第94話 彩華とドライブ - I Was Cheated on by My Girlfriend but My Devilish Junior Now Yearns for Me

Private time between a college student and a high schooler. When comparing the two, college students generally tend to spend more money. For instance, when invited out for dinner in the evening, what used to be a simple meal at a family restaurant as a high schooler turns into a visit to an izakaya as a college student. Spending an entire day out could easily cost ten thousand yen or more. However, the thrill of spending one's own hard-earned money was a pleasure unattainable during high school days. That said, high school certainly had its unique joys that made direct comparison challenging. Yet, there was one aspect in which he was convinced university life was more enjoyable: transportation—in other words, driving a car. The driving license can technically be obtained at eighteen, but with senior year dominated by entrance exams, it simply wasn't feasible. Thus, most students only pursue it after entering college. However, very few students have their own cars. That's where rental cars come into play. With about five thousand yen, you can rent a car for around six hours, and splitting the cost among passengers makes it affordable for student budgets. It was over a year ago when he obtained his driver's license. Every time he returned to his parents' home, he borrowed their car to practice and often went on drives with friends in rental cars, gradually becoming more accustomed to it. And now, he was on a drive with Ayaka. "Hey, can I ask you something?" "Hmm?" Beside him, Ayaka's voice carried a slight hint of hesitation. "This drive, you suggested it, right?" "Yeah. I thought it might be nice to do something like this once in a while." "Yeah, it is nice, but..." As the traffic light turned red, he maintained a safe distance from the car ahead and came to a stop. Ayaka squinted her eyes and looked at him. "Are you not going to drive?" "I thought it would be wise to first gauge your driving skills!" "I expected a better excuse from you." Ayaka let out a voice tinged with exasperation. Since he was the one who proposed this outing, it might not be fair to leave all the driving to her. "I'll take care of driving home!" "You better. Though your driving experience is still rather youthful compared to mine, which is a bit concerning." "Nah, it’s not that different." "Is that so? Well, I rented this car until tomorrow, so we don't have to return it today." "Oh, do you have plans or something?" "I'm not sure yet how things will pan out." As their casual conversation continued, the traffic light turned green. They started moving again, gradually picking up speed. "When did you get your driver's license, Ayaka?" He asked, noticing Ayaka's thoughtful expression as she reminisced. Feeling a bit guilty for making her think while driving, he waited for her response. "It was in the fall of my freshman year. I went on a training camp with friends and got it done all at once." "Ah, camps seem convenient for getting it done quickly." Spending two weeks under the same roof with friends sounded fun. While he enjoyed his time alone, he couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy for such events when it came to license training camps. "Weren't you part of a camp?" "No, I spent half a year at a driving school. Looking back, I should've just done it all at once like you." In a driving school with set terms, one books the courses and practical lessons at their own pace, but he almost failed to graduate due to slacking off in the first half. The whole process cost around twenty thousand yen, and he only managed to scrape through the final month by waiting for cancellations. "If you couldn't plan your schedule, you should have chosen the camp option." "Yeah, back then it was just impossible." "Well, it needs a continuous time commitment." As they approached a crosswalk, Ayaka stopped the car to allow pedestrians to pass. "So, I'm driving aimlessly right now. Do we have a destination?" "We can make one now if we need to!" "I figured as much. How about my place?" "Wait, what?" He cautiously peeked at Ayaka, who seemed unusually curt. As Ayaka restarted the car, she noticed his gaze and glanced at him. "I'm not mad or anything. Just offering to come over." "Oh, that's a relief." Thinking she might be warning him that he'd be heading home alone if he kept joking around, he felt a wave of relief. But upon reflection, Ayaka wasn't one for beating around the bush. She would be direct if she was serious. Feeling at ease, he turned his eyes to the passing scenery outside the car window. Driving offered a view different from walking on the sidewalk, something he found fascinating recently. The first time he drove— "──Wait? Your house?" He couldn't help but do a double take at Ayaka.