Living with the Arrogant Queen from High School is Surprisingly Not Uncomfortable

Several days have passed since the revelation of Itchan’s marriage.

Today, like every other day, I am busy doing chores at Yamamoto’s house.

It’s a weekday today. Friday. Yamamoto is at the university studying. If everything is as usual, he will probably come back right before dinner.

I had already started preparing dinner.

Recently, I’ve been into grilled fish. Today as well, I bought a fillet of Atka mackerel and was cooking two servings on the grill.

“I’m home.”

“Welcome back.”

“Fish again today, huh?”

“Yes.”

With a look of anticipation, Yamamoto washed his hands, gargled, and turned on the TV in the living room.

The audio from the refreshing videos streaming from my smartphone, which I had placed on top of the fridge, overlapped with the sound from the TV he was watching. Surprisingly, it wasn’t too hard to hear.

“Dinner’s ready.”

“Alright.”

Yamamoto brought the fish I had transferred onto a plate to the living room table.

Every time I finished plating the other dishes, he would carry them over as well.

“We might need to get a larger table soon,” Yamamoto muttered.

Indeed, the table in Yamamoto’s room is a compact folding table. Once we place food for two on it, there’s no room for anything else.

Well, neither Yamamoto nor I leave stuff on the table, so it’s not an issue. But it is indeed a bit inconvenient.

However, in this one-room apartment with its limited space, it seems like a hassle to bring in a larger table.

“Should we think about it a little more before deciding?”

“Yeah, we should.”

After that, we quietly finished our dinner.

As usual, while washing the dinner dishes, I remembered.

“Oh yeah, I’m going over to Akari’s house tomorrow.”

“Oh, that’s nice. Have fun.”

Yamamoto said so without taking his eyes off the TV. His voice seemed somewhat cheerful.

…Well, it seems like he has realized that my relationship with Akari was rocky, so he might be happy that we’re hanging out again, but it’s a little annoying.

Because it sounds like he’s happy that I won’t be in this room.

“Eh, why are you making that sulky face?”

“No reason.”

Yamamoto looked at me with a truly puzzled expression.

Well, I realize that I’ve been thinking about annoying things lately, but I just can’t hide my feelings towards Yamamoto.

…Come to think of it, I couldn’t hide my feelings back in high school either.

“So, what are you going there for?”

“…I’ve been given a task for Itchan’s wedding.”

“Oh? What kind?”

“A speech on behalf of the friends.”

“Wow.”

For a moment, Yamamoto’s eyes sparkled.

I remember he’s the type to take an interest in things and is surprisingly active. Maybe he thinks it’s interesting.

I wonder if he’ll say something like, “Let me get in on this too?”

I’ll have to tell him it’s impossible, but I wonder if I can say it in a gentle way that won’t hurt him.

Why do I assume it’s impossible?

It’s not because I think his character is a problem.

And it’s not because I think the atmosphere will become chilly if he gives a speech.

Simply, Itchan and Yamamoto didn’t really interact that much.

Sure, Itchan probably harbored unusual feelings for Yamamoto at one point… but that’s all the more reason, right?

The friend’s representative speech is essentially a speech to celebrate the departure of a friend getting married.

There’s no point in having someone who isn’t close to the groom give a speech at such a place. The meaning is only there because the speaker is a close friend.

“Do your best.”

“Huh?”

Surprisingly, Yamamoto just cheered me on.

…Right, he’s persistent and active, but he can also consider other people’s feelings.

No matter how interesting he thinks something is, if he were to stand in that place and speak, he would consider how it would affect the atmosphere. There’s no way he wouldn’t think about that.

So maybe Yamamoto lied about his own feelings to cheer me on.

What a foolish guy.

Since coming to this room, I… It’s not that I’ve never heard him act selfish. He’s always had his way with cleaning.

But!

I’ve never heard him say anything selfish other than about cleaning, even though I’ve been saying selfish things to him all along.

He’s always like this.

He’s always considerate of me, even though he’s always spouting sophistry.

What a foolish person who always takes the losing side.

“…Tomorrow, we’re going to make a call with Ohta and Ito from Akari’s room.”

“Oh, I see.”

“Yes. We’re all going to discuss what kind of speech I’m going to give on the day.”

“I can’t join that.”

“Yeah. Akari might not care, but the two people who are still in our hometown would be surprised if they heard from you from Akari’s room.”

“I see. That’s why you’re doing it in Kasahara’s room and not here.”

“…Yeah.”

“Do you need me to go out?”

Why is that?

This is your room, after all.

What a stupid guy.

“When the four of us finish talking, I want you to read it too. The speech.”

Once in a while, I should let such a stupid guy do what he wants to do.

That’s why I made that comment.

“…Alright, I understand.”

“Thanks.”

“But I’ll be harsh, okay?”

Right, Yamamoto is an extreme perfectionist.

“…I might have chosen the wrong person to ask for help.”

I smiled wryly.

Although I was now sure that I was about to be in trouble because of Yamamoto… surprisingly, I didn’t mind it.