It’s Too Early to be Having Newlywed Syndrome! ~Childhood Friends Who Rekindled their Love for Each Other ~ - 4 - 12 - Show Me that You Can Completely Beat Me

Show Me that You Can Completely Beat Me

          “Once I get a boyfriend, would I be able to understand how a couple feels a little more?”

Makoto was struggling with Naoto’s quiz about couples, that she’s making a frustrated face.

“If only you would put that much concentration on studying.”

Makoto, who was told that by Haruka,

“Don’t say it like my mom always do.”

She pouted.

Naturally, the place burst with laughter.

“Somehow, I’ve been wondering if it’s okay to speak about such a thing here, though.”

Naoto confirmed the time on his smartphone.

“Isn’t it okay, we’re having fun. When I’m talking with guys in my class, our conversations don’t really match up. They’re not that gentle like Morita-kun and Iida-kun.”

Makoto smiled and looked at Naoto and Iida.

“About that, how should I put it, it might be influenced by the fact that talking with girls in our class in a gentle manner is a very hard obstacle to overcome. The mental attitude when dealing with someone you see every day is different compared to someone you rarely came across with.”

Naoto looked at Iida for a moment. Iida smiled back, but Naoto saw it as a forced one.

At that moment, Haruka stood up without taking her glass.

Naoto also stood up, his glass in his hand, and went to the drink bar. After making sure that Haruka has entered the restroom, Naoto put a drink in his glass and returned to his seat.

“It looks like Tachibana-san went into the restroom, so while she’s not here, I’m going to ask you. Iida, how are you after meeting Tachibana-san?”

Naoto was very curious about Iida who looked like he doesn’t want to talk about Haruka that much. Naoto wanted to ask Iida about his feelings, so he waited for a moment when Haruka was away from her seat.

“Well, I’m happy. I did feel that I still can’t forget about Tachibana-san, but…….”

Iida wasn’t able do clearly explain.

“Did you feel like you love her?”

“Probably. I was quite nervous after all. But, I’m not very nervous compared to the moment when I had Morita confess to her. At that time, if Morita was successful in his confession, even though it’s frustrating, I thought that I should still give him my blessing, but earlier, when Morita shook her hand, I felt ninety percent happy and just ten percent jealous.”

“That’s just because you learned about her fear of men, right? Even though they’re scared of men, a person like that trying to shake hands with a guy, it’s obvious that you would want to cheer them on, is it not? Even I, no offense to Natsuki, but I cheered her on a little too.”

“Is that really it?”

“Didn’t it made you feel like wanting to confess your feelings?”

“I won’t! I don’t have the conviction that I love her unlike in the past. I want to know the current her a bit more. Moreover, the present me confessing to her just cannot be.”

“Why can’t it happen?”

“Morita, you had your essay highly praised at school, you even wrote a novel that’s as long as hundreds of manuscript pages, it even moved her, that you were able to hold hands with Tachibana-san. You even did your best memorizing all those words, that it makes you interesting.

Me, I don’t have any of those things.”

“The hell are you saying, man? If anything, isn’t it the opposite?”

“The hell you mean by opposite?”

“You don’t understand something about my novel at all, Iida.

My novel is nothing compared to literature written by people whose works are being sold on stores and attracts many people to read them. Of the 1000 people that started reading my novel, only 30 finished reading at least one volume.

In short, only three out of a hundred. Based on percentage, when comparing to our class, that means only one student in our whole class. Suppose I tell everyone in class ‘please read my novel if you have time’, only about one weird person would read it completely. Only someone weird enough would find it interesting. The chance that Tachibana-san would find it interesting once she read it is pretty low.

Your hobbies of playing guitar and riding bikes are several times more popular with girls.”

Saying that, Naoto touched Iida’s fingertips.

“These fingers, they’re dry and hard because of playing the guitar, but if you weren’t practicing, they wouldn’t end up like this, right? Ain’t your time practicing the guitar longer than the time I spend writing novels?

There were times when your hand hurt so much, there were also times when the guitar strings pricked your fingers, but even so, you can’t stop playing the guitar, right? Even you are very devoted to your hobbies that you almost look cool.

If ever you asked a hundred girls ‘watch me practice my guitar’, of those hundred, at least three will definitely take interest in it.

There are quite a lot of people who doesn’t read outside class, but there are only few who don’t listen to music outside their classes. Maybe the existence of music is closer to people than that of novels.

Tachibana-san said earlier that she also plays the guitar, so won’t she be appreciative of your efforts? Once Iida show Tachibana-san his guitar skills, she might be moved even more than when I told her about my novel. It’s just that you haven’t told Tachibana-san about it. Just like me, have you ever told Tachibana san that you respect her, that she’s beautiful, that you love her, or that she’s kind? Even if you can’t her how you feel right now, you can still tell her how glad you are to meet her, or that you’ll be happy if you’ll be able to talk again in the future, right?

Unlike me, Iida is also capable of being stylish. You’re good-looking as well. You can even do sports. After all you’re fast on your feet, and you have the body strength. You’re thoughtful when it comes to girls, and you’re friendly with the boys too.

If were put against each other, regardless. You’re more likeable to others. If you put yourself into it, it’ll be easy for you, you know, it’ll just be that easy.

So what if I’m writing a novel, so what if a girl just happened to smile a bit at me today, so what if I have all those things?! You just need to beat me in other areas and gain complete victory over me, isn’t that right? If you’re that frustrated, then starting tomorrow show me that you can completely beat me!”

While hiding his embarrassment, Naoto acted like he’s in a bad mood, he took a drink after that.

“My bad.

So then, regarding myself, well, I’ll do my best. But Tachibana-san has fear of men, so either way, I won’t be able to confess right now, can I?”

“Then, the thing that needs to be determined today is whether you will be able to meet again.”

“I kinda don’t like it if we will never be able to meet again.”

“To make it happen, you just need to tell her you want to see her again, and make a promise to meet each other in the future. Look, Tachibana-san has returned from the restroom.”

“Morita, I’ll leave making the promise to you!”

“Me again?”

“Please, only for today. Starting tomorrow I’ll be taking care of the bothersome things. I can’t adlib when I’m nervous.”

Naoto, taking a deep sigh, awkwardly looked at Natsuki.

“Natsuki, rather than with ten members, you prefer going to Health Land with just the two of us, right?”

“I also want to go with the others. It’s okay if we just go there twice, right?”

Natsuki immediately replied.

“Eh. Is that so? I did not expect that kind of reply coming from you, though.”

“The thing that you just asked me, you wanted to ask her as well, right?”

“Well, you got that right. Then, is it okay if I try asking Tachibana-san?”

“Un. I also want to get closer to her.”

“It looks like you’re all having fun here, but what’s happening?”

When Haruka returned to her seat, she asked while feeling nervous. She saw from far away the panicked expressions of Naoto and Iida after all.

“Tachibana-san, in places with uncrowded people like this family restaurant, you’re fine with male customers if they’re far enough away, right? How about in places like cafeterias?

For example, a place like an izakaya in the evening where the seats are close to each other. There are drunk guys, and noisy old men, and if you’re unlucky, you have to share a table with a total stranger.”

“If it’s a place like that, it’s kinda scary.”

“Ah—…… if that’s so, then during lunch or such is out of the question, huh,”

“What are you talking about?”

“We’re planning on going to Health Land this month on a Sunday, there’ll be a promotional event on top of student discount, so it’s really a steal. I originally planned to go together with Natsuki though. So on that point, having a group of ten or more will make the entrance fee even cheaper. I thought that if there are many who are interested, then maybe we can reach ten people.”

“Uwaa, I do want to go though……”

“I want to go, I want to go. It’s like a more amazing version of a spa, right?”

Haruka was a bit worried, but Makoto was enthusiastic about it.

“We just need to go in as a group of ten to avail the discount, so after that, we can go our separate ways. You can spend your time there with just Nagatomo-san, or we can also explore the place as a group. Health Land is wide, so if there’s a need to meet, you need to rendezvous with me or Iida.

There are also many women only areas, so if you go there, you won’t be hearing from any guys. If you feel a bit stressed, then you can immediately run away with Nagatomo-san to a safe place. If you get tired you can also go home right away.”

“Um, who will be going?”

“Aside from Natsuki, I haven’t invited anyone yet. However, originally, if I possible, aside from Iida, I only planned of inviting girls.

I don’t want to take any guys aside from Iida along to the baths. Back during our middle school field trip, when the time came to take the bath, none of the other guys went in silently and unhurriedly, I couldn’t calm down and it was rough.

That’s why the guys will only include me and Iida.”

“Waa, that’s comforting to hear.”

“Also, since we’ll be needing a total of at least 8 girls to join us, I cannot set a definite schedule yet. Until the morning of the appointed day, the girls can discuss to each other about changing our schedule. Please don’t bring the guys in during such discussions. You can also back out at the last minutes if problems arise such as having a headache.”

“Is it really alright if we back out at the last minute?”

“I won’t mind it at all. To begin with, I have already given up on the possibility that we can gather ten people. I haven’t even told anything yet to Ninomiya-san and Hirose-san. It’s okay even if you say you will go if you can.”

“I that much is okay, then I think I’ll go.”

“Don’t force yourself, okay? You shouldn’t think of such things as you needing to go since you promised.”

“I understand.”

“E—r, does Tachibana-san and Nagatomo-san have someone that they want to invite?”

“Is it okay if we invite someone?”

Makoto happily asked.

“I can’t have it going out that I’m dating Natsuki right now, so it would be better inviting people from other schools. There’s no need to do your best on that part, but it’s alright if you invite someone.

For things that need to be brought to attention, first is that the food inside are rather expensive, so if you’re not spendthrifts, I advise that you eat a lot before we depart. Those who doesn’t have motion sickness can eat sweets while we’re inside the bus. Outside foods and drinks are not allowed, so be sure to not have any leftovers once we arrive.

Going in sauna’s and such might make you hungry, so from the start, be prepared to eat a lot while we’re in the place. Aside from that, you might be tempted to the numerous after-bath coffee, milk, and fruit milk. So tell everyone beforehand that they might end up having spent a lot of money by the time we have to leave. Then, the food in the cafeteria is not for free.

Also, do not forget to bring your student handbooks. If you don’t bring any student ID, you won’t be getting the discount. I will remind you about it on the day before and on the day of our departure itself, though.

What else……”

While looking at his smartphone, Naoto continued explaining.

Iida was silently listening to the explanation, but when he met eyes with Naoto, he realized something.

I shouldn’t waste this chance that Morita gave me. That’s what Iida thought.

“Tachibana-san, do you mind if I talk with you for a bit?”

“It’s fine. What’s it about?”

“Well, I also love playing the guitar, so I’ve been thinking of what to use——”

Taking a sidelong glance at the two who started their conversation, Naoto smiled.

Naoto took out his smartphone, and while showing her images of Health Land, he explained things about it one by one to Makoto. Iida wanted to talk to her as long as possible, leisurely, without any haste……