Part-1 Ch-02 Ep-06

 『Maki’s POV』

Kagami-kun moving away, the plan we made, the big park we went to together, the fall, the accident, and Mari’s injury.

Before I knew it, I was confessing everything about that day that still burns painfully bright in my memory, even though neither of them had asked.

“I see… I see, I see… so that’s how it was.”

Kagami-kun repeated the same phrase as if to convince himself, then closed his eyes.

Todoroki-kun also nodded deeply.

After letting out a long breath, Kagami-kun finally spoke.

“Hey, Ichinose, I’m not gonna deny your feelings or anything, and I’ll even root for you. But…”

“What?”

I tensed myself without meaning to, bracing for whatever he was about to say, and then he dropped something completely outrageous: “But she’s cute, you know.”

“…HAA!??”

This guy has a prior offense of sneaking glances at Mari in the library and bothering her between the bookshelves.

I thought he was declaring war, but then Todoroki-kun added, “Yeah, she’s definitely in the cute category.”

“! Haa!? You guys, haa!?”

My jealousy spiked so sharply I genuinely wanted to throw something. I was still shaking when he continued, “Nagase often talks to people first, and she’s always aware of her surroundings. The only thing she’s dense about is you, Ichinose.”

“If she acted normally, she’d probably be pretty popular. Her quirks stand out a bit, but her looks are good.”

“I get it. Just now, before I left, she came up to me and thanked me. She even said we should all go to the batting cages or bowling sometime. I figured we could become friends.”

So that’s how Todoroki-kun knew Mari’s name. In that moment, he planted most of his body firmly onto my blacklist.

For the record, Kagami-kun is already on it completely.

In the library with Mari… (the rest is omitted).

“Anyway, if you keep going like this, you’re going to have a lot of rivals.”

“…”

“This is gonna be interesting. You two, let’s be friends. I’ll cheer you on.”

“Oh, nice. I actually thought I’d get along with Todoroki-kun.”

This is not interesting at all, do whatever you want, I muttered at them under my breath.

My mental state was in shambles. I wanted to see Mari as soon as possible.

After our long, long conversation finally ended and they passed through the gate and went home, Mari came walking over at last.

Just seeing her made my heart feel lighter, as if a gentle breeze had swept through me.

“Huh? Why are you still here?”

“Yeah, I was just talking with Kagami-kun and Todoroki-kun a moment ago.”

When I said that, Mari looked surprised for a moment, then murmured, “I see, I see.” I didn’t say I had been waiting for her. It felt too heavy.

“By the way, what was your business about?”

“Eh? Umm, nothing important.”

“If it’s nothing important, then tell me.”

Is that too heavy too?

But it’s still better than there being something about Mari that I don’t know.

Mari scratched her cheek with a troubled look, gave a small wry smile, and then said, “Well…” before explaining.

“The boy from the next class asked for my contact info.”

“Yes?”

In short, it went like this. Near the end of the sports tournament, a boy from the neighboring class approached her and asked her to wait in the classroom after school. When she went, he was there and said he wanted to be friends and asked for her contact information, and they chatted for a bit.

That’s what happened. That is exactly what happened.

“Well, it was kind of a hassle anyway, and that kind of thing usually starts as friends and eventually turns into dating, right?”

“Y-Yeah, you get it.”

“So I lied and said I don’t have a smartphone.”

Her answer made my heart feel lighter.

See, she understands. She’s the type who neatly cuts off unnecessary flags herself.

“Phew, that’s a reli…”

“My number one priority is Maki’s happiness, after all. Until Maki gets a boyfriend, I think I’m fine like this.”

“…”

“What’s wrong? Let’s go home?”

Mari beckoned me with her hand, saying come on, come on.

It seemed I had stopped walking without realizing it. My legs felt as heavy as lead.

“My prince has always been, and will always be, only Mari.”

“Hm? Did you say something?”

I said it softly, but even at this close distance it didn’t reach her.

So close, and yet it doesn’t reach.

Are childhood promises really something you can forget so easily?

I can’t even ask that. I’m too old to ask that now.

I tightened my grip on my bag handle.

I forced strength back into my legs and took a step forward.

“Sorry, sorry, I spaced out a bit. Let’s go.”

I moved to stand beside Mari.

“Hey, who was that boy who called you out?”

I asked casually and waited for Mari’s “Umm…” reply.

Tomorrow, the day after, and every day after that, the place beside Mari belongs to me.

End of Chapter 2