In My Second Life, I'll Do Everything To Win You Over—My Beloved Childhood Friend Will Never Be Given To Anyone Else - Episode 66

“Is it because you like someone else?”

Was it the expected response? Kusakabe’s voice was calm. The eyes that looked at me were also quietly serene.

“Yeah”

“Is that about Fujimiya-san?”

“Yeah”

Kusakabe let out a deep sigh and muttered, “I see,” in a short, quiet voice.

And after a brief silence, he speaks again.

“Is that really romantic feelings?”

“What do you mean?”

“I was watching the two of them and thought, ‘Isn’t it more like dependency than love?'”

Kusakabe took a deep breath and looked at me with eyes that seemed to have made up their mind.

“Their relationship looks strange from the outside.”

In a soft voice, nonetheless, Kusakabe asserted firmly.

Surely, Nagisa must have conveyed the same thing as well.

“Because even now, Momoka-chan isn’t dating Fujimiya-san, right?”

“Well, that’s true, but…”

“But those two are acting like lovers. And in public, no less.”

What Kusakabe is saying must surely be about the incident at sea. As expected, even Kusakabe saw it.

At that time, Momoka was definitely… probably intending to show off to Kusakabe.

Indeed, what Kusakabe says might be true; it could be something strange.

Unhealthy, and perhaps, different from a normal love.

“They are childhood friends and have been together since they were little. So, maybe they are just dependent on each other.”

Kusakabe’s hand slowly reached out. When I quickly dodged it, Kusakabe’s face turned sad.

“Momoka-chan, dependency isn’t love.”

Why?

Why do I have to be looked at like that?

A gaze that seems to pity or worry. It makes me angry, as if they are saying I’m pathetic.

“If we keep our distance… no, if we both stop being dependent on each other, I think we can become just normal good friends.”

“What does ‘normal’ mean?”

A voice filled with much more anger than I expected came out, and I was surprised even myself. Above all, Kusakabe’s face, as if he had predicted my reaction, was infuriating.

“Yuki-kun”

To keep Nagisa away, it was wrong of me to do something that would make her feel free.

But, I have no obligation to be told such things.

“This is love. No matter what anyone says, it’s love.”

I have always been in love with Nagisa.

I love Nagisa so much that I can’t help it. I love Nagisa so deeply that I would be driven to despair and end my life if Nagisa married someone else.

“You don’t even know how much I like Nagisa, so don’t say things like that.”

“Momoka-chan…”

“I like Nagisa. Always. Since a long time ago. I only like Nagisa. I don’t need anyone else but Nagisa.”

I don’t mind if people think I’m weird.

I don’t expect anyone other than Nagisa to understand my feelings of love.

“Even if you say that, it still just looks like dependency to me. I can’t believe that being in a relationship with him is the best thing for Momoka-chan.”

Kusakabe thinks this man doesn’t understand anything at all.

I can’t even imagine what will happen to me if I can’t date Nagisa.

“Please, Momoka-chan. It’s okay if you like Fujimiya-san, but could you give me a chance? I want to date normally, to be a normal couple… I want to spend that kind of time with you, Momoka-chan.”

Kusakabe is looking at me with desperate eyes.

Surely, Kusakabe is serious in his own way. He likes me and is trying to save me from our twisted codependent relationship.

I don’t even think for a moment that I want to be saved.

“Yuki-kun. I know you care about me, but…”

If you say my love is strange, then surely, Kusakabe’s love is too.

You’re trying to make me out to be a pitiful child on your own and then become a hero by saving me.

Love, in one way or another, might be something that drives people a little crazy.

“Whether it’s strange or dependent, there’s only Nagisa for me. No, I want Nagisa.”

Sorry for being so suggestive.

But it was Kusakabe who took Nagisa from me first.

“Sorry, Yuki-kun. I have to go now. I have plans with Nagisa.”

At my words, Kusakabe’s eyes widened in surprise. He probably didn’t expect that I had an appointment to meet Nagisa now.

“…All of today’s fashion is for Nagisa.”

I conveyed just that and started walking without looking at Kusakabe’s face.

Momoka-chan! I was called by name, but I didn’t turn around.