It’s Too Early to be Having Newlywed Syndrome! ~Childhood Friends Who Rekindled their Love for Each Other ~ - 5 - 11 - I Want to Have a Talk
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- It’s Too Early to be Having Newlywed Syndrome! ~Childhood Friends Who Rekindled their Love for Each Other ~
- 5 - 11 - I Want to Have a Talk
I Want to Have a Talk
When Naoto placed the smartphone to his ear,
“What are you doing right now?”
He heard Iida’s voice.
“I might not be doing anything right now.”
Saying that, Naoto suddenly looked at Natsuki and grinned.
“I touched Natsuki’s chest earlier, but since she demanded a payment, I’m not touching them now.”
“What are you?!”
Natsuki panicked, and snatched away the smartphone from Naoto.
“Iida-kun, that’s not what exactly happened, you know? He just touched me with a stuffed toy’s hand twice over my clothes.”
After laughing at Natsuki, who’s making a commotion at the other end of the line,
“It’s alright, I knew it was a joke from the start. Morita doesn’t say such things normally after all.”
He answered.
“I see, thank goodness. Then, I’ll return the phone to Nao-kun. — Hoi”
Natsuki lightly hit Naoto at the back of the head while returning his smartphone.
“——Oi Iida, you just casually talked with my girl on the phone, didn’t you?”
Naoto, who said such words, was patting Natsuki’s head while smiling. He just wanted to say ‘My girl’.
“Isn’t it because you’re saying strange things?
It’s not like I’m on the mood to get between your relationship. That’s why, if you’re in the middle of a date then I’ll talk to you later.”
“It’s not like we’re in the middle of a date though……”
In the first place, Hirose-san is here too though, while thinking such things, Naoto looked at Sakurako. Sakurako put a forefinger over her lips while whispering ‘Shhh—, you hear? Shhh—’. Naoto made a little nod in response.
The next thing that caught Naoto’s attention was Natsuki.
“Is Natsuki the type to hate being neglected bause of a phone call?”
“Not really, it’s not like I care about Nao-kun at all.
You’re not good at paying up your dues, you’re pervy, you’re the worst.”
Natsuki disparaged Naoto as payback for earlier. Sakurako was desperately holding back her laughter.
“I heard someone saying you’re the worst though.”
Iida was laughing heartily.
“I think that means she’s okay with me taking calls. I’m feel like I’m getting to understand Natsuki little by little.”
Oftentimes whenever she’s telling me to shut up, she looks so cute.”
Saying that, when Naoto held Natsuki’s lips between his fingers, she bit them with a ‘chomp’.
“Ugyaa, my fingers are being eaten! How many years has it been since the last time?”
“The hell are you doing flirting, really now.”
“Well, anyway, if it’s Natsuki, she fine with it. If it’s not alright, then I’ll just get scolded later, probably.
So, why did you call?”
“It’s just that I want to know everyone’s schedule, you see. I just suddenly thought about things like how your progress in the novel is going right now.”
“We were done with the novel for the meantime, though.”
“Is Hirose-san also free tomorrow?”
“Probably. We’re actually talking about that just now. About what day would you want to go to buy clothes.”
“About that. If Hirose-san accompanied me to check on the clothes I chose, even if we couldn’t find some decent-looking clothes, it would be rude if I don’t buy anything, right?”
“That wouldn’t be rude now, would it? Going to buy clothes doesn’t mean you have to buy one if you couldn’t find anything that suits you.
There is the possibility that no clothes would pique Hirose-san’s interest as well. Doesn’t Hirose-san look stylish? You can go once at the clothing store on a weekday, then we might have our trip on a Sunday.
If you decided to go on a rest day, Hirose-san might say tell you ‘What you’re wearing right now is just fine!’”
“I also want to ask about that, if I have to choose between a weekday or a rest day, it would be better if I ask her on a weekday first, yes? If I make her expressly come on a rest day, ain’t that a terrible bother to her?”
“It’s not set in stone that that’ll be the case though. You can think of lots of reasons to go on a Sunday, like it making the chances that other students will see you together a lot lower. I don’t know where you’ll be buying clothes, but while you’re at it, she might offer her opinion on your shoes as well. Should I ask her which day she prefers more?”
“Please do”
“If Hirose-san says she prefers to do it on a Sunday, would you be alright with it?”
“I’ll match my schedule with Hirose-san’s.”
“Got it. —— Sunday is also okay, he’ll match his schedule with Hirose-san, he said”
Naoto borrowed Natsuki’s smartphone and typed in it. Sakurako peered into the screen, then happily held hands with Natsuki.
Naoto, who was looking at the scene, got infected with Sakurako’s happiness and smiled as well. I don’t want Hirose-san’s love to be unrequited, Naoto thought.
“If we happen to go on a Sunday, what should I do after buying clothes?”
“Eh?”
Naoto’s attention was on Sakurako’s expression, so he asked for the question to be repeated.
“If it’s you, what would you do? After buying clothes, I mean.”
“If my companion is Natsuki, then if she’s not tired we might wander around aimlessly or go and eat something.”
“Speaking of food girls would eat, would it be pasta or the like? Ain’t pasta expensive? She might not want to be indebted to me.
Would it be better to ask Hirose-san what she wants to eat while preparing for how much her possible choice will be?”
“Uu—- what is the good thing to do? I have an unbalanced diet, so Natsuki’s the one who adjusts to accommodate me.
If we couldn’t find anything quite good, on top of making her walk, there ar times we just end up eating soba while standing up. But whenever I say ‘I’m sorry, it’s all because of me. Let it be my treat in return.’, she would tell me she got it and will happily eat. She will just poke fun at me lots, like saying ‘Even though it was so cute when you would eat with the height being almost just right’ and even though you couldn’t even eat anything with shichimi. I was relieved that she wasn’t angry.
That’s why, if you’ll go to a place Hirose-san likes, show her that your happy, and telling her lots of things to make her feel safe with you would be good, isn’t it?”
“Got it. Based on pricing, which place would be good?”
“Girls give an impression that they eat out often at quite expensive places. Even Natsuki when with other girls, seems like they eat cake, ice cream and donuts. There was also a time when me and Natsuki went to a family restaurant, and although the price was quite high, she ordered a parfait. At times like that, when it was clear that Natsuki’s order was far more expensive than mine, she would split our bill, so right now we are paying separately.
But well, we just started going out, so we are still waiting how far splitting the cost would be viable for us.”
“I see, so if it’s a guy’s treat, upon entering the store, they’ll also order desserts, huh.”
“Well, it depends on how far apart your personality is with your companion, but desserts considerably expensive after all.”
“You said it. I’ll terribly be imposing on her, that’s why for me, there’s a feeling that wants her to at least not have reservations with eating out and eat to her heart’s content, though……”
“However, if she didn’t look like she’s enjoying her meal, then it would all be meaningless.”
“That’s the obvious conclusion.”
“How about asking Hirose-san about it?”
“Doing that’s being a bit pushy, so I want to avoid doing that.”
“For the time being, how about asking her first if she’s hungry, and if she is, then ask her what she wants to eat?”
“Ain’t that a good idea? I’ll do just that.”
“Should I ask Hirose-san in advance what kind of foods she likes and hates?”
“Crap, it’s only natural that she would have foods she dislikes. That didn’t cross my mind. Uwa, seriously what should we eat?”
“Won’t be eating okonomiyaki again be good? Wouldn’t the presence of a drink bar be a big factor in choosing where to eat?”
“If we do that, Hirose-san would find boring now, wouldn’t it, probably. There’s only the two of us after all, and we might not be able to hold a conversation for long.”
“If it’s a normal shop where you don’t cook your own okonomiyaki, then you wouldn’t be able to have a conversation for longer.”
“So while we wait for the food to be served, we would immediately lose topics to talk about, huh.”
“You know, couldn’t the both of you just bring a portable game console? Aren’t there quite a number of people who play video games while waiting for their food to come in family restaurants and similar places?”
“For me, anything’s fine as long as Hirose-san doesn’t get bored. But wont Hirose-san feel embarrassed playing video games outdoors with me?”
“That kind of thing, wouldn’t it be better if I ask that to her in advance?”
“Is it okay to ask her about that? Wouldn’t she think ‘Even though were just here to buy clothes, what is this guy doing eating and playing games’, and cancel the whole thing?”
“Such a development wouldn’t happen now, would it?”
He immediately repudiated. It was because coming from Naoto, he knew that Sakurako would never do such a thing as to cancel their shopping trip.
However, from Iida’s point of view, the only thing he could do was worry.
“Wouldn’t she think that I’m just making buying clothes as an excuse to go on a date with her, and end up disliking me because of that?”
“You don’t want Hirose-san to dislike you?”
“That much is obvious, we’re friends after all.”
“If, for instance, Hirose-san ended up hating you very much, would that make you not go to Health Land?”
“I’ll still go, though. Eh, could it be something that will make her hate me so much?”
“If you break your promise to spend your birthday with her, then she might hate you for it.”
“I wouldn’t be breaking such a promise!”
“And why is that?”
“Because, that much is common sense for a human.”
“What, so it’s just because of that. And here I thought that you’re thinking how joyful it’ll be to meet up with Hirose-san on your birthday.”
“And I would be happy. I would feel happy and it’s for that reason that I don’t want her to dislike me at least up until my birthday.”
“That’s still a long ways to go, though.”
“That’s right, it’s still a long ways to go so I’m afraid that she might forget about it.”
“And what if she properly remembers until your birthday?”
“Then I would be so happy, I’ll be the one giving her a present!”
“Dude, it is your birthday, but you’ll be the one giving Hirose-san a present?”
While saying such a thing without thinking and laughing, Naoto was thinking that that conversation confirms that Iida’s pretty much interested in Sakurako.
Naoto made a peace sign to Sakurako, who was nervous since she could only hear half of the conversation. Without saying anything, Sakurako and Natsuki once again had expressions of joy on their faces.
“Anyway, my goal in life starting tomorrow until my birthday is to not do anything that will make Hirose-san hate me.”
“Then, would you also be giving Hirose-san a present on her birthday?”
“Ah— that’s right, I also want to ask about that! What should I do? Would it be weird if I give her a present?”
“Well, it’s okay to that once you get closer in Health Land, isn’t it?”
“Looks far from happening.”
“It will happen.”
“Either way, Hirose-san will feel troubled if I give her something expensive, right?”
“Hirose-san likes video games, so I think she’ll like an accessory merchandize from a game. I’ll have Natsuki secretly check that info, though.”
“Tell me what you find in secret as well.”
“So you’re really diligently giving girls birthday presents?”
“I haven’t even done such a thing at least once!”
“So why do you feel like giving just Hirose-san a birthday present?”
“Nothing, it’s just because she’s really kind to me. If we become so much close that we can give presents to each other, then I would want to give her a present.”
“Kind, and also cute?”
“She’s indeed cute, but that’s unrelated. To put it simply, it’s because she always takes care of me.”
“In fact, you want her to be your girlfriend?”
“Oshida-san’s still there, right? Having this kind of conversation is dangerous.”
“It’s alright. If push comes to shove, I could just take a picture of the stuffed toy touching her chest and use the picture to threaten her.”
“That is not alright at all.”
“But it’s that, you know, we’re indoors so she’s not wearing her coat, you know.”
“No, really, what’s wrong with you?”
“I want a picture of her bust, that’s what!”
“So you just really wanted a picture!”
“Anyway, just tell it to her. I can also use that as a pretext to take a picture. Aren’t you thinking of going out with her at all?”
“……I want to have a talk about that.”
“A talk?”
“When I talked about that time when you got rejected at the arcade, she got mad like it was me who was rejected. At the time, I wondered if she’s actually a person who’s serious when it comes to romance more than what her appearance lets on.
When you returned, it felt like I haven’t talked enough.
I was already happy by the time we decided to go to the arcade, but when we ended up going to your home afterwards, I was happy as well.
We hang out for almost a day, and after that we hang out again for another day, but even still it felt like it’s not enough. That’s why I was terribly happy when we made the promise to go to the clothing stores.
Hanging out with her and having talks with her as a friend, there’s lots that I want to do.”
“Like, you feel that you wanted to keep being with her?”
“Ghat might be it. I have no idea.”
“Even Hirose-san looks like she’ll be happy if you let her play video games in your house for a day though, you know.”
“If I invite her to my house, she’ll be turned off with me.”
“Nah, she really like video games so much, so I think she’ll be gung-ho about the idea. If you ask her to check the clothes you have at home as well, she might come to your house. Speaking of which, she told me that she wanted to see Iida’s guitar.”
“Ya serious?”
“If she went to your house, what will you do?”
“I will be happy if that happens, but it might be bad for my heart.”
“Your heart will end up throbbing?”
“Just thinking about it is too dangerous for me.”
“Inviting her to your home is a very nice thing to do, though.”
“No way, no way! I couldn’t ask her such a thing! I don’t want her to end up disliking me!”
“You just don’t want her to dislike you?”
“More than not wanting her to dislike me, I wanted to keep being friends with her.”
“So it’s love after all?”
“Nah—, don’t know if it is, though……”
“Would you fall in love with her if she holds your hand?”
“I might from that much. She’s too kind, I might already be getting the wrong idea.”
“Well, she’s very kind after all, Hirose-san is. If Hirose-san confesses to you, what would you do?”
“There’s no way in earth that would happen now, would it? Until now, there’s isn’t any factor that would make her fall in love with me.”
“It’s something that happens between boys and girls you wouldn’t know about that, right? In truth, you’re interested in Hirose-san after all. It’s just a what if, you know, a what if.”
“If that’s the case, then I might be happy.”
“So much that you’ll go out with her?”
“I’ll ask her to.”
“Then, I’ll help you out so you’ll end up together.”
“I ask you, please do! However, there’s no need to tell Hirose-san that I want to get closer to her, okay?”
“I got it. We just need to keep Hirose-san from disliking you, right?”
“Right.”
“Which reminds me, do you want a picture of Hirose-san?”
“That much is a given!”
“Then, I’ll send it to you.”
“Ah, you shouldn’t bother after all.”
“Why?”
“If she learned that I looked at a picture of her without her knowledge, she might end up hating me. We’re not in a relationship where that is allowed in reality. If she learned that I’ve been gazing at a picture of her, she’ll get angry, right?”
“There’s no way that she’ll find out though. You really don’t want her to hate you that much?”
“If she tells me she hates me, I might cry.”
“Then, I’ll try asking Hirose-san this way. I’ll tell her that I want to show a picture of Natsuki and the others having fun to Iida, but Hirose-san was in the picture so is it still okay to show it to you, that’s how I’ll try to get Hirose-san’s consent.”
“Doesn’t that seem unnatural? But I want that picture though.”
“I’ll try to ask her as naturally as possible. Then, I’ll be hanging up now.”
“Ou—- my thanks. I’m really trouble by it, so your’re a big help.”
Even across the line, Iida’s happiness was felt enough by Naoto.
Nevertheless, wanting Hirose-san’s picture that much, isn’t he already deep in love with Hirose-san?