My Friend's Genius Plan

We left the store after around an hour of picture taking. In the end, Tochaki-san bought both dresses since I couldn't choose which one truly looked better on her. I carried the bags for her and we went back home after that. As I opened the door to the house, we were greeted by Tokita-san.

"Did you guys have fun today?"

"Yes we did."

"That's good to hear… Also Juni, I heard from Tochaki-san that you confessed to her yesterday. Is that true?"

Although Tokita-san was a kind gentleman, it felt like those scenarios where the father of the daughter is interrogating the boyfriend.

"Yes, that's true. I developed feelings for Tochaki-san and she is kind enough to return them."

Tochaki-san looked at me with a smile but also a bit red on her cheek. It seemed like she was happy I said I loved her to her dad. Tokita-san also smiled and showed no signs of being against it.

"I see. Then Juni, please take care of my daughter. She is a kind and caring girl but also clumsy. She can be a little needy sometimes and wants lots of attention, but I'm sure you already know that."

"Dad!"

Tochaki-san seemed like she wasn't very fond of her dad saying embarrassing things about her.

"But she is a cheerful and warmhearted girl. As long as she is happy, I'm not against your relationship."

"Of course Tokita-san, I promise you Tochaki-san will be the happiest girl alive."

Tochaki-san hugged my arm. It seems my words made her happy again.

"I already am the happiest girl alive… I love you dear…"

"Me too."

The two of us went upstairs.

The rest of the day was normal. I spent the rest of the day scrolling through my phone while chatting with Tochaki-san. Time flies fast and it is already night. I went back to my room and got a call from someone.

"Hey Juni!"

"Kanjiro, how are you doing? Are you getting better"

"Why act so formal? I'm doing better of course. You know the dance was filmed and published on YouTube right?"

"Wait it is??!"

I frantically opened up YouTube and searched up our school's name. I clicked on the channel and saw a ten minute video titled, "2023 Daisaku High School School Dance." I clicked on the video and it started with the gymnasium blacking out and the principal giving the speech on the stage. It is then followed by the dance between me and Tochaki-san and ends with us revealing our identities and the unexpected kiss.

"I can't believe it."

"What do you mean? You two are like, a perfect match! I've watched all the previous year's recordings of the dance and none of them are as elegant and beautiful as the one this year!"

"Is that why you called tonight? Just to tell me the dance is published on YouTube?"

"What? No, of course not. You were gonna find out eventually even if I didn't tell you. I guarantee you everyone will still be talking about the dance after we get back to school."

"Then why did you call me?"

I was acting a bit cold.

"Does a best friend need a reason to call each other?"

"I guess not, but knowing you, you wouldn't just call for no reason right? Usually you're excited to tell me about something."

That was true. Knowing Kanjiro, he must have called to ask me something and I already got a good idea of what he wanted to ask.

"You're right… Are you guys together now?"

"Together?"

"Like Kinai-chan. Are you two together now?"

"No? She is in her room."

"Bro, not that. I mean like… are you two dating now?"

I don't know if I should answer honestly or not. On one hand, if I tell the truth, rumors might spread while on the other hand, this situation does in fact involve Kanjiro…

"Yea we are now. After the dance, I looked for her in her classroom and we got together."

"Really?! Congratulations then! I knew letting you take my spot in the dance was the right choice!"

"Yea, I have to thank you though. This chance that you gave me was able to let me realize my own feelings for her. I don't know how to thank you enough."

"Don't worry about it. There wasn't much I could do about the sickness and at first after you told me Kinai-chan was the dancer a week ago, I contemplated giving you the role of the dancer even if I wasn't sick. But I knew you would refuse. After I got sick I knew it was fate that you must be the one that danced with her."

"So did you fake your sickness?"

"What no! Dancing with Kinai-chan was like a dream come true for every boy in the school and I am no exception. But I knew there was someone more fit to be with her and it wasn't me.

What a good friend Kanjiro is. But I am still curious about one thing

"Say Kanjiro, did you receive any message from the principal? Since he was the only one who knew you were originally supposed to dance, I would think he would contact you about why you didn't dance."

"Ah. Don't worry about it. Remember the phone call we had where I told you to dance for me? Well, I kind of lied a little…"

"Lied?"

"Well in the phone call you probably assumed that I didn't contact the school about my sickness."

"I mean, yea. I just assumed you forgot."

"Well about that. I actually did call the principal before the day started."

"What?!"

What does he mean? If he called early in the morning about his sickness then why did it seem like he told me at the last minute to take his place?

"Just listen to me for a minute. Like usual, I woke up really early cause I planned on preparing cupcakes before the day starts but I realized I got a really bad cold. I checked my own temperature and with how bad my sickness was, I knew there was no way I was going to school today. So I thought of a plan."

"A plan?"

"Yea, so the first thing I did was contact the principal. I told him my situation and he was really understanding. He kindly told me to take the day off and rest while he finds another male dancer. I, however, told him I have someone in mind that would fit the role better than I am. I told him about you and although he was a little hesitant about you as the dancer, he trusted me."

"If that's the case then why didn't he personally call me out and tell me before the day started?"

"Because I told him I would call you and tell you about it myself."

"Why?"

"If the principal had told you earlier, you would have refused the role and told them to find a better candidate, such as the three other candidates, to dance. The school also can't force you into the role of the male dancer. So instead of telling you early, I waited until after afternoon when the festival was over and then tell you about my conditions and that I trust you to dance for me. With limited time left and only you knowing this information, you were basically forced to dance in my spot. Otherwise, the ending of the festival would have been ruined."

"So you and the principal decided to tag-team me and force me into a role that I initially thought I didn't deserve."

"I mean if you put it that way, it doesn't sound as nice does it? But did I not do you a big favor? It was a huge success as well and I'm sure Kinai-chan didn't mind dancing with you."

"I guess you're right… but don't hide things from me next time."

"I didn't have a choice. If I didn't hide and tell you from the start, there was no way your old self would have agreed to dance."

That was true. I didn't have any self confidence and thought I didn't deserve someone like Tochaki-san, but after hearing her words, I want to change for the better.

"Well anyways, it's getting pretty late. I'm getting better but still feel dizzy at times. I'll talk to you back in school."

"Alright, goodbye."

We hung up and I went to bed.