My Popular-as-Hell Best Friend Is Annoying, So I Want to Get Him a Girlfriend and Shut Him Up - Chapter 154 & 155 & 156 & 157

Chapter 154: Something Unacceptable

“Huh?”

I heard every word clearly, but my brain refused to process it. The words slipped through my ears like mere sounds, passing from right to left. We were talking about why I couldn’t date Tsuyu, and then the conversation took a wild leap.

What did Kirita Akari just say to me?

“Um, maybe you didn’t hear?”

Akari seemed to be calmly stringing her words together, but her face was flushed red. Like a girl in love. Like a girl in love talking to the person she loves.

“I heard. I just didn’t understand.”

‘Is there room for me to step in?’—Kirita Akari definitely said that.

Why would that come up in a talk about dating Tsuyu? It sounds like Akari wants to date me.

She was worried about my situation with Tsuyu because she wants to date me. That’s why she’s asking why I won’t accept Tsuyu’s confession. It explains her weird behavior.

But that’s impossible.

Kirita Akari likes Uryu. Just over a month ago, she consulted me on the rooftop stairwell. She nearly gave up once but asked for my help again. Her feelings were for Uryu.

So why would she phrase it like that?

“Okay, it was a bit unclear, huh?”

In the tatami room, once part of a hot spring inn, Akari let her lifted yukata hem fall back, facing me as I stood stunned. She placed her right hand on her chest.

“I… I like you. I like you, Hirose-kun.”

It wasn’t a hallucination or a misheard word. Unlike her earlier vague phrasing, it was simple, clear enough for a kid to understand.

And those words were unmistakably directed from Kirita Akari to me.

“…You’re joking, right?”

But accepting it was another matter.

I’ll say it again: Kirita Akari likes Aoyagi Uryu.

“Otherwise, you’ve got the wrong guy. I’m not Uryu.”

“Hirose-kun.”

“Or is this confession practice? If so, I’ll play along. My reasons for refusing—”

“Hirose-kun!”

“!”

Akari called my name sharply, cutting off my attempt to derail. It was like she was scolding me for dodging.

And then—

“It’s not a joke or a mistake. I like you, Hirose Yukiya. You.”

She reiterated her feelings to me clearly.

“I didn’t mean to say it this soon, but with Tsuyu-chan’s thing, I got scared. If I stayed silent, it might’ve been too late.”

“…Why?”

I interrupted her embarrassed explanation.

I didn’t care about why she decided to confess. There were a million other things I needed to know.

“You liked Uryu, didn’t you? That’s why you came to me for advice, right?”

Even after hearing her, I still couldn’t believe her feelings.

She was in love with Aoyagi Uryu, a guy who could be a legend at Yourei High. Since last year’s sports festival, those feelings had been growing, swelling.

So why is she saying she likes me now?

“Of course, that’s how it started. I liked Aoyagi-kun, so I asked you for advice.”

Akari lowered her face slightly, clasping her hands at her chest like a prayer.

“At first, I regretted it. You didn’t seem to take it seriously, and I thought about giving up on Aoyagi-kun. But then he said he read my letter, and even though it didn’t work out, he asked me on a date. Without your advice, that would’ve been a pipe dream.”

What Akari said wasn’t anything special. I just told her to rewrite her letter to show who she is—she did the revising. I don’t know what was in it, and her ability to catch Uryu’s interest was all her. I did nothing. I didn’t even show her “Love-Struck Shuri-chan.”

“After that, you kept pushing me. When I was too nervous to do anything, you gave me encouraging words over and over. Even during the date, your kindness kept me going.”

“I wasn’t kind. I was just trying to get you and Uryu together—”

“I know. That’s exactly why that’s who you are. You grumble but act for someone else’s sake. That’s you, Hirose-kun.”

No, that’s a delusion. That’s not me. I don’t care about others’ wishes—I act for myself. Don’t talk like you know me.

“Once I realized that, I couldn’t imagine walking beside Aoyagi-kun anymore. The guy I wanted so badly to get close to stopped mattering.”

“…”

“Before I knew it, I was imagining myself next to you. I realized I wanted to walk beside you.”

“…”

“I was confused at first—how could I like someone I thought was so bizarre? But now, I can say it with confidence. I don’t like Aoyagi-kun. I like you, Hirose-kun.”

Hearing Akari’s long confession, I finally understood. She doesn’t like Uryu—she likes me. Over time, her feelings shifted from Uryu to me.

The heart that was pounding with confusion now beat quietly. Because I was starting to accept her feelings—yet the mood could never be sweet.

“…Don’t mess with me.”

“Huh?”

A low, menacing voice echoed through the room.

Right now, the emotion dominating me was anger.

Chapter 155: A Pain I Don’t Understand

“Why, why didn’t you say something sooner!?”

Hearing my roar, Kirita Akari froze. My voice was utterly devoid of kindness.

“I’ve been acting all this time thinking you liked Uryu! I helped you because of that, and I even invited you to this camp! You said you liked Uryu from the start…!”

As I shouted, I recalled what Uryu said to me earlier.

“You make it sound like you’re the only one inconvenienced.”

I didn’t get it then, but now it clicked.

“You think every girl’s into me?”

If the girls I’m helping don’t actually like Uryu, he’s the one who gets hurt the most. If Uryu falls for one of them, only to get rejected, I’m the worst for pushing her toward him.

“If you’d clearly said you didn’t like Uryu, I wouldn’t have kept egging you on! If you kept half-assing things with him and he fell for you, what were you gonna do? Flirt with him, then say, ‘I like someone else’ and ditch him!?”

“T-That’s…!”

“And to begin with, didn’t you stop liking Uryu after that date? Why’d you come to me for advice again!? If you liked me, you didn’t need to consult me about him!”

This one thing, I just couldn’t understand.

If she liked me, she could’ve just approached me. But instead, Akari came to me pretending she still liked Uryu. Her words and actions didn’t match.

That’s why I’m confused and angry. That’s why I’m imagining the worst possible scenarios.

I know it’s not true, I know it can’t be, but my mouth wouldn’t stop.

“Be real—don’t you just think anyone you can date is fine?”

“!?”

Akari’s face stiffened dramatically. Was it because I hit the mark, or because my accusation was way off? I had no idea.

Either way, she was clearly shocked, yet I kept pressing mercilessly.

“You want to aim for high-competition Uryu, but you don’t know if you’ll win. So just in case, you’re hedging your bets by throwing yourself at me, the guy nearby.”

“That’s not true! Not at all! Why would you say something so cruel…!”

Before I knew it, big tears were streaming from Akari’s eyes.

It’s probably because I said something cruel.

But if that’s the case, it doesn’t add up.

Because I’ve been saying cruel things to everyone who gets close to me, ever since that day in my first year of middle school.

I decided to do it and never wavered. It’s been the same since I started at Yourei High.

I haven’t changed. I’ve been living the same way, so why am I being blamed now?

You’re the ones who stepped in, knowing I’d say cruel things.

“Then why’d you come to me for advice again? Give me a reason that makes sense.”

“N-No, it’s not… to begin with, that’s…!”

Wiping her falling tears with both hands, Akari struggled to respond. She denied it but wouldn’t explain her baffling actions.

This is a joke. Anyone would think this is weird, not just me. Is it wrong to press her? Is it wrong to demand a reason?

“…Forget it.”

I turned on my heel, done with the crying Akari. If she’s got nothing more to say, there’s no point in continuing.

As I left the room, I threw over my shoulder:

“You’re a failure as a disciple. If you want to date Uryu, do it yourself. And don’t even think about dating me. You know what I mean without me spelling it out.”

Leaving Akari behind, I walked out. The dim hallway, lit only by emergency lights, felt oddly cooler than when I entered.

“Because that’s not how it works! Are you even listening to me!?”

“I’m listening, and that’s why I’m saying it! Be nicer to idiots!”

“If I’m nice to idiots, I’ll run out of time!”

“Haha, Mayo-nee, you’re getting roasted!”

“Aoyagi, I request a teacher swap.”

“Wait, Mayo-nee!? I’ve got dibs on Ururun!”

“Relax, I’ll teach both of you together.”

“No wayyyyy!”

“Seniors, you’re too loud!”

From the lobby, where light spilled out, came lively voices that didn’t sound like a study session. It was just a few steps away, but it felt like a place I’d never reach. By the time I got there, the light would probably be gone.

“Hirose-kun, that’s too much…!”

Maybe because my mood was so raw, I dug up a memory I didn’t want to recall. I shook my head and turned my back on the lobby’s light.

“Ah.”

As I headed to my room, I remembered I left my laptop in that room. No way I could go back with Akari there now.

Feeling drained, I looked up at the crescent moon through the window.

“…This is fine.”

Not saying it for anyone to hear, I muttered, leaning against the window.

Me spouting harsh words and driving people away—it’s the same old scene from middle school. It’s just happening again after a while, nothing to stress about.

…But despite that, the image of Akari dancing with a smile wouldn’t leave my mind.

“I wanted to complete ‘Love-Struck Shuri-chan in 3D’ properly…”

Knowing it’s a wish that’ll never come true, I couldn’t help but whisper it.

T/N: I MEAAANNN, While I did say Akari will finally confess, I never said it would go well~

Chapter 156: Growing Honesty

“…I didn’t say that.”

After Yukiya left the room, Akari clenched her fists and muttered under her breath.

“Why’d you come to me for advice again!? If you liked me, you didn’t need to consult me about him!”

Yukiya had said that, but it wasn’t accurate. The “consultation” Akari brought to him was about learning the “Love-Struck Shuri-chan” dance, and she only vaguely referenced Uryu with phrases like “the previous matter.”

In truth, Akari hadn’t consulted Yukiya about anything significant. That should’ve been her answer to his question, but she couldn’t say it.

Because she knew Yukiya misunderstood her as still pursuing Uryu and didn’t correct him.

It’s absurd to complain with flimsy excuses while letting the misunderstanding persist. The reason for Yukiya’s anger was obvious.

“If you kept half-assing things with him and he fell for you, what were you gonna do!?”

Yukiya was furious at the possibility that Akari’s ambiguous actions could disregard Uryu’s feelings. What a selfish creature, he said—yet all he was angry about was the chance his close friend could get hurt. Despite his harsh words, Yukiya wasn’t venting selfishly.

But Akari wanted to make one excuse.

Yukiya was angry, considering the chance Uryu might fall for her, but Akari was certain that wouldn’t happen.

It wasn’t from a lack of confidence. She felt Uryu had already sensed her situation.

“About the study camp. Yukiya’s trying to drag you along, but if he does, you two are coming, right?”

When Uryu suddenly appeared in their classroom and said that to Akari and Miharu, he wore a smile that seemed to see through everything. Akari couldn’t help but think he knew her feelings.

There was no way Uryu, knowing that, would direct his affections toward her—especially if he knew they were aimed at Yukiya.

So, she wasn’t worried about Uryu falling for her. Even now, after Yukiya’s accusations, she could confidently say it wasn’t an issue.

…But the other matter was different.

Even if it was Yukiya’s misunderstanding, letting the Uryu consultation issue remain ambiguous until today was clearly a mistake.

As a result, Yukiya saw her as a “two-timing opportunist” aiming for both him and Uryu. It was deeply painful, but since she couldn’t refute him, she couldn’t blame him for thinking that.

“…It can’t be helped.”

The tears that had nearly stopped welled up again. Trembling, she stared at the tatami floor.

—Yukiya’s lack of interest in her was obvious from the start. After she mentioned revisiting her date with Uryu, he never approached her again. That was the undeniable truth.

So Akari had no choice but to use him. She made plausible excuses to get close, to stay by his side.

Even if it meant deceiving Yukiya and Uryu.

“Because, Hirose-kun, you wouldn’t care about me unless it was about Aoyagi-kun…!”

Drip, drip, the tears stained the tatami. Though she wanted to hold them back, the tears she thought had dried kept flowing.

“And yet, what was I supposed to do…!?”

Without considering who might hear, Akari shouted with all her might, letting her swelling emotions explode like a child’s.

“Don’t even think about dating me. You know what I mean without me spelling it out.”

Kirita Akari. Her first, once-in-a-lifetime confession ended with the worst possible response.

Chapter 157: Once Upon a Time

Once upon a time, there was a slightly cheeky and adorable boy. He was so cute that he was often mistaken for a girl.

Raised with immense love from his father, the boy was a bit shy but got along well with his classmates at school.

Even after graduating elementary school and entering middle school, the boy continued to make friends and spend time happily with them.

But one day, his easily teased appearance made him a target for a popular classmate. The reason? The classmate was jealous that the boy was close to a girl he liked.

At first, it was light teasing or bumping into his desk, but the harassment gradually escalated. His eraser was knocked off the board, his textbooks were scribbled on, and the damage grew bit by bit.

Enduring these excessive acts, far beyond mere teasing, the boy found himself troubled.

—Or rather, not at all. The boy wasn’t fazed by his immature classmate’s actions; he laughed them off and ignored them. He brushed them aside, thinking it’d be foolish to engage.

However, anger slowly built up inside him. He understood it was dumb to respond, but having his belongings messed with pissed him off. It cost extra money, and above all, he didn’t want to worry his father.

That swelling emotion exploded soon after.

The classmate who’d been harassing him turned on one of the boy’s friends. Seeing his friend cry while picking up a pencil case thrown in the trash, the boy’s patience snapped.

With all the pent-up frustration, he retaliated thoroughly. He made sure the classmate would never want to mess with them again.

As a result, the harassment stopped. A complete victory for the boy. No one would be sad anymore—it should’ve been case closed.

But it wasn’t.

Seeing the boy take revenge, his friends started keeping their distance. Fear took over, and they no longer felt they could be close to him.

The boy was devastated. Why did they pull away when they knew he was being targeted? He only wanted to help his friend, so why was he the only one blamed? Why didn’t anyone say the real culprit was at fault?

He regretted going too far. But shouldn’t someone have defended him?

Then it hit him. When the teasing started, no one tried to stop it. Afraid of becoming targets, no one else stood up like he did.

—And now, feared more than the popular kid, he was being avoided.

Everything stopped mattering. He decided he’d been foolish to care about friends.

And so, he decided he didn’t need friends.

From that day in his first year of middle school, the boy stopped making friends. He began pushing away anyone who got too close with harsh words.

Living alone became normal.

It wasn’t about right or wrong. It was the only way he felt he could survive. The only way he could move forward.

Four years later, they say the boy hasn’t changed his stance.

Whether he plans to change, or even wants to, only he knows.