Chapter 23: Admiration, Goals, and Ideals [side Yukari Tomonaga]
Helping out Airi-senpai always makes think.
She's so cute, so efficient, and—her chest is just so bouncy!
Everyone likes her, she's got manager duties down perfectly, she's calm and mature.
The only thing I have going for is my bouncy chest.
...And that's just because I'm fat...
The guy I confessed to once, back in middle school, helped out in front of everyone when I was being teased for being overweight, and I've liked him ever since.
He was a really cool boy who was super popular with girls, and when I managed to get into the sa desired school, Hokusho, I was so, so happy.
I really wanted to confess after losing weight, but... I happened to run into him at school during sumr break, and when we talked for the first ti in forever, I got flustered and blurted out my feelings.
He turned down flat, no ti to even think about it—said I wasn't his type, and... apparently, he told soone about it, so now soone like Kousuke-kun's ex-girlfriend is spreading funny rumors about .
I want to change myself.
This whole self-improvent plan started when I forced Kousuke-kun, who happened to walk by, to listen to vent that day.
I'd give up right away if I was doing this alone. That's why I needed this system, where everyone keeps an eye on and cheers on.
For that reason, to Kousuke-kun—
He helped when I was at my lowest, and he's sticking with through my diet, so I'm grateful to Kousuke-kun... No, I'm not qualified to say more than that yet.
My ideal self.
Slim, beautiful, but keeping the bounciness.
Gaining confidence, learning to love myself, and then maybe everyone else will love too.
Maybe then, I could show him and Mishima-san? And maybe get a little closer to Kousuke-kun...? That's the kind of fantasy I had.
And now, right in front of , is a woman who seems to embody that ideal.
Airi-senpai, a second-year.
She's got a boyfriend, but she's also famous at school for being one of the top beauties.
But she's also super caring and like a big sister who everyone in the club looks up to.
She's really an amazing woman—I want to be like her...!
Kousuke-kun has been doing the heavy lifting since earlier!
I was helping too, but right now I'm on break.
Airi: "...Tomonaga-san. You and Kousuke-kun are pretty close, right?"
The sudden question—
"Ah, yes."
What a la answer!
Airi-senpai looked a little down,
Airi: "...When it's , Kousuke-kun seems all tense. But with you, Tomonaga-san, he's totally relaxed... right?"
Airi-senpai's face looked complicated.
She can even look wistful like this! Beautiful people are amazing.
"Huh? No, um... Kousuke-kun just doesn't really see that way... I think..."
I ended up saying it with a gloomy look myself.
We talk a lot when we run or go walking together, so I can tell.
I'm probably not even seen as a girl because I'm fat.
All I can do is be grateful to Kousuke-kun for going through the trouble to keep company and encourage .
Airi: "That's not true. When Kousuke-kun ca to ask about you, he was desperate—you should have seen his face, it was a first for ."
I couldn't help but speak up!
"Eh?! Really? ...That would be nice... But when we dieted together, he talked about you a lot, Airi-senpai!"
It's true—he asks Airi-senpai about everything to do with basketball.
I'm honestly a little jealous.
Airi: "Eeh? Really? If that's true, I might be happy!"
Airi-senpai twists her body and giggles—she's just so cute.
Hehe! Kousuke-kun actually has a lot of different expressions, doesn't he?
Ah! I know what you an!
Even back then...
He's quiet, but once you get him talking...
Right? He's actually pretty passionate!
He has really long eyelashes!
His face is kind of girly too!
Before I knew it, the two of us were giggling and getting excited talking about Kousuke-kun.
By the ti Kousuke-kun ca back, we'd gotten even closer.
(But, if Airi-senpai were a rival, that would be really...
I'm so glad she has a boyfriend! There's no way I could win against her!)
Just as I was thinking that and feeling relieved, she dropped a bombshell.
Airi: "Oh, Tomonaga-san, I actually broke up with my boyfriend. But keep it a secret until after sumr break, okay?"
The way she winked cutely was so charming, even I, as another girl, was captivated.
Tendou Airi, the famous beauty at school... she really is amazing.
She'll steal him! That's what I thought.
Steal him? Not that he's mine...
...Do I like Kousuke-kun?
Even though I just got rejected not too long ago...
Maybe my brain just isn't working from dieting, or maybe I'm just soone who falls in love easily, but right now I want Kousuke-kun's heart more than the guy who turned down.
I finally saw my own feelings.
The other guy was my admiration.
Kousuke-kun is my goal.
It's a similar feeling, but a different direction—I'm going to turn these feelings into strength.
For the first ti, I really want to accomplish sothing!
This is the first ti I've felt like, if I just get prettier—if I change—I can reach it!
After this day, I even started doing extra training without being told.
Because I realized it was a step toward my ideal, toward reaching my admiration and my goal.
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