After Picking up a Runaway Girl From the Same University on My Way Home From Work, We Started Living Together in Secret - Chapter 16

“Minato, let’s go have lunch.”

As soon as class ended and the lunch break began, Kototori, who had been sitting next to me, lightly tugged at my sleeve.

Her slightly upward gaze, with her blue eyes looking at me, stirred up an indescribable feeling inside me.

This is probably…

“Yukki.”

“What?”

“The princess has really warmed up to you, hasn’t she?”

“Don’t say it… I know…”

It was something I had vaguely sensed, and now, even Mayumi was pointing it out.

It’s more like she’s fond of me rather than we have a friendly relationship.

She’s really becoming like a cat.

As I thought this and smiled wryly, Kototori tilted her head and stared at me in confusion.

“By the way, can I come too?”

“If it’s Mayu, sure.”

“Alright, Koto-chan gave the green light, so Yukki, let’s go get lunch. Having such a cute girl with me for lunch makes me feel good, so it’s on me.”

“Hey, come on… Well, fine.”

I had something I wanted to say, but lunch breaks are pretty short.

While trying to leave the lecture hall, enduring the sharp stares from others, my phone buzzed with an incoming call.

“Yukki, looks like you’ve got a date invitation!”

“I don’t have anyone like that.”

I replied like that, and when I checked the caller, it was Miyamae-senpai.

I wondered what it was about at this time. If it was about switching shifts for work, she could have just texted or asked in person.

…Could it be something urgent? I decided to answer the call.

“Hello, is something wrong?”

“How about having lunch together, if you’re free? Of course, it’s on me.”

It seemed like an invitation for lunch. And she’s paying… free food.

It wasn’t rare for Miyamae to invite me like this.

It happened a few times a month… but the purpose was always for her to vent to me.

Once you get used to it, it’s not such a big deal, and I’ve never really turned her down, but today, unfortunately, I had prior plans.

Sorry, but I’d have to pass this time and suggest another day—wait, hold on?

“…Mayumi. Is it okay if we bring one more person?”

“If she’s a beauty, then sure. But if it’s a guy, tell him to turn around.”

“It’s that senior from the part-time job.”

“Yukki, well done.”

Mayumi gave a big thumbs-up with a broad grin.

Simple-minded or impure—either way, I wasn’t going to complain since I was the one getting treated.

“Actually, I was about to go with a friend, so if Miyamae-senpai is okay with it, why don’t you join us?”

“Is that alright? Won’t I be a bother?”

“They say they’re welcoming beautiful women, and the guy’s paying for the food.”

“…Are you sure they’re real friends? Not some shady business associates or a cult trying to sell expensive vases or something?”

“We’re good. They have some quirks, but they’re good people.”

“…Well, if you say so, Yukimura-kun. Shall we meet in front of the school?”

“Got it. See you soon.”

I almost burst out laughing but managed to hold it in and ended the call.

“Man, to think I’m having lunch with two beautiful women during the day, I must be doing well.”

“Don’t forget I’m here too.”

“How could I forget my friend?”

“Quit the shoulder-squeezing, it’s creepy.”

When we met up with Miyamae-senpai, we headed to a chain shabu-shabu restaurant.

I rarely eat out unless invited, and I haven’t had shabu-shabu in quite a while.

I sat next to Mayumi, Kototori was across from me, and Miyamae-senpai sat next to her.

I was used to Mayumi treating me, but Kototori didn’t seem to have any reservations as she eagerly opened the menu.

However, Miyamae-senpai, meeting Mayumi for the first time, wasn’t so casual.

“…Hey, Mayumi, is it a bit… strange for a senior to be treated by a junior?”

Her slightly embarrassed expression was a big change from the Miyamae I knew.

I didn’t think it was because she was being treated, though.

“Don’t worry about it. It’s a cheap price for me to eat with a beautiful senior like you. As a favor, though, how about exchanging contact info? My buddy’s been taking care of you, after all.”

“Who’s your buddy?”

“Aren’t you?”

“You don’t call someone who uses friends as an excuse to get contact info a ‘buddy’.”

“That’s some straight-up logic.”

Mayumi shrugged, but she didn’t seem the least bit sorry.

“Miyamae-senpai, trust me, you’d be better off avoiding this guy.”

“…Is it really that bad?”

“Mayumi, how many girlfriends do you have right now?”

“Three days ago, I broke up with one, so two. And I’ve got three ‘friends with benefits’. Man, being popular is tough.”

Mayumi laughed off Mayumi’s comment, and Miyamae-senpai looked a bit taken aback.

She probably didn’t expect to hear about such a messy relationship.

But she quickly hid the faint blush on her face and said,

“…So, does that mean it’s usually the other person who asks?”

“Usually it’s the other person. I’m the type who likes people who like me.”

“…Yukimura-kun, so this is what it means to be truly popular.”

“If I get stabbed, I won’t complain.”

“Don’t worry, I’m managing just fine.”

Most people can’t manage it that well, though.

Hearing about Mayumi’s dating history made my sense of normalcy waver.

“By the way, let’s order already.”

“Are you sure? Four people is quite a bit of money.”

“No problem. I’ve been making some money, you know.”

Mayumi grinned while casually waving her wallet.

I’ve always been a bit curious about where Mayumi gets his money.

He probably works part-time, but at his age, having this much spending money is a little suspicious… Still, I know he’s not the type to make dumb mistakes.

It’s probably easier than maintaining relationships with several women at once.

“By the way… I’ve been wondering, but of course, Kototori-chan’s here too.”

“I invited Minato to lunch. Then Mayumi said he’d treat, so we came along.”

“That’s the situation.”

“…Did I get in the way?”

“If you’re saying that, then I’m also in the way. These two are getting pretty close recently, yet they insist they’re not dating. It’s kind of ridiculous.”

Even though Mayumi said that, Kototori and I weren’t actually dating.

We were just living together, so our relationship was closer than just ordinary friends.

“Yukimura-kun, you’re not so bad. You’re not interested in such a beautiful senior.”

“I’m thankful to Miyamae-senpai, of course. But, to be honest, I don’t feel any attraction. Uh, how do I say this…”

“You don’t need to sugar-coat it!”

Even so, I trusted Miyamae-senpai enough to be able to talk like this.

With that moment passed, I finally turned my attention to the menu—

“Minato, do you want to go out with me?”

“…Huh?”

With that one unexpected line from Kototori, my brain went completely blank.