kscans

Chapter 768 - While Haru is Away

"—Hey, Sora-chan. Are you maybe the type of girl who doesn’t get jealous?"

"Pardon?"

"What are you talking about?"

This was a continuation of the social gathering from the morning. After the hot spring break, Haru, who had been acting somewhat restless, had slipped out of the room. This happened just a few minutes later.

Right after they watched Kaede leave the room a short while after him, Shoko suddenly tossed out the question while being thoroughly beaten in a game of backgammon. The ‘young lady’ in question simply tilted her head, a look on her face that said she had no idea what was being said.

And for good reason. Toshiki’s retort said it all.

"Well, you know? A little while ago it was me, and now it’s Kaede. It’s a situation where a pretty older girl is alone with your partner-kun, right?"

But of course, the embodiment of curiosity could not be stopped.

"I just thought it was weird you didn't seem to mind at all."

After the break, this girl had also been acting a little off. In other words, it didn't take a genius to figure out some kind of 'event' must have happened.

It’s great that they’re getting along so well.

However, right after something that made them more conscious of each other, her beloved was now alone with another woman, yet she showed no signs of being bothered.

With her sharp intuition, she sensed that this was a positive development. And with her innate curiosity, she couldn't ignore the conviction that this would lead to an amusing conversation.

The nineteen-year-old girl with the rare talent of not being disliked by people gave in to her desires and stepped into the fray.

And then,

"Um, th—"

"She gets veeeeeeeeeeeery jealous, you know? This one."

"Wha—, h-hey…!?"

An unexpected assist. The older sister smiling sweetly next to Sora, or rather, the young lady Natsume, cut in just as the girl was about to say something.

"Whenever Haru-san is spending time with the other two, she gets so obviously fidgety. It’s really quite adora—"

"This is what we do with chatty mouths…!"

And there was the little sister’s counterattack. She pinched her sister’s cheeks with both hands as she was about to spill more secrets, glaring at her with a half-lidded gaze, poised to deliver a lecture.

The three university students were impressed. By what, you ask? By the fact that her angry face wasn’t scary at all from an outsider’s perspective, but simply adorable.

It was exactly as her partner had described—but putting that aside.

"…………U-um… you are all my friends… Haru’s friends, that is."

"That’s true."

"Yeah."

"Best friends in the making!"

Now that she was already embarrassed, there was no point in trying to brush it off. It seemed she decided she should at least express her true feelings.

As she looked at her “friends,” who each gave their own response, she said,

"This might sound strange, but… I’m happy, I suppose."

A smile graced the fifteen-year-old girl's lips, an expression that seemed mature beyond her years.

"It’s the same in the virtual world, but I like seeing Haru having fun with his friends. …And after… after hearing various things, I’ve come to like it even more."

The words she strung together were her honest feelings.

"The happiness and warmth I feel just seem to win out… Of course, depending on the person, I’m ashamed to say that, well, you know…"

Though her cheeks were gradually turning red, the girl diligently explained her thoughts, as if to say there was no need to be embarrassed about this.

"…………S-so, that’s how it is—checkmate."

And with that, she finished her explanation while delivering the final blow to her opponent in the game.

Her sister next to her was just beaming, but as for the other three, who had been subjected to the ‘young lady’s’ words—she had faced their teasing head-on instead of cowering—they were…

"…Is she his big sister?"

"More like his mother…?"

"Isn't she basically his wife already?"

It was no longer a matter of whether they understood or not.

Completely defeated by the girl who had just spoken of her feelings—or was it just a humblebrag?—with a look of what could even be described as loving-kindness, again belying her age, Shoko and the others could only tremble in awe.

Each of them carved the same evaluation into their hearts: ‘This girl is strong.’