The Best Friend of the Person I Like is Secretly Approaching Me - Chapter 11

Chapter 11

Before I knew it, the Golden Week holiday had passed.

Recently, we had our first seat change in class.

I thought it was a bit early, but it seemed Sensei’s idea was that it’s better to arrange the seats randomly since various events would have us seated in attendance number order anyway.

And guess what? I ended up sitting next to Seko!

Moreover, I was the only one sitting next to him.

I was secretly delighted as if I had Seko all to myself.

However, his gaze was directed forward. Not at the blackboard but at Misa, who was sitting in front.

It was obvious even without following his gaze.

We’re not exactly close enough to talk one-on-one usually, but I thought that since we’re sitting next to each other, why not chat?

…But starting the conversation myself is embarrassing.

Yet if things stay this way, the next seat change will come without anything happening between us.

I don’t want that.

But starting a conversation is… Ah, I know! I just need to create the right situation.

I’ll pretend to forget my textbook and ask Seko to share his.

For that, our desks will have to be close together, and so, we’d be closer too.

I might be a genius, huh?

I practically executed this plan every day.

Initially, I moderated the frequency, but as the time that filled my heart became increasingly desirable, I unconsciously started doing it more often.

The result was——

“You forget way too much. Are you an idiot?”

I was treated like an idiot, not a genius.

It was precious time gained through the privilege of sitting next to him, but being considered an idiot is not what I had in mind!

I ended up snorting defiantly.

“If you keep saying that, I won’t let you look at my book when you forget yours.”

“After all the times you’ve looked at mine, you… Ah.”

“Hm? What is it?”

“…I forgot my eraser.”

Hearing the word ‘eraser,’ my heart jumped. For me, the word ‘eraser’ was significant.

“Pfft, Seko forgot something too! You’re an Idiot!”

“I forgot it because I was studying at home last night… Damn it. If anything, forgetting it because I was studying makes me the exact opposite of an idiot.”

“Everyone call absent-minded people idiots!”

“You’ve got a boomerang stuck in you.”

Seko sighed and extended his hand palm up towards me.

“Can you lend me your eraser, Hinata?”

“Geez, I guess it can’t be helped. You owe me one now, okay?”

“At this moment, I wonder how many favors you owe me. Thanks. You’ll use this eraser too… right…?”

Seko’s voice trailed off, becoming fainter and fainter. He seemed to have frozen as if he’d found something.

I followed his gaze and gasped.

He had been looking inside my pencil case, probably to see if my eraser was the only one I had lent him

That’s when he saw it——the eraser he’d given me that day.

Why was he frozen?

If he didn’t remember, he shouldn’t think anything of it… I wish he’d say something already…

A few seconds of silence stretched between us. Then Seko shifted his gaze forward and muttered,

“…Don’t make fun of forgetting erasers, you idiot Hinata.”

“Ah…?”

What does that mean? I shouldn’t make fun of forgetting erasers? Why? Because I’ve forgotten mine before?

Does Seko remember that day?

Just as I was about to ask, a sudden pain shot through the top of my head,

“Ouch!”

“Aw!”

A loud slapping sound echoed through the classroom.

Turning around, I saw our Sensei, who had gathered up some textbooks, standing there.

I realized we must have been hit with them.

“Sensei, that hurts! Isn’t this a corporal punishment?”

“Quiet. In my class, I am the law. You two have been flirting this whole time…”

“This Sensei is not sane…”

“What!? I-I am not flirting with him!”

“Alright-alright. I’ll let it slide. Just forget about what happened and pay attention to the class.”

“You are scared of getting called out for corporal punishment…”

“You’re not really letting it slide if you’re hitting us, though…”

“Yes?”

” “Never mind, it’s nothing.” ”

In the end, I lost the chance to ask, and I couldn’t bring it up again.

But in my heart, the answer was already clear.

***

We couldn’t go out as a trio during Golden Week, but we decided to have lots of fun during summer vacation!

We all agreed that we wanted to go somewhere that felt like summer.

The conversation naturally led to either the mountains or the beach, but Seko said, “Isn’t it dangerous for kids to go to the mountains or the sea alone?”

So, we compromised and decided to go to the pool.

The pool, huh… Wait, the pool!? That means… swimsuits!?

I’d only ever gone with friends of the same gender, so I hadn’t thought about it, but yes, going to the pool meant showing Seko myself in a swimsuit. Oh my god!!

What should I do? I have a swimsuit I bought in middle school, but would Seko be disappointed if I wore that? Will it even fit?

I’ve grown a lot in certain places recently…

After trying it on and realizing it wouldn’t work, I decided I needed a new swimsuit.

Though it’s an additional expense, I can’t help but feel excited.

While pondering where to buy it, my smartphone buzzed.

I saw a message notification and checked it immediately—it was from Misa. She had timely invited me to go swimsuit shopping together.

I quickly replied.

As a result, I’m heading out to shop now. No time to waste!

I hurriedly get ready and go downstairs, telling my mom,

“I’m going shopping with a friend!”

“Haru-chan, you’re going out? The sun is pretty strong, do you need a hat?”

“Um, I think I’ll be fine with just a cap!”

“Really?”

My mom looked at my forehead, more specifically my bangs, with a sly smile and handed me a parasol instead of a hat.

“Don’t underestimate UV rays. Take this parasol with you.”

“Eh, it doesn’t suit me!”

“It’s not about looking good; it’s about protecting your skin. Otherwise, you won’t get compliments from the person who gave you that hairpin, you know?”

“Wha——No, it’s not like that! Besides, I bought this hairpin myself!”

“I see-I see. So you picked it out yourself, then?”

“S-stop it!”

“Don’t underestimate your mother. I can see right through you, Haru-chan. You didn’t want to wear a hat because it would hide that hairpin—”

“I’m leaving!!”

As if fleeing from my mother’s teasing, I dashed out of the house.

Ugh, how did she find out?

I should never underestimate Mom.