Episode- 22

The first thing that sets a coffee shop apart from others in terms of atmosphere is the music.

　The volume is just right to fill in the gaps in a conversation without interfering with it.

　The music has only a melody but no lyrics, and the way it is presented is as if to say, "Leave a space for one person and I'm sitting next to you."

　The lighting was dim, and the owner, who had grown his white beard elegantly, was polishing a cup vigorously...

"I'm sorry if it seems like I'm enjoying myself, but I want to get straight to the point."

"...I, I know. Let's get to the point."

"You've already said that four times. Don't make the third time a charm twice, okay?"

"Y-Yes..."

　Aika takes a bite of the straw that's stuck in the rounded glass and covers it with the tip of her mouth.

　I calm myself down as I watch the coffee rise through the red straw.

　Okay. I'll say it this time.

　It's okay, it's okay...

"...Well, this is about a friend of mine."

"Doubtssssssss!!!!!"

"Isn't it too early?"

　It was so fast it was as if she had already prepared it before I even said anything.

"I don't need to go through all that long-winded stuff. To be honest, Koko. When you started wearing a skirt, and on top of that you brought me to a coffee shop saying you had something to discuss, I could pretty much guess what you were going to say. Even if you tried to hide it, you couldn't fool my eyes."

"Uh, uh..."

　When I'm exposed like this, I start to feel ashamed of my pathetic self.

"Because... this is my first time doing something like this, and it's not my type... I can't do it well."

　When I said that, Aika burst out laughing.

"You don't have to do it well. It'll be fine. No matter what you do, you're cool and cute."

"Aika...yeah, okay!"

　She holds her soft, timid cheeks between her hands and gathers her courage.

　She placed her hand on the left side of his chest, took a deep breath, and finally, truly opened her mouth.

"I've fallen in love with Fujita Rintaro."

　My words blend in with the soft background music playing in the store.

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　Aika slowly stood up and began clapping her hands.

"...Congratulations, Koko!!!"

"Thank you, but I'm embarrassed so please sit down!"

　She seat right away. Really right away.

"Finally... That's good, that's good. Mmhmm."

"That's nice."

"Isn't that obvious? My friend has a crush on someone, and nothing could make me happier! Love is the celebration of life!!!"

　Aika's passion is incredible.

　The sincerity of her words can be seen from her expression, in which she is unable to hide her excitement.

"So, the question is how to deepen your relationship with Fujita, OK?"

"O-Okay."

"So, does that mean Kaori wants to date Fujita? Is that OK?"

"...Uh, yeah."

"So, does that mean I want to become Fujita's lover and do all sorts of things with him? Is that okay?"

"Oh really?! I didn't say that much!"

"But isn't that the case? There's no need to hide it."

"It's not like I'm hiding anything! ... Well, maybe that's true. But there's still so much I don't know! For now, I just want Fujita and I to be able to fall in love with each other, that's how it is..."

"...Master, one cup of rice."

"Don't use me as a side dish!"

　When Aika starts messing around, I point it out to her, and she apologizes, clasping her hands in front of her face, saying, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry."

　Then we got down to business.

"For now, I'll help you reach your goal, and the question is what Kaori will do from here on out."

"What should I do...?"

　As I muttered this, Aika pointed to my waist.

"First of all, wearing a skirt was a good choice. I'm sure Fujita was more conscious of Kaori as a girl now. Good job!"

"Oh, thank you."

　What is it?

　Right now I feel ungrounded and on top of that I feel incredibly embarrassed.

　But I want to do my best.

　Because that's what I decided at the time.

"Going in that direction is the right way to go. I think there's no doubt about it."

"Direction?"

"To make Fujita think that Kaori is a girl! Kaori is cool after all, so I'll use that as a contrast."

"I see... For example, what should I do?"

"Well, to give an easy example, it would be body contact and closing the distance physically. Or on the other hand, acting spoiled."

"Ah, being spoiled..."

　Just thinking about being spoiled by Fujita-kun makes my face get hot.

"Anyway, you should be aggressive and go for it! Fujita and others are not very good at it, so I think it's okay to go for it so that the people around you can see it!"

"Agressively, aggressively..."

"Unleash Kako's desires! Look, right now Kako wants to spend as much time as she can with Fujita, she wants to talk to him, right? Let that out as it is! That way Fujita will fall for you right away!"

"It just fell apart?!"

"It's easy! With Koko's charms, it will be easy!"

　Aika gives a cute wink.

　She really is a master of love. There are so many words of wisdom I want to write down.

　but.

　Even when I wear a skirt, the feeling that has been eating away at me inside since long ago still doesn't go away.

"...But I wonder if I can really show Fujita that I'm a girl. I guess I look like a boy after all."

"--It's okay, Kaori."

　Aika whispers in a soothing voice that reaches straight into your heart.

　She looked at me with such a warm gaze that I could feel the warmth in her eyes.

"Girls become even cuter when they fall in love. So, Kaori quickly became a cute girl, and Fujita was completely in love with her."

　Aika's words blew across my entire body like wind.

　I noticed that the weight of my heart had changed dramatically before and after hearing it, and I couldn't help but smile.

"Thank you, Aika."

"You're welcome."

　If Aika says so, it'll be okay.

　I think so without a shred of doubt.

　Because Aika is the girl I think is the cutest.

　Your heart will be filled with a sense of relief and satisfaction.

　The conversation is interrupted.

　The music that flowed through the performance was, as expected, exceptional.

　After returning home.

　After taking a bath, eating dinner, and completing my assignments for the next day, I climbed into bed feeling tired and accomplished.

"Haa~"

　The fatigue of the day leaves your entire body with a breath.

　As expected, my body seemed quite tired since I was wearing a skirt, something I'm not used to.

　But strangely, my heart felt light and I was able to say, "I did a good job."

　All of that, surely――

"...I want to talk to Fujita-kun."

　I'm surprised when I say it myself.

　The words that came out unconsciously helped me to get to know myself.

"Fujita-kun."

　My head is filled with a cotton candy-like haze that makes me strangely happy.

　--Unleash Kaori's desires!

　I remember the words Aika had said to me earlier.

"...Okay."

　I reach for my smartphone that is on the desk and open the chat app.

　Then I opened the chat screen with Fujita.

　Our chat history is still thin, having only exchanged a few messages during field trips.

　I glances back at it, then flicks it with trembling fingers.

"What are you doing right now...? Wait, that's not it. Well then... how are you? Well, I'm not that refined..."

　In this way, I repeatedly struck and erased, struck and erased...

"It looks like it's a bit cooler tonight. How are you doing, Fujita-kun? ...But that sounds kind of old!"

　I throw the phone onto the pillow and lie back on the bed.

　A familiar ceiling.

　Only I feel weirder than yesterday.

"Oh man! I have no idea..."

　Do lovers all over the world easily overcome such obstacles and get together?

　I wonder if one day it will be easy for me too.

　I start to get a little worried, but I still want to try my best, so I pick up my smartphone again.

"Something a little more inoffensive, a little more natural -- eh?"

　When I look at the screen of my smartphone, my mind goes blank for a moment.

　It had been sent.

　The message sent was from me , something I'm only familiar with in my correspondence.

"What should I do? I have to erase it quickly...!"

　I panicked and long-pressed the message.　

　--At that moment.

　A vibrating smartphone.

　The words "Fujita Rintaro" are displayed.

"…8888 …picture⁉"

　Emergency situation occurs.