While I Was Giving Love Advice to My Best Friend, the School's Most Beautiful Girl Somehow Became the Closest Person to Me-Chapter 1Volume .3 - The Most Popular Girl at School Has Her Eye On Me

The Most Popular Girl at School Has Her Eye On Me

After finishing morning practice with the basketball team the next morning, I found myself alone here. It’s a field behind the gymnasium inside the school.

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Although it’s a field, there’s a large flower bed in the back, which serves as the activity spot for the Gardening Club.

Every morning, Otsuki Shizuku from the same class is diligently working here as a member of the Gardening Club.

Now, she was in her gym clothes, tending to the soil in the flower bed. Until now, we were in the same class but had never spoken. But now that I know she’s the object of Reo’s affections, it’s a different story.

“Otsuki-san, huh?”

My impression of her is faint. She’s always with the charismatic Asahina-san of the class, and all I can picture Otsuki-san doing is smiling or nodding along. She doesn’t assert herself and isn’t the type to stand out.

Honestly, I haven’t really looked at her face much.

That’s when I recall last night’s conversation with Reo.

『Should I just tell her I like her right away?』

I couldn’t nod in response to that question.

Otsuki-san seemed like a quiet type of girl. So she might be shocked if a popular guy like Reo suddenly confessed.

I told Reo to wait, and that I would try talking to Otsuki-san first, and that’s how our exchange ended last night.

For the sake of my best friend, I’m now in the position of having to talk to a girl I’m not at all close to.

Honestly, I’m not good with girls, and starting a conversation isn’t easy. Even though I belong to that group, my true nature is that of an ordinary guy. But I want to help since Reo is counting on me.

If I can find out what Otsuki-san likes, maybe I can steer things in a good direction. It’s not a problem even if I mess up the conversation and she dislikes me. I’m immune to being disliked by girls.

I take a deep breath and slowly approach Otsuki-san.

“Good morning… Otsuki-san.”

“Yes?”

Otsuki-san, in her gym outfit, turns around. She has a petite frame, large eyes, well-defined features, and candy-colored hair in a ponytail, adorned with a pink ribbon.

I hadn’t really noticed before, but I guess Otsuki-san has a cute face?

I hadn’t realized until now because she always hidden in Asahina-san’s shadow.

“Um… Kogure-kun?”

I always speak politely when dealing with girls. The reason is that I find it easier to talk when I’m speaking to someone older or to a girl.

Otsuki-san looks around restlessly.

“Did you call out to me?”

“Yes, that’s right. I always see you around, so… I thought I’d try talking to you.”

“Oh… I see… what is it?”

Our conversation comes to a halt.

I managed to start it, but I can’t find the next words. I want to know Otsuki-san’s preferences in men, but I can’t just ask that out of the blue.

I don’t know how to steer the conversation to that point.

Maybe I’m an idiot. As I’m pondering what to do, Otsuki-san looks toward the gym.

“Um, Kogure-kun, you’re in the basketball club, right? Were you at morning practice?”

Otsuki-san was the one who found a new topic. She’s a good person!

“Yeah, I was. I didn’t do much though. Haha….”

The conversation ends. No, was that too clumsy?

If she brings up the topic of club activities, I have to respond in kind.

“Otsuki-san, you’re in the Gardening Club, right? Do you also grow vegetables here?”

I know there’s not just a flower bed here, but also a vegetable garden. Otsuki-san nods affirmatively.

“What do you do with the vegetables you grow?”

“We usually take them home among the club members, but if there’s a surplus, we share them with the cafeteria.”

“I saw that the cafeteria had dishes made with vegetables on the menu. So it’s actually from the Gardening Club huh.”

“They turned out pretty tasty. Especially the cabbage we grew this year, it’s really sweet and delicious when you sauteed it.”

“Really? Do you like cooking, Otsuki-san?”

“Yeah, I’m really good at cooking. After all, I have to feed a growing child at home.”

I might have heard some unsettling lines, but I doubt it’s about ‘her child’, so it’s probably a brother or sister.

Otsuki-san has a hobby of cooking. I think that’s some good new information?

“...I think it’s the first time I’ve seen you talk, Kogure-kun. So that’s how you speak. It’s not surprising... or maybe it is.”

“I always talk to Sensei in this tone. It’s the same when I get called on during class.”

“That may be, but I’ve never seen you talking with the boys during breaks.”

That’s actually true. When I’m with Reo’s extroverted group, all I do is nod and give short responses.

“Alisa was suspecting you were just a decoration.”

“How rude.”

“Hehe, sorry about that.”

“If you’re going to say that, I’ve hardly ever seen Otsuki-san talk either.”

“That’s because… compared to Alisa, I am just…”

Otsuki-san cast her eyes down, but at that moment, the bell signaling the start of class rang.

“Ah, I need to clean up and get back to the classroom! Sorry, Kogure-kun.”

“I’m sorry too. Hey, Otsuki-san.”

Even in her hurry, Otsuki-san responds to my call with a “What is it?” She must be a nice person, I think.

“Can I talk to you again sometime…?”

Seemingly taken aback, Otsuki-san’s eyes widened slightly, but then she nodded.

“Yes, see you later.”

She waved at me with a small hand gesture, and I couldn’t help but find it adorable.

It was a short conversation, but I feel like we had a solid talk. This must be a big step forward.

After attending classes as usual, break time comes. Reo approaches my desk, and the boys gather around him.

The girls join in, and finally, the school’s most beautiful girl, Asahina-san, and Otsuki-san, who is always by her side, come over.

“…”

The conversation blossoms, but Otsuki-san and I don’t speak at all.

If we do, it’s just to give short responses and polite smiles.

Observing this, it’s clear. Both of us belong to the extroverted group and don’t say much beyond short responses when in a large conversation.

But…

◇◇◇

“Good morning, Otsuki-san.”

“Morning, Kogure-kun.”

We become talkative when it’s just the two of us in the morning.

For the past week, I’ve been having trivial conversations with Otsuki-san every morning. But that’s the only time we really talk.

Once we’re at school, we never get a moment alone. Reo is always by my side, and Asahina-san is always clinging to Otsuki-san.

Maybe Otsuki-san and I are similar in some way. That’s why we get along so well.

I’ve come to enjoy these morning moments as well.

“Wow, so you and Asahina-san grew up together.”

“Yeah, we’ve been together since we were little. We used to be the same height, but at some point, she outgrew me.”

“I totally understand the feeling of having an amazing childhood friend.”

“Kogure-kun, you’re childhood friends with Hirasawa-kun, right?”

“Yeah. What do you think of Reo, Otsuki-san? I’m curious.”

“Hmm, Hirasawa-kun… No offense to Kogure-kun, but I find him a bit hard to deal with.”

“What? Is that so?”

“I think he’s cool like the other kids say, but he’s just too dazzling for me.”

And with a smile, Otsuki-san added,

“Also, to be honest, he’s kind of scary.”

Those words seemed unreserved and sincere… And that night, I had no choice but to convey them as they were to my best friend.

“I’m going to become an introvert. Black hair, glasses, and wearing a big backpack.”

“That’s a terrible stereotype. Besides, a handsome guy like you will still be handsome no matter what you wear, so it makes no difference.”

At night, Reo would come to my room as usual.

Lately, I’ve been reporting my conversations with Otsuki-san to him like some sort of spy.

To be frank, Reo isn’t liked by Otsuki-san. It’s to the point where she avoids him. He’d almost certainly be sunk if he confessed in this state.

Reo’s mouth hung open in a daze. It seemed the shock was greater than he expected.

Most girls have a fondness for Reo, and the idea of them disliking him seems nearly impossible to me, but I can somewhat understand the feeling of not being comfortable around Reo.

For example, I still feel a sense of discomfort towards Asahina-san even though she’s beautiful.