While I Was Giving Love Advice to My Best Friend, the School's Most Beautiful Girl Somehow Became the Closest Person to Me-Chapter 3Volume 1 .1 - Me, the Angel, and the Clumsy Beauty

Chapter 3: Me, the Angel, and the Clumsy Beauty

“Alisa had four pancakes this morning, and now she says she can’t move.”

“She’s a bigger eater than I thought”

“But that sauce was amazing. I learned a lot from it.”

First thing in the morning, as usual, I was talking side by side with my best friend’s crush, Otsuki Shizuku.

Perhaps it was the effect of the conversation I had with Asahina-san yesterday, but I felt like the distance between Otsuki-san and me had closed a bit.

Having Asahina-san as a common topic of conversation was also significant.

“But it’s amazing how close you’ve become with Alisa. It was unexpected.”

“Mizuhara-san mentioned it too, but is it really that unusual?”

“Yeah. Alisa tends to be standoffish with guys. From my perspective, that’s not the real Alisa.”

Perhaps it’s a kind of wariness due to her popularity. Her cool, aloof tone seems to put up a kind of barrier.

If someone looks as good as Asahina-san, it’s somewhat understandable.

“But in reality, she’s bright and… a bit of an affectionate girl… huh?”

“Wow! You’ve only talked a lot yesterday, right? It’s impressive you understand her that much.”

I’m not really certain about it. But if Otsuki-san, who has known her since childhood, says so, it must be true.

However…

“…I think she’s a bit too careless, though.”

“Ah…”

“For someone who’s so guarded, she easily gave away her contact information and even her home address to me.”

“I’ll make sure to give Alisa a good talking to later…”

She’s really like her mother.

“Please don’t tell other guys about Alisa.”

“Of course I won’t. Besides, I feel like I’d get killed with her glare if I did.”

“That’s true. Alisa can be merciless once she sees you as an enemy.”

It seems she’s been quite aggressive towards those who have troubled Otsuki-san, so it’s probably best not to act carelessly.

Otsuki-san stared intently at my face and then chuckled softly.

“But I wonder why Alisa let her guard down around you, Kogure-kun.”

The main reason is probably that she’s convinced I’m in love with Otsuki-san. But I can’t say that.

If I did, it would be like a confession! Even putting that aside, it’s mysterious that she would trust me enough to give me her contact information after just one meeting.

The reason must be… a simple one.

“Maybe it’s just that she doesn’t see me as a guy.”

“Huh?”

“I’ve always been good at housework and sewing is my hobby, so I’ve been teased about it a lot.”

“Sewing, as in making clothes?”

“It’s not a big deal, but…”

I showed her the photo album on my smartphone. There were many images of my angel.

“So cute! Is that your little sister?”

“Yes, my sister likes anime, so I make costumes for her. After allo, it’s expensive to buy them every time.”

“Wow… that’s amazing. This one suits her really well.”

I combined fabrics to create a magical girl costume for Hiyori, who loves magical girl anime and dressed her up in it.

My parents are pleased, and Hiyori smiles… it’s the best.

“This angelic charm is irresistible. No, seriously, she’s adorable.”

“I hear you tend to dote on them more when there’s an age gap. I’m an only child, so I’m a bit envious.”

“Doesn’t it feel like siblings too with her?”

“You see, I admire her, but…”

Otsuki-san’s usually bright face clouded over slightly.

“It’s just that Alisa, well… she treats me like a little sister and hugs me a lot, which can be a bit much…”

“Is that so? But…”

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Given that Asahina-san seemed to be over 160 centimeters tall, towering over Otsuki-san, who was around 150 centimeters, the height difference was to be expected.

Asahina-san doted on Otsuki-san. It felt like a familial affection. It was surprising to see that Otsuki-san was somewhat displeased by this.

“Being so well-liked by Asahina-san is quite amazing if you ask me. Mizuhara-san felt the same way about you.”

“Really…? I wonder…”

A shadow passed over Otsuki-san’s expression.

“The three of us, childhood friends, have been together since kindergarten. We’ve spent every day together.”

Under the bright morning sun, I waited for Otsuki-san’s words on the bench behind the school building.

“You might find it surprising, but when we were little, I was the tallest of the three. We’re the same age, but I was the ‘Onee-san,’ as even our parents would say. Alisa was always clinging to me because she was afraid of many things, and Kokoro was naturally laid-back. I like to think I was the responsible one.”

“Looking at Asahina-san, I can see that. You do seem very reliable, Otsuki-san.”

“Thank you.”

She comes to school early every morning, tending to the garden and cleaning up around the school. Behind the bench, there was a trash bag filled with litter collected from around the campus.

She must naturally have a meticulous personality.

“But I always thought it would stay that way… growth can be cruel, huh?”

“I guess so.”

“Alisa, as you see, had a growth spurt in late elementary school and became the most beautiful and graceful of us all. She’s smart and athletic… While she hasn’t changed much, she’s become a girl with immense popularity among the boys.”

“It’s true that she’s liked by all the boys in school.”

“Kokoro started showing results in swimming, which she began in elementary school, and becoming number one in Japan… It was amazing. She was quickly seen as a future Olympic hope. And she became just as beautiful as Alisa.”

“She’s like a local star.”

“And then there’s me… who was nothing special. We were supposed to be three close childhood friends, but I was just ordinary. I’m just a shadow in their light.”

“That’s not true.”

“It’s okay, you don’t have to be considerate of. Anyone can see it’s just the ugly jealousy of an ordinary person. Feeling bad when Alisa treats me like a little sister is just a manifestation of that jealousy.”

“But you don’t hate them. You actually love them.”

“…yes?”

Otsuki-san’s expression changed to one of surprise.

She might have been able to ignore the words if they were what she had expected, but unexpected words can’t be ignored.

“You want to be with them because you love them. And you secretly take pride in being relied upon by such amazing people, don’t you?”

“How did you know?”

If she truly resented them and was filled with jealousy, I thought she would distance herself, not wanting to witness their shining achievements. But Otsuki-san cherishes both Asahina-san and Mizuhara-san.

Even if she’s jealous, she cares for them deeply. She’s happy they rely on her, so she stays by their side.

It’s still a sign of affection.

“I’m the same way. I have a childhood friend who was the fastest to grow until midway through elementary school. But then he started to grow taller and show his talents in the higher grade.”

“I see. Hirasawa-kun has always been there for you, Kogure-kun.”

“He’s been popular with the girls since middle school. I’m jealous of Reo too, but we still get along as childhood friends.”

“It seems like you and I are quite similar, Kogure-kun.”

Yes, Otsuki-san and I are alike. Both of us have incredibly popular childhood friends.

Our positions and what we can do are similar, I think. But still…

“I still think you’re more amazing, Otsuki-san.”

“Eh? Is that because I have two childhood friends?”

True, but what makes me think Otsuki-san is amazing is the fact that she’s liked by the most popular boy in school.

That alone sets her apart from me. Just being liked by Reo means that Otsuki-san is an attractive girl in her own right.

That’s why, even though we may seem similar, an ordinary person like me is different from Otsuki-san.

“The bell will ring soon, shall we head back?”

I really want to make this romance work for the two of them.

I’m sure that would make Otsuki-san feel like she’s on equal footing with her two childhood friends.

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