I’m a Loner, Gloomy Guy Who Accidentally Witnessed the Moment the Top Girl in the Class Got Dumped. I Didn’t Know What to Say to Comfort Her, So I Just Gave Her a Cola and Somehow We Started Having Lunch Together~ - 29-30

Chapter 29: Rain

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“Takashiro-san really did her best. I’m honestly glad it worked out.”

11:00 p.m. Sitting at my study desk in my room, I smiled as I recalled what had happened after school today. I was glad it went well. All I could do now was hope that tomorrow’s date would go just as smoothly.

The smartphone resting on my desk vibrated. It was a call from Takashiro-san.

Is she too nervous to sleep?

Imagining that made her seem kind of cute. I definitely wouldn’t say that to her, though. She’d absolutely get mad. I let out a small chuckle and answered the phone.

“Sorry for calling so late.”

“I wasn’t planning on sleeping yet, so it’s totally fine. What’s up?”

“It’s not like I have any big reason or anything, but I just wanted to thank you. I can’t believe I’m actually going on a date with Kenzaki. That’s all because you were there, Masa. Thanks.”

“It worked out today because you did your best, Takashiro-san. I didn’t really do much.”

Takashiro-san’s voice was lively and full of bounce. Even through the phone, I could tell she was so excited for tomorrow that she could hardly contain herself. It seemed like the way she’d looked not very happy earlier really had just been my imagination.

“Have fun on your date. I’m hoping everything goes well.”

“Yeah. I’ll give you a good report, so wait for it.”

“I’m looking forward to it. Talk to you later.”

“Ah, wait a second. Can I say one last thing?”

“Yeah.”

But Takashiro-san didn’t start speaking right away. About a minute of silence passed. The pause was so long that I was just about to ask, “What’s wrong?”—when I finally heard her voice.

“Even if things go well tomorrow, I want to stay friends with you. …Um, because being with you was fun.”

“Of course. I had fun too, so I’m really happy to hear you say that!”

I had always been bad at dealing with Takashiro-san, but that wasn’t the case anymore. Spending these past few days together, I’d come to know many sides of her. I knew that only her tone was scary and that inside, she was a timid maiden. I knew that despite her light, carefree appearance, she was actually very principled. And I knew that being with her was incredibly fun.

So I no longer felt any sense of discomfort around her. If anything, as a person, she fell into the category of people I liked. That was why being told we were “friends” made me unbelievably happy.

“Thank goodness…! Thanks!”

Her voice sounded genuinely happy and more heartfelt than ever before.

…That was probably just my imagination, though. I only felt that way because I was happy myself. It was nothing more than my misguided assumption.

“Do your best. I’m cheering for you!”

After sending her one last heartfelt cheer, I hung up the phone.

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“Jeez…Even God can be cruel.”

2:00 p.m.

Looking out the window of my room, I narrowed my eyes in irritation. The sky was unfortunately filled with rain clouds. Even though today was the day Takashiro-san and Kenzaki were supposed to go on their date, the weather was terrible. There was no need for it to rain on such an important day. Just for today, I really wanted it to be sunny. It was only natural to feel like complaining to God at least once.

Ding-dong!

The doorbell announcing a visitor rang out. Mai would usually answer it…

…Ah, right. She wouldn’t. She was staying over at a friend’s house today. She wouldn’t be back until tomorrow. That meant there was no choice but for me to answer.

“Who shows up on a day like this…”

Dragging my sour mood with me, I left my room and headed for the front door. I opened it somewhat brusquely, and…

“Eh… Why—”

A voice of surprise slipped out. Standing there was Takashiro-san. But that should have been impossible. According to the date plan, she and Kenzaki were supposed to be shopping around town until evening. That meant Takashiro-san should have been in the middle of her date right now. She wasn’t someone who should have been here. And yet, the fact that she was standing in front of me meant that some kind of trouble must have occurred.

Takashiro-san’s expression was dark. Her cheeks were wet. I couldn’t tell whether that was because she’d been soaked by the rain, or because drops had spilled from her eyes. But either way, there was no doubt I couldn’t just leave her alone.

“Come in.”

Takashiro-san gave a small nod.With slow, unhurried movements, she took off her shoes and silently stepped into my house.

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Chapter 30: What I Can Do

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Takashiro-san entered my room, sat down on the edge of the bed, and slumped forward. There was none of her usual intimidating presence. She looked terribly fragile. It was easy to see that she had taken a massive hit. I brought a towel from the bathroom and gently held it out to her.

“Use this.”

Takashiro-san lifted her face and gave a small nod. When she took the towel, she pressed it tightly against her face.

“Uuu… Uugh…”

What leaked out from the gap between her face and the towel were heartbreaking sobs that made it painful just to listen to. Takashiro-san was crying as if trying to stifle her voice. I didn’t say anything. Tears like these were probably better let out completely. I just sat beside her, listening to those heartrending sobs.

After crying for a while, Takashiro-san pulled the towel away from her face.

“……Things were going well at first.”

The voice that slipped from her mouth once the sobbing stopped was so small it sounded like it might vanish at any moment.

“During the date, Kenzaki looked like he was having a really good time and that made me get carried away, so I worked up the courage and confessed. Then he said, ‘I’m happy, but there’s someone else I like. Right now, I can’t think about anyone but her.’”

Takashiro-san let out an exaggerated laugh and forced a smile.

“Hahaha…” 

But that was self-mockery. She was belittling her own actions as foolish and laughing at herself, in a way that was painful to watch.

“Sorry, Masa.”

“Why are you apologizing?”

“Because you did so much for me, and I went and ruined everything.”

“That’s not really your fault, Takashiro-san.”

What Takashiro-san was hung up on was probably the fact that she’d confessed to Kenzaki. We hadn’t talked at all about her confessing during the date. So honestly, that part did surprise me a little. But I didn’t think it was a bad thing.

It felt like the flow was right, so she went on the offensive. That was all there was to it. In other words, Takashiro-san had simply done everything she could with all her strength. There was nowhere she needed to apologize. But Takashiro-san shook her head.

She had decided her own actions were wrong and was hurting herself over it. She was practically seeking punishment. What she might need right now was to be harshly condemned. But I couldn’t do that. I wasn’t skilled enough to hurl abuse at someone who hadn’t done anything wrong.

So I stuck to my own way.

“Wait here for a second.”

I stood up from the bed and left the room. My destination was the living room. Both Mai and I loved cola. That was why the Murase household refrigerator was always stocked with ice-cold cola. I opened the refrigerator and took out two plastic bottles of cola.

Holding one in each hand, I returned to my room.

“Here.”

I held out one of the bottles. Takashiro-san looked surprised, but hesitantly reached out and accepted it.

“I can’t comfort a girl who just got rejected. The only thing I can do is hand her a cola like this.”

“……What the hell is that supposed to mean? I don’t get it.”

Takashiro-san snapped back, then let out a small laugh. Her expression, which had been gloomy the whole time, finally brightened here. She opened the cap of the bottle and took a big gulp of cola.

“So you can’t comfort a rejected girl, huh. Even though I’m this hurt… You’re a pretty awful guy.”

“Sorry, but you’ll just have to give up on that one.”

“Don’t say it so confidently. …But you can at least listen to me, right?”

“Yeah, I can do that much. I’m used to it.”

I’d once endured Amamiya-san talking about herself at length. When it came to listening to a rejected girl talk, I had a decent amount of confidence.

“You’re a good listener. It suits you.”

Saying that with a laugh, Takashiro-san took a deep breath. Then she let it all spill out. Her frustration, her sadness, her anger—every emotion that had built up in her chest poured out at full force. What stood there was no longer a delicate girl weakened by heartbreak, but a tough, strong-willed delinquent with the look of a gyaru.

It was the familiar Takashiro-san I was used to seeing.

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