Chapter 36: The End Of The Date With Chinatsu

[Suwano Yuzuha's POV]

When I exited the convenience store, Kana asked, "Yuzuha? Something wrong?" She seemed to sense that something was bothering me, but I couldn't bring myself to tell her. It was something I was still trying to come to terms with, even though I had already sorted out my feelings.

It was a realization that had taken me by surprise. Yes, I was in love. I had fallen for the friend I had made back in middle school. That nerdy kid who always had his nose buried in books, sported a peculiar haircut, and wore glasses as thick as bulletproof glass. I was in love with him.

In terms of appearance, he was far from conventionally attractive. Even I, who didn't know him at first, found him odd-looking. But the real Kurogane was incredibly handsome. And cool. I had seen his true self up close multiple times, and I was certain of it. Yet, I hadn't recognized my own feelings back then. Yes, even back then, I had fallen for him.

You can't blame me, though. Despite Kurogane's occasional jerkish behavior, he was genuinely caring. He cared for me as a friend. For someone who hadn't received the love she deserved from her parents, having someone care for you like that could make you fall in an instant.

But I had denied it back then.

Kurogane Tsubasa was a top-notch student with a promising future. He excelled in academics, had a knack for showcasing his athleticism, and was pretty much a jack of all trades, even in the kitchen. And then there was me? Well, I was far from being in the same league. If I had to compare myself to something, I'd say I was closer to a roach.

I mean, let's be real here. If life were a race, Kurogane was a thoroughbred horse, galloping towards success, while I was more like a cockroach scuttling around in the shadows, trying to avoid getting squashed. It wasn't just about his looks or his skills; it was about his whole demeanor. He had this confidence and charisma that drew people to him effortlessly.

And then there was me, with my resting bitch face, antisocial tendencies, and a knack for blending into the background. I was never one to shine or stand out in a crowd. I preferred to stay in my little corner, observing life from a safe distance.

But despite all these differences, we became friends, and a part of me secretly cherished those moments. Maybe it was because he didn't treat me like a roach. He saw something in me that no one else did, and that made me feel special, even though I could never admit it, not even to myself.

"Yuzuha?" Kana asked again, but I didn't respond. My mind was too foggy to process her words properly. It was a small miracle that I even heard her voice. "What's going on?"

Kana wasn't exactly a friend, not really. I was just using her, and I think she knew it too. The same went for Youko. But after spending so much time together, we could sense when something was off with one another. Youko was giving me the same concerned look as Kana

What could I say to them, I wondered? I lacked the courage. I couldn't share these feelings I had. They weren't my true friends, so they weren't the people I could confide in. But then again, I didn't have any real friends at all. I felt like I was going to explode if I didn't let these feelings out. Tears welled up, and I was on the verge of crying.

"Yuzuha? Huh? Wait! Yuzuha, where are you going?! Why are you running?!"

Without realizing it, I started running away. Tears streamed down my face, and my throat ached. I wasn't sobbing loudly, just quietly crying as I fled. Why did my throat hurt so much, then?

Ahh... I guess this was the lump in your throat when you held back tears. Although, I was already crying. What did my heart want from me, then?

Of course, I knew what it wanted. It wanted to scream. It wanted to release all my bottled-up emotions. But even then, it felt like it would be futile. In the end, I didn't confront my feelings. I just ran away from them.

×××

[Kurogane Tsubasa's POV]

I was walking Chinatsu back to her place, and she was shoveling ice cream into her mouth. Her cheeks puffed out every time she took a bite. How could she devour such a huge amount of ice cream in one go? Well, Chinatsu did have quite a sizable mouth that could handle a scoop comfortably, but I couldn't help worrying she might choke on it. So, I offered some advice, "Don't shovel it all in at once; you might choke. Choking on ice cream hurts, you know."

She just brushed me off, her mouth crammed full. "I won't choke on this. The only thing I'd choke on is your dick."

I found myself blushing, even though I wasn't the one who had said that. Honestly, Chinatsu had a knack for saying the most embarrassing things. Then again, what she'd mentioned was true. Even if she could handle my size down there, there was still a risk of choking. I'm not bragging, but I've got some girth.

"Hey, Tsubasa, can I ask you something?"

"Hmm? What?"

"How long have you been friends with Suwano-san?"

How long, huh? I hadn't expected to be asked that question. Truth be told, Suwano wasn't my first friend in middle school. I had another friend, a boy. He was the heir to a sword dojo, and he was considered the cutest guy in school back then. I knew Chinatsu had heard of him, or maybe even knew him. But that boy and I drifted apart. I didn't know why, though. I knew he got mad at me for some reason, but I had no idea what it was about.

I also had another friend, a senpai, a girl. I was a first-year, and she was in her second year. She was my... well, my first love. I tried to pursue her, but she was in love with someone else. She's in college now, and I heard that the guy she had a crush on is her boyfriend now.

Suwano was the third friend I made in middle school. It happened during the first semester of our third year. The reason we became friends was because we were both loners. That's pretty much the only thing we had in common. I spotted her in the arcade, we played some games, and then we just became friends.

Loners had a way of finding each other.

We shared a bond of solitude, Suwano and I. Both of us had our own reasons for being loners. In her case, she had a knack for saying exactly what was on her mind, without any filter. People often misunderstood her straightforwardness, and that led to her being somewhat isolated. As for me, I was quiet, introverted, and preferred spending time with books and games rather than making small talk.

But when we found each other that day at the arcade, something clicked. Maybe it was the shared love for video games or the fact that neither of us cared much for societal norms. We started hanging out more often, exploring different arcades and trying out various games.

Well, when I think about it now, I've only known Suwano for about a year, so I haven't really gotten to know her all that well. Guess I can't really call myself her close friend...

"I've only been hanging out with her for a year, but, well, it feels like that was the year... when I finally started enjoying my middle school life. Since both you and Natsumi weren't in the same class as me for all three years of middle school, I was pretty much a loner. I didn't make many friends during that time. But Suwano brightened up those gloomy years in middle school."

"You know, Tsubasa, I'm genuinely happy that you found a great friend in Suwano-san. Even if it's only been a year, the influence a friend can have on your life can be profound," Chinatsu said.

"Yeah... yeah, you're absolutely right."

Suwano had brightened up my lonely middle school years. But I couldn't help but wonder about the impact of my presence in her life. I hoped I had been a source of happiness for her, even if we had only known each other for a year.

As Chinatsu and I continued walking, we eventually reached her house. It was a cozy, two-story home with a well-tended garden in the front.

"Thanks for walking me home, Tsubasa," Chinatsu said with a smile.

I grinned back. "No problem at all. It was fun, even with all the ice cream-induced innuendos."

Chinatsu laughed. "Hey, you know I can't resist teasing you."

"Yeah, I've noticed," I replied, chuckling. "But hey, it's all in good fun."

We both fell into a brief silence, just enjoying each other's company. It was moments like these that made our relationship feel special. We didn't need to fill every second with conversation; sometimes, just being there was enough.

Chinatsu glanced at her front door and then back at me. "Hey, Tsubasa, do you wanna come inside for a bit? My mom isn't home, and we could hang out some more."

That was quite the invitation to pass up. When your girlfriend invites you into her house with her mom out, it usually meant one thing. It was a situation where things could get naughty. But I couldn't forget Natsumi's wish – she didn't want me to have sex with Chinatsu alone. It had to involve both of them to avoid hurting Natsumi's feelings.

"I'd love to, but I've still got something I need to take care of."

"This could be your chance to get frisky with me. Are you sure you're not up for it?"

I was definitely up for it, and so was the guy downstairs. He was, well, "up."

"I'm sorry, Chinatsu... but..."

I hesitated, trying to find the right words.

"I know, Tsubasa. Natsumi didn't want us to have sex with just the two of us, right? Sheesh, she's a bit of a cockblock sometimes..." Chinatsu remarked.

I chuckled at Chinatsu's bluntness. "Yeah, she can be a bit protective, but it's because she cares about us. We'll just have to respect her wishes."

Chinatsu pouted playfully. "Fine, fine. I guess I can't be naughty with you today. But you better make it up to me soon."

I leaned in and gave her a quick kiss. "I promise, I'll make it worth the wait."

We chatted a bit longer, enjoying each other's company, but eventually, I had to head home. As much as I wanted to stay, I knew that keeping our promise to Natsumi was important. It was all about finding the right balance between fun and responsibility in our unique relationship.

"Take care, Tsubasa. I love you."

"I love you too."

With that, I waved goodbye and headed off, leaving her standing at her front door.