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Not Just a “Cute” Heroine
When I returned home, the sun was already setting.
(Talking with Mary took longer than I thought it would
)
It had been a long time since I had seen her. I didn’t know she had come to Japan, but 
 anyway, it was nice to talk to her.
Thanks to her, I think we had a fulfilling time.
Of course, as I had originally intended, I solved the problem that Nakayama was facing with her help.
I guess we will see the results of that work around the end of the week.
I shall look forward to that time.
“Phew
”
I took a breath and turned on the light switch.
Then I noticed a delicious-looking dinner and a letter on the kitchen table.
“Yuzuki?”
There was only a note that said, ‘I made dinner, please eat it’, and she was not there.
(Message 
, I don’t see it. Yuzuki, what’s wrong?)
A note, that’s unusual. Why didn’t she just call me on my phone?
(I thought she was waiting for me.)
We’ve been together for a while now, as if we were living together. Naturally, I thought she was waiting for me at home.
I felt uncomfortable with Yuzuki’s behavior, however, there was nothing strange about it when I thought carefully.
She must have had something to do today. I decided to think so and headed upstairs to my room to change my clothes first.
That’s when it happened.
–Knock, knock, knock.
Suddenly, there was a knocking sound.
However, the source of the sound was not the door.
“
 No way.”
The knock seemed to come from outside the window.
I rushed to the window and opened the curtains with a mighty movement.
What I saw was the figure of Shimotsuki leaning out of the window opposite me.
“Hey, that’s dangerous!”
I hastily open the window and yell out a warning.
“Hands, you have short arms, don’t push yourself! You’re going to fall off!”
“
 I wouldn’t fall through a gap like this, it’s only about 30 centimeters, but I guess you worry too much.”
Perhaps she was offended by the comment “short arms”.
Shimotsuki’s lips pouted a little grimly.
Every gesture like that is so cute that I’m getting fed up with them.
I wanted to break off the thought, but I didn’t want her to see me like this because I was nervous.
“What’s up with you all of a sudden
 you don’t want to talk to me, do you?”
“Of course. But I wanted to hear your report today, so I had no choice but to use this method.”
I regain my composure as she explains her purpose to me in an indifferent manner.
Unlike me, Shimotsuki is really nonchalant. I wondered if I was the only one who was nervous, and my excitement finally calmed down.
No matter how much I like her, my feelings for her will never bear fruit. Then, let’s not act nonsensical.
If I don’t have expectations, my heart will calm down. My heart stopped pounding immediately, so I decided to give my report of the day, as requested.
“Everything is going well. I think everything is going just the way you want it.”
“Don’t ‘you’ me. It’s too familiar.”
“Don’t be difficult 
”
Apparently, it wasn’t enough to just stop calling her that.
Well, it’s okay, but 
 Shimotsuki might be a bit of a troublesome girl after all

No, it’s more than a bit.
She’s this obsessed with the guy she likes, so it must be pretty heavy and bothersome.
Thinking about it, I felt somewhat sorry for Nakayama.
It would take a lot of nerve to be able to accept this love.
Well, 
 if that love had been directed at me, I would have had the confidence to accept it.
Since that would never happen, let’s get back to the subject.
“I did what I could for now. I think I’ve made a good relationship with Kururi.”
“
 Kururi?”
“Kururi Kurumizawa. Your love rival.”
“Ah, so
 a relationship
 already. As usual, you’re quick to exploit.”
With just a few words of my explanation, Shimotsuki seemed to have figured it all out.
I sighed, both impressed and dismayed.
“Huh
 I was surprised to see that she was just another ‘girl’ after all.”
And yet, somewhat disappointed.
With such eyes, she stared off into the distance somewhere.
“It’s kind of a shame.”
What in the world did Shimotsuki expect from Kururi?
I don’t know that, but
. all I know is that Shimotsuki is ‘scary’ anyway.
(I can’t believe she’s so cute in front of Nakayama, but has such two sides to her.)
Every time I see the ‘depth’ of Shiho Shimotsuki as a person, I get scared of a new part of her.
She is, after all, special.
She was not just a cute heroine