Actually, the Hungry Gyaru Who Eats a Lot Was Being Cheated On, so I Decided to Win Her Heart (And Stomach) From Her Jerk Boyfriend - 25

Chapter 25: The Hungry Gal and the Group Work Invitation

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The night of the day I helped Shizuku and Miura from being hit on by guys, I received a message from Shizuku saying that her gyaru friends had found out about our relationship. Apparently, Miura was able to figure everything out just from that brief exchange of words. 

Miura’s powers of observation are seriously impressive.

Shizuku wouldn’t stop apologizing profusely about it, but looking back, I was to blame too. So, I told Shizuku not to worry about it. After all, had I immediately left the scene after helping them, none of this would’ve happened. Fortunately, all three of her gyaru friends promised to keep it a secret and considering their personality, they would surely keep their words. And so, I continued living my life alone like usual.

—That is, until today.

It all happened during home economics class. It was just as the lesson was about to end, right after the teacher finished explaining next week’s cooking practice.

“Ah, right. One last thing about next week’s cooking practice. Sort yourselves into groups. Five people per group will do. Alright, see you next week in the home economics room.”

The home economics teacher, Maruo-sensei, said before leaving us be. Since home economics was the last class before lunch break, the entire classroom was abuzz with discussions about who would form groups with whom.

Group work, huh…

I figured I’d probably end up joining whatever group had space left for me again, just like usual. Since I didn’t need to do anything other than joining the leftover group, I decided to grab my bento and stand up from my seat to go to my usual spot by the emergency staircase, but then…. It happened. 

“Hey, Suou! Got a sec?”

“…Miura? What’s up?”

“Wanna join our group for next week’s cooking practice?”

In an instant, I could feel every single guy in the classroom locked their gaze at me. Their stares pierced through me like daggers. Jealousy, envy, curiosity, everything was mixed in together. 

Yeah. I’d love nothing more than running away from my spot right now.

“…Why me?”

“We’re planning to form a group with our usual circle, but we’re one person short. Plus, none of us are good at cooking and you know, you work part-time at a ramen place, right?”

“So you’re saying I should join your group to save your group from doom.”

“Precisely. Besides, having a guy around can come in handy sometimes, even though it’s a cooking practice.”

I see. Her reasoning definitely sounded logical. I didn’t have any particular reason to refuse her offer, but… I snuck a quick glance at Shizuku without letting anyone notice. She was in a total panic.

“Wait, Sawa!? Why are you inviting Suou-kun to our group—?!”

“Now, now. Isn’t it fine? Of course it’s fine~”

“We need to at least have one person who can cook in our group.”

The ones calming down the visibly flustered Shizuku were her usual two gyaru friends. The girl with dark brown hair that reached her shoulders, styled in loose outward curls, was Natsuki Sasamoto while the one with a black bob cut and orange inner highlights was Rinoa Suzuki. Those two stood out a lot, so they were easy to recognize. 

Ah, I see. So Miura hadn’t told Shizuku that she’d be inviting me to join their group. 

“…Are you sure? I mean, Kushina doesn’t seem to agree with it…”

“Ah, it’s fine. Natsuki and Rinoa are both okay with it. So by majority vote, you’re more than welcome to join us.”

The dark side of democracy, huh.

“Well, if you’re okay with me, then I’ll gratefully join you all…”

“Okay! Then, see you next week!”

With that, Miura waved her hand cheerfully and returned to the other three. After watching her go, I also left the classroom, but…

“Hey, Suou. I have one savor to ask. This is the only favor I’d ask for you in my whole life, so please!”

“Oi! Stop trying to steal a march! Suou, I’m sorry, I have a favor to ask too!”

“You’re the one trying to get a head start! Suou! This is the only thing I’d ever ask from you, so please—!!”

I got caught by the boys in class. It seemed eating lunch on my own was no longer an option.

＊ ＊ ＊

“I’m really sorry about today! You must’ve been troubled because of Sawa, right?”

Shizuku bowed her head with her hands pressed together. Her eyes were truly apologetic. By the way, this happened after school. I didn’t have a part-time job today, so I was eating the lunch I didn’t get to eat while watching the sunset from my usual spot, the emergency staircase. It seemed Shizuku had followed me in secret. 

“Well, yeah, but it’s fine. Miura apologized to me after that. Besides, you don’t have anything to apologize for, Shizuku.”

“That may be true… but I do have some responsibility in this. And because of me, you couldn’t have your lunch in time…”

Shizuku spoke in a soft voice, her eyes downcast. It seemed like she really felt guilty about it.

Hmm, what should I do about this?

Indeed. I definitely didn’t get to eat lunch because the guys in the class kept asking me to switch groups with them. But on the other hand, it wasn’t that bad actually. 

While eating the lunch in my Tupperware container, I gathered my thoughts and said to Shizuku. 

“…It’s fine. Eating lunch while watching the sunset isn’t so bad either.”

“Huh…?”

“I think the good point of a bento is that you can eat it anywhere you want. Now that I think about it, I realized I’ve never had my bento meal while watching a sunset before. Well, lunch is something you eat during the day after all.”

“…I guess….?”

Shizuku tilted her head to the side, still confused at my words. 

Well, of course. Of course she’s confused if I said that seemingly out of nowhere. 

Thinking that, I continued on. 

“You see, if I hadn’t missed lunch, I wouldn’t get to experience this sensation. I also found out that no one really comes here after school and the brass band practice next door provides a great background sound.”

If I listened carefully, I could hear the sound of wind instruments coming from the neighboring school building. If I focused my hearing even further, I could catch the crack of a bat from the baseball field. Both were things I got to experience because I had missed lunch. 

“And… That was my first time experiencing it too, you know…. Someone actually invited me to join their group. I usually just join whatever group is left.”

“…Seriously?”

“Yeah, seriously. With my personality, I was always the last one left. I’d either be assigned to join a group that still had a space left or end up in one where people started fighting over who should take me. Well, such is the fate of a loner.”

I said it jokingly and Shizuku let out a small laugh.

“Don’t call yourself a loner. Besides, Suou-kun, is a self-deprecating joke is like, your signature or something?”

“I’m not joking. I’m just stating the truth…. But, well, yeah. I managed to break free from that cycle today.”

I then stared at Shizuku in the eyes. 

“Thanks, Shizuku. For inviting me.”

“Huh? Me? Why…? It was Sawa who invited you, not me.”

“Why? Well, if you take the blame for making me have a rough time at lunch, then you’re also partly to thank for letting me experience all these different things.”

“You think so…?”

Shizuku tilted her head slightly, looking a bit doubtful.

“That’s right. So… Well, you don’t need to worry too much about it.”

I smiled as I took a pair of disposable chopsticks out of the cooler bag. I always kept spare chopsticks there. 

“More importantly, do you want to have a bite, Shizuku?”

I asked while offering her the chopsticks.

“Huh?! Really?! Absolutely! Yay!”

Shizuku’s face lit up with a big smile as she took the chopsticks and immediately picked up a piece of food from the bento. Watching her eating it happily, I couldn’t help but to genuinely feel this situation wasn’t that bad after all.

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