The Case of Liking the Most Beautiful Girl in the School Even After Being Told Not to Like Her

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Chapter 9 – Good Morning and Welcome Back

Early on the first morning of the week, I came to school early again today. I had nothing to do until someone came, so I decided to read a book. The empty classroom was quiet. But soon my classmates came to school and the classroom became noisy.

I heard someone in front of me pull out a chair and I thought perhaps Tachikawa had arrived, so I looked up, but it was not Tachikawa who was in front of me looking at me.

“You definitely thought it was Mina, didn’t you?”

The one who gave me a nasty grin as she said that was Iori Nakahara, who is in the same class and Tachikawa’s closest friend. I recognise her as someone who often wears her hair in a semi-long bun.

“I didn’t. I thought it was Kouki.”

“You, liar~. Mina always calls out to you in the morning. ‘Asai-kun, good morning’ like that…”

I think she’s imitating Tachikawa, but it doesn’t look like her at all. More importantly, why did Nakahara-san talk to me? Did she come to make fun of me?

“Nakahara-san, what do you want from me?”

“I’m not here for anything. Mina always talks with you, so I just wanted to talk to Asai-kun because I was interested in him. Mina, she only seems happy when she’s talking with you…”

“With me? Even when she’s with Nakahara-san, Tachikawa seems to be laughing and having fun…”

Nakahara-san burst out laughing, as if it was funny to say what I was thinking.

“Ah~ You, what you said earlier is no good~. That was a statement that you were observing Mina.”

“I-I didn’t observe her. I just happened to see and thought that.”

“So suspicious~ Well, I shouldn’t tease too much, sorry. I know it’s off topic, but I think Mina is pushing herself too hard… Don’t you think so too?”

Pushing herself too hard, huh…That could definitely be the case. She has reached the point where she has to spit it out of her mouth. Mentally…

“She’s always smiling, and I’m wondering if she’s tired of me asking her about it. I’m sure Mina has her own reasons for doing so.”

“And what do you want me to do with this information?”

“Well, nothing. Please continue to get along with Mina from now on.”

Is Nakahara-san Tachikawa’s mother or something?

But, well, if talking to me makes any difference, I’ll keep talking to Tachikawa.

While I was talking to Nakahara-san, Tachikawa came to school with a slightly surprised look on her face.

“Hmm, what’s going on, Iori?”

Tachikawa wondered why I was talking to Nakahara-san and asked Nakahara-san.

“I was talking to Asai-kun because I wanted to know what Mina’s boyfriend was like. He seems like a nice guy.”

At Nakahara-san’s words, Tachikawa blushed and pulled Nakahara-san’s arm toward her.

“I-Iori!”

“Hmm~, you’re dating, aren’t you?”

It was immediately clear from Nakahara-san’s joking expression that she was making fun of Tachikawa.

“We’re not going out! Hey, Asai-kun, say something too.”

“Yeah, we’re not dating. Think about it, there’s no way someone like me should be walking next to Tachikawa.”

It’s common to hear rumors that Tachikawa and I might be dating, but in fact, if I really went out with Tachikawa, the other boys would backlash. Why that guy…?

“Eh~ I think you’d make a good match. Hey, Katayama-kun, you think so too, don’t you?”

Nakahara-san talked to Kouki, who came here for me. Well, of course Kouki wouldn’t know what she was talking about.

“What are you talking about? By the way, Nakahara, can you return the notebook I lent you yesterday soon?”

“Notebook? Ah, I don’t remember you lending me that…”

Realizing this, Nakahara-san quietly walked away from Kouki, perhaps thinking she could get him to forgive her with a smile.

“Hey, don’t run away. We’re not done talking yet.”

“I’m sorry, I’ll give it back to you tomorrow… Alright?”

“Fine.”

“Thank you, Katayama-kun.”

While Kouki and Nakahara-san were talking, Tachikawa called my name.

“Asai-kun.”

“Hmm? What is it?”