I'll Take Nanase-san, Who Is Small And Adorable, Away From Her Cheating And Clueless Ex And Make Her Happy. - Chapter 4: The Next Morning with Nanase-san and Me.

The Next Morning with Nanase-san and Me.

(What should I do…? Think carefully, me…!!)

The morning after witnessing the confrontation between Nanase and Kouma, I was lost in thought in a noisy classroom filled with classmates.

My worries were, of course, related to Nanase. I was contemplating how to approach her when she came to school later.

Given what happened yesterday and the fact that we had planned to see each other again, I felt I should say something when she arrived.

The problem was how to approach her. If I spoke seriously, it might remind her of what happened yesterday, but if I tried to be cheerful, that could backfire too.

With no idea how Nanase’s feelings might have changed overnight, my chances were largely a gamble. I was desperately trying to think of the best way to make contact when suddenly, I felt a weight on my back and shoulder, along with a voice near my ear.

“Good morning, Ogami-kun!”

“N-nanase-san!? G-good morning…!”

I was startled by Nanase’s unexpected greeting as she wrapped her arms around my neck from behind. Her face was much closer than I had anticipated, and I managed to return the greeting despite my surprise.

Laughing softly at my reaction as I twisted around, Nanase released her arms and tilted her head, asking, “What’s wrong? You look serious this morning. Are you thinking about something?”

“Uh… well, um…”

What would be the right reaction in this situation? I desperately searched for an answer in my mind. Perhaps I should just be honest… Just as I reached that conclusion, Nanase gave a self-deprecating smile and spoke again.

“I know. You were thinking about how to approach me, weren’t you?”

“…Yeah.”

Thanks to Nanase bringing it up herself, it became easier to respond. After I answered honestly, she let out a small sigh before continuing.

“I’m really sorry for making you worry about me. But I’m really okay now! After a good night’s sleep, I feel refreshed, and I’ve started to think of it as lucky that I found out about that guy’s true nature sooner rather than later!”

“…I see. I’m glad to hear that.”

I could tell that there was some bravado in her words. Despite being the worst kind of guy, Kouma had been Nanase’s childhood friend long before he became her boyfriend.

The shock of discovering the true nature of a man she had known for a long time, combined with the betrayal, wouldn’t be easy to shake off. Still, seeing her decide to move forward and smile made me realize just how strong she really was.

“I know it might be a little rude to ask, but don’t you think about getting back at him? Like exposing Kouma for cheating…?”

“Ah… it’s fine, really. I thought about it a bit yesterday and even tried to look for some proof, but… I couldn’t find anything.”

“Were there no photos or messages that could prove you two were dating?”

“Nope, absolutely nothing! Everything was just casual conversations between childhood friends. I was surprised when I read them again! When I think about it, he was the one who said we shouldn’t leave any evidence since we never knew when it could be discovered!”

After a brief laugh, Nanase let out a heavy sigh. I realized she was disappointed not because she couldn’t find evidence against Kouma, but because of something else.

“…In the end, that’s probably how it was. To him, I was just a childhood friend, not a girlfriend. From the start, it seems we just ended up in that kind of relationship… his real priority was Shibamura-san.”

“Nanase-san…”

Kouma must have anticipated this outcome. That’s why he acted in a way to avoid leaving any proof of their relationship, encouraging her to do the same.

I couldn’t tell if it was his own cunning or advice from his cheating partner, Shibamura.

But one thing was clear: Nanase was deeply hurt to realize that someone she believed to be her boyfriend had prepared himself to cut her off at any moment.

“Ah, I’m sorry! I guess I’m feeling a bit down! When that happens, it’s time for some stress eating! Sweet stuff, sweet stuff~!!”

With that, Nanase let her shoulders slump and pulled out a melon bread from somewhere. She ripped open the bag and took a big bite, opening her mouth wide.

Since no one was around my seat at the back of the classroom, we could have this conversation without being overheard… and it seemed that this stress-eating session was the same.

As I watched her nibble on the melon bread like a little hamster, she noticed my gaze and looked up, swallowing the bread before asking,

“What’s up, Ogami-kun? Why are you staring at me so intently?”

“Well… I was just wondering what Kouma found unsatisfactory about you. If I were dating you, I wouldn’t even think about cheating…”

I said that and started to observe Nanase again.

Her sleek black bob cut perfectly matched her energetic and youthful vibe, and her face was adorably pretty, rivaling that of an idol.

She was undeniably a beautiful girl, and as Kouma had said, she had a well-endowed chest too… Anyone would agree that a guy who could date someone like her was incredibly lucky.

“…Maybe he just didn’t like the childish type? It’s just that he preferred a more classic beauty over a cute, loli-like girl with big breasts,” she mused.

“Is that really it…?”

I was aware of Kouma’s cheating partner, Shibamura Nina.

As Nanase pointed out, she was indeed quite beautiful, possessing a look that was both cute and elegant. Nanase was popular among a certain group of boys, while Shibamura seemed to attract a broader male audience.

However, I thought to myself that this couldn’t be a decisive reason for choosing Shibamura over Nanase. As I pondered this, Nanase finished her melon bread and pulled out another bag.

“Well, I’m just a miserable girl who was cheated on and then dumped by a guy. The only thing of value is this chest that grew from all the nutrients that were supposed to go to my height. Everything else, I’m completely inferior to Shibamura—just a pathetic girl.”

“That’s not true at all! Just think about it.”

Hearing Nanase’s self-deprecating words, I couldn’t help but respond.

She looked at me wide-eyed, surprised, and stopped moving. I continued,

“Sure, looks and breast size are subjective and can’t be clearly judged, but think about it: a girl who would still want to date a guy who already has a girlfriend? She’s definitely not normal. At this point, you’re clearly the winner.”

“Well… I guess that’s true.”

“Not just ‘maybe,’ it’s definitely true!” I said, wanting to reassure her.

Seeing that she seemed to be trying to put on a brave face while still feeling down, I wanted to lift her spirits with my honest thoughts.

“I think you’re just as cute and charming as Shibamura-san. At least, in terms of personality, you’re definitely better. So don’t say you’re a worthless person. If you need encouragement, I’m here to help as much as you want.”

“Ogami-kun…!”

My heartfelt words of encouragement seemed to resonate with Nanase.

She stopped her stress-eating and tucked away the second melon bread she had been about to open. Looking at me with a smile, she spoke,

“Thank you. I feel encouraged again. You’ve been so considerate since yesterday.”

“I’m not being considerate or anything. Besides, my words probably don’t mean much in terms of real encouragement.”

“That’s not true! You just don’t realize it, but you’re really helping me out! So don’t say things like you’re worthless. That was your line, wasn’t it?”

As she tilted her head adorably and looked up at me, I couldn’t help but chuckle at her mirroring my own words. It relieved me to see her regaining her spirits. Just then, Nanase threw a surprising question my way.

“Oh! By the way, Ogami-kun, are you free after school today? I want to thank you for yesterday, so how about we go hang out somewhere together?”

“Uh, sorry. My parents are coming home late today, so I have to cook dinner for my younger siblings. So—”

I felt grateful for her sudden invitation, but I had to inform her about my prior commitment. However, when she heard my response, she smiled brightly as if it were good news.

“Hmm, I see. That’s perfect!”

“Perfect…?”

“Yes! Since I want to repay you for your kindness, it’s just right, don’t you think?”

I was still trying to process her cheerful response when she gave me a thumbs-up with a radiant smile.

“I’ll come over to your house and cook dinner for you!!”