第93話 突然の誘い - I Was Cheated on by My Girlfriend but My Devilish Junior Now Yearns for Me

The morning after meeting Reina, I woke feeling somewhat lethargic. Assuming it was due to the weather, I casually opened the curtains to find rain, as expected, pattering against the window. A murky, ominous sky glared back, its rumbling noises shaking the house. "...It's not typhoon season yet, right?" I muttered unintentionally, the chaos outside being that loud. I had checked the weather forecast on my phone app last night, but there had been no mention of a typhoon. The probability of rainfall was just 60% throughout the morning, with a sunny mark predicted for the afternoon. It's hard to believe that this sky is going to clear up in a few hours. I needed to leave for my lecture in about an hour, but with such weather, it felt justified to dread going out. The university’s homepage hadn't posted a cancellation yet, but it's probably only a matter of time... at least that's what I'm going to believe. If we were working adults, we'd be dragged to the office regardless, but as university students, there’s often a chance to dodge commitments if a warning is issued. The fact that universities, which have the oldest student demographic, offer the most leniency in this regard is strange, but let’s agree that it's because discretion is given to each student. In other words, I'm going back to sleep in anticipation of the classes being canceled. I'm awfully good at convincing myself with sweet lies, I thought to myself disheartenedly, as I slipped back into bed. The moment I did, my phone vibrated. I heard a faint buzzing sound through the comforter. The regular interval of noise indicated that it was an incoming call, not a message. ──Who is it? In my groggy state, I slowly processed the thought. However, considering that not answering might cause more trouble, I reluctantly fiddled with the phone. "Don't fall asleep!" ...The caller was Ayaka, apparently. If she deduced my actions from the weather, it would be somewhat terrifying, but I hoped that wasn't the case. I considered replying, but decided to feign sleep instead. "Apparently all lectures are canceled today." "For real!?" "Kidding. You're awake now, aren't you?" I leapt up, mouth agape for a moment, glaring at my phone. "If you were pure of heart, you'd be thrilled to attend lectures." "I'm pure, which is why I follow my desires!" "Yeah, yeah, very commendable of you." "You little...!" With that, I buried my face back into the pillow. There was now no one who could halt my retreat back into sleep. Except, my stomach grumbled against my wishes. "......For now, how about you eat breakfast?" "...Guess so." I replied begrudgingly, slowly rising from the bed. Feeling a slight chill on my bare feet as I climbed out of bed with my phone, I realized it was a bit chilly today. "Isn't it cold today?" "It is. I might even consider turning on the heater." "Right. I'll turn it on." After switching on the unseasonable heater, I opened the fridge. When Shinohara doesn't visit for over five days, my fridge's contents turn decidedly unhealthy. Every time, she would scold me, "Why did the contents turn into nothing but eclairs in these few days!?" so this time, I had about eight convenience store-bought rice balls rolling around. That should spare me the complaints. "Hey, it seems like a storm warning was issued, and all lectures are truly canceled today." I brushed off Ayaka's comment lightly. "Nah, I’m going to eat my chocolate chip melon bread now." Saying that, I pulled a chocolate chip melon bread from the kitchen shelf. I'd save the rice balls for dinner. "That sounds delicious, though. Still, are you sure? It's a chance to go back to sleep." Repeating herself, Ayaka tried to catch me off guard, but I saw through it and responded with chewing sounds. The sweet aroma spread in my mouth, making it feel like the start of a new day. Out of all the savory bread choices, chocolate chip melon bread was an absolute favorite I enjoyed two to three times a week. "It'd be perfect with some café au lait." "Just buy it at the nearby convenience store. It's only about a two-minute walk, right?" "Yeah, but once I go outside, I'll wake up, and I can't go back to sleep." "Don't give me such lame excuses. So, what will you do today?" "What do you mean?" "Since the lectures are canceled, you'll have a free day, right? Are you doing anything at home?" After some thought, I finally came to a realization. "...Were the lectures really canceled?" "I’ve been saying that from the start." Her words prompted me to quickly check the university's homepage on my phone. Indeed, the notice of canceled lectures was plastered all over the bulletin board. "It's like the boy who cried wolf..." Unintentionally, I voiced my thought, only to receive a quick retort, "I'm a girl!" I didn't mean it that way, but it's easier to clarify now. "Thinking today’s a day off, it feels like a waste just going back to sleep. Maybe I'll play some games." Thanks to the breakfast I had during my call with Ayaka, my day had already begun. With no work shifts scheduled today, it was a chance to indulge in some quality time alone. I turned on the game console connected to the TV. The startup sound, even after all this time since I bought it, still managed to lift my spirits. "You’re really contrary, aren’t you?" I smiled at Ayaka's mildly exasperated voice. "Even if you praise me, I won't give you anything." "I'm not praising you at all." Her quick retort made me burst into laughter. Laughter is said to reduce stress and promote health benefits, and perhaps Ayaka is such a person to me. Just talking without any pretenses soothes my heart. Although it's something I find too embarrassing to directly say to her, I trust she feels the same. Even if it appears as an odd relationship to others. Until now, we considered our connection unique, never perceiving it as odd. Nor did we realize it caused anyone distress. ──What you see and feel is everything. The reason I grew close to Ayaka was because, with that mindset from the beginning, I formed a bond without worrying about appearances. Of course, since entering university, I’ve refrained from posting about our outings on social media and tried to maintain some bounds personally. However, I doubt anyone would understand this relationship if explained. Unless they could re-experience that youthful, vibrant period. If that's the case, then this relationship── "Hey." "Hm?" Ayaka's call interrupted my thoughts. "The sun's coming out." "No way." Shifting my gaze from the game console to the window, sunlight was indeed peeking through. Yet, the rain still drizzled. "A sunshower, huh?" "Oh. So someone's getting married today." "You're being way too flippant." Despite her words, Ayaka's voice was gentle. The fact that she tolerates such offhand replies during our regular calls means we have a mutual understanding. I’d respond the same if our roles were reversed, and that's why it works. "Hey, do you want to meet up today?" "What?" I paused my hand, which was about to move the game controller. Sensing the mild dissatisfaction in her voice, Ayaka continued. "Well, maybe not today. You probably want to keep playing your game." Seeing her quickly retract the invitation, I intervened. "No, I'll come. I was just surprised, that's all." "Surprised? By what?" "I mean, it's your first time asking to meet up without a specific reason. Usually, you have plans and just ask me to come along." Whether it’s a group gathering, wanting to try out a new café, attending a buffet at a hotel, or even just meeting up after lectures, there's always a distinct reason. Being invited out on a whim is quite rare. Realizing this, Ayaka seemed to lose her usual composure a bit. "N-no, well... yes, it is a bit unusual, I guess." "You were flustered just now." "No, there's definitely a reason!" "Sure, sure." "I'm hanging up, goodbye." "Wait, hold on—I'm sorry!" Panicking, I quickly tried to stop her. I didn't particularly want to be on the phone constantly, but the thought of silence suddenly engulfing the room did feel somewhat lonely. Adding to that, I was planning to grind levels in my RPG while keeping the call running. "If it's a drive, I'm interested." "Great, can we say that's settled then?" "Hold up." "What?" Although I proposed it, there were practical concerns before agreeing. "I don't have a car, and it's raining." "I'll borrow a car. The rain will stop." "You replied just for the rhyme, didn’t you? That's definitely it." Ayaka’s laughter came through the phone, hinting that I was right. "It doesn’t matter if it stops later. I wouldn't mind going even in a light rain. Renting a car is cheaper with two of us." "Oh, so you really enjoy driving?" "Yeah, maybe I do. But not enough to rent a car alone—it’s too costly for one person." "Right? It’s kind of expensive." Even a one-day rental can significantly dent a student's budget. Since the cost is per car, the more people, the more economical it becomes. It's the standard choice for group outings or traveling. "Besides, I’ve never been in a car with you." "Ah, true. Since getting my license, I've only driven my family around." Despite the convenience of traveling by car—quick and flexible for local travel—it comes with downsides for a student, such as not being able to drink if you're out and parking fees. Trains tend to be more practical. That’s likely why Ayaka and I have never gone on a drive together, and without an opportunity like this, we probably never would. With that thought, I decided to agree—under certain conditions. "Okay, let’s meet up once the rain stops." No matter how enticing the drive sounded, for me, it was only appealing on clear days. Driving in rain, dealing with wipers and poor visibility, was unappealing. "Open the window." "Huh?" "Just do it." Following her direction, I got up and reached for the window. Upon opening it, the rain had stopped. "...Did you use magic?" "It's going to clear up now!" "It's already clear." Her words sounded almost like a shrine priestess's proclamation, and I responded with a chuckle.