Vol 3 Chapter 14 (2/2)

“Then I guess it’s okay to drink soda”

“I don’t drink it that often,” remarked Choco

“I see you drinking it all the time,” said Haruhiro

“Only when I’m here”

“Oh”

Then Choco went on to tell him in a bored tone about how she went to karaoke with Hidemasa recently It seemed as if karaoke didn’t interest her Haruhiro also made it seem like he was equally disinterested as he listened but he was actually paying close attention as Choco talked about the songs Hides froot really into it

Apparently that was the type of person Hideot tired after a little while into the karaoke session, Hidemasa approached her to ask if she was okay That Hideuy

“You see,” Choco suddenly said “I’ attention to how other people feel, so I think guys who can do that are great”

“So it’s like looking for things you lack yourself in others?” Haruhiro asked

“Hiro, you also think that I’m insensitive?”

“I never said that It’s not like you go out of your way to make people feel uncomfortable”

“I guess I don’t,” Choco agreed

“I don’t think you do”

“You don’t either, Hiro”

“Really? You think I’m a sensitive person?” Haruhiro asked

“To me?”

“Yeah We’ve known each other for a long time”

“Hiro, you don’t have anyone?” Choco abruptly inquired

“Anyone what?”

“That you like You know, a girl”

Haruhiro had no idea how to respond and as he thought about it, his heart dru chance to tell her, a part of hi himself, Chance? What chance? This isn’t a chance at all!

He thought he liked Choco, but what if he rong? He wasn’t wrong, but he was He didn’t kno to put it Or maybe what he felt went beyond a simple like Maybe it surpassed the notion of like It was almost as if what he liked or didn’t like hardlyas Choco was happy He felt like an idiot for thinking that, but that’s the way he truly felt… or so he thought Maybe

It was because of the distance that they had always kept between the now Once she had a boyfriend, maybe these chats would coot to it It was an unrelated matter, anyways Painful as it was, Haruhiro had alatched on the sidelines as Choco fell for other boys He was used to it

But, yes, he liked her

“Nope, no one If there was, I’d tell you,” Haruhiro said

“Well, I don’t really care anyways,” Choco replied

“That’s mean I always listen to stories about your crushes”

“Dork,” she whispered inaudibly[1]

“Huh? Did you say so?” asked Haruhiro

“Yeah, I did,” said Choco

“Sorry, I didn’t hear you…”

Haruhiro had no idea what that was all about, but suspected that Choco had noticed There was no doubt she realized that he liked her She must have realized Maybe Did she really? Suddenly, she crouched down next to hiaze was fixed on the ground in front of her

“If you ever get a crush on someone,” Choco started

“Uh…”

“Tell me, okay?”

“I thought you weren’t interested”

“Yeah, but tell me anyway”

“Okay, I will”

Choco turned to look at him now, the corners of her lips curved up in a tiny shtly

“Hiro, you wouldn’t lie, right?” Choco asked

“Ion the situation,” Haruhiro said “But probably not to you, Choco”

“I know you wouldn’t”

Yet he was lying to her at that very moment And she probably knew it Because Choco, I’ve always loved you I’ve loved you and only you for a long, long time Not that he could tell her Not that he would ever be able to tell her…

[1]Note: This was previously translated to “chowderhead” but after soed to “dork” All previous usages will also be updated in the near future We apologize for any confusion