Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16818093089294325079/episodes/16818093089755675063
Two days after Kaoru asked me to pick her up, I was on my way to the cram school she had told me about.
“Is this the right place?”
The cram school was a fairly large one.
I checked the time on my phone and saw that it was 7:20 p.m. I decided to wait a little longer.
I wondered what Yamazaki thought about Kaoru.
How could he prioritize playing games with his friends over Kaoru?
I like games too, but you can’t compare that with Kaoru. …..
Generally speaking, the cram school is not that far from Kaoru’s house, and even if I had to leave the house to pick her up, it would probably take less than an hour.
“Haa ! Yamazaki and I are not even friends, we’ve never even talked, so let’s not worry about Yamazaki.”
Let’s just be happy that Kaoru is relying on me.
At least it’s proof that she trusts me.
If I were to be greedy, I would like to get close with her at school, but that seems difficult.
It is needless to say that Kaoru’s reputation will be damaged if she were to be seen with me and get along with me.
In the worst case scenario, I think there is a possibility that Kaoru might even protect me and if that happen, even she might be isolated and of course I don’t want that.
Speaking of which, what did Kaoru tell her parents?
I wonder if she honestly told them that a classmate of hers, not Yamazaki, was coming to pick her up.
If I were her parents, I’d be worried…..well, I’ll ask her later.
–After waiting for almost 10 minutes, Kaoru came out and ran up to me with a smile on her face.
“Ah ! Kaito kun !”
“You finished cram school?”
“Yeah. Thanks for coming.”
“Oh, don’t worry about it…….let’s go home then.”
“Right !”
Then we started to walk away.
“Speaking of which, what did you say to your parents?”
“I explained it to my mom and dad as it was. I told them that Kaito kun would come and get me.”
“Are they okay with that?”
“What do you mean?”
“There are a lot of bad rumors about me, and to your parents, I’m a complete stranger, right?”
“Hmm? I don’t know. I’ve already explained to them that Kaito kun is a very kind person. But it’s true that my dad was a little worried, but my mom believes in me that much. I guess my dad trust me after that. Also, I said you were the one who saved me from getting hit on.”
Well, if it was Kaoru, I’m sure she’d always be very upfront with her parents and I’m sure she’d have their trust. I don’t know, but if her parents are okay with it, then I don’t see a problem. Of course, I’m going to protect Kaoru.
“I see…….well, if that’s the case.”
“Come to think of it, when they asked me about the relationship between Kaito kun and me, I said that you were the person I trusted the most. Is that okay with you?”
The person she trusts the most….it’s only been a short time since we first talked…….I’m absurdly happy to hear her say that.
But if she was going to explain it to her parents, couldn’t she have just said I was a normal friend or something?
The way she said it, it sounds like her parents might misunderstand her……
“Am I the person you trust the most?”
“Yeah.”
“Not Yamazaki?”
“I think my trust is in Kaito kun…….”
In response to my question, Kaoru looked away and said that.
As for trust, I guess it doesn’t change the fact that she likes Yamazaki…
But, I’m sure progress is being made, so that’s good.
“I see. That makes me happy.”
“I-I see…..Kaito kun, if you need anything, please let me know…..You always helped me, so I’d like to do something for you too…”
“No, I’m being helped tremendously just by having Kaoru with me…….”
“Eh?”
” Because you trust me and stay with me, even though you’ve heard a lot of bad things about me…..from my point of view, it’s a great relief.”
This is true.
I’m used to being alone from my previous life,…..but it doesn’t change the fact that I’m lonely.
In this world, without Kaoru, I would really be alone, and there is a world of difference between having Kaoru and not.
“I-I see……I’ll stay with you from now on if it’s okay with you…….”
Being together….come to think of it, the last time I heard such words in my previous life was when I was a child.
I don’t really know if the current Kaoru said that as a friend, but I was honestly happy to hear Kaoru’s words like that.
“Thanks, Kaoru.”
“Y-yeah…..let me thank you, too.”
While we were talking about this, a voice called out to me from the side.
“Eh? Kaoru chan and……Kaito kun !?”
“Ah……Hiroshiki san…….”
Kirara looks really surprised, and Kaoru…she doesn’t seem surprised at all.
“Why are the two of you !? Could it be that you have that kind of relationship !?”
“Ah, it’s not like that. It’s not like we’re dating or anything.”
“Eh? Then why are you two together at this hour?”
What should I explain…..should I just tell her as it is?
While I was thinking about that, Kaoru calmly said.
“Erm. Actually, I asked Kaito= kun to pick me up after cram school.”
“Well, something like that.”
“Why Kaito kun !? If it was Kaoru chan, shouldn’t you rely on Shin?”
Kirara asked me and Kaoru curiously.
“I already asked Shin, but he said it would be difficult because he has a game appointment with a friend……”
“I-I see… ..but even if that’s the case, were Kaito kun and Kaoru chan that close? It seems like you have no contact at all.”
“Actually, the other day on my way home from cram school, Kaito kun helped me when I was getting hit on and couldn’t refuse. Then, in the process, I was rejected by Shin, so that’s why I asked him.”
Kaoru looked happy when she said that.
“I see……Kaito kun is not what the rumors say he is.”
“Of course. Kaito kun is very kind.”
“I see. If Kaoru chan says so, then it must be true…rumors can’t be trusted after all.”
“Well, there’s some truth to the rumor…it’s just that I’ve changed…..of course, I think it’s difficult to get people to believe it.”
“Hmmm. Well, I don’t really care about rumors.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Because Kaito kun told me to look at it with my own eyes and judge it. When he told me that, I thought
that shouldn’t believe the rumor as it is.”
I didn’t really think that much about what she said, but I didn’t realize she was thinking that.
Well, I said it was very Kirara-like.
While I was thinking that, Kirara continued.
“You two are heading to Kaoru’s house, right?”
“That’s right.”
“Which direction is that?”
As Kirara said that, Kaoru pointed in the direction where her house was.
“My house is in the same direction too, so can I go home with you?”
“Fine by me…..if it’s okay with Kaoru, though…..”
“I’m fine with it. I have no reason to refuse.”
It was a bit surprising that Kaoru said so without any pretense of disapproval.
I had thought that after what happened with Yamazaki, Kaoru would at least have some hard feelings for Kirara.
I didn’t think Kaoru would refuse, but I thought she would show at least a hint of disapproval, so if she showed any reluctance, I would have told her that I preferred just the two of us.
Then the three of us were walking together.
“Speaking of which, why are you here at this time of night?”
It was almost 8 p.m. and Kirara wasn’t in club activities, so it would have been suspicious for her to be outside at this time of the night.
Well, of course, that’s not the case and I guess it’s just the end of her part-time job.
Kirara probably doesn’t have permission to work part-time, so I don’t think she’ll tell me.
E….erm. I went shopping for a while.”
“I see. So you went shopping.”
“T-that’s right !”
Kirara was obviously frightened to say it, but Kaoru didn’t seem to suspect it.
Well, I guess it’s more likely that she doesn’t ask because Kirara doesn’t want to say it.
I mean, Kaoru is smiling and they are getting along before I know it…….
It’s obvious that Kaoru has become softer than when I saw her in the classroom a few days ago.
Come to think of it, I did see them together at school from time to time.
“Speaking of which, how well do you two get along? I haven’t even seen you two talking at school.”
Kirara asked me and Kaoru.
“I wonder. I don’t know, but at least I trust him a lot.”
“I guess I feel the same way……well, from my point of view, it’s partly because Kaoru is the only person I can talk to properly.”
“I see……but why don’t you talk to her at school?”
“Ah, I should explain it. People around will look at you strangely if you talk to me, so it’s better not to talk to me at school.”
“I see. It certainly seems like the people around will be confused.”
“I don’t care about that though…..”
After that, we continued walking while talking.
After all, looking at Kaoru’s behavior, it didn’t seem like she had any negative thoughts about Kirara at all.
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