Chapter 35 | I like Rika, not Rika-chan
I received a call from Dahlia-san and learned that Rika was not at home.
I came to the secret base where Rika and I had fond memories of each other.
It was in the playground behind the apartment building.
“…………”
Rika was curled up in a ball on the playground equipment.
“Rika. Let’s go home. Dahlia-san… and I were worried about you.”
I held out my hand to Rika.
But she shook her head strongly.
“Leave me alone!”
Rika’s voice is hoarse.
She is sitting curled up, her face buried in her knees.
I couldn’t see her expression, but I knew she was crying.
“I can’t leave you alone!”
I tried to get closer to her.
But Rika said.
“Get away from me!”
Rika rejected me.
It was a line that might have hurt someone else.
But my heart was not hurt.
Seeing Rika crying made me even more reluctant to leave.
“I can’t do that.”
“Why? Why did you come to me?”
Rika looks up.
“Because I’m a woman of memories for Shin-chan!? I’m sorry! I’m such a lowlife gal!”
Rika gets heated up.
“Yes, I know! Rika-chan in Shin-chan’s memories must have been so beautiful and lovely! And then to see her like this, a gal who dyed her hair must have disillusioned you! You came here to laugh, didn’t you?”
I close my eyes.
I’m sure my memories of Rika were sparkling and shining.
But…I…
The reason I’m here is different.
That’s the part I didn’t want you to misunderstand.
“You’re wrong.”
“Liar!”
“It’s not true. Rika, I came here to look for you because I’m worried about you, not Rika-chan…”
“Wa…?
Rika opens her mouth.
Ah, she finally looked at me…
“What do you mean?”
“I was so worried when I heard that Rika had disappeared that I came to look for you.”
When I heard from Dahlia-san, my body was moving without my knowing it.
I was worried that Rika might disappear…
At that moment, I was convinced.
I was sure of my feelings for Rika.
“Why…why…?”
Rika was shedding tears.
I already said what I was thinking.
“It’s because I love you, Rika.”
I like her because after being dumped on Christmas Day, she has been by my side all this time until today.
“I don’t like you because you are Rika-chan. I like Rika Matsumoto.”
It is true that Rika-chan is very important to me.
But it’s not Rika-chan that I love.
I was heartbroken during Christmas when my girlfriend dumped me, and she reached out to me…
It’s Rika Matsumoto.
“No way…no way~…”
Rika Matsumoto bursts into tears.
“I’m a gal, and there’s no reason for Shin-chan to like me…”
I couldn’t stand it any longer and hugged her.
“I love you. I love you.”
I hugged her tightly.
Rika stiffened.
She’s still nervous, she doesn’t believe me.
Then I’ll just hug her tightly so that she’ll know how I feel.
“I love you for coming to my rescue on Christmas Day. I fell in love with your kindness when you carried me to the hospital after I had fainted from vomiting. I love you, [Rika], for smiling and being there for me no matter what.”
I hug her tightly, tightly.
“What I love is not the old you, Rika, but you who is here now. I love you here and now, Rika, you. I don’t care if you’re a gal or a girl from my memory! I love you, just as you are, right here, right now, as you are!”
I shouted as loudly as I could and told her how I felt.
I tell her how I feel.
“Really?”
Rika asks in a quiet voice, almost as if she is about to disappear.
“Really? Do you like me now?”
My voice, my thoughts were heard.
How happy I am!
But she still looks uneasy.
Then what should I do? There is only one answer.
“Yes, I love you now! I love you right now!”
“I’m a gal, you know?”
“I love you as a gal.”
“I’m a nerd.”
“It’s great that we have the same interests.”
“Shin-chan… is kind… charming… rich… and a good guy who is too good for me… I’m not good enough for you.”
“It doesn’t matter! I want you! I need you!”
What I want is not for my ex-girlfriend to be next to me.
Not a girl from a tangible memory.
It’s her right here, right now.
“…………”
I wondered how long I had waited for that to happen.
Rika hugged me back.
“I love you…sukii~…”
Rika answered while sobbing.
“I love you too, Shin-chan…!”
Rika hugged me tightly.
I was so happy that she understood me!
I was so happy that I hugged her tightly.
“I love you ♡ I love you ♡ I love you ♡”
“I love you too, Rika!”
She looked up.
Her makeup was messed up with tears.
I take a handkerchief out of my pocket and remove her makeup.
“You look great with makeup, but you look even better without it.”
“Really?”
“Yes!”
Rihana smiled like a kitten, jumped on me, and hugged me.
With a thud, her head hit my head.
“Sorry, Shin-chan!”
“It’s okay! No problem at all!”
I smiled at Rika.
“Rika, don’t apologize anymore. We’ve become true lovers.”
It’s no longer a fake relationship.
I like her and I want to accept everything about her.
So, no need to be so apologetic, no need to be so formal.
Just smile by my side and that’s all that matters.
“Let’s go home, Rika.”
I stood up and extended my hand to her.
Rika smiled and grabbed my hand…
“Eee ♡”
“Yes, handsome!”
She grabbed my arm.
She hugs me from the front, and then…
Chuu ♡
“What?”
As soon as I looked away, I saw Rika smiling happily at me…
“I love you, Shin-chan!”
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