I'm in Love with the Gorilla Sitting Next to Me - Volume 1 Chapter 4.5

The Cursed Cat Senpai 5

It’s still unclear whether the same conditions apply to me as they do to Tora-senpai, but until now, I had no clue what to do at all. Just having a clue is a blessing. It’s worth trying, nothing ventured, nothing gained.

The problem is…

“…A kiss… Even if it’s with Tora-senpai, well…”

To be honest, Tora-senpai’s proposal is appealing. It becomes a cooperative effort, so the hurdle seems surmountable with enough effort.

…But still. Can I really fall for someone that easily? And can she fall for me?

Especially me—I just can’t shake the image of the gorilla from my mind.

Maybe I actually like Gossan? If that’s the case, I have to make her like me and ultimately end up kissing her… Ugh, I can’t even imagine. Or rather, I don’t want to.

Who would benefit from a gorilla kissing scene?

And how on earth am I supposed to make Gossan like me? Should I be more proactive in talking to her, get her contact information, and ask her out on a date?

…I can’t see a vision of success. I don’t think Gossan dislikes me, but even that feels pretty close to the edge…

“What should I do?”

No matter how much I think, I just can’t come up with a decent answer—

◇ ◆

“Suppose you have someone you’re interested in, how do you think you should go about getting them to like you?”

The next day, after everything that had happened, I decided it was better to consult with someone rather than worry alone, so during lunch break in the school courtyard, I posed the question.

However, this isn’t the kind of question I could ever ask my classmates. They would definitely launch a ‘Who is it?’ attack, and I’m not confident I could dodge it.

My clubmates aren’t suitable candidates either. Including myself, none of us have a clue about human relationships outside of gal games. And love affairs among otaku friends aren’t exactly a good reference either.

That leaves me with only one option.

“…You’re asking me? Of all people, you’re asking me? Don’t you remember what happened yesterday?”

Tora-senpai’s exasperated voice and half-lidded eyes hurt. No one else is around, so she’s speaking in a feminine tone, but her voice is low.

Well, yeah, from Senpai’s perspective, it must be ridiculous to hear me asking for advice on approaching another girl right after suggesting we work together to break the curse.

But I have my own reasons.

“Look, I think the plan to work together with Tora-senpai and fall for each other is good. But I have so little experience with love, I’m not even sure how to go about falling in love.”

“…Hmm?”

Perhaps considering there might be room for reconsideration, Tora-senpai, with her half-eaten lunchbox on her lap, takes her water bottle and prompts me to continue. How grateful I am.

“I’m not making excuses, but my awareness of girls is stuck at the elementary school level. Beyond that, they just seem like animals to me, and I perceive them in a completely different way. So, I’ve never actually tried to approach someone I like.”

“Hmm… Now that you mention it, I don’t have that much experience either.”

“So, I honestly don’t know how to fall in love. I have a type, sort of, but it’s all about 2D characters. Like, ‘I like busty dark elves’ or ‘a slightly airheaded, caring younger sister character.'”

“…I just lost all ability to relate.”

Mmm, the guys in my club would say, ‘Ah, that’s a good one’, or ‘Our faiths differ’, but Tora-senpai leans more towards the general public.

“What I mean is, my preferences are clear only when it comes to 2D, and I don’t know what type I like in real life or even how to go about liking you, Tora-senpai.”

“Hmm… So to you, I’m just a cat, right?”

“Exactly. So visually, there’s no element that makes me like you as the opposite sex. And that’s not just for Tora-senpai, but for other girls too.”

“When exposure increases, does the animal aspect become stronger for you? Even then, do you, um, feel any erotic emotions?”

“For me, eroticism only exists in the 2D world. Even if you’re clothed, the visible face is just too much of a distraction.”

It might sound rude, but it’s the truth. Even if someone has a great figure and is wearing tight, revealing clothes, if their face looks animalistic, it’s a total turn-off for me.

Tora-senpai ponders my frank opinion with a “Hmm…”

“If that’s the case, I wonder what I should do to be liked by you… Maybe we just need to spend time together steadily?”

“That’s another thing I’m not sure about… that’s why I don’t even know what I want Senpai to do for me. I feel like I could come to like someone who’s fun to talk to, though.”

“That’s a vague idea… At least, it’s not something that can be resolved quickly, is it?”

“I think so. To be honest, I’m not even sure why I’m interested in the girl I’m thinking of. I’m certain my first impression of her was strong, but beyond that, I don’t know.”

If I became interested in her because of the gorilla impact, then I’m done for. What kind of love at first sight is that? People will seriously think I get aroused at the zoo.

“So, while I think Tora-senpai’s proposal is good, I also want to explore ways to make progress with someone I might currently like.”

“Hmm… There’s some logic to that. It’s fine as long as you also make an effort to fall in love with me at the same time.”

“Trying to pursue two targets at once seems like a flag for failure. But, fortunately, since people think you’re a guy, they won’t suspect that I’m doing such a thing.”

“…If things go well with her and the curse is broken, I’ll be in trouble… I might be left behind…”

“No, I don’t think it’ll get that serious. After all, at the moment, there’s no sign that she likes me. I have a few other female friends, and they definitely have a better relationship with me.”

Including Yassan, I have female friends I can talk to casually without any particular reason, and we exchange messages to kill time. In that respect, I don’t even know Gossan’s contact information. It’s not that she rejected me; the opportunity to ask just never came up.

Anyway, that’s the situation.