Chapter 114: Surprise Attack! [side Nozomi Tachibana]
2/14, early evening, around 18:30
Kousuke's house
Even though I was nervous, I mustered all my courage, looked him straight in the eyes, and declared it so I wouldn't chicken out!
"...Kousuke-kun... I made chocolate by hand for the first time in my life... It might not look that pretty, but... will you take it?"
So embarrassing! They always say your face feels like it's on fire at times like this, right?
Kousuke-kun paused for a moment, thinking,
"...Thank you. Nozomi, you're acting more girly—no, you really are a girl, huh?"
and gently patted my head.
...He pats me even more gently than my older brother does...
The way Kousuke-kun pats my head is so kind, I can tell he still sees me as a little sister.
But I totally tried to appeal that I'm a girl too!
I was grateful to Seri and my best friends.
If I'd been alone, I never would have made it, and I'd have just put it off till next year...
I remember how roughly they sent me off earlier...
☆ ☆ ☆
So, I was devouring friend choco and got my best friends mad at me.
I just made a bunch of chocolate because my best friends told me to?
Normally, Kashii-senpai is the specialist at making sweets, but she couldn't this year due to an accident, so we had to give up.
And yet, they tell me to take the chocolate I made and give it to Kousuke-kun?!
Grinning, my best friends all started saying—
Best Friend 1: "You're a beast, but you're still scared?"
Best Friend 2: "Not very manly."
Best Friend 3: "If you keep this up, you'll never graduate from little sister position, so show him your girlish side, your maiden's heart!"
My number one partner, Seri, appealed to my emotions.
Seri: "...Next year is entrance exams, and we might not be able to mess around like this? Nozomi-chan, go for it!"
"..."
I was scared.
I want to graduate from little sister position! But... honestly, it's easy and comfortable...
But, but.
My best friends egged on my wavering self...!
Best Friend 1: "Kousuke-kun is so cool, right? And he's got results in both studies and club activities, right? He's not going to be single forever, you know?"
Best Friend 2: "Not very manly."
Best Friend 3: "We're not saying you have to confess today, but go show him that you're a girl!"
Seri egged me on even more.
Seri: "Hey hey! Nozomi-chan, you scared? Maybe little Nozomi-chan just can't do it yet?"
"I totally can!"
※We had a similar scene in the main story recently.
My best friends just picked out the prettiest heart-shaped one that came cleanly out of the mold!
My older brother said he got surprise-attacked today and was handed two chocolates by Kureha's Eien-chan.
...Yeah, if you're gonna be bold, then go all the way!
I'm going to launch a surprise attack too!
I was handed a chocolate pen and, hesitating,
"Thank you for everything, I love you!"
I wrote, almost spilling out of the heart!
Best friends: "Oooooh!"
Watch me! I'll totally show off my maiden power!
When I tried to go out with the chocolate, I got caught by my best friends—why?!
Best Friend 1: "You're going with a towel still wrapped around your head?"
Best Friend 2: "You have to wear something appropriate, right?"
Best Friend 3: "Seri? What do you think is best?"
Seri answered instantly!
Seri: "That beautiful, cute dress passed down from Kashii-senpai."
My lucky outfit!
Best Friend 2: "And with that, your maiden's secret weapon, right?"
※It's Nozomi's treasured, frilly pink underwear (unused).
"Why?! That's my lucky underwear!"
Best friends: "If not now, when are you going to use it?!"
"This is your big moment!"
"For a maiden, it's like wearing armor!"
I got pressured into wearing my lucky outfit and lucky underwear, had my hair styled by Best Friend 3, and was sent out of the house!
"When I put on my lucky underwear... I feel like I can do it!"
Seri: "That's what being a girl is all about!"
My fluffy bench coat was confiscated and I was only allowed to wear a thin fall jacket.
I get cold easily, I wanna go home.
While hesitating, I arrived at Kousuke-kun's house, right next to the middle school.
Too embarrassed to press the intercom, I grabbed a tennis ball from the tennis club's equipment basket by the entrance of the school right there, and threw it at Kousuke-kun's window to call him out.
Yeah, he got mad at me.
It's not like I broke the glass, so he doesn't have to get that mad, right?
Kousuke: "...So? What's up? Why are you here at this hour? And dressed so nicely?"
Deep breath, not yet... I can't say it yet... but someday!
I'm desperate!
My cheeks are probably bright red, huh?
"...Kousuke-kun... I made chocolate by hand for the first time in my life... It might not look that pretty, but... will you take it?"
Kousuke-kun accepted it!
I don't really remember what happened after that.
I said something random, got so embarrassed I couldn't look him in the face, and ran straight home!
My best friends were waiting in front of the candy store on my way back.
All my best friends said,
"Good job!"
"We brought your bench coat!"
"All you had to do was give it, right? Great job, great job!"
Seri: "This move is totally going to pay off later!"
Everyone praised me...
Honestly, I don't know if I did it well or not...
But I thought, becoming boyfriends and girlfriends must take a ton of effort.
I wonder if my older brother is at Kashii-senpai's place right now?
I headed home, feeling a small sense of satisfaction and just as much anxiety.
Was this really okay?
I managed to give my very first Valentine's chocolate to Kousuke-kun!
...It's all thanks to my best friends...
My best friends all started saying—
"Do B cups even need a bra?"
"Beyond flat-chested, that's just sad."
"But that's what makes it good!"
Seri: "Even without boobs, Nozomi-chan's girl power (in a physical way) will totally destroy him, right?"
"Fack."
These girls totally know I'm on cloud nine and won't get mad today, huh?
Well, if they hadn't given me a push, I wouldn't have done anything this year.
Seriously, they're such reliable best friends!