Chapter 12

This is the sixth and final chapter of the second volume and the twelfth chapter overall of the More Than a Married Couple, But Not Lovers manga series written by Yūki Kanamaru.

## Summary

On the phone, Mei tells Shiori that she has to share a kiss with Jirō so that he can notice that Shiori has feelings for him. Mei points out that their relationship will never move forward if Shiro waits for Jirō to make his move.

Sometime later, Mei informs Jirō that Shiori collapsed and is in the school infirmary. She pushes him to visit the infirmary. Jirō initially refuses saying that Shiori might prefer a girl to visit her instead of him. Mei chides him for hesitating to visit a friend who is sick. Jirō relents and heads to the infirmary. As Mei watches him, she wonders what Shiori sees in a slacker like him. She then sends Shiori a message telling her that Jirō is headed her way. Shiori braces herself and applies some lip gloss.

Jirō finds her and is overwhelmed by how pretty she is. Jirō hands her a sports drink and notices that Shiori already has one. She tells him that Minami came by earlier and gave her that drink. Jirō criticizes himself for needing Mei to push him to visit Shiori while Minami did so without any prodding.

Jirō brings up the Marriage Practical rankings where Minami and Shiori ranked at 6th place. Shiori points out that Jirō and Akari also placed 8th on the rankings. He says that they barely made it since they had so many deductions. Shiori states that she's jealous at how Jirō and Akari argue and how she wishes she could get into an argument with Jirō, too. She explains that arguing would mean that they are close enough to do so. She adds that they've been close for so long, but she has never seen him get angry at anything. She wonders, if she were to become his assigned wife, would she get to see that side of him? She trails off, embarrassed by what she was saying.

They continue to talk about the marriage practical. Jirō suddenly asks if Minami and Shiori have ever kissed. Flustered, Shiori tells Jirō that she and Minami have never done anything like that. In fact, she thinks that the whole practical is such a hassle for Minami because of her. However, she adds that it would have been worse if somebody she liked actually ended up getting sick of her. This prompts Jirō to ask if there was somebody she did like because if there was such a person, he would be happy to be that guy.

Shiori recounts the time when Jirō was sick, and she had to take care of him. Back then, Jirō told her that if she needed anything, he was willing to do it if only she'd say the word. Shiori wonders if Jirō was willing to help her out now. She asks him to practice kissing with her. She tries to brush it off and say that it's alright if he doesn't want to especially since he has Akari now. Hearing all this, Jirō is still confused as to what Shiori actually wants or feels, but he wonders if she also has feelings for him. However, he can't believe that that would be the case.

Shiori makes her request again and tells Jirō that he is the only one she can ask for this favor. Jirō asks Shiori if she is really fine with doing that with him. He admits that he's probably not good at kissing, but if she's sure, then he is willing to help her out. She tells him that she is sure. They're both nervous so they try to calm themselves down before they proceed.

Jirō grabs Shiori's shoulders. He goes in for a kiss, however, Shiori stops him just before their lips connect. She backs out, saying that it wouldn't be right because they aren't a couple.

Suddenly, Sachi enters the infirmary and calls out for a nurse. She thinks that no one is there so she looks for a bed so she can take a nap. While she's looking, she finds a bed with the curtains drawn. She sees two pairs of shoes and hears the bed creak. She runs away, thinking that she just caught two students having sex.

Meanwhile, Jirō is hunched over Shiori and they're kissing. Jirō immediately sits up and apologizes to her saying that it was an accident. They were both surprised by Sachi's sudden arrival and he lost his balance, and they ended up kissing. Jirō hurriedly leaves, saying that he should head back now. Outside, he bumps into Mei, but he ignores her. Mei goes to inside the infirmary. Shiori informs her that she and Jirō have actually kissed, although it was only by accident.

Elsewhere, Akari is texting Jirō, but has not received any reply. Sachi shares that she was from the infirmary, but she had to leave because there were students having sex inside. A moment later, Akari receives a message from Jirō apologizing for ignoring her. He explains that he was in the infirmary with Shiori because she had gotten sick. Akari is rendered speechless as she thinks Jirō and Shiori were the people Sachi caught doing the deed.

## Characters in Order of Appearance

Shiori Sakurazaka
Mei Hamano
Jirō Yakuin
Minami Tenjinmentioned
Sachi Takamiya
Natsumi Ōhashi
Akari Watanabe
Ryōmentioned
## Chapter Notes

* Mei helps Shiori get some time alone with Jirō by having the latter pretend to be sick.
* Jirō visits Shiori in the infirmary after some pushing by Mei.
* As an excuse to kiss Jirō, Shiori asks him if he could let her practice kissing with him.
* Jirō and Shiori accidentally kiss when they are suprised by Sachi entering the infirmary. Sachi mistakes them for two students having sex.
* Akari assumes that Jirō and Shiori were having sex in the infirmary when Jirō tells her that he was there with Shiori earlier.