Imaizumi-kun Is Actually Pretty Nice

The final notes of the music slowly faded in the room, the scrolling lyrics froze, and then a colorful scoring animation replaced them.

The programmed applause and cheers played from the speakers, pulling Yanaimi Anna out of the tangled emotions of sadness and relief.

A sense of unprecedented lightness rose from deep within her heart.

Anna slowly turned her head to look at Imaizumi Keita beside her. His side profile looked unusually gentle under the dim lighting.

She opened her mouth, her throat still tight from the emotions that had overwhelmed her moments ago.

“Thank you…”

Her voice was soft and slightly hoarse. “…Imaizumi-kun.”

But Imaizumi did not simply nod or reply with a casual “you’re welcome,” as she had expected.

Instead, he naturally released their interlocked fingers, stepped forward, and opened his arms to gently pull her into an embrace.

His movement was smooth and decisive, as if fulfilling the promise he had just made — “I’m here.”

His arms wrapped around her, not tightly, but with just the right amount of pressure to offer comfort.

Even so, Anna’s body instinctively stiffened the moment they touched.

A primal instinct urged her to break free immediately, to escape from this overly intimate embrace.

She subconsciously lifted her hands and pressed her palm against his chest, about to push him away—

When her mind suddenly recalled Imaizumi’s earlier words.

“If you don’t know what to say or what to do, just stay by my side and look at me.”

“You just need to… trust me.”

And more importantly, she could clearly see in her peripheral vision that Kousuke and Karen had turned toward them and were watching.

Anna’s hand, which had been pressing against his chest, slowly relaxed.

She only made a symbolic, weak struggle before giving up, allowing herself to lean into his solid chest.

As her body softened, a strange feeling washed over her.

The clean scent of Imaizumi’s body wash felt stronger than before — pleasant enough to make her feel safe.

Imaizumi-kun… even though he sometimes talks harshly, and can be a bit forceful… he’s actually pretty nice.

Because even in such an ambiguous atmosphere, the only thing he offered her was a restrained and gentle hug. Nothing more.

For a moment, she had secretly worried that Imaizumi might use the excuse of “practice” to do something inappropriate to her.

Thinking back now… she had completely misunderstood him.

He was just fulfilling his “boyfriend” role in his own way.

Realizing this, a mix of guilt and comfort warmed Anna’s cheeks.

Through the layers of their school uniforms, she felt his steady heartbeat.

This embrace was warm and reassuring.

So this is… what lovers’ physical closeness feels like?

Unlike shoujo manga, there were no floating flower petals or dramatic monologues.
There was only this comforting warmth and the sound of a heartbeat.

So this is how it feels to lean against someone you like — your heart racing and yet completely at ease…

No! Not someone you like!

It’s fake! A fake boyfriend!

Anna’s thoughts twisted in confusion, her cheeks heating up again. She accidentally let out a soft, dazed sound.

“Mm…”

The girl in his arms quieted, letting out a small satisfied hum, like a cat finding a comfortable spot.

“Mm…”

Imaizumi clearly sensed the change in her.

From stiff resistance to soft surrender — a steady stream of high-quality energy mixed with “trust,” “safety,” and “fondness” flowed from her into him.

Especially that unconscious soft hum — it pushed the energy to its peak, giving him a pleasant, almost tipsy sensation.

But Imaizumi immediately sensed something was wrong.

Anna seemed to be slipping into a dazed, almost hypnotized state due to his succubus aura and their overly intimate closeness.

This was not the result Imaizumi wanted…

He chose someone like Anna — a defeated girl — not only because she soothed his restless energy.

But also because a girl like her, scarred from romantic failure, would normally be less affected by his succubus aura.

Realizing this, Imaizumi quickly released her and gently pushed her away.

Anna blinked in confusion, lifting her head with a dazed expression.

Imaizumi looked at her and lightly flicked her forehead with his finger.

“Wake up, Anna.”

“Ow!”

The light sting snapped Anna out of her dazed state.

She covered her forehead and looked up to see Imaizumi smiling at her—
and only then realized she had been completely absorbed in that hug. Her face flushed instantly.

“Alright, what do you want to sing next?”

Imaizumi didn’t give her time to be embarrassed. He took her by the wrist and led her back to the song selection screen.

He quickly browsed through the song list, skipping the overly romantic duets, and finally chose a cheerful pop duet.

“How about this one? The mood’s gotten way too heavy — let’s lighten it a bit.”

He turned the console toward her, tone casual.

“O-okay! Sure!”

Anna nodded frantically, trying to shake away the chaotic thoughts in her mind.

Soon, energetic music filled the room again.

This time, with no heavy memories tied to the song, Anna’s singing was noticeably more relaxed.

Her coordination with Imaizumi improved as well — the two of them occasionally exchanging smiles, looking very much like a couple enjoying their date.

After they finished, Karen and Kousuke applauded with bright smiles.

Perhaps it was the previous hug, or maybe the duet had released her lingering sadness —
either way, Anna found that facing Karen and Kousuke again felt completely different now.

She could now joke naturally with Karen, and even look at Kousuke while he spoke, without her heart aching or racing.

She saw the two sitting close together, Karen casually fixing Kousuke’s messy bangs, and for the first time, felt no sadness at all.

Suddenly, everything made sense to her.

What had tormented her for so long… wasn’t some tragic “defeated childhood friend” fate.

It was just her own fantasy.

Kousuke had never seen her as anything more than a friend.

Their twelve years as childhood friends had been something she romanticized — a filter she placed on both him and herself.

He simply chose the girl who genuinely made his heart move.

No one was right or wrong.
No one won or lost.

They just weren’t the kind of childhood friends who would naturally fall in love, like in stories.

She should have accepted that earlier.

She could live just fine without him.

Or rather, she had always been fine—she had just trapped herself in unrealistic hopes, making her so pitiful.

Anna let out a long breath and turned to look at Imaizumi Keita sitting quietly beside her.

Noticing her gaze, Imaizumi raised his cup slightly and mouthed some words at her.

“How is it? Are you satisfied with my acting?”

Anna’s heart skipped a beat.