My Popular-as-Hell Best Friend Is Annoying, So I Want to Get Him a Girlfriend and Shut Him Up - Chapter 14: Stroll

Chapter 14: Stroll

“What? You want me to stop imitating Uryu?”

After ten minutes of getting weirdly heated about ants, Kirita Akari’s suggestion left me dumbfounded.

No way. I practiced so hard yesterday!

I dragged a reluctant Uryu through a crash course in thoughtfulness, perfecting my performance based on real experience, and now she says it’s unnecessary?

“Yeah. I mean, if you keep imitating Aoyagi-kun, I’ll just laugh, and that’s not helping with the strategy.”

I get where she’s coming from, but does she have to be so brutally honest?

Sure, my goal was to make her smile eventually, but not like this, giggling at me!

This is the wrong kind of laugh!

“But, I do want you to say things Aoyagi-kun might say. The surprise attacks are still the scariest.”

This girl, taking advantage of my kindness and piling on demands.

Today’s date is to help her succeed with Uryu, so I guess I should swallow what I can.

“…Fine, we’ll do it your way.”

“Thanks.”

It doesn’t sit quite right, but half my training from yesterday is still useful, so I’ll let it slide.

She should be grateful for her generous mentor.

“Now that we’ve settled that, where to? Got any place in mind?”

It’s just before 1:30 p.m.

A café feels a bit early, and the station area isn’t exactly great for a casual stroll.

Too many people, plus the occasional street solicitor.

“Um, how about we walk a bit and then find somewhere to go?”

“Works for me. Head toward the park?”

“Yeah, maybe loop around and come back to the station?”

“Got it. If you want to stop somewhere along the way, just say so. I’ll go with you.”

“…Okay.”

With a rough walking route decided, we finally escaped the police box.

To the officers: please forget the guy and girl ranting about ants. We’re not suspicious.

Now, walking while feeling the breeze between buildings is fine, but that’s not the point of a date.

In Uryu’s style, I should bring up a shared topic.

I don’t know what Kirita Akari and I have in common, but since we go to the same school, there’s plenty to work with.

“So, why’d you join the tea ceremony club?”

For my opening move, I brought up her club.

We’d talked in the tea ceremony room before, so it’s not too unnatural a start.

“Well, at first it was by process of elimination.

I’m bad at sports, so I figured I’d go for a cultural club.”

“—Sorry, hold on.”

Cutting off Kirita Akari as she started talking, I leaned into her path.

A moment later, a guy engrossed in his phone bumped his elbow into me.

He gave a slight bow without a word and walked off.

Jerk. Watch where you’re going.

The path’s already narrow, and idiots like you cause accidents and fights.

“My bad, I interrupted you.”

“…”

I shot the guy a glare before turning back to Kirita Akari, only to lock eyes with her wide-eyed stare.

Then I realized how close we were. Obviously, since I’d stepped in front of her.

“…Was that move more you or him?” (T/N: If he’s doing things as Uryu or it’s him himself.)

“Huh?”

“No, never mind! Thanks for shielding me.”

“Oh, uh, yeah…”

Kirita Akari quickly stepped back, muttering her thanks without looking at me.

I wanted to lecture her about looking people in the eye when expressing gratitude, but before I could, she flipped a switch, flashing a smile.

“So, about the club talk!”

She resumed the conversation as if nothing had happened.

True, nothing did happen, but the vibe felt slightly different now.

Was it my imagination?

Also, I don’t get her question.

More you or him? Comparing what?

The action was obviously me, so why’s it a two-choice question?

Listen up, humanity: asking a question and resolving it yourself is the ultimate sin.

If you figure it out, explain why.

“…Hirose-kun, were you listening?”

Your fault, I wasn’t.