"You can't kiss me can you?" When I accepted my childhood friends challenge, she unexpectedly softened and is acting like a love-struck girl [Dropped] - Chapter 11 - Ibuki's thoughts

On the day when Ibuki and Airi declared a “breakup”.

During dinner…

“Ibuki, how have your studies been lately?”

“There is no particular difference.”

In response to his mother’s question, Ibuki answered casually.

Without getting angry at Ibuki’s indifferent response, his mother instead nodded, looking rather pleased.

“I see. Well, that’s good then.”

Ibuki’s academic performance is not bad; in fact, it’s quite good. The high school he attends is considered prestigious in their area. He is consistently ranked at the top of his class, never falling below third place overall and never receiving a rank lower than fifth even in his weaker subjects.

So, there are no academic concerns at all. That’s why his mother considers “not particularly different” to be a fantastic answer.

“Now, what about Airi-chan?”

“… “

Ibuki’s chopsticks paused for a moment.

“…It’s not particularly different.”

“Well, now that’s concerning.”

Sighing, Ibuki’s mother continued, “You two… there has been no progress for such a long time. You’re always arguing, while the content of your fights is amusing and fun to watch…”

“…..”

Today, Ibuki had just fought with Airi over something trivial, so he couldn’t retort. Instead, he pretended not to hear and continued eating.

“As a mother, I want to hear more specific progress. Like going on a date or kissing…”

“…..”

“Oh my, this child is pretending not to hear again… Come on, say something from your side too.”

Ibuki’s mother turned to her husband, Ibuki’s father, for input. But he smiled wryly in response.

“It’s nice that they’re still getting along, isn’t it?”

“But I’m worried about the lack of progress. Airi-chan is adorable… At this rate, someone else might snatch her away, you know?”

“That being said, there’s not much we can say about it, right?”

“But we can offer advice, can’t we?”

“Kids at this age probably find it embarrassing to seek romantic advice from their parents.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, it is. We should just watch over them with warm eyes. Besides, they’ll be graduating in a year and a half, won’t they? Ibuki should be feeling some sense of urgency by now.”

“I hope so…”

“He might be thinking of confessing right after graduation.”

“Oh, that would be lovely! So romantic! I’m rooting for you, Ibuki!”

“I’m rooting for you too!”

Ibuki stood up in silence.

He brought a tray from the kitchen and placed his meal on it.

Then he headed straight to his room.

“Oh my, he’s sulking. Bring the tray back as soon as you finish eating!” 

“…I know,” he replied in a low voice and hurriedly entered his room.

There, he placed the tray on the desk and…

He then threw himself onto the bed.

“Ugh! How annoying! What’s the deal… I mean, seriously…”

Adolescents can sometimes act quite shy.

So, if they already know that, why do they still talk about it when the person concerned is present?

Ibuki couldn’t understand that at all.

“…Should I just yell at her once about it?”

He pondered… Of course, it was just a thought.

He couldn’t actually do something like that, after all he cannot drop his image of being well-mannered.

“…Airi is just my childhood friend.”

Certainly, Airi is cute, and beautiful too.

Ibuki had never seen a woman more beautiful than Airi, nor could he even imagine one.

And… she unexpectedly has large b*****s as well.

“But she’s not someone I’m romantically interested in.”

For Ibuki, Airi is more like a sister or a twin.

While he would insist, “I’m the big brother and you’re the little sister,” in front of her.

In reality, Ibuki has a hard time being assertive with Airi.

It’s difficult for him to refuse her requests, and no matter what she does, he ends up forgiving her in the end.

The position they established in their childhood — Airi has made him cry plenty of times — he still carries that burden.

That’s why he can’t help but think that Airi probably doesn’t think much of him.

At least, she doesn’t see him as a romantic interest.

If she saw him that way…

He couldn’t help but think she wouldn’t pull off such pranks like she did today.

But…

“…It’s not a big deal, is it? Things the way they are now. It’s fun.”

And soon Ibuki stopped his train of thought midway.

Because it’s impossible, there’s no use thinking about it, he covered up his thoughts.

He’s satisfied with the way things are now, he tells himself.

What if… by any chance, Airi doesn’t hate Ibuki at all?

What if she came to him and said that she genuinely likes him?

He reprimanded himself saying there’s no need to think about such things.

The more he thought about it, the more painful it became.

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TL : Zenon#4120