The Softer Minami-chan

Around 6 PM that day, in the kitchen at home.

“Vooooooh I noooow, the skyyyyyyy… huh?”

The phone rang while I was making a protein drink with bulk protein powder.

Oh, I’m just doing vocal training during my free time so I can be perfect at karaoke too.

I might just be a weirdo singing passionately while shaking protein, but this too is part of the swan’s paddling to be perfect.

By the way, I do this every day and record it too. There’s nothing to be ashamed of!

“…This is Goda speaking.”

“Ah, Ryoma? Your voice sounds weird. Haha.”

“Uh, yeah, I was just thirsty. What’s up, Kisaragi?”

This girl can sense even the slightest change in me, so she’s really someone I can’t let my guard down around.

“What’s up, huh… hmm.”

“If there’s nothing you need, I’ll hang up. I’m going out soon.”

I tilted the protein bottle while checking the bathroom. If I don’t leave before Mom gets out, it’s going to be a hassle.

“Hey, wait! I wouldn’t call without a reason!”

“You do that sometimes.”

Like, just recently.

“…Is it a bother?”

“Not to the point of causing problems.”

That said, Kisaragi should be busy too. She seems to enjoy talking to me, but we’re not in a boyfriend-girlfriend relationship, so too frequent calls aren’t good for her. If fans or potential boyfriends see her talking to me, it’s a lost opportunity.

…Honestly, telling her something like “don’t contact me anymore, you’re creepy” might be better for her, but I don’t think I can be that ruthless. That wouldn’t be perfect either.

“Okay. So, how was school today?”

Her voice, brimming with relief and joy, makes it even harder to push her away. Especially since Kisaragi, who has been attending school less frequently, brings up school talk so innocently.

“Well… yeah, fun.”

Reflecting on the day’s events, I couldn’t help but smile. Kinoshita thanking me, her actions not being denied. It meant that what I planned had worked out.

“Really? You sound happy. What happened while I wasn’t there? Tell me.”

It’s impressive how she reads my emotions from just my tone, but Kisaragi herself seems to be enjoying it too.

“Well, various things I planned went well. It felt rewarding.”

“Is that so. Hmm. Hmmm.”

“Why do you seem happier than me?”

“Do I? Maybe. It’s rare for you to sound so refreshed.”

Thinking about it, she’s right. Feeling refreshed… refreshed, huh.

Maybe not. I’m always tense, trying to be perfect at school, and there’s no peace. It’s more like a daily struggle against unwanted interference.

“…Why does my being happy make you so cheerful?”

“Rude. If you’re happy, I’m generally happy too. …Though I understand why you might find it surprising.”

“I see. Well… thank you.”

It was unexpected. For the past six months, things have been awkward. It’s not like one of us got dumped, but… Kisaragi and I almost got into a romantic relationship but didn’t.

“Yeah. Just thank me honestly. But what have you been up to lately? Feeling rewarded, did you ace the tests?”

“Well, that’s part of it.”

It was because my scores were good that I could do what I did.

“Hmm?”

Kisaragi’s relaxed, nasal voice. She might be lying down.

“Actually, there’s a kid I’ve been helping.”

“What?”

A sudden sound of her sitting up… and a grumbling voice.

“…Oh, right. That potato girl.”

“Kisaragi?”

“Who is that girl…!!”

What kind of interrogation is this? Wait, you knew? Potato girl… well, it’s not wrong.

“She’s just one of the 40 classmates whose seat number comes after yours. She’s on the discipline committee and is a bit shorter than you.”

“I didn’t ask for her profile! She’s not just shorter; she’s tiny and looks like a middle schooler! Comparing her to me is ridiculous! She’s the type to always have her nose in a book, gripping a mechanical pencil!”

“You know quite a bit about Kinoshita.”

“Of course I know about the girl who sits right behind me!”

“There’s a contradiction there. Want to hear it?”

“Shut up!!!”

Scary.

“What I want to know is why you’re suddenly so close with her without me knowing!!”

“Oh, did it look like Kinoshita and I were close?”

If Kisaragi thought so, then everyone probably saw it that way too. Maybe I really don’t need to worry about Kinoshita anymore.

“Don’t look so happy!”

“Why does that bother you, Kisaragi? Is there a problem with me talking to Kinoshita?”

“~~!! No!! But!!”

“But what?”

“It irritates me!! Stop talking about Kinoshita!”

I don’t understand, but Kisaragi’s honesty is helpful.

“So you want to do something about that irritation?”

“It irritates me that you’re calmly trying to handle me! That’s always how you are!”

“That’s nothing new.”

“Idiot!!”

But really. She’s mad that I’m close with Kinoshita.

If it’s because we don’t hang out often, that should’ve been resolved with our outing yesterday at the station’s department store. She might just purely dislike Kinoshita.

“Do you dislike Kinoshita?”

“I do now.”

“That’s just because of her association with me.”

“I hate every girl who talks to you.”

“Don’t sound like my mom.”

“Moms don’t say that!!”

“True. You’re right.”

That’s not normal…

“I hate hearing you say ‘Kinoshita’ so happily. You can only say ‘ki.’ Actually, not even ‘ki.'”

“I won’t even be able to call your name.”

“Ah, i, ri. All good.”

“…You know.”

“I don’t want to talk about this now. Anyway, I wasn’t interested in Kinoshita and don’t care.”

That was blunt. But before I could think of what to do, Kisaragi sighed and continued, saying something unfamiliar.

“…I just hate that this unimportant person is taking up your time.”

“That’s another strange thing to say.”

“It’s not strange, idiot. You’ll just end up saying ‘I shouldn’t have done that’ because you’re stupid.”

…She might have a point, and I fell silent for a moment.

“No random person can keep up with you. Relying on you won’t work out. They won’t understand all you’ve done and won’t genuinely thank you. Because they’ll just realize they’re less capable than you.”

“…Maybe.”

“But everything you do for them benefits them, and they just say ‘thanks for meddling,’ and live off your efforts like it was their own.”

It was an irrefutable point.

Someone who asked for my help to get good test scores improved and got into a good high school.

Someone who dreamt of becoming a voice actor and asked for my help started studying seriously to chase a more realistic dream.

Someone who wanted to get stronger by training with me later formed a sports club with like-minded friends.

──I don’t think it’s all because of me, though.

But Kisaragi always calls them ungrateful.

“This time it won’t be like that.”

“You said the same thing last time and the time before.”

“No, this time I’ll keep it moderate. It’s almost over.”

If Kinoshita can live healthily, that’s enough.

“…Do whatever you want.”

“I intend to.”

“…Fine. I hate Kinoshita. That’s all.”

The call cut off.

Knowing Kisaragi, she wouldn’t spread rumors and bully Kinoshita just because she dislikes her.

Still, it’s unfair that Kinoshita is hated for something she didn’t do.

“Alright… let’s go.”

I sighed, putting on my shoes at the entrance. If I take any longer, Mom will come out of the bath, and there’ll be another commotion before I can leave.

It’s just my usual run and strength training, but with the ball game tournament coming up this weekend after the exams, I can’t afford to look bad there. So, besides my routine, I planned to do some light practice.

…Huh? There’s a notification. It’s from Kinoshita. Rare… but not really.

Minami: Goda-san, are you good at basketball?

Seeing the notification reminded me that Kinoshita was assigned to the girls’ basketball team for the tournament.

I’m on the boys’ team. I’m not bad at it; I’ve practiced enough to not be a beginner. Initially, I was terrible because ball games like these reveal the difference between experienced players and beginners, so I put in a lot of practice time.

Goda Ryoma: I’m decent.

Minami: I see.

The reply paused. But since she contacted me, it shouldn’t end here. Oh, please don’t tell me it ends here.

Minami: Actually

Minami: I played in elementary school.

That’s unexpected. …Considering she talked about returning a favor, maybe she wanted to teach me if I were a beginner.

Goda Ryoma: I’m heading out to practice now.

Goda Ryoma: Sorry, I’m not a beginner.

Minami: Oh

Minami: Did you Tattoo why I asked?

Minami: Tattoo?

“Tattoo, huh. Interesting typo.”

(tln : Guessed” is a typo, it seems like Kinoshita meant to type “guessed,” but it came out as “Tattoo.” This is a common mistake when typing quickly or when predictive text suggests the wrong word)

Suppressing a laugh, I was about to type when she seemed to be more flustered than I anticipated.

Minami: Oh, I can’t delete it.

Goda Ryoma: Poor thing.

Minami: What do you mean, poor thing!? Is there no way to delete it!?

People who use LINE regularly probably know how to delete messages.

It’s amusing, so I’ll watch for a bit.

Goda Ryoma: I’d appreciate some practice help if you’re available.

Minami: Oh

Minami: Is that okay?

Goda Ryoma: If you’re experienced, that’d be great.

Goda Ryoma: Actually, I live near the station next to yours. How about a nearby park?

Minami: I can go now.

Oh, really? I was thinking sometime this week, but she seems very eager. So, I sent my agreement.

Goda Ryoma: Tattoo?.

Minami: Goda-san!!! Idiot!!! Idiot!!! Idiot!!!

This “idiot” must be her failing to spam exclamation marks. I smiled and finished my protein drink.

“Leaving your mom behind… where are you going…?”

Crap…