[Vol 2] The Cheeky Junior Gal Becomes Too Cute When She Gets Attached to Me Epilogue

Epilogue

 

Just under a month had passed since the general assembly.

The graduation ceremony had ended without incident, and today—right before spring break—was March 13.

White Day, March 14, just like Valentine’s Day, fell on a Monday.

Because of that, I’d called Monaka out on the Sunday before.

“Ehh~ what’s this? An invitation to a date from Senpai?”

In the evening, when Monaka arrived at the station we were meeting at, she said that with a teasing grin.

You already know why…

Compared to last month, the temperature had risen quite a bit. It was still a little chilly, but nothing like midwinter.

Maybe she’d already switched to spring clothes—Monaka was wearing a hot pants setup.

Aren’t you cold…? I thought. But then again, even at school she always wore her skirt as short as possible. Gals are scary.

“I see, I see. So Senpai really wanted to go on a date with me that badly. You must really love me~”

“You’re annoying…”

“And that part of you is cute too?”

“Yeah.”

“Ehehe.”

As always, she was very expressive.

Monaka naturally wrapped her arm around mine near the elbow, and we started walking toward our destination arm in arm.

“You hungry?”

“Yeah! I haven’t eaten anything at all today!”

“I heard it’s a girl’s trick to eat a little beforehand and pretend you’re a small eater.”

“My trick is eating lots of delicious food with the person I like.”

Ever since she confessed on Valentine’s Day, she’d been saying the word like even more often than before.

She said it without hesitation, which made it hard to react.

…Then again, she never really hesitated even before.

“Ah, but I might not be able to eat because I’m nervous…”

“Nervous?”

“Yeah. I don’t know what kind of answer you’re going to give me, Senpai.”

What we promised that day at Monaka’s house on Valentine’s Day.

That on White Day—today—I would definitely give her my answer.

I’d had more than enough time to think.

If anything, I’d been expecting a day like this ever since New Year’s.

All this time, I’d kept dodging the issue. Monaka had been honest about her feelings, yet I never gave her a clear response.

I joked it away, teased her back, pretended not to hear.

I kept running away from Monaka’s feelings.

It was awful. I took advantage of a situation where I was the only one being given something, putting all the burden on Monaka.

I wanted to put an end to that.

“I’ll tell you later. For sure.”

“Okay. I’ll wait.”

Today, my relationship with Monaka would change.

Whether I liked it or not, it would change. My answer was already decided.

“But if you reject me, that’d be bad. I’d probably cry.”

“Is that a threat?”

“It is. And just so you know, even if you reject me, I won’t give up! Be prepared when you turn me down—I’ll keep chasing you.”

“That’s a stalker declaration.”

“Hehe. If you don’t want that, then just go out with me.”

The pressure was intense.

What a bold new kind of threat…

“Well, my answer isn’t going to change.”

“……Yeah.”

Just like she said herself, she was probably anxious.

Monaka tightened her grip, hugging my arm closely.

“You know, there are quite a few girls in my class who already have boyfriends.”

“Once you get to high school, it really increases.”

“Yeah. It’s amazing. I wonder how they did it. I never knew confessing could be this scary. Or that waiting for an answer could hurt this much. Everyone goes through this and still ends up dating, right?”

“……Should I have answered sooner?”

“No. I’m the one who asked you to wait until today. And besides, even though it’s scary and painful, I don’t hate it at all.”

I could’ve given her my answer right away that day. I’m sure I would’ve reached the same conclusion.

But Monaka had said it herself.

She wanted me to think it through properly. Not to accept it on impulse, but to answer with my own will.

“Because until today, you’ve been thinking about me the whole time, right?”

“Yeah. So much I couldn’t even sleep at night.”

“That makes me happy. You seriously thought about having a relationship with me. Even if you rejected me, that alone would make me happy.”

Monaka smiled shyly—not putting on a brave face, but speaking from the heart.

I’d just been wavering, yet she interpreted it in such a positive way.

I wondered what it was she liked about me.

I was curious, but I decided not to ask.

It would feel like I was doubting her feelings.

Even without knowing the reason, there was no doubt about how Monaka felt. She was that straightforward.

“We’re here.”

“Ooh~”

The place I’d reserved was an Italian restaurant.

It wasn’t a high-end place, but for a high school student, it was definitely a stretch.

There goes all my winter break earnings… Well, spring break is coming up. I can earn more then.

“It feels kinda fancy.”

“That’s a pretty dumb impression…”

“Can’t help it. I don’t really go out to nice places to eat.”

“Yeah, same here.”

At best, only when eating out with my family—and even then, choosing a stylish restaurant happened maybe once every few years.

I didn’t know any places, so I searched like crazy.

I tried to pick somewhere with a nice atmosphere that was relatively quiet.

“Let’s go in already.”

As Monaka opened the wooden door, she pulled my hand along with her.

The inside was softly lit, with a calm, relaxed interior.

We were guided to our seats by a staff member.

“Ooh~ wow~”

Monaka looked around the restaurant, grinning.

“…What?”

“Senpai, you’re actually pretty romantic, huh?”

“You little—”

When I pretended to get mad, Monaka squealed and leaned back playfully.

Now that she said it, I started to feel embarrassed. Maybe I overdid it.

“What, wanna propose or something?”

“If I ever propose, it’ll be at a hotel with a night view.”

“Wow, I’m looking forward to that.”

“…I don’t actually have plans like that.”

“Then I’ll make them for you.”

She was getting ahead of herself. We were still in high school.

The appetizers and drinks were brought out.

After happily taking photos, Monaka picked up her fork.

“A-itadakimaーsu!”

“Itadakimasu.”

Holding her fork, Monaka pressed her palms together, then stabbed into the vegetables.

She lifted the fork toward her mouth—then stopped halfway.

“…What’s wrong?”

“It looks really good.”

“Yeah.”

“But I want to enjoy it even more.”

She placed the fork back on the table and looked up at me with upturned eyes.

She wanted to hear my answer first.

“…Monaka.”

“Yes.”

I looked straight into her anxious, wavering eyes.

“At first, I honestly just thought I’d ended up with a noisy kouhai.”

“That’s mean! But you’re not wrong!”

“You were overly touchy, said things that could be misunderstood… I even wondered if you were just teasing me.”

“Nope. I was pretty serious.”

“……Even so, being with you was fun. Walking to school, lunch breaks, after school… even dates. The more time I spent with you, the more I wanted to stay together.”

“Same here.”

I never thought we’d get this close.

Let alone end up in a romantic relationship.

Monaka was a gal—casual, cheeky, bold. I thought she’d just gotten attached on a whim and would eventually get bored of me.

We lived in completely different worlds.

But once I actually got to know her, that wasn’t true at all.

She was bright, delicate, honest, and adorable.

Those were Monaka’s good points you couldn’t tell just from appearances.

And before I knew it… I’d fallen for her.

“…But I was scared I wouldn’t be able to cherish you properly.”

Putting someone special—my girlfriend—above my goals. I couldn’t picture myself like that.

I was afraid that even if we dated, I’d end up neglecting her someday.

“I see…”

Thinking she was being rejected, Monaka lowered her gaze to the table.

“But I think it’ll be okay. I hate acting without certainty, though.”

She looked back up at me, eyes filled with expectation.

“Because I realized I do have feelings where I want to protect what’s important to me. Everyone helped me realize that. And… because you said it’d be okay, Monaka.”

“Did I?”

“Yeah… you know. That thing you said. ‘Even if you hate yourself, I’ll fill that up with love.’”

Saying it out loud myself was incredibly embarrassing… and the fact she forgot made it worse.

“Ah! It felt so obvious, I forgot I even said it.”

Apparently, words that stuck with me so deeply were just natural for her.

“So? So?”

Her tension eased, and with a mischievous grin, Monaka leaned forward.

“So then…”

I never thought I’d face a moment like this.

Even after rehearsing countless times, the words wouldn’t come out right.

“In the student council, in school life, even after we graduate… I want to stay with you, Monaka.”

“Yeah.”

“So…”

I swallowed.

Such ordinary words.

For someone like me, who usually hides his true feelings behind half-measures, this was everything I had.

Just for today, I’d be honest—like Monaka.

“I like you, Monaka. Please go out with me.”

She really is amazing.

Even though this was just a reply to her confession, it was terrifying.

Saying your true feelings out loud takes courage.

“Senpai…!”

Her eyes filled with tears.

But her tear-streaked cheeks were smiling.

“Of course! Let’s take good care of each other!”

Still speaking casually to the very end, Monaka nodded.