, right?”

She said what I was about to say before I could.

“How do you know that?”

“Because Kaori told me.”

“Eh?”

“Kaori, come here now.”

Mother-in-law turned around and called out.

I looked that way and saw mother peeking into the living room from the door.

“Mom.”

“Y-Yuna, I-I actually have something to do…”

“Kaori.”

Mother-in-law said mother’s name in a cold voice.

“Y-Yes.”

“Sit down.”

“Yes.”

Mother walked over nervously and sat beside her.

“Well then, Kaori. I’ll listen to what you have to say first.”

“B-But it’s Yuna’s fault in the first place. She kept rejecting Daisuke-kun’s confessions! I just wanted Yuna to realize how important Daisuke-kun is to her!”

Mom spoke like a child throwing a tantrum.

“But because of that, more confusion happened. I can’t forgive that.”

“Now, now, both of you. Kaori, you were thinking about the two of them in your own way, right?”

“H-Haruka-san… As expected from Daisuke-kun’s mother. Thank you, Haruka-san!”

Mom looked proud of herself.

“But it’s true that Yuna-chan got hurt because of it.”

“Haruka-san?”

“Let me be clear. I’m not on your side. If anything, I’m on Yuna-chan’s side.”

“That’s so mean! We’ve been friends since high school!”

“Of course.”

“Then I have the right to punch mom at least once, right?”

“C-Calm down, Yuna… I was going to tell you!? But you wouldn’t listen.”

“You’re still making excuses at a time like this… Just accept my fist quietly.”

“My daughter suddenly became a fighter! Help me, Haruka-san!”

Mom clung to mother-in-law and asked for help.

She’s already in her thirties, yet she acts like a child.

“Get off me, that’s gross!”

“Ah!”

“Don’t ah me! Really, Yuna-chan, calm down a little, okay?”

“Yes.”

“You won’t listen to your real mother, but you listen to Haruka-san.”

Mom pouted.

She really is childish.

“First, Kaori caused confusion between Daisuke and Yuna-chan. But if Kaori hadn’t given that advice, maybe Yuna-chan wouldn’t have realized her feelings for Daisuke.”

“That’s not…”

“Isn’t it? Yuna-chan, you kept rejecting Daisuke’s confessions, right?”

That hit a weak spot.

It might be true that without Mom’s words, I wouldn’t have realized my feelings.

“So let’s reduce her punishment.”

“Reduce it?”

“Kaori said she’s going to live in this house, right? So she will do all the housework here.”

“Eh, wait, Haruka-san? I didn’t hear about this!?”

“Of course not. I didn’t say it before. And you’ll pay for all the food too.”

“That’s awful! You heartless person! I thought you were on my side!”

“What are you misunderstanding…? I told you, I’m on Yuna-chan’s side.”

“Well, maybe I can forgive her if that’s the case.”

“N-No way…”

Mom looked completely hopeless.

“Or I don’t mind if Yuna-chan beats you up instead.”

“Haruka-san, you’re the best! Beautiful! A genius!”

My mother hugged mother-in-law tightly.

“Don’t get carried away.”

“Ouch.”

Mom got hit on the head.

“Yuna-chan, can you forgive her now? She is reflecting on what she did, at least a little.”

“Well, if mother-in-law says so…”

“Thank you, Yuna! That’s my daughter!”

This time, Mom hugged me.

“You’re in the way.”

“Everyone is so cold!”

Mom pretended to cry.

“Well then, I’ll go home. Daisuke is waiting for me.”

“I see. Give my regards to Daisuke.”

☆

“I’m home.”

“Welcome back.”

When I returned, Daisuke was there to greet me.

“Hey, can you take this off? I won’t run away anymore…”

He lifted his hands and showed me the handcuffs.

“No. You’ll run away. You haven’t given up on escaping yet, right? And I told you, this is proof of my love.”

“No, but it’s just kind of uncomfortable…?”

“Uncomfortable? Is my love uncomfortable to you? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?”

“M-maybe it’s not uncomfortable. I was just imagining things…”

“Isn’t that right?”

Honestly, he’s such a problem.

After all, he was the one who said he would listen to everything I say and never run away again…