Living with the Arrogant Queen from High School is Surprisingly Not Uncomfortable

Back then, I didn’t like Yamamoto’s defiant attitude, and from then on, I started disliking him unilaterally.

…Right.

That’s how it was.

I had completely forgotten about such a past.

Why is that, I wonder?

Well, after all, it was just a school festival. The more time that passed after the evening festival was cancelled for a year, the less it seemed to matter. Perhaps that’s all it was.

“Hey, Akari, do you remember?”

After parting ways with Ito and Ota, Akari and I were swaying on the train back home. Ito and Ota were going to stay in a business hotel in Tokyo for the night.

They planned to explore Tokyo the next day and invited us to join them, but seeing Akari tactfully decline their invitation, I decided to go along with her.

My question to Akari was vague without a subject.

However, Akari seemed to understand what I wanted to know, considering what she had heard at the izakaya.

“If you’re talking about the evening festival a year ago, I remember.”

“…I see.”

I gripped the train strap tighter.

“I had completely forgotten.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

Calmly, I nodded.

Right now, I was feeling guilty towards Yamamoto inside. Was it because we had gotten along? I had hung him out to dry in class over something I had completely forgotten by now. It was guilt over that.

“Well, it can’t be helped.”

“You think so?”

“Yes. Absolutely.”

Unusually for Akari, she was assertive in her response.

Well, if Akari says so, it must be so.

I decided to accept my inner feelings.

However, there is a lingering question.

It was born out of the same reason that I felt guilty earlier.

Now, I’m living with Yamamoto.

Now, I have feelings of love for Yamamoto.

Over the past month and a bit, I’ve spent almost every day with Yamamoto and seen many sides of him.

His helpful side.

His pathetic side.

His obsession with cleanliness.

And his smiling face.

Having seen many sides of him, I’ve had some thoughts. I have a question, a sense of discomfort.

That day, Yamamoto said he had forgotten to order the wood for the campfire.

…Is that really true?

No, I’m not doubting that the wood for the campfire was overlooked. The fact that the evening festival was not held that day… the cause lies there, it is an undeniable fact.

But, what I’m wondering is…

Was that overlooked order really Yamamoto’s fault?

…He is…

Hardworking.

Nervous.

Conscientious.

A man who pathologically hates being half-hearted.

Would such a man… make such a basic mistake as forgetting to order wood for a campfire for the evening festival?

“Akari, haven’t you heard anything from Yamamoto?”

Weakly, Akari shook her head at my question.

“…I see.”

“Hey, Meg?”

“Who was the cultural festival executive committee member in your class during your first year, Akari?”

Inadvertently, I cut off Akari’s words and started speaking.

Maybe she wanted to say something as well, as it was unusual for Akari, she seemed a bit downcast.

After some hesitation, Akari replied.

“…Maeda-kun. We were in the same class in the third year, right?”

“That guy, huh?”

If I remember correctly, Maeda was a guy in the soccer club. I remember him being loud, despite not being able to say anything interesting.

“Akari, do you know Maeda’s contact information?”

“What are you going to do?”

“…Maeda-kun. We were in the same class during the third year, right?”

“That guy, huh?”

If I recall correctly, Maeda was a guy who was part of the soccer club. Despite not being particularly interesting, he had a loud voice. That’s the memory I have of him.

“Akari, do you know Maeda’s contact information?”

“What are you going to do?”

“I want to ask about what happened back then.”

Akari looked a bit surprised.

Well, I guess it is surprising. I’m even surprised at myself for deciding to take such an action. For me, the memories of high school are mostly unpleasant ones. To dig up the past and reunite with someone from that time… if it weren’t for Yamamoto, I definitely wouldn’t want to do it.

…But.

If it’s for Yamamoto, it doesn’t bother me at all.

I know.

If Yamamoto knew what I was about to do, he would probably say, “What’s the point in knowing that now?”

He is a man who doesn’t like to dwell on the past.

Because I’ve been exposed to that aspect of him, I’ve been able to start overcoming the numerous fears instilled in me by my previous boyfriend.

He would say that what I’m doing is pointless.

…But.

But!

I don’t think so!

The him that I once belittled.

The him that I now love.

I can’t stand the thought of him continuing to be condemned for a crime he didn’t commit…!

But maybe what I’m about to do is indeed too late.

Even if I were to tell our classmates that the incident with the festival wasn’t Yamamoto’s fault, nobody would care.

I mean, I myself had forgotten about it because it was something from the past.

…But, I can apologize to him.

After knowing the truth, I, I should apologize to him.

Only I who once belittled him…

Only I who wants to be with him from now on…

Should apologize for my mistake to him.

“You’re really amazing, you know.”

“…Uhuhu.”

“Meg, you couldn’t make such a face before.”

“What, what kind of face?”

“The face of a girl in love.”

Akari embraced me inside the train car.

The train car was almost empty except for us at the last train hour. If there were any others, they were probably asleep from overwork. That was the only saving grace.

Well, either way, it was still embarrassing.

“I’m sorry. I don’t know Maeda-kun’s contact information.”

“…I, I see.”

“So, I’ll ask around, okay?”

“Huh?”

“If I find out, I’ll let you know. So, you should meet him.”

“…Akari, thank you.”

Ever since our reunion, my relationship with Akari had been filled with a lingering awkwardness.

And that was due to my own feelings.

Yet, Akari…

I hugged Akari back.

She is truly… truly my best friend.

It doesn’t matter if Akari used to date Yamamoto.

That doesn’t change the fact that Akari is my best friend. That will never change.

“…I’m sorry for always being like this.”

“No, don’t worry about it.”

“…Someday, I promise, I will help you in return, Akari.”

“…If that’s the case…”

Akari started to say something.

“No, it’s nothing.”

Then, she let out a wry smile with a somewhat lonely expression on her face.