[Warning 15+]
Part Four
"―From Now On, You Better Treat Me with That Same Energy, Too!"
Chapter 142
―Is What I Want
"―From Now On, You Better Treat Me with That Same Energy, Too!"
Chapter 142
―Is What I Want
The second Minamo blurted out exactly what she was feelin', Kazuki started chokin' up big-time. He coughed like crazy, tears pricklin' the corners of his eyes, his face turnin' bright-*ss red.
Minamo totally-*ss panicked, completely thrown off by Kazuki's unexpected reaction.
The hair on the back of Minamo's head started bouncin' up and down, like she was thinkin' she'd jumped to conclusions again.
"Cough... ...phew, I'm good now. It's just, that came outta nowhere and totally-*ss shocked me... ...I mean, sure, we got a somewhat special bond and I think she's a great girl, but it's not like we see each other that way, or rather..."
"? Oh, really?"
"...Yeah."
Kazuki forced a smile as he said it, but there was a dark-*ss shadow hangin' over his face. There was no way anyone could take his words at face value.
As Minamo flashed a worried, totally-*ss troubled look, Kazuki slapped a hand against his forehead and let out a heavy-*ss sigh. He gave his head a little shake from side to side before lookin' right back at her.
"I just... ...I don't really get the whole datin' thing or what it means to actually like someone. And honestly, I probably don't even have the right to get involved with anyone like that."
"Kaidō-san?"
"...Have you ever heard the rumors about me?"
"Eh, well, just that you're crazy-*ss popular or somethin'..."
"...Back in middle school, I was two-timin'—well, three-timin' three girls at the same time."
"...Huh?"
Minamo's face instantly twisted into total-*ss disgust.
Flashin' through Minamo's mind all of a sudden was her Grandpa's house where she stayed solo, and her Dad's face—the Dad who never even showed up at home.
Minamo's expression must've looked absolute-*ss brutal, 'cause this time around, it was Kazuki's turn to completely lose his cool and panic.
"Th-The rumors are straight-up just rumors, seriously! I mean, things got into a spot where I couldn't blame anyone for thinkin' I was two-timin', but I absolute-*ss never meant for it to happen, and I only got someone to help me break things off which made it look like I was three-timin', but I wasn't actually, like, cheatin' or anythin'—"
"Oh, ah, right! S-Sorry, I totally-*ss jumped to conclusions, um...!"
"A-Ahaha... ...But yeah, even when I say it out loud, man. I sound like a total-*ss j*rk."
Weavin' his frantic-*ss excuses, Kazuki looked so dead-serious it was almost hilarious. The sight of him totally-*ss mirrored Minamo's buddy (Haruki).
"...Chuckle."
"Mitake-san...?"
Minamo had zero-*ss clue what kind of past Kazuki'd been through.
But even though Kazuki looked completely flawless at first glance, the truth was he was just straight-up clumsy as heck exactly like Haruki, and Minamo could totally-*ss tell he was just a massive, stubborn idiot.
Thinkin' that made Kazuki kinda hard to hate, so Minamo couldn't help but let a little laugh slip out.
"Fufu, sorry about that. But hey, it sounds like the girl who hooked you up with this recommendation is way different from those ex-sweethearts of yours, and you guys seem pretty tight."
"I don't know about that... ...when she told me about it, I was just one face in a massive-*ss crowd, and, well, I don't think she hates me or anythin', but..."
Kazuki had this kinda anxious-*ss look plastered all over his face.
Seein' that, Minamo blinked her eyes in total-*ss surprise once again.
To Minamo, Kazuki was just that boy who was crazy-*ss popular with the girls.
Talkin' to Kazuki like this, Minamo could tell it wasn't just his looks or the way he carried himself; He actually gave a d*mn about the person he was talkin' to. No wonder the girls in her class always went wild over him. Heck, she'd seen him shut girls down a million-*ss times with her own eyes.
Which was exactly why seein' Kazuki worry so d*mn much about one specific person's reaction was mind-blowing as heck.
Whoever she was, she must've been someone crazy-*ss special.
"Do you... ...like her?"
"Li-...!"
The words straight-up choked in Kazuki's throat.
But it was only for a split second before Kazuki pressed a hand against his chest, spillin' his guts with a bitter-*ss tone.
"...Forget about whether I like her or not, that girl's already got someone else on her mind."
"Huh?"
"I mean, she's tryna phrase it like it's in the past, tellin' herself 'I used to like someone' to force herself to forget, but, well... ...she's a really good-*ss girl. So for me, I just feel this massive-*ss urge to cheer her on, or whatever..."
"Cheering her on, huh..."
"Maybe it's kinda like wishin' for the absolute-*ss happiness of an idol or your favorite oshi character, I guess."
"Fufu, when you put it like that, I guess I can kinda get where you're comin' from."
Minamo flashed back to that night in the park when she first ran into a straight-up soaking-wet Haruki.
A clumsy-*ss girl who spilled her secrets and actually became Minamo's buddy.
Minamo wondered if that other girl was that exact-*ss kind of person to Kazuki.
While they were chattering away like that, before they even knew it, their parfaits were totally-*ss cleared out.
"Well, same goes for Takakura-senpai, but I screwed up big-time with some romance drama in the past... ...so for the time bein', I'm pretty much good without that stuff."
"Screwed up, huh."
"Yeah, total-*ss failure. I kinda lost track of how other people actually feel... ...plus—"
With a sharp-*ss clink of his spoon hittin' the glass, Kazuki spilled his real thoughts.
"Right now, more than love or a sweetheart, a solid-*ss bond with my buddies is what I want."
"Buddies..."
The way Kazuki smiled when he said that looked crazy-*ss bright but also kinda longin' for somethin'—it was a straight-up bittersweet expression.
But man, it was a beautiful-*ss face.
Bonds― that word cut right into Minamo's heart, too.
While Minamo was completely-*ss lost for words, Kazuki switched right back to his usual charming smile and stood up.
"Oops, guess I kept you here way too long, huh? I mean, it was pretty much just me whinin' the whole time, but thanks for listenin' to me ramble."
"N-No way, um, I really just sat there and listened... ...Oh, but if you're down with it, I can totally-*ss listen to you vent again sometime!"
The words just slipped out of Minamo's mouth on pure reflex.
Kazuki froze up for a split second, blinkin' his eyes, and then he nodded and laughed like somethin' had finally-*ss clicked in his brain.
"Oh, okay, I get it now. That side of you, Mitake-san... ...it’s just like Hayato-kun. Guess that's why I ended up spillin' my guts to you without even thinkin'."
"Huh!?"
"Haha, alright then, next time somethin' comes up, I'm totally-*ss gonna vent to you again. Catch ya later!"
"...Wait!"
With that, Kazuki grabbed the slip while Minamo was standin' there completely-*ss frozen in shock, settled the bill, and bailed outta the shop.
Left behind all by herself, Minamo just stared blankly for a good-*ss minute, the hair on the back of her head bouncin' up and down in total confusion.
Author's Notes:
And that's a wrap for Part 4 Sub-Part 2.
Next up is Part 4 Sub-Part 3.
Baaa~.
TL: Reeze27
ED: Reeze27
PR: Reeze27
If you like our work, please consider supporting us on Ko-fi. 🙏
Support Us: https://ko-fi.com/ninjacross
Donations are very much appreciated.
Your donations really support us to finish this novel from here until the end, so please consider to support us.
Follow Our Official WhatsApp Channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaRa6nHCsU9OAB0U370F
Read in other languages:
If you like our work, please consider supporting us on Ko-fi. 🙏
Support Us: https://ko-fi.com/ninjacross
Donations are very much appreciated.
Your donations really support us to finish this novel from here until the end, so please consider to support us.
Follow Our Official WhatsApp Channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaRa6nHCsU9OAB0U370F
Read in other languages: