The Reason Why The Cool Beauty Who Repeatedly Ignores Messages Replies Only To Me. ~The Lonely Beauty Wants To Know The Lonely Me〜

Episode 13: Shopping Panic, and Some Dere

After School.

“Okami, shall we go?”

“Yeah.”

I was told by Saeki to go shopping for the school festival after school, and just as I was finishing HR on the way home, I was approached by Machibari, who was going with us.

“The rain stopped, it’s a relief. It would’ve been troublesome if our purchases got wet.”

“Yeah, you’re right.”

The rain that had been falling since morning had ceased, and the sun peeked out after school.

There were puddles forming in front of the entrance, and a warm breeze blew in from the rain.

Saeki had instructed us to meet at the entrance, so Machibari and I left together.

There stood Saeki, with her school bag slung over her shoulder, waiting for us.

“Saeki-san?”

Machibari called out to Saeki before I could. Of course, Saeki remained silent, looking at Machibari.

Machibari with her big eyes, and Saeki with her sharp gaze.

They were like the moon and the sun, opposites in personality and appearance.

Even someone like me who tends to stay in the shadows is afraid to even intervene in a confrontation between these two.

It won’t turn into a fight…right?

As I stood there silently, Saeki’s gaze, which had been directed at Machibari, shifted to me this time. Those eyes seemed to say, “What do you have to say for yourself?”.

“It seems Machibari will help with the shopping.”

“……”

“Saeki-san, nice to meet you.”

“……”

Machibari interacts with her normally, but Saeki remains silent like a sulking child.

Does Saeki harbor hostility towards Machibari after all?

If it’s about the notebook, I could understand why Saeki might resent Machibari unilaterally, but Saeki is indifferent by nature and lacks interest in others, so I couldn’t imagine her holding onto such grudges forever.

The students around us, who had left the entrance and were heading home, looked at us, who were standing still for so long.

We… should move on quickly.

Just as I thought that Saeki started walking silently, so Machibari and I followed behind her.

I still couldn’t grasp what she was thinking, but since it’s Saeki, she’ll probably talk to me about something once we’re alone.

Before long, my phone vibrated with a notification from Lime, as usual.

This flow… Obviously, it was from Saeki, who was walking ahead.

“Saeki: It’s good that you’re popular.”

I couldn’t quite grasp what Saeki meant by that message, but judging from the tone, she might not be pleased that Machibari came along.

“Okami, how do you usually communicate with Saeki-san?”

“Eh, well…”

I gazed at Saeki’s back as we walked.

What should I say?

“With Saeki…oh, most of the time it’s just me talking to her one-sidedly. She doesn’t reply.”

“I see…”

I evaded the question casually.
✳︎✳︎

We stopped by a general store near the high school to choose decorations for our class.

I held the shopping basket while Saeki and Machibari (mostly Machibari talking to Saeki) selected decorations as they chatted.

Initially, there seemed to be tension between Saeki and Machibari, but perhaps because Machibari was actively engaging with Saeki, whenever Machibari asked, “How about this?” Saeki started nodding or shaking her head.

“Hmm, there might be similar ones at the hundred yen shop next door. Let me check.”

“Hey, Machibari. You could check on our way back.”

“It’s okay. I’ll quickly buy it and be back.”

Machibari said that and left the store.

She could’ve checked on the way back.

Once Machibari was gone, Saeki and I exchanged glances.

Saeki’s beautiful hair and eyes remained unchanged, exuding a calm and cool demeanor, but the gaze she directed at me was piercing.

“…I think you’re getting a little carried away these days.”

Finally opening her mouth, Saeki scolded me for some reason.

“Because your work is being acknowledged, and people around you are cheering you up, you’re feeling good, aren’t you? Besides… seems like you’ve gotten closer to Machibari-san?”

“Closer? We decided to rely on Machibari if something happens. Isn’t that what we agreed on?”

“……It’s noisy.”

Saeki snatched the shopping basket from me and turned away.

“Y-You…should rely on me more.”

Saeki muttered softly.

I’m struggling because you don’t talk to anyone besides me… Well, if I delve too much into that, the conversation might go sour, so I’ll let it go.

“I rely on Saeki for a lot of things, like writing a proposal to submit.”

“…Don’t I deserve a thank you?”

“Huh?”

“Gratitude… Come on, say it.”

Why the imperative form…

But if I don’t say it, it seems troublesome…

“T-Thank you, Saeki.”

As I awkwardly said that, Saeki tightened her lips and turned her back to me again.

At that moment, did she seem to be smiling a little, or was it just my imagination…?

“H-Hey, Sae—”

“I’m back! I bought something from next door, but…”

As we were talking, Machibari returned, holding shopping bags.

“What,are you guys in the middle of something?

“…Nothing. Let’s quickly finish our shopping.”

“O-Okay.”

Machibari looked over at us with a puzzled look on her face, and I couldn’t help but wonder as well.

✳︎✳︎

As we continued to roam the store with the shopping list in hand, my phone buzzed with another notification.

“Saeki: My sister called, so I’ll step outside for a bit. …And make sure you don’t do anything weird with Machibari-san. Got it? Behave yourselves.”

Reading that Lime message, Saeki handed me the shopping basket and walked away from us.

Behave myself… Am I your pet or something? Also, what do you mean by ‘weird things’?

“Saeki-san, what’s wrong?”

“I don’t know either. Maybe she got a call because she had her phone out?”

“I see.”

I pretended not to know.

Machibari and I continued to walk around the store, checking the shopping list, but suddenly, Machibari’s footsteps halted in front of a certain area.

It was the corner with affordable cosmetics.

“What’s wrong?”

“Huh? Ah, it’s just that girls in our class often talk about this kind of stuff.”

In my class, there are several gal girls who get along well with the outgoing boys and blatantly disregard the school rules by wearing makeup and such.

“It’s against the school rules, so I don’t do it…”

Usually Machibari is a strong-willed girl, but at this time, her eyes were shining like a girl of her age.

“But hypothetically… do you think I could look a bit cuter if I wore this?”

“I wouldn’t know whether you’d look cuter or not. Asking someone like me is probably not helpful.”

“R-right, I guess… sorry.”

Machibari chuckled dryly.

“I get anxious when I see other kids doing stuff like that regardless of the school rules. It seems like if you’re bad at makeup, people will say you’re uncouth when you’re out in society.”

Machibari said in a weak tone.

The admiration appropriate to her age and the difference in temperature she feels from those around her… However, as the class representative, Machibari must also be bound by many things.

“S-sorry, it’s not like telling Okami about this would solve anything.”

“Yeah… But isn’t it okay not to force yourself to fit in with others?”

“Huh?”

“I mean, there are times when it’s necessary to adjust to others, but since you’re sticking to what’s right as the class representative, have confidence in yourself.”

“Confidence in myself…”

“And besides, Machibari, unlike the other gals, you’re naturally good-hearted, so you don’t need to wear makeup or anything.”

“Huh…?”

Machibari suddenly blushed.

Oh no…

I thought I was mocking the gal girls in the class, but now I feel like I said something flirtatious.

“N-no! What I meant was…”

Just as I was about to explain—

“Did you… do something strange to Machibari-san?”

Saeki appeared behind me like a ghost.

She must have returned after her phone call… but now that Machibari is here, why is this girl talking?

“Huh… you’re talking?!?!”