I Want to Know Everything About Love - Chapter 7: A Boy and a Confession (3)

Ootsuki-kun was a boy who was a little round-faced and had sharp eyes that caught my attention.

He had a clean appearance and wasn’t weak-looking.

He didn’t have a wild vibe, nor did I think he was particularly handsome.

I wonder what exactly a handsome man is. I want to ask Mika-chan the definition of what handsome is right now.

Anyway, he’s obviously not ugly by my standards.

He was exactly in uniform, and was as tall as I was at a glance. He looks nice and neither fat nor thin.

I think it will roll if you throw just his face.

Fortunately, I didn’t feel any instinctive aversion to him. He feels harmless, and I wouldn’t mind holding hands with him. I can’t just do it right now.

“Wait… huh?”

In front of me, there is a carpet of about four tatami mats.

On top of it were a round side table about the height of the waist, and three round stools.

Ootsuki-kun was sitting on one of them, and on the side table sat a tea set.

Even though I had struggled to come up with conversation topics before, words came out naturally now.

“What’s the matter with this set?”

“Oh, I brought it from home. I read in a book that first impressions are important so I wanted to try to treat you as best as I can. Besides, I like drinking tea outdoors. I wanted to drink with someone if there was anyone who would come. Do you want a drink? I’m sure you’ll feel less nervous.”

He was such an unusual person.

But I didn’t dislike it.

“Can I get one, too?”

“Of course. What about you, Kihino-san?”

“T-thank you. Please.”

“All right. Don’t just stand there and sit down.”

Ootsuki-kun stands up and guides us around.

When I sat down in a chair, he began to make tea in a smart way.

I give up all my thoughts in a situation that I don’t expect at all. In the first place, I didn’t have the mental leeway to think about it, and I was probably making my usual expressionless face.

While mostly staring at the ground, I occasionally glanced up to observe Ootsuki-kun. Meanwhile, Mika-chan and Ootsuki-kun continued their conversation.

“How do you handle the hot water?”

“I sometimes have afternoon tea with the principal. I got permission to use the water heater in the staff room in particular. I also got permission to make ice in the freezer so that I could serve the drink ice cream too. Did you like iced tea?”

“No, I’ll leave it to the master’s recommendation.”

“Leave it to the master’s recommendation… If you say that, I feel challenged to do my best.”

Ootsuki-kun stands up with an invincible smile and walks toward the tree.

And, calmly, he took a piece of the orange, which was bearing.

──!!

He is the orange thief. Caught red-handed!

My eyes don’t miss the moment.

I think it’s better not to ask, but I can’t help but point out my sense of justice as an honor student.

“Are you allowed to pick it?”

“Of course. I got permission from the principal to pick up to ten. This is the second one. It’s good to put it in tea. It also helps to replenish sugar for a tired brain after class.”

So he has permission to pick oranges. I guess that’s fine.

I have no idea how one even goes about getting that kind of permission.

“As long as you get permission…”

“I thought you had stolen it! You’re very prepared. Amazing!”

“I have the necessary preparations to do what I like in a closed space called school. It’s never a bad idea to be on good terms with the teachers.”

When Ootsuki-kun comes to wash the oranges, he takes out a fruit knife from the side and cuts them into round slices.

──Bringing a knife to school? Is that even allowed?

I was a little taken aback, but he had probably gotten permission for that too, so I decided not to comment on it.

“Whoa! I think this is my first time eating oranges at school!”

Mika-chan doesn’t seem to care about details, and she seems to be having fun as usual.

In contrast, I remained silent and was feeling uneasy. Ootsuki-kun seemed to notice my tension as he spoke up.

“Don’t worry, Kihino-san. I washed my hands with soap a while ago.”

“…It’s alright.”

That’s not what I’m worried about. Because it’s everything.

He brings too many things that he doesn’t need to bring to school, and everything he does is completely beyond my expectations.

I know he’s really washing his hands.

…

The three tea cups lined up were filled with tea.

The bright reddish-brown liquid had slices of orange floating on top.

“I’m sorry to have kept you waiting, here’s your orange tea.”

“Wow, thank you!”

“…Thank you.”

“It might be hot, so be careful.”

I gently lifted the cup and tilted it.

A hot liquid runs down my throat and the temperature gradually spreads in my stomach.

It is compatible with the cool breeze flowing through the back of the school building in the evening.

I could feel the warmth and sweetness.

Perhaps because of all the surprises, or maybe because of the tea, but I realized that I wasn’t so nervous now.

“… It is mildly sweet and warm.”

“Right! It’s delicious.”

“I’m glad to hear that. My hands are sticky, so I’m going to wash them. Take your time.”

When Ootsuki-kun said so, he sprinted toward the entrance.

I watched his back while continuing to sip the tea.

“Haa, this is relaxing…”

“What was your first impression?”

“He’s a strange person, but he looks like a nice person.”

“I think so, too. It’s good there aren’t any other rivals. The pass rate is one-fold, so it’s certain. Yuki may finally have a boyfriend.”

My ear tab gradually heats up.

Maybe it’s not because of the tea.

Maybe my body is starting to realize that Ootsuki-kun is going to be my boyfriend.

“W-who should confess first in situations like this?”

“A-already!? That’s quick. I don’t know that either. But rather than having to say it, it’s ideal to say it naturally when your feelings grow deeper.”

Aside from Mika-chan’s ideals.

Perhaps understood by the warmth of the tea, the thoughts that had been frozen had finally begun to move.

He wasn’t the typical, handsome guy who was popular with everyone. His actions weren’t exactly normal, and I didn’t really understand what he was thinking.

──But I felt something similar to what I experienced.

There is no particular reason. Whether it’s instinct or reason, something makes me feel that way.

I’m different from him, who avoids classmates, studies alone, and enters my own world, but there’s something strangely similar.

And he has a kindness that I don’t have, and there’s no fear.

Even if I ended up disliking him, I feel like I could turn him down if I needed to.

“Hehe.”

It feels strange and funny that I’m thinking about love like this.

It’s unpredictable, it’s not what I planned, it’s complicated, and that makes it interesting. I don’t know anything about love, but I felt like I understood a little bit of what I didn’t understand.

“I feel like I’m in love.”

“I’m so happy for you as if it’s my own thing. Do your best!!”

I feel like I’m back as usual.

It’s dull to be ambiguous, and I don’t like it when it’s not clear whether it’s black or white. It doesn’t suit my nature.

I’ll decide today. I will come up with some kind of answer.