Chapter 28

Monday, right after the break.

When I headed to the literature club room excitedly after school, Yuzu senpai was already there.

“W-What do you think…?”

Yuzu senpai’s glasses were brand new.

“T-Too cute…”

“Why are you collapsing on the spot!?”

Because she was too cute, I collapsed.

Just imagine it.

After surviving the seemingly endless weekend and heading to the club room to see Yuzu senpai, the moment she noticed me, she looked up from her usual seat with a slightly anxious expression, both hands resting on the frames of her new glasses—the sheer destructive power of that moment.

Close call, close call.

I was a second away from suffering a heart attack from pure cuteness.

“I’m sorry, you were just too cute, so I couldn’t help it…”

“You couldn’t help… collapsing from it…? I, Is it really that much…?”

“Of course!”

“Whoa!?”

Revived.

“Your rimless glasses from before gave you a mystical cuteness, as if looking through a clear lake at those big, dark pupils of yours, but these red-framed glasses not only make your eyes stand out even more, the bright red color changes your impression through an unprecedented level of synergy, making you extra cute!”

“Uwah…”

“It suits you super well!!”

“T-Thanks…”

No, thank you instead.

I’ve discovered yet another new side of Yuzu senpai’s cuteness.

This week is off to an amazing start, too.

“K-Kido-kun… between this one and the old one… which one do you think is better…?”

“Both of them!”

“B-Both… ehehe.”

Because both of them are way too good and I can’t choose.

They both suit her so well I’d want to enjoy them on a daily rotation.

Yeah, anything would look good on Yuzu senpai.

Glasses that change every day, a new Yuzu senpai… this is heaven.

Still, glasses aren’t cheap, so I couldn’t be asking for such luxuries.

…Shouldn’t I just buy her a present instead?

“…K-Kido-kun!”

“Yes?”

“H-Here!”

“…Eh?”

What Yuzu senpai handed me was something rectangular wrapped in gift paper.

Yes, it was literally a present.

“Th-This is…?”

“B-Because you always take care of me… well, a token of my gratitude…”

“No way! If anything, I should be the one…”

“I-It’s just something from my heart… Is it no good?”

I’ll make it a family heirloom.

A present from Yuzu senpai!

Today is an anniversary!

I’m making today the anniversary of receiving my very first present from Yuzu senpai!

“C-Can I open it?”

“Yup… go ahead.”

Ooohh…!

My hands were shaking as I unwrapped it.

I couldn’t possibly tear the paper—I was going to frame this wrapping and hang it on my wall…!

Inside the carefully unwrapped paper was a small rectangular box.

And inside that.

There was an oval case that looked vaguely familiar.

“Th-This is…”

“U, Yup…”

It’s a glasses case.

No matter how you look at it, it’s a glasses case.

And inside it was…

“S-Same…!”

It was the exact same pair of new red-framed glasses that senpai was wearing.

Eh? Eh? Eh?

Matching glasses with senpai!?

“I-I-I-I-Is this really okay!?”

“U, Yup… l-look! W-We’re both members of the literature club, so I thought it’d be nice to have something like this. A sense of unity, or solidarity, or a team spirit—yeah, team spirit! Even the baseball team has matching uniforms!”

“I-I see…!”

“Plus they’re non-prescription, so even Kakeru-kun can wear them!”

“What a relief!”

As expected of Yuzu senpai.

Thinking this much over a single present!

M-M-Matching glasses with senpai!!!!

W-W-W-What do I do, my hands are shaking even more than before.

“…………”

“K-Kido-kun?”

“I’m sorry… this is just way too high-class for me!”

“Over glasses!?”

Because they match!

With the person I like! The same! Glasses!

How am I supposed to stay calm with this happening!!

“How do you, um, put on glasses again…?”

“Starting from there!?”

I’m sorry for being bare-eyed my whole life.

I’m sorry for having 2.0 vision.

I’m sorry for always acting smug during eye exams.

“…You’re hopeless, aren’t you?”

“S-Senpai?”

Yuzu senpai smiled with a slightly exasperated sigh, as if to say good grief.

That was a fleeting glimpse of the cool charm Yuzu senpai occasionally kept hidden inside.

She gently picked up the glasses from my trembling hands.

“Sit down.”

“Y-Yes.”

While I was captivated, she guided me to my usual seat.

“I’ll put them on for you.”

Holding the red-framed glasses in her hands.

“S-Stay still…”

Yuzu senpai’s face drew closer.