For example, take the coffee she just made. Kai took the cup to his lips and tasted its contents. It was nothing more than instant coffee, but it spread across his tongue more than he expected.
“Did you put in more cream and sugar than usual?”
Kai didn’t even ask Kotobuki to put any in, but it was just the amount he needed.
“Well, you appear more tired than usual.”
Kotobuki’s answer sounded nonchalant, but she was visibly so embarrassed that she couldn’t even make eye contact. She wasn’t great at admitting her feelings.
“I see. You have my sincerest gratitude.”
That’s why Kai made his feelings bare to an almost insulting extent. Kotobuki averted her gaze even further and started fidgeting.
Kai knew how she worked. She was considerate despite her obnoxious demeanor because she was timid. She always kept an eye on the moods of everyone around her. Kai found her far too endearing to bring himself to hate her.
“Nakamura, you appear to be troubled today.”
With her gaze still averted, Kotobuki changed the subject. She had tried to avoid bringing it up, but the flow of the conversation seemed to push her to take the risk.
“If you’d like, I’d be willing to lend an ear.”
“Would that be all right with you?”
“I just told you that it’s no trouble, did I not?”
“Wait, that’s what you were referring to? ...Well, sure. But it’s nothing major.”
Kai reverted to a casual tone and explained what had happened without naming names. He didn’t expect a solution. At best, he thought that complaining to someone about it might get it off his mind. But to his surprise...
“I can understand where that classmate who scolded you is coming from. However, I think I have an idea of where your own misgivings may be coming from.”
Kotobuki looked Kai straight in the eyes as she made her encouraging declaration.
“Oh my, is that so?”
“Why yes, of course.”
“Would you be so kind as to impart your wisdom?”
“Consider it imparted.”
Kotobuki was back to her obnoxious, but still loveable self.
“This classmate must be mistaking you and that girl friend of yours for lovers. Yet you claim that the two of you are merely friends. Perhaps that difference in perception is the source of your discord?”
“...Ah!”
Suddenly, the pieces fell into place. Kotobuki continued with no regard to Kai’s astonishment.
“With lovers, it’s common to judge whether a boyfriend is suitable or not. However, there’s no such requirement for friends.”
That explained why Reina lost her temper and said that a man like him didn’t deserve Jun. Conversely, Kai couldn’t understand why he suddenly needed to listen to someone talk down to him about ‘approval’ when he just wanted to spend time with his best friend.
“This girlfriend-boyfriend stuff is all a pain in the neck...”
Kai let a gripe slip out. He said it almost unconsciously... which he took to mean that he might really feel that way deep down.
She’s really making me think...
Kai gave a deep sigh and closed his eyes. He was no exception to society’s expectations for him. He had the vague desire for a girlfriend. But when he thought about it, having a girlfriend seemed like it’d cause more problems than it’d solve. If you had to question whether you were suitable or deserving of someone over every little thing, you’d never reach the end of it.
Let’s say Kai worked for Reina’s approval. He’d have to pay attention to his fashion in order to be worthy of Jun’s looks. He’d need to learn how to blend in among normies on top of getting more real-world hobbies to avoid embarrassing Jun. Maybe he’d be better off hiding his otaku hobbies entirely.
C’mon, that’s just crazy talk!
But if they were just friends? They could hang out every day, play games, and talk about whatever. They wouldn’t need anything other than having fun. That was enough for Kai. He wouldn’t have it any other way.
Jun isn’t my girlfriend; she’s just a friend. And I’m fine with that. No, I’m happy with that.
Was Kai alone in thinking that the unreserved relationship they had now was far better than a romantic one? Or was he just being a sour grape over what he didn’t have?
It really made Kai see things in a new light. He let out another sigh, opened his eyes, and gave his thanks to the coworker sitting on the other end of the table.
“I feel a lot better now that I’ve got my head sorted out. And I have you to thank for it.”
“Perhaps you’d consider repaying this kindness?”
“I’ll think of something later.”
“I eagerly await it.”
“But yeah, it figures you’d know what to do.”
“Know what now?”
“Well, you understand how women think.”
“But of course. Who do you think I am?”
Kotobuki beamed with pride. Obnoxious as she was, Kai still couldn’t hate her. He just had to chuckle and admit she gave him the help he needed.
“Incidentally,” Kotobuki interjected, “I have some concerns over our own differences in perception.”
“If I could be so bold as to inquire.”
“Could Lotta’s love interest not be Rail instead of Nino?”
She was continuing the discussion about the anime they started with. Her tone was dead serious, almost daring him to defend. Kai answered in kind.
“You must be joking. Surely, Lotta deserves better than some lowly grunt.”
“Quite the harsh judgment, considering that sounds awfully close to what that fearsome classmate told you before.”
“I believe it was you who said that lovers need to judge who is suitable or not. In that sense, I’m in no position to disagree with her.”
“I see. But is Rail not a dependable young man who saved Lotta from danger?”
“I suggest you don’t forget that the one who really saved Lotta was the chief.”
“Still, I believe Nino’s age is a bit far removed from hers...”
“Lotta’s a strong-willed girl who harbors a dangerous secret. Nobody besides Nino could hope to handle her. And when you consider the themes of the story...”
“However, I must say—”
“Oh no, let me make clear—”
They flared up furiously over their anime debate. Kai could always count on Kotobuki for a serious discussion, even when he missed the original airing and everyone else moved on to newer shows. It was so much fun that Kai could hardly help himself. A fifteen-minute break was just too short for them to talk everything through.