I Will Do Everything In My Power To Bring Happiness To The Enchanting Beauty Who Can No Longer Smile. - Chapter 48: Getting a Push Forward.

Getting a Push Forward.

The holiday had ended. After school, I found myself at a certain fast-food restaurant with Shirao and Se-chan. Tsubame had work today.

“So? What’s up with you today?”

“…There’s something I wanted to ask you both about.”

“Is it about Tsubame-chan?”

I nodded at Se-chan’s question as she ate her ice cream, then reached for a few fries.

“Which means, it’s a love story, huh?”

“Oooh, I love love stories. I could eat ten ice creams just hearing about how cute Tsubame-chan is. The five-tier kind.”

“You’ll get a stomachache even if you’re Se-chan.”

“I-I know that! It gets chilly eating ice cream anyway! That’s why you eat it under a blanket!”

“Not really the point, I think… Still, I didn’t know you were such a huge fan of Tsubame.”

“Yes! I never said it before, but I, Se-chan, am a diehard fan of Tsubame-chan! Like, super-lunar-tier fan!”

“That’s some gacha-game level fan ranking.”

But the more I listened, the more I realized—no, I could see it clearly. There was something different about Se-chan’s admiration. It wasn’t just the regular kind of fan-love.

“Still, I didn’t expect it. I mean, I knew you had a ton of 2D characters you adored…”

“But she’s just so cute! Her hair is all shiny and swishy, her eyes are big and sparkly, her nose is adorably tiny—it’s just unfair how cute even her nose is! Her skin is clear like a doll’s, but not in a sickly way! Her lips are all soft and plump, just her face alone is already perfection! It’s like someone multiplied cute and beautiful and made her! Sometimes she gets full-page close-ups in magazines, and every time I see them, I just—ugh, she’s too cute, I die… It’s sacred. I worship. And not just that, her body proportions are divine! Even though she doesn’t show much skin, you can tell through her clothes! She’s slim but not too thin! Feminine! Long legs! I want to be stepped on! I want to be her chair! And when I saw her in real life, I almost screamed ‘CUUUUUTE!’ out loud! She’s tall and elegant and still has a doll-like face! I was gonna yell ‘I LOVE YOUUUU!’ so I kept my distance! I didn’t even think I was worthy of talking to her… But then she helped me carry something, and I swear, I nearly fainted. Beautiful, cute, and kind? That’s just unfair! She’s unbeatable! She’s perfect! When I heard she was close with a boy childhood friend, I was shocked—but when I heard it was you, Shigure-kun, I got it. You two just fit. I mean, you’re good-looking too, but it’s more than that. It’s the purity of your heart, the kind of impact you have on others… you match. So when I saw you two together—”

“S-Se-chan, your ice cream is melting.”

“Eep! Thank you, Shirao-kun!”

“Haven’t seen that in a while… Se-chan’s no-warning, ultra-long monologue. Only Shirao can stop her once she starts.”

The last time I saw that was back in middle school. After graduation, I asked if she had any anime recommendations—and she went on exactly like this. Two hours nonstop. Only Shirao saved me back then too; otherwise, I might’ve been stuck for several more hours.

“Ah, s-sorry, I totally derailed the conversation… I’ll commit seppuku now… Shirao-kun, will you do the final cut?”

“D-Don’t! Shigure, please, I beg you—if anyone’s cutting their belly open, let it be mine!”

“Don’t make me the villain here. The seppuku couple…”

Even as they joked around, Shirao looked back at me and gave a small nod, signaling he was ready to listen seriously.

“So? What’s this consultation of yours?”

“…It’s not easy to talk about, honestly.”

“I-I’ll listen to anything! You really helped me out with Shirao-kun, after all!”

I hesitated for a moment, feeling my face grow hot. This consultation… was that kind of topic.

“…The truth is, I don’t know where I stand with Tsubame anymore.”

“Huh? What are you saying now?”

“Well… we’re childhood friends, right?”

“Well yeah, but…”

It’s not just “kind of”—we are childhood friends. We’ve even introduced ourselves that way.

But—but.

“…What does it even mean to be childhood friends anymore?”

“You don’t mean in the definitional sense… do you?”

“No… I mean in terms of closeness.”

When you think of a childhood friend’s “closeness,” manga usually shows stuff like waking the other up in the morning or being overly involved in each other’s lives. That’s actually not too far off—we cook for each other, help each other, spend time together.

But the problem is… our closeness might be too close.

“This might be a bit personal, but… have either of you ever shared a bed with your partner?”

“S-Shared a bed!?”

“T-That’s way too soon for us! We’d at least have to be married!”

“I… think that’s a bit extreme. It’s just sleeping, right?”

“You idiot!? A boy and girl in high school sharing a bed is basically marriage already!”

“Such a wholesome couple… I mean, that’s actually a nice thing about you two.”

Now that I think about it, these two didn’t even hold hands until three months after they started dating.

“W-Wait. Are you saying that you and Tsubame…?”

“…”

I glanced around the store. It was noisy, no one was eavesdropping.

Just from my reaction, the two of them seemed to understand.

“S-Seriously? That’s already past marriage—you’re ready for grandkids!”

“Not sure I follow that logic.”

“A-As expected of Tsubame-chan… she’s ahead of the game… gulp.”

“…And that’s what I wanted to talk about.”

They were about to spiral off into wild speculation, so I brought the topic back forcefully.

“Not childhood friend distance, huh? If it’s you, the answer’s obvious. You’re good at this kind of thing, aren’t you, Mr. Problem-Solver?”

“You were always the guy people went to when they couldn’t talk to others. Especially for relationship stuff. That role was so important back in middle school.”

“Hearing that makes me feel weirdly ticklish.”

But it’s true—I’d received a lot of romantic consultations back then.

“…Though it’s different when it’s about myself.”

“The same guy known for pushing others forward with unmatched certainty?”

“That only worked when it was clearly mutual or when they were okay with getting rejected. That’s different.”

“So then… do you not think you and Tsubame are obviously mutual?”

“…”

I went silent. I wasn’t oblivious enough to say no. Not even joking.

We’ve shared beds. Hugged. Slept in the same room many times. Even yesterday.

If she hated me, none of that would’ve happened. If she didn’t like me, she wouldn’t have let it continue.

“So what are you afraid of?”

“…”

“Shigure-kun. Shirao’s wording may be a bit clumsy, but he’s always said the same thing: If you’re scared or unsure, talk to us. Both of us have shared our worries with you in the past, and you helped so much. We want to do the same.”

“Yeah, sorry. I’m just not as smooth as you are.”

Hearing that, I closed my eyes for a moment.

What am I afraid of…?

“…Tsubame has so many amazing people around her. Models, celebrities… she gets interviewed for TV shows and stuff.”

I began to piece together the words inside me. I didn’t want to hide anything from them.

“Of course, looks don’t always equal personality. But I’m sure some of those people have both. And I’m not so full of myself as to think I belong on the same level.”

I’m just a regular guy. Celebrities—especially models—spend time and money refining themselves. I can’t claim to be as attractive as them, no matter how hard I’ve worked in other areas.

And…

“Tsubame used to have some trust issues. But now… I think she’s gradually opening up to people, building healthy connections. With girls and guys. Carefully, at her own pace.”

That’s not something that’ll happen right away. It could take months—years even.

“But if I confess now and we start dating, I’m afraid I’ll end up getting in the way of that. That maybe I’ll unknowingly hinder her work.”

I don’t want to limit her future.

Even if that doesn’t happen…

“If she ever does a photoshoot with some ridiculously cool model… I’d probably get really jealous. And not in a good way.”

“Mm. Got it.”

Maybe a little jealousy is okay. Like the kind she teased me with yesterday.

But I know I wouldn’t stop there. I’d probably end up wallowing in inferiority.

“That’s everything you’re afraid of?”

“…Yeah. I think that covers it.”

I’m scared I’ll hold her back. Scared that my jealousy would make her avoid working with male colleagues. That’s the last thing I want.

As I organized those feelings, Shirao let out a breath.

“Then forget everything you just said.”

“…What?”

He stayed serious but grinned slightly.

“And now I’m asking: Do you like Sakakibara Tsubame?”

“…I do.”

It was a phrase I’d heard—and said—so many times.

“If you don’t confess today, and you never see her again starting tomorrow, would you regret it?”

“…I’d regret it for the rest of my life. To my dying breath.”

“Then it’s decided. Just don’t let yourself regret anything. You can figure the rest out later. But—don’t neglect the prep. If it works out, this could be a once-in-a-lifetime moment. So make it count. That’s what you told me, right?”

“…You really remember that, huh?”

“Of course. I still say thanks to you before I sleep every night.”

That day—Shirao’s final consultation.

‘Can I really… a guy like me… ask her to go out with me?’

That’s what he asked me.

“And also, not to guilt-trip you or anything… but if you keep dragging this out, how are you gonna face Kizuki-san?”

“…You’re right. I swore I’d be brave back then.”

“I can’t tell you not to worry… but this stage of your relationship is fun too, you know? It’s important. So don’t beat yourself up too much.”

“Thanks, Se-chan. Shirao too. …I’ve decided.”

My worries began to shrink. And one clear answer emerged.

“Mind if I change my question now? …So I don’t regret anything later.”

“Like, what kind of confession girls find romantic? Leave it to me! I’ve got hundreds of scenarios!”

“Hundreds!? We’ll be here until tomorrow! I mean, I do want your input, just… in moderation.”

And so, just like back then, I continued to consult with Shirao and Se-chan.

The day when everything changes… is drawing very, very near.