I Want to Have a Girlfriend Too - Chapter 52

We promise to have a date on Christmas Eve!

 

　A dimly lit street light illuminates us.

　We have eaten dinner and are now walking together through the dark night.

 

　Alone with a beautiful girl on the street at night…Ha! I-I won’t attack her!?

　Don’t call the police!

 

” It was delicious today, thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

 

　Kagurazaka thanks me as she walks next to me.

　I’m glad to hear that because it makes all my hard work worth it.

 

“I’m sorry you had to come all the way out here.”

“Don’t worry, and it’s not right for a man to send you home alone on a night like this.”

 

　After I dropped Maya-nē off at home, I accompanied Kagurazaka to her home like this.

　Well, she refused me because she said the Kagurazaka’s house is close to my house, but as a man, I can’t give in here.

　It is natural for a gentleman to escort a lady.

　…Huh? I’m cool, aren’t I?

 

“But, Tokimori-kun is great. He’s a great cook, and he can do anything.”

“No, come on, you’re embarrassing me.”

 

　I jokingly reply to Kagurazaka’s words.

　No, it was nice to get a compliment from a girl.

　But I’m a man who wants to be humble and show off a little.

 

“Really…you’re amazing.”

 

　However, unlike my joke, Kagurazaka muttered sincerely.

　…What’s wrong with you?

 

　Kagurazaka has been strangely depressed since we went to her home.

　And rather, she looks like she’s in low spirits.

 

“No, that’s not true, okay? “

“No, Tokimori-kun is great…

Compared to that, I…” she whispered in a voice that seemed to disappear into the silence of the night.

 

“You’re amazing enough, at least, that’s what I think.”

“No, I’m not amazing at all…compared to Maya Senpai and Hii-chan,———I don’t have anything to be proud of…”

 

　Kagurazaka said to me with a somber look on her face.

 

　Is something bothering her right now?

　It had been a while since I had seen Kagurazaka’s weak side.

 

　Seeing her like that, I ruffled her hair.

 

“Eh?! W-what’s the matter?? !”

 

　Kagurazaka holds her hair in surprise.

　But I ignore her and continue to ruffle her hair.

 

“What’s the matter with me? You’re the one who started talking nonsense.”

“Huh?”

“Don’t “Huh” me… Gee, I don’t know why Saijouin and Kagurazaka are always bothered by such a trivial thing.”

 

　I can’t help but sigh.

 

　Because, you know?

　Kagurazaka just doesn’t realize it herself; it’s that simple.

 

“I don’t know what you’re worried about, but I’ll tell you one thing—————you’re good enough.”

” ——! ? “

 

　I stare Kagurazaka in the eye and say to her seriously.

 

“Sure, you have screw-loose somewhere in your head, and you haven’t had the visible results Saijouin has had.”

” ……… “

“But, as I said before, you’re a cheerful girl who can work hard for anyone and anything in any situation. Not everyone can do that, and it’s a great thing.”

” ……… “

 

　Kagurazaka stopped brushing my scratching hands away and listened silently to my words.

 

　Yes, Kagurazaka is an amazing girl.

　At first glance, people might think it’s a simple thing anyone can do.

　But it is difficult.

 

　Only a person with a big heart can be kind to everyone.

　Everyone has likes and dislikes. It is more difficult than people might think to show it in their attitude and to be kind to everyone.

 

　It is also difficult to constantly work hard at anything.

　You will get bored and cut corners if you are uninterested in something.

　That is human nature. Working hard on something you are not interested in is mentally demanding and, in some cases, painful.

 

　Kagurazaka is doing such a thing.

　I honestly think it’s great.

 

“Besides, it’s natural to be different from others. You’re either a twin or a clone if you can do the same thing. Sure, Saijouin and Maya-nē may be able to do many things ——but you can also do something that they can’t.”

 

　I stopped stirring her hair and gently patted Kagurazaka on the head.

 

“So, be proud of yourself. I know you’re a great girl.”

 

　I said softly at the end.

　——Hmm? I said something embarrassing again, am I?

 

“…I knew it, I really like you.”

 

　Then Kagurazaka mumbled something, but unfortunately, I couldn’t hear the second half of her sentences.

　I couldn’t help it. I was too embarrassed and turned my face away from her because I had said the embarrassing line.

 

“Sorry, I didn’t hear you… what did you say? “

 

　I asked Kagurazaka again, letting the cold wind cool my face.

　Kagurazaka looked up and turned to me with a brighter expression than before.

 

“No, it’s nothing! Tokimori-kun, thanks to you, I feel much better! “

“Oh, I see…”

 

　I look away from Kagurazaka again.

　I think this is inevitable.

 

　She was so attractive that I was thrilled to see her blushing cheeks and the bright smile on her face.

 

“Really… I feel like an idiot for worrying about it… All I had to do was to be me, as usual.”

 

　Kagurazaka muttered as she looked at the thinly glowing night sky.

 

　…Uh, it looks like it’s back to the usual cheerful Kagurazaka.

　It’s worth it for me to say those wicked lines.

 

“Hey, Tokimori-kun.”

 

　Kagurazaka turns around and calls me.

　But her expression seemed to contain a hint of determination.

 

“Christmas Eve, the 24th, you’re free, right? “

“Why do you assume that I’m free? “

 

　Is that it? Do you think I don’t have plans to hang out with girls?

 

　…Damn it, you think I’m not popular?

　I’ll have plans in 3 years!

 

　——3 years…is too far away.

 

“No, you don’t! You said this morning that you don’t have any plans! “

 

　…I guess I said something like that.

　I’ve been too busy being attacked by boys to remember.

 

“I-if you don’t mind! ———will you come to hang out with me for a day!? “

“Huh?!”

 

　I can’t help but let out a weird sound when she asks me out.

 

　Because this is!? It’s a Christmas date invitation?!

　Lover’s date on a holy night!?

　And it’s with a beautiful girl named Kagurazaka.

　It can’t be helped; I let out a weird voice.

 

　…No, but I might be misunderstanding something.

　I hear that they have a special sale at Christmas time, which is a great time for girls.

　She must have invited me to carry her luggage.

　Yeah, I’m sure of it.

 

“…I’m telling you, I’m not asking you to carry any of my luggage. I’m asking you out on a date! “

“Ha??! “

 

　As I was thinking this, Kagurazaka read my thoughts and denied my guess.

 

　But…is it real!? Are you sure it’s an invitation for a date?

　Are you sure you’re asking me for a date and not a baggage carrier?

 

　I confirmed it with Kagurazaka with my eyes.

　Kagurazaka nodded her head.

 

　It seems that I am right!

 

　I thought I’d be a loner for 3 years, but now, here I am! On Christmas Eve! I’ve been invited on a date!

　Hmm〜〜〜 It’s finally hereee!!

 

“…y-you don’t want to..? “

 

　——— I’m not gonna say no to that.

 

　But calm down.

　Don’t be nervous and answer like a composed man.

　Otherwise, I’ll look like a man who doesn’t know anything about women.

 

　So, be a gentleman here. ——yep, be a gentleman!

 

“O-o-kee desyu! “

“Pfftt, ahahaha! “

 

　 …I bit my tongue.

　It’s funny, I’ve been practicing my confession all the time, but I screwed up at the last minute…!

　Kagurazaka puts her hand on her stomach and laughs loudly————I want to die.

 

“Sorry, I laughed. It seems that Tokimori-kun also bites his tongue sometimes.”

 

　Kagurazaka apologized, wiping her tears from her laughter.

 

　Even I have bitten my tongue in an important situation once.

　Have you forgotten that I mess up my first confession?

 

　——come to think of it, I didn’t tell them.

 

“Yeah, I also did that sometimes, you idiot!”

 

　I said slightly jokingly, though I turned my face away from her in embarrassment.

 

　Tonight, the cold night breeze felt strangely pleasant.

 

* * *

 

“Well then, we arrived.”

 

　While exchanging such words, we were coming to the front of Kagurazaka’s house.

　It was around 9:00 p.m., and it was getting quite cold.

　Ah, I should have brought something warm to wear…

　It’s unusually cold.

 

“Yes, then I’ll see you tomorrow.”

 

　I see Kagurazaka off at the door and turn my body toward the road we came from.

 

“Ah, w-wait! Tokimori-kun! “

 

　Kagurazaka called out to me from behind.

 

“Eve, I’m looking forward to it! “

 

　She said with a big smile on her face.

　It was so dazzling that I couldn’t help but get emotional.

 

　…This is bad, she is too cute.

 

　Maybe my face must be red now, though Kagurazaka probably can’t see it because of the darkness.

 

“Okay, and don’t tell the others about this! “

“…..? Yeah, I understand! “

 

　Kagurazaka replied willingly despite the question marks in her head.

 

　I feared what my classmates might do to me if they knew I was going on a date with Kagurazaka on Christmas Eve.

 

　Kagurazaka waved at me and went into her house.

　After seeing her off, I went back to my house.

 

　——However.

 

“I never dreamed that I would be able to go on a…. date.”

 

　I had never dreamed of it.

　I’ve wanted a girlfriend for a long time, and I never thought I could go on a date with such a beautiful girl on Christmas Eve.

 

　The old me would have been so happy that I would have gone crazy.

 

　….No, I mean.

 

“Ahー! I’m looking forward to Christmas Eveー! “

 

　I’m happy enough now.

　Even now, my heart is pounding with joy.

 

　With this feeling in my heart, I walk down the dark night street alone with light steps.

　Well, let’s go home and consider what to wear for Christmas Eve!

 

 

　However, I never dreamed that this Christmas Eve would change my relationship with those girls.