Hayashi Megumi’s best friend and best friend.

The hum of the engine was the only sound filling the car.

I kept my head down, unable to say a word.

When I stole a glance at Ichi’s face, it was remarkably calm.

“I admired him.”

Ichi let the words slip quietly.

“Admired?”

“Yamamoto-kun.”

“…You admired that guy?”

“Calling him ‘that guy’ is kinda harsh.”

Ichi laughed, a bright “ahaha.”

“Saying that about your boyfriend?”

“W-Well, we’re not exactly dating.”

“Huh?”

This time, it was Ichi who looked surprised.

“Even though you’re living together?”

“…Yeah.”

“…Are you holding back because of Akari?”

“Huh?”

When I glanced over, Ichi was looking at me with a serious gaze.

“It’s not like that.”

“…Then why?”

“It’s… not a big deal or anything.”

I turned my face away.

“…It’s just a bit embarrassing to look him in the eye. Confessing? No way, that’s out of the question.”

There was no response from Ichi.

When I looked her way, she had a blank, stunned expression.

“Huh? That’s kinda cute…”

“No, that makes no sense.”

“Meg, you’re actually kind of a scaredy-cat, huh?”

“Ugh… Only you and Akari would say something like that.”

“Well, we’ve got years of experience with you.”

Years of experience, huh? I’m not sure if that’s the right way to put it…

Back in high school, Ichi and Akari were the ones who really saw me for who I was. High school was full of jerks who only approached me for the wrong reasons, so honestly, hearing this made me a little happy.

“S-So, anyway, what was it about him that you admired?”

A little happy, sure. But my heart was pounding so loud I didn’t think it could take much more, so I changed the subject.

“I was always second in our grade on tests. He was always first. There was a part of me that felt competitive, like I had to beat him. There were times I pushed myself hard to surpass him. But I never could. At first, that was the extent of my admiration.”

“At first…?”

“We were in the same class in our first year, right?”

“Yeah, we were.”

“During the cultural festival that year, I was put in charge of our class’s event.”

“Oh, yeah, now that you mention it.”

I vaguely recalled how busy Ichi had been, always rushing around during that time.

“You were busy too, Meg… but everyone was so uncooperative back then. Not that I can talk—I wasn’t exactly motivated either. It’s only because I was in charge that I started complaining.”

“…Yeah.”

“At a time like that, it was Yamamoto-kun who helped me with my work.”

“What?”

Yamamoto, during the cultural festival in our first year, was supposed to be swamped with student council duties. And yet, that guy found time in between to help with our class’s event too?

What kind of stamina does he have?

No, more than that… I was shocked to realize how much he wanted the festival to succeed.

“I was so happy that he helped with a job no one else would touch. He listened to me whenever I needed to vent, gave me clear instructions, and really saved me. That’s probably when my feelings started turning into something like a crush.”

I stayed silent.

“…But, yeah, it wouldn’t have worked. Yamamoto-kun’s just too nitpicky.”

“Yeah, no kidding.”

I’d seen his obsessive side plenty of times myself, so I couldn’t disagree.

“I’m pretty laid-back, you know? So having someone as fussy as Yamamoto-kun around would drive me nuts. That’s why I turned my crush back into just admiration.”

Ichi gave a wry smile.

So that’s how it was.

Well, yeah, I get it…

Yamamoto’s personality is super meticulous, and I’m sure some people would find it overwhelming.

If Ichi felt she couldn’t handle it, that was probably a smart call.

“By the way, what’s your husband like, Ichi?”

“He’s five years older, runs a startup company.”

“Whoa, impressive. How’d you meet?”

“Through my parents, mostly. Was I planning on getting married? Not really. But, well, things happened.”

Ichi gave her stomach a meaningful pat.

“Congratulations!”

“Haha, thanks!”

“…No regrets?”

“None. Not at all.”

“…I see.”

Ichi’s definitely got a carefree personality.

But she’s not the type to lie. If anything, she’s the kind who’d say her true feelings half-jokingly.

If someone like Ichi says this, then… it’s probably true.

Ichi has no doubts about getting married now.

And she’s long since moved on from whatever she felt for Yamamoto.

Come to think of it…

I remembered a conversation I had with Yamamoto recently.

And that night when I was consumed by jealousy.

“…Hey, Ichi?”

“Hm?”

“You said Yamamoto asked you to study with him up until the second semester of our third year, right?”

From what Ichi just said, she’d given up on her feelings for Yamamoto back in our first year.

But even after that… until the second semester of our third year, she kept approaching him after every test.

…Could it be, Ichi, right now…

I thought she wasn’t that kind of person.

And yet, Ichi, right now…

“…Sorry. I lied.”

“Why? You’ve never been one to lie before…”

“…I had no choice. I couldn’t steal my best friend’s boyfriend.”

Through the rearview mirror, Ichi glanced at Akari, who was sleeping in the back seat.

…I see.

Akari and Yamamoto started dating three months after the cultural festival. That timing lines up exactly with when Ichi stopped pursuing Yamamoto.

“Hey, Ichi?”

“Hm?”

“Why did you invite Yamamoto to your wedding this time?”

I could tell Ichi caught her breath.

When Yamamoto’s not around, she brags about her love life.

When he is around, she gets all shy.

What’s with this girl?

The biggest hater of this story is definitely the author.

A foolish monster driven mad by jealousy.

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