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 .9 - The Most Popular Girl at School Has Her Eye On Me

The Most Popular Girl at School Has Her Eye On Me

“You’re amazing…”

“Whether I’m amazing or not is yet to be seen. I’ve been so lonely and struggling every day since I’ve been away from Shizuku.”

So she was another person who fell for Otsuki-san. To think that Otsuki-san had such incredible people as childhood friends…

“Kokoro, what are you doing after this? Since you’re here, why don’t you come over to my place for dinner?”

“I’d like to say ‘nice,’ but sorry, I have a prior engagement. I’m spending today with that person.”

“…I see.”

“Alisa, do we still have to keep it a secret from Shizuku? I understand how Shizuku feels, but… I too—”

“I know. But please, just wait a little longer.”

“Alright, but it’s going to come out eventually.”

Suddenly, they started having a serious conversation. I had imagined them as a close-knit trio, but there seems to be something going on.

Asahina-san and Mizuhara-san have stopped walking and stand in silence, perhaps feeling awkward.

As an outsider, there’s only one thing I can say.

“Uh, excuse me!”

Their gazes shift to me.

“Could you tell me more about Otsuki-san? If it’s okay with you, maybe on the way home now?”

Their eyes widen in surprise as they look at me. It was probably a socially oblivious thing to say, but… I had to say it.

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Mizuhara-san laughs.

“Hehe, sure. I’ll tell you all about it on the way to the bus stop.”

Phew, it seems I managed to change the mood. It would be honestly troubling for me if we spent the time in silence… Now, I just have to walk them to the bus stop and say goodbye.

I feel a bit intimidated walking with two beautiful girls, so I’ll keep a little distance.

“Well then, I’ll be right here.”

Mizuhara-san moves to my left and Asahina-san to my right.

Why am I now sandwiched between two beautiful girls?

“Shall we go then?”

“Should we hold hands to celebrate the occasion?”

I’d really rather you didn’t.

From there, I was thoroughly indoctrinated by the girls on either side about Otsuki-san’s charms until we reached the bus stop.

“The bus is coming, so I’ll go ahead.”

Mizuhara-san dashes off towards the bus that looks about to leave.

“See you, Kogure. I’m looking forward to seeing how things progress.”

At some point, she had been calling my name casually. She’s such a cheerful person.

After seeing off Mizuhara-san, Asahina-san and I wait for the bus. It looks like both our lines will arrive in about ten minutes.

“She’s a bright and friendly person, isn’t she?”

“Yes, she is. She’s changed quite a bit, though. In junior high school, the three of us were always together, but she’s started doing things on her own more since changing schools.”

“I see.”

“People change when they fall in love.”

Asahina-san sighs deeply.

“By the way, do you plan to keep talking to Shizuku?”

“Well, I guess I’ll take it easy. I simply hope we can gradually become closer.”

“That’s too slow. You need to be ready to confess right away!”

“Confess!? That’s way too soon!”

I’m getting closer to Otsuki-san for the sake of my best friend. Confessing would be the worst.

I don’t know why, but Asahina-san seems to be in a hurry.

“Besides, I can’t be that aggressive on my own.”

“Then I’ll help you. I’ll mediate between you and Shizuku and help you so that you can date Shizuku.”

I wondered why she would go to such lengths, but since I had set up the pretense that I was interested in Otsuki-san, I couldn’t refuse.

Reluctantly, I nod.

“…Please do.”

“Of course, you must be worthy of Shizuku if you want to date her. I guess I have no choice but to give you some lessons.”

Yikes, this is turning out to be way more troublesomethan I expected. I might not be able to escape anymore.

If it gets out that I actually don’t have feelings for Otsuki-san… I might be torn to pieces.

“Um… even if you say we should cooperate, what should we do? It’s hard to talk at school because there are always people around, and I have club activities, so I can’t do it every day. Maybe we could meet once a week at that shop?”

“That would be nice, but it’s not enough. Once a week is too slow.”

“We’d have to exchange contact information to do more than that. But exchanging contact info wouldn’t be good for you, right?”

“It’s fine. Here.”

Asahina-san casually handed me her smartphone, displaying the LINE QR code on the screen.

I had been considering her position and trying not to resort to this, but what does she think of my consideration?

“Asahina-san, didn’t you insist on not exchanging contact information with classmates while in high school?”

“Yes? Ah…”

A silly, vacant sound escaped from Asahina-san’s mouth.

According to our earlier conversation, Asahina-san completely rejects interactions with boys.

Considering her looks, it’s natural, and in today’s world, it’s often excusable as self-defense.

That’s why I was being considerate. But this person…

“Asahina-san, you’re actually quite clumsy at times, aren’t you? Are you putting on an act at school?”

“Hey, don’t say the same thing as Shizuku!”

So Otsuki-san thought the same thing. The perfect act of the clumsy beauty is Asahina Alisa’s true identity.

“Grrrr…”

Asahina-san looked like she was about to cry out of frustration when I pointed that out.

I thought I might have angered her, but since she kept her phone out, it seemed like exchanging contact info was okay.

I scanned Asahina-san’s QR code with my phone, and we completed the registration. I never imagined that I, of all people, would get the contact information of Asahina Alisa, a girl whom all the boys in school desire… I’ll probably be lynched if they find out.

Asahina-san was staring intently at her own phone.

“You know, I think this might be the first time I’ve given my contact info to a guy other than my family.”

“Really? I totally thought you’d have a list of boyfriends’ numbers outside of school.”

“Hmmm.”

Under the dim light of the late-night bus stop, Asahina Alisa smiled with her phone pressed to her lips.

“I’ve never had a boyfriend… It’s kind of funny that your number, someone who has feelings for Shizuku, is the first one I have.”

She might be a big eater, clumsy, and headstrong, but I thought she looked really beautiful right now.

◇◇◇

After parting with Asahina-san, I got off at the nearest bus stop and walked home alone.

Asahina Alisa.

She was certainly beautiful, and I was excited when we first met… but somehow, my feelings settled quickly.

There was a sense of familiarity in her personality and behavior…it was a comforting feeling somehow.

Who does she remind me of?

“Hey! Ryouma.”

In front of my house, my childhood friend Hirasawa Reo was waiting for me. His usual bright smile made me feel cheerful, but then I noticed his uniform and my mood changed.

“Reo, your uniform is torn. What happened?”

“Oh, I was climbing a tree to rescue a cat that got stuck, and I tore it on a branch.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“And while I’m at it, a button came off, so could you sew it back on like usual?”

“Seriously, Reo! You’re always so careless and just rush into things!”

“You’re a lifesaver, Ryoumama.”

“Stop calling me that.”

And so, I forgot all about Asahina-san and busied myself with looking after my ever-troublesome best friend.