47 - The day after that kiss
I BECAME a girl because of that freakin wish!
I nervously stared at the door to Nagi's room, my mind replaying the kiss that happened between us yesterday. The soft sensation on my lips was still vividly clear.
I pressed my hand against my chest, feeling my heart still pounding fast, even now.
Thump-thump.
H-How am I supposed to greet him this morning�! Should I pretend to forget what happened yesterday� Or should I be honest about my feelings for him�
A simple daily interaction had become so difficult. I had tried countless ways to distract myself from yesterdayâs memory. But no matter what, every time I saw Nagiâs face, that kiss kept flashing in my mind.
W-what should I dooooo�???
â¦
I slapped both my cheeks firmly, then took a deep breath to calm myself down.
Come on, move forward, Yuichi! If you keep hesitating like this, when will you ever win Nagiâs heart?
I focused my gaze on the homemade bento in my hands.
I even went through all the trouble of making breakfast and a bento just for Nagi. This is the first time Iâve cooked without using instant seasonings⦠So⦠I really hope he likes itâ¦
I was curious about what kind of reaction he would show when tasting my cooking.
My eyes sparkled with anticipation as I knocked on Nagiâs door several times.
"Nagi⦠Are you⦠awake yet�" I called out nervously, tapping my foot anxiously as I waited for his response from behind the door.
I waited for a few minutes, but there was no reply.
I decided to knock again. "Nagiiiâ¦! Wake uuuup..! I made you breakfast! Itâs still warm, so hurry up and eat it..!"
The door slowly creaked open, and Nagi stepped out, his eyes still half-closed, his hair messy.
"Ah, good morning⦠Yuichi⦠Itâs rare for you to be up this early."
For some reason, my face suddenly felt hot when I heard Nagiâs deep morning voice.
Ah..! Why am I getting nervous all of a sudden�
I quickly extended both hands, pressing the shopping bag containing the two bento boxes against his body. "Hereâs your breakfast⦠and lunchâ¦"
"Eh..? Breakfast?!" Nagi was visibly surprised at my words. "W-whoa⦠Itâs not like you to make food for me, Yuichi⦠You really didnât have to go through all that troubleâ¦" he said while covering his mouth with his hand, as if acting shocked. But through the gaps in his fingers, I could see that he wasnât actually surprisedâ he was smiling.
"But since you insist, Iâll take it." Without hesitation, Nagi swiftly grabbed the food from my hands.
â¦
Such a tsundereâ¦
"Hmph..! I just felt like itâ¦" I turned my face away, embarrassed after realizing Nagiâs current expression.
"Well⦠Thanks. Actually, I havenât eaten since yesterday because⦠I was too busy, I guess..? Hehe," Nagi said, chuckling awkwardly.
Busy..?
"Thatâs not good for your health, you know!" I quickly scolded him. Puffing my cheeks in frustration, I looked away, unable to maintain eye contact. "Next time⦠you have to eat properly, okay..? Where else would you get your protein if not from food?"
"Yuichi, you sound just like my momâ¦" Nagi said, scratching his head awkwardly.
"Hmph..! Your momâs not here. If not me, then who else?"
Nagi just let out a small laugh in response.
I quickly turned away, my face still flushed red. "Anyway, make sure you eat what I made for you. And donât you dare skip meals again, okay?"
"For the food⦠You owe me something in return next timeâ¦" I muttered under my breath before hastily retreating to my room.
"WAIT?! SO IT'S NOT FREE?!"
I ignored Nagiâs words and shut my door, locking it quickly.
Every second I spent with him made my heart race even faster. I wasnât sure if I could keep my expression under control if I stood there any longer.
â¦
I then turned to the mirror, observing myself. I ran my hands down my body from top to bottom. Touching my silky hair, I pinched my cheeks lightly.
I⦠really am cute.
Confidence +99.
If my past self met me now, I was sure heâd be blushing like crazy. Not only because he was weak against girls, but also because I, the current me, am a beautiful girlâ¦
Butâ¦
Howâ¦? How can Nagi still act so normal after everything that happened yesterday? I mean, Iâm super cute, you know..!
Even in that moment when the kiss happened, he still managed to push aside his feelings and worry about me who was nearly passing out from embarrassment.
Even at times like that, he still looked so coolâ¦
I flopped onto my bed in frustration, grabbing a pillow beside me and squeezing it mercilessly.
"Idiot, idiot, idiot..!" I muttered quietly.
Stupid Nagi⦠So unfairâ¦!
Iâm the only one here getting all flusteredâ¦
â¦
I buried my face into the pillow in embarrassment.
Oh my god, what am I even doing..?
***
The time had come. After preparing my books and neatly wearing my uniform, Nagi and I left for school together.
As expected, the atmosphere between us was incredibly awkward. Neither of us could maintain eye contact for more than two seconds.
I called his name softly, "Nagiâ¦" before looking at him nervously.
"Yeah� What is it..?" Nagi turned to me in confusion, but the moment we made eye contact, we both quickly looked away in embarrassment.
A-ah⦠What is this atmosphere?!
We totally looked like two complete idiots.
Two elderly ladies, seemingly out for a morning walk, passed by us, laughing in unison. "Ah, youth is so wonderfulâ¦"
My face burned even hotter at their words.
W-WHAT DO YOU MEAN, YOUTH?!
Why are your words so cliché, granny..? I-Is this really a romcom world or something?! This just made things even worse⦠So awkward⦠Ah⦠So awkward.
If there was a teleportation device, I wouldâve used it to get to school instantly.
I quickly pressed my hands together in a prayer gesture and closed my eyes with all my heart.
Please let me not run into anyone I know..!
Time passed. After walking for a while, we stumbled upon two cats mating right in front of us.
One of the cats had a weird fur pattern that resembled Nagiâs hair, while its partner looked exactly like me.
H-HOW IS THIS EVEN POSSIBLEâ¦
â¦
I clenched my teeth in embarrassment and threw a small twig at themâ not hard, just enough to shoo them away.
"Ah..! Shoo!"
"Hiss..!" The two cats hissed at me before running off to find a more private place to continue their business.
"You didnât have to be so rough with them⦠Yuichiâ¦" Nagi sighed.
I looked at Nagi in embarrassment. Without responding, I quickened my pace, leaving him behind. "I-Iâm going ahead..!" While walking, I kept praying that nothing else weird would happen along the way.
Why are these kinds of coincidences happening to me..? Is fate playing a prank on me right now?
And those cats just now⦠Itâs like they were foreshadowing⦠S-somethingâ¦
AAAAHHHH..!
I ruffled my hair in frustration. My hands were trembling. Meanwhile, the heat on my face only intensified.
If⦠If Nagi and I⦠did that⦠Thenâ¦
NO!
No sex before⦠m-marriageâ¦
Hngâ¦!
Whatever!
Why am I even thinking about this?
What do you mean, sex?!
Because of those cats, everythingâs gone completely haywireâ¦
I turned back and looked at Nagi walking behind me, scanning him from head to toe. Staring at his face made me wonderâ
Is he thinking the same thing as I am..?
He is a pervert, soâ¦
Ah! No way!
No⦠Itâs probably just me being the perverted one here. Nagi looks completely normal, so why am I like thisâ¦?
My mind was a messâ¦!
I suddenly squatted down, covering my face with both hands, completely overwhelmed with embarrassmentâ I was turning into a fool drowning in the sea of love.
What do you even mean, sea of love!!! Stupid Yuichi! Stupid me, idiot, idiot!
"Yuichi? Are you okay?" I heard a deep yet gentle male voice, along with approaching footsteps.
I immediately raised one hand, palm wide open, signaling Nagi to STOP right where he was.
"I-Iâm fine, donât worry about me⦠I'm justâ¦"
The only thing on my mind right now was to make sure Nagi wouldnât see my face.
I stood up in silence.
â¦
"Yuichi?"
Without a second thought, without even glancing back, I took a deep breathâ then sprinted toward the school as fast as I could.
"Huh?"
"Yuichi! Watch out! Thereâsâ"
THUD!
"â¦Doggy's poop..." Nagi finished⦠way too lateâ¦
â¦
Ouchâ¦
Huhuhuâ¦
Why are there so many things happening in the morning?
While dusting off my uniform, I weakly turned my head back, reaching out for Nagiâs help. "Could you help me up, Nagi..?"
TO BE CONTINUED.