“to get closer to you”

Translated by Raze
Edited by Lieer

 

 

“Kusuba-san? Was that from Natsume-san?”

 

“Huh? Ah, no…”

 

Damn….what should I do?

 

What should I explain to Tachibana about this?

 

“I haven’t heard anything from them, I’ll try giving them a call.”

 

“Ah…”

 

 

 Though I tried to stop her, Tachibana started to make a call on her phone.

 

She probably tried to call Hinata but no one picked it up.

 

Not surprising, I don’t suppose they’ll just come back after all this.

 

“That’s weird…”

 

While Tachibana was confused, tilting her head, I was thinking of how to get out of this situation.

 

How should I fake it?

 

Even if I can fake it, what would I do after that?

 

Tachibana cannot be fooled easily.

 

She’ll notice something’s wrong at some point.

 

And she won’t feel good when she finds out that she had been deceived or lied to.

 

Now, even I am holding a grudge against those two as well.

 

 So, this is the reason they didn’t tell me about their plans…

 

There wasn’t a secret or a dare, it’s just that, even I didn’t think they’d try something like this.

 

“Kusuba-san, what do we do now?”

 

“Eh? A-ah…that’s right.”

 

Tachibana seemed worried.

 

 Well, that’s not surprising.

 

 

 “We got a bit carried away then…sorry…”

 

“I guess…let’s just find a place to sit for now.”

 

We went over to a bench near the wall.

 

Here was quieter with less people, it felt relatively comfortable

 

But what do those two even expect of me after this kind of harsh treatment.

 

You can’t expect me to do anything if you leave me, a dark mob, alone with a beautiful girl.

 

To be more specific, there were cases where I’ve been alone with Tachibana…

 

“Will they return if we stay and wait here?”

 

“…I hope so.”

 

“…No, they won’t”

 

Nothing would change if I keep thinking about excuses like that.

 

This situation is completely different from being together in school or eating together.

 

This is about determination.

 

Whether I’m ready for it, or not.

 

Eventually, if you want to make a crucial change in the relationship, you will need the determination.

 

If you don’t have that, then it doesn’t matter how close you become or how much time you spend with each other, nothing will change.

 

“…Tachibana”

 

I’m positive that Kyoya and the others knew about it.

 

So he thought of this plan so that I could move forward.

 

When, where and what I do.

 

 In the end, it’s all about my own will and determination.

 

“…What’s wrong?”

 

Now, what should I do?

 

 How should I convey my feelings to Tachibana?

 

If I’m ready, then I’ll be fine.

 

I didn’t need this kind of situation.

 

But I’m still reluctant. Because doing this is not like me, or rather not like us.

I can’t do it after all…I just can’t.

 

 It’s like I’m walking on a tightrope by either deceiving or not deceiving her by scheming like this.

 

“…Sorry Tachibana”

 

“…eh?”

 

 Tachibana, who was sitting beside me, looked at me with a curious expression. I also looked 

straight back at her.

 

“This situation is probably my fault. I think they set us up so they could leave us alone together.”

 

“…Eh, that…what?”

 

“I asked them for it. I asked him what can I do to get closer to you. Then Kyoya said we should go out together.”

 

“…EHH?”

 

 

 Tachibana instantly blushed.

 

 I’m sure my face got bright red as well.

 

But now that I’ve gotten this far, it doesn’t matter whether I stopped now.

 

No, if I do stop, our relationship will stay like this forever.

 

“I really wanted you to come, so we decided to tell you that Susami is coming as well. That’s why she canceled her plan at the last moment. It was all planned.”

 

“…Is that so.”

 

Tachibana looked convinced, it seemed that she had reached a clear understanding.

 

As expected of her, she knows her friends well.

 

“But I didn’t know that something like this would happen. Those idiots just disappeared on their own.”

 

“Well…that…that’s…”

 

A dry laugh came out.

 

 But Tachibana didn’t laugh.

 

“…That’s why, I’m sorry for deceiving you”

 

“…”

 

Tachibana averted her gaze away from me.

 

She looked down and her expression was as if she was thinking about something.

 

“…why?”

 

 

 “…”

 

 

 “…Why didn’t you tell me about it? Kusuba-san?”

 

 

 “I didn’t like it. I thought I would be too guilty to be having fun with you, but I’m an idiot, so I still got happy being with you.”

 

 

 “…”

 

“I thought that if I told you everything, it would be better. Everything I want to tell you.”

 

“Kusuba-san?”

 

 

 “Tachibana”

 

What I’m saying is so messed up.

 

 We’re in the corner of the arcade, the atmosphere is just bullshit.

 

No surprises, no way with words.

 

 But that’s exactly how I am.

 

This is what suits me best, this is the kind of person I am.

 

I wonder what Tachibana would think about it.

 

 Would she be happy?

 

 Disappointed?

 

Surprised?

 

 Angry?

 

 What kind of thing would make her happy then?

 

It would be good if I can get to know her better, including these things.

 

It’s just about what I want to do.

 

 

 “I like you”