After Picking up a Runaway Girl From the Same University on My Way Home From Work, We Started Living Together in Secret - Chapter 3

“You look really tired this morning, Yuki. What happened? Did you have a big game with your girlfriend, and couldn’t sleep until morning?”

“…No. And I don’t have a girlfriend.”

I arrived at university on time without any trouble, trying to fight off my sleepiness while waiting for the lecture to start. My few friends, including the good-looking but rude Mayuzumi Takaya, came over to bother me.

Without caring about my likely annoyed response, he made a ring with his fingers and kept inserting and pulling out his index finger in a crude gesture.

This guy… he’s popular because he’s good-looking, but his mind is still stuck in middle school.

And he’s also smart.

Wasn’t it said that God doesn’t give both talents?

I met Takaya in my first year. I sat next to him in the first lecture after he forgot his textbook, and after I lent him mine, he kept thanking me. Somehow, we became friends. That was the moment I realized how scary it could be to deal with the outgoing types.

Well, I’m glad I became friends with Takaya. Despite his appearance, he’s considerate and fun to be with.

“So, what’s the deal then? You didn’t stay up all night playing games, and I didn’t smell any alcohol.”

“…I’m still 19.”

“You’re such a goody-goody, huh? It’s true it’s better not to do it openly, but a lot of people drink secretly. The point is, as long as you don’t get caught. It’s the same as cheating.”

“You’re the worst.”

I really couldn’t hold back my frustration, but Takaya just laughed and said, “Come on, come on.”

I think of him as a friend, but I can’t stand some of the things he says. I’ve had these kinds of conversations with him before, and he’d just casually respond, “It’s fine, Yuki. Everyone’s got their own way,” making me laugh wryly.

Takaya’s ability to accept and not judge different views is probably part of his charm.

“By the way… isn’t something different about ‘Snow White’ today?”

At the sudden topic brought up by Takaya, my heart skipped a beat, but I made sure not to let him notice. I kept my face neutral and answered, “Is it?”

“Well, despite how I look, I’m popular and see a lot of girls, so I trust my instincts. There’s something up with her.”

“Something? What do you mean?”

“Come on, you know she’s at the age for it, right? She’s probably into guys.”

He grinned while glancing at Kotori Risa, who sat in the front row of the lecture hall, known as “Snow White.”

I followed his gaze, and I noticed she had changed from her usual dark, edgy clothes to a more neat, modest outfit.

…Honestly, both look good on her.

“Just imagine. ‘Snow White’ always has that perfect expression. What kind of face do you think she’d make in front of a guy?” Takaya said with a smirk.

“…What’s the point of thinking about that?”

“Isn’t it fun to think about the serious, innocent ones, who always look so pure, when they have sex with someone they love? It’s like when you see a character in a family-friendly manga end up in an adult doujinshi, making those lewd faces. It’s the same thing.”

“Your comparisons are the worst, and don’t try to get me to agree with you.”

Also, this is definitely not a conversation to have in the morning.

Takaya was speaking quietly enough for only me to hear, but if someone overheard, I’d end up being considered an accomplice.

I don’t want my reputation to be ruined by something like this.

But… thinking about what kind of face Kotori Risa would make in front of a guy, huh? Kotori never shows much emotion at school, but I swear I saw her smile a little when we had breakfast this morning.

It’s not that she has no expression at all.

It’s just that no one has noticed it until now.

“Are you saying you like Kotori Risa?” I asked, trying to steer the conversation elsewhere.

“Me? Nah, she’s like an untouchable display model with no price tag. It’s best to admire her from afar. I’ve got a girlfriend anyway.”

“…How many, if you don’t mind me asking?”

“Three, as of the day before yesterday.”

I stared at him. He was casually seeing three people at once.

“You’re gonna get stabbed one day.”

“You think so? All the girls I’ve dated and broken up with are fine with me seeing other people. They get it.”

“…That’s seriously impressive. I don’t respect it, though.”

“If you want to praise me, it’s useless. How about I treat you to ramen at lunch?”

“I’m in.”

Even though our ideas about relationships don’t match, we somehow get along.

“So… did something happen with ‘Snow White’?” Takaya suddenly asked, his words slipping through my thoughts.

“There’s nothing between me and Kotori Risa. What kind of connection do we even have?” I replied.

“Well, you’ve been glancing at her a lot since you came into the classroom. I thought I’d try asking. If you don’t want to talk, that’s fine. But if you need advice, I’m here. And when it comes to the thickness of the rubber, it’s gotta be 0.01 mm, no debate.”

“….”

Takaya… his intuition is unnervingly sharp.

But did I really keep looking at Kotori Risa like that?

I didn’t realize it until now.

I need to be more careful.

I’m sleep-deprived, and I can’t afford to lose focus over something like this.

As we were talking, the professor arrived and said, “Let’s begin the lecture.” I opened the assigned textbook, and Takaya tapped me on the shoulder.

“Hey, can I borrow your textbook?”

“Sure.”

We went through the lecture without any further incidents, then went out for ramen at lunch. Afterward, we headed back to the university for the afternoon lecture. On the way, Takaya and I were walking together when—

“Wait, Minato.”

The voice I’d heard several times in the last two days called out to me, stopping me in my tracks.

I turned with Takaya, and sure enough, there was Kotori Risa, who had kept quiet at university until now.

“Oh, seriously?” Takaya laughed out loud, surprised.

I felt uneasy. This was the university, and people were staring at us—Kotori Risa and me, as well as Takaya.

“…Kotori Risa, what’s up?” I asked.

“I need to talk to you,” she said.

“…We can talk after class, right?”

“I finish at the fourth period. What about you?”

“I’m here until the fifth.”

“Then I’ll wait at the cafeteria. Come get me after your class ends.”

Without waiting for an answer, Kotori Risa turned and walked off in the opposite direction.

In the silence, I could feel the eyes of everyone around us, like they were all staring at me.

“What’s going on between you and Kotori Risa?” Takaya asked, his voice full of curiosity.

“…I don’t know.”

There was no way I could tell him that Kotori Risa stayed at my place last night. I quickly walked away, leaving Takaya behind.