Chapter 72: Oh Yeah, These Guys Were Here Too

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“…I’m leaving.”

Without waiting for a response, I left Kurebayashi’s room.

Then, unexpectedly—

“Yuuta?”

“Oh.”

I ran into Kojima-san in the hallway. I had forgotten she lived here too, amidst everything on my mind.

“Wait, Yuuta-kun! We still have so much to discuss.”

“Mii?”

“Aki?”

Kurebayashi, following me, stopped at the sight of Kojima-san. Their gazes crossed briefly.

“Yuuta, were you and Mii having a… break?”

“That word ‘break’ doesn’t quite fit the context here.”

Kojima-san, as usual, seemed oblivious. This is better than her spiraling into despair. It’s time to make my exit.

“Alright, I’m off.”

“Wait, Yuuta-kun! Just a little longer—”

“Sorry, but I’m at my limit. See ya.”

“Then, let’s go together! I need to pick up something from the convenience store!”

“…”

Kurebayashi was desperately trying to keep me around, while Kojima-san looked solemn.

“You’re really going to leave a girl who wants to go with you and just selfishly go off on your own… But if it’s you, Yuuta, I can forgive you.”

Here she goes again with her twisted sense of hearing. Well, it's harmless.

I couldn't outright ignore Kurebayashi, so I accompanied her to the convenience store. But she stuck close, making it hard for me to get away.

If this continues, Kojima-san will definitely find out. Worse, Kurebayashi might even brag about it to her.

Regretting my hasty decision, I kept reminding myself—

“Just endure until the Spring Festival. Everything will end after that.”

On the way home, I repeated this to myself numerous times.

I shouldn’t let myself get swayed. If I feel tempted, I'll just remember the past.

—

Despite just starting university, where I should be focusing more, I found myself unmotivated.

One day, after class, Makata-kun approached me.

“Uemura-kun, is it true you went to the same middle school as Kimura Airi-san?”

A rather blunt question.

“Yeah, I did. Who told you?”

“I overheard it when you were talking with Kimura-san the other day.”

So he had eavesdropped. I hadn't noticed him nearby at all.

“Why do you ask?”

“I wanted to confirm something.”

Makata-kun leaned in to whisper, making it clear that this was something he couldn’t say out loud.

“Is it true Kimura-san would sleep with anyone who asked her back in middle school?”

I was caught off guard, so I instinctively stepped back and glared at him.

“Why would you ask something like that?”

“Well, there were rumors circulating.”

“Who started these rumors?”

“I’m not sure. We’re in the same club, and I heard it there.”

Makata-kun probably didn’t know where the rumor originated. Still, it felt like there was some malice behind his questioning. Given the situation, my response was obvious.

“I wasn't close to Kimura-san in middle school, so I wouldn't know.”

“Really? But you seemed pretty friendly the other day.”

“We were in the same elementary school. But she moved away after that, so I don't know what she's been up to until we meet again here.”

A safe answer.

“I see. It’s just… she has such a baby face, but she's got these huge tits. Guys in the club were saying she might have a kid or something and is still breastfeeding.”

“I can’t believe how stupid some college students are. Even Hoshino Luri would be shocked.”

While it was true that Kimura-san was in the spotlight, I had no direct experience to confirm or deny the rumors. I couldn't say anything reckless.

“Maybe rumors aren’t reliable. Sorry for asking. See you.”

“Yeah, later.”

Makata-kun left, looking disappointed.

Just as I was about to put it behind me, I received a message from Ange.

Wondering why she was messaging me in the middle of the day, I opened it.

“Are you the kind of guy who gets excited about thong panty?”

The message made me want to give her a playful smack. She was still fixated on that. I understood her curiosity at her age, but

“No. My favorite is pumpkin panty.”

I had to steer Ange away from the wrong path. Spring is indeed in the air.