My Popular-as-Hell Best Friend Is Annoying, So I Want to Get Him a Girlfriend and Shut Him Up - Chapter 210 & 211 & 212

Chapter 210: Summer Break, Tea Ceremony Club 6

It’s still Sunday, huh? (staring into the distance)

“Ugh, fine, I get it. You like Ai-chan, but it’s not romantic, right?”

Saeki’s self-satisfied summary rubs me the wrong way, so I ignore him.

What’s with this?

I get irritated when anyone other than Rando-dono talks about Ai-chan.

Maybe because he’s not in the club?

“By the way, you sound pretty chummy with Rando-san. Same vibe as with Ai-chan?”

“You’ve got a loud inner monologue.”

“I’m asking a question!”

He’s starting to act like Shoki too.

Why are moderately good-looking guys always so noisy?

Though Shoki doesn’t have Saeki’s two-faced thing going on.

“Rando-dono’s someone I respect. I’d love for her to get with Uryu romantically.”

“No clue what you mean. I’d treat her way better than a senpai who keeps brushing her off.”

Saeki tilts his head, genuinely confused.

Right, this guy’s seen Rando-dono hitting on Uryu up close in the basketball team.

In class, Uryu gets flustered by her onslaught, but maybe he dodges her better during club time.

Still, I’m not buying Saeki’s flower-brained take at face value.

“With Rando-san and Ai-chan, I’ve got amazing classmates right here, so why’s nothing happening?”

“Maybe they’ve seen through your true colors?”

“No way I’d slip up like that. Even if they did, there’s no solid proof.”

I can respect that weird confidence, but the problem is, he’s overlapping with too many of my friends.

The thought of him screwing up and causing drama is pretty terrifying.

“Also, your grade’s got even more gorgeous girls. Like Kamishiro-senpai—I swear my eyes nearly popped out when I saw her in the gym.”

“Eyes popping out, huh?”

Saeki’s high schooler-unworthy phrasing paints a vivid picture.

Yeah, with her looks and figure, she’s a teenage boy’s kryptonite in every sense.

There’s probably a pile of defeated guys at her feet.

“…Wait.”

Listening to Saeki’s candid ramble, a question hits me.

“So, who do you actually like?”

His talk’s been all over—classmates like Rando-dono and Ai-chan, the Tea Ceremony Club girls, seniors like Haruka and Izumo.

He sounds like he wants to live it up with them, but there’s no specific someone.

For a second, I wonder if it’s not romantic, but he said he’d treat Rando-dono better than Uryu.

So it’s probably rooted in romantic feelings, yet Saeki’s super vague about it.

Wondering what’s going on in his head, I ask, and he blurts it out like it’s nothing.

“Well, I like all of them. Like, enough to wanna date them.”

This guy, who’s been griping at me nonstop, says something totally beyond my comprehension.

Maybe he picks up on my vibe, because he keeps going.

“Focusing on one person to build something deep is inefficient, isn’t it? If it doesn’t work out, all that time’s wasted. So it’s better to spread your affection wide and date whoever seems most likely.”

His logic makes some sense if you compare it to food.

Everyone’s fighting over the most popular dish, so you secure the second or third favorite.

That mindset, I get.

But can you really apply that to romantic feelings?

Is it okay to be that detached about your own emotions?

“So, say you’re dating someone and another girl confesses to you. What then?”

“I’d turn her down, obviously. Unless things are going bad with the girl I’m with.”

“…What’s that mean? It’s different if things are bad?”

“Well, there’s always the option to break up and start a new relationship.”

“You’d break up after dating?”

“Look, I don’t plan to, but what if we fight or my feelings fade? That could happen.”

“…I see.”

That’s what I say, but I don’t get it at all.

Maybe it’s a difference in values.

If I were dating someone, I’d spend my life making them happy.

I’d make sure they never even thought about anyone else.

Breaking up with someone I’m dating? That’s not in my dictionary.

If that ever happened, I’d be fine staying single forever.

That’s why I’d choose a partner carefully.

A relationship built on settling for “someone dateable” could never last a lifetime.

“I’m just saying, it’s not your place to judge me.”

Maybe because I’ve gone quiet, Saeki tacks on a defensive jab, sounding a bit panicked.

Idiot.

If you really didn’t care, you wouldn’t bother justifying yourself.

He’s got some guilt, but I don’t need his excuses.

“Nah, I was just thinking that’s one way to look at it. You’re not planning to two-time or anything, right?”

“Don’t make it sound sleazy. A harem’s fine because you don’t cross the line with anyone.”

I don’t fully get what he’s saying, but it seems he’s got some intent to respect whoever he dates.

As long as the Tea Ceremony Club girls don’t get hurt, I’m fine with it.

In the end, it’s up to the people involved to decide.

“But, like, changing clubs just for that feels a bit much. You that desperate to date someone?”

“No point hiding it now, but do we have to get that crass?”

“Crass?”

“You’re not gonna say you’re not into that stuff, right? Wait, with you, that’s actually plausible, looking all girly—ow, ow, ow!”

Predicting Saeki’s jab at my appearance, I slip behind him and grind his temple.

“Huh? Say something, junior?”

“I just wondered why a cool guy like you doesn’t have any rumors! Sorry!”

His rapid-fire apology sounds sincere, so I let him go.

The second I do, Saeki clutches his head and crouches.

Watch your mouth from now on.

Even a chill guy like me gets mad sometimes.

※

That’s when I’m basking in showing off my senpai authority.

“…Hirose-kun?”

A slightly high-pitched voice.

Filled with surprise, as if my presence was completely unexpected.

Even though a junior’s greeting her, her gaze is locked straight on me.

Can’t she at least play it cool?

What a sloppy senpai.

I think about lecturing her later, but treating her like a disciple forever might be rude.

“Yo. Been since the closing ceremony.”

I raise a hand casually in response.

St

Lill wide-eyed and stunned, it’s Kirita Akari, a Tea Ceremony Club member and Izumo’s friend.

Chapter 211: Summer Break, Tea Ceremony Club 7

“Why’s Hirose-kun here?”

Akari reacts much like Ai-chan did.

She seems a bit dazed at first but then crosses her arms, lost in thought.

“…Did a tsuchinoko show up at school or something? I didn’t hear about that in the news. Or maybe he’s sneaking onto the roof to summon a UFO? Though night’s probably better than morning for that.”

Her thought process instantly reveals what she thinks of me on a daily basis.

I’m kinda pissed at being made out to be such an idiot, but those are plausible reasons for me showing up at school, so I hold back the chop.

Tsuchinoko and UFOs—pretty dreamy ideas.

“Creative thinking, but nope. I’m here for the Tea Ceremony Club camp.”

“Eh?”

When I quickly explain, Akari freezes again.

Her mouth hangs open for a moment before her face twists, like she’s just processed the reality.

“…What do I do? I’m totally unprepared.”

Her first words are way beyond my understanding.

She’s accepted the situation faster than Ai-chan, but it’s like she’s despairing over it.

As always, this girl’s got a flair for expression.

“Hey, Akari, you finally made it.”

A few dozen seconds after Akari and I lock eyes, Izumo, cool as ever, calls out to her friend with a mischievous grin.

I’m not sure if Akari’s panicking, but if Izumo finds this amusing, her plan’s working perfectly.

“M-Morning, Izumo-chan!”

“Morning. Your face is doing some wild things this early.”

“H-H-Hirose-kun says he’s coming to the Tea Ceremony Club camp!”

“Yup, he sure did.”

“You’re hearing this for the first time too, Izumo-chan!?”

“Nope, I knew.”

“You knew!?”

“And I’m the one who invited him.”

“You invited him!?”

Man, Akari’s got a real knack for playing the straight man.

Her sharp responses don’t match her usual quiet demeanor.

Bet Tomura-sensei, who’s supposedly into entertainment, would eat this up.

Though I’m starting to doubt if Sensei’s actually into that stuff.

“Why didn’t you tell me!?”

“Huh? Would telling you have changed anything? It’s just a camp, right?”

Akari protests about not being told, but Izumo’s reasonable comeback shuts her up.

Izumo’s clearly honed her skills at teasing Akari.

She’s merciless with her best friend.

“No way you’re thinking something impure for our sacred Tea Ceremony Club camp, right?”

“!?”

When Izumo whispers something to Akari, her face turns lobster-red in a flash.

I didn’t catch what was said, but it’s definitely nothing good.

Since she made sure I couldn’t hear, it’s probably something spicy.

I wouldn’t expect that from Izumo, but to mess with Akari, she’d pull out all the stops.

“N-No way! I just thought we could do something during break time! It’s a wholesome kind of naughty!”

“Wholesome naughty? What’s that…?”

Izumo’s dumbfounded at Akari’s bizarre phrase, and I’m even more lost.

Wholesome stripes?

How’s that different from regular stripes?

What even are unwholesome stripes?

Like, striped underwear or something?

I decide digging deeper is a bad idea.

Saying something dumb and getting dragged into this would be idiotic.

Best to leave girls alone to avoid trouble.

“Misono-san, once everyone’s here, have them board the bus.”

As I watch Izumo and Akari’s little skit, Tomura-sensei pops her head out from the bus.

“But, like, greetings outside—”

“No need for that in this heat. It’s more efficient to handle everything in the cool bus.”

Satisfied, Tomura-sensei starts climbing back aboard.

Man, that just skyrocketed my respect for Tomura-sensei.

She’s right—there’s no need to do some opening ceremony outside.

Manners be damned, it’s better to get things done in a comfy space.

I thought she was a rigid teacher who didn’t listen, but she’s super reasonable.

“Okay, all the second-years are here.”

“Ai-chan, are all the first-years here?”

“Yup! Everyone’s here!”

“Morning, everyone! Can you start boarding the bus?”

Under Izumo’s direction, five second-years (including me) and four first-years board one by one.

I’m the first second-year to hop on after the first-years, but the first-years, including Saeki, are sticking together as a group of four.

For a second, I wonder if I should sit with him, but it’s probably unnecessary.

He’d rather chat with the girls than sit next to me.

So, I take the window side of a two-person seat.

I could’ve taken a single seat across the aisle, but with me hogging a two-seater, the four second-year girls can still sit comfortably.

Nine students, one teacher—this mid-sized bus is way too big.

“Yukiya, scoot over properly.”

“Huh?”

Then, an anomaly hits.

In this spacious bus, Izumo plops down right next to me.

I feel a sudden sense of pressure, but her shampoo’s nice scent tickles my nose.

Are bus seats this close?

“Hey, why’re you sitting here?”

“It’s a long ride to the destination. You planning to zone out alone?”

“That doesn’t mean you have to sit next to me.”

Izumo seems to be looking out for me by choosing this seat, but hasn’t she forgotten the second-years are an odd number?

By picking me, someone’s gonna be left out, right?

“…Just deal with it. I’ll move soon, so humor me for a bit.”

“Huh?”

Whispering in my ear, Izumo glances toward the bus door.

…What’s that about?

If she’s moving soon, why sit here in the first place?

She’s got some kind of plan, but she’s not spilling.

I notice her lips curl slightly, though.

※

“…Huh?”

I’m waiting without much expectation when a stunned voice comes from the bus entrance.

It’s Akari, the last to board.

If I’m not imagining it, her eyes are locked on me and Izumo.

“…”

There are tons of empty seats, but Akari doesn’t move to take one.

She’s just standing there, deep in thought.

No clue what’s on her mind, but at this rate, the bus won’t leave.

It’s only a matter of time before Tomura-sensei calls her out.

I’m about to tell her to sit already when the class rep next to me speaks up.

“Akari, wanna sit here?”

“!?”

With a wicked grin that practically oozes glee, I finally get it.

Why Izumo sat next to me.

…This girl sat here just to mess with Akari.

Chapter 212: Summer Break, Tea Ceremony Club 8

Izumo knows how her best friend Akari feels.

She knows Akari’s not still hung up on Uryu.

If she were, that fight at the study camp wouldn’t have happened.

That said, is Izumo really the type to meddle in someone’s love life like this?

Knowing her as the ultra-serious type, this feels way off.

It was the same when she told me to keep my camp participation a secret—she’s leaning hard into the entertainment angle.

I’m not gonna nitpick her choices, but when I get dragged into it, that’s another story.

I glance at Akari again, and she’s trembling slightly.

Her cheeks are faintly red, and her eyes look teary.

That’s definitely the reaction of someone who’s been called out.

Is this okay?

She’s not gonna cry or yell out of nowhere, right?

Also, aren’t the first-years gonna get suspicious?

I can hear them chatting happily now, but over time, they’re bound to notice.

“…So?”

I’m starting to think this could get messy, but surprisingly, a sulky voice is directed at Izumo.

Her near-tears expression flips, and she’s glaring at Izumo with a pout.

“So, I’d be happy if you moved, Izumo-chan?”

Akari raises her tone deliberately, voicing her request.

Even Izumo looks caught off guard, her face freezing.

She probably didn’t expect Akari to express her feelings so openly.

“…Not what I expected, but oh well.”

Izumo scratches her cheek lightly, stands up, and moves away.

In the cramped bus, she maneuvers behind Akari, pushing her toward my seat.

“Here we go.”

“Eek!”

As if putting on the finishing touch, Izumo shoves Akari’s back hard.

Thanks to that, I have to catch Akari to keep her from falling.

“Well then, you two youngsters enjoy yourselves~”

“We’re the same age!”

Leaving behind a line I’ve heard somewhere before, Izumo plops down near the bus entrance.

It’s a spot where she can check on everyone when we disembark—she must’ve planned to sit there all along.

“You okay?”

I check on Akari, who nearly fell, and notice her face is bright red.

“H-H-H-H-H!”

“Huh?”

Akari suddenly lets out a weird sound.

I wonder if the summer heat’s got her sending Morse code or something, but then I follow her gaze and realize.

“Oh.”

My right hand is firmly supporting Akari’s chest.

I moved instinctively to catch her as she tipped forward, but I ended up touching a very delicate spot.

Now that I’m aware, I can feel a definite weight in my right hand.

Come to think of it, Akari’s the type who looks slimmer in clothes, huh?

No time for calm analysis.

If anyone saw this, I’d be in deep trouble.

I try to pull my hand away, but Akari’s still off-balance, so her body leans toward me, making it pointless.

I need to get her upright to fix this.

So, I use my left hand to support her right shoulder and push her up with both hands.

The moment her momentum shifts upward, I let go, and Akari finally stumbles but sits next to me.

“Sorry.”

“N-No, don’t worry about it! It’s Izumo-chan’s fault anyway!”

“True.”

It was an accident, but I did touch her chest, so I apologize honestly.

On second thought, Izumo’s push caused this whole mess.

“I’m not at fault at all, am I? Total apology overkill.”

“I-It’s kinda complicated if you don’t care that much…”

“What, should I keep the feel of your chest in mind?”

“Sorry, I lied, please forget it right now!”

“Uh, okay.”

Akari slams an apology at my joking remark.

Guess I worded that poorly.

But why do I have to be this careful?

Damn you, Misono Izumo, you’re not off the hook.

“Don’t worry, I barely remember it. Only noticed when you pointed it out.”

It’s a bit annoying, but since I did touch her, I should follow up.

“…”

Akari doesn’t react to my words, just looks down.

What’s up?

Does she think I’m lying?

Sure, saying I 100% forgot would be a stretch, but I didn’t linger on it or anything.

I’m confident I handled it like a gentleman, but if that’s not enough, there’s nothing I can do.

Guess I’ll have to let Izumo take the heat, but I’m innocent.

“…Right?”

“Huh?”

As I’m brainstorming ways to not disappoint Dad, I catch a faint mumble from beside me.

My off-guard response makes Akari look up, her eyes locked on me with intensity.

“T-This is my weapon, you know?”

I heard every word, but it only deepens the mystery.

The vague “this” makes it hard to grasp what Akari’s getting at.

She must notice my obvious head-tilt, because her cheeks slowly flush.

She’s acting all fidgety, her gaze darting around.

Can’t she explain it clearly one more time before getting embarrassed?

“…I know it’s not good to do this when we’re not dating…”

I think she’s about to clarify, but she looks down again, muttering under her breath.

It doesn’t seem directed at me, so why am I this unsettled?

A bead of nervous sweat drips from my cheek to my hand at that exact moment.

“But! How’s it a weapon if you don’t remember it at all!?”

The young lady lets out a roar that echoes through the bus, venting her frustration at the floor.

I’m stunned, but, well, it’s Kirita-san, so this tracks.

You get used to these things, and that’s what’s scary.