The case where I was gradually getting buried in the heavy love of my childhood friend who had miraculously recovered from their illness was perfect!

Chapter 44 : Wish~!

I turned around, and there she was.

Smiling sweetly, staring at me, was Saijo-san. Wait… when did she get there?

“Ah, sorry Nagi-kun. I actually noticed she was approaching from behind. So, the way you reacted was quite amusing.”

“…….”

“Hey, hey Nagi-kun! I already said not to mess with my hair!”

What the heck!

I initially got scared because it was some horror situation or something, but Rion seemed to enjoy my surprise!?

“Why didn’t you say something!”

“If she was just coming over here, I thought it would be better to let her hear the conversation. After all, she doesn’t seem to have any malice… Oh, come on! So, please remove your hand from my head!”

Feeling a serious pressure, I quickly moved my hand away.

Rion, while fixing her hair, gave me a resentful look. However, she didn’t say anything more.

“…It seems you’ve become gentler in your touch.”

“Huh?”

“It’s nothing… Well, I’m sorry to have kept you waiting, Saijo-san.”

“No problem at all. It was quite enjoyable watching you both.”

What’s enjoyable about it… Well, I need to brace myself too. I stood facing Saijo-san, just like Rion. She’s still smiling as usual, but after seeing that sight… right?

“Do you know what we were talking about?”

“Of course. It’s about what I looked like when Rokudou-kun saw me, right?”

“Excellent answer.”

“…….”

I couldn’t interject in Rion and Saijo-san’s conversation… or rather, I feel like I’ve been thrown into the midst of some top-level forces.

‘Never thought I’d feel like this…’

Rion and Saijo-san are both incredibly beautiful.

In my opinion, Rion is overwhelmingly cute and beautiful, but Saijo-san also has a remarkably attractive appearance that rivals Rion’s. On top of that, she’s smart, ranking second in the class test. Just talking to her, her constant smiling could be a factor that captivates guys, but let’s be clear — I’m not at all happy about this situation.

“Aren’t you two going home yet?”

“We were planning to, but we’re having a conversation, you see.”

“Then let’s chat for a bit.”

“I don’t mind, but what about you, Nagi-kun?”

“…I don’t mind either.”

I genuinely respect anyone who can say goodbye in this situation. Since our way home was the same until halfway, the three of us started walking together… and after a while, Saijo-san spoke up.

“I want a prince. Someone who loves only me, looks only at me, and stays by my side until the moment I die—a prince just for me.”

That’s quite heavy right from the start… I can’t see her expression because she’s walking a bit ahead of us, but I can’t bring myself to look at her face, it’s scary.

“Why did you start wanting that so much? I don’t really understand, but maybe Tohsaka-san does? Wanting a special someone so much… is it because you’re looking for a charming prince?”

“It’s not like I don’t understand. However, idealizing someone as a charming prince is not the best approach. It’s better to think about it in a more practical way.”

“Is that so? Well, it’s somewhat similar, isn’t it?”

Saijo-san turns towards us, facing us directly, and continues.

“I thought having a prominent job would be good when I consider how I could meet my prince. Many people react to every move I make… Whether it’s in a good or bad way, it should lead me closer to the fate of meeting my prince.”

“…So, that’s why you chose to work as a gravure idol?”

“That’s right. With the active use of the internet these days, there are also jobs with famous streamers and content creators. Although dealing with fans can sometimes be troublesome, it doesn’t bother me at all. In fact, it feels like it brings me closer to my destined prince.”

…This girl is quite strange. But even if I think she’s strange, we can still communicate, and she has common sense. Well then, how should I judge this?

“You are continuing your current job for the sake of your goal. Does that mean you don’t care about your current fans?”

“No, it’s not like that. I am indeed seeking a prince, but I find my current job enjoyable. At least, I’ve never thought of my supporting fans as bothersome. In fact, they seem to bring me closer to my destiny.”

“…So, your top priority is finding a prince?”

“Of course. But I don’t think it’s good to romanticize someone as a prince charming. It’s better to approach it with a more down-to-earth perspective.”

“I see…”

I think this girl is quite different. I did say she was similar to Rion, but she’s completely different… I might have been mistaken.

“This time, I talked about various things, but most importantly, I wanted to get along with Rokudou-kun and especially with Tohsaka-san.”

“Oh, I see.”

“Yeah! How about it? I think we can become good friends.”

“That depends on how things go in the future, but we do seem to get along.”

“Oh, then can we consider our friendship established?”

“Sure, nice to meet you, Saijo-san.”

“Nice to meet you too, Tohsaka-san!”

And so, Rion and Saijo-san became friends. Clap clap… Phew.

I was left out in the middle, but I don’t feel sad or regretful about that. In fact, I’m a little relieved.

Just when I thought it was over, Saijo-san looked at me.