Chapter 16: Shocking Truth

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Translator: Soafp

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When I returned to the terrace with the ice cream, Amanatsu was still standing there.

Hiiragi was desperately talking, gesturing wildly.

“Nakina, it's not like that. Calm down.”

“Ugh… It always ends up like this. Popular girls attract popular guys. That's the fundamental truth of the world… I'm just a Bronze-rank girl.”

An unbelievable negative aura was pouring out of her.

I set the cup of ice cream on the table.

“Just sit down. This is Hulk's ice cream.”

She cautiously sat and nodded, saying, “Thanks.” I made one thing clear.

“Hiiragi and I don't have the kind of relationship you're imagining.”

“…Really?”

“There's no way I'd ever like this woman.”

“But maybe you were actually all excited to go on a date, and you're just hiding your embarrassment?”

What a pain.

As I frowned, Hiiragi jumped in this time.

“This woman? Isn't that an awful way to refer to a friend!?”

Since when were we friends?

More importantly, why did I have to be this considerate toward Amanatsu?

I understood how she felt, but I regularly told her I had no romantic feelings for her.

Even so, Amanatsu had chosen to stay with me.

Still, perhaps I was partly at fault too.

For some reason, I always ended up looking after Amanatsu.

Just earlier, I had almost bought ice cream for her too…

Careless Amanatsu reminded me of my childhood friend before we had fallen out.

I hadn't fully broken the habit of taking care of people.

“Nakina, you know I have a darling I've pledged my heart to.”

“Sakura's darling is imaginary, though.”

“H-He's not! He really exists!”

“But you still haven't met him again.”

“T-There are complicated reasons for that… Hey, does this mean you think I'm the kind of person who would betray a friend!?”

“!?”

Amanatsu suddenly seemed to come back to herself and vigorously shook her head.

“S-Sorry. I think the shock made me lose it for a moment. Sakura would never do something like that!”

“Hehe. As long as you understand.”

The mood finally became peaceful, but wait a minute.

Hadn't some incredible information just come out…?

Was Hiiragi's boyfriend an imaginary person?

This was the biggest shock of the year.

Hiiragi puffed out her chest and spoke confidently.

“Nakina, no matter what happens, you can trust me!”

“S-Sakura…”

“Hehe. Even if heaven and earth were turned upside down, even if Japan were overrun with zombies and the only survivors were Hatsukade and me, nothing would ever happen between us. Why? Because I'm Amanatsu Nakina's best friend!”

“Ugh… We'll be best friends forever.”

That did not sound like something a person who publicly exposed her best friend's crush should be saying.

But for some reason, Amanatsu seemed moved and nodded enthusiastically.

“I was acting weird. Hehe, I guess I was so shaken that even my sense of taste is broken.”

Amanatsu muttered that while eating the dog ice cream.

I looked at Hulk, lying down nearby.

Rooney kept licking him enthusiastically, but Hulk endured it without moving.

I gave him a sympathetic look.

You have it rough too.

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After taking Hulk's leash from Amanatsu, I gave him a newly purchased cup of ice cream.

As expected of a retired police dog, he was dignified.

He had the presence of a veteran soldier who had survived countless battles… How cool.

Still, it was rare to see a pet who resembled its owner so little.

“By the way, Hiiragi—is it true that your boyfriend is imaginary?”

“Oh? Has Hatsukade finally become interested?”

“Yeah.”

Interested out of concern for you.

“Everyone says he doesn't exist, but he absolutely does. He's my hero.”

Hiiragi narrowed her eyes happily and began to tell us.

“When I was in elementary school, he saved me when I was about to get seriously hurt. But I haven't seen him since. We only met that one time, so I don't even know his name.”

“Have you been looking for him ever since elementary school?”

“Yeah, because we made a promise when we parted. He said, ‘See you again.' He was incredibly cool. I started social media because I hoped he might notice me. I practice cooking and work hard on my makeup every day, because I want him to like me when we meet again someday!”

“…You're amazing.”

“Right!?”

I meant it sincerely, without a trace of sarcasm.

Her thinking was incredibly romantic and fanciful, but most people could not carry those feelings for years and continue acting on them.

And she had done it without sinking into pessimism—remaining positive the entire time.

Maybe I had underestimated Hiiragi Sakura, my classmate.

I still disliked her, of course.

But it was also true that I respected her a little.

I found myself smiling.

“I hope you get to meet him again.”

“…”

Hiiragi tilted her head in confusion.

Then she immediately nodded with a radiant smile.

“Yeah! You better support me!”

For some reason, Amanatsu's face was bright red. She puffed out her cheeks, visibly conflicted and grumbling.

“That's it, that casual little comment! If it weren't Sakura, it would hit a girl right in the heart. You're way too unaware, Hatsukade-kun… But that's what makes it so good…”

Watching Amanatsu mutter under her breath and Hiiragi act carefree, I thought that even if Shinonome apologized to the two of them tomorrow, things would probably work out somehow.

At least, that was what I thought—until that moment came.