My Popular-as-Hell Best Friend Is Annoying, So I Want to Get Him a Girlfriend and Shut Him Up - Chapter 16: Second Time

Chapter 16: Second Time

“What’s wrong? Something on your mind?”

I couldn’t figure out why Kirita Akari’s expression had darkened.

Sure, she might not be able to talk as casually with Uryu as she did with me, but I thought she’d built some resistance to guys. Was I wrong?

“If there’s anything you’re worried about, tell me. I’ll stick with you till the end today.”

That’s why I pressed her.

If she speaks up, I can come up with a plan, or at worst, I could prep Uryu.

Whether he’d go along with it is another story.

“No, it’s not that.”

Kirita Akari glanced at the window before turning her gaze back to me.

“I think I probably won’t get as nervous or run away if I go out with Aoyagi-kun again.”

“That’s good, isn’t it? So what’s the problem?”

I was relieved to hear her unexpectedly bold statement, but it made her reaction even more confusing.

What was Kirita Akari hesitating about?

After a brief pause, she gave her answer.

“Maybe because today’s date was fun.”

A faint blush spread across Kirita Akari’s cheeks.

It wasn’t the lighting—her complexion had definitely changed.

“It was fun. Really fun. At first, it wasn’t a big deal, but I ended up enjoying it without realizing it.”

“Isn’t that a good thing? I don’t see the problem.”

“No, it’s a huge problem.

To make a date with Aoyagi-kun work, I shouldn’t have enjoyed this one so much.”

I was listening closely, but her words weren’t sinking in.

I couldn’t understand what Kirita Akari was saying.

It almost felt like she was deliberately being vague to confuse me.

“That’s why I need to apologize to you, Hirose-kun.”

With that, Kirita Akari bowed her head while seated.

Hold on, I’ve got a bad feeling about this.

Sweat trickled down my cheek.

—This is just like when I showed her Shuri-chan…!

“I’m sorry.

I feel bad for taking up your weekend, but I think I need to reconsider the date with Aoyagi-kun.”

I had no idea what was going on, but Kirita Akari told me this with a surprisingly bright expression.

※

“Yo, you’re looking rough for a Monday morning.”

The next day, as I slumped with my head on my desk, a annoyingly refreshing, handsome voice came from beside me.

“How’d Sunday go? I can tell it didn’t work out, though.”

“…It’s your fault.”

Uryu’s provocative question spiked my anger to max levels.

I stood up and got in his face.

“I did everything you said, and it was a total bust! Are you really some god-chosen prodigy!?”

“That’s a first for getting chewed out like that.”

“Listen to me.

I’ve been racking my brain since yesterday, but I can’t figure out what went wrong.”

“As usual, your attitude for asking favors sucks.”

“It’s your fault, so you’re obligated to hear me out.”

“Fine, fine. Spill it.”

I gave Uryu a rough rundown of yesterday’s date.

At first, he threw in some snarky comments, but after hearing it all, he thought for a moment and muttered:

“…That’s weird.”

Oh, as expected from the universally acknowledged love guru.

Did he spot the issue right away?

“For you to have a normal date, Yukiya? You’re exaggerating, right?”

Useless. This guy’s hopeless.

I was wrong to ask a love-loser who’s so popular yet still single.

“Kidding aside, I don’t think anything sounds off.”

“Right!? It’s Kirita Akari who’s got the problem, isn’t it!?”

“No way, you’re definitely the weirder one.”

“Whose side are you on!?”

“The poor soul who had to deal with you.”

Why’s it a given that my date partner’s the victim?

At least in this case, isn’t it Kirita Akari who’s the weird one?

“Ugh, talking to you always derails things.

Forget your perspective for now. Did Kirita-san say anything?”

“Nope.

She threw in some jabs that didn’t respect me as her mentor, but they were just part of the conversation.”

“Really? I feel like there’s gotta be something.”

“I’m telling you, nothing.

She even said multiple times that she had fun. That’s not a bad thing, right?”

“Had fun…”

My casual remark made Uryu fall silent, deep in thought.

Come on, that’s not something to overthink.

It’s a positive comment; there’s nothing to dwell on.

“…I see.”

But Uryu flashed a smile, as if he’d figured it all out.

Wait, what? Did he actually get it?

“If that’s the case, maybe it can’t be helped.”

“Don’t just nod to yourself! If I screwed up, tell me!”

“You didn’t screw up.

If I had to point out anything…”

Uryu placed a hand on my shoulder, sporting an infuriatingly smug grin.

“You tried too hard, Yukiya.”

“Huh?”

Between Kirita Akari and Uryu, why can’t anyone explain things clearly to me?

Their words and the situation just aren’t clicking for me.

“Sure, when you get fired up, your determination is insane.

If that came out during the date, it’s not surprising things turned out like this.”

“Stop agreeing with yourself! Explain it so even an idiot can understand!”

“Yo, idiot.”

“I’m not an idiot!”

“What, that wasn’t a self-introduction? My bad, my bad.”

I’ve never heard such an unapologetic apology.

I’m gonna land a solid hit to his solar plexus later. A sneak attack, obviously.

“I’m not telling you, though.

I could be wrong, and even if I’m right, it’s not my place to say.”

“Don’t mess with me! Then who do I ask?

Kirita Akari just dodged and didn’t say anything.”

“You already asked her directly?”

“Of course I did! It’s tied to my goal!”

“Then she’s probably sorting things out herself.

If she really liked me, she’d be confused right now.”

“Liked? She went on the date with me because she likes you, didn’t she?”

At that, Uryu faltered for a moment.

Then he let out an obvious sigh.

“Whatever, it’s not my problem to meddle in.”

“No, no, it is your problem, which is why I’m in this mess!

What’s Kirita Akari even thinking?”

“I told you, I can’t say.”

“Then answer just one thing: Is there no point in helping Kirita Akari anymore?”

That’s what I really wanted to know.

I’d been working to get her together with Uryu, and then she hit me with that statement.

Since Uryu seems to understand her feelings, I figured he’d have an answer.

“Regardless of how I feel, for Kirita-san, it’s probably unnecessary.”

Hearing that, I collapsed on the spot.

No way.

After all that effort, it ends with nothing?

That’s how it ends?

Above all, Kirita Akari was someone Uryu thought was worth hanging out with.

I was sure that if things kept going, my goal would be achieved.

“Well, same as always. Good effort.”

With Uryu’s refreshing smile, I completely flatlined.

How did it come to this?

T/N: YOU REALLY ARE DENSE AREN’T YOU!? BRO IS TOO FOCUSED ON THE GOAL