Osananajimi ga Zettai ni Makenai Love Comedy Volume 2 Chapter 1 part4

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Storms followed by cloudy weather, with occasional gales and tornados in some areas Part 4

Tetsuhiko ended the call, and looked up towards Sueharu's home.

The two-storey house couldn't be called particularly big, but it was spacious enough for a family to live in. In a small garden there were traces of a flower bed, but there now only weeds remained.

"Was that good enough for you, Shidchan?"

"Mm."

Kuroha, who had been listening, stuck her head out from behind a hiding place in the Shida house. To hide the fact that the two of them were in touch, however, after making a second of eye contact she returned to the other side of the wall.

Tetsuhiko and Kuroha assumed positions on either side of the wall, unable to see each other's faces, only able to hear each other's voices.

"Hmm, so you want to apologise to me, Tetsuhiko-kun."

"I'd pay any amount if it's just lip service we're talking about. But that wouldn't have any meaning at all, would it?"

"…Well, that figures."

"So, Shidchan, what're you going to do? To put it bluntly the situation looks so unfavourable that I currently can't see you having any chance of success."

Kuroha made a bitter expression.

"You can't see me… having any chance of success…?"

"I mean, Sueharu's completely traumatised. You've seen what he turns into just from you approaching. You aren't going to win with him like this, probably even if you tried seducing him."

"Ooh… I suppose you're right…"

"Kachi's in a far more advantageous position right now. Then again, perhaps she's been traumatised by the Confession Festival as well, so Marichan, who hasn't been affected at all, might have it the easiest from here on out."

"…Speaking of Momosaksan, what do you think her objective is?"

Tetsuhiko thought only briefly before answering.

"On the surface, returning Sueharu back to the entertainment world. That much is probably true."

"Yup. I don't know if she so much as 'hopes to gain something by bringing Sueharu back to entertainment world', but otherwise I feel the same way you do."

As expected of Shidchan. She had fully grasped the implications of the phrase "on the surface".

"You know, Tetsuhiko-kun, I honestly don't feel like I'll lose to either of them, no matter what you say."

"You've got incredible self-confidence."

"But if Haru's taken back to the entertainment world, I don't think I can win either."

I see, Tetsuhiko whispered.

"Marichan's absolutely a celebrity, after all. She's worthy enough to stand beside Sueharu, and in fact it's her principal occupation to. They'll be closer if Sueharu goes back to the entertainment world, and it'll also be easier for her to try several things on him. If we're going there, you could say that Kachi's a cultural pundit halfway between a commoner and a celebrity herself. Her relationship with Sueharu can stay the same whether he makes a comeback or not. But you're a total commoner, Shidchan. If we add further disadvantages to your already disadvantaged position, I can't see you having any chance of success."

"Oo… you're right."

Kuroha's unnatural reaction caused Tetsuhiko to unconsciously turn his head.

"Shidchan, what's wrong?"

"…Stress, maybe? I'm feeling a little dizzy. But please, don't tell Haru."

"Well, if you say so, Shidchan."

Kuroha had expectedly seemed to be enduring well too. It was already amazing enough that she could calmly grasp the situation despite being driven so far into a corner. One would typically be a little more discouraged, thereby allowing their desires to cloud their judgement, or losing the composure required to accurately perceive the situation.

"And also, Tetsuhiko-kun."

Kuroha pressed in a peremptory tone.

"You're my ally this time around, aren't you? By my conjecture, Tetsuhiko-kun, you aren't on the side of anyone in particular. You occasionally ally someone when it benefits you to, and being mine this time around probably suits your aims, doesn't it?"

How much could she see, and how much did she read? Tetsuhiko had no choice but to boost his appraisal of her again much higher.

"Okay. Allow me to direct you then, Shidchan, in this tug-of-war between us and the entertainment world for Sueharu. So, the problem's now Kachi, who's probably an ally… no, probably leaning slightly towards the entertainment world? She may want to make Sueharu act in something she writes, after all. But at this rate - we can turn things around."

"I think I have high hopes for you when it comes to that as well, Tetsuhiko-kun. But I'd hate it if our goals diverge or we clash halfway, so I just think I'll ask."

Kuroha inquired with the incisiveness of a blade.

"-Tetsuhiko-kun, what is your goal?"

The temperature was close to 30 degrees, but Tetsuhiko felt a chill as if perhaps water had been sprayed upon the back of his neck.

"I think for now we should just set a goal of 'winning by preventing Haru from going to the entertainment world'. If we can succeed even at that, it could probably make a situation we can't even touch at present just a little better."

"I understand your reasoning, Shidchan, and I have no intention of denying it. But don't you think your privilege when it comes to that and me revealing my goals are just a little different?"

"…I see. Then this is just an inference of mine, Tetsuhiko-kun, but today Asagi Renchan came, didn't she? Was that-"

Kuroha spoke smoothly facing the sky. The content of her words caused cold sweat to flow from Tetsuhiko unabated.

"And then looking at what you've been doing, Tetsuhiko-kun, to the entertainment world you've-"

"-Okay, stop, Shidchan. I get it. If you can see that much I'll tell you. I don't want to make an enemy out of you after you get the wrong idea."

"Well you did say that at the start. It's not like I want to put you on the spot either."

Thereafter, Tetsuhiko talked about his personal objective-

Kuroha her plans for hereafter-

The both of them various things, putting together the details.

"--but doing so--then Haru'll definitely--"

As Kuroha spun her tale together, Tetsuhiko felt as if there was electricity running through his entire body.

Haha, I'm stoked. This girl's definitely on another level compared to all those middling childhood friends who've lost.

Tetsuhiko believed firmly.

-In the fact that this girl truly was the strongest.

"………………So what do you think?"

Tetsuhiko took a long, deep breath.

"… Ahh… I mean, I don't lose anything, and in fact this way I could achieve my goal too, so I'll happily play along, but… this is what we're going with, huh…?"

"I see, that's good then."

"But is it possible, though…?"

Kuroha appeared to be laughing through her nose.

"It isn't about whether it can be done or not - we just have to 'do' it."

"…Incredible."

Admiration unwittingly left his lips.

"Shidchan, perhaps you should be a strategist if you were ever transported to another world."

"Is that supposed to be a compliment?"

"'Course."

"Sigh…"

Kuroha appeared to be in a state of shocked speechlessness.

"Boys really do love to talk about things that can't happen, huh."

"From my perspective it's your plan that isn't possible, Shidchan."

"I'm desperate, you know. -I love Haru, after all."

She had an ability to observe calmly, to hypothesise accurately and logically, and to get things done decisively.

Kuroha possessed multiple outstanding qualities which couldn't be captured by her performance in school, but her strongest points as a childhood friend were probably the following:

A heart that didn't give up, and an unwavering mind that accepted that she liked the person whom she did, at times even openly declaring it.

She wasn't an introverted childhood friend who couldn't convey her feelings.

She wasn't a childhood friend who took pride in having a complicit relationship, only to eventually take it for granted.

There was sincerity in her efforts, in her sheer focus, and in her refusal to lie about her feelings, to the point that it was almost moving.

"With her so wholeheartedly genuine, even I would think that way-"

Tetsuhiko moved his body away from the wall he had been leaning on.

"You know, I have no intention of becoming anyone's ally, but if we take away all my obligations and cost-benefit calculations, I think I'd want you to win, Shidchan."

"…I see. Well thanks then."

It was a curt, but natural reaction in response to a declaration that they could be enemies in the future.

"Right, I'll leave Kachi-san and the various other things to you."

"Got it. Leave the rest to me."

Kuroha's presence on the opposite side of the wall went away into the distance.

Tetsuhiko wiped the sweat flowing off his forehead, projecting his voice towards Sueharu's home next door.

"-Told you, Sueharu. Shidchan's completely different."

Well, completely different she might have been, but the products of that were another matter too.

Love could be compared to a battle, but in one area it was decisively different.

Not only the strong could win. The strongest lost because they were the strongest. Only in love could that happen.

"So, what's going to happen now?"

The corners of Tetsuhiko's lips rose, and he took out his phone to report to Sueharu.

Chapter end