Are you the one that loves me? (Yōu x MC)

Chapter 3

"I'm home." Yōu groaned. "I'm so tired..."

"You're late today." Her mom said from the kitchen. "Anything happen?"

"Just swim practice." She answered laying down on the couch. She didn't feel the need to tell her mom she was with a guy.

"Yōu, please change out of uniform. You have to wear that every day so please go and air dry it."

"Okay..." She got up and started for her room. "Where's dad?"

"Not home yet. He should be arriving though." Her mom turned back to the kitchen, "Dinner will be ready soon."

"Okay thanks!"

"By the way Yōu... I saw you walking home with someone. Who was he?"

"Eh? Oh you mean Sumio. He's just a friend of mine." She shrugged.

"A boyfriend?" Her mother had always teased her with boys. Which is partly why Yōu decided to go to an all-girls school.

"Mom..." She groaned.

"I'm just saying." The older Watanabe held her hands up defensively.

"It's not me who likes him. It's Riko-chan."

"A bit of a rivalry I see..." her mom grinned.

"Absolutely not." Yōu shook her head. "You see I have to help Riko get together with him."

She explained the whole situation to her. All her parent could do was nod.

"Well what you're doing is very sweet. And I'm sure Riko-chan appreciates it too."

"Yep, trust me... I would never let a freaking guy come between me and my best friends." She said heading up the stairs.

"Well that's good." A different voice entered the room that scared Yōu.

"Papa!" She said frightened. Her father was a ferry boat operator. From him is where her love for swimming and the ocean comes from.

"I'm home." He said as he entered the kitchen. "It's good that you think that way Yōu, because I'll make sure no guy even lays a finger on you."

"Papa..." She rolled her eyes. "At some point you're going to have to let me go."

"Never. No guy is going to be able to take my daughter away from me."

"Right right..." She said heading upstairs.

As she debated whether or not she should take a shower, Riko called.

"Yo!" The silver-haired girl answered. "What's up?"

"Hey! As I was walking floof this evening I saw him." She said happily.

"Good for you guys." Yōu smiled.

"We held a brief conversation. It was definitely a big highlight."

Yōu playfully sighed, "So every time you see him it becomes that day's highlight?"

"Of course! He's super nice. He's funny and cute. Very chill and did I mention he's nice?"

"Yes. Yes you did. What are your his fangirl or something?"

"Shut up! I'm not that obsessed. I just think he's a good guy you know?"

"You'd be surprised."

"Did something happen between you two?"

"I've attempted to become your wingman and honestly... I don't see what you see."

"Ehhh? Are you looking correctly? Do you have your glasses on?" She said in disbelief.

"Well... actually I don't, but Sumio just seems ordinary."

"Maybe that's why I like him." Yōu could feel her smile. "He's not some rom-com protagonist. And he's really good at basketball."

"Yeah now you're just lying." She grinned.

"Eh? What do you mean?"

"Absolutely destroyed him on the way home today."

"Obviously he was going easy then." Riko countered.

"Right... because you wouldn't believe your best friend."

"Of course I- actually I don't believe that." Riko laughed. "So, do you have any other information about him?"

"Not yet..." She sighed, "You should really talk to him. At some point you're going to have to."

"Yeah, but you know I'm shy." Riko wailed. "I'll probably start to stutter and be all nervous."

"Don't be nervous." She stretched, "Or obvious."

"If I talk to him tomorrow will you be there?" Riko asked.

"Fine..." She laid down on her bed. "But I'm only there to keep the conversation going... got it?"

"Yousoro!" Riko teased.

They talked for a few more minutes before hanging up the phone.

As Yōu gazed outside on her small balcony watching the sun set, her phone buzzed again.

It was Sumio sending a message.

I really hope this isn't the wrong number...

Your guy best friend.

She smiled, this was gonna be one weird year...

She waited a bit before texting a response.

As Sumio sent the text to Yōu, he received a call from Shintaro.

"What up nerd?" He answered

"Yo weeb." Shintaro shot right back. "Did you manage to find anything more about Yōu? I want to talk to her tomorrow but I need something to start a conversation."

"That's what you're calling me for?" He sighed.

"Come on... help a buddy out will you?"

"Fine... you could probably start by saying 'heard you beat Sumio yesterday in basketball.'" He felt his friends eyes widen even through the phone.

"Are you being serious?" Shintaro said in disbelief. "Did you let her beat you or..."

"Nope..."

"So she really..."

"Yep..."

"THEN WHY IS SHE NOT ON THE BASKETBALL TEAM?"

"THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I SAID!" Sumio yelled back, "In her words, and I quote 'I'm an even better swimmer.'"

He could tell that his friend was day dreaming about her more and more. "What a gal. She could hit me with that line any day of the week!"

"I thought you said you don't simp for girls and they simp for you?" Sumio reminded him.

"That was before I met the perfect girl!"

"That you haven't talked to in a minute." He added, "Just talk to her dude. The worst thing in the world is that she'll hate you."

"Yeah... but I don't know what to do."

"Listen to me closely, I talked to her today and I mentioned you and she said that you're a pretty nice guy."

"Mom get the champagne out! We're celebrating!"

"Oi! Shut the hell up! You haven't done anything worthy of a celebration."

Shintaro obviously wasn't listening so Sumio hung up.

Honestly this was such a pain...

Maybe he should find someone he likes...

His phone buzzed.

You should get better at basketball...

Your girl best friend.

He sighed. And probably get better at basketball...

Chapter 3 for you all! Hopefully you all have a good day!

Anyways...

Be safe! Mask up! Don't be stupid!

-Kazuya