I Was Oblivious to the Subtle ‘Yandere’ Side of My Nonchalant Sex Friend Gyaru - Chapter 48-49

Chapter 48: 

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“…Yo.”

“You’re late. Was it Asou-senpai again?”

“I told you, she’s on break.”

“Whatever. Just hurry up and open the door.”

When I came home from my part-time job, I found Kurenai sitting in front of the entrance. Her eyes were swollen. Had she been crying?

“What happened to your eyes? Did you get in a fight with Yumekawa or something?”

“Not really. More importantly, was work okay?”

“Yeah, I managed somehow.”

“I see. That’s good, then.”

Once inside, Kurenai immediately headed toward the shower, then stopped on her track.

“Oh, right. I still can’t.”

“It’s been a while, huh? Isn’t that kind of rough? You know, being girls and all?”

“Well, it can be tough, but everyone deals with it somehow. What, are you worried about me?”

“I wouldn’t know what it’s like. But seriously, what happened?”

Looking at Kurenai’s face in the room, I could tell her eyes were bloodshot. The area around them was red, like she’d rubbed them over and over.

“I told you, it’s nothing.”

“Don’t lie. If it wasn’t Yumekawa, did something happen at home? Or was it those girls from the softball team?”

“If I turned out to be the kind of awful person who hurt a friend…Could you still say you’d protect me?”

Kurenai looked at me with those red eyes, silently waiting for my answer.

“…So it was Yumekawa after all. Did you say something awful to her?”

“She’s probably crying in her room right about now.”

“I thought you two were close.”

“Arisu was always kind to me. That’s why I wanted to be a good person to her too.”

“Then why—”

“It couldn’t be helped, not with this kind of thing.”

“With what?”

“If you had to choose between me and Arisu… Who would you pick?”

“What? What kind of question is that?”

“Just answer. Which one?”

With a firm tone, Kurenai bit her lip hard. I fell silent for a while. The answer was obvious.

But if I had been able to say that obvious answer without hesitation, I wouldn’t have struggled this much. So instead, all I could do was think how unfair it was for her to ask now, of all times. But if I couldn’t say it here, then I probably never would. I’d never be able to say anything again.

“…It’s you. Of course, it’s you.”

“…Why? Is it because I let you do stuff?”

“No.”

“Then why?”

“Because you’re more important to me than Yumekawa.”

When I said that while turning my face away, she replied with a flat, unimpressed voice.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You’re the one who asked that question in the first place.”

“…I’m staying over tonight.”

“Sure. Wanna lie down?”

“Yeah.”

We turned off the lights. We then got under the futon together like always. But tonight, we didn’t do anything. I knew that, so I didn’t make any moves on my own either.

“Aren’t you going to kiss me?”

“Huh? Well, I mean—”

“It’s fine. Just that much is okay.”

“…Alright.”

Our lips met naturally. We’d done this countless times before, but just for tonight, my heart pounded harder than ever. We stayed like that, holding each other until late into the night.

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Chapter 49: 

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The final exams had ended without incident. Well, there was no guarantee my scores had made it out unscathed, but thanks to that one day of study group, I at least felt a little more confident.

“Minato, did you do okay on the test?”

“Yeah, somehow. Thanks to you, Yumekawa.”

“If you hadn’t had work that day, I could’ve helped you more. Oh yeah, is Asou-senpai doing okay?”

“Turns out it was the flu. So she’s taking the test later.”

“Whoa, poor girl.”

Yumekawa had been just as talkative with me as always since that day. Something had definitely happened between her and Kurenai, but since neither of them had said a word about it, I hadn’t pried. Still, it felt like Kurenai and Yumekawa had stopped talking at school.

Kurenai used to always greet her when she arrived, but that had stopped too. What could have happened between them? Unable to ask, I just let the days pass.

And then, the day before the festival arrived.

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“Tomorrow is a day off, so take it easy, everyone.”

The manager said during our shift. Since today we were especially busy with cleanup, even Asou-san had come in post-recovery. It had been a while since I last saw her.

“So tomorrow is finally the festival, huh? Aoyama-kun, did you end up asking out the girl you like?”

“Please don’t talk like it’s a given that I have someone I like.”

“Hehe~ Not denying it right away means you did ask someone. But from the sound of it, it’s not Yumekawa-san, is it?”

“Who knows, maybe it is.”

“Hmm, maybe it’s someone close to Yumekawa-san? That would explain why you’re all fidgety.”

“…Are you planning to become a detective or something?”

“Ahaha~ I’ve always loved mystery novels. Hmm, well, good luck.”

“Good luck? Why?”

“Because it’s normal to wish happiness for the one you like. Of course, I’d be happiest if I could be the one by your side, but just because that’s not the case doesn’t mean I’d want the person I like to end up miserable.”

“You’re pretty mature.”

“Yup, I’m your senpai after all. …Well, deep down, I kind of hope you get rejected and come running to cry on my shoulder.”

“Then I’ll make sure that doesn’t happen and give it my best.”

“…Yeah. Do your best.”

With a slightly sad smile, Asou-san whispered that and went back to her post. She really was a good person. Beautiful, understanding, and full of warmth—turning down someone like her made me no better than her ex. 

No, maybe even worse, since I didn’t even fall for her in the first place. But just because things didn’t work out with one person didn’t mean I’d go chasing after someone else.

I like Kurenai. 

It felt silly to say it out loud now, after all the time we’d spent together. But still, I needed to put it into words.

…The festival… I’m really looking forward to the festival.

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