The Best Friend of the Person I Like is Secretly Approaching Me - Chapter 24

Chapter 24

Lately, I’ve been a little lost in thought.

It’s not that I’m worried about my career path.

I’m not interested in the humanities, so I’ve settled on the sciences in my mind.

I’ll engage with economics purely as a consumer, and I have no intention of starting a business, so management isn’t in the cards for me.

As for law, my interest only goes as far as wanting to declare “Objection!”.

Besides, that’s pure fiction. It seems there aren’t situations like that in reality.

All the more reason it feels meaningless.

Anyway, what’s troubling me now is something else.

Yet, I have no one to confide in, even though I’ve received questions about the path I’ve chosen.

So here I am, sitting alone on a bench in the school’s rarely-visited back garden.

This area appears to be maintained by the janitor as a sort of hobby because beautiful ornamental trees are lined up neatly.

Thanks to this, it’s difficult to spot someone from a distance, making it the perfect place to be alone.

I discovered this spot around last winter, and I’ve visited occasionally since then, remembering how cold it was and flexing my hands.

While doing this, I recall a scene from that park and shake my head to dispel the memory.

Since I’m finally alone, I should calmly sort out my current situation.

Let’s see, first off, Yosaki is——huh?

I heard the rustling sound of footsteps, and when I turned, a pair of students, a boy and a girl, came into view.

Recognizing the color of the boy’s tie, I realized he was a first-year student.

In our school, each grade level has its own designated tie color.

For this academic year, third-years wear green, us second-years wear red, and the first-years have blue.

The color is determined when you enroll and basically stays the same for three years.

Apparently, there was once a student who repeated a year because they admired the red ribbon.

Despite pulling such a foolish stunt, that Senpai supposedly got into Kyoto University, the top university in Japan.

He’s a legend.

Whoops, this is not the time to remember such a thing.

It seems they’ve noticed me too, and they’re looking a bit awkward.

Coming to such a secluded spot as a boy-girl pair, they’re likely about to get all lovey-dovey or one is going to confess to the other.

To them, I’d probably be nothing but an annoyance.

Time for this obstacle to make a smooth exit

“Um, excuse me!”

“…oh, me?”

“Yes!”

As I tried to read the atmosphere and leave the scene, the junior boy unexpectedly called out to stop me.

“Senpai, you’re that Seko Senpai, right?”

“That Seko Senpai…? Sorry, can you be more specific?”

“Umm, uh… the Seko Senpai who has confessed his feelings to Yosaki Senpai every day since enrollment and has been rejected every time, right?”

“I wish I hadn’t asked… I didn’t realize how much it hurt to hear that from someone else…”

I’m well aware of how I’m perceived by those around me.

I don’t think I should step back and view it objectively, but having someone else say it out loud… it hurts.

“Yes, that’s me, the perpetually rejected stalker, Seko. Nice to meet you.”

“What!? I didn’t say it like that! Wait, I actually respect you, Senpai!”

“…Respect me? Seriously, you should reconsider that.”

“No, it’s not like that. Senpai, I have a favor to ask. Can you please watch me? I want to show you my courage.”

“Wait, what are you going to show me?”

“Takahata, is that okay with you?”

“…Yeah. I’m fine with it. I’m a little embarrassed, though.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me. These juniors are about to create their own world even with me here…”

Public confession? Seriously? Who does that?

Oh wait, that was me…

Wait, is that what he meant by respect? What’s going on? No, what do you mean? But this is about confessing, right?

You guys have only been enrolled for a month, right? Isn’t it a bit early?

Then again, I did the same thing on my first day of high school.

Is that what he respects?

“Takahata! I like you! Please go out with me!”

He really did ittttttttt!

“…Yes!”

Endddddd!

…Huh?

The junior who claimed to respect me just got together.

“Se-Seko Senpai! I did it! I got my first girlfriend!”

“Never say you respect me again.”

“I was actually thinking of holding off my confession, but confessing in front of Seko Senpai, I thought he had guts, and it made my heart skip a beat.”

“That’s not courage, I think it’s called being inconsiderate.”

“Being confessed in front of Seko Senpai, who has been single-minded in his feelings, made me think that my new boyfriend is someone I can trust from now on…”

“That’s right! That’s the biggest reason why I respect you, Senpai!”

“…I see. Yeah, you shouldn’t respect me after all.”

And so, while I had wanted some time alone to think, I ended up witnessing the birth of a new couple for some reason

Well, congratulations. Be happy, okay?

***

Just as the Red Ribbon Repeat Year Senpai became a legend, it became clear that I was known throughout the school as a living legend too.

This revelation came when I returned to the classroom after the confession and poured out my cries to Oda.

It’s really true that sometimes the person themselves doesn’t know the rumors about themselves

“By the way, that backyard is famous as a confession spot.”

“What? That was my place of relaxation… Why does everyone come to secluded places? Do it in the classroom!”

“I think only Seko can do it in the classroom…Speaking of confessions, you haven’t been confessing lately, have you?”

“What are you talking about? I shouted my love to Yosaki just this morning. You were there, weren’t you, Oda?”

“I did hear that. It was something like, ‘Even though you wear the same uniform every day, why don’t I get tired of looking at you? It must be because Yosaki is so beautiful!’ ”

“Don’t remind me. And don’t repeat it, it’s damn embarrassing.”

Even if you can see yourself objectively, it’s still heart-wrenching to hear your own words and actions explained by someone else

“I feel like your recent comments to Yosaki have been a bit forced, Seko. Today, she even tilted her head in confusion.”

“…Everyone has those days. Don’t analyze your friend’s words.”

“Seko. The main point isn’t that. Lately, even though you praise Yosaki, you haven’t actually said, ‘Go out with me’, have you?”

“…Are you done analyzing?”

Sighing, I sneak a glance at Yosaki and Hinata, who are sitting far from us.

It seems they can’t hear our conversation; I feel relieved in my heart.

“Hey, Oda. Let’s talk about ‘Torupani’ for a while.”

“Hmm? Seko, are you trying to change thetopic?”

“No-no, it’s related. In ‘Torupani’, the protagonist initially liked his classmate Kazahaya, right? But then he’s pursued by the transfer student, Wind, and before he realizes it, he starts to like Wind, and maybe even some other heroines too. He loved Kazahaya so much that he’d even imagine their life after marriage, so why did it turn out that way?”

“Isn’t it to make the story more exciting?”

“I’m not talking about that kind of meta reason.”

“Hehe, I know…Well, I’ve never been in a real romance, but I have many waifus in the 2D world. Each one is so appealing that it’s hard to choose. Even if I decide not to have any more waifus, a new anime might introduce me to another. But I still love all of my previous waifus. Isn’t real life kinda like that? Sure, if you’re in a committed relationship, there’s the issue of cheating, but… the protagonist isn’t dating anyone, so it’s all good.”

“…I see. Thanks.”

It seems Oda has somehow sensed the troubles I’ve been facing recently.

He’s not just playing those Bishoujo games for nothing. Maybe he’s more experienced in love than I am.

Most people can’t pinpoint the exact moment they fall in love.

By the time you realize it, you’re already in too deep.

This slow realization is quite troublesome.

I like Yosaki.

I admire her as a person, and I find her beautiful.

I want to date her, and sometimes, I even think about doing more than that.

And then——

I also like Hinata.

Though she always seems cheerful, she’s actually quite thoughtful and tends to overthink things.

I often find myself wanting to support her and want to be by her side.

There are also moments when I’m captivated by her smile.

I don’t know when these feelings started. Maybe it was since we formed that relationship.

Now that I think about it, there might have been signs before.

Then, since when did I…?

Rumors about Yosaki and me have already spread throughout the school. At the same time, Hinata and I have already become involved.

——All of this is my fault.

…Are these feelings really love?

Suddenly, doubts strike me. Maybe I just feel responsible for them.

——Is ‘responsibility’ love?

If so, does that mean the feelings of excitement I have for them are fake?

It can’t be. That just can’t be. It mustn’t be…Mustn’t be? That’s…

As I watch the two of them chat happily from a distance, I think…

——Maybe this love might never come to fruition.

***
TN: Last chapter of part 3