Kanpeki na Ore no Seishun Love Come - Volume 1 Chapter 5.1

The Softer Minami-chan

Today’s bento featured small rice balls shaped like a rabbit, a tanuki, and a cat.

Recently, my mom mentioned she’s been into watching animal videos, so this must be the influence.

She used to prefer TV over the internet, but when did that change? Time really flies.

“Sigh… well, whatever.”

Thinking about the bento makes me want to escape reality.

When I returned to the classroom before lunch break ended, it was as lively as ever.

As I was about to take my usual seat, I noticed a change.

“Uh, do you have plans for your day off? Well, I usually… wait, what do I usually do?”

Kinoshita was having a halting conversation with one of the groups.

Though awkward, she had a smile, and perhaps because of the group’s gentle nature, she seemed to be warmly welcomed. The conversation content, however, was full of uncertainties.

…It’s obvious, but making friends because of external pressure from teachers only works in kindergarten. Human relationships are ultimately about supply and demand, and I just inserted Kinoshita into a place where her “grades improvement” advertisement would be needed.

Creating that “grades improvement” advertisement was honestly the hardest part, but seeing the results was a relief. If she can maintain good relationships with her friends──.

As I was thinking about Kinoshita’s future, a shadow fell over me.

Looking up, it was Kinoshita herself. Had she finished her conversation? Glancing at where she had been, I saw the group still chatting.

“Goda-san.”

“What’s up? Weren’t you in the middle of a conversation?”

“Uh, no, it’s just… um…”

Kinoshita looked away. Oh, is it the restroom? That’s a minus point for perfection. My bad.

“Lunch break is almost over.”

“Yes… um, so.”

If she needs to go, she should hurry, I thought, watching her fidget.

Then, with a look of determination, she faced me and said,

“I made… friends…!”

She spoke quietly, probably so the others wouldn’t hear. She seemed embarrassed.

I see, her red face wasn’t because of the restroom, but this. Hugging herself, she forced out the words. It must have taken a lot of courage.

“That’s good. I’m sure it’ll help ease your worries.”

“Really…? I don’t feel it yet.”

“You’ll see soon.”

She nodded, seemingly not fully understanding.

“If you don’t go to the restroom soon, it might be risky.”

“Risky? What do you mean!! Geez!”

Instantly boiling Kinoshita.

“Uh, I mean──”

“I’m going!”

Watching her dash off, I couldn’t help but smile a bit.

Hang in there.

I did what I could. And she even thanked me.

Nothing could make me happier. There are still things that concern me, but if I can step back now, it might be a rare success for me.

Specifically, if I interfered in someone’s life without getting hurt myself.

“Hey, Ryoma. What did you say to Kinoshita-chan?”

This time, it was Saiga. A day full of visitors. Saiga, glancing at where Kinoshita had gone, seemed to want to know why she had calmed down.

“I told her to make friends she could talk to honestly.”

Saiga looked surprised, then smirked.

“Even though you don’t have any?”

Haha, true. I don’t have friends either.

“So what? You don’t have friends either, Saiga.”

“Yeah.”

Saiga laughed quietly so his friends wouldn’t hear. Yeah, I’m alone, but you never truly trust anyone either.

But Kinoshita is different. She was lonely.

Waving goodbye to Saiga, I planned to spend the time until the next class leisurely.

Or so I thought until another commotion arose.

“I’m saying that using someone else’s seat causes trouble!”

Kinoshita was angry. The shy expression from earlier was gone, replaced with the usual stern look of the discipline committee member.

It looked similar to the previous incident with the girls’ group and Kono.

I’m not siding with Kinoshita, but why don’t they learn?

I stood up and moved closer to Kinoshita, towards the back hallway side of the classroom.

“Kinoshita.”

“Oh, Goda-san… sorry, but I just couldn’t stand by.”

Is she apologizing for acting out of self-interest while claiming to do it for others? Her self-questioning hasn’t led to an answer, yet she still acts.

But I never intended to deny her the right to speak out against what she can’t tolerate. I get it.

“Well, it’s a recurring issue, right?”

Kinoshita nodded, and the girls’ group looked away uncomfortably.

“Uh, Ryoma-kun, are you siding with Kinoshita-san?”

“Siding, not exactly. I’ve told Kinoshita to try to be more understanding too.”

“Ugh…”

Kinoshita clutched her chest in frustration.

But seeing her like this might have had a positive effect.

“…Oh. I get it. Sorry, Kinoshita-san.”

“…Huh?”

Kinoshita looked up in disbelief. The girls looked between me and Kinoshita, smiling awkwardly.

“Yeah, we’ll be more careful. After all, Kinoshita-san can’t win against Ryoma-kun, right?”

“I don’t mean to fight, but aren’t small dogs scarier than large ones?”

“True. Oh, and sorry to you too, Kono-kun.”

Laughing, they returned to their seats.

Kinoshita, still not fully grasping the situation, was joined by Kono.

“Uh… thanks, Kinoshita. And Ryoma.”

“Yeah. By the way, Kono, ‘I Reincarnated into Another World but Will Dominate with a Slow Life’ was good.”

“Right!? The heroine is different from other isekai stories──but don’t mention it here! Kinoshita-san is here too!”

“Oh? Sorry.”

I had forgotten to mention my thoughts on the anime Kouno recommended, so I did now.

Kouno’s recommendations are always spot-on. It’s a hit-or-miss industry, so I feel a bit guilty for getting only the best from Kono… but he doesn’t mind.

“──Kinoshita?”

“Uh… yes.”

Kinoshita seemed dazed. When I asked, she quickly turned to me.

“What’s wrong?”

“Oh, no… um, it’s just. This is a first for me.”

First… I thought about what she meant.

Probably that her opinion was accepted without causing resentment.

The girls’ group also has pride. Even if they’re in the wrong, they’re not mature enough to accept it gracefully when confronted with the truth.

They protect their hearts while finding a compromise in their relationships.

Kono, thinking ahead, probably doesn’t want to make enemies of the girls’ group.

Unlike me, who strives to manage alone, they work to smooth out relationships.

“Han Feizi has a story about this.” (tln : Han Fei, also known as Han Feizi, was a Chinese Legalist philosopher and statesman during the Warring States period. )

“Huh…?”

“A wise man, seeing that a king was doing wrong, became a cook instead of lecturing him. Only after becoming the king’s friend did he give advice, leading to the kingdom’s success.”

“…So that means.”

Kinoshita seemed to understand the point, raising her head. I continued with a smile.

“The girls thought, ‘If Kinoshita, Goda’s friend, says so,’ right?”

The point is that people judge based on who says something, not just the content.

“Kono was also relieved not to be on the girls’ bad side, so he thanked you, right?”

“Don’t analyze it like that… I’m weak…”

I patted Kono’s shoulder to encourage him and turned to Kinoshita.

“That’s why making friends is important.”

Just then, Tachikawa and the others called Kinoshita.

Kinoshita let out a small “Ah” and said,

“It feels like… my world is changing…”

She murmured, smiling.

“The pace of one friend every five years is over.”

“Yes!”

Kinoshita hurried back to her group, glancing back at me several times before joining them.

“…I just saw Kinoshita-san as a kid reluctantly leaving their dad for a school trip.”

“Haha, were you like that in elementary school, Kono?”

“No, stop it!”