Strategy Gap

The room was silent when I went there to meet Yuuno-san.

Yuuno-san is not the type of person who talks a lot but I could still tell if she’s inside because I could hear the sound of keyboard typing with a steady rhythm. Also, she always responds if I knock on the door.

This time, no one answered so I let myself in.

Oh, no wonder.

Yuuno-san was sleeping on the desk.

“Excuse me, Yuuno-san.”

I tried calling her but the only response that I got was her small mumbles asking for five minutes more.

Well, just let her be.

I looked around the room but it was still the same scenery that I have been seeing for a while already. Nothing worth of note.

My sight fell upon Yuuno-san, she looked so peaceful.

I stared at her sleeping face and noticed dark circles under her eyes behind her glasses. She looked tired, maybe she stayed up all night doing something.

That aside, it must be uncomfortable sleeping with glasses on.

I reached out my hand in an attempt to take the glasses away.

Before I could touch it, Yuuno-san stirred which made me back away in a flash.

“Oh… it’s Tomoru-kun. Good morning…” Yuuno-san yawned. “Why do you look flustered?”

I could feel my cheeks burning up from embarrassment. What in the world was I thinking trying to touch a sleeping girl?! Pull yourself together, Eichi!

“I’m really sorry, Yuuno-san!” I blurted out and bowed in apology.

“For what exactly?” Yuuno-san tilted her head in confusion.

“I tried to touch you while you’re sleeping… but I swear! I didn’t mean it in a bad way!”

“Okay, okay, stop and calm down already.” Yuuno-san calmly sighed and smiled lightly, her cheeks flushing a little. “I don’t think Tomoru-kun is that kind of guy so it’s alright.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“You’re uninterested in that kind of thing. You’re a side character after all.”

“Y-yes…”

Even though being told like that in front of my face hurts a little, I can’t complain because it’s the truth.

“So? Why do you want to touch me in the first place?”

Yuuno-san fixed her glasses properly on her face. She then patted her head to fix her hair that got messed up from her sleeping position earlier.

“Ah… I just thought that it must be uncomfortable sleeping with those glasses on. I’m really sorry!” I admitted while shutting my eyes tightly.

“I-is that so…”

Yuuno-san looked away and covered her mouth with her hand. She has a complicated expression on her face and doesn’t want to meet my gaze.

That reaction…

Don’t tell me she feels disgusted by me?!

O-of course… even I would feel disgusted if I was in her place.

“A-ahem! Let’s put that aside. How was it on your end, Tomoru-kun?”

Yuuno-san skillfully changed the topic and I couldn’t get any more grateful to her.

I told her about my findings after talking with Shuugo. I also said my observations and suggestions.

She was listening intently to me with a serious look at her face.

After I finished my report, she took the longest sigh I’ve ever heard from her.

“W-what’s wrong, Yuuno-san?” I warily asked her. Is she still perhaps angry at me?

With a palm on her forehead, she laughed dryly.

“Those two are total idiots.”

“Eh?”

“I couldn’t get any sleep last night because I was on a call with Sarina-chan. I had to listen to her love ramblings until sunrise!” She said, slightly raising her voice.

Oh, so that’s what happened. No wonder she’s catching up on sleep in the clubroom. Hang in there, Yuuno-san!

“You know, you had it easier, Tomoru-kun. Arisugawa-kun can answer right away.” Yuuno-san whined at me as if she’s about to cry.

“Ah yeah, his nonsense aside, you can talk to him easily.”

His answer to my question was the most sensible that I got from him and I know that it is unlikely for it to happen again.

“Okay, Tomoru-kun, let’s do this.”

Yuuno-san clapped her hands and brought me back to my senses.

“Yes, what is it?”

“The only thing left for those two is a confession. I already had enough of listening to Sarina-chan’s endless chattering about her love for Arisugawa-kun. Let’s set up a proper setting for this confession to take place.”

“I also thought about the same thing but…”

“Is there something wrong, Tomoru-kun?”

I took a long sigh to myself.

I know that a confession will definitely solve all of this. If Shuugo confesses to Yamazono-san, there is no reason for them not to end up together.

But I have an idea about what could be the problem… no, I know exactly the root of the problem. The feelings of the two are not the issue, nor is their compatibility. If I’m going to be honest, if you put those two together, anyone could tell that they are a good match.

The problem is… Shuugo himself.

“Tomoru-kun?”

“Yuuno-san, we have a problem. The biggest problem so far.”

“What is it?”

I swallowed a lump on my throat and looked away. “It is not my place to speak. But… we can’t plan for a confession yet.”

I can’t speak about it.

I grew up with Shuugo so I know what he can and cannot do. I know that despite how strongly he loves Yamazono-san, he can’t confess to her.

At least not yet with his current self.

Silence filled the room. Yuuno-san did not utter a word but I could feel her stare digging holes at me.

“Okay.”

“Eh?”

“If you’re worried that Arisugawa-kun will be rejected if he confesses, we always have the option to have Sarina-chan do it.”

That’s not what I’m worried about but…

“You mean… Yamazono-san is the one who will confess?”

“Yes, I don’t think she minds though. Also, it’s not that weird if the girl will be the one to confess to the guy that she likes nowadays.”

“I agree with you but don’t you think that seems unfair to Yamazono-san?”

“No. I don’t think so.” Yuuno-san shook her head in disagreement.

“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, Yuuno-san.”

To be honest, I want Shuugo to be the one to confess. I know that once he does, his heart will be more at ease from the pain of the past.

___

I don’t know how much I can give Shuugo the push towards the right direction but if there is a wall in front of him, he will never be able to move forward no matter how much I help him.

This is definitely troublesome.

I told Yuuno-san that I will try to talk to Shuugo properly but I don’t think I can do that without addressing that certain painful memory for him.

I sighed to myself and stared at the sight of the railroad. I was sitting on a bench at a train station where I’m regularly taking the train to go home.

There are a lot of people around but for some reason, it doesn’t bother me at all. The chattering, the footsteps, everything sounds like background noise.

And more than that, no one pays any mind to me.

I am a side character after all.

This is the kind of world that I imagine, it’s quiet and dark…

It’s dark…?

Huh?

Wait! There’s something covering my eyes!

“Take a guess, Eichi!”

Ah, that remarkably cheerful voice.

“Shuugo, I swear. Stop covering my eyes right this instance.”

Shuugo let me go just as I ordered and when I turned to him, this grown-up guy was pouting like a child.

I looked behind him only to find no one there. Is he alone? How unexpected.

“Boo~ You’re no fun, Eichi. I just wanted to cheer you up.”

Looking away from me, Shuugo’s pout became more childish.

He looks like a child throwing a tantrum when he doesn't get any sweets for dessert. He’s always been like this, but I don’t think it’s that bad so I just let him be. Maybe it’s also my fault for spoiling him too much.

“Hey, Eichi, why aren’t you getting on the train? Is something bothering you?” Shuugo asked me with a worried look.

“.... it’s fine.”

“No, it’s not. Let me guess… Did you get dumped?”

I squinted my eyes at him in disbelief. He’s always teasing me about love when he knows very well that I have no interest in such things.

“Yeah, not that. You know that I have no interest in love.”

“Of course I know that, but that’s exactly why it’s fun teasing you~”

“Haah, seriously…”

“Then? What is it? I’m your best friend so I know that you’re bothered when you are making a face like that.”

Of course he knows whenever I’m troubled. Just like how I can tell what’s wrong with him, he can also read me like an open book. We’re childhood friends after all.

“It’s nothing, Shuugo.” I pulled off the best smile that I could. “Let’s go home.”

I stood from the bench and walked ahead of him.

“Eh? Wait, Eichi!” Shuugo called out to me.

I turned to look at him and grinned.

“It’s been a while since we last went home together.”

Shuugo froze in his spot with widened eyes. Then, he smiled brightly at me.

“Of course!”

He ran towards me and put his arm on my shoulder.

“Let’s go to a cake shop before going home! My treat!”

Shuugo looks happy and I don’t have the heart to decline him. Compared to how he was before, I’m glad that he can finally smile like that.

“Sure. Whatever floats your boat.”

Recently, we don’t talk in school that much. Mostly because Shuugo is always surrounded by people.

There are times when he was trying to approach me but being a popular guy sure has its troubles. Before he can even call out to me, someone is bound to drag him away.

I’m just content with sending him off with a small wave during those times.

As long as he’s happy, that’s all I could wish for as his best friend.