Chapter 11

"Again... what do you call this? Thank you very much."

Arisa took the paper bag with a puzzled look.

She was unusually flustered, which was rare for her, who usually maintained a calm demeanor.

Perhaps this was the first time she had been so flustered since the day he praised her cooking.

"Even if it's just for 'acting,' I'm happy."

Arisa slightly narrowed her eyes.

It was not the artificial, art-like smile she usually showed at school, but a natural one.

Just for a moment, just a brief moment...

Yugen's heart skipped a beat.

(...It's good for the eyes, but bad for the heart.)

Arisa's dead-like eyes and her artificial, unnatural smile were not to his liking.

But her natural smile was truly beautiful and lovely.

"Even if it's not for 'acting.' Even without the engagement, we are close, so I prepared a gift."

"...Is that so?"

"Friends. ...Could it be that I was the only one who thought we were friends?"

Yugen scratched his cheek, realizing that if it was just his one-sided friendship (of course, not romantic feelings but friendship), it would be quite embarrassing.

Arisa shook her head hurriedly.

"N-no... I'm sorry. I'm not good at these things. If you ask me if we are friends..."

"...You don't have any friends, do you?"

"That's not true. ...If having lunch together and nodding along counts as friends, I have many."

Arisa said this with a somewhat cold tone.

Her green eyes were dark and murky.

"I haven't been to a classmate's house before, but... this is the first time someone has been so close to me."

Arisa always treated her classmates equally.

So she didn't have any particularly bad relationships, but she also didn't have any particularly good ones.

There was no distinction among others.

But between herself and others, she created a transparent and strong wall.

This was Arisa's way of interacting with people.

It made sense that she had no interest in birthdays.

There was no one who would celebrate it for her.

"First time... that's an honor, isn't it?"

Considering that taking it too seriously would not be good for the atmosphere, Yugen said it teasingly.

Arisa seemed to find it more relaxing and responded with a bright voice.

"Yes, it's a great honor. Please feel honored."

Then Arisa lovingly stroked the paper bag Yugen had given her.

She looked up at Yugen.

Her usually cold, inorganic eyes, like a frozen lake, seemed to warm up a little... or so it felt.

"In October, I will also prepare something for you."

"I'll be looking forward to it."

Yugen said that.

Arisa nodded slightly and then put the paper bag on the floor.

But soon she started to fidget... picked it up again, and placed it on her lap.

Then she asked Yugen.

"Can I open it?"

"Of course, go ahead. I'd love to hear your thoughts. It will be helpful for the future."

Considering that they would continue their "engagement" until graduation, it was very important to know Arisa's preferences now.

"Then I'll give my honest opinion. ...Is this soap?"

What Yugen had given Arisa was a set of soaps.

It included solid soaps with a good scent, shampoo, conditioner, and a hand towel.

He had debated between toners, hand creams, and lip balms...

But considering the approaching summer, he chose the soaps.

"This is a famous brand, right? It's quite expensive, isn't it?"

Arisa's voice seemed to contain both joy and confusion.

The feeling of receiving something nice and the guilt of receiving such an expensive item...

"Is it okay? I'd appreciate your honest feedback."

"Even though you've given it to me, I can't criticize it from a superior position. ...But, yes.

I received something much better than I expected. I didn't think I would receive such wonderful items."

Arisa's voice was slightly excited.

Her expression remained calm, but her cheeks were slightly flushed.

"I've never received, bought, or used anything like this. So, really, really... I'm very happy."

Arisa said that and then sighed softly.

Her emerald eyes gradually lost their light and became cloudy.

"I'm the only one. Everyone else, including my step-sister and classmates, has them."

Arisa's eyes gradually moistened.

Her voice was strained, and her body was slightly trembling.

She suddenly lowered her head.

Her amber hair hid her expression.

"I pretended not to be interested, but I really wanted them. I was envious of everyone, but I couldn't ask for them... I'm sorry. I got a bit emotional."

Arisa said that and turned her back to Yugen.

Her shoulders were shaking slightly.

After a while, she took a deep breath and exhaled.

When she turned back, her expression had returned to its usual calmness.

Her eyes were... slightly red.

"Please pretend you didn't hear that."

"Sure. If you say so, I will."

Yugen could listen to complaints anytime.

He wanted to say that, but he respected Arisa's wishes and said nothing.

He had already told Arisa that he would help her if she needed it.

He had also told her that he would respect her decisions.

If she wanted him to pretend he didn't hear, then he would say nothing.

"Anyway, is it okay if I give you something similar next year?"

"Yes... please."

But...

If he could fulfill her wishes with some excuse, if he could provide her with a place to escape, it would be acceptable.

Yugen thought that.

That night.

As usual, Yugen was seeing Arisa home.

"Kasagawa, I've been wondering... why do you wear a T-shirt when we're in the room, but put on a jacket when we go outside? ...I think it's hotter outside than in the room this season."

Arisa's voice had a slight edge.

Yugen thought that since he was walking outside with Arisa, he should dress properly.

That's why he wore a jacket and dressed up.

However, Arisa seemed to be a bit annoyed by Yugen's attitude.

Of course, he didn't want her to walk beside him looking shabby...

"Are you saying you want me to dress up even when we're alone together?"

"Yes. It feels like you're taking me lightly by not caring about my opinion when you care about others' opinions."

Yugen understood what she was trying to say.

In short, she was upset because she wasn't being treated like a woman.

"But I don't get it. You don't like me, right? ...And yet, you want me to care about your opinion?"

"Let me ask you, Kasagawa. What would you think if I came to you with messy bed hair and a tracksuit?"

"Well, that would be pretty bad. But it's not that bad, right? I'm just wearing normal clothes... putting on a jacket makes it decent. ...Is this that bad? As bad as a tracksuit?"

Yugen didn't think his fashion sense was particularly good, but he didn't think it was bad either.

But when she put it that way, he suddenly felt unsure.

"Don't worry about that. I think it's good."

"Then..."

"I can fully accept a full tracksuit. What I'm concerned about is your attitude. You only fix your hair and put on a jacket when you go outside. It's like you're putting in 60% effort in front of me and 80% effort outside, which is a bit... annoying."

Now that he thought about it, Yugen's attitude might have been wrong.

He had asked her to speak her mind if something bothered her.

It was easier for him if she said it outright rather than bottling it up.

Reflecting on this, Yugen thought...

"I'm sorry, that was a bit too much. I understand. After all, this is your room, and you have the right to relax here. I'm the one who's intruding. But... I do pay attention to you."

"...You pay attention to me?"

Yugen had always thought that he was just a pebble on the road to Arisa, or at most a business partner, and not someone she considered as a man.

So Arisa's words were a bit surprising to him.

"Don't misunderstand. Of course, I don't see you as a romantic interest. But... I do recognize you as a man. ...Is that wrong?"

"No, I'm a man. ...You make jokes like that too?"

"Don't tease me. ...I'm being serious. It feels a bit unfair that you treat me as a woman but don't treat me as a man."

Arisa pouted, her cheeks slightly flushed by the sunset.

Yugen nodded deeply.

"You're right. I'm sorry. I've been taking your kindness for granted. I'll be more careful from now on."

"That would be a great help."

That day, Yugen felt the distance between him and Arisa had significantly closed.

Affection Level: 50%

Goodwill has reached 50%, changing from 'Opposite Sex Friend' to 'Close Opposite Sex Friend'

Of course, even at this level, if he were to confess, he would most likely be rejected.

If you found this interesting, want to read more, think the heroine is cute, and want to see her happy,

please bookmark and rate (change the stars at the bottom of the table of contents from ☆☆☆☆☆ to ★★★★★).

Your support will give the author the motivation to write until the happy ending.

Thank you.