Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/2912051597934651646/episodes/2912051600924611172
After school, Seika was walking back to their apartment building with Houtarou.
Seika walked beside Houtarou, looking cheerful the whole time.
(Now that I’ve got the ultimate “bonding card”—lending and borrowing books—is it just a matter of time before we start dating?~)
That wasn’t the case at all; in fact, they hadn’t even started dating yet.
However, in Seika’s mind, she felt that she would eventually be able to date Houtarou without having to try too hard.
(Hehehe~. Well, there’s no need to rush! I’ll just take my time deepening our relationship and wait for Houtarou-kun to confess! Haa, I love Houtarou-kun, love, love~)
Just as Seika was getting carried away, Houtarou stopped in his tracks.
Right in front of them was their apartment building.
“What’s wrong? Wait… huh?”
A petite girl wearing the uniform of Alpicco Academy—the school they both attended—approached them.
“…Misao.”
(Misao… Misao!? Wait, he called her by her first name!? No way!)
Shiojiri Misao looked at Houtarou and casually said, “Hey, Houtarou.”
(Wait, she’s calling my Houtarou by his first name!? Wait, wait, wait! What’s that about!? What’s going on!?)
It’s not like he’s dating Seika or anything, and he’s not even mine or anything…
Houtarou said in a voice tinged with slight panic and irritation.
“What the hell are you doing here?”
“Nice to meet you, Hirugami-san. I’m Misao Shiojiri. I’ve known Houtarou really well for a long time.”
“Hey!”
Ignoring Houtarou, Misao starts talking to Seika.
(H-huh? She says she’s known him for a long time… Ah, ah! S-so she’s his childhood friend… a childhood friend!? That classic trope from romance comedies!?)
It doesn’t usually lead to a romantic relationship, but it’s someone who knows the protagonist well—a close acquaintance.
That’s what a childhood friend is.
(I-I had no idea Hotaro-kun had such a cute childhood friend… I-if I dither around, someone else might snatch her away…)
Until just a moment ago, Seika had been feeling optimistic, convinced she’d already won.
But with the appearance of this cute childhood friend, tension ran through her once again.
…Meanwhile, Houtarou’s frustration had reached its limit, and he grabbed Misao’s hand and pulled her away from the scene.
“…What do you want?”
If this had been some kind of prank or mean-spirited trick, Houtarou would have seriously lost his temper.
But Misao said it with a carefree air.
“I came to give you a kick in the butt. You and that girl.”
“……? What do you mean?”
“If you’re going to date, just get on with it already. What are you dithering about?”
Unable to grasp the true meaning behind Misako’s words, Houtarou tilts his head in confusion.
But strangely, he feels his heightened emotions begin to subside.
“Hey, Hotaro. When I showed up in front of that girl and said those suggestive things… what did you think?”
“What… do you mean? Well…”
“You panicked, didn’t you? You didn’t want her to get the wrong idea, did you?”
“!”
…Misao was right.
He didn’t want Seika to misunderstand his relationship with Misao.
That’s why he panicked, and that’s why… he was on the verge of snapping.
“Did you figure it out?”
This childhood friend had come to give me a kick in the pants.
It was only then that Houtarou realized Misao’s true intentions.
She’d come to kick his lazy ass into gear.
“If you like her, just tell her already. Don’t be such a loser and make the girl have to confess first.”
Misao grinned, waved her hand, and walked away.
“Thanks, Misao.”
“You’re welcome. Well then, bye-bye~…”
…Misao never once looked back.
It was as if she didn’t want him to see the look on her face right now.
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