Chapter 7 | Salty To Other Men

Nothing unusual happened except that I was called by the student council president, and we went straight to after school.

Yes, this is a normal student life, but that’s fine.

Recently I’ve been reminded that a changing life can be exhausting.

“I’ll see you tomorrow…”

Finally, Airi said goodbye to me.

There is no way that we will ever go home together again.

…

…

Wait a minute, you’re saying you’ll pick me up tomorrow?

Does that mean you’re going to come back tomorrow?

You haven’t learned your lesson after all the trouble you got into today? You’re frightening me to no end, Airi.

I know it’s useless to say it like it was this morning, but still, if I don’t do something about it in the near future, I’m going to have to deal with another act like this morning from now on.

I can’t go on like this or I’ll cause trouble for those around me as I did this morning.

I think I’ll get my courage up and talk to my sister about it Oh, I need to reply back to her. Airi is looking at me anxiously.

“Oh, oh. See you later.”

“…Yeah.”

Airi went to Ishida.

I was also a little scared that I no longer thought anything of it when I saw it.

And then, as if replacing Airi, the lunkhead Usui came toward me. Oh, you wonderful contemplative!

“Hey! Yuji! There’s a mahjong tournament going on in the gym, let’s go join it! I heard that my buddy Takashi scored three consecutive wins in yesterday’s qualifying round!”

“Your friend Takashi? You had friends besides me?”

“Eh? On the contrary, you thought of me as a friend? I’m super happy… poof!

“Ugh!”

“Well, let’s go anyway! Because even non-finalists get to play Mahjong!”

“Umm, I guess that’s a good idea”

I don’t have time to go home, so I’ll go out with Usui here. I owe him a favor for buying me a special lunch yesterday.

“I’ll go out with you once in a while…”

“Sakamoto-senpai~! I’m here to pick you up! Let’s go home together!”

“Youka, you…”

“Huh?”

Usui is stunned by the sudden intrusion of a beautiful girl.

The few remaining classmates who were getting ready to leave also turned their attention to Youka, who entered the classroom screaming.

I’m still glad she didn’t come hugging me like she usually does. I guess she reads the air right.

However, there is silence in the place.

Youka also seemed to feel insane for storming into her senior’s classroom, and her eyes were swimming awkwardly.

If you’re going to be embarrassed, you should think a little further ahead and act accordingly. No, don’t do it in the first place.

A few seconds later, Usui finally speaks up with his mouth agape.

“…Sakamoto-senpai yo~, who’s that girl?”

“Who’s the senior? And you’re talking like a stickler.”

“Shut up!”

“……………”

“Shut up!”

“What the hell was that all about?”

Come to think of it, Youka only interacts with me when I’m alone, so I don’t remember if she and Usui are acquainted with each other.

I’ll keep her relationship [role] a secret and introduce her as a junior colleague with whom I’m good friends. It’s not like I’m hiding it from him.

“I didn’t introduce you to Usui, but she’s a junior who’s good friends with me. She may look young, but she’s a first-year student who joined us this year, so I’m not a criminal.”

“I know you’re tiny, and you’re wearing a uniform! But your breasts are huge!”

“…That’s terrible.”

“Usui, you are such a jerk for saying that! I wouldn’t say that even if I could!”

“…Eh?”

“I’ve been saying the same thing,” thought Youka, but she didn’t dare to say anything to save face with Yuuji.

“Apologize to my junior first!”

“Uh, sorry, and what’s your name again?”

“Nakagawa.”

“Thank you! What’s your name again?”

“Nakagawa.”

“Yeah, and your name…”

“Nakagawa.”

“…Oh, I see, that means you don’t want to tell me. I understand. I’m super shocked. Ha-ha-ha-ha.”

“…Muu.”

Youka was annoyed when I imitated her tone of voice, but she didn’t say anything back and silently grabbed my hand.

Then, holding my hand, she tried to take me out of the classroom.

Her palm was lightly wet with sweat. She must be very nervous.

I was disappointed to see her exchange with Airi, but I thought Youka was shy.

Maybe she didn’t tell Usui her name because she is afraid of him knowing her name since he looks like a Yankee.

I’m inclined to ask my best friend Usui to be more sociable, but I guess I can’t force him if I’m not good at it.

However, it is very bad to be taken away here.

I have a prior engagement with Usui today.

“No, wait, Youka! I’m going to a mahjong tournament with Usui! I’m going to play a cool game of mahjong with Usui, so can you please let me go?

“What? We promised to go back together, didn’t we?”

“What? Oh, that thing on the way to school! No, wasn’t that a lie you told to keep Airi in check?”

“Mu~u ~!!”

She’s super angry. No, but I don’t want to bother you too much. I know Youka has friends too. If she had to go to school with me, she wouldn’t be able to go out with her friends.

“I’ll wait until the tournament is over.”

“But hey~… maybe I’ll finish late?”

“I don’t care! I want to go home with Sakamoto-senpai.”

“I see.”

I’m a little flattered to be missed so much by a junior.

The first thing that comes to mind is that I am a kind senior and I have an 80-point face, so it’s not surprising that I am missed by the opposite sex.

I’m not sure what to do about it, but even so, it’s bad to keep her waiting until late.

“Leave.”

“Usui, why all of a sudden?”

“Just leave! I don’t even want to look at you!”

His eyes are completely gone. He’s too scary, isn’t he?

“He’s so mad, let’s get out of here, Youka.”

“I agree!”

I agreed, and Youka replied happily.

I was going to get mad at her for rushing into the second-grade classroom, but she’s in a good mood now, so I’ll quit.

“…wait, Yuuji.”

“What’s wrong now, Usui?”

“See you tomorrow! Yeah!”

“…Oh! See you! Yeah!”

Is this guy on drugs?

And I’m really weird to be able to go along with that.

“Ehh…?”

I’m sad that Youka doesn’t get me.

There are all kinds of relationships in this world. Don’t look at me like that…!

“Yuuji!”

“You’re persistent.”

“Oh, sorry.”

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