*Heroine’s Results*
Target Character: Kou Narita
Event: What I Can Do For You
*CLEAR*
✦ ✦ ✦
IT was past eight by the time I left the Narita estate. I took the opportunity to practice on the Bösendorfer until Mr. Mizusawa came back with the sheet music, and then, around six, I was captured by Miss Sakurako who’d just come home, and ended up intruding on their family dinner. I’d already contacted my parents about where I was, but I told the Naritas I shouldn’t stay any later after dinner. Miss Sakurako went out of her way to accompany me to the front door.
“Please, by all means, come to visit again, okay? Everyone here is so much happier whenever you’re around, Mashiro. Kou’s always in a better mood too, and I enjoy my time with you. Isn’t that right, Kou?” Miss Sakurako effused, glancing at Kou.
“Is that what you think, Mom? Seems about the same as usual to me,” he smoothly evaded the question with a straight face. Every time I saw him interact like this I was impressed by how much he’d matured.
“Thank you so much for treating me to dinner. Words can’t begin to express my gratitude.”
“Don’t mention it, dear. I’m the one who forced you to stay. Speaking of which, my husband will surely regret not being here. I’m going to brag about having the chance to eat dinner with you tonight, Mashiro.”
“You are? Ehehe…” Not used to being doted on so much, I struggled with my response and hid my uncertainty behind a shy smile.
Miss Sakurako wrapped her arms around me and pulled me into a tight hug. “You’re just too cute! Aww, you should just marry into our family now!”
“Mom!” Scowling with great displeasure, Kou pried me away from his mother. “C’mon, let’s get going. Your parents will worry if you get home too late.”
“O-Okay… Thank you for letting me come over!”
Kou tugged on my arm, hurrying my goodbyes, and pulled me into the car. Here I thought for sure he’d go on his merry way, not pile into the car next to me.
“You don’t have to go out of your way to see me home. Mr. Mizusawa can handle it.”
“That’s not why I—” On the verge of saying something, Kou suddenly bit his tongue, shook his head, and finished with, “Forget it.”
He looked depressed even as the car started driving.
Hahaha! I know what caused this look! He’s all depressed because Miss Sakurako told me to marry into their family. Kou’s the guy who hates women who go gaga over him. He’s probably debating how to turn me down. In the past, I’m positive he would’ve come out and bluntly said, “Don’t get the wrong idea. Know your place.” The fact that he hasn’t just shows how much he’s grown!
Immersed in my emotional joy for his growth, I spoke up to put his fears at ease. “You don’t have to be cautious around me.”
“Huh? …What are you talking about now?”
“I know full-well that Miss Sakurako only said those things to tease you, Kou. I won’t get the wrong idea and start throwing myself at you. You can rest easy.”
Kou’s eyes bulged as he scrutinized me, then he exhaled the loudest sigh known to man. “You don’t know a thing.”
“Yes, I do. It’s a nuisance for you when people take your jokes at face value, right? You can relax because I’m the one person who will never take you seriously,” I emphasized for good measure.
“…Hah. Do me a favor and stop talking.”
Tch! So not cute!
Giving up on trying to brighten his mood, I directed my gaze out the car window. Watching the streetlights and house lights flicker by made me grow sleepy. Kou shot me another dirty look when he noticed I was starting to doze off. His gaze was like a knife in my side, but I decided to get through it by pretending not to notice because he was too much of a pain to deal with.
HOW LONG ARE YOU GOING TO LOOK AT ME?! We finally arrived in front of my house by the time my irritation with him grew so great it blew my sleepiness away.
“Mr. Mizusawa, thank you very much for driving me home. Thank you for everything you did for me today too, Kou.”
“Mashiro!” Kou called out to me as I rushed to leave the car.
“What?”
“Good luck at the culture festival. I’ll pray for your success.”
I was so shocked I thought, is this a sign that the world is going to end tomorrow?! This is really Kou, right? Not some elaborate clone with a bad copy of Kou’s personality?! I did a double take.
“E-Err, yeah, I-I’ll give it my all,” I stammered. My surprise made it impossible to talk straight.
Kou hasn’t been acting like himself for a while now. Did he take that huge of a hit when Sou left? But, meh, it’s a waste to put too much thought into Kou. I’m scared to death of this all being some elaborate ploy to get me under his thumb!
Regaining my wits about me, I reached the conclusion that I shouldn’t think too much about the sudden changes in Kou.