The Reason Why The Cool Beauty Who Repeatedly Ignores Messages Replies Only To Me. ~The Lonely Beauty Wants To Know The Lonely Me〜 - Chapter 36

Episode 36: The Reason for Solitude and the Pudding Thief Appears

“Welcome!”

Following her sister’s orders, Saeki and I came to buy the so-called famous pudding from in front of the station, but the price tag nearly made my eyes pop out.

O-One, 600 yen…?

A pudding that could probably be finished in five bites costs 600 yen each…? In this era where 600 yen could get you a month of unlimited music or movies through subscriptions, this price is absurd.

“…Your sister has quite the extravagant taste.”

“It can’t be helped. She’s always been a gourmet.”

Gourmet and a big eater… how do they manage their food expenses?

With the last bit of my money, I bought three of these puddings.

My wallet felt astonishingly light after today.

This means no more books or games for a while.

Since it’s summer break, maybe I’ll secretly take up a part-time job.

“Okami-kun, you didn’t have to push yourself…”

“It’s fine, if it’s only this much… I have some pride as a man too.”

“It’s tough being a twisted man.”

“I don’t need you to tell me that.”

With the pudding boxes in hand, I walked back to the apartment with Saeki.

As my dissatisfaction with the pudding piled up in my head, Saeki suddenly muttered, “It’s strange.”

“You’re really strange. If you desire solitude, it’s normal to completely cut off interactions with others, right? But you don’t hurt others nor want to be hurt. You could’ve ignored buying the pudding, yet you still bought it dutifully.”

“W-What’s with you all of a sudden?”

“I’ve told you before, I’m interested in you. Can you tell me why you show such unnecessary kindness?”

“Unnecessary kindness… I mean, I don’t see what good it would do you to ask me that, do you?

“Just tell me.”

“There you go ordering me around again…”

I wondered whether or not I should tell her…but I thought I could tell Saeki.

“Once, I saw Tamari being bullied.”

“Michifuji-san?”

“Yeah. It was when we were kids. Back then, I was always prickly and disliked by everyone. But Tamari, since our parents were close, always stuck to me. However, that didn’t sit well with some people, and their hostility turned towards Tamari.”

Recalling it makes me feel sick, but talking about it somehow made it a bit easier.

“I’ve made it a rule not to make enemies or friends ever since that day I saw Tamari cry because of me. For me, solitude means… being harmless.”

If you don’t get around well, your solitude can become a burden to someone else.

I want to be alone because I dislike mingling with others, but I don’t want to inconvenience anyone.

That’s what I came to believe.

“You really are strange.”

“You’re the last person I want to hear that from.”

“Maybe it’s because we’re both strange that we get along.”

“We do not ‘get along’.”

“Really? I actually think we get along quite well. Plus, I don’t dislike your kindness.”

“Eh…”

Smiling, Saeki suddenly snatched the pudding box from my hands and started walking ahead.

“H-Hey, Sae-”

“How about we race back? The winner gets to eat the loser’s pudding too.”

“You just want to eat two, don’t you!”

“Ready, go!”

Saeki sprinted full speed towards the apartment. Stunned, I realized I had no chance of winning.

“Y-You pudding thief!”

[Afterword]

Due to the author being busy with the book publication process, there’s no author’s note today.

Saekiiiii…!

The Overlap WEB Novel Grand Prize Silver Award-winning work, “Apparently, the Current JKl Idol is Interested in Me, a Boring Guy.” is being released on May 25th!!!

🌸

The illustrations are done by the popular illustrator Minori Chigusa!

This is Hoshino Hoshino’s debut work, so please support it!