My Overly Anxious and Devoted Girlfriend Never Gives Up on Me - Chapter 2.2

The next day, during lunch break.

After spreading out the homemade lunch I’d brought on my desk, I let out a sigh.

Somehow, my mood felt heavy.

In the end yesterday, I had accepted Yunagi’s suggestion—or rather, her request.

Namely, a method other than “revealing everything” to naturally spend time together with me at school.

The reason was obvious.

I myself was gradually becoming unable to be strict with Yunagi-san.

After all, she’s a beautiful girl.

And not just that, her inner self is adorable too.

When someone says “I want to be with you because I like you” with that kind of face, I can’t help but soften up a little.

However, it’s not like I’m starting to be attracted to her as a member of the opposite sex, of course.

To put it simply, I’m being bound.

That’s all it was.

But I also understood that this wasn’t a good thing.

Even though I have no intention of reciprocating her feelings, I shouldn’t let her expectations grow any further.

That’s right.

From now on, I must firmly refuse her demands.

Taking a sip of tea from my plastic bottle, I nodded with a determined gulp.

“Sakuraba-kun.”

Just as I swallowed the tea in my mouth, someone called out to me.

Slowly turning my face in that direction.

Glossy black short hair and narrowed, sleepy-looking eyes.

A petite girl who somehow carried a mature aura.

“Shirato-san, right?”

“Yes. I’m Shirato Kasumi, Yunagi Shizuno’s friend.”

Shirato-san said this in a matter-of-fact tone and plopped down into the empty seat in front of me.

“I heard from Shizuno. Tough situation, huh?”

“…Well, I guess it is tough.”

Though I was at a loss for how to respond, I honestly said that.

Even though we were in the same class, I’d never spoken with Shirato-san before.

But Shirato-san is the only person who knows about the relationship between Yunagi-san and me.

Maybe because of that, it didn’t feel like we were talking for the first time.

Shirato-san continued in a hushed voice.

“It’s unreasonable, isn’t it? Forcing someone who’s reluctant to become your boyfriend.”

“Yeah, it really is unreasonable.”

“Mm. But well, that just shows how desperate Shizuno is, probably. So, I’d like you to forgive her. I think it’s the first time that girl has liked someone this much.”

Shirato-san said this without changing her expression.

Somehow, she has a peculiar air about her.

For being the best friend of the lively Yunagi-san, she’s quite composed.

“If she gets too persistent, I’ll scold her, so let me know when that happens. Sakuraba-kun, you seem kind.”

“No… well, yeah. Understood.”

Though hesitant, I decided to gratefully accept those words.

Apparently, she isn’t completely on Yunagi-san’s side, it seems.

Or rather, she’s probably an extremely sensible person.

“So, about what Shizuno said yesterday.”

“Ah, right.”

Getting to the main topic.

There was a proper reason why Shirato-san had appeared here.

The proposal Yunagi-san made to me yesterday was this:

First, her best friend Shirato-san would become friends with me.

Then Yunagi-san would join in, making it appear to others over a few days that the three of us had naturally become close.

“‘This way I can naturally be with Sakuraba-kun, right! So please! Help me, Kasumi!’ …is what she said.”

“And you actually agreed to cooperate? That’s tough on you too, Shirato-san.”

“I refused twice, but she was persistent.”

“Somehow, I feel like I understand your feelings really well.”

When I said that, Shirato-san faintly relaxed her cheeks and let out a soft chuckle.

Somehow, it felt like I’d seen something rare.

“So anyway, let’s keep it moderate, okay, Sakuraba-kun?”

“Ah, likewise.”

After exchanging light greetings, Shirato-san placed her lunchbox on my desk.

The two of us leisurely ate lunch together.

Even this scene felt plenty unnatural, but well, Shirato-san and I are in the same class, so it probably doesn’t need to be that concerning.

After a while, the hallway grew noisy just like before.

Simultaneously, I heard voices saying, “Ah! It’s Yunagi-san!”

As expected, it seemed she had arrived.

“Shirato-san is in the classroom.”

“Yes, thank you.”

After that exchange, Yunagi-san quickly appeared.

Our eyes met perfectly again, and for just a moment, she broke into a full-faced smile.

“K-Kasumi! Wh-what are you doing?”

With lines that anyone could tell were delivered flatly, Yunagi-san approached us.

The gazes in the classroom gathered toward us.

I’ll try to stay as calm as possible.

Keeping that in mind, I put some tamagoyaki in my mouth.

“What do you mean? Eating lunch.”

“Ah, r-right—! Of course—!”

Shirato-san wasn’t even trying to hide her exasperated expression.

Apparently, Yunagi-san is quite the ham actor.

“Ah, wh-what? The one you’re with is Sakuraba-kun, right? Kasumi, are you friends?”

“…Well, yeah. We only became close recently.”

The two seemed to be deliberately letting those around us hear their conversation.

I see, so this is how they avoid arousing suspicion.

After that, their trivial exchange continued.

For today, prioritizing realism, I decided not to participate much in the conversation.

Even so, this is quite an elaborate method.

“Aoto-kun.”

Right around when my lunch was finished, I was called again.

Not by Yunagi-san, nor by Shirato-san.

But I recognized that voice.

“Mikura-san, what’s up?”

Our classmate and class representative, Mikura Yuzuri-san.

Among the girls, we’re on relatively good speaking terms.

“I’d like you to help me with something. Are you free now?”

“Ah, sure, no problem.”

It’s unusual for her to ask me for a favor.

I quickly put away my lunchbox and followed after her.

Glancing back at my seat, just like before, Yunagi-san was making an extremely scary face, glaring this way—no, glaring at Mikura-san’s back.

While being waved at by Shirato-san next to her, I left the classroom with a sigh-ready feeling.