The Main Heroine is Full of “Cute”?

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    When the firewood was put in the fireplace, the flames rose.?

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    Shimotsuki was staring at the flickering flames.?

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    “…………”?

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    What on earth is she thinking about??

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    I went to get some more firewood and came back just now, but she didn’t seem to notice me.?

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    She was sitting in a gymnastic position, looking at the fire.?

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    I thought, what a great …… sight.?

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    Cute girls are attractive no matter what they are doing.?

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    Even just looking at the flames, I feel an attraction that makes me want to take a picture of her.?

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    The flickering flames reflected off her silvery-white hair, giving off a faint glow.?

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    Her cheeks, which were redder than usual, were also cute.?

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    This must be the person who was chosen.?

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    Shimotsuki is the kind of girl who can be admired by the protagonist. How could she not be attractive??

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    “……… The horse that was mistakenly burned in the fire made a ‘hihihi’ sound. Fire, only to …… ugh.”?

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    But what she was thinking was a bit silly.?

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    I wish she wouldn’t think such silly things with such a sorrowful face. I suddenly felt ashamed of myself for admiring her.?

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    Okay, I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that.?

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    “… Shimotsuki, I’m back.”?

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    I pretended to have just arrived and put down the firewood I was carrying.?

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    Shimotsuki looked at me as I put the extra firewood on the fire.?

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    “Nakayama-kun, can I suddenly tell you a funny story?　You know ……”The horse that was mistakenly burned in the fire made a ‘hihihi’ sound. Fire, only to …… ugh.” It’s funny, isn’t it? I’m afraid of my comedic talent. ……!”?

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    I guess she was pretty confident about her skills.?

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    She looked pretty smug.?

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    “…………Ummm…”?

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    To be honest, I had trouble responding.?

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    I had heard it before, and if anything, the joke wasn’t even funny, so my cheeks tensed up. I wondered if I should laugh at her, so I ended up with an expression that I couldn’t really understand.?

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    “Oh, what? Isn’t it funny? Or did Nakayama-kun not understand this joke? Well, the sound of a horse is ‘hi-heen,’ right? I combined it with the word “fire”. Also, you want to cry because you were burned by fire by mistake, right? I also added the sound of a ‘squeal’ to it.”?

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    I’m sorry to say that she’s trying her best to explain, but that’s not the point.?

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    Maybe this is it. …… Maybe I should tell her how I honestly feel.?

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    I don’t want to contradict Shimotsuki too much, but I think it’s good for friends to tell others what they can’t do.?

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    That’s why I said it clearly.?

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    “I’m sorry … it was dull.”?

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    “… !!!!”?

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    Then Shimotsuki instantly puffed up her cheeks and stood up vigorously. She looked like a blowfish.?

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    “Silly, silly, silly. You have no sense of humor if you can’t understand my best comedy. If a professional comedian were to listen to it, he or she would probably burst out laughing. You can’t help it, Nakayama-kun……”?

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    She seemed to be unhappy, but it was strange because Shimotsuki seemed to be enjoying herself somehow.?

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    “What a surprise. I’ve always dreamed of fighting with my friends like this. …… I think it’s like number 200 on my list of things I want to do with my friends. And friends can get along better after a fight like this, right? I’m so glad I got to be friends with Nakayama-kun. ? “?

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    It’s not a fight, but more of a joke, but if she called it a fight, then it was a fight.?

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    I let it slide.?

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    “…… Oh, what? Why don’t you say anything? I’m not sure if you’re really depressed because you think I’m mad at you? I’m just kidding, Nakayama-kun. …… Okay, okay, I’m not mad at you, so don’t be scared. Come on.”?

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    …… And yet, the distance between us is as close as ever.?

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    In addition, I suddenly noticed that Shimotsuki has been touching me a lot lately.?

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    I think it’s called skinship……, and she’s still trying to act like a big sister and pat my head, but she’s too short to reach for my head, so I’m forced to pat her back.?

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    There were many things I wanted to say to her.?

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    But her gestures were so cute that I was too embarrassed to say anything back.?

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    “I’m not depressed…….”?

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    That’s all I managed to say. But Shimotsuki smiled mischievously and poked me on the cheek.?

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    “Huh? But your face is red. Is it possible that you’re embarrassed? You’re turning red from being stroked by your sister, aren’t you? Oh my god, Nakayama-kun has a cute side too. …… It makes me want to tease you even more.”?

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    Please don’t do that.?

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    Even I’m not used to being teased by a ridiculously cute girl like Shimotsuki. When a girl like that teases me, I get too embarrassed to do anything about it.?

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    “Oh, please, take it easy on me.”?

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    When I raised my hands in surrender, Shimotsuki smiled softly.?

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    The smile that seems to make everyone who sees it happy makes me admire it again.?

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    “Ehehe ~”?

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    I’ve never seen such a cute girl in my life.?

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    She was like a concentrated version of “cute”.