The Reason Why The Cool Beauty Who Repeatedly Ignores Messages Replies Only To Me. ~The Lonely Beauty Wants To Know The Lonely Me〜 - Chapter 57

Chapter 57: I Know. I Know Everything.

“H-Hey, Saeki?”

“……”

Saeki, who is usually calm and composed, suddenly started crying, leaving me unsure of what to do.

I guess we can’t just head to the festival like this.

“…Hey, why don’t we talk for a bit here?”

Watching the yukata-clad people walk down the main street, Saeki and I crouched down in a corner of the alley.

“A lot has happened since I met you. The cultural festival, we went to yakiniku, and the beach camping… Saeki, did you have fun?”

Saeki wiped away the tears still lingering on her lower eyelids and nodded.

Even though she’s usually a cool and lonely beauty, it took her a while to calm down after what was clearly a terrifying experience.

Thinking about how, if I had been just a few minutes later, I wouldn’t have been able to protect Saeki, gave me chills.

“I’m sorry for being like this…”

“W-Why are you apologizing all of a sudden? Don’t apologize.”

“In front of you! I always act like I can do anything, but in reality, I can’t cook, I’m bad at English, and I’m not a genius like Mishiro. Plus, I’m always spending too much on food… and just now, I couldn’t even protect myself.”

“Saeki…”

“I just wanted to look cool in front of you! I’m just a normal high school girl… who’s just being stubborn.”

Saeki said this in a voice so faint it could disappear at any moment, her slightly reddened eyes turning towards me.

I see… So that’s what Saeki has been thinking.

“Heh…”

“What? Do you have a problem with that?”

“I know all that. Of course I know everything.”

“Eh…”

“Yukine Saeki is strong-willed, selfish, and bad at anything she’s not interested in. I used to think you lived in a completely different world, but I’ve come to realize you’re just a regular girl.”

“……”

“But I have fun when I’m with you. So, will you go to the fireworks festival with me now?”

I stood up first and offered my right hand to Saeki, who was still crouched down.

I knew it was a cheesy way to ask, but I wanted to say it anyway.

“…Idiot.”

Saeki said quietly as she took my right hand.

Her pale, cold hand overlapped with mine, our fingers interlocking.

“I came here today wearing this yukata just to show it to you.”

As she stood up, Saeki swayed her body from side to side, showing off her white and purple yukata.

“…Thanks again, Okami-kun.”

Saeki gave me a smile unlike any I had seen from her before.

It was a completely clear, gentle smile that etched itself into my mind.

Saeki can smile like this…?

“Okami-kun?”

“O-Oh! Let’s go, Saeki.”

With our hands still clasped together, Saeki and I started walking along with the flow of people on the main street.

Not letting go, we intertwined our fingers tightly.