Tanaka-san Is Cuter Than the Main Heroine - Chapter 07: Tanaka-san Smells Amazing!

Chapter 07: Tanaka-san Smells Amazing!

“Hey, Nakayama, did you know? If someone smells really good to you, it means they’re your destined soulmate.”

Third period had just ended. 

I was packing up my textbook when Machida suddenly popped up beside me and dropped that wild line out of nowhere.

“…Huh? Where’s that coming from?”

I gave him a quick glance. 

He looked more hyped than usual, so I asked, “What’s going on with you?”

That was all the cue he needed. 

His face lit up, like he’d been dying to talk about it, and he launched into his explanation, full of excitement.

“So like, I was just browsing online last night and stumbled across this article about scent. It said stuff like that. Super interesting, right?”

“Uh-huh… Let me guess. One of your favorite Shikihime girls smelled nice and now you’re freaking out?”

“Correct! You nailed it! I was on the same train as Haruno-san this morning, and she smelled amazing! Which means—Haruno-san’s totally my fated one! So I’m thinking, I’ll confess to her after school today. Nakayama, got any good romantic spots in mind?”

Apparently, Machida had taken the internet’s word at face value, declared Haruno his soulmate, and was now riding high on that belief.

Too bad for him—Haruno was one of the main heroines.

She was head over heels for Kaisei, and anyone with half a brain could see that confessing now was just asking to get crushed.

“Hey, hold up! Don’t do anything stupid! You’re seriously gonna act on that just because of a smell? Think about it—you’re charging straight into your own grave!”

“Shut it! Haruno-san is my soulmate. I know it! I’ve totally got this! Hmph! Talking to you was the mistake. I’ll find my own perfect confession spot. Just wait—by tomorrow, when Haruno-san and I are officially dating, you’ll be crying in some corner, full of regret!”

“H-Hey, wait up!”

I tried to talk some sense into him, but Machida wasn’t having it. He marched out of the classroom like a man possessed.

(Yikes… Dead man walking.)

“…Um, do you think Machida-kun will be okay?”

Still staring at the door he’d just charged through, I heard Tanaka-san’s voice beside me. She looked up with a worried expression.

She really was too kind. Only an actual angel would worry about someone like Machida.

Why isn’t everyone at this school worshipping this girl already?

Seriously—how are people blind to her divine presence?

Well, whatever. If the world can’t see the light, that’s their loss.

“Eh, just let him go. Maybe this’ll teach him not to believe everything he reads online.”

“…You’re surprisingly harsh with your friends, Nakayama-kun.”

Apparently, that didn’t sit well with the sweet, gentle Tanaka-san.

She gave me an awkward little smile, like she didn’t quite approve.

Uh-oh. That… probably wasn’t a good look.

“Wha—No, wait. I did try to stop him, didn’t I?”

Since I’d already screwed up once yesterday, there was no way I was letting my favorability drop again today.

I rushed to defend myself, and thankfully, Tanaka-san gave a small nod, like she understood where I was coming from.

“True enough,” she said.

Looked like she got the point.

Phew… Crisis averted. 

I let out a quiet sigh of relief—when Tanaka-san tilted her head slightly and said,

“By the way…”

Here comes a new topic.

“Just now, that conversation—how much truth do you think there is to it?”

“You mean the scent thing?”

“Yes. If someone smells good to you, does that really make them easier to fall for?”

Ahh.

So she’d been thinking about that too.

Well, I guess it made sense for a girl her age.

Too cute. Seriously.

Right then and there, I made up my mind—

I’d stick around and talk for as long as she wanted.

Time to go full support mode.

“I think it makes a difference, yeah.”

I tossed out my own theory.

Tanaka-san tilted her head again, looking genuinely curious.

“Is that because a nice smell leaves a good first impression?”

“That’s part of it. But I think the kind of ‘nice smell’ we’re talking about here is more like… the kind you can’t get enough of. Like it makes you want to keep smelling it forever. So even after the first impression, it still sticks with you. That’s a pretty big advantage, right?”

“I see… Yes, that does sound like it would help a lot.”

She nodded along seriously, clearly taking it in.

But then I added—

“But even if you think someone smells amazing… if they don’t feel the same way about you, then… it’s kind of pointless, huh?”

Of course, that only really mattered if the feeling was mutual—

And when I casually brought up Machida as an example of when it wasn’t, Tanaka-san let out a dry little chuckle.

“Ahaha… yeah, you’re right.”

Then, a bit shyly, she asked me a question.

“Um… Nakayama-kun, are there any scents you really don’t like?”

“Hm… bad smells, huh? Well, I’m not into anything rotten or super sweaty. Oh, and I really hate those super strong air fresheners or overpowering perfumes. Smelling that stuff too long makes me feel sick.”

“I completely understand. Especially the ones they use in cars—I can’t stand those.”

“Exactly! After like five minutes, I’m gasping for fresh air and cracking the windows open.”

We were totally vibing on the scent talk—when, out of nowhere:

“Hey, hey, what are you two talking about?”

Norimizu-san must’ve picked up on our conversation, because she came skipping over, all curious and ready to dive in.

“Oooh, talking about scent compatibility, huh? Ta-chan, mind if I take a little sniff?”

Before we even had time to explain the context, she went all-in—wrapping her arms around Tanaka-san and making the boldest move possible.

“Eh!? Umm… I don’t mind if it’s you, Mikoto-chan, but…”

Tanaka-san looked totally flustered by the sudden hug.

Her eyes darted back and forth between Norimizu-san and me, clearly embarrassed to be sniffed right in front of a guy.

“I—”

“Yay! Thanks! Okay then… sniff sniff”

Just as I was about to step in—having correctly read the situation—

Norimizu-san moved faster than I could react, burying her face right into Tanaka-san’s hair for a full-on sniff.

“Mmm… You smell really nice—like roses. Super floral and soft~”

“Eh!? Ah—!”

The moment she heard that, Tanaka-san’s cheeks turned a deep, apple red.

She immediately threw her hands up to cover her face, clearly trying to hide her embarrassment.

(Sorry, Tanaka-san… but that reaction was dangerously cute. Like, unfair levels of cute.)

I genuinely did feel bad.

If I’d been quicker, maybe I could’ve saved her from the embarrassment.

But at the same time…

Her reaction was so insanely adorable that I found myself silently pressing my hands together, offering thanks to Norimizu-san for the blessing.

“Mou, Mikoto-chan! That was so mean! I can’t believe you did that in front of Nakayama-kun!”

A little later, once she’d calmed down a bit, Tanaka-san turned to scold Norimizu-san—her face still glowing pink.

“Aah, my bad, my bad. I just had to know what you smelled like, Ta-chan. I couldn’t help myself. But hey, I’ll make it up to you—wanna sniff me back?”

Completely unfazed, Norimizu-san hugged Tanaka-san again with that same carefree grin.

“I-I don’t want to sniff you!”

“C’mon, don’t be like that~ So? What do I smell like?”

“…sniff sniff… You smell kinda sweet. Like caramel.”

Tanaka-san tried to resist at first.

But maybe—just maybe—she wanted Norimizu-san to suffer the same fate she had.

In the end, she gave in.

Leaning forward, she took a small sniff… and quietly mumbled her honest impression.

“Really!? Then that means we’re a perfect match! Ta-chan, let’s get married!”

“I would never marry someone who does such mean things!”

If she’d been hoping for revenge, though, it totally backfired—

Norimizu-san wasn’t flustered in the slightest.

In fact, she looked even more pleased, rubbing her cheek against Tanaka-san’s like a smug little cat.

With Tanaka-san tearing up from embarrassment and Norimizu-san teasing her without mercy, the whole scene was almost too adorable.

I just sat there in bliss, soaking up the glorious yuri aura they were radiating—right up until break time ended.

Oh, and by the way—

As for Machida?

He went down in flames after school, just like I’d expected.

My phone buzzed with a furious message:

『I’m NEVER trusting the internet again!!』

…Honestly? Not even a little surprised.