Chapter 8: How to Create Distance from a Possessive Childhood Friend (2)

How to Create Distance from a Possessive Childhood Friend (2)

“Well then, from here, I, Yukina, will now present the solution I have come up with!”

In the end, carried along by Yukina’s kindness and strong insistence, Natsuki had decided to let her help him.

No matter how many times he said it was fine and tried to refuse, Yukina simply would not back down.

Yukina looked as casual as always, yet Natsuki felt something desperate in her.

It might have just been his imagination. However, seeing how stubbornly Yukina kept pressing, he began to think his feeling might not be wrong.

Natsuki did not know why Yukina was going this far. But based on how she usually acted, he decided that she must be someone who simply could not leave a struggling person alone.

Because she was that kind-hearted, Natsuki ended up relying on her.

“But Yukina-san, is there really a good way to solve this?”

“Of course. I have a very effective plan.”

Yukina declared this with complete confidence.

Hearing that, Natsuki found himself unable to hide the hope that maybe something could really be done.

“So, what exactly should I do?”

“It is simple. Natsuki-kun just needs to get a girlfriend.”

Without hesitation or any attempt to sound mysterious, Yukina said it clearly and boldly.

Her finger pointed so sharply at Natsuki that one could almost hear a snap, and all he could do was stare in shock.

Because Yukina’s brilliant plan did not sound brilliant at all to him.

Yukina must not have liked Natsuki’s reaction, because her cheeks puffed up.

“Shouldn’t you be more like wow, amazing?”

“No, I mean, that seems impossible.”

“Why? You are not dating Kurokawa-san, right? So it is not cheating.”

Natsuki had already explained to Yukina that even though he spent every day with Sae, they were not dating. But that was not the real problem.

“If you get a girlfriend, even if she is your childhood friend, she will have to back off. And if she still tries to cling to you, you can tell her that you will prioritize your girlfriend. Then Kurokawa-san will just look selfish, and people around you will take your side. It is perfect, right?”

Yukina laid out the reasoning of her plan clearly and logically.

If someone only listened to her explanation, it really did sound convincing. But the real issue lay elsewhere.

The problem with this plan existed at a much more basic level.

“It is the best plan for letting you create distance from her with a proper reason.”

“Yukina-san’s plan has one fatal flaw.”

“Huh? I do not think it does. What is it?”

“That is, I cannot just get a girlfriend so easily.”

It was embarrassing to say, but Natsuki had no choice except to point out the biggest problem.

Since the day he was born, Natsuki had never had something as dreamlike as a girlfriend.

Even if he ignored Sae’s involvement, he had never been popular in the first place.

Someone with Yukina’s looks might not understand, but opportunities for romantic contact were almost nonexistent for him.

For someone like Natsuki, who did not stand out, getting a girlfriend was an incredibly high hurdle.

So Yukina’s brilliant idea already failed before it even began, making it impossible to carry out.

“I do not think there is anyone who would date me, and even if it is just pretending, I do not have any close female friends who would do that for me, so I am sorry, but I think it is impossible.”

Feeling guilty since she had thought up the plan for him, Natsuki explained his reasoning.

Yukina had suggested her idea with such confidence, so Natsuki wondered how she felt after being rejected.

It was like brushing away the hand someone had reached out to help with, so he worried he might have hurt her.

As Natsuki began to feel heavy with guilt, he heard Yukina say, “Oh, that is all?” with no seriousness at all, and he lifted his head.

“You have me.”

Yukina pointed at herself without hesitation.

“Since we are both class representatives, we already have a natural connection. Nothing will seem unnatural. It is the perfect match.”

Natsuki could not understand what Yukina meant. Or rather, he understood, but he was not sure he should take her words literally.

“Also, you said you do not have any close female friends, but forgetting about me, who worked with you this whole time, is pretty rude, isn’t it?”

“No, I did not forget, but can we really call that being close?”

“What? Are you picking a fight? We spent a ton of time alone after school. I am absolutely allowed to feel close to you.”

“But that was just class rep work.”

“Well, I feel close to you. Is that a problem?”

“No, nothing, I feel close to you too.”

She leaned in so close that their noses almost touched. With her beautiful face so near, Natsuki could barely breathe.

“Or are you saying having me as your girlfriend is not good enough? Do you have super high standards?”

“Not at all. Yukina-san is an amazing person who is far too good for someone like me.”

Knowing the best way to calm her was to act humble, Natsuki bowed deeply.

Seemingly satisfied, Yukina returned to her seat.

“As long as you understand. Then starting now, I am your girlfriend.”

“Y-yeah. Even if it is just pretending, I am glad you are willing to help.”

“No, not pretending. I will be your real girlfriend.”

Natsuki was speechless.

This was supposed to be a plan just to distance him from Sae. Nothing more and nothing less.

Since the goal was only to create a reason to pull away, pretending should have been enough.

“It is only a strategy, so I would feel bad. Pretending is enough.”

“You are too naive, Natsuki-kun. Way too naive. Girls can tell if something is pretend right away.”

“R-really?”

“Pretty high chance. And Kurokawa-san seems obsessed with you. She would see through it instantly.”

“Obsessed… well, I guess I am just convenient for her.”

“Either way. Something like this has to be done seriously.”

“But Yukina-san, are you really okay with that? Dating someone like me?”

“Why not? I like you quite a bit, Natsuki-kun.”

Natsuki could not understand the girl in front of him.

The word like, spoken as if it were nothing, stirred his heart like a sudden storm.

She probably meant she liked him as a friend, enough to temporarily act as his girlfriend. Natsuki convinced himself of that.

Otherwise, his heart, which was suddenly pounding, felt like it would be loud enough for Yukina to hear.

“You would not dislike having me as your girlfriend, right?”

Natsuki thought the way she asked was unfair.

Yukina looked up at him, her eyes slightly wet and uncertain.

Natsuki truly believed that there was no man who could say he disliked her when she asked like that.

“There is no way I would be unhappy!”

“Good. Then I look forward to being with you from now on, boyfriend-kun.”

“Yeah. But Yukina-san. Are you sure? Sae might get angry and cause trouble for you too.”

It was not pride, but a realistic fear that Sae would be upset once she could no longer use him as she pleased.

If distance formed and Sae lost interest, then her irritation would fade, and they could return to peaceful days. That was what Natsuki hoped for.

That was the ideal outcome, but there was no guarantee. If it was only him being yelled at, that was fine, but he did not want Yukina dragged into it.

Yet Yukina brushed his worry aside with a light laugh.

“It will be fine. Trust me. I will definitely save you.”

Yukina smiled with confident boldness.

If Yukina had been a boy, the girls in class would never leave her alone. Her smile had that much impact.

“Now, let us plan for tomorrow. You still have time, right?”

“Y-yeah. Please guide me.”

“Good. Starting tomorrow, we stay together from morning so we do not give Kurokawa-san any openings.”

After that, for as long as time allowed, Natsuki and Yukina discussed their plan for the following day.

Even when his phone vibrated, Yukina encouraged him to stay strong, and he ignored every single notification.