Chapter 63: Harassment [side Yukari Tomonaga]
*From here on, since I only want to write Kuzu-kun's point of view for comeuppance scenes, I'll be calling out his lies as they happen.*
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The one who found my hidden indoor shoes was Kuzu-kun!
Thank you! I returned the slippers to their usual spot and put my regular shoes back on.
If I switch to the spare desk Osada-san arranged, at least things are back to normal!
I thanked Kuzu-kun,
"Thank you, you really saved me! ...Who would do something like this...?"
I couldn't hide my anxiety.
Why? Did I do something wrong?
Kuzu: "No, no, it's just that I always end up watching Tomonaga-san, you know? That's how I noticed something was off right away. I mean, it's usually places like the trash dump, right?"
Wow, what a calm and dependable boy he is!
...So he always ends up watching me...ehe, that makes me blush...
Kuzu-kun gave a refreshing smile and headed back to his own class.
Osada-san, looking annoyed,
Osada: "Yukaricchi? It's not just about standing out, but now that this has happened? You shouldn't leave our side, okay?"
"Yes!"
I'm scared, so I have no objections!
I stayed with the top clique girls, sticking close!
Right before the end of the school day, I moved my stuff from my desk and locker to Osada-san's locker when there were few people around.
Osada: "Now, if anything happens to my locker, it means the criminal is someone in this classroom or someone helping them...!"
She was keeping a sharp eye on everyone currently in class, memorizing them.
It's reassuring, but also scary.
After school, I helped prepare at the maid café, so I was heading home a bit late again today.
I think I'm feeling a little better physically today.
"Well then, shall we head home?" Osada-san announced.
When I went to the entrance with everyone in the class, Kuzu-kun was waiting.
Kuzu: "Tomonaga-san, I've been waiting! Let's go home together?"
I'm weak to this refreshing prince-like smile!
...But, I have Kousuke-kun, after all...
Kuzu: "After what happened this morning? I'm worried. We use the same station anyway, so just think of me as your bodyguard, okay?"
Bodyguard...
It's true, what happened with my indoor shoes and desk this morning was creepy!
It's scary, thinking someone weird might be targeting me...
I agreed.
Going home with Kuzu-kun.
It was like a dream I'd had long ago, something I'd admired that day.
We talked about nothing special and about our middle school days.
How we'd changed since starting high school.
We laughed together while waiting for the train, rode together, and got off at the same station.
Then, he walked me all the way home.
It was exactly the scene I'd always dreamed of!
Maybe this is my reward for doing my best...
Sighing with happiness, the fun time flew by in an instant.
We arrived at my house, and I said goodbye to Kuzu-kun there.
Maybe...he'll say something?
Or maybe he'll do something?
My heart pounding, I kept a close eye on what he'd do.
Kuzu: "That was fun! ...But you can't let your guard down! We still don't know who did it!"
*Author's note: (omitted)*
He's right, but as long as Kuzu-kun is by my side...I feel reassured.
Should I talk to Kousuke-kun about this?
If he found out, would he be worried?
Would he be upset if he knew I was meeting up with Kuzu-kun?
But being alone is just too scary...
Kuzu: "Given the situation, how about we go to and from school together until the culture festival is over? We use the same train station. ...If it would bother your boyfriend, of course I'll stop."
*He's totally got ulterior motives.*
Kuzu-kun looked at me, worried, trying to gauge my feelings.
Yeah, until the culture festival! Just until then!
Kousuke-kun would definitely worry, so let's keep the indoor shoe and desk incidents a secret for now?
Once things calm down, I'll say, 'Hey! This happened once! And Kuzu-kun helped me!'
Then maybe Kousuke-kun and Kuzu-kun will become friends.
I kept thinking and my thoughts ran wild, but in the end,
Harassment is scary.
And it's hard to stay away from Kuzu-kun.
Those are my two conclusions.
So I decided to go to and from school with Kuzu-kun in the mornings and evenings.
The next day.
The ever-refreshing Kuzu-kun politely escorted me to school.
Like a princess—cherished and treated gently.
He told funny and mysterious stories, and he was so good at talking! No wonder he's popular.
After school, we stopped by a café, then walked around the mall window-shopping and getting some exercise.
So much fun!
The next day was like that too.
It was great! I almost forgot how hard dieting was!
On the way home, Kuzu-kun said, "Hey, there's a café I always go to!" and took my hand, leading me to a retro café in a back alley.
For real, he took my hand, so all my senses were focused on it.
Kuzu: "The cake here is super delicious!"
I felt sad,
"Not now, I can't eat cake."
Kuzu-kun gave me a wonderful smile—one guaranteed to make any girl's heart skip a beat—
Kuzu: "I really think you're already slim enough...? I think it's healthiest for a girl to be just a little curvy, you know?"
*That's a lie, he actually hates fat girls.*
I am way past what you'd call 'healthy'!
I'd already told Kuzu-kun the general story about me and Kousuke-kun.
I could tell he was trying to compete with Kousuke-kun, and honestly, that made me a little happy.
Kuzu: "Didn't Kousuke-kun take you out for pancakes? Trust me, just try this cake—pretend you're being tricked!"
*He's lying to me.*
Gulp...well, just a little...
Chomp.
So good!!!
This is bad! The temptation of the devil!
I'm happy that Kuzu-kun tried to cheer me up by letting me eat cake!
But this is bad! The calories must be insane, right?
Laughing, Kuzu-kun said,
Kuzu: "You know, maybe Kousuke-kun didn't want to see the girl he likes looking happy? Or maybe it was just an afterthought for him? Half the calories? Forty percent less? That's it, right? I looked around and found this place. The cake here only has thirty percent the calories of regular cake! You could eat three pieces and it'd still only be like one normal cake!"
*That's a huge lie—these are just regular cakes loaded with high-calorie fresh cream.*
He lied just to put down Kousuke and win Yukari's attention.
I was trembling,
"No way! It's this good, and three pieces would only be like one regular cake?! Then I'll have two! Just two pieces!!"
*I repeat, this is a lie. If you eat two, that's the calories of two super high-calorie cakes.*
Delicious! So good!!
Happiness...
Kuzu: "If it's for seeing you smile like this, there's nothing I wouldn't do. ...Kousuke-kun, when I hear him talk, he comes off as kind of ascetic... Even if he says it's for you, Yukari-san? Couldn't he have done things a bit differently?"
*He's just making things up.*
"Kousuke-kun, in his own way, thought about me and did a lot for me. He came up with a diet plan, and even went running with me."
*There's no episode where Yukari did something for Kousuke.*
Kuzu: "That's it, right? If it were me, I could've supported Yukari-san with the perfect plan so she wouldn't have to suffer."
*That's a lie. He probably couldn't do anything.*
Kuzu-kun...!
I used to think I misunderstood Kuzu-kun, but I was wrong.
He's much, much bigger-hearted, kinder, and a more wonderful boy than I imagined...
What would I do if Kuzu-kun confessed to me right now?
...I can't choose...
I know my mental state is unstable because I'm in the middle of a diet.
I have Kousuke-kun...
But, but there's also a part of me that's drawn to Kuzu-kun again...
Is there any way I could keep both of them?
Like in an otome game?
I'll make sure to think things through carefully before deciding...
I was weighing my admiration (Kuzu-kun) and my goal (Kousuke-kun) on the scales.