Hayashi Megumi’s Consultation
From the heroine’s perspective (Seventh time)
“Hey, is it okay if I head out for a bit this Saturday?”
Clutching Yamamoto’s pillow, I asked him while sitting with my legs tucked under me.
“Sure, no problem. Where you going?”
“…Just somewhere.”
Before I knew it, I was being vague about my plans.
I didn’t care much about Ito or Ota, but I didn’t really want to tell him I was hanging out with Akari. Why? I don’t know.
“Got it.”
“You’re not gonna pry?”
“Do you want me to?”
“If you do, I won’t forgive you.”
“Then why’d you ask?”
Yamamoto looked a little troubled.
Fair enough. My words have been a mess of contradictions from the start.
“Ugh, shut up. No wonder girls don’t fall for you.”
Faced with the truth, I snapped at him, my face sour.
Getting called out on my contradictions and then getting grumpy about it—yeah, I’m being kind of awful right now.
“Anyway, can you let go of my pillow already?”
Ignoring Yamamoto’s words, I flopped back onto his bedding.
He let out a sigh and turned his attention back to the TV.
I’d told him I didn’t want him to dig deeper, sure, but… being ignored like this? It feels lonely.
“…I’m just meeting some friends.”
Pay attention to me, come on.
Begging internally, I ended up telling Yamamoto what I was doing on Saturday.
“Got it. Guess I’d just be in the way, then.”
Lately, every time I went out, I’d been dragging Yamamoto along with me. So maybe he thought he’d be coming this time too. That just made me feel even guiltier.
To drown out the guilt, I hugged his pillow even tighter.
“That’s nice.”
“What is?”
“Your high school friends—they must be worried about you.”
“…I don’t think that’s it.”
“But you’re meeting them, right?”
“…Yeah, I guess.”
Back in high school, people like Ito and Ota were probably just leeching off my influence. Hangers-on clinging to power, that’s all they were. What kind of reaction would they have if I told them about the mess my life’s become?
They’d probably say they feel sorry for me.
But deep down, I bet they’d…
“Well, make sure Kasahara’s got your back.”
“…How do you know Akari’s gonna be there?”
For a moment, a dark feeling surged inside me.
How the heck did Yamamoto know Akari would be there? Were they secretly in touch or something?
As I glared at him, Yamamoto tilted his head, looking confused.
“I mean, you’re not exactly the type to go out of your way to reunite with high school friends, are you?”
He’s not wrong.
Especially after everything that happened since I started living with my ex, that tendency’s only gotten stronger.
“I just figured the only one who’d drag you to something like that is Kasahara.”
“…Yeah, you’re right.”
I muttered, clearly dissatisfied.
“It’s kinda annoying how you nailed it.”
“…Sorry about that.”
Why am I so irritated with Yamamoto?
Oh, right.
For him to read my feelings this accurately means he’s been watching me closely every single day.
Knowing he’s been paying that much attention to me… it’s a little embarrassing.
That’s why I’m annoyed and flustered.
This must be that so-called tsundere thing.
“I’m going to sleep.”
I declared.
“That’s my bed.”
“Shut up.”
“You’ve been acting a bit like your high school self lately, huh?”
Shut up, shut up.
…Idiot.
Turning my back to Yamamoto’s exasperated expression, I closed my eyes.
A few nights later, the Saturday to meet Akari and the others finally arrived.
