Chapter 21: 3.1

A day passed after I realised the most shocking fact of my life: I was in love with Yuzu. 

Even so, the world went on without a hitch, and my normal day-to-day life returned.

“I’d never have thought I’d end up like this…” I muttered to myself as I walked alone down the morning corridor.

I felt as if I was floating just a bit off the ground. I could feel my pulse speeding up a little, even though I wasn’t doing anything.

“Aren’t I too flustered? What’ll happen if I see Yuzu’s face now?”

Today, we went to school separately since Yuzu had plans to go to school with Kotani, but still, we’d meet each other in class.

Oh no, this is totally nerve-wracking.

“Oh, nice, you’re here, Izumi!”

At that time, my shoulder was tapped from behind.

“WHOA!”

I jumped back with a start, then turned around and there was Namase with a quizzical look on his face.

“You don’t have to be that surprised… What’s wrong, Izumi?”

“Oh, nothing, sorry. I’m just used to a lifestyle where no one would call out for me,” I reflexively said something as a cover.

In response, Namase made a sad face at me, “What a sad thing to say… I also talked to you now and then, so cheer up!”

“Sorry… I don’t remember those.”

“What a sad thing to say! Now, it’s me who feels lonelier than you!” 

Looking at his exaggerated reaction, I turned calm.

“So, what can I do for you? Um…Na-Namase,”

“That pause, you forgot my name, right?! We’ve been classmates for eight months!”

“Well, I was only half-joking.”

“I’m bothered by the remaining half!”

“Don’t be bothered. So, what do you want to talk about?”

When I prompted him again, Namase took a deep breath and got down to business.

“Just a bit, about Christmas.”

This topic could be easily predicted since it’s that time of the year, so here it came. Namase first confirmed that there was no one in the surrounding area, then whispered to me in a low voice.

“It’s Aki, she plans to confess to Sota again during Christmas.”

“Ooh… When I talked to her before this, it sounded to me like it would take her more time to reach that point.”

I thought it would take her all courage to just ask Sota for a date on Christmas, but surprisingly, the plan went as far as the confession.

“Well, it took a lot of effort to get her into the spirit to do that…” 

Namase had a distant look. He must’ve been desperately pushing her.

“So, why are you bringing this up to me? There’s no way you’re asking for my help, are you?”

Kotani would never want my help. I knew that, so I asked him and what I got was his serious face.

“What? I’m just laying some groundwork. Yuzu would probably give more priority to Aki than usual, and it would be a problem if Izumi and Yuzu were to have a row because of that.”

I see. If Yuzu devoted more time to Kotani, I would be the first one to suffer. So he wanted to give me a follow-up in advance before I voiced my dissatisfaction to Yuzu. This guy sure knew how to socialise.

“I got that… Back to the real issue, is Kotani doing okay?” I inquired.

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For the current me, I could understand how much courage it would take to confess feelings to someone. Moreover, it must take a lot of mental strength to make a second attempt at someone who had rejected you once before. It was a level of determination that deserved much respect.

“The odds are in her favour and we’ll do our best to take care of her emotional wellbeing. That’s why I’m also talking to Izumi like this.”

Namase’s words seeped with a strong determination.

“…Well, okay. I won’t do anything that’ll cause a disturbance in this crucial period.”

On my side, I was also having a tough time; ​​but for that reason, I would not want to put a burden on Kotani, who was going through a similar, if not together, time than me.

“Izumi… yes, thank you. You are surprisingly very thoughtful towards your friends. Exactly the type of friend one would need,” Namase spouted an inexplicable statement in relief.

“Friend? Huh, who’s a friend with whom?”

“Izumi and I, who else?!”

“Namase… Listen, between you and I, the relationship is merely ‘someone who just happened to be allocated to the same class for eight months.’”

“How can you push me away like that?! We’ve been through a few big troubles together! What, is it that difficult to be friends?!” 

Namase plainly uttered something an extrovert would say. This guy sure would find it easy to get along with anyone. 

“Well, I was only half-joking.”

“Again, what’s with the remaining half?! Since earlier, I think something that’s been bothering me for a while now is still fifty percent obscured!”

Paying no heed to Namase’s complaint, I continued, “Anyway, I earnestly wish that things go well. This is for Yuzu’s sake too.”

He was stumped in response to my honest sentiment and then let out a wry smile. “Whoa, I was just served with a super big display of affection. So you like Yuzu-cchi that much?”

I replied with a shrug of my shoulders to the teasingly snide comment, “That’s right. She’s the love of my life, after all.”

When I shamelessly acknowledged that, Namase blatantly frowned.

“Okay, okay, I’ve heard enough. Yuzu-cchi is so blessed to be loved this much. Compared to before dating you, Izumi, I guess she smiles more naturally now.” 

I found his remark to be quite surprising.

“…Is that so?” I asked in surprise, to which Namase chuckled as he nodded.

“Yeah. Sure enough, the face she shows us is different from what she shows you.”

Yuzu was an expert at putting on a facade, but Namase’s social skills were at an expert level too. Without even trying, he could discern the difference in her.

“Perhaps, Yuzu needs someone to whom she can show that side of hers that she cannot show us. Therefore, I think it was great when Yamato and Yuzu-cchi started dating.”

He turned his somewhat crooked smile towards me. Despite having shown him how much I was smitten with Yuzu, I was too embarrassed to look back at him.

“…Well, it doesn’t feel bad to be told that.”

“Glad to hear it. But anyway, if you were to demonstrate any more displays of affection here, I would have to spit sugar out of my mouth, so I’m gonna take my leave now.”

Like that, he turned on his heel and walked in the opposite direction to the classroom.

“Okay, I wish you the best too!” I shouted out to his back and then headed for my own classroom.

He was an unexpected visitor, but perhaps because I spoke to him, my nerves were somehow relaxed. I smoothly opened the classroom door and entered the room.

Immediately, my eyes met those of Yuzu, who was talking with a few classmates. 

She waved a small hand at me as she said ‘good morning’—not audibly, she only mouthed the words. I responded by raising one hand lightly, and then discreetly took my seat and looked out the window.

“…Oh my goodness. I’m amazed at myself.”

To think that this little exchange was enough to make my heart skip a beat.

chocolala: Namase the social guy who’s trying his best to keep his group intact, I wish him happiness as well.

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