Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16818622176550308690/episodes/16818792436983395893
“Today, I came to declare war on Renren.”
My gaze locked perfectly with Suzukita-san’s.
Deep within her beautiful eyes, something swirled—something hot yet cold.
…I couldn’t help but flinch under that indescribable pressure.
“Hehe. Renren, you’re cute. Like a little animal.”
“…S-Suzukita-san-san…”
“Hm? What’s wrong, Renren?”
I held my breath.
I had to, or I wouldn’t have been able to speak properly.
“Declaration of war… What… do you mean…?”
Just as I asked that back,
The server came over, carrying a tray with two hamburgers and drinks. …I guess I must have ordered via the app without realizing it.
“Ahaha. Oh, Renren, you’re so cute. There’s only one thing that could mean—”
Suzukita-san-san picked up a hamburger and started eating it.
Still smiling, she stared intently into my eyes.
“…Renren. You like Ayata cchi, don’t you?”
“Wh-… why…?”
“Well, I’m not as dense as Renren or Ayata cchi, you know. Any normal high school girl would notice how Renren feels, right?”
Suzukita-san’s expression at that moment was her usual bright, dazzling smile.
But—what is this feeling?
Why… why do I find Suzukita-san… scary?
“Hey, Renren. What does love mean to you?”
“…Huh?”
Love, huh.
…I don’t know. I mean, I’ve never experienced it before.
For me, Akito was my first love.
But I only realized this feeling was love yesterday.
Even if asked what it is… I couldn’t answer.
“You know, I think love is like war.”
Suzukita-san chewed her hamburger as if crushing it.
Gulp. After swallowing, she fixed her gaze on my face again.
“Because, right? Both I and Renren like Ayata cchi and want to be his lover. But he is one of a kind in this world. So then, well—we have no choice but to fight over him, right?”
Ah—I see, I thought.
Why did I feel scared of Suzukita-san?
I finally realized the reason.
“So this is a declaration of war. I’m sorry, Renren—but I won’t hold back.”
This is hostility.
Suzukita-san—she sees me as an enemy.
“Today, I called Renren out to tell her that. It’s sort of my final warning, I guess.”
“…What do you mean?”
“If you’re going to surrender, it’s better to do it sooner.”
Suzukita-san kept that bright, cheerful smile plastered on her face.
Her gaze pierced straight through my heart.
“Because this is war, you know. I’m serious about fighting, but if Renren isn’t, it’d just be like one-sided bullying, right? So I’m telling you, if you want to back out, now’s the time.”
In other words, she said.
Suzukita-san spoke in a voice slightly lower than usual.
“—If Renren has no real intention of fighting me, then… hand Ayatacchi over to me.”
Hand over Akito.
That meant… telling me to give up on these feelings, right?
(But… I want Akito to be happy…)
Because.
I—I love Akito so much.
I love his smile. I absolutely adore those moments when usually unsociable Akito crinkles up and laughs innocently like a child.
And… Suzukita-san would surely make Akito smile.
I believe she would make Akito truly happy.
“Ahaha. Renren, what’s wrong? Not saying anything means you’re giving up, right?”
“…I, I…”
When Akito was with me—what kind of face did he always make?
…I’ve only ever said cruel things to Akito. To hide my own feelings, I kept hurting him day after day.
Does someone like me even have the right to like him?
Could someone like me ever make him smile?
“Fufu. Well then, Renren. I’m going to make Ayata cchi my boyfriend. Okay?”
Sucking up the last of her juice through the straw, Suzukita-san stood up abruptly.
Leaving one hamburger behind on the table.
She was about to leave the shop when—
“Wait, Suzukita-san…!”
Gyu.
My heart ached as if it were being crushed.
――I imagined it. Akito walking side by side with Suzukita-san, holding hands.
All I could do was watch that scene from afar.
I couldn’t stand that…
“…I… I too…”
――I didn’t want to run away.
If I ran away now, it would be the same as before. No different from the me who couldn’t be honest.
Turning away from reality because I was scared.
Lying even to myself about my own feelings.
I—I don’t want to go back to being that useless person anymore. That’s why,
“I… I want to fight.. Suzukita-san…!”
My voice trembled with tension. I thought how pathetic that was.
Even so. I didn’t want to pretend this feeling didn’t exist.
I don’t want to run away anymore—ever again.
I want to cherish this true feeling inside me.
I want to properly face my feelings for Akito.
“Because… I… I love Akito so much…!”
Then. Suzukita-san looked surprised.
A stunned expression. But immediately, she flashed a defiant smile and said,
“—That’s what I should be saying, Renren. So, starting tomorrow, we’re enemies, okay?”
“…Y-yeah…”
“Hehe. You’re so cute, Renren. But—I’m taking Ayata cchi. Consider that hamburger my apology, okay?”
With that, Suzukita-san swept away under the night sky, her beautiful blonde hair flowing behind her.
Watching her back grow distant, I let out a sigh.
…It’s okay. Akito hasn’t become Suzukita-san’s boyfriend yet.
I don’t know why Suzukita-san chose to put things on hold—but since they’re not lovers yet, that means I still have a chance, right?
(But… how can I make Akito like me…?)
I—clenched the friendship bracelet on my left wrist tightly.
Holding it like this, somehow, it felt like Akito was giving me courage.
…Yeah, that’s right. Getting negative won’t change anything.
First, I need to study about love. I’ll scour articles online and read books.
“Okay… I can do this, me…!”
I gently placed my hand over my heart, which was pounding wildly.
I had plenty of worries, but I also had just as much hope.
Suddenly, I found myself daydreaming about a future where Akito and I were lovers—holding hands, telling each other “I like you.” Imagining moments like that made me grin like an idiot.
Gulp. I stuffed my mouth full of the hamburger Suzukita-san treated me to, chewing and swallowing it down.
The meat, wrapped in melted cheese, was incredibly juicy and tasted incredibly sweet.
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