Chapter 78: The Temperature Difference After NTR

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Feeling a bit uneasy, I arrived at Aegi Café. I didn’t feel like reading manga anymore, so I settled for an outdoor seat.

… Come to think of it, I talked to Kurebayashi-san’s mom here right after I enrolled. It’s only been a month, but it feels like six. Time is strange that way.

Back then, she was just apologizing profusely to me, but now Kurebayashi-san has completely changed. Or rather, she’s become more positive.

If meeting Kimuma-san, Kurebayashi-san, and Kojima-san again at this university, as my mom says, means something, maybe I should try to be more positive too.

Haha, that’s not like me.

If I were to become more positive, it’d have to be after the mixer. Whoever made Kurebayashi-san so positive must be me, if I allow myself some arrogance.

But that doesn’t mean I’m obligated to reciprocate Kurebayashi-san’s feelings. If she had realized this before betraying me, we might have been happy, no matter who she was with.

But it’s too late to start over now.

“Yuuta-kun?”

“Huh?”

“It is you! I didn’t expect to see you here on a weekend! What a coincidence!”

Lost in thought, I responded to the voice. Turning around, there was Kurebayashi-san.

It’s not that surprising. It might be a coincidence that we attend the same university, but…

Actually, Kurebayashi-san chose this university after finding out I was going here. It must have been tough to track me down after we went our separate ways, but she did it.

Well, if Misa-san was involved, it probably wasn’t that hard to find out.

“So, why are you here on a weekend, Kurebayashi-san?”

Ignoring her comment about coincidence, I deflected with a question.

“Oh, I was kind of forced into joining a club by someone from my department, but I came to quit because I didn’t really want to participate.”

“Wow, you got invited to a club. It’s good to be pretty, I guess.”

No one ever invites me to anything, but good looks seem to get you preferential treatment. It’s unfair.

“Pretty…?”

“Uh…”

Crap, did I say something weird? Kurebayashi-san’s frozen.

“You think I’m pretty…?”

“Well, it’s just a general opinion. Don’t worry about it.”

Of course, if I hadn’t found her attractive in middle school, I wouldn’t have tried to hit on her. Every guy thinks the person they like is pretty or cute.

But unfortunately, once I think of her as the one who cheated on me, she suddenly seems ugly and dirty, and I can’t stand her. Funny how that works.

Anyway, I can’t go back in time to change things, so there’s no point dwelling on it.

“Yeah, I see. So, why are you here, Yuuta-kun?”

“I’m here for something related to the Spring Festival.”

I didn’t want to complicate things by mentioning KYOKO Kenzaki, so I kept it vague. It’s not a lie.

… Maybe I can’t change the past, but I feel like my resentment towards Kurebayashi-san is slightly easing. It’s easy to say it’s too late now, and normally you’d choose the right path from the start, but Kurebayashi-san realized what’s most important after making a mistake.

Now, I believe she won’t make the same mistakes again, and she can be happy with whoever she’s with.

“Really? What a coincidence! Hey, can I join you?”

But the person she should be happy with doesn’t have to be me.

“Do what you want.”

“Thanks! I’ll just sit here. Hehe, this is a nice surprise.”

Even though I have my doubts, I somehow didn’t refuse her.

“So, who was the guy from your department that invited you to the club?”

“Oh, it was Makata-kun.”

“…”

Wait a second. Does that mean Kimuma-san is in the same.

“But I was kind of forced into it during a hectic time, so I’ve only attended one meeting. I don’t really know who’s in the club. Aki was also pushed into joining.”

“I see.”

Yeah, Kimuma-san is probably relieved that Kurebayashi-san is quitting. And Kojima-san too, I guess. She probably doesn’t have time for club activities right now.

“Hey, Yuuta-kun, what are you drinking?”

It really doesn’t matter.

“Mango milk tea with extra milk, no tapioca.”

“Got it. Mind if I get the same?”

Is she asking because I once told her to consider my preferences?

“You don’t need my permission. Get whatever you want.”

I’m not paying for it, so it’s up to her.

“Okay! Excuse me, can I order?”

Honestly.

Kurebayashi-san is either pushy or reserved; I can’t tell.

And that big smile… I have no idea what’s making her so happy.