Episode 126: Encounter

This is the worst.

Why did I have to run into her in a place like this?

「What’s with that face? Isn’t that a bit much for your cute childhood friend you haven’t seen in forever?」

Her makeup is as thick as ever.

But the style is different from middle school… Is this what they call a shiro-gyaru?

It looks like she still can’t quite pull off the gyaru way of speaking, though.

Her annoying tone hasn’t changed, either.

「Hm? What’s wrong? Ahh, did you get nervous because Yuzuha-chan got even cuter?」

Yuzuha responds with light banter to my silence as I stare at her.

For now, dealing with her is a waste of time. No matter what I say, she’ll just process it in whatever way is most convenient for her.

「Ah… er, is she an acquaintance of yours, Kazunari? A childhood friend?」

Maybe sensing the awkward atmosphere, Hayato stepped in with a somewhat feigned casualness.

「That’s right! What an amazing coincidence that Hayato-kun was Kazunari’s friend. Ah, let me introduce myself properly. I’m Sasagawa Yuzuha, Kazunari’s childhood friend~! Has he been a nuisance? This guy’s really been like that since way back.」

Is she planning to start making up stories again?

It’s disgusting.

What is with that way of talking… It’s even more nauseating because I know her true face.

「Yuzuha, what are you talking about?」

「Hmm, you finally spoke. That whole ‘he’s a handful’ thing was just a social pleasantry. Why are you so flustered?」

This girl… I feel like she’s acting this way just to enjoy my reaction.

「Hey, Hayato-kun, if you’re Kazunari’s friend, doesn’t that make me, his childhood friend, like your friend too? I have a lot of friends, so we can do all sorts of fun things, you know?」

She’s as brazen as ever.

There’s a limit to being pushy.

Ignoring her as she snuggles up to Hayato with a totally fawning expression, I appeal to Hayato with my eyes to turn her down as a last resort.

I hope it gets through… Please, let it get through.

But Hayato, while showing a reaction like he understood something, said:

「Ah, I get it. Sure, in that case, should we swap RAIN?」

And just like that, he accepted Yuzuha’s proposal.

Did it not work?

Did I communicate it the wrong way?

「Yay!! Let’s set up a mixer sometime soon.」

「Hey, Hayato…」

「Kazunari, wait a sec.」

Before I could even cut in, the two of them swapped contact info.

That girl is definitely plotting something, and at this rate, Hayato might end up being used just like I was.

Thinking I had to press Yuzuha for answers, I forced myself to endure my disgust and spoke to her.

「Yuzuha, give me a second. Hayato, this’ll be quick, so wait just a bit.」

「Sure, got it.」

「Hmm, okay, but don’t go confessing to me or anything.」

Like I’d ever do that, even if I died.

We moved a little distance away to face each other alone.

It’s been since middle school…

「What are you after?」

I start the conversation while trying my best to stay calm, despite being pissed off at Yuzuha, who was smirking.

「I just want to be friends with Hayato-kun, you know? You’ll help me out, right?」

She’s stopped acting like a「good girl」and went back to her old way of speaking.

And she probably knows there’s no way I’d ever agree to help.

「Do you really think I’ll help?」

「Probably not. That’s why I’ll apologize for what happened in middle school.」

…Huh?

Did she say she’d apologize?

「I said I’d apologize, so you don’t have to look so shocked.」

Caught off guard, I was at a loss for how to react. What is she talking about?

「I just want to get along with Hayato-kun. I’m not even asking you to help, so if we both just keep quiet, it’s over, right?」

I remembered middle school.

It’s all starting again… Thinking that felt like hell.

「Are you… really going to apologize?」

「Yeah. Since I apologized, don’t get in my way. Besides, Hayato-kun said he’d be friends with me himself, so you don’t have the right to say anything, do you?」

…As I thought, she hasn’t grown up at all.

Her attitude made it clear she’s lived her life being pampered, convinced she’s the heroine.

I can tell she thinks that「Since I apologized, it’s only natural for you to forgive me.」

The fact that she thinks I’d be satisfied with that… Does this girl have no sense of guilt?

And as if she had nothing more to say, Yuzuha started to move away.

She’s a truly selfish person.

What should I do about Hayato…

If she just wants to get along it might be fine, but I should probably stay on guard just in case.

Looking at Hayato, he seems to be talking to Yuzuha’s companions.

Since he’s not smiling, he probably thinks it’s a pain.

Anyway, let’s get out of here.

We can talk after that.

「Hayato, I have plans so I’m heading back. You have plans too, right?」

I spoke to Hayato, making up a lie on the spot.

「? …Ah, right. I’ll be in trouble if I’m late for the meetup. Sasagawa-san, sorry, but we’re headed out.」

He seemed to understand my intent and played along.

Now we can escape this place.

「Eeeeh, what a shame. And we just got close, too. Oh, but we can talk on RAIN, so message me anytime. I’ll message you too!」

Yuzuha started her disgusting way of talking again.

「Well then, we’re off.」

「Bye-bye! Let’s meet again. You too, Kazunari!」

Like hell we will.

I didn’t give her an answer.

Aaaand they’re gone.

But man, I’m lucky.

I got Hayato-kun’s contact info… khufu.

Even though I only hinted at apologizing, Kazunari is such a pushover.

I didn’t actually say the words「I’m sorry」even once (lol).

But this shuts Kazunari up.

Since I went out of my way to「apologize,」it’s only natural.

It’ll be fine. If anything happens, I’ll just give Hayato-kun a proper warning about him.

That Kazunari is dangerous, you know?

Guys are so easy. If I just pretend to cry and say I was a victim, they believe it so easily.

「Hey Yuzuha, is that friend of Hayato-kun’s an acquaintance?」

「You can’t do that, Miho. Since he’s the pipe that connects us to Hayato-kun from now on, you have to call him a friend properly.」

I can’t let a chance like this slip away.

It’s not like I’m actually thinking about being with Hayato-kun in the end.

I have a boyfriend like Kazuma-kun, and having a boyfriend while being a fan of an idol is the same thing.

But you can never have too many handsome guys around, and if I can set up a mixer with Hayato-kun, if things go well, I might even get connected to other models through him. Actually, that’s the real goal.

If that happens, I’ll be the popular girl of the whole school, not just the class.

Everyone will definitely suck up to me to get an invite… The sense of superiority will be amazing!

Now then, how should I move forward?

Right, I’ll try consulting Kazuma-kun.

I’m pretty sure he said he had an acquaintance at Hayato-kun’s school.

Ah!

I can just spread stories about Kazunari first.

If I do that, Hayato-kun will definitely believe me, and he might even listen to my requests as a way of making up for it or whatever!

Ahhh, I can’t wait.