Tanaka-san Is Cuter Than the Main Heroine - Chapter 18: Nakayama-kun Is a Good Person

Chapter 18: Nakayama-kun Is a Good Person

“Good morning, Nakayama-kun. You’re a bit late today, huh?”

“Yeah, kind of. Anyway—morning, Tanaka-san.”

It had been two weeks since I became seat neighbors with Nakayama-kun.

First things first—status update:

I think we’ve gotten a little closer!

It’s hard to say exactly how much, but we’re somewhere between just acquaintances and actual friends.

That comfy, in-between kind of zone.

“Ooh, that bread’s the new one they started selling at the convenience store, right?”

“Yes! It looked so good, I couldn’t resist.”

“Hmm, so how is it?”

“The bread’s super fluffy, and the custard inside is thick and rich. It’s really tasty.”

“Dang, sounds like a solid review. I might have to grab one too.”

“Please do! I totally recommend it.”

“Oh, hey—you’ve got cream on your cheek.”

“Wha!? Where?!”

“Pfft—nah, you’re fine. Just messing with you.”

“Ughhh! Nakayama-kun, that’s mean!”

“Sorry, sorry. I couldn’t help it.”

Anyway, we’d reached the point where we could have casual chats like this now.

Sure, he liked teasing me every so often—which could be slightly annoying—

But still, I really appreciated how Nakayama-kun always found something to say and took the lead in starting conversations.

Compared to how I used to just quietly watch him from afar all throughout our first year…

Yeah, I’d call this major progress.

And as for other updates—

Lately, I’d learned quite a bit about Nakayama-kun.

First off, he’s 178 centimeters tall.

Which makes him a whole eighteen centimeters taller than me.

He weighs 65 kilos too—so yeah, pretty lean.

How do I know that?

Well… we just happened to see each other’s health checkup results.

In return, I had to show him mine too—but thanks to him being an absolute gentleman, I managed to keep my weight a secret.

Technically, I don’t really mind people knowing, since I work hard to stay in shape.

But still—just imagining Nakayama-kun thinking I might be even slightly chubby made me panic.

So yeah. Crisis averted.

And one thing’s for sure—Nakayama-kun has a great figure.

Honestly, with that face and that build, it’s kind of hard to believe he doesn’t already have a girlfriend.

But judging from what I’ve heard from his friends, it sounds like… he really doesn’t have one right now.

Although…

That’s probably only a matter of time.

Because—

Well…

“Okay, here we go. Once I finish carrying this…”

“Class rep, I’ll hand out the notebooks for you. You focus on sorting the printouts.”

“Really!? That’d be a huge help, Nakayama-kun!”

“It’s no big deal. I was coming to grab my own notebook anyway.”

“…Ugh, I don’t get this at all.”

“What part don’t you get? I’ve already worked through this section, so I can help.”

“For real? It’s this part right here.”

“Ah, yeah—that works like this—”

—Because Nakayama-kun is just… genuinely a really good person.

The moment he even senses someone might be struggling,

He’s already there, helping—like it’s the most natural thing in the world.

No fishing for praise. No hidden motives. Just… simple, honest kindness.

At first glance, helping people seems easy.

But in reality? It’s actually pretty hard.

Like, say you see an old lady wobbling down the street with a heavy bag—

Most people would probably think, “Whoa, that looks rough.”

But how many would actually walk up and say,

“Here, let me carry that for you”?

Helping a total stranger takes guts.

Most people just keep walking.

I think I’d step in too.

But if I’m being honest, there’s always a tiny part of me doing it as a way to make up for what happened with Reno-chan.

So I can’t even say it comes from a place of pure kindness.

But Nakayama-kun?

He doesn’t carry that kind of baggage.

He just acts—like it’s second nature.

That’s the kind of person he is.

Helping people isn’t some big moral choice for him.

It’s just… what he does.

And it’s not like he only helps the cute girls, either.

Boy or girl, if someone’s in trouble, he’s there.

No hesitation.

Honestly, it wouldn’t surprise me if people had already fallen for him because of that.

Actually, I’m pretty sure they have.

And the second one of them works up the courage to make a move?

Boom—he’ll probably have a girlfriend just like that.

As I was sitting there, lost in thought, Nakayama-kun—who was rummaging through his bag beside me—suddenly let out a loud—

“Ah!?”

“What’s wrong?”

Startled by his sudden outburst, I still managed to ask what happened.

Nakayama-kun looked a little sheepish as he replied,

“Ah—sorry. I just remembered there was something I meant to give you if I saw you. Here.”

He reached into his bag and pulled something out.

“…This is mine…”

I took it from him and looked down at what was resting in my palm—

An acrylic dolphin keychain.

The same one I’d bought as a souvenir during my first outing with Reno-chan.

The one I had just lost yesterday.

Why did Nakayama-kun have it?

Still confused, I looked up at him—

Only to see him rubbing the tip of his nose with a tiny, proud grin.

“You were talking about losing it yesterday, right? So, this morning I thought I might’ve seen it somewhere on my way to school. I just followed my memory, poked around a bit… and there it was.”

He said it so casually, like it was no big deal.

Just something he’d done on a whim.

But I realized it instantly.

I knew exactly why Nakayama-kun had come to school later than usual today.

It was because he’d been out there—searching for my lost keychain.

And honestly?

I wouldn’t be surprised if he’d been looking for it on his way home yesterday too.

“Thank you… so much. I really, really treasured this, so I’m so happy you found it.”

“Glad to hear it. Feels good to know it was worth the search.”

I almost cried right then and there—

But somehow, I managed to hold it in and poured all the gratitude I could into my words.

In response, Nakayama-kun smiled, looking completely satisfied.

He went out of his way like that just for me.

Someone like me.

That’s the kind of person Nakayama-kun is.

He’s just… that kind.

But at the same time—

That’s exactly what makes him dangerous.

Because seriously—

How am I not supposed to get the wrong idea after something like this?

It’s impossible not to hope.

To wonder if maybe—just maybe—I mean something a little special to him.

(Ugh, seriously. You’re way too good at this, Nakayama-kun.)

Muttering silent complaints in my heart,

I let myself enjoy the soft fluttering in my chest…

Just for a little while longer.