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

Epilogue

“Fortunately, I was able to get in touch with my aunt. Please brace yourself for what you’re about to hear.”

The one who broke the uneasy silence was Tora-senpai with her cat-like face.

I nod, ready for whatever comes, but the gorilla standing a short distance away, shrouded in a heavy aura, doesn’t move a muscle. The only thing clear is that she’s in an incredibly foul mood.

——After the tumultuous lunch break, as we moved back to the main school building, I explained to Tora-senpai how the curse seemed to have been lifted but then returned. She was surprised but promised to ‘ask my aunt’ and gave a reassuring response. Regardless of the outcome, we agreed to meet again after school.

Gossan——no, Riho also said, ‘I will go too’, expressing her intent to join, but she hasn’t spoken a word since. However, she was wrapped in an aura so dark and murderous that it made me wonder if this is what a gorilla taking care of its young feels like.

Even when we returned to the classroom and during the breaks between lessons, she remained silent. Her presence was so intense that it made our classmates who could see her real face and expression, unlike me, keep their distance. Despite the major news of her dramatically cutting her hair and arriving late, no brave soul dared to approach her for an interview. As a result, I received piercing stares that seemed to ask, ‘Did you do something wrong?’ Thankfully, no one asked directly since Riho was by my side, but I’m sure I would have been bombarded with questions if I had been in the hallway.

In any case, after enduring lessons that went in one ear and out the other, we found ourselves gathered once again on the rooftop of the old school building.

What insight would Tora-senpai’s aunt, the only one who had successfully broken the curse, provide us with…

“My aunt said that after the kiss ended and they parted, the curse never returned, so it’s likely that the method was correct but something was lacking and the curse wasn’t completely broken… maybe.”

“What does that mean, exactly?”

“There are two possible reasons. Either one or both were insufficient, and the curse’s effects were only temporarily lifted… perhaps.”

“And that means?”

When I, who am admittedly not the sharpest tool in the shed, asked, Tora-senpai flicked her cat ears and said,

“Firstly, it could simply be that there wasn’t enough affection. My aunt had just accepted a confession and then they… well, they kissed passionately, so maybe the intensity was lacking.”

“So, you mean it was half-hearted because I’m not liked enough?”

“Well, to put it bluntly…”

Seeing Tora-senpai nod awkwardly, I felt utterly dejected. I had suspected that Riho might like me, but now it seemed that might not be the case. Seriously, this is a real downer.

“Then, what’s the other thing you think might be the cause?”

Riho asked in my stead as I slumped my shoulders in shock. She seemed a bit irritated—perhaps she was eager to get to her club activities?

Whatever the reason, I was also curious about the other possibility. Honestly, I couldn’t think of anything.

“Erm, that is… well, it’s…”

Under the intense gaze of the two of us, Tora-senpai averted her eyes, mumbling something and her ears flapping rapidly.

What’s with that reaction? It looks like she’s embarrassed, but…?

As I wondered about the reason for such a response in this situation, Tora-senpai hesitantly opened her mouth.

“This is just speculation based on my aunt’s actual experience, but… that…”

“Even a wild guess is fine. If you want to be freed from the curse even a little sooner, you should try whatever you can.”

“Y-yes…”

Riho’s sound logic made Tora-senpai calm down a bit, but he still fluttered his ears nervously and occasionally glanced at the ground as he spoke,

“My aunt said that at the time, she thought such a love was impossible, but it happened, and she was passionate… so they ended up having a deep kiss.”

“You mean, not just a light touch, but really entwining intensely?”

“…Mmm-mmhm. Moreover, when they parted, she felt light-headed from a mild lack of oxygen, and the time definitely lasted more than a minute.”

“…”

“…”

“…”

Silence fell upon everyone, and an awkward atmosphere dominated the rooftop.

In other words, if we were to follow Tora-senpai’s aunt’s example, we would need to engage in a so-called adult kiss, thoroughly and passionately.

Trying to digest this rather difficult piece of information, I glanced at Riho.

She was looking at me too, her expression so stiff that it was easy to read even with her gorilla face.

“——Riho. No, Riho-sama. I have a favor to ask of you…”

“No.”

“Now now, don’t be like that. Like before, it’s just to try—”

“Absolutely not.”

“Now now now, I understand how you feel, I really do? But think of it as CPR, a life-saving breath, and if I could just have a minute of your time—”

“I will absolutely not!”

Wow, that was a rejection like no other. She won’t even let me finish my plea.

And her eyes are bloodshot. I’ve never seen a gorilla’s eyes look like that before. Super scary.

With an intense glare, Riho clenched her fist as if she could crush rocks,

“Where in the world is there CPR that involves entwining tongues!? You don’t think that doing it once means you can do it a second or third time, do you…!?”

“No-no, I don’t think that at all! But look, the curse was lifted for a bit, right? So even if the feelings aren’t enough, maybe there’s a chance depending on how it’s done!”

“Then try it with someone else. I don’t want to engage in such a sticky act with someone I’m not even dating!”

“The way you put it… I mean, I get it, but… Tora-senpai, throw me a lifeline here!”

“Uh… I also have reservations about suddenly engaging in such an indecent act…”

No good, there’s no one to rely on here. Even Tora-senpai, who’s in the same boat, is backing away.

It might be a chance to break the curse for good… but I can’t force it. It’s my own issue, and if the other person isn’t keen, it might not work out if the condition requires mutual affection.

“…Sigh… I guess I have no choice but to give up…”

“Don’t be so down. Just being able to confirm that your curse might be broken under the same conditions as mine is a big step forward, right?”

“Ah… yeah, that’s true. Thanks, Tora-senpai. And Riho, I’m sorry for trying to take advantage of your goodwill.”

“…It’s fine, don’t worry about it.”

“Don’t mind it. You and I are in this together, and it’s good news that we almost became another success story.”

“Yeah, I guess so. Besides, if I break the curse before Tora-senpai, I’d be leaving senpai to struggle alone, so maybe this is for the best. Progress is progress, after all.”

“Indeed. But don’t worry about me. If there’s a chance to break the curse, you should take it and try.”

“Senpai, you’re so magnanimous!”

“…Please stop looking at me with those pleading eyes. I won’t do it.”

Tora-senpai and I tried to silently plead with Riho, but she saw right through us.

But yeah, it can’t be helped. I should be super grateful just for the precious first kiss she gave me.

“——Alright. Then, my goal from now on is to make an effort to try to like Tora-senpai and to be liked by Riho!”

“Announcing a two-timing plan and then talking about making an effort to be liked… aren’t you completely rotten to the core…?”

“I’m not rotten!? Hey, it’s wrong to just go for my own happiness alone! Are you telling me to abandon Tora-senpai!?”

“Uh… I’m sorry for causing you trouble…”

“No, thanks to Tora-senpai, I was able to see the light at the end of the tunnel! Let’s work hard together in a three-legged race!”

“Speaking informally to a senior… that’s a deduction right there…”

“Am I being evaluated!? No, that’s not it, Riho, this is just to deepen our relationship as quickly as possible, it’s not like I’m not showing respect to my elders——”

“I don’t care. And please don’t call me by my name in public.”

The somewhat harsh Riho and the endlessly kind Tora-senpai continued their lively exchange for a while longer.

In the end, the curse remained unbroken, but I felt cheerful, holding onto hope and anticipation for the days to come.