In My Second Life, I'll Do Everything To Win You Over—My Beloved Childhood Friend Will Never Be Given To Anyone Else - Episode 40

“Hey, Nagisa. Are those two dating?”

In the waiting line for the relay race, I was suddenly spoken to by a kid from another class. We hadn’t talked recently, but we went to the same middle school.

At the place she pointed, there were Momoka and Kusakabe.

Inside the first aid tent, they are sitting next to each other, looking friendly.

“Why do you think that?”

“Eh, but don’t they seem close? I don’t think I ever saw Igarashi-san being that close to a guy back in middle school.”

I couldn’t help but be curious, she said, her eyes sparkling.

“Moreover, it seems that Kusakabe-kun has been turning down confessions. It’s become quite the rumor in our class that it’s because of Igarashi-san.”

What is that?

I don’t know such rumors.

“If it’s Nagisa, since she’s close with Mr. Igarashi, I thought she might know the truth. What do you think?”

I was stared at with expectant eyes. I desperately held back the urge to shout, “Shut up!”

“Because we’re not dating.”

“Eh, is that so? Well, if Nagisa says so, then I guess it must be true, but…”

“It’s boring,” she muttered, sounding disappointed.

Gossip is popular. Love stories are also popular. Combined, the story of Momoka and Kusakabe might be spreading much more than I thought.

I don’t like it. It’s unbelievable.

There’s no way Momoka is dating Kusakabe.

I know best that the two of them are not dating. But I don’t like being seen that way by others.

I can’t forgive the fact that Momoka sees something other than me.

I have been with Momoka since I was little.

The shy Momoka always talked to me with a smile. That’s why everyone would say, “When you think of Igarashi-san, you think of Nagisa.”

And yet.

Right now, does everyone think that Momoka and Kusakabe are getting along well?

No, Momoka. That’s absolutely not okay.

♡

With frightened eyes, Momoka is looking at me. She must be surprised because I suddenly became serious.

“Or do you want people to think that you’re dating Kusakabe?”

“That’s not true at all. We were just having a normal conversation.”

“I know.”

I know that Kusakabe just moved to the tent. I know that, but I don’t like it.

Touka doesn’t like it when I get along with Kusakabe, does she?

You don’t want me to get a boyfriend, do you?

So why does Momoka, who said something like that, get along with boys?

Touka likes me, and when I kiss her, she gets happy and looks at me with eyes that seem to ask for more than just a kiss.

If that’s the case, wouldn’t it be better if you just kept your eyes on me all the time?

“But you know, some people get the wrong idea. The idea that Momoka is dating Kusakabe is just an absurd misunderstanding.”

Touka definitely likes me the most.

Touka doesn’t say anything. Before I know it, the scavenger hunt itself seems to be coming to an end. After the scavenger hunt, there’s tug-of-war, and then it’s lunchtime.

After the lunch break, there’s a cheerleading competition, and it’s the highlight for the cheerleading squad.

If it’s just a little, I might have time.

I need to make sure Momoka understands it properly.

Who do you like the most?

“Shall we go find a place where we can be alone together?”

“Yeah”

I knew that Momoka would nod in agreement.

Because Momoka would never refuse my request. Momoka loves me so much.