Ch.67I Don’t Even Like a Quarter of Someone Like You (4)

“W-wait, that just now… which part of that was an April Fool’s joke?”

“Hmm, I wonder. Think about it carefully. With that model student brain of yours? Which part do you think was a lie?”

“…”

“Ah, you’re not a model student anymore, are you? I shouldn’t call someone a model student when they skip evening self-study to wander the streets at night doing obscene things with a classmate.”

After cooling my heated body against the cold railing, I sat back down next to Do Ha-min on the bench.

“Think about it carefully, Mr. Straight-A Delinquent?”

“Hey, delinquent…”

“Maybe you’ll do something even worse than a delinquent would. At this hour, in a place like this, with no one around.”

“…”

Ha-min didn’t answer, but raised his right hand to cover the side of his flushed face.

Despite his build, his hands were quite large, and when he spread his right hand wide, it covered more than half his face.

Of course, I know Ha-min wouldn’t do anything strange to me here.

I actually think that’s one of the reasons why Ha-min became the protagonist of this world.

It was a provocation I made knowing full well he wouldn’t do anything bad to me.

Even if it was just an empty lie or prank done in the name of an April Fool’s joke,

the fact remains that Ban Do-young’s and Do Ha-min’s lips briefly touched.

Even if there was no substance to it, there was a clear action,

and after that contact that left a distinct sensation and memory,

I wanted to see how Ha-min would behave.

“…Hey. Can I ask you just one thing?”

Ha-min asked me with his face still covered.

“Ooh, are you finally curious about Ban Do-young’s bust size? Or what cup size bra she wears…?”

“Please… Even if you tell me it was all a lie, could you just listen to me right now?”

Ha-min’s voice coming through his covered mouth

was trembling as if afraid, yet slightly heavy with gravity, as if seeking a serious answer.

“…Why are you doing all this for me?”

Though I couldn’t see his expression because his right hand was covering half his face,

I could tell from his trembling voice between his fingers

that he had mixed feelings before asking that question.

“Until now, I could somewhat understand… Like what the class president said, a toy… Even if I didn’t think of it that way, if it was within the category of ‘friendship,’ I could accept the things we’ve done together, even if they were a bit bold.”

“…”

“But… what you just did… is something you can’t casually do even between friends. I-I’ve seen same-sex friends do it as a joke, but…”

“Where did you see that? Episode in [Mari★huana] Volume 9?”

“Well, it does appear there… but no, that’s not the point right now! I asked you to listen properly!”

Perhaps feeling frustrated with himself,

Ha-min removed the hand covering his face and shouted at me.

His face, which had been hidden behind his fingers,

had bloodshot eyes despite having experienced an unprecedented luxury.

The gaps between his fingers that had been covering his eyes

were filled with droplets that could have been sweat or tears.

“You can tell me it’s an April Fool’s joke or a lie… but please, won’t you tell me now? Why you’re doing all this to me… If you don’t think of me as a friend, if you really think of me as a toy like the class president said… if you’re just doing this because it’s fun to mess with me… I don’t mind if it’s the latter… No, honestly, I’d prefer if it were the latter. Then I could give up cleanly…”

Even being a toy, an object of pranks and play, would be fine, he said.

With reddened eyes, Ha-min forced a smile as he spoke to me.

“It’s okay if I’m just a toy. Whether I’m a toy or whatever, the fact that I’ve received help from you is all true… and my gratitude for the kindness from the gym owner and the lady won’t disappear… I just want to know. Why you’re doing all this for me…”

“Ha-min…”

“I’m sorry… I know I shouldn’t ask something so heavy on April Fool’s Day… No, maybe I’m the only one who thinks it’s heavy… But I feel like I need to hear the answer directly, even like this… Otherwise, I… no matter how much I try to hold back and face the reality that you and I are different… I keep having different feelings… Unless I keep telling myself that you don’t like me even one bit… I keep thinking there might be a possibility for me…”

Ha-min hurriedly lowered his head to hide what was flowing from his eyes,

but then raised it again, feeling he needed to face me while speaking.

He tried to wipe his eyes with the hem of his t-shirt, not wanting me to see his tears,

but realizing he was wearing Ban Do-young’s gym clothes, he frantically tried to wipe the gym clothes that had been dampened by his tears, which caught my eye.

“Pfft.”

And laughter burst from my lips at the sight of his awkwardness.

“You’re such a loser… Are you actually crying because you’re curious about that?”

“N-no, I’m not crying… It’s just some flower petals that got in my eyes…”

The fact is, that’s also an April Fool’s lie.

Why not just say it’s the sweat of his heart, like a total cliché?

“A-anyway, the fact that I cried isn’t important…! What I want to ask is—”

“You’re right.”

“Huh? W-what?”

“You’re right that I think of you as a toy, Do Ha-min.”

At my statement that I did think of him as a toy, Ha-min’s pupils contracted.

Even though he told himself that would be better, deep down he must have been hoping for a different answer.

But it’s true that I think of you as a toy.

I couldn’t deny that fact.

“Once in the morning on the way to school, and once during kendo practice, I need to tease you at least twice a day. That’s what makes my day feel fulfilling. It’s like a fun daily quest. The most rewarding time of my day.”

“I-I see. I thought so, but I guess that’s really it…”

“Of course, those times with you are when my day gets the biggest dopamine rush. If possible, I’d like to include my quota on weekends too, like today. It’s just a shame you live so far from my house.”

“Hehe… Y-yeah. Right, that makes sense.”

Ha-min’s face, having finally gotten the answer he wanted, looked somewhat relieved

yet also hollow, as if something was draining away.

“What’s with that expression? Did you think we were in some kind of romantic relationship? When did you ever properly confess? You were the one saying you didn’t like someone like me even one bit. Tell me, why should I like you?”

“…”

“There’s no reason, right? How could you expect a decent answer from me when you can’t even answer that yourself?”

“Yeah, you’re right… That’s how it is. Thanks for telling me the truth, at least now.”

He must have lightly anticipated this kind of answer.

He must have known all along.

Those emotions leaked through his expression.

He knew it all along.

But with just that excuse, to give up everything,

humans are creatures that can’t help but hold onto that one-in-a-million hope.

“So hurry up and create one. A reason why I should like you.”

“…Yeah, huh?”

Ha-min, who had been hesitating for a moment, raised his head and looked at me.

“Oh, don’t you dislike it…? The thought that someone you consider a toy might like you.”

“Do I have to?”

“…Huh?”

“Our Ban Do-young is much more of a natural-born delinquent virgin than you think. Even if the boy who confessed was an ugly, short, nerdy magical girl otaku in the past, if there’s a reason to like him now, she’s confident she can forget all about treating him like a toy in the past and offer her virginity.”

“V-virginity… You shouldn’t say such things carelessly!”

“Why are you being more strict about virginity than me? It’s still mine, you know?”

Right, because I won’t be here by then anyway.

“So if you don’t like being treated as a toy, hurry up and become my equal, Mr. Do Ha-min.”

“Is… is that okay? Don’t people usually think it’s presumptuous? When someone they thought of as a toy tries to become their equal…”

“Why? If you become cool, isn’t that good for me?”

Well, it might be a bit disappointing that his reactions to my teasing won’t be as entertaining as before.

But that’s fine. Do Ha-min becoming more protagonist-like is ultimately good for Ban Do-young.

“Just because I think of you as a toy now doesn’t mean you can’t like me, right?”

“…”

“Ugh, it’s cold. Let’s head back.”

The spring breeze was turning cold as dawn approached.

If we didn’t return soon, my dad might wake up and notice we were gone,

so I got up from the bench and started walking back.

“W-wait…!”

At that moment, a warm sensation enveloped my wrist amidst the cold spring breeze.

It was Ha-min’s hand gripping my wrist.

“Haa… haa… I just need to become your equal, right? You and me…”

“Uh, yeah…”

“Like I said earlier, I don’t plan on continuing to take it one-sidedly at n:0. I’m going to give back everything I received today, from now on. Because that’s how I’ll become your equal now.”

“Um, but is there a reason you need to hold my hand right now…?”

“Haa… There is. Because I just lost another point to you…”

Ha-min’s hands released mine and slipped around my waist.

“…This is my April Fool’s joke too, ‘Ban Do-young,’ just like yours.”

“Ah… you just called my name—”

*Tok*

At the moment I properly heard my name, Ban Do-young, from Ha-min’s lips for the first time,

this time Ha-min’s shadow overlapped with mine.

Along with the familiar scent of rolled eggs.