For Some Reason, My Ex-girlfriend, Who Lost Interest in Me, and My Current Girlfriend, Whom I’ve Kno

☆ Kengo Ohashi ☆

With my sister’s restraints lifted, I left Sakuranomiya High School.

As I left the school gate, I sent a text message to Tenshi.

[I have something important to tell you. Can you meet me now?]

I had turned down her invitation to go home together twice.

I must have made Tenshi feel lonely.

And I also have to face up to her relationship with Komori…

Call me conceited, but I thought I’d get a reply from Tenshi right away.

But what awaited me was a read-through.

It means she ignored me even though she checked her messages.

Oioioi… Why are you not giving me an answer, Tenshi?

Sweat slides down my forehead.

Before I knew it, my back was soaking wet.

What’s all this fuss…? I can’t stop having a bad feeling about this.

☆ Shota Komori ☆

I caught up with Izumi-san, who was running as fast as she could, and we sat on a park bench to calm her down.

As a side note, I’m gasping for air, but she’s not even out of breath.

I’m more exhausted than a petite girl… No, I think I’m just too physically weak.

I can’t hide my shock at how low my specs are.

However, now is not the time to be depressed about my inadequacies.

I checked on Izumi-san, who has stopped crying, and then sat up.

I should just give her something to drink and let her calm down.

For Izumi-san, who has a sweet tooth, I chose oshiruko (sweet red-bean soup) from the vending machine.

I casually handed it to her.

“Huh?”

She reacted as if I was an idiot.

Alright. She’s shown me the reaction I was expecting.

But it’s strange. It’s a much sharper tone of voice and gaze than I had imagined.

I knew it, it must be the oshiruko, right? But then again, she’d already eaten two super-sized deluxe parfaits the other day. I thought, given her state of mind, she might want something sweet…

“Shota-san isn’t popular with girls.”

“Statement?! You’re making a statement?! Usually people ask, ‘You’re not popular with girls, are you?’ You’re not even asking?!”

I didn’t know that just by choosing oshiruko, I’d be hit with the cold-hearted reality of the situation… Who in the world could’ve imagined it!

“But the fact is, you’re not popular, are you?”

“Damn it! It’s true that I’m not popular, but…!”

But that doesn’t mean you should be so judgmental! I have the right to dream, too!

“…Good grief. It’s not good to be stubborn in these situations, okay?”

“Why am I being chastised?! It was Izumi-san who was rude and misbehaved!”

“Pride is really a trivial thing. Therefore, I think Shota-san should quickly give up his pride as a human being.”

“I won’t give it up! That’s the only thing I won’t give up! If I throw away my pride as a human being, I’m finished!”

“I think it’s just fine to be happy eating leftovers.”

“It’s not fine!”

“Eh, you’re mad?”

“I’m not mad. If you can make me lose my temper, that’s impressive–AH! That happened just recently!”

Of course, I did my best to tsukkomi.

I guess my desperate appearance hit the spot, Izumi-san was laughing as she hid her face with a “Fufu…”

It may seem strange from the outside, but I like the relationship between Izumi-san and I. We are like comedians who play both sides of the joke. (T/N: There are mentions of manzai, boke and tsukkomi here, but I decided to dumb it down.)

Thanks to that, even though I am not a good talker, I’m able to distract her in this way.

Besides, I’m convinced that Izumi-san’s sharp tongue aren’t her real feelings.

They’re probably just jokes to make fun of me.

No, I don’t have any words to reply to you if you ask me why I, a supporting role mobster, can understand the female mind.

But what can I really say…?

It’s not like I don’t feel horrible when she spits venom at me.

It’s just the perfect amount for me (us)…

Well, it’s hard to put into words. But you see, there the expression “the horses fit together”. (T/N: Means good compatibility.)

That’s how I think. I feel like I’m being self-conceited, but you get what I mean.

“Source?”

“Source?! No, there’s no source or anything like that!”

“I knew it. Shota-san isn’t popular.”

“Damn it…! That’s a direct line that pierces through heart!”

Well, I guess it’s true. How can a man who gives oshiruko in this situation be popular?

She must be thirsty from crying, and water would be better for her–

“Ah, it’s delicious!”

“You’re still drinking it!”

I just had to make a very spontaneous comment!

And besides, I dared to choose oshiruko, you know?

Her boyfriend openly admitted to two-timing her right in front of her, and I thought that must have been very traumatic for Izumi-san.

So, whether it’s a complaint or a gripe, I don’t care. I’m hoping that spilling it out to me will provide a little distraction…

“That shallow thinking that it would be okay to give a girl with a broken heart something sweet is no longer good enough.”

“I don’t know what to say…”

“I wish you would keep your jokes to your face.”

“Isn’t that too harsh?!”

No, in a sense the operation was successful!

“Hmm? But if I cover it with my hand like this, you’re surprisingly good looking, Shota-san.”

Izumi-san placed her hand over my face and said–

“Hmm? Aren’t these things supposed to hide only the nose and mouth…? My whole face is covered, though…”

“Reality really is cruel.”

“What is cruel is your tongue, Izumi-san!”

“…Hah~.”

Oh no, she just let out a huge sigh!

P-Perhaps I shouldn’t have made this exchange just now after all.

If anything, it was like I led Izumi-san to abuse me…

Apparently, Izumi-san noticed my concern.

“Um… Thank you very much, for coming after me. And the fact that you chose oshiruko on purpose is also a high point!”

“W-Well, thanks.”

She knew, after all.

“Also, um… What do you think of that thing earlier?”

What I think?!

That question is way too high-level for someone like me who’s never been asked for relationship advice before!

How should I answer?!