Ch 86 – 30 May, Takao Decision

As they finished dinner and were enjoying after-dinner tea prepared by Satomi. Kouta sipped the tea, and the aroma of green tea immediately spread in his mouth. Yes, how does Kouta say this? Her skill is not bad.

Just as Kouta took his second sip, someone beside him praised Satomi for her tea.

"This is good… Tachibana-sensei."

"Really, thanks. But, well… It’s a bit more expensive than usual." Satomi, who had been carefully making tea, responded brightly.

"Eh, is that fine?"

"Well, of course. Thanks to someone, I need a good drink to recover my depleted stamina." Satomi smiled and replied.

"That’s…" When Takao heard that reply, she couldn’t help but quickly turned the other way to hide her blushing face. She may not have had any real experience or that kind of knowledge, but because the person who was talking about it was an adult.

Yeah, it was because Satomi was an adult, Takao couldn’t help but imagine that those two relationships would be more adult-like than those a normal high school student have.

Takao stared at Kouta emotionlessly for a moment, as she realized that this guy beside her was most likely already doing those kind things with Satomi. She remembered how skillful and sweet he was when he kissed her.

Kouta himself realized Takao stared at him, sipped the tea once again and replied back with a smile.

Seeing him smiling like that, Takao felt like he could read her mind and caught her thinking something lewd, which made her face start to blush once again thinking about those kind stuff and turned her face away.

Of course, Kouta couldn't read Takao's mind. Even so, he could guess what Takao could be thinking. Especially with her face turning red like that. There were only a few things that could make her that way. It's just that Satomi's earlier words made it easier to guess what she was thinking.

Kouta only showed her his grinning face. He might not have known what Takao and Satomi were talking about, but when he noticed that Takao didn't overreact. He could easily come to the conclusion that Satomi had done a really good job talking to Takao.

Kouta told Satomi to give Takao reasonable advice to get Takao’s trust rather than trying to convince Takao to such an absurd relationship. Well, Kouta wanted to make her less suspicious.

Seeing Takao not leave or angry with this situation was already a good sign. Kouta nodded his head as he was satisfied with this situation.

"Ah… It’s much better for the two of you to go home after we finish drinking tea. It’s already late after all…" Satomi said to two of them. At least, she acted like a good teacher.

Followed what Satomi said. Kouta and Takao left her apartment. Kouta walked beside Takao and grabbed her hand tightly.. Takao nervously flung away her hand, but she couldn’t do it since Kouta gripped her hand quite hard. And it can be clearly seen from Kouta’s eyes, colors of sadness, that make Takao's heart quiver.

Takao remembered what Satomi said to her.

"Mother instinct wakes me up…" She said that word to Takao, and when Takao remembered that. She couldn’t help thinking how easily Kouta woke up to her woman instinct. Even though she tried to throw away his hand, it didn't imply that she didn't want to grab his hand. She was just confused and didn’t mean to reject him. But well, slowly her mind was a bit relieved and she responded to Kouta 's grip back. But there was a long, awkward silence between them. Until they finally arrived at the station, the place where they would part ways tonight.

"You know, Takao-senpai… You don’t have to worry; just think at your own pace. In the end, I will wait for your answer as long as you want." Kouta's voice broke the stillness.

"...Ah, about that…"

"Well… At least, I hope you still want to have a date with me. Next time…"  Kouta said with such a convincing tone.

In the dim light of night, Takao caught a glimpse of a man’s face. It was a face that was sometimes shown by Kouta that gave her a heart throb. Kouta looked more like a cute boy when he stayed silent after all.

But sometimes, Kouta gives people such a handsome impression that it fazes Takao. It took several seconds for her to respond.

"Kouta…" Takao called his name and stared at him. To be honest, it was a good idea to run away from Kouta and his absurd relationship. But when Takao imagined Kouta and Satomi's relationship, of course, she was hurt and jealous too.

But Takao still seemed to not want to let go of him. Not wanting to lose. She does not want to give up on him like this. Just like what Satomi said to her, there would be a much better man she could get. And if she continued down this path, she might regret it in the future.

But when Takao closed her eyes… in her mind it was still all about him, so when she opened her eyes. Takao felt like she had found her decision.

"If that's the case… How about we just do a trial thing?" Takao said she still looked unsure.

"Trial?"

"Yes… How about a trial? Dating trial… How about when summer vacation ends?"

"So you’re saying that we did a dating trial?"

"No… We’re going to have a relationship while acknowledging that you have several girls other than me." Takao said, but this time her words started to become clear, and she nodded her head as she found her resolution.

"Eh… really?"

"Un… And if at that time you can convince me. I will become your girl just like Tachibana-sensei and other girls."  She said while staring at him.

"Ahaha, that sounds amazing. If that’s true. But if I can’t convince you… what will happen?" Kouta responded, and in his mind… she asked him to leave her alone or didn’t want him to disturb her again. Which is understandable, but Takao's response was something beyond Kouta’s prediction.

"If you can’t convince me… I want you to break up with all your relationships with other girls and only date me. Only looked at me. Only loving me." Takao said with a reddened face, but her eyes never left Kouta's. Her words were just a confession… No… a declaration of war.

"That… Sounds like a bad deal for me." Kouta responded brutally but honestly to Takao's confession.

"What! Don't you have confidence as a womanizer!?" She responded with a scream at him.

"No… You can’t just provoke me like that… It’s something that I usually do…"

"Grrr… Fine… I just want… No… Please, just let me… show it to you. That… I’m enough. Just me alone, it’s enough… I gave you a chance to convince me, but at the same time I want you to give me the same chance? Isn’t that fair?"

"That’s…"

Of course, Kouta didn’t need to grant Takao wishes. Even though there was a benefit, there was still no merit for him.  At the same time, Kouta had a soft spot for the heroine, and he also found this intriguing. Usually, Kouta was the one who pursued girls.

"Well, okay. Then… I’m in."

"Really!? Good… Ah… The train came. We will talk again tomorrow. Ah… Also, you don’t need to make me lunch again. This time, I will show you my lunch box!!" Takao smiled brightly when she heard Kouta agree with her, before she saw the train coming. She went toward the train before stopping and looking at Kouta.

Takao made such a swift move back to Kouta, and for the first time ever, she actually initiated herself to kiss him.

"Chup…" It was a short kiss, before she looked at Kouta and whispered in his ear. "I will make you only see me."

That actually surprised Kouta… Since he never saw Takao act like this in anime or manga. There was a time, she acted really forward. Just like that, she successfully stays at the protagonist's home. But Kouta never sees or remembers her being this forward.

It may be because of the influence from him or just her competitive nature inside her woke up more than in the anime and manga. Well, she actually showed how competitive she was for protagonist affection in her mind at least.. One of her competitive qualities showed when she joined the match for Roka’s pouch. She didn't want the protagonist to have Roka's pouch.

"Well… This will make it easier for me, right?"