When I Brought The Lost Little Girl To Her House, The One Who Came Out Of The Front Door Was The Most Beautiful Girl In The Grade. - Chapter 86

Before I knew it, we were at the very front of the long line. Of course, I had a specific wish in mind.

“I hope that Ayano and I can come here like this next year too,” I prayed to the gods.

When I opened my eyes, Ayano was still beside me, hands folded in prayer. My eyes were naturally drawn to her.

Then, Ayano’s eyes blinked open, and she looked at me, furrowing her brows slightly.

“Oh… sorry, was that a long wait?”

“No, it’s fine.”

“Really? It felt like you were staring at me, though.”

“You’re beautiful… so, I couldn’t help it.”

Ayano blushed ever so slightly at that.

“Let’s draw omikuji!”

“Huh… well, okay.”

“Hehe, it’s settled!”

As we were about to go buy omikuji, Shirasaka approached us again.

“Oh! Are you guys buying omikuji too, Shirakawa-san?”

“Huh? Oh, yeah…”

“Well then…”

Oh no, I had a bad feeling about this. It was the same situation as earlier. I needed to act before things got out of hand and I ended up in some rivalry with Shirasaka, the embodiment of the charismatic, outgoing type.

“Shirasaka… I have something to talk to you about.”

I said that, and of course, both Shirasaka and his friends, as well as Ayano, were surprised. Shirasaka seemed to understand and had a momentary cloudy expression, but he quickly spread his usual sunny charisma around.

I blinked my eyes because it was dazzling.

“I see. This must be something you can’t discuss here, right?”

“Yeah, you catch on fast. Your serious expression…”

Saying that, we walked together away from the crowd, toward a quieter area under the trees.

“Y-Yuusei-kun…”

“Ayano, I’m sorry. It’ll be over quickly. Can you wait for me?”

“…Okay.”

I felt bad for Ayano at this point… no, I had been feeling guilty for a while now.

“Is this place okay?”

“Yeah, it should be.”

Saying that, we moved a bit farther away from everyone else. Here, nobody should overhear our conversation.

“Are you sure this is okay? What if they follow us?”

“It’s fine. Mimura is with them, and he’s not the type to intrude during moments like this.”

“I feel like he’s done nothing but intrude…”

Shirasaka chuckled softly.           

“I’ll ask you straight up, but do you have no intention of giving up?”

“No, I don’t.”

“Oh… a quick response.”

“Is that what you wanted to hear?”

“Well, it’s not like it was a question I really wanted to ask.”

Hearing my words, Shirasaka tilted his head.

“I’m just thinking it would be better if you gave up. Ayano is my girlfriend.”

“That’s true… but you know, it’s not settled yet.”

“Huh?”

“If she shows even a slight opening, I will take her away… or will I give in?”

I heard those words and wondered what kind of joke he was making. But when I looked at Shirasaka, his eyes were dead serious. If this guy was serious, then I had something to say too.

“Sorry, but I won’t give in, and I won’t let her be taken away either.”

“Oh, I see. You said it.”

“I’m not as kind as you.”

“I won’t hold back either. Just because she’s someone else’s girlfriend doesn’t mean I’ll give up on the person I like so easily.”

“So, I guess we’re rivals…”

“Yeah, it seems that way.”

Saying that, Shirasaka and I returned to the spot where we left Ayano and the others.

“First, let’s close the distance before we graduate from high school.”

“What… I’m not going to let Ayano…”

“You’re slow~ What were you guys talking about?”

Shirasaka’s friend was questioning him, but Shirasaka just laughed it off. Uh-oh… I had been preparing myself to be questioned too, but it seemed they weren’t interested in asking. Ayano passed by me without a word.

I thought she might be angry, so I quietly peeked at her face to gauge her mood.

Ayano’s face was bright red. Her ears were flushed too.

“Uh, Ayano-san…?”

Then, Ayano glanced at me from the corner of her eye and stammered,

“Please make sure to keep an eye on me so I won’t be taken away, okay?”

When I heard those words from Ayano, I realized that she had heard everything. I wondered why she had only asked her, but I was too embarrassed to think about that. My face rapidly grew hot, and I covered it with my hands.

“Yes…”

I answered. Ayano, upon hearing that, smiled without hiding her reddened cheeks.