Chapter 17: Support ①

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Translator: Soafp

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“Help me, how?”

At Komori-san's words, my eyes widened in surprise.

It wasn't that I didn't understand what she meant.

During these past two days, she had been coming to visit me in the hospital the whole time.

“Your right arm, right? It's your dominant hand, so it must be inconvenient, isn't it?”

“Well… I'd be lying if I said it wasn't.”

I wasn't used to holding chopsticks with my left hand, so even eating was a struggle.

Even opening the lid of instant noodles required using my teeth.

Bathing and washing up had become much harder too, and I had to be careful not to get water into the cast.

“So I'll be with you the whole time—from going to and from school, and even while you're at school—and I'll take care of as much as I can!”

“Take care of me…?”

“I even made the lunch you'll be eating today.”

I had planned to just get by on bread for a while since I could eat it with one hand…

But judging from her expression, she was completely serious.

“…Or what, do you not even want to see my face anymore because I ignored your warning?”

“No, it's not like that. I just feel like I'd be causing you too much trouble.”

“That's my line! You saved my life, you know. If I don't do at least this much, I feel like I can't repay you even a little…”

She probably felt guilty that I got injured because of her.

Komori-san was a serious person at heart.

And the fact that I was only the second friend she'd ever made—after Yuzuki—probably mattered a lot too.

“Well, if you're okay with it, it would definitely help me.”

To be honest, I was planning to rely on Takagi at school.

He would've gladly helped.

But if Komori-san was offering on her own, there was no reason for me to refuse.

After all, I got injured trying to save her—so accepting her help wasn't unreasonable.

Komori-san's face lit up brightly.

“Then leave it to me! Anything!”

“Oh? Anything?”

I smirked teasingly, and her face turned bright red.

“N-no, nothing perverted, okay!? Just normal stuff between friends!!”

“Wouldn't it be super cool if friends were okay with perverted stuff too?”

“That's definitely not normal friendship! Even I know that!!”

Wow, her comebacks are sharp.

She really is fun to tease.

Though she doesn't feel much like a gyaru at all.

“Then, can I ask you to handle my meals?”

“Your meals? Do you have anything specific you want in your lunch?”

“No, anything you make will be good.”

“I-is that so?”

Her lips softened into a small smile.

Seeing that expression, I couldn't help but think she was genuinely cute.

“Then make breakfast and dinner too.”

“Huh? So I'd be handling all three meals?”

“Of course, I'll pay for the ingredients. If it's too much, then it can't be helped.”

“No, it's fine. I cook every day anyway… But me taking care of all three of your meals… That's kind of like…”

For some reason, her face turned redder and redder, and her voice grew quieter.

I wondered what she was thinking, but I decided not to press further.

“Oh right. Bring Anna-chan over to my house too. Or should I come to yours?”

“No, I can't make an injured person come over. I'll bring Anna with me. She wants to see you too.”

“Really? Then alright. Can you start today? I'll tell my mom.”

“O-okay. Got it.”

I pumped my fist inwardly.

Being able to eat Komori-san's delicious cooking three times a day until my arm healed—

That alone made everything feel worth it.

---

“So… how is it?”

At the dining table on the first floor,

My mom took a bite of the breakfast Komori-san had prepared.

“Hmmm…”

Normally, my mom would eat anything and call it “delicious,” no matter who made it.

But today, for some reason, she paused like a food critic, chopsticks in hand.

Please don't make Komori-san nervous for no reason.

“As a housewife, this is a little frustrating… To lose in cooking skills to my son's classmate… It's delicious… really delicious…!!”

“Ah, um, thank you…?”

Not sure whether she was being praised or not, Komori-san tilted her head.

At this rate, Mom won't complain about leaving the kitchen to her for a while.

If anything, Mom should be the one asking to become her apprentice.

Mom set her chopsticks down and asked:

“So, are you two dating?”

“Huh? N-no, we're not!”

“Mom, you're making Komori-san uncomfortable. She's aiming for a quiet otaku-type guy, not me.”

“Oh? Aren't you a quiet otaku-type too?”

For some reason, Mom seemed to have taken quite a liking to Komori-san.

It couldn't just be because of her cooking.

Maybe something happened between them while I was unconscious?

Komori-san, still red-faced, muttered quietly:

“For now… I think I'll stop trying to get a boyfriend.”

“Hm? Why? You were working so hard to become a gyaru who's kind to otaku.”

“T-that's because right now, supporting you is more important, Fukagawa.”

“You don't have to go that far…”

“I-I've decided, okay! That's it!”

Well, if she says so.

“More importantly, Fukagawa…”

“Yeah?”

“Do you like them? Um… gyaru who are nice to otaku.”

“You mean the kind you see in media? Well, I guess, somewhat?”

Honestly, anyone would be happy if a stylish, cute girl was kind to them.

But I didn't believe something that convenient actually existed in real life.

“I-I see… So then, is there any anime you liked that has that kind of character? I want to use it as reference.”

“Well, there are some. But I don't know how useful they'd be as reference.”

“I-it will be! Then after school today, let's watch it together in your room.”

“Alright.”

Trying to imitate anime behavior in real life…

That seems like a really high bar in more ways than one.

Mom listened to our exchange with a gentle smile.

“Ah, youth~”

“Mom, using words like that just makes you sound old.”

“So my son wants to die, huh?”

“Sorry.”

I heard Komori-san chuckling softly beside me.

---

After that, we left the house and walked to school together.

As we got closer, I could hear people whispering when they saw us, but Komori-san didn't seem to mind.

Or maybe she just didn't hear them at all.

When we entered the classroom, Yuzuki rushed over.

“R-Ren! A-are you okay!? I heard you were in a traffic accident…”

“Y-yeah. Thanks for worrying about me, Kitayama-san.”

“I wanted to visit you too, but your mom wouldn't let me in…”

Good thing Mom strictly followed my request.

If I had seen Yuzuki in the hospital room, it probably would've made me feel even worse.

“Ren, it must be really inconvenient, right? At least at school, I'll stay by your side and help you with everything.”

“It's fine. Komori-san will help me with that. Right?”

I turned toward Komori-san.

I knew things were awkward between her and Yuzuki right now.

But more than that, I didn't want anything to do with Yuzuki anymore.

I'd sacrificed my right arm to save her life—so I think I deserve at least this much.

Komori-san cautiously answered, glancing at Yuzuki's expression.

“Y-yeah. The accident happened because of me, so I'll take responsibility and support Fukagawa.”

“Nodoka… helping Ren?”

She had a smile on her lips—

but her eyes were clearly piercing through Komori-san.

Komori-san shrank back slightly, intimidated.

To be looked at like that by the first friend she ever made…

I couldn't help but feel bad for her.

“Kitayama-san, don't you think it's a bit much to treat her so harshly when she didn't do anything wrong?”

“H-harsh? I'm not—”

“Anyone would see it that way. Komori-san, are you okay?”

She nodded, “Y-yeah.”

Seeing that, Yuzuki frowned even more.

“What's with that!? Ren, why are you defending her!?”

“Well, Komori-san is my friend.”

“Then what am I!?”

“A classmate, aren't you?”

Yuzuki stood there, stunned, mouth hanging open.

She looked deeply shocked.

Was she expecting me to say “childhood friend” or something?

Too bad—I don't see it that way anymore.

If possible, I'd rather erase all my memories of her.

“There's nothing more to talk about, right? See you.”

I returned to my seat.

Before class started, Komori-san had already spoken to the homeroom teacher and gotten permission to move her seat next to mine.

With my injured right arm, taking notes and studying would be difficult, so the teacher had agreed easily.

I turned to her and asked:

“You want to make up with Kitayama-san, right?”

“Huh? Well… if possible.”

“Want me to mediate?”

From her perspective, she probably didn't want to lose her only female friend.

I didn't want to deal with Yuzuki anymore, but for Komori-san's sake, I was willing to endure it.

Either way, I planned to stay involved with Komori-san for a long time.

I knew this wasn't just about repaying a debt anymore.

But her reply was unexpected.

“No, it's okay. To be honest… I think it'd be hard to go back to being friends.”

“Really?”

What exactly happened during P.E.?

I'd only heard the gist from Takagi, so I had no idea how bad it was.

Was it bad enough that they could've ended up slapping each other?

Komori-san gave a small smile.

“I'll be fine! I have you, Fukagawa.”

“Eh?”

She looked straight at me.

“Fukagawa, you're my only friend.”