CH 199

“You were always like that. It was natural for you to get your own way, and when you didn’t, you would get grumpy and annoy the children around you. You haven’t changed since you were a little child.”

A beautiful silvery-white girl lit by moonlight spun her words with a straight face and without hesitation.

She smiled so much when she was next to Nakayama, but in front of him, she didn’t move her face at all.

“I remember how I was so bitter about that, because I was so self-centered, thinking only of myself, and taking it for granted that those around me would give me preferential… treatment.”

Come to think of it, it seemed to him that a similar line had been said to him in the past.

“Nakayama said the same thing to me.”

So he understood himself without being told by Shiho.

He had thought so.

“If you were told, why don’t you fix that? Kotaro-kun went out of his way to point this out to you… Well, you are probably just ignoring it anyway. You are a small person, and I guess your pride gets in the way and you don’t listen to Kotaro-kun’s words.”

Apparently, Shiho had a lot to say.

Shiho did not stop speaking. She continued rather wildly.

“Really, you are miserable. … I am ashamed to even be in the position of being your childhood friend. I don’t know why you and I had such a deep connection…, but it would have been nice if I had been Kotaro-kun’s childhood friend anyway.”

“That’s a rather scattered way of putting it.”

Shiho’s words, which did not hide her frustration to the point of being clearer, were strangely free of discomfort.

Why is that?

He was being told such a screwed-up thing, and yet he didn’t feel bad about it.

He had been irritated for a long time now, but maybe it was because the stress was relieved after he had yelled at her just now.

“Even so, you talk a lot. I didn’t realize you were such a talker when you didn’t talk at all before.”

“I just didn’t feel the need to talk before, because you were always so selfish and I didn’t like to listen to you.”

“Oh, that’s right… Oh, I remember hearing this from Nakayama too. He’s really watching me closely, isn’t he?”

“Yes, I’m sure he’s watching you. You must be a special person to him, in a way.”

“Well, I guess you’re right. He got someone I liked, so I must be special in the sense of being an object to look down on.”

“I didn’t mean it that way… Well, okay. I don’t have any reason to tell you.”

Shiho sighed thoughtfully.

It’s just that, if she’s not careful, she’ll end up fawning over it.

Special… Ah, special.

After all, Shiho is special to him.

“…You’re really, really cute.”

Unconsciously, he muttered to himself.

He was not making a move on her.

He wasn’t trying to convey his feelings for her, nor was he trying to let her know how he felt about her.

It’s like when you see a beautiful painting.

Like when you see a spectacular view that you wouldn’t normally see.

He was simply taken aback by Shiho’s beauty.

“I know.”

Shiho, on the other hand, was really plain.

Most women who were praised by him would blush and get embarrassed…, but her emotions didn’t seem to budge a bit.

He liked that about her.

She used to be quiet and didn’t talk to him, but she was just as cold to him as to anyone else, and he was comfortable with the fact that she didn’t treat him any differently.

He is now realizing that.

He used to feel so close to Shiho that it was natural for him to be around her and he could not explain why he liked her so much.

He was probably able to notice Shiho’s charms more because of his separation from her.

And he also understood his own feelings … again.

(Well, … I still love this girl.)

During the overnight learning program.

He was rejected by Shiho.

That should have been the end of his first love.

But somewhere in his heart, he still hadn’t given up on it.

That’s why he couldn’t fall in love with any other girl from the bottom of his heart.

He had only been trying to convince himself that he liked Mary because he was desperate.

He finally realized that.

(I guess the reason I’m having fun right now is because I like … Shiho and I’m happy we’re having this conversation.)

Perhaps, this is close to the first time he has had a proper conversation with her.

But still enjoyable.

Even though what is being said is negative, he was pleased by the fact that they were exchanging words.

Ah, it’s been a long time.

For a long time now, he has been living in a state of frustration about something.

But now that he knows the cause of that frustration, he felt better.

He still loves Shiho.

He was frustrated because he couldn’t move on to the next stage of his life because that love was not over.

That’s why he was depressed.

He was forcing and convincing himself with all sorts of reasons, but he was mistaken.

What’s the matter is that he’s a mob character…

It doesn’t matter where one stands.

It was simpler to answer…