(This is not Chifuyu’s POV. This is third person’s POV.)
Chifuyu had expressed her desire to make some kind of request to Kaito if Chifuyu were to win first place in the sports festival relay race.
Lately, Chifuyu has been feeling various senses of crisis. Although she had fallen for Kaito, she sensed that her older sisters, Chiaki and Chinatsu, harbored similar feelings.
How had things turned out this way? Even though she had been the one to initially like him. Chifuyu couldn’t help but think that if she didn’t act, someone would steal him away.
Chifuyu was also concerned about the fact that recently, a girl named Chika had started talking about exchanging contact information with Kaito. Because of this, she felt the need to take a step ahead and grew anxious.
Chifuyu held a sense of inferiority, believing that she wasn’t particularly remarkable. She felt that if someone were to get ahead of her, she wouldn’t be able to recover.
(Chifuyu… going out with Kaito-san and then, c-confessing… but someone like me confessing…）
Insecurity overwhelmed her. Would he really accept her confession? Yet, if she didn’t act, someone else might get ahead of her.
However, she somehow understood that Kaito only saw the girl named ‘Chifuyu’ as a ‘child’.
Caught in a mix of anxiety, she realized that she had no choice but to move forward.
“Kaito-san! I-I’d like to go out with you, just the two of us…”
In response to Chifuyu’s request, Kaito answered with a smile, of course. That alone made her happy. She chose the best outfit from the ones she had been given. She couldn’t apply makeup, but she checked her hairstyle multiple times to ensure there were no messy parts.
She took off her hairband, conveying that she was different from her usual self. Kaito gave a wry smile, and while it wasn’t exactly a pained expression, his face was slightly tense.
And so, at Chifuyu’s request, Kaito decided to take her to a nearby department store. Chiaki threw a tantrum about wanting to go along, but Chiharu and Chinatsu told her to stay, allowing Chifuyu and Kaito to be alone together.
◆◆
(POV Chifuyu)
Chifuyu liked Kaito-san. The reason was probably because he had validated me, which was likely the beginning of it all.
Chifuyu struggled with feelings of inferiority within herself. I thought of those feelings as bad. But Kaito-san said it was okay. He assured me that there was still room for growth. He told me that I was special.
Watching Kaito-san, I realized that he treated everyone as if they were special and with fairness. Even toward my sisters, he was gentle and wore a smile. That smile must bring comfort to others.
Yet, 《《Although he gives that smile to everyone, it’s not directed at anyone in particular》》 I couldn’t help feeling that way.
Chifuyu began to feel a sense of unease around Kaito-san. Eventually, I couldn’t fathom the reason he cared for me. He said I was important, but I didn’t understand why or even what that meant.
However, Chifuyu couldn’t care less about such things now. I ended up being quite self-centered, thinking that as long as Kaito-san liked me and held me dear and if that warm smile was directed at me, it would be enough.
“Kaito-san, is it okay if we hold hands…?”
“Of course, I can’t imagine I’d say no to that, right?”
“Uh, th-thank you…”
Oh no, I was thinking about confessing, but it all flew out of my mind…
Shopping while holding hands in a certain department store… I’m sure to the people around us, we must look like a parent and child, or maybe like an older brother and younger sister with a significant age gap.
“Kaito-san, Chifuyu thinks this outfit would look good on you.”
“If you say so, I might as well buy it… Chifuyu has an excellent sense of style after all!”
“Ehh? R-really?”
I’m in trouble. I’m getting flustered and nervous. Even though we talk every day at home… all that’s on my mind is trying to confess.
“Wanna get some ice cream?”
“I-I’d love to!”
Ice cream, ice cream… I’ll have some ice cream to cool down my thoughts.
Yeah, it’s delicious.
After having some ice cream and engaging in a brief conversation, we decided not to stay out too long and headed back home soon after.
On the way back, I sat in the passenger seat of the car, swaying along. Time passes quickly when you’re lost in the moment. Even though we don’t get much time alone together…
“K-Kaito-san…”
Every time I tried to say something, I ended up not being able to. And before I knew it, the car had already arrived home. I hate myself for not being able to say anything.
In the corner of the room at home, Chifuyu let out a heavy sigh.
“Chifuyu, what’s wrong?”
“Haru-nee…”
Haru-nee came close to me. She probably understands everything—what I was thinking, what I was feeling, and how things turned out in the end.
“Chifuyu… ended up feeling like I couldn’t do anything.”
“That’s not true.”
“I guess no matter what I say, it won’t change anything. I’m just a kid…”
“…It’s alright. The future is boundless. Chifuyu, you’re an amazing child, a capable one. I’m sure that in ten years, you’ll become incredibly cute. Absolutely, without a doubt. So, I think you should face things without giving up.”
“… “
“Because, that’s what your good point is, right? That’s what you learned from Onii-san.”
“Ah…”
“Alright then, go give it a shot. Onee-chan gives her seal of approval. It will surely be fine. And even if it doesn’t work out… at that time, I’ll be there to comfort you.”
“Yes, I will!”
Encouraged by Hary-nee’s words, Chifuyu stood up. I remembered. I left the second-floor room and descended the stairs.
“…Do your best….”
Onee-san’s voice reached me as I left the room. I could hear her cheering me on.
“Thank you, Haru-nee!”
At this moment, all Chifuyu wanted was for Kaito-san to…
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TN: I never said this but my best girl is chifuyu; the reason for that is because she was the first to like him, and also because I kind of pity her. I also think she has the least chance among the sisters, but who knows she could change in the future.
TN: The reason I knew the lower part was chifuyu pov is because chifuyu always calls Kaito, Kaito-san.
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