“About today… I’m sorry, Komori. We got into trouble with the police because of my mistake.”
An hour had passed since they were taken to the police station. Komori and the others were finally released and were on their way home.
Kengo Sunagawa sensed from Shizuku Natsukawa’s words and actions that she had not crossed the line. He felt a sense of guilt in combination with the fact that he took advantage of his family’s constitution of being susceptible to alcohol.
At the same time,
(Then again–This guy is a really nice guy, huh!?)
Sunagawa’s opinion of Komori was beginning to change.
This is because even though he attacked Komori, Komori defended him during the questioning.
(‘No, officer! Sunagawa-kun is not at all to blame. It’s just that I acted rashly…” “Assault? What are you talking about!? Sunagawa-kun didn’t assault me! It was me who made him misunderstand in the first place!’ huh, Komori? You were taken in by the police. Proving your innocence usually would come first. But you tried so hard to cover for me.)
The police officer admonished Sunagawa, Komori, and Natsukawa all to be aware of their own carelessness and thoughtless behavior so as not to leave any hard feelings.
Sunagawa, in particular, was on the verge of attempted assault. Komori desperately tried to cover for him to the point of getting the sharpest glare from the police officer. He continued to insist that he was the cause of the problem in the first place.
(But what the heck is this all about? I had thought Komori was a full-blown carnivorous type, but judging from his behavior, is he the herbivorous…type? Even in front of the policeman, he made a few remarks, but he looked at me and my sister with a fearful look and showed his concern for us. …Don’t tell me this is all an act? I really don’t understand this person called Shota Komori.)
(Sunagawa-kun doesn’t look too good… I guess I was out of line, huh? It all started when I took Natsukawa-san to a love hotel, and it would be unbearable to be covered up by a man like that, wouldn’t it? However, I wanted him to know that I didn’t lay a hand on Natsukawa-san, and above all, if Sunagawa-kun continued to attack me without knowing the truth, there would be no way to recover from that… In any case, I understood it well this time. Sunagawa-kun and Natsukawa-san are–)
–in their lethargic phase!
Komori’s mind is filled with a certainty that is completely off the mark.
(Natsukawa-san was beginning to feel less and less love from Sunagawa-kun. That’s what I heard at the love hotel. But Sunagawa-kun was thinking about Natsukawa-san. At least, if his love had cooled down, he wouldn’t have attacked me. Huh? Wait a minute. If that’s the case, then–)
(–Perhaps, I might have put the final nail in Izumi-san’s coffin because of my thoughtless behavior!? Since, you know, Natsukawa-san was depressed because she couldn’t feel Sunagawa-kun’s affection, right? How would she have felt when she saw him seriously trying to hit me there? She’d think, ‘Ah, I was loved properly, wasn’t I? Maybe I was just misunderstanding?’ Sunagawa-kun was really pissed off, and the weight of his feelings for Natsukawa-san doesn’t need to be put into words, does it? Hmm, HMM? Could this possibly be by any chance–)
Komori fearfully turned his gaze towards Natsukawa.
There she was, looking very satisfied.
“I’m sorry, Komori-kun. I’ve put you through a lot of trouble because of me.”
“Ah, no. I’m sorry too.”
“You don’t have to apologize, Komori-kun. Thank you for going out with me. Besides–it confirmed a lot of things and helped me understand my feelings.”
(UWAAAAAAAAAA~~~!!! Natsukawa-san is… Natsukawa-san is smiling so happily~~~!!! Well, that’s just natural, isn’t it? She saw that her lover, whom she thought had become indifferent to her, actually cared about her very much. It’s only natural that the flames that had cooled down would flare up! That’s what she meant when she said she confirmed a lot of things and understood her own feelings, right!? Wha-Wha-What should I do? Even I, with my low love deviation, understand this. I know that couples get extremely passionate about making up after a fight. UWAAAAAAAAAA~~~!!! At this rate… At this rate, there’s no way Izumi-san can enter the picture–)
Shizuku Natsukawa, on the other hand,
(Fufu. So this is what it feels like to love the opposite s*x. Viva love! I feel like I can do anything now. Thank you, Komori-kun. You made me realize that I love you. Just by getting this feeling, tonight’s date was a great success. Despite my brother’s foolishness, I think it was worth the change considering the outcome. Although Komori-kun’s evaluation of me has decreased, I will continue to make a strong appeal to him… Fufu, this is getting more and more fun.)
“Well then, Komori-kun. We’ll go this way. See you at school.”
“Ah, yes. See you.”
Komori watched Natsukawa disappear into the darkness while lending her shoulder to Kengo Sunagawa.
(In conclusion. I failed, I failed, I failed, I failed, I failed, I failed, I failed, I failed, I failed, I failed, I failed, I failed, I failed, I failed, I failed, I failed, I failed, I failed, I failed. I’m sorry, Izumi-san!)