Tanaka-san Is Cuter Than the Main Heroine - Chapter 21: Me and Haruno-san

Chapter 21: Me and Haruno-san

It happened on a day two weeks after our midterm exams had ended.

“Ah! Tanaka-san, long time no see!”

I was walking home alone after club activities when someone suddenly called out to me from behind.

I turned around—and standing there was a sweet-faced, brown-haired pretty boy.

“Oh, hello. Long time no see, Matsukaze-kun.”

I recognized him instantly and gave a polite little nod.

His name was Yuuki Matsukaze.

We’d gone to the same elementary and middle school.

And he was the kind of guy who always got brought up whenever the girls talked about “hot classmates.”

But to me?

The image I had of him wasn’t exactly a great one.

Why?

Because he was the very first person to try and use me as a bridge to get to my sister.

Thinking about how he kicked off that whole trend—

How every guy who liked my sister started coming to me because of him—

Even if I know, deep down, that it’s not entirely his fault…

I still can’t help feeling a little bitter about it.

So yeah.

He’s not exactly someone I’m thrilled to be talking to.

“That uniform… You go to Hoshiyomi High, right? I had no idea you were so smart, Tanaka-san! We were in the same class a few times, and I totally didn’t notice.”

Matsukaze-kun, completely unaware of all that emotional baggage,

Casually stepped up beside me and started chatting.

Just small talk, probably.

Harmless, from his perspective.

But for me…

Every word landed like a tiny splinter under the skin.

“Well, yeah… I guess. Um, actually—I need to head home early today, so… excuse me.”

Just a few lines into the conversation, and I was already at my limit.

So I told a harmless little lie and picked up my pace to get out of there.

But—

Matsukaze-kun hurried after me in a panic.

“W-Wait! Just—wait, please! I’ve got one thing I really want to ask you!”

In a flash, he jogged ahead and stepped in front of me, arms slightly out like some kind of overly polite roadblock.

(…Guess I can’t dodge this one.)

Seeing how desperate he looked, I realized there was no point in trying to escape.

So I stopped walking.

Matsukaze-kun let out a visible sigh of relief.

“There’s this second-year at Hoshiyomi High—I think her name’s Haruno-san? Do you know her?”

The second he asked, it felt like déjà vu.

Almost the exact same kind of question he asked me all those years ago in elementary school.

Inside me, something gave a sharp little crack.

“Yeah, I know her. She’s kind of famous, after all.”

“Really!? That’s great! So, uh… Do you happen to have her contact info or anything? A while back, I tripped and hurt myself, and she gave me her handkerchief. I just—really want to return it to her.”

(Ah… I knew it.)

The second he realized I knew Haruno-san, his eyes lit up.

He held onto a crisp white handkerchief like it was some kind of sacred artifact,

And launched into this whole heartfelt story about how he just had to see her again.

Meanwhile—

My heart grew colder and colder with every word.

“I’m sorry. We’re in the same class, yes. But I don’t have her contact info or anything. If you’d like, though—I can pass the handkerchief to her for you.”

After I told him the plain truth, Matsukaze-kun let out a quiet, disappointed:

“Ah—gotcha… I kinda wanted to give it back in person and thank her myself, you know?”

He really was easy to read.

“Well then, Tanaka-san, I’m sorry to trouble you. But could you pass this along for me? And, uh… let her know I’m really grateful too?”

“Of course.”

After a few seconds of silent hesitation,

Matsukaze-kun handed over the handkerchief.

I tucked it into my bag, and he gave a small, polite bow.

“Thanks again! And sorry for holding you up when you said you were in a hurry.”

With that, he turned and walked off in the opposite direction.

Once I was sure he was gone, I pulled the handkerchief back out.

There was something I needed to check.

As I carefully unfolded the cloth, a small white slip of notepaper fell out and fluttered to the ground.

“…Haaah.”

A sigh slipped from my lips before I could stop it.

Written on the note were a name, a LINE ID, and an Insta handle.

No doubt about it—he was hoping to find a way to stay in touch with Haruno-san.

I bent down and slowly picked it up.

(Some things never change… Matsukaze-kun. The guys who talk to me because of my sister… And me, too.)

With that bitter realization sitting heavy in my chest,

I turned and quietly walked the rest of the way home.

◇

The next day, even my favorite karaage didn’t taste right going down.

“Um, Haruno-san, do you have a moment?”

“Huh? Tanaka-san, you’re the one talking to me? That’s rare.”

Right after getting to school, I called out to Haruno-san, and she blinked in surprise.

Which… fair. She wasn’t wrong—we barely ever talked.

It’s not like I dislike her.

I know she’s a good person and all.

I just… still get a little awkward around her.

“Actually—”

I pulled out the handkerchief from Matsukaze-kun and quickly explained the situation.

As I spoke, Haruno-san seemed to remember what happened and went,

“Ohh, that time! Thank you, Tanaka-san.”

She accepted the handkerchief with a warm smile and thanked me sweetly.

From the look on her face, you could tell she was genuinely happy—

Probably hadn’t expected it to come back to her at all.

Seeing that made my chest feel just a little bit lighter.

…Just a little.

Because right after, I remembered that thing. The note.

And that awkward, heavy feeling came rushing right back in.

“Well, he just happened to ask me, that’s all. Also, I kind of saw it by accident… But, um—there was a slip of paper tucked inside. It had Matsukaze-kun’s contact info on it.”

Honestly, Matsukaze-kun probably would’ve preferred if I hadn’t told her.

But still…

I just didn’t like the idea of being used like some convenient middleman.

So, as a tiny act of rebellion, I decided to let Haruno-san know his intentions weren’t exactly pure.

“Haa~… Of course. One of those again, huh.”

She muttered with a sigh, sounding completely fed up, as she opened the handkerchief and pulled out the note.

So far, everything was going exactly as I expected.

But then—

Haruno-san did something I never saw coming.

“I’m really sorry, Tanaka-san. If this ends up being a bother, I promise I’ll take full responsibility. Please forgive me, okay?”

“Huh?”

Before I could even process her apology, she whipped out her phone.

With lightning-fast fingers, she typed Matsukaze-kun’s Insta ID into the search bar, pulled up his account, and—just like that—started typing out a message.

[Thanks for returning the handkerchief. I’m glad to hear your injury’s healed.

However, there’s someone I currently have feelings for, and I wouldn’t want them to think I’ve got a boyfriend.

So, I don’t think we can have the kind of relationship you’re hoping for.

Goodbye.]

Clear. Polite.

And an unmistakable, firm no.

Without even double-checking it, she hit send.

“Like I’ve got time to entertain some guy who won’t even ask me face-to-face!”

And with that final roast, she blocked him. Instantly.

“Okay—done and dusted!”

Haruno-san’s intense battle-face instantly melted away, replaced by this super refreshed look—

Like she’d just cleared a boss fight and earned the rare loot drop.

But just a moment later, she froze.

“…Ah.”

Something must’ve clicked in her brain, because she suddenly looked my way with this awkward, guilty expression.

“Wait, wait—Tanaka-san, um… You and that guy… were you maybe, like, close? Or had a thing for him? If you did, I’m seriously so sorry! I just kinda acted on impulse!!”

“Fufu.”

She was full-on panicking now, bowing her head like she owed me her life.

Honestly, I’d been frozen for a bit—mentally, emotionally—

But seeing her flustered like that made me giggle.

“It’s okay. We weren’t that close to begin with, so no big deal. If anything… that actually felt kinda refreshing.”

“Really!? Whew, thank goodness…”

She looked so relieved, like she’d just sidestepped a landmine.

I couldn’t help but wonder—

Maybe she’d dealt with awkward drama like this before.

“Thanks, Haruno-san.”

“Huh? Uh, not sure what I did, but… you’re welcome?”

But really, I meant it.

I wasn’t upset. Not even a little.

In fact, thanks to her, it felt like some small part of me had finally been set free.

When I thanked her, she just tilted her head, confused—but smiling.

“Fufu.”

I couldn’t help it. Another little laugh slipped out of me.

“Morning, Tanaka-san. You’re in a good mood today, huh?”

“Good morning, Nakayama-kun. Yes. Something nice happened.”

After parting ways with Haruno-san, I made my way to my seat,

Where Nakayama-kun greeted me like always.

But this time, his voice had a playful lilt to it—

Like he’d picked up on my mood and was quietly happy for me in his own teasing way.

I must’ve had my feelings written all over my face,

Because even he noticed.

A little embarrassing?

Yeah.

But also… not bad at all.

So I just smiled and answered him back.