My Overly Anxious and Devoted Girlfriend Never Gives Up on Me - Chapter 1.6

“Can I tell just my closest friend about you and Sakuraba-kun?”

“Fine, but just one person.”

“Yay! Thank you!”

“Make sure they keep it secret.”

“Yes, I understand!”

The day after I exchanged those messages with Sakuraba-kun.

“So, that would be me, I take it?”

“Y-yeah.”

I, Yunagi Shizuno, had called my best friend Shirato Kasumi to a café in front of the station.

Kasumi isn’t the type to stand out much, but she’s calm, smart, and reliable.

Kasumi, who showed up in unfeminine, simple clothes, didn’t show even a hint of surprise when she heard my story.

“Won’t that cause trouble for Sakuraba-kun?”

“Urk…”

At Kasumi’s overly direct remark, I felt my mood sink with a thud.

As expected of Kasumi, sharp as ever from the start.

“I-I can’t help it! If I didn’t do something like that, I really would’ve been rejected for good!”

“If he says he doesn’t even want to date you, Shizuno, he really has no interest in romance. I think it’d be pitiful for Sakuraba-kun if you push him too hard.”

“W-why would you say that?!”

“Because, well.”

From her neatly trimmed black hair, Kasumi’s sleepy eyes peek out.

Of course, I understand that.

I understand, but even so, I don’t want to give up on Sakuraba-kun.

As long as there’s even the slightest possibility he might turn to look my way, I want to cling to that chance.

“It’s not like it has to be Sakuraba-kun, right? With your popularity, you could have your pick, couldn’t you? Aren’t there other nice guys?”

“There aren’t. It has to be Sakuraba-kun. I’m not interested in anyone else.”

“…Hmm.”

If that weren’t the case, I wouldn’t be struggling like this.

It’s precisely because there’s only Sakuraba-kun that I’m acting so recklessly.

“What do you like so much about him?”

“Everything. His kindness, his coolness, even his cold side.”

“What a silly answer.”

“W-what’s that supposed to mean?!”

Kasumi makes a face like she’s exasperated.

Even when I glare at her, she doesn’t look the least bit apologetic.

“Was there some kind of trigger?”

“Th-that’s… well, yeah.”

“Oh? What was it?”

“I-I’ll tell you next time.”

“Why not?”

“B-because it’s embarrassing.”

When I said that, Kasumi shook her head with a “what am I going to do with you” expression.

But the fact that she didn’t press further shows that she really is my best friend.

The story of how I came to like Sakuraba-kun is a long one.

Telling Kasumi about it now is still a little embarrassing.

“But Sakuraba-kun is popular, isn’t he?”

“Yes! That’s right!”

At Kasumi’s words, I couldn’t help but agree loudly.

Kasumi covers her ears and looks at me with half-lidded eyes.

“One girl I know said she’s interested in Sakuraba-kun too.”

“Eh!? Who!? What’s she like!?”

“I can’t really tell you that, though.”

“Urgh…”

My chest tightens, and it becomes hard to breathe.

I thought I fully understood that Sakuraba-kun is popular.

But actually, experiencing it is still scary.

It makes me anxious and impatient.

“He’s not super popular like you, Shizuno, but he’s secretly popular, isn’t he?”

“Yeah. That’s why it’s bad, actually.”

“Nah, there’s no way Shizuno would lose to other girls.”

“You don’t know that! You can’t say that!”

Even as I retort, Kasumi grins without any sense of urgency.

Though it’s awkward to say it myself, I am indeed popular.

Thanks to my good-looking parents, I think my face is quite well-featured, and my figure isn’t bad either.

In fact, since entering high school, I’ve been confessed to many times already.

Well, I haven’t dated anyone yet, though.

But that’s a different matter.

Since my looks—my weapon doesn’t work on Sakuraba-kun, I have no advantage.

And besides…

“Sakuraba-kun is probably out with a girl today.”

“Eh, what’s that?”

Even Kasumi seemed interested in this.

She leaned forward a little, urging me to continue.

According to the information I obtained, Sakuraba-kun apparently went to a bookstore today with that Naruse-san, just the two of them.

Even though he has me as his girlfriend!

…Not that I can say that.

Besides, I don’t want to interfere with what Sakuraba-kun enjoys.

“Naruse-san is that girl who came to our classroom before, right. So that was about that consultation.”

“Seems like it…”

“Ahh. So that’s why you were in such a bad mood that time, Shizuno. I wondered what was going on.”

Kasumi nodded as if everything made sense.

Apparently, even from an outsider’s perspective, I couldn’t hide my anger.

“Naruse-san is dangerous. She looks one way but is surprisingly proactive, she’s cute, and she shares hobbies with Sakuraba-kun.”

“Yeah. They suit each other, don’t they?”

“Kasumiiiiii!”

“Ah, sorry, sorry.”

Kasumi gently pats my teary head, pon pon.

This best friend of mine is truly merciless.

“Which bookstore?”

“…The one in the building above Central Station.”

“Ahh, that bookstore, yeah.”

“Ugh, I really can’t stand this. Aah, what should I do? Sakuraba-kun, please don’t be swayed.”

“It’ll be fine. You’re such a worrywart.”

Saying that, Kasumi for some reason slurped down the milk tea in front of her, zuzu.

Then she smoothly stood up, took the check, and started walking.

“Wh-what is it, Kasumi? Are you leaving already?”

“What are you talking about? We’re going together.”

“G-going where?”

At my question, Kasumi lifted the corners of her mouth slightly, making a truly reliable and just a little scary smile, and said:

“Sakuraba-kun Stalking Operation.”