Kotaro Nakayama’s Love Comedy?

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    “Shimotsuki ……!”?

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    It was the first time I had ever felt that way.?

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    Filled with happiness, I was so moved that I unintentionally hugged Shimotsuki.?

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    “Kya. Hey, you can’t do that out of the blue. …… What if I get too nervous and collapse? Nakayama-kun is a person who can’t help it anymore. ….. uhehe”?

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    Although she denies it in words, Shimotsuki seems happy.?

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    She said no, but on the contrary, she was holding on to me, so I couldn’t get away even if I tried.?

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    “” ………… “”?

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    For a while, we embraced each other in silence.?

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    Then, she was the first to break the silence.?

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    “Nakayama-kun? You know, …… I do like you, Nakayama, after all.”?

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    The words came out of nowhere, and what a “confession” it was.?

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    “Shimotsuki, me too…”?

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    Immediately I tried to respond too.?

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    I tried to tell her how I felt.?

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    But she wouldn’t let me.?

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    “Really? Nakayama-kun, is your answer what you really sincerely think? Hey, Nakayama-kun, …… do you understand what it means to like another person?”?

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    — I was at a loss for words at that statement.?

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    In response to Shimotsuki’s question, I …… thought carefully about myself again.?

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    I like her. That is a feeling that is not false.?

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    But I wonder if what Shimotsuki means by “like” and what I think of as “like” are really the same thing.?

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    “Nakayama-kun, you hate yourself, don’t you? You don’t seem very sure of yourself. So you don’t love yourself. How can you love another person in such a state? Do you …… really, really like me?”?

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    …… Oh, yes.?

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    I certainly hate myself.?

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    I don’t love myself like that.?

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    I wonder if the words “I like you” are really worth it when you say them in such a state.?

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    Do my words have any weight??

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    “I like you more than you know, okay? I will never be satisfied with a mere ‘I like you’.”?

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    –I see.?

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    Finally, I realized what Shimotsuki was trying to say.?

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    Her thoughts far exceed my imagination.?

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    So, it sounded like Shimotsuki was asking me to be more mindful of ‘my feelings’ and that’s what she was saying.?

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    “I like you because you like me – that’s not enough, it’s like I’ve been compromised. I want you to know me better. I want you to understand my feelings more. And, you know, I want you to like me more …….”?

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    Not a passive ‘like’.?

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    I am looking for a girl named Shiho Shimotsuki for active ‘liking’.?

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    “So I’ll wait for you. Nakayama-kun, I will watch by your side until you come to like yourself …… and learn to like me even more. So, I don’t need your confession yet.”?

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    Then, Shimotsuki stood up tall.?

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    She put her hand around my neck and lightly touched her lips to my cheek this time.?

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    “I’ve never been so in love with someone before. So, if you can, …… Nakayama-kun, I hope you love me as much as I love you.”?

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    –Oh, I see.?

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    Finally, I get it.?

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    I’ve been a mob character until now, and now I’m the protagonist only for…… Shiho Shimotsuki.?

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    In other words, the story had not yet begun.?

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    The story so far was just a prequel.?

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    From here, the romantic comedy between me and Shiho Shimotsuki would finally begin.?

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    “Yes, I do……. I’ll love you more and more. I promise…….  Shimotsuki.”?

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    If that’s the case.?

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    I’m done calling her a stranger.?

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    “–Shiho. I’m going to take care of you from now on.”?

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    For the first time, I call her name and hug her again.?

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    It’s not that this is radical behavior. If you think about it in a normal way, it’s just a light expression of affection…… but even just this made her so happy that she jumped up and down.?

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    “Ufufu … I’m so glad you finally called me …….. I was so stubborn, you know. I was so determined to have you call me by my name someday that I kept calling you ‘Nakayama-kun’ in a lonely way, you know? But you don’t have to put up with me anymore.”?

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    She smiled happily and hugged me again.?

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    “Kotaro! Please take care of me, okay?”?

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    –Thus ended the story of a mob character named Kotaro Nakayama.?

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    And now the “romantic comedy” begins.?

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    The story of Shiho Shimotsuki alone as the main character has begun.