Shimotsuki-san Likes the Mob

–A Stretch.

That’s how Kurumizawa-san described the relationship between Shiho and I.

“Perhaps that girl is just scared? She’s afraid that if she becomes your girlfriend, her relationship with you will change, right? She’s a coward, so she’s stretching out your current relationship with her. Keeping it lazy, keeping it the way it is, stepping on Nakayama’s feelings. Sounds about right?”

“No… she’s not that much of a self-centered person… She cares about me too.”

“That’s what you think. At least, that’s how I feel as a third party. Your relationship with her is a little strange.”

Her pink hair glowed a fiery red in the light of the setting sun.

I averted my gaze due to the seriousness in her eyes.

I didn’t understand.

I was used to the feelings of disgust, rivalry, and indifference.

I’m at a loss on how to deal with a girl who hits me with all her might, feigning affection.

Even now, she’s saying things like that for my sake.

Because I was aware of this… I couldn’t help but weaken my rebuttal.

No. Maybe… deep down, I had those feelings for Shiho as well.

Why won’t she accept me?

Even though I love and care for her so much… are my feelings for her still not enough?

I want to love and be loved by Shiho even more.

–I would be lying if I said I didn’t have those feelings.

So I couldn’t argue any further.

“I would never do that.”

And then, all of a sudden, Kurumizawa-san spoke up.

“If I could be the one next to you… I would cherish you more. I would accept Nakayama’s thoughts, and offer mine in return. We would both make every effort to be happier. I will make your happiness my happiness.”

There was no way around it.

She looked me in the eyes and put her feelings into words.

“I’m just saying this because I love… Nakayama, alright? Don’t make the mistake of thinking I don’t like you or anything.”

My retreat had been successfully cut off by the tsundere yet straightforward confession.

“I’m sorry, okay? I know you’re confused by all of this, aren’t you? Oh, I know. I don’t think you can accept my feelings right now anyway, right? That’s fine. I understand that I’m going to be rejected, but I wanted you to know how I feel anyway.”

Everywhere I look, she’s been very accommodating towards me.

To spare me from guilt and heartache, she pretended that she had been rejected herself… and then expressed her intention not to give up just yet.

I was struck by her dedication.

I tried to avoid making a connection with her at all costs.

But there was something bothering me.

I couldn’t help but… ask her this.

It was-

“Why… did you fall in love with me?”

Yes. This was what I’ve been wondering all along.

It was only the first day of school. We had only just recently met, and if anything, we had never even spoken to each other before.

And yet, from the very beginning, her fondness for me had been over 100 percent. I almost felt dizzy with her love that rivaled Shiho’s.

For what reason could she fall in love with someone in such a short time?

The reason was very simple.

“I don’t really know myself? I was just thinking how nice of a person you were, and before I knew it, I was filled with feelings of ‘I love you’. So, I don’t have any particular reason, but… that doesn’t matter. What matters is that I fell in love with you.”

Blushing, Kurumizawa-san explained why. Her cheeks were red probably from embarrasment.

But I couldn’t smile as genuinely as she did.

(No reason, huh… that… that’s just not right!)

Maybe her love for me was distorted after all.

Because you need a reason to love someone.

The absence of a reason meant that…

(Distorted Opportunism…and Kurumizawa-san’s feelings…)

The concept that once tormented Azusa and Kirari had invaded Kurumizawa-san.

As for myself, I had just become the protagonist… and Kururi Kurumizawa had been caught in the middle of Kotaro Nakayama’s romantic comedy.