While I Was Giving Love Advice to My Best Friend, the School's Most Beautiful Girl Somehow Became the Closest Person to Me-Chapter 2Volume 1 .1 - ※Alisas Interest
Chapter 2: ※Alisa’s Interest
*Asahina Alisa’s POV
“I’m home.”
Why do I utter these words when I return home, even though no one is there to greet me?
I live alone in a large house where turning on the lights in the areas I use barely illuminates half of it.
Everyone who visits envies this mansion, but living here I often think such a large place is unnecessary if I live alone.
I, Asahina Alisa, am alone. My parents, busy with work, spend nine-tenths of the year abroad, and my older brother lives in a dormitory at a school known for its strong sports program.
However, our family relationship is good. I video call my parents every week, and they hug and care for me with all their might when they come home, so I do feel their love.
My relationship with my brother isn’t bad either. But it’s rare for the whole family to eat together—perhaps only during New Year’s or Obon if we’re lucky.
Still, I understand that many employees depend on my parents’ work, and my brother is one of Japan’s top athletes, so I want to think it’s admirable rather than feeling particularly lonely when we’re not together.
“Sigh.”
I reach for the remote on the table and turn on the TV while lying down on the sofa in the unnecessarily large living room. I tune into a variety show to keep the loneliness at bay.
I’m hungry… and I need to take a bath. I was supposed to go to the bathroom too, but once I lie down, getting up feels like such a hassle.
I’m inherently lazy. I don’t want to do anything, and my uniform is probably all wrinkled.
I pull out my smartphone from my pocket and open the LINE app. I only exchange LINE contacts with people I have a deep connection with.
For casual conversations, Instagram DMs are enough… Well, I only read others’ posts without posting anything myself.
Maybe I should message Shizuku, asking if she’s not back yet.
Kogure Ryouma: 『Good evening. Just trying to see if my message gets through.』
A LINE notification pops up on my smartphone, and I jump up from the sofa. I lie down in a weird position, so my back is a little sore.
That’s right, I exchanged LINE QR codes with Kogure-kun. I’ve never exchanged messages with a male other than my father or brother, so I wonder how I should reply.
Well, I guess I’ll just respond like I did earlier.
ARISA: 『Good evening. I’m surprised to get a message from Kogure-kun. What are you up to?』
Kogure Ryouma: 『I’m cooking dinner. Right now, I’m waiting for the rice to cook, so I thought I’d say hello.』
ARISA: 『What’s for dinner tonight?』
Kogure Ryouma: 『Chicken katsu. Chicken was cheap, so I bought a lot and had to use it up.』
Chicken katsu? That sounds good.
The juicy texture of freshly fried chicken katsu is just as satisfying as tonkatsu. Drenched in sauce and eaten with cabbage, it makes the rice go down so easily.
Chicken is great because it’s affordable and versatile in cooking.
Kogure Ryouma: 『 ‘Photo attachment (Chicken katsu)’ 』
ARISA: 『No food teasing! (sticker)』
ARISA: 『I’m hungry.』
Kogure Ryouma: 『Even after all those pancakes, you can still eat?』
ARISA: 『Of course. By the way, Kogure-kun, you seem more casual in text.』
Kogure Ryouma: 『Typing out polite language is a hassle.』
ARISA: 『You should talk more casually too.』
Kogure Ryouma: 『It’s easier for me to speak formally.』
Weird. But somehow, it seems like him.
Why do I feel like he’s an old friend I’ve always been with, even though we’ve barely met? It must be my imagination.
ARISA: 『Where do you live, Kogure-kun?”
Kogure Ryouma: 『In the southern side of Sagimiya. It’s a bit of a hassle since the bus stop is at an awkward distance.』
The next neighborhood over. He lives quite close.
ARISA: 『My house is right behind the bus stop at Kusaka. It’s only a three-minute walk. Isn’t that nice?』
Kogure Ryouma: 『Asahina-san, you shouldn’t share information that could reveal your address so casually.』
“Ah…”
I got carried away bragging about convenience and said too much.
ARISA: 『My house has a security system and solid crime prevention measures.』
Kogure Ryouma: 『That’s not really the point. Just be careful, okay? Things are dangerous these days, so make sure to lock up properly.』
ARISA: 『Are you being called ‘Mama’ by anyone, Kogure-kun?』
Kogure Ryouma: 『Someone calls me like that earlier, so please stop.』
Kogure-kun is definitely unique.
It’s my fault for sharing my address, but it’s nice of him to caution me… Maybe he’s not conscious of me.
It’s rare to meet a guy who doesn’t desire me at first sight. It’s somehow reassuring.
Just as I was enjoying our conversation, the doorbell rang. If it’s someone I’m waiting for, they would have a key.
As expected, I heard the door open and a voice saying “Good evening.”
ARISA: 『My angel has returned.』
I put down my smartphone and immediately ran to hug the girl who spoke.
“Shizuku! I’ve been waiting for you!”
“Kyah! Stop.”
With about a ten-centimeter height difference, Shizuku’s body is completely enveloped when I cover her with both hands.
My childhood friend and best friend, Otsuki Shizuku, had come over.
“I was lonely because you didn’t come home with me today.”
“I’m sorry, Alisa.”
“Hmph. I’ll forgive you if you comfort me.”
“I’ve prepared your favorite curry for today, so let’s eat together, okay?”
“Yay!”
I love the curry Shizuku makes!
Shizuku smiles and heads towards the kitchen. So I decide to wait patiently for my favorite dish to be ready.
“Are you lazing around on the sofa again? Your uniform is all wrinkled.”
“But I was bored…”
“Did you wash your hands properly? You need to gargle thoroughly too.”
“Yes, Mama.”
“I feel like I’m ready to be a parent anytime.”
At home, I’m completely spoiled by Shizuku, who I always act so proper around at school.
She’s my most important childhood friend and the girl I trust the most, aside from my own family.
She’s kind, cute, and truly amazing at everything.
“Leave your uniform there, I’ll iron it later. And don’t undress here! Wait…Alisa, have you grown again?”
“Um, seems like it.”
“We’ll have to go buy new underwear again. Shall we go shopping next weekend?”
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“Yeah!”
Ah, Shizuku really is so reliable… Well, maybe it’s just because I’m too sloppy.
There’s a reason why Shizuku takes such meticulous care of me.
When my brother left for high school, I tried to start cooking for myself and caused a small fire.
On top of that, I was disastrous at laundry and cleaning, so Shizuku, who lives next door, started helping me out willingly.
She’s always been a caring person, but apparently, she can’t stand to watch me be so helpless on my own.
After discussing it with my parents, we decided to hire Shizuku as a housekeeper. Shizuku wanted to earn money with a part-time job once she started high school, so our interests aligned.
Now, Shizuku takes care of all the housework on weekends and prepares three meals a day on weekdays.
It might seem like a lot with school and a job, but I heard from Shizuku that it’s not too burdensome since we also have a housekeeper on weekdays to handle everything but cooking.
The delicious smell of curry wafts over.
They say curry is the taste of home, but in my case, Shizuku’s curry will undoubtedly be imprinted in my brain forever.
