Author's Note: There is no mistaking that this chapter is written by an author who has experienced heartbreak.
Chapter 4A Declaration from An Ordinary Person
"I like you. Please go out with me."
I confessed my feelings to Aika with the coolest face I could make (*Intention).
When it comes to confessions that one says to the person they love, usually those words, or similar words, are used. However, because of how many times I've said that, my words probably sound like common words to Aika's ears right now.
By the way, while carefully observing the beautiful girl in front of me, I took a sip of onion soup. I was so nervous that no flavor could be tasted on my tongue. It really didn't moisturize my lips at all.
...Sorry, Mom, I used 2 packages of your favorite instant soup powder.
"H-Huh!? What the heck are you talking about?! There's no way I'm going out with you!"
Yeah, I knew it. Like I expected,
"Hey... ...when did we start calling each other by our nicknames?"
"What the heck is that? Why are you suddenly asking that...? ...Calling each other by our nicknames, huh? If I recall, since we entered high school ─ Oh, don't call me like that so casually! Everyone will misunderstand, you know!"
Yeah, that's right. It must be annoying from Aika's point of view.
Acting like I'm his girlfriend, even though I'm not.
"...Yeah, that's right."
This is indeed the reality. The reality that I've always stayed away from. I've always been in a dream world, I've been dreaming since I was in middle school. From that dream, I couldn't wake up until I heard the explosive sound of a soccer ball hitting the wall. And you, mirror, you are too cruel. R-18, that's the grade you should be given.
"Yeah... ...It was indeed my fault, forgive me, okay, Natsukawa."
"It's too late to apolo ─ Eh?"
Aika, no, Natsukawa stared blankly at me who had just called her by her family name so abruptly.
Of course, she was surprised by that. She did ask me to stop many times, but only now did I listen to what she asked.
Natsukawa just stood in place motionlessly while focusing on me. That kind of posture was so strange that it made me smile. Perhaps, it would be better to say that I grinned and failed to hide it.
Even if I 'look in the mirror', my love for Natsukawa probably won't change. Even if I have to stare at her like a fan looking at their idol who is out of reach, I'll do it with pride. Just because I've started to see reality, I won't deny all these feelings.
Hence, these greedy feelings I have are indeed unacceptable.
"Even if you push me, I won't flinch every push will make me miss you even more. If you think about it normally, I am a strange and crazy boy, aren't I?"
"E-Eh...? ...A-All of a sudden, what are you talking about...?"
"Of course, that's─."
"I'm homeー."
As I tried to continue my words, I heard a lazy voice and the door of the living room was opened loudly. It was Big Sis, a participant of this year's university entrance examination, who had just returned to her home like a thug. She threw down her bag and took off her bouquet.
"Welcome back, Big Sis. But don't startle me like that, please relax."
"Huft... ...I'm really tired. Wataru get me a drink ─ Hmm?"
My big sis, Kaede, jumped onto the sofa as soon as she returned. I couldn't hide my grievances in such a rude act that didn't live up to her name. [TL Note: Kaede (Mapple Leaf) in Japan, it symbolizes beauty, and elegance, that's why the MC said his big sis' actions didn't match her name.]
Perhaps... ...One of the reasons why I fell in love with Natsukawa was because I grew up watching Big Sis like that. As I thought, politeness is number one.
While I was thinking about that kind of thing, it seemed like Big Sis had just discovered Natsukawa's existence.
"W-Wataru brought a girl home?"
Couldn't you have said it in more appropriate words? And, did you really need to say it so loudly? I guess it can be heard by our neighbors. Please don't spread the misunderstanding any further...
A few seconds later, Mom, who had picked up Big Sis from the cram school, heard her voice and came into the house like a storm. When she saw Natsukawa and I sitting across the dining table, she lowered her head and sighed.
Don't tell me that Mom also thought that Natsukawa and I had done something because of Big Sis' words...
"Don't say something that can be easily misunderstood, you idiot!"
"Ouch!? B-But, isn't it what it is...!?"
O-Oh. It's been a long time since I've seen Mom angry. Of course, her yelling was very loud.
After Mom hit Big Sis' head, she fixed her messy face and began to put an awkward smile on her face.
"G-Good evening. Are you Wataru's friend?"
"That's not a normal way to talk to a high school girl, is it?"
"Can't you shut up for a minute!?"
Mom was emotional today. The two of them, Mom and Big Sis, fixed their posture and observed Natsukawa, staring from head to toe.
Big Sis and Mom, and maybe me too? We might seem like a very rude family.
Hey, stop it! Your eyes are like people who are judging a product, you know! Can you stop it, please?!
"Even so, she's really cute, isn't she?! Don't tell me she's your girlfriend!?"
"Of course, she's not, O my idiot daughter! Look at them! After all... ...they don't look like that, do they!?"
"That's right! After all, she's too pretty for Wataru!"
Yeah, your judgment is correct, so I can explain it more quickly, but seriously, you two keep saying whatever you want, huh? Are you two really my family members? It's not like I'm their biological son and little bro and they're hiding that fact from me, is it? No, come to think of it, they've always been like that. And I'm not angry at all. Seriously, though, I'm sure I'm a man of steel.
But it's true, I'm sure at this time Natsukawa already knows what I want to say.
"─Or so it's like what they said. Natsukawa. I think I ignored a very simple thing until now. Even though I should be able to understand immediately after thinking about it for a while."
"Eh...?"
"The more you push me, the more I should realize. If you don't like that, I shouldn't have approached you again. Human relationships usually work like that, don't they?"
I'm sure, somewhere inside me, I've always felt uncomfortable with all this. Of course, I do like Natsukawa Aika. However, I can't imagine me and her going out. Why is that?
No matter how much I try to imagine, it seems like we're not evenly matched. With how different our looks are... ...I can't keep embarrassing myself by imagining cruel scenes.
At least right now, I can accept the idea that there are natural differences in this world like one's facial features and courage from birth. Hence, right now, I'm finally aware of my attractiveness ─ I finally woke up from a long dream and was able to face back the reality that I had left behind for a long time.
"Hence, I will try to do what is 'natural' to do, and try to read the situation and your mood. I'll try to calm down my usual self, so let's get along from this moment on."
"G-Get along with me, huh? ...Y-You...?!"
That said, some mob characters were like that in their youth. Even if they're not pretty girls like the main heroine in TV Dramas, like Natsukawa. But I should be able to enjoy my school life as long as I can find someone on my level.
So, there is one thing I can do right now, which is to ask Natsukawa, who has a power level of about 50... ...no, 60 times more than mine, to help me.
"─So, Natsukawa, is there a girl among your friends who matches me?"
"What...!? 〜Mmmh!!!"
"Hmm? Huh...?"
Natsukawa shook her shoulders. No matter how I look at it, she seems to be angry. I'm just an ordinary citizen, so I don't dare to move when I'm glared at by a beautiful girl like that.
By the way, I thought her gaze would be colder than this, but...
"—You're the worst!!!"
"Whoa!?"
I thought she was going to hit me, so I hurriedly prepared myself for it. However, Natsukawa didn't hit me. Instead, she stretched her body from the dining table with both hands and quickly headed for the entrance. I tried to catch up with her in a hurry, but her pace was very fast.
"H-Hey! Natsukawa!"
"Shut up! You idiot!"
Even though I finally caught up with her, Natsukawa pushed my hand away and walked on as usual. The last thing I could see was her figure turning the corner and running away with all her might.
TL: Reeze27
ED: Reeze27
PR: Reeze27
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