Volume 2 - CH 1.2

Chapter 1 - Promises to Meet (Part 2)

"Isn't today... beautiful?"

On the dining table in my apartment, two portions of food were ready to be served.

Grilled sanma fish, harusame, and Chinese cabbage salad with tuna and mayonnaise.

Then there was soup...and a bowl of rice...

"Could this be matsutake rice?"

The aroma of these foods filled my cramped room, turning my dilapidated apartment into a mansion. The dirty backyard outside the window seemed to turn into a beautiful garden scene.

"Ufufu. My father sent this to me from my hometown. O Makoto, I am Miyabi."

"There is no mistaking you, Miyabi. Spring is the dawn. Summer is night. And autumn is the matsutake mushroom."

In the dining room, we sat facing each other at the low dining table, moving our bodies and continuing to chant the name "Miyabi," acting out the character of a foolish Heian aristocrat.

When I'm with Narushima-san like this, she really seems like a close friend of mine, and it's very pleasant.

"This rice, could it be that you made it too? It looks very delicate."

"Yes. Although it's a bit difficult to make. Then let's eat it!"

We clasped our hands and said "Itadakimasu" before starting to eat.

Narushima-san, who is a good cook, served us an amazing menu, so whatever we ate tasted good.

"Oh, yes. Dad also said he would send me some Wagyu meat next time. Since Koga-kun's place only has a takoyaki grill, why don't we get a hot plate together?"

"Oh, good idea! Then let's have a yakiniku party together──"

My sentence stopped there, then I quickly corrected it.

"Let's all have a yakiniku party together!"

Narushima-san smiled and nodded. I was very grateful for that.

"Hey, Koga-kun. For the yakiniku party..."

There seemed to be some rice on my cheek, and Narushima-san picked it up with her finger. Then she opened her mouth again.

"Are you sure you can't go out with me yet?"

"Like I said."

"But you like me, don't you?"

Ah, I like her.

Including the scary part of her, I'm pretty sure I like her.

But I can't say it... Because if I say it, it's over.

"Then..."

Narushima-san put his index finger to his lips and whispered, giving me an ignorant smile.

"Why can't we have a secret date and hide it from everyone?"

...When it's time like this, she's really scary.

On top of that, I'm afraid that my nature, which prioritizes friendship over love, will be shaken by her tantalizing advances.

"I told you... I can't..."

"So what? After all, if we go out secretly, the relationship between the five of us will continue like this."

Then Narushima-san put his finger to his cheek in confusion. It was a face I couldn't understand.

"Anyway, I..."

"I..."

She cut me off. Then she looked at me seriously.

"I'm not saying this out of the blue. I really like Koga-kun. Otherwise, I wouldn't have asked you out secretly like this."

Really, that guy...

Even though she doesn't act like she usually does, she's very blunt... That's why I'm very worried, and she's making me indecisive.

"Just like you, I don't want to destroy the relationship between the five of us right now.

I know that too.

Some time ago, Narushima-san said that she was willing to break friendship with anyone if it was for love.

Narushima Yoru is a girl who cares more about love.

But last summer, she changed drastically and thought that love and friendship were very important to her.

As a result, she came up with the answer to go on a secret date and keep it a secret from others. She said it was the best way to get love and still maintain the five of us.

Of course, Narushima-san didn't know that we men had formed a ANG union (Alliance No Girlfriend). Besides, even if Narushima Yoru knew, she still wouldn't change her mind. That's why I thought it was better to keep quiet about it.

「I don't think acting selfishly will lead to anything good. If Koga-kun is okay with it, I'd like to ask you out soon. After all, Koga-kun also wants to kiss me, right?」

「I...don't really...」

「Ahaha, sorry. I guess, it's more appropriate if I'm the one who wants to kiss you. Even now, I'm still holding back my urge to kiss you. But since we're not dating yet, I'll try to keep holding back. It's quite difficult for me, you know?」

「f-for now, thank you for the food. Thank you for making me dinner this time.」

I couldn't stand the stares from her, so I quickly cleared the dishes.

「Ufufu. That panicked face of yours is really...ufufu...I really want to do it...」

Because of her creepy smile, I almost dropped the plate I was carrying.

I want to return to our usual friendship, so please don't look at me like that.

「Today I'll wash the dishes, so Narushima-san can just relax.」

「...Then it's up to Koga-kun, isn't it...」

After breathing a sigh of complaint, she even came to wash the dishes with me.

Of course I knew that this meeting was just putting aside the matter at hand.

But in the end, I was unable to resist the girl I fell in love with.

Because of my indecisiveness, the relationship between the five of us began to diverge.