Chapter 86

After school on the day when Yuzuru and Arisa had a fun conversation on their cell phones, Yuzuru was called to the rooftop by Ayaka and Chiharu.

"What's up? Ayaka, Chiharu"

Perhaps they had come up with some prank?

Thinking something rather impolite, Yuzuru asked the two of them.

"Can I be straightforward, Yuzuru?"

"Sure, go ahead..."

"Yuzuru, do you actually like Arisa?"

When asked this by Ayaka, Yuzuru felt his face heat up slightly.

Scratching his cheek to hide his embarrassment, he averted his eyes and replied.

"Well... it's pretty obvious, isn't it?"

Objectively speaking, it was clear that Yuzuru had a certain fondness for Arisa.

Yuzuru was certainly aware of this much.

"Then, do you know that Arisa likes you too?"

"...Yeah, I think we're mutual."

In response to Chiharu's question, Yuzuru answered.

A few days ago, though it was in her sleep, Arisa had indeed told Yuzuru that she liked him.

They were definitely mutual.

"Hmm..."

"Oh..."

After hearing Yuzuru's answer, Ayaka and Chiharu...

"Yuzuru, you're so stiff!"

"We're childhood friends, so you should consult us!"

They nudged Yuzuru with grins on their faces, full of teasing.

That's why he didn't want to tell them.

"Since when? Was it the birthday present for Arisa? Did you start liking her then?"

"Or was it around the pool? Did you spend Christmas together?"

"Enough! Stop it!!"

Yuzuru forcibly pulled away from Ayaka and Chiharu who were coming closer.

Then he sighed.

"You guys... you're just teasing me, right? ...That's why I didn't want to say anything."

"You didn't seem to be trying to hide it, though?"

"If you're embarrassed, you should be more careful about who's watching, right?"

"Alright, alright... I'm sorry..."

When Yuzuru answered in a bad mood, the two of them chuckled.

"Come on, don't be so sulky."

"Have you told Soichiro and Ryoshinji yet?"

"I have... but, well, it feels bad to hide it from Nageli, so I might as well tell her too. ...But please don't tell anyone else."

When Yuzuru said this, the two of them nodded vigorously.

"Of course. We're tight-lipped."

"We know the difference between what we can say and what we can't."

Whether or not they were actually tight-lipped was another matter, but the fact that they had never betrayed Yuzuru's trust was true.

So it was fine to believe them here.

"So, why don't you confess?"

"Is it because you can't make up your mind, or some other pathetic reason? Or is it because you're already practically dating, so it's fine?"

Yuzuru shook his head from side to side.

"I do plan to confess. ...At the right time, in the right way. You know, Arisa said before... she likes romantic developments."

He didn't want to let Ayaka and Chiharu forget that.

And the reason he knew about Arisa's feelings was because Ayaka had given a strange command during the "King's Game."

"Ah, I see. You're different from someone else, Yuzuru."

"..."

Yuzuru and Chiharu immediately understood who "someone else" was, but they remained silent.

On the other hand, Ayaka, noticing the awkward atmosphere, tried to move the conversation along.

"So, there's nothing we can help with, huh?"

"Well... I guess not. If you could tell Arisa that the reason I haven't confessed isn't because I don't like her or because I'm indecisive... I think she's probably anxious."

If Yuzuru were in Arisa's position, he would be worried about why he hadn't confessed.

He might even be irritated.

Yuzuru wanted to express his feelings first, not the other way around.

He also didn't want Arisa to think he was a wimp.

"Right. I'll tell her that Yuzuru is a man who acts when he decides to."

Chiharu answered.

Then, Ayaka, who had been deep in thought, spoke up.

"Hey, if Yuzuru and Arisa become a couple, what will you do at school?"

"Hmm? No... I think we'll keep it hidden as usual. Arisa doesn't want it to be known..."

Arisa is supposed to have no interest in romance and no crush.

If she suddenly became a couple with Yuzuru, she would likely face disapproval from her "friends."

Arisa was worried about this.

"But if you go on dates, you'll eventually be found out, right?"

"After becoming a couple, there's no need to hide it, right?"

"No... I guess not. But, you know, if we suddenly become a couple after having nothing between us before..."

This would imply that Arisa had been intentionally hiding it. (Which she had, in fact.)

This wouldn't be good for her reputation, apparently.

"So, it would be better if it wasn't sudden. I have a rough idea of when Yuzuru plans to confess, but if the distance between Yuzuru and Arisa at school gets closer by then, it would be better."

"That's true, but... how exactly do we do that? We haven't really interacted much before, so it would seem sudden if we suddenly got closer."

Some natural trigger would be needed.

When Yuzuru said this, Ayaka beamed and puffed out her chest.

"Leave it to me! I have a great idea!"

"Great idea? What kind of idea?"

"That's... "

"Wow! Ayaka, you're amazing!"

Ayaka and Chiharu got excited on their own, leaving Yuzuru, the main party, no choice but to ask about the "great idea."

"What kind of idea?"

"That's... you'll know tomorrow."

"Just sit back and relax."

The two childhood friends, with their disproportionately large chests, were brimming with confidence.

Yuzuru couldn't help but feel a bit anxious.

---

The next morning.

"Good morning, Yuzuru. Here, please."

"Ah, Arisa. Good morning... thank you."

As usual, Arisa had come to Yuzuru's apartment to deliver his lunch.

Yuzuru thanked her and took the lunch box.

Normally, he would return the washed lunch box along with his comments on the taste...

"Are you overworking yourself? If you want to take a break today... I know it sounds strange, but..."

Since she had just recovered from an illness, Yuzuru had declined her lunch yesterday.

So today, he had no lunch box to return to Arisa.

On the other hand, Arisa smiled and narrowed her eyes.

"It's fine. I actually wanted to make it yesterday too. ...I really enjoy making your lunch, Yuzuru."

"Is that so? Well, if you enjoy it, that's good."

It would be rude to forcefully refuse or deny Arisa's kindness.

Thinking this, Yuzuru decided to back down... but before that, he wanted to say one thing.

"Anyway, I don't want to make you do anything you don't want to do."

"Yes, I understand. I'll do it within my limits. ...If it becomes a hassle, I'll let you know by email."

Arisa said this with a playful tone.

Yuzuru couldn't help but smile.

"Then, I'll head to school first."

Arisa turned and left, looking a bit reluctant to go.

Yuzuru felt the same way.

"Hey, Arisa."

"What is it?"

Arisa stopped and turned around.

Her light brown hair swayed gently.

"Is it difficult to go to school together?"

"In the morning, there are more people around... unlike in the evening."

In the evening, after school, students leave at different times, so the chances of being seen by classmates are surprisingly low.

But in the morning, the school entry times overlap, making it more noticeable.

"I see..."

"Yes... sorry."

"No, it's fine. I'm the one who said something strange. Sorry."

Yuzuru watched Arisa leave...

and felt a bit of hope for Ayaka and Chiharu's "great idea."

---

And during lunch break that day.

Yuzuru got up to have lunch with Soichiro and Sei.

As he left the classroom to meet them...

"Yuzuru, can we join you today?"

At the front of the classroom, Ayaka said to Yuzuru.

Behind her, Chiharu waved to the people inside the classroom and said...

"Since we're all here, why don't Arisa join us too? What do you think?"

In other words, it was a "friends of friends are friends" strategy.

---

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