One day during break time.
「Ah, Yamada-kun! Helloー」
「Eh? Ahh, Sakurai-san. Yeah, helloー」
As I was walking towards the vending machine, I unexpectedly ran into Sakurai-san, Natsue’s girlfriend.
「Thanks for inviting me to bowling last time. I had a great timeー! And thank you for making all the reservations and arrangements beforehand!」
「Haha, I’m glad you enjoyed it. I had a lot of fun hanging out with Sakurai-san and Natsue tooー」
「I’m happy to hear that tooー. Ah, by the way, where were you headed now, Yamada-kun?」
「I was just on my way to the vending machine. I’m thirsty, so I thought I’d buy a drink.」
「Ahh, I see! Then, can I come with you? I was thinking of buying a drink tooー」
「Of course, it’s fine. Then, let’s we go to the vending machine together.」
「Yeah, got it!」
So, I walked towards the vending machine with Sakurai-san while having a casual conversation.
「Ah, that’s right. By the way, Yamada-kun, you seem to be getting really close with Saki lately, right? I often hear about you from Saki tooー」
「Eh? Ahh, yeah. We’ve been getting along well recently. We talk a lot too.」
「Yeah, yeah, right! I often see you two talking in the classroom. Ah, and you’re eating the bentos Saki makes for you recently, rightー?」
「Eh!? How do you know about that!?」
I was so surprised that Sakurai-san knew about it that I couldn’t help but react with shock.
「Ah, so it was true? Ahaha, I was just trying to fish for information a bit. I saw Saki carrying two bentos and going somewhere a while ago… so I thought maybe.」
「Eh? A-Ahh, I see. Yeah. Well, actually… that’s right. I’ve been receiving bentos from Sasaki-san lately.」
「Hee, is that so! Fufu, that Yamada-kun and Saki are getting so close… yeah, yeah, as her friend, I’m really happy to hear thatー!」
As I told her about receiving bentos from Sasaki-san with a slightly red face, Sakurai-san nodded repeatedly, looking very pleased.
And then, Sakurai-san continued with a big smile on her face.
「Fufu, but if you’re that close… why don’t you come and cheer for the volleyball club? I’m sure Saki would be really happyー!」
「Eh?」
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Sakurai-san said that with a beaming smile. Cheering for the volleyball club, huh. Well, I definitely want to do that…
「Unn, as a friend, I’d love to do that, but wouldn’t it be a bit troublesome for me, a guy, to cheer during the girls’ volleyball club activities? I don’t want to do anything that might bother Sasaki-san.」
「No, no, it wouldn’t be a bother at allー. Sure, they’d be surprised if a stranger showed up, but Yamada-kun, you’re a really close friend of Saki, so it’s not a problem. Plus, there are other acquaintances like Kasumi, so it’s okay for Yamada-kun to come and cheer for the volleyball club!」
「Is that so? Well, if Sakurai-san says so, that’s reassuring… but I’m a bit scared that if I suddenly show up at the gym to cheer for Sasaki-san, she might get really mad at me.」
「Ahaha, don’t worry about that at all. Saki isn’t the type to get angry over something like that. But well, if Yamada-kun came to cheer for the volleyball club without any warning, Saki might get embarrassed and run away thoughー」
「Eh? Run away? No, I don’t see Sasaki-san being like that at all. Sasaki-san has a pretty straightforward side, so I feel like if I suddenly went to cheer, she’d glare at me with cold eyes and ask what I’m doing in the gym.」
「Ahaha, well, she is straightforward, but she wouldn’t get angryー. If anything, Saki is actually quite shy and easily embarrassed, you know? Fufu, so… if anything happens, Yamada-kun, please take the lead and guide Saki!」
「I see. Yeah, got it.」
Sakurai-san said that with a big smile on her face. So I nodded firmly, saying I understood.
「Yeah, that makes me feel relieved! Fufu, but Yamada-kun, you’re really a kind boy when I talk to you. I kind of thought so from what Saki and Natsue-kun told me.」
「Eh? R-Really? But well, I’m honestly happy to hear you say that. Thank you, Sakurai-san.」
「Yeah, yeah, that honest side of you is nice too! Fufu, but to think that shy Saki would get this close to a boyー. Ah, by the way, Yamada-kun, are you okay? That girl can be quite tsundere, so she hasn’t said anything harsh to you, has she?」
「Ahaha, that’s totally fineー. If anything, I always think Sasaki-san is a really kind and wonderful girl! I’m grateful for how kind she always is to me!」
「Ah… Y-Yeah, exactly! That’s right! Saki is really the kindest and most wonderful girl ever! …Fufu, it seems like I can trust Yamada-kun, who understands that about Sakiー…」
「Eh? Sorry, I couldn’t hear you because your voice was too low, what did you say?」
「Eh? Ahh, no, it’s nothingー.」
I feel like Sakurai-san muttered something… but well, since she said it was nothing, I guess I won’t worry about it.
「But I’m relieved to know that Yamada-kun understands how kind and wonderful Saki is!」
「Haha, well, I’m really close with Sasaki-san after all.」
「I see, I seeー. Yeah, that makes me feel reassured about various thingsー!」
「Eh? Reassured about what?」
「Ah, no, it’s nothingー. Fufu, well then, this is a request from me, Saki’s best friend… please continue to stay really close with Saki from now on!」
「Yeah, of course.」
I honestly answered Sakurai-san’s request. Of course, I want to continue being close with Sasaki-san from now on too.