Protection, Love, and Polka-Dot Stockings

Second Year, First Day

Osana and I have known each other for a whole year now. It's wonderful to be friends with her.. and Yamada-san.

She's been in love with Yamada-san for a long time now, and I'm pretty sure he likes her, too.

Well, as long as she's happy.. but she treats him pretty harshly.

She's yelling at Yamada-senpai for being.. 5 minutes late. I roll my eyes, but I can't help but smile.

"Uhm.. Osana? Don't you think you were a bit.. harsh?" I timidly ask her.

"Agh.. I know. I feel so bad about it.. but.. I didn't do it on purpose! It just.. happened. Every time I think he's about to realize how I feel about him, I get afraid he'll reject me. It makes me feel so scared, and I start saying stuff to make him think I DON'T like him! Why do I have to be this way..? Why can't I just be honest with him..?"

It pains me, knowing that she will never accept my own feelings, but it pains me even more to see her upset like this..

"Hey.. don't beat yourself up over it, Osana. It'll be okay! Everything is going to work out just fine..!"

Ugh, that sounded.. so pathetic.

"..I sure hope so.."

The two of us quietly walked over to our lockers, but I remembered something and broke the silence.

"Hey.. you said you'd bring him a bento, right?"

"Ah, I almost forgot.. come on, let's get it ready!"

The classroom was empty, other than two other people leaving their bookbags. Osana worriedly looks at me.

"R-Raibaru.. Is this a bad idea? Maybe I shouldn't do this.. what if he doesn't like it?"

"Don't worry, I'm sure he'll love it!"

"I sure hope so! I just.. I just wanna make him happy.."

"You will! C'mon, let's go hang out!"

I feel pretty bad, insisting that he'll love it.. without any other support. Maybe I'm not the right person for Osana.. oh well. Not all crushes are meant to be..

"Wanna sit by the plaza tree?"

"Sure! It's pretty close to where Taro-kun stays, anyway."

Yamada-san, Yamada-san..

Hmm.. out of curiosity..

"Hey, Osana! Tell me more about the boy you like. What made you fall for him?"

I sound so jealous right now, don't I..? It's not like I'm actually gonna live up to her standards..

"It's funny, actually.. he's not my type at all. I just.. slowly developed feelings for him overtime.. I didn't even realize it was happening!"

Yamada-senpai, you lucky guy..

"So, what IS your type, then? You mentioned that you like guys with tans, but what else do you like to see in a guy?"

Ugh, now I just sound nosy..

"Well, I think it's kinda hot when a guy has a ponytail! I think peo- boys with glasses are SUPER cute. Oh, and if a guy has piercings.. ahh, I'd just MELT!" Osana swooned. "U-Uh.. don't get me wrong; looks aren't everything! F-For example, I can't get along with someone if they're dumb as a rock; so really, the most important thing is intelligence~! Oh, and he has to like cats. If he's a dog person.. we're completely incompatible!"

I.. see. Weird, isn't Yamada-senpai a dog person? Well, I guess it's not hard to fall in love with your childhood friend..

Oh, Aishi-san is coming over here. Wonder what she wants?