The Reason Why The Cool Beauty Who Repeatedly Ignores Messages Replies Only To Me. ~The Lonely Beauty Wants To Know The Lonely Me〜 - Chapter 25

Episode 25: Sudden Excitement

“Kotoku-kun! If you bake cream puffs with ice cream like this, they taste delicious!”

It had been several minutes since the all-you-can-eat yakiniku started, and Tamari was finally starting to play around.

Given that it’s a 100-minute system, I understand having time to spare…

I kept changing the sauces to avoid getting bored, but the two people in front of me…

“Saeki-san, which part would you like next?”

“…With hormones.”

Saeki and Machibari had been calmly deciding what to order next by looking at the tablet from the beginning.

I was also thinking of moving on to dessert soon like Tamari, but Machibari and Saeki were still talking about meat.

I had always assumed that girls don’t eat much since Tamari had always been a light eater, but these two eat a lot.

And it’s amazing that they maintain their figures despite eating so much. In comparison, Tamari hasn’t grown taller and her body hasn’t changed since middle school.

“Hmm? What’s wrong, Kotoku-kun? Do you want me to feed you this pudding too? Gosh, you’re being such a baby today.”

“You should eat more and try to be like those two.”

“Huh? What’s that supposed to mean!”

Ignoring the angry Tamari, I looked at the two in front of me again.

It’s refreshing to see Saeki gradually getting along with people other than me.

The once taciturn and aloof beauty might have wanted friends after all.

Being revered like a goddess might have made her sick of it, but since the incident with Lime, she started talking to me, and from the shopping trip, she began talking to Machibari, and now she’s even talking to Tamari.

Recently, Saeki’s expression seems a bit softer too.

But maybe it’s not just Saeki who has changed. I used to feel uncomfortable in such spaces, but for some reason, it’s not so bad now.

Tamari is annoyingly cunning, Machibari is overly diligent and annoying, and Saeki’s incomprehensible actions, while cold to others, confuse me.

But despite these quirks, I find some comfort in this space where these people gather.

“Hey, Kotoku-kun. Since it’s the end of the school festival, why don’t you say a word of thanks as a member of the executive committee?”

“Huh? Why now?”

“Alright everyone, attention please! Kotoku-kun has something to say.”

Forced to stand up by Tamari, I suddenly had to speak. I’m really bad at this kind of thing.

“Well, um… Tamari helped bridge the gap between classmates, Machibari assisted in the overall discussions, and Saeki… you were beside me the whole time, and it was reassuring. So, um, thanks for everything.”

I suppressed my embarrassment and sincerely expressed my gratitude…

“Hey Saeki-chan, what should we order next?”

“Tamago kuppa. Machibari-san, I’ll take this meat.”

“Okay.”

They weren’t listening at all.

“You guys are definitely doing this on purpose.”

✳︎✳︎

When the all-you-can-eat time ended and we left the yakiniku restaurant, it was already dark outside.

“Machibari-chan and I are taking the bus, but what about you, Saeki-chan?”

“I’m walking.”

“It’s already dark, Kotoku-kun, walk her home.”

“Why me?”

“Okami, please take care of her.”

Even Machibari asked…

“Alright… Let’s go, Saeki.”

“Okay.”

We said goodbye to Tamari and the others in front of the yakiniku restaurant and started walking down the night road.

“You seemed to be having a lot of fun today.”

“…Did I?”

“Didn’t you enjoy it?”

“…It was about 80 points.”

“Your standards are still high.”

When it was just the two of us, the atmosphere was different from when we were with the others, and I felt like Saeki’s feelings, which didn’t come through in the group, were now directly conveyed to me.

Saeki seemed somewhat satisfied today.

After walking for a while, Saeki suddenly stopped.

“Okami-kun… it’s a full moon tonight.”

Saeki looked up at the night sky and pointed to the moon. As she stopped, so did I.

“Full moon…? You’re right.”

“Don’t you think it’s beautiful?”

Saeki asked, glancing sideways at me.

“Well, a full moon is always beautiful.”

“……”

“Huh?”

Saeki smiled faintly and started walking ahead of me.

“So cliché…”

“What is?”

“Nothing… Thanks for walking me home. I’ll be fine once I cross the signal.”

“O-kay. Then I’ll.”

As I was about to head home, Saeki gently grabbed my right hand and pulled me.

“Saeki?”

“I also… felt reassured having you by my side.”

“Huh?”

As the signal turned green, she slowly let go of my hand.

“…See you next week.”

With that, Saeki crossed the signal.

She heard what I said earlier. She usually teases me, making me uncomfortable, but now she’s suddenly expressing gratitude and wanting to be friends…

“What’s the matter with you… Saeki.”

Feeling a mixture of frustration and confusion, I headed home.

—End of the School Festival Arc—

[Saeki Yukine’s Diary]

June 29th.

Today, we had a festival afterparty at a yakiniku restaurant with Okami-kun.

As usual, Okami-kun is a tsundere, pretending not to be interested in my measurements. (Though he really wants to know.)

And when he said I was “reassuring,” but that could also be interpreted as “stay by my side for the rest of your life,” so isn’t that almost a confession? He’s not being honest. (Good grief.)

Speaking of which, summer vacation is coming soon. He might feel lonely if we don’t see each other for a while, so maybe I’ll invite him out—

[Afterword]

Saekiiiii…

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