Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16818622172789075625/episodes/16818792437316721762
[Nagisa’s Perspective]
Come to think of it, I wonder what happened to Reisa san and Tsukushi kun.
After returning home, I thought about that.
Tsukushi kun started acting strangely at the family restaurant, so I sensed something was wrong and left.
To be honest, I thought, “Even Tsukushi kun wouldn’t do that in front of me.”
However, his behavior sometimes goes beyond the norm, and to anyone watching, he clearly looked like a boy confessing his love.
So, I left to give them some privacy.
I had already noticed that Tsukushi kun was attracted to Reisa san.
In the vast, empty house, I’m alone again today.
In the room where my footsteps and sighs echo, I stare at my smartphone.
Alright, let’s ask her.
Out of curiosity, I decided to ask Reisa about what happened afterward.
What kind of confession did he make, and how did it end?
I knew it would only hurt me, but I just had to know.
[Hey, what’s up?]
Reisa san answered the phone right away.
How could she sound so casual when someone was so nervous?
Feeling a bit annoyed, I continued talking.
“Um, hello. Good work today”
[What kind of socially awkward greeting is that?]
“W-what kind of response is that when someone calls you? That’s mean.”
[Haha. So?]
“…”
Did you start dating Tsukushi kun?
Those simple words just wouldn’t come out.
They were stuck in my chest and wouldn’t pass my throat.
The silent me made Reisa san on the other end of the phone sound puzzled.
[Hmm? What’s wrong?]
“Um, I wanted to hear about what happened after that…”
[Ah, yeah. That thing?]
“Um, well. …..Congratulations.”
I was afraid to leave the answer up to her, so I decided to congratulate her first.
But this time, Reisa fell silent at my words.
[……]
“Um, is something wrong?”
[Nothing’s wrong. Really, in every sense !]
From there, it was just complaining.
As Reisa san started talking freely, I realized my misunderstanding.
And even though I felt a little annoyed, I also felt a sense of relief.
I know it’s terrible of me to call her, but hearing the details somehow made me feel lighter.
“So you’re not dating?”
[Yeah. Even if he confessed, I’d turn him down.]
“…Why go that far? Thanks to you, both of us improved our English scores this time. You’re not a hindrance, are you?”
[Well, it’s not just that. …Dating isn’t just about having fun, right? There’s arguing and feeling annoyed with each other, and that kind of mental noise increases.]
“Is that so?”
[Of course it is.]
I didn’t really understand.
Or rather, I had never thought about it from that perspective.
Of course, I understood what she was saying, but I thought that being in a relationship meant taking care of each other, so I was surprised that Reisa san thought that way.
It’s important to respect the other person.
But more than that, I’m against suppressing my own feelings too much.
“…As I said before, if you keep talking like that, someone else will take him away from you.”
[Ahaha. …Are you talking about yourself?]
“…”
By the time I regretted saying such ugly words, it was too late.
Reisa sharply noticed the subtle provocative undertone.
And she started laughing.
I panicked, wondering what was going on.
“What’s wrong?”
[No. I was wondering when to say it, but if Nagisa is taking that stance, I’ll say it.]
“What?”
[Tsukushi likes me. So I declared it today. That I’m his number one candidate for girlfriend.]
It was a surprise.
I was so taken aback by this unexpected development that I almost dropped my phone.
My lips trembled, and I couldn’t speak properly.
Oh, this is the worst.
My weak heart had brought out the words I feared most.
“…You should have told me earlier.”
[We’re not even dating, so it’s unfair to say that. You like Tsukushi too, don’t you?]
“I don’t need your consideration.”
[…I just wanna be friends with you.]
“Reisa san.”
I know.
I like Reisa san too.
She’s always cute and perceptive.
Her personality is bad, but so is mine, so I think we have a good relationship where we can say what we think.
It’s just that we ended up liking the same person.
“But yeah, since we’re not dating yet, it might be fun for me to try my hand at a love triangle.”
[So you’re the second girlfriend candidate?]
“Ugh…you’re bringing up something I’m sensitive about.”
Even here, I’m just the second choice.
My school ranking has already dropped to third place, so it’s no surprise, but being casually dismissed as the second choice really stung.
…Sigh.
“No, that’s not it. I’ll be the first ‘girlfriend.’”
[Hehe. That’s how it should be.]
“Well, it’s almost dinner time, so I’ll take my leave.”
[Ah, okay. … Oh, and one last thing.]
“Yes?”
[Nagisa, I love you too.]
“…I…I love you too.”
By the time I said it, the call had already ended.
I was told the most unpleasant thing as a parting remark.
This way, I can’t vent my sadness to Reisa san.
“Besides, you don’t have to say it so bluntly. You’re not Tsukushi kun.”
His words are always straightforward.
And he always hits the nail on the head with what I’m most concerned about.
I’ve been caught off guard many times by his merciless honesty.
And I’ve been saved by it.
When I consulted him about my relationship with my brother, he really helped me.
It felt like he taught me that the thing I had been struggling with was trivial.
Thanks to that, I’ve been able to look straight ahead lately.
“…Sniff.”
I had decided not to cry, but tears overflowed.
I tried so hard, but I lost everything.
My grades weren’t just worse than Tsukushi kun’s, but even worse than Takagi kun’s.
It’s frustrating.
To be honest, when I saw the results, I wanted to scream and cry.
And to top it off, the person I liked was taken away from me.
I’m not actually dating Reisa san yet, but I realized that she’s the top priority in Tsukushi kun’s life right now.
I lost again.
“…It’s so painful.”
I can’t bear this alone.
I wonder what kind of words Tsukushi kun would say to me in a situation like this.
He’d probably fumble around and end up hurting me with the truth.
But he’d also encourage me.
That’s what I was thinking when it happened.
A little earlier than usual, I heard the front door open.
I hurriedly wiped my tears with a tissue and stood up.
The footsteps grew closer, and the door opened.
Standing before me was the person I loved most, whom I hadn’t seen in a while.
“I’m home, Nagisa.”
“O-Oonii chan…”
Why are you here?
Why now?
Various questions arose, but before I could think, I had already thrown myself into my brother’s arms.
And I cried in his embrace.
“N-Nagisa?”
“I…I…I’ve fallen in love with someone else besides you, Onii chan.”
My brother’s embrace, which I hadn’t felt in a long time, had a soothing scent.
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