Tanaka-san Is Cuter Than the Main Heroine - Chapter 23: Nakayama-kun Is Watching Me

Chapter 23: Nakayama-kun Is Watching Me

“Tanaka-san, that looks heavy—here, I’ll carry it. Can you take this one instead?”

“Ah, yes. Thank you.”

It was early May.

Our P.E. class had just started prepping for the upcoming sports festival.

I was carrying a tire the teacher had given me for setting up the obstacle course when Nakayama-kun suddenly appeared from behind, holding a big net.

Before I could even react, he effortlessly swapped the tire with what he was carrying.

It happened so naturally, I could only stand there, stunned, as I watched him jog off with the tire in hand.

Just like always, Nakayama-kun stepped in to help when I was struggling.

A soft warmth bloomed in my chest…

Then, someone tapped me on the back.

“Ta-chan, let’s go together?”

I turned around to see Mikoto-chan smiling at me, her purple half-twin tails swaying as she beamed in her usual cheerful way.

“Yes.”

“Yay! I love you, Ta-chan!”

The moment I nodded, Mikoto-chan happily trotted up beside me.

“Hey. Are you two trying to leave me out or something?”

From behind us came Haruka-chan’s grumbling voice. She had a vaulting box segment under each arm and clearly wasn’t happy about being left behind.

“It’s fine, it’s fine. Like Ta-chan and I would ever ditch you on purpose. Come on, hurry up, Hamacchi!”

“Yes, let’s all go together.”

“I swear, I love how you two are always like this.”

Mikoto-chan and I paused for a moment, waiting until Haruka-chan caught up. Once the three of us were walking side by side again, we headed off together.

“Oh yeah, Ta-chan—weren’t you carrying a tire earlier? Why are you holding a net now?”

We had all gone into the equipment shed around the same time to grab our stuff, so of course Mikoto-chan would notice the switch.

“That’s because Nakayama-kun saw the tire and thought it looked heavy, so he traded with me.”

When I explained, Mikoto-chan let out an “Oooh, I seeee~” in this knowing tone.

Then, with that usual mischievous grin of hers, she added:

“You know, Nakayama really watches you a lot, Ta-chan.”

“That’s not true.”

She was clearly teasing me.

But I knew Nakayama-kun wasn’t just kind to me—he was like that with everyone.

So I denied it calmly, without getting flustered.

“You think so~? But hey, remember a little while ago when Nakayama was totally staring at your boobs?”

“T-That was…”

But I couldn’t hold out against Mikoto-chan’s next sneak attack.

I got a little flustered.

Well… I couldn’t help it.

That moment from before was still burned into my memory, and the embarrassment came rushing back all over again.

“It was just a coincidence. Yeah, totally by chance.”

“Nope. That was a full-on stare. I mean, Sumika’s got the best chest in class, so it’s only natural.”

I somehow managed to mumble out a weak excuse, but then Haruka-chan jumped in and completely shut me down.

That left me with nothing to say.

Even without a mirror, I could tell my cheeks were bright red.

I quickly tried to hide behind the net I was holding, but with all those holes, it wasn’t exactly the best cover.

And sure enough, the moment they saw me—

“Ta-chan, you’re too cute~!”

“I know, right? I’m a girl, but even I felt my heart flutter a little just now.”

They both kept teasing me without mercy.

“Uuuu~! I don’t like mean Mikoto-chan and Haruka-chan anymore!”

Finally pushed past my limit, I threw a childish little pout at them.

“Aahaha, sorry, sorry! Don’t hate us, Ta-chan!”

“I’d cry if Sumika ever hated me. Forgive me, please.”

The two of them apologized like they were talking to a sulky little kid.

So unfair.

I was actually about ten percent serious, you know?

…Well, I guess they picked up on the other ninety percent being a joke.

Still—so mean!

“But seriously, if I’m being honest—I really do think Nakayama watches you, Ta-chan. Like, whenever we’re thinking, ‘Uh-oh, Ta-chan looks like she’s struggling,’ Nakayama’s already on the move.”

“Yeah. And even during class, he might look like he’s just zoning out, staring out the window… but it really feels like he’s sneaking glances at you, Sumika.”

Mikoto-chan and Haruka-chan clearly decided it was open season, and they kept hammering away at every possible escape route I had.

(Is Nakayama-kun really watching me…?)

And the result?

Even though I’d always told myself not to get full of myself…

Even though I’d always tried not to think too much about it…

A tiny little hope began to take root in my heart.

“Nakayama-kun! Hey, this side’s all crooked! Can you help me hold it?”

“Got it~!”

Even when I saw Nakayama-kun responding to another girl’s call for help, that small, fluttery feeling wouldn’t go away.

It lingered quietly—smoldering deep inside my chest.

◇

“…I did it! I really did it, Tanaka-senpai!”

That same afternoon, after school.

While I was still half-dazed during club activities, a loud cheer suddenly snapped me back to reality.

Looking up, I saw Nono Hamada-chan—a younger club member I’d been helping—beaming with joy.

The song she’d been struggling with for days?

She just played it all the way through, start to finish, without a single mistake.

“Good job, good job! You played it all the way through this time—no big mistakes either. That’s seriously awesome!”

Watching how much Hamada-san had improved filled me with this strange sense of pride—like I’d accomplished something myself.

Before I realized it, I reached out and gently patted her head.

“Thank you so much! It’s all because you stuck with me and taught me, Tanaka-senpai!”

She looked up at me, beaming with the brightest smile.

“I just gave you a few tips, that’s all. You’re the one who put in the effort and made it happen, Hamada-san.”

Getting a heartfelt thank-you from a junior like that really is one of the best things about being a senpai.

But more than anything, I wanted her to remember—this moment belonged to her.

She was the one who worked hard and made it happen.

And even after I reminded her of that, she bowed her head again and said,

“Even so—thank you!”

Such a sweet, honest girl.

Just seeing her like that made me smile without even thinking about it.

Beep beep! Beep beep!

Right then, the timer I’d set went off—break time had officially started.

“I’m gonna run and grab a drink real quick.”

“Okay! Got it!”

The moment our break started, I said that to Hamada-san and headed for the nearby vending machine.

I really wanted to do something—just a little something—to celebrate her small victory.

So I decided to buy her that juice she said she liked—the one with the fruit bits in it.

It wasn’t much. Just a tiny gesture.

But even so, I hoped she’d understand how I felt.

I mean… it was right before allowance day, and I was totally broke.

Please be kind, Hamada-san.

“Ah! That’s Nakayama-kun and… wait, isn’t that President Akizuki?”

I was heading down the stairs at a steady pace, on my way outside to the vending machines…

When I suddenly spotted Nakayama-kun, chatting happily with none other than Akizuki-senpai.

A sharp little pang tugged at my chest, and before I realized it, my foot took a small step back on its own.

But the fruit juice Hamada-san likes…

It was only sold at that vending machine—the one right next to where the two of them were standing.

“…Alright.”

I gave myself a light smack on the cheek, reminding myself why I was here, and forced my legs to move forward again, step by step, toward the two of them.

“Oh, Nakayama-kun. It’s kinda rare to see you still at school this late. And with President Akizuki, no less.”

“Well, Yamamoto-sensei asked me to help carry some materials for tomorrow’s class. Senpai here just happened to lend a hand. We’re on break now, and I was thanking her.”

Trying to act casual—like I just happened to be passing by—I spoke up lightly.

Nakayama-kun noticed me right away, gave a small wave, and explained why he was there  with none other than one of the Shikihime, Akizuki-senpai.

(He’s really the same, even with Akizuki-senpai.)

Seeing Nakayama-kun act so calm and normal—even while standing next to someone as breathtakingly gorgeous as her—actually made me feel a little relieved.

But right after that, the way the two of them talked—so casual and familiar, way more than you’d expect from just an upperclassman and underclassman—kind of bugged me.

As I stood there, feeling awkward and unsure where to look, Nakayama-kun suddenly turned toward me.

“We’re not especially close or anything. Anyway—what brings you here, Tanaka-san?”

“Ah, right. I bought a drink for my junior—to thank her for all her hard work.”

His question snapped me back to reality, and I quickly remembered my original mission.

With the last few coins in my wallet, I bought a bottle of fruit juice.

“Well then… I’ll get going now.”

For some reason, I got this weird anxiety that they might think I was the type to waste all her money on vending machine drinks or something…

So I hurried to grab the juice and stepped back, ready to head out.

“Ah—hang on. Take this too.”

Just as I turned around, Nakayama-kun stopped me.

When I looked back, a cold bottle of milk tea came flying through the air—tossed straight from his hand.

“Um… what’s this for?”

I barely managed to catch it, totally confused.

And when I asked him why, he scratched his cheek, gave a small, slightly bashful grin, and said—

“It’s for you, Tanaka-san. You were working hard, helping out your juniors too, right? I overheard a little bit earlier. So… think of it as a small reward.”

(“But seriously, if I’m being honest—I really do think Nakayama watches you, Ta-chan.”)

I knew Nakayama-kun didn’t mean anything by it.

But the second those words left his mouth, that comment from P.E. class came rushing back—

And just like that, my whole body felt like it was about to boil over, like a kettle on a stove.

“…Thank you.”

With just that one quiet word, I turned and ran off.

Yeah, I knew it was rude.

But even so—I couldn’t let him see me like that.

I didn’t want him to see my face, flushed redder than it had ever been in my life.

(No. Nope. No no no no no no noooooo!!)

This couldn’t be happening.

I wasn’t the princess of this story—I was just a background character.

Nakayama-kun watched over me because he was kind, that’s all.

I was just one of the many people he wanted to help.

That’s what I always told myself.

But when he goes and does something like that…

How am I supposed to not get the wrong idea?

Like maybe…

Maybe Nakayama-kun really is looking at me.

Maybe he actually sees me—not just as a classmate, but as a girl. As his princess.

And before I knew it, I couldn’t take it anymore.

Driven by the need to shake off this ridiculous misunderstanding, I bolted up the school stairs faster than I ever had in my life.

Author’s Note:

Tanaka-san is way more emotionally chaotic (and way too easy to fluster) than I expected, and it’s really starting to spiral.