Living with the Arrogant Queen from High School is Surprisingly Not Uncomfortable

The car was filled with the sound of the engine.

I remained silent, head bowed.

I glanced at Itchan’s face. He looked so peaceful.

“He was someone I admired,” Itchan said, out of the blue.

“Admired?”

“Yamamoto-kun.”

“You admired… him?”

“Well, that’s a harsh way to put it.”

Itchan laughed.

“Would you really say that about your lover?”

“Well, we’re not dating.”

“Eh?”

This time, Itchan looked surprised.

“Even though you’re living together?”

“Yeah.”

“Are you perhaps being considerate of Akari?”

“Eh?”

When I suddenly looked at him, Itchan was staring at me with a serious look.

“That’s not it.”

“Then why?”

“It’s nothing serious, really.”

I looked away.

“I’m just a little embarrassed and can’t look him in the eye. A confession is out of the question.”

There was no response from Itchan.

When I looked at him, he had a bewildered expression on his face.

“Huh? That’s cute…”

“No, I don’t get it.”

“Meg is actually quite the scaredy-cat, isn’t she?”

“Uh… The only ones who say that are Itchan and Akari.”

“Well, they’ve known you for a long time.”

Whether they’ve known me for a long time or not…

During high school, Itchan and Akari saw the real me. In those high school days, the only ones who approached me were good-for-nothings, so, to be honest, it was a little nice.

“By the way, what did you admire about him?”

I was a little pleased, but my heart was beating so loudly and uncomfortably that I changed the subject.

“I was always second in the class in tests. He was always first. There was a part of me that was competitive. There were times when I tried to outdo him, but I couldn’t. At first, that was the extent of my admiration.”

“At first…?”

“We were in the same class in our first year, weren’t we?”

“That’s right.”

“I was in charge of the class event for the cultural festival when we were first years.”

“Oh, I remember.”

I vaguely remembered how busy Itchan always was during that period.

“Everyone, including me… was very uncooperative at the time. Well, I can’t complain. I wasn’t enthusiastic either. The complaints arose because I was the one responsible.”

“Yeah.”

“At that time, Yamamoto-kun helped me with my work.”

“Eh?”

Yamamoto was busy with the cultural festival committee during our first year. Despite that, he had even helped with the class event in his spare time.

What vitality.

But more than that, I was surprised… He really wanted to make the cultural festival a success.

“I was happy that he helped me with a job that no one else would help with. He listened to my concerns and gave me precise instructions, which helped me a lot. So, I think my feelings were gradually turning into love.”

I remained silent.

“But that’s impossible. Yamamoto-kun is too meticulous.”

“I guess so.”

I’ve seen his obsessiveness up close, and I agree.

“I’m a pretty easy-going person, you know. So, if Yamamoto-kun, who is as meticulous as a mother-in-law, was next to me, I wouldn’t be able to stand it. That’s why I turned my love back into admiration.”

Itchan gave a bitter smile.

So that’s how it was.

Well, it’s true…

Yamamoto is very meticulous, and some people would find that burdensome.

If Itchan found it unbearable, that must be a wise decision.

“By the way, what’s your husband like, Itchan?”

“He’s the president of a venture company, five years older than me.”

“Wow. Where did you meet him?”

“Well, it was through my parents and various other things. I didn’t really intend to get married, but well, things happened.”

Itchan mysteriously rubbed her belly.

“Congratulations.”

“Haha, thank you.”

“Do you have any regrets?”

“None. Not at all.”

“I see.”

Itchan definitely has a casual personality.

But she’s not the kind of person who lies. Rather, she tends to say what’s on her mind as a joke.

If she says so, then… it must be true.

Itchan doesn’t have any regrets about getting married now.

And her relationship with Yamamoto has long since been sublimated.

Come to think of it…

I remember the conversation I had with Yamamoto the other day.

I remember the night when I was consumed by jealousy.

“Hey, Itchan?”

“Hmm?”

“You said that Yamamoto asked you to study together until the second semester of your third year in high school.”

According to what Itchan just said, she had given up her feelings for Yamamoto in their first year.

But Itchan had still… continued to pursue Yamamoto until the second semester of their third year.

Could it be that Itchan is now…

I didn’t think she was that kind of person.

But now, Itchan…

“I’m sorry. I lied.”

“Why? Itchan, you’ve never been one to…”

“I had no choice. You can’t steal your best friend’s lover.”

Through the mirror, Itchan looked at Akari sleeping in the back seat.

I see.

Akari and Yamamoto had been dating for three months after the cultural festival. That exactly coincided with the time when Itchan stopped pursuing Yamamoto.

“Hey, Itchan?”

“Hmm?”

“Why did you invite Yamamoto to your wedding this time?”

I could tell that Itchan held her breath.