Volume 2 - CH 25

“Well, we didn’t make much progress in our studies after all.”

On the way home.

Yuzuru said to Arisa with a wry smile.

Of course, he knew from the start that if he studied with them, he probably wouldn’t make much progress in his studies.

“….Somehow, I’m sorry”

It was fine that Yuzuru’s studies were not progressing, but he was sorry that he had ruined Arisa’s studies as well.

Somehow, Yuzuru felt as if he had dragged Arisa down the path of evil.

–In the meantime, Arisa gave a bitter smile.

“Haha …… Well, my studies didn’t go as well as I had hoped, so I’ll have to study when I get home. ……”

Then she squinted her eyes.

“But it was fun.”

Arisa clasped her hands behind her back and walked with a somewhat bouncy gait.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve had fun with people like that. Or maybe it’s the first time”

“You haven’t had the chance before?”

Yuzuru does not have such a wide range of friendships.

But he does have friends like Soichiro and Hijiri.

It seems that Arisa has only ever had acquaintances with whom she could “chat over lunch”.  But hadn’t those people asked her to hang out with them? Yuzuru tilted his head.

One or two opportunities are likely to arise if you live for sixteen years.

“No, I think there were opportunities …… now that I think about it. Some people asked me out. I guess it’s my fault.”

Then Arisa sighed.

Even though she had seemed to be in a good mood a while ago. She seemed to have gone into “I’m a bad girl” mode again.

“The past is the past. And …… it’s not unreasonable for you to do so. ……You didn’t like it, did you?　You didn’t want your situation to be known.”

When you get close to someone, there will be an opportunity for them to know about your family situation.

They might keep their distance…

They might start strange rumors just for the fun of it.

If that’s the case, it’s better not to socialize with people from the beginning.

This must be the reason why Arisa was acting as if she was shunning people.

Or so Yuzuru thought, but

“…… it is a little different.”

Apparently, the situation was slightly different.

“What I didn’t want to do was…… well, I didn’t want them involved in my situation.”

“……You don’t want them to be dragged into it?”

“It’s not that auspicious a reason.”

Arisa shook her head from side to side, helplessly.

She then smiled slightly, as if mocking herself.

“I didn’t want to worsen my position because of something they did. That’s all.”

“I see.”

“…… Selfish, isn’t it?”

“It’s only natural if you’re trying to protect yourself.”

If you call it selfishness, it may be selfishness.

But there is nothing wrong with trying to protect yourself.

“But ……”

“It’s not your fault.”

Yuzuru interrupted Arisa’s voice.

He repeated it to Arisa, who looked a little surprised.

“It’s not your fault. I think I’ve said it before, but I can guarantee you that.”

“…… Isn’t that because you don’t know me, Yuzuru-san?”

Don’t say irresponsible things.

She stated as if blaming Yuzuru.

She seemed to be a little aware that she was taking it out on Yuzuru.

Even though she said this with an angry expression, it quickly turned into a depressed expression.

But still, it seems that she can’t help it.

“I’m much uglier than you think, …… Yuzuru-san.”

“Do you think so? I’ve known you for six months. Even if I don’t know everything about you, and I think I have a pretty good grasp of your personality.”

Of course, he knows the good parts.

And he knows the bad parts too.

“It’s a lie.”

“I won’t know if it’s a lie until you prove it to me.”

“……”

When Yuzuru said that, Arisa was silent for a while.

Then she said a few words in a small voice.

“I’m selfish.”

“That’s all?”

When Yuzuru asked, Arisa shook her head from side to side.

“I’m gloomy, insidious, negative…..”

“I know.”

“Arrogant, jealous, narcissistic, …….”

“I know that too.”

“Please deny it a little!”

“Throw in the word ‘contrarian’ too.”

When Yuzuru chuckled, Arisa turned away her cheeks in a pouting manner.　

She wants him to deny the bad things about her.

But it also pisses her off when people say irresponsible things about her without knowing anything about her.

Yuzuru guessed that this was how Arisa felt.

She’s a little, no, quite a troublesome character.

“We all have a flaw or two. A flaw or two doesn’t count as a bad character.”

“But ……”

“It’s not ‘but’…….  If you’re a bad person just because you have flaws, then I’m a very bad person.”

Yuzuru cowered his shoulders in a goofy tone.

Still, Arisa continued, “But, but”.

” Yuzuru-san …… has a lot of good qualities, too.”

“You have a lot, too.”

“……I don’t.”

“Serious, hardworking, good cook, good at studies, good at sports, kind, caring and attentive, cool, cute, beautiful, and also the figure is ……”

“That’s sexual harassment!”

Arisa covered her ears as she said this.

Her face was completely stained red.

She glared at Yuzuru with her jade-green eyes, which were slightly teary, and scowled at him.

“I’m sorry, I got carried away. Please forgive me.”

“…… I won’t forgive you.”

“I will do anything.”

“…… Well, can I ask one?”

Arisa stopped in her tracks.

She looked up at Yuzuru with tears in her eyes and a fading voice.

“Please lend me your chest.”

“Sure”

AN: 

Current True Dere degree: 40% -> 50%.

Is it okay to walk through life with Yuzuru-san ……?

That’s how she feels.

She’s still at the stage where she thinks “is it okay …….”

It’s a leap that she’s not sure that she’s ready to take.