The Beautiful Girl Who Asked Me to Pretend to Be Her Boyfriend Didn’t Want to Break up With Me for Some Reason - Chapter 11

After moving to the outdoor bath with Hanaba-san and the others, I sank into the comfortably warm water and let out a sigh.

The warmth of the water and the slightly chilly outside air.

The contrast between the two felt just perfect.

“The outdoor bath is great, isn’t it? It feels kind of luxurious,” Hanaba-san said.

“So many stars!” Aoi-chan added.

“…Bathing while looking at the stars really is a luxury,” I remarked.

Attracted by Aoi-chan’s voice, I looked diagonally to the front, and there was the same starry sky I had seen on the way here.

There was a roof above us, probably to protect us from the wind and rain, so the sky couldn’t be seen directly, but that couldn’t be helped.

“So, why are you here, Luna? Did your home’s bath break or something?” Hanaba-san asked.

“Actually, I’m staying at Hakuto’s house today. But when I suggested showing off matching pajamas I bought, we decided to come here instead. I did try inviting him to bathe together at home, but he turned me down coldly,” I explained.

“…You’re surprisingly bold, Luna,” Hanaba-san said.

Since I wasn’t lying, I told Hanaba-san the truth, and she looked surprised, her eyes widening.

Well, it’s not strange to think of something like that when hearing about high school students inviting each other to bathe together.

I didn’t rule out that possibility either.

“By the way, you two are staying the night. You’re really in love, huh? The best couple at Seimei High School really isn’t just for show,” Hanaba-san teased.

“…What’s with that name? It makes my back itch,” I said.

“There are people who say it sometimes. You probably just didn’t hear it. The people who say it usually accept the two of you, so I don’t think they’re enemies,” she explained.

I frowned at hearing this new nickname, but something about it stuck with me.

“Two people? Not just me, but Hakuto too?” I asked.

“Yeah. Some people say Kuwacchi has a scary face, but if you look at it another way, he’s got a wild vibe, right? There are people who say it’s great that a guy like that is getting along with a super cute girl like Luna,” she continued.

“…So, it’s a coupling thing. I worried for nothing,” I said, relieved.

It wasn’t the kind of talk I had imagined, and I felt a sense of relief fill my chest.

It seems like I wasn’t the only one who didn’t see Hakuto as someone to be attracted to in a romantic way.

…But that also made me a little annoyed.

Still, that’s fine.

If I’m the only one who understands Hakuto’s appeal, that’s enough for me—

“Ah, by the way, there are a few girls who think Kuwacchi is cute too,” Hanaba-san said casually.

“Please tell me her name right now. As his girlfriend, I believe I have the right to know. I do have the right, absolutely,” I said, my voice firm.

“Wait, wait, wait, they just think his face is scary! It’s not like they’re seriously trying to steal him from you, and it’d be impossible anyway,” she said, trying to calm me down.

“It doesn’t matter. Any obstacles should be removed early,” I said, gripping Hanaba-san’s shoulder as I made my point.

She chuckled, but it wasn’t something to laugh about, really.

There’s no guarantee that some random person wouldn’t steal Hakuto away from me.

We’re not officially a couple.

If Hakuto falls for someone else, I can’t stop him.

So, I need to eliminate any potential worries as much as possible.

“You really do like Kuwacchi, huh?” Hanaba-san asked.

“Did you doubt it?” I replied.

“Just a little. I thought maybe you were being pressured or that there was some other reason. But looking at you now, that’s clearly not the case.”

“…I really do like Hakuto, you know?”

“Not just like… it’s more like I love him. Just looking at him makes my face heat up. But because of that, it makes me think Luna is just an ordinary person, and it’s kind of funny.”

“An ordinary person, huh. That’s the first time I’ve been evaluated like that, and I don’t really know how to respond.”

“I’ve never really done romance before, so I don’t understand it well. ‘Like,’ ‘dislike,’ ‘love,’ and ‘being loved’—don’t you think those things are very human?” Hanaba-san said.

“…I’m not sure. I said I like Hakuto, but I can’t really explain the feeling logically, and I don’t think it’s made up only of pretty emotions either.”

“That’s love, too, isn’t it?”

I wonder if that’s really true.

Can feelings filled with such obsessive attachment really be considered the same as the pure and warm love I’ve heard of?

Maybe it’s because I’ve lived a life where I’ve never felt love close to me.

My father was indifferent to me.

My current mother hates me, and the idea of her loving me is impossible.

The only person who could have possibly loved me, my birth mother, died from hemorrhagic shock right after giving birth to me.

Having endured loneliness, embraced sadness, and kept myself in a cold environment, my heart must have hardened.

Yet, despite that, I still long for those beautiful things.

Now, I’m trying to fill the things I couldn’t have before, like love and romance.

So, I can’t believe I love Hakuto.

Still, the feeling that I like him isn’t a lie—though I don’t know where to draw the line in determining how far that feeling goes.

The one thing I do know for sure is that I don’t want to let go of Hakuto.

The one person who’s always been warm and understanding, the one who’s only for me.

“By the way, changing the topic… Luna, your skin is so nice,” Hanaba-san said.

“I take care of it to some extent, but… I think you’re also very beautiful, Hanaba-san,” I replied.

“Really? I’m happy to hear that from you, Luna.”

“And… never mind, it’s nothing.”

What I was looking at was Hanaba-san’s large breasts, which made a half-sphere shape above the water.

As for me… mine is about a size smaller.

I didn’t expect to feel defeated by this in a place like this.

…But it’s fine, I don’t really care about it.

Still, I wonder what Hakuto prefers: big or small?

Sometimes when I press against him, he responds, but I’ve heard that men usually prefer bigger ones.

“Also, it’s a little late, but can you call me Juki from now on? Hanaba-san is confusing.”

“…That’s true, since your sister’s name is the same. Understood. From now on, I’ll call you Juki-san.”

“Yay! I feel like we’ve finally gotten closer. You’ve always kept a bit of distance… haven’t you?” Hanaba-san said.

“…That’s right. I’m still not used to people other than Hakuto. I’m hoping to get better with time,” I replied.

“You can go at your own pace. But, don’t get too close, or Kuwacchi might get jealous,” Hanaba-san warned.

“…That’s fine too. I want him to be jealous.”

—

As for the size comparison: Luna (B~C) < Juki (D~E)

Hakuto is a huge fan of big breasts, but he has a face that shows he’s a lover of all sizes. But you know, they say it doesn’t matter as long as it’s the person you love, right?