When I reunited with my arrogant childhood friend, she had become a talented and beautiful girl – Even though she has probably forgotten about me and I don’t want to be toyed with, for some reason she keeps getting involved with me!?

“Thank you for the meal.”

“Yes, thank you for dining.”

On Sunday, as usual, Hiyori and I finished dinner.

As I’m in charge of cooking on weekends and holidays, I was the one who mainly cooked today.

I made Napolitana pasta and grilled chicken. I prepared more than enough, but she finished it all.

“…Senpai, your cooking was delicious.”

Hiyori, wiping the dishes next to me, says this.

But, for some reason, she puffs her cheeks and looks genuinely frustrated.

“Moreover, the seasoning was to my liking…”

“Well, after eating Hiyori’s cooking almost every day, I understand your taste.”

Upon saying that, her cheeks puffed out even more.

Huh… What should I have said?

“I mean, I feel like I’m being understood in many ways… and yet I don’t understand Senpai at all.”

She started saying such things.

Although I think that’s not the case since I’ve shown her so many embarrassing sides of myself…

After finishing the dishes, we both sit on the sofa.

Now, Hiyori and I have been having dinner together until now, but a problem has arisen. Until now, I was usually the one to return home first, but that won’t be the case anymore.

As a vice president, I will have to attend meetings with Akane and Shion.

This means that I will end up making Hiyori wait quite often. Feeling guilty about that, I handed her something.

“…Is this a key?”

“Yes, it’s the spare key to my room.”

“Eh?”

“From now on, I will often be the one coming home late.”

“No, um… eh? Are you sure? Can I really have something so important?”

“From now on, both of us might come home late due to student council work, so it will be more convenient if you have a spare key, right?”

“…Well, yes, but…”

“Besides, on days when we have morning inspections, you can come and wake me up!”

“…I feel like that’s your real intention.”

“No, that’s just your imagination.”

I unintentionally averted my eyes as she hit the nail on the head.

“…Really, I can’t tell if you’re just carefree or a big shot, Senpai.”

Hiyori sighed and accepted the key while looking at it in a good mood.

“Understood. From now on, I’ll come wake you up every morning, okay?”

“Eh? No, not every day…”

“Yes?”

“Ah, please do.”

I was pushed into it as usual.

Ugh, I was supposed to sleep until the last minute on regular days…!!

“Then, I’ll ask you to make breakfast too.”

“Breakfast?… Well, it will save time, and since we’re having breakfast at your house anyway… Okay.”

What should I do? It’s hard to say it was a joke now. I didn’t expect her to seriously consider and accept it.

“Really… Senpai, you’re so helpless without me.”

She said that with a grin on her cheeks, and her gaze was warm… Maybe she’s happy to be needed.

Looking at Hiyori like that, I couldn’t help but think…

“Hiyori… you’re likely to be caught by a good-for-nothing guy, huh?”

“Why would you suddenly say something so rude?”

Oops, I accidentally let my true feelings slip.

I don’t want to say this, but Hiyori tends to be happy when I show her my sloppy side or act spoiled. Is she the nurturing type?

She seems to be the type who would do anything if you sincerely apologized… She has a motherly aura.

Her family is wealthy, she’s capable, and she can handle housework… She tends to spoil, forgive anything, and look after you even if you try to push her away.

Hmm, a good-for-nothing guy maker.

“From that expression, aren’t you thinking of something extremely rude?”

“Fine… Let’s test it. I’ll pretend to be a good-for-nothing guy and make a request. You have to refuse properly.”

“Alright, I accept the challenge.”

Uh, what’s this? Hiyori’s overly confident appearance is making me feel nothing but unease.

Well then, let the test to see if Hiyori likes good-for-nothing guys begin.

I clear my throat, take a deep breath, and put my hands together with an apologetic expression.

“Um… actually, I’m going out with Akane next week, and I don’t have enough cash. Can you lend me some money?”

“Huh? No way, why would I lend you money? What are you talking about?”

Wow, she said that with an incredibly cold gaze. Can people really have such cold eyes…?

“Haha… Yeah, of course. That’s only natural.”

Saying that, I scratched my head with a troubled and slightly depressed expression.

“Sorry, I always end up relying on Hiyori whenever something happens. It’s a bad habit of mine… Maybe deep down, I’ve been taking advantage of the fact that Hiyori accepts me no matter what.”

“…!?”

Hey, she’s totally wavering.

She’s making a face like “Well, maybe just a little…” She’s trying her best to resist, but…

Can I push her just a little more?

“Ugh… Even if you say that…”

“I only have Hiyori to confide in about such embarrassing things… I really don’t want to show this uncool side of me…!!”

Saying that, I buried my face in Hiyori’s shoulder.

“I only have… Hiyori now…”

…What do you think?

“Really… You’re so… hopeless…”

While saying that, Hiyori gently stroked my head.

Ah, no good. My voice sounds like a tamed animal who has completely given in.

“…Huh!? That was a close call!”

“No, that’s totally out! You were so confident, but you fell for it immediately!! Honestly, that was pathetic, wasn’t it!?”

Without thinking, I raised my face and confronted Hiyori. At my words, she turned her face away with a huff.

“N-no, that’s not true at all? I mean, I didn’t say I would lend you money, did I?”

“Then what are those five 10,000 yen bills you’re taking out of your wallet!?”

“Huh…!? When did…!!”

“…You know, it’s not good to criticize someone’s preferences, but…this is too much.”

“N-no, that’s…!! This is not what it looks like!”

“…Right, it’s not. Yeah, I understand. I’ll just borrow money from Futaba instead. I won’t show you my uncool side ever again!”

“Eh! W-wait a minute, please!!”

With a shocked expression, Hiyori stood up and grabbed my clothes.

“I’ll lend you the money properly! Please don’t say such things!”

With teary eyes and looking flustered, Hiyori handed me the 50,000 yen.

“…You really don’t have to do this.”

“!! I-I’ll go to the bank!”

“Ah, sorry!! It was a lie! It was a lie, I swear!! I’m sorry! I got carried away!”

As I stopped Hiyori, who was about to go to the bank in all seriousness, I couldn’t help but worry that she might really fall for a good-for-nothing guy in the future.