We walked up the hill together in a slightly awkward atmosphere.
I’m on my way home, but I don’t want anyone to see me.
Just like Yuki misunderstood me earlier.
Halfway up the hill, Suikin-san spun around and looked back at me.
The hem of her one-piece skirt swung softly and I caught a glimpse of Suikin-san’s beautiful white legs.
“Akibara-kun is quite popular, isn’t he?”
“I don’t think so…”
Then what was that all about?
What I meant before is that my friend Yuki said something about liking me and left.
To be honest, I never thought Yuki would like me.
Yuki was always trying to get through to me and Kaho.
When I failed to confess my feelings to him, he got depressed as if it were his own.
What was that all about?
I, uh, groaned.
“I don’t think it’s possible for me to be popular.”
“Why?”
“I’m not popular.”
“But Akibara-kun is kind.”
“If being nice is a compliment, it means you have nothing else to offer.”
“You don’t have to be so mean. I think I can understand why Akibara-kun is liked by girls.
Suqin said softly.
But I don’t think I’m nice, and I don’t think I have any reason for girls to like me.
Natsuho and Yuki were both hurt because of me.
Maybe it’s all my fault.
What am I supposed to do?
My thoughts are going round and round, and I can’t think straight.
I’m not sure what to do.
Akibara-kun. Are you okay?”
What?
“You look so lost in thought.”
“Is that so?”
“Yeah… Yesterday, Mr. Sasaki, and today, Mr. Sakurai… they’re both terrible. They didn’t listen to Akibara-kun and annoyed him.”
“It’s not their fault. Maybe I’m the worst.”
“The worst thing you can do is beat yourself up like that.”
Suqin-san said as if she was worried about me.
It’s like she’s looking out for me.
When I first met you, I couldn’t have imagined that you would worry about me like this.
“… Suqin-san seems kind today.”
Yeah?
“Yeah. I’m always happy when you’re like this.”
“Does this make you happy, Akihara-kun?”
“Yeah, yeah. You don’t have to worry about not owing me or not bothering people or anything like that. Just treat me like a normal person, like this, and I’ll be fine.”
“… I don’t know how to relate to people normally.”
What do you mean?
“I… I… I didn’t… I didn’t have many friends, and my family… I don’t really have any… So… I don’t really know how to interact with people in a normal way.”
Suqin-san said shyly.
The Ice Goddess is the object of admiration at school. She’s an incredibly beautiful girl and her grades are so outstanding that she’s in second place in her class.
And I’m not sure of the details, but it sounds complicated.
But I thought at that time that if you take away those outer things, Suikoto-san is just a normal girl.
Suqin looked at me.
“What is the relationship between me and Akibara-kun? Mr. Sasaki is Mr. Akibara’s childhood friend and Mr. Sakurai is his friend. Then, what about me?”
“What’s that got to do with ‘normal ways to treat people’?”
“Of course. If they’re friends, there’s a normal way to treat each other like friends, and if they’re parents, there’s a normal way for parents and children to treat each other… If you’re lovers, there are normal ways to treat each other. But we’re not any of those things.”
“BOY. Classmate. Is that not good enough?
“… They’re both right, but I don’t think they’re the same.”
“Then you can do whatever you want, Suqin-san.”
“What?”
“Doing what you want is the normal way to treat me. You can do whatever you want to do, without regard to owing or owing or owing or being right or being wrong or being wrong.”
“My… You want?”
“Yeah, yeah. Think about it.”
You can shrug me off or call me an asshole. or “You’re an asshole.
But I didn’t want you to reject people because you don’t want to owe them or cause them trouble or because you don’t like to get along with them.
Maybe it’s none of my business, but that’s probably not what she really meant.
I thought the real Suikoto was just a coward.
“Do what I want, or… I’ll think about it. I’ll think about it.
Suqin mumbled quietly.
And he looked at me.
Akibara-kun.
“What?”
“I asked you earlier… What do you want for dinner?”
“Whatever you want, Suqin-san.”
I smiled.
But now she’s asking me what I want to cook.
It’s much easier to be a roommate this way.
I have to think about Kaho and Yuki too, but for now let’s think about tonight’s dinner.
Suqin-san’s cheeks flushed and she said quietly.
I want curry.
