Do You Like Romantic-Comedy Protagonists? - Chapter 8: Do You Like Sousuke Sakurai? 3

Chapter 8: Do You Like Sousuke Sakurai? 3

“Here are your carbonara, napolitan, regular hamburger, and rice.”

Sakurai and Hachiya continued chatting intimately, paying no attention to Akaishi, as the food was brought to the table.

When Akaishi ordered the hamburger, Sakurai had diffused the tense atmosphere between Hachiya and Akaishi, but Akaishi suspected even that was driven by a possessive desire to keep Hachiya from interacting with him.

Akaishi had chosen the hamburger because Sakurai and Hachiya ordered carbonara and napolitan.

Carbonara and napolitan, strawberry and chocolate parfaits—both were foods that could be shared, providing an excuse for intimacy.

If Akaishi had ordered something like peperoncino, Sakurai and Hachiya might have felt awkward sharing their food alone, so he chose accordingly.

He also predicted that such a choice would spare him from feeling awkward himself.

“Here, Sousuke, give me some napolitan.”

“Got it.”

As Akaishi expected, Sakurai and Hachiya were sharing the napolitan and carbonara, eating alternately.

Hachiya glanced at Sakurai while slurping the noodles.

Akaishi ate his hamburger and rice alone.

This situation must look pretty ridiculous to an outsider, he thought, continuing to eat.

Across from a male student eating a hamburger alone, barely speaking, were a boy and girl constantly chatting and sharing food.

It was comical, and Akaishi gave a self-deprecating smirk.

To others, it would clearly look like a couple and their pitiful friend dragged along.

Hachiya twirled napolitan on her fork, her hands trembling, cheeks flushed, as she fed it to Sakurai’s mouth.

How did this turn into such a rom-com scene? Akaishi belatedly glanced at Hachiya and Sakurai.

Since Sakurai wanted to eat with Hachiya, it was possible he favored her, but given his personality—surrounded by five beauties—Akaishi wasn’t sure if Sakurai genuinely liked Hachiya.

Akaishi finished his meal, sipping his coffee, watching Sakurai and Hachiya.

Hachiya paused her affectionate behavior, glanced at Akaishi drinking coffee, and narrowed her eyes, furrowing her brow slightly.

“You’re drinking coffee, right? No milk or sugar?”

“Why?”

Hachiya’s confrontational tone prompted Akaishi to respond provocatively, matching her energy.

“I mean, it’s tastier with them. Or what, you think it’s better plain? Trying to act mature~?”

“I like it this way. Don’t butt into my tastes. It’s my choice.”

“What’s with you, picking a fight every time!? I’m going out of my way to talk to you, so cut it out!”

“I’ve never once wanted you to talk to me.”

“Akaishi!”

Her patience snapped, Hachiya slammed the table and stood, drawing the attention of nearby customers who turned to look at the commotion.

Sakurai, sensing the stares, restrained Hachiya.

“Hey, Kyouko, calm down.”

“B-But he—!”

“There, there, it’s okay, it’s okay.”

Sakurai patted Hachiya’s head, speaking soothingly.

“Nn…”

Hachiya let him pat her head, calming down and sitting back down.

But then, realizing what happened, she lightly punched Akaishi’s face, her own face red up to her ears.

Akaishi felt an indescribable disgust at Sakurai’s natural ability to pat a girl’s head to calm her.

It was something only someone confident in being liked could do. Anyone could see that doing this to someone who didn’t like you would earn their ire.

Did Sakurai understand that all five of his entourage adored him, or did he believe such actions would make them like him? Either way, Akaishi found him repulsive.

Soon, Hachiya and Sakurai finished their food, and Sakurai finally made an effort to mediate between Hachiya and Akaishi.

Sakurai clapped his hands.

“Alright, Kyouko, Akaishi, you’ve both had issues with each other, but let’s make up today, okay? Fighting all the time makes school life less fun, right?”

“Nn… If Sousuke says so, I’m not… totally against it…”

“Come on, Akaishi too.”

Sakurai looked at Akaishi.

Whether he got along with Hachiya or not was trivial to Akaishi, and he had no desire for anyone to mediate, but since Sakurai had arranged this reconciliation, Akaishi nodded obediently.

Sakurai, seeing their reactions, gave a big nod.

“Good, then Kyouko, Akaishi, say sorry to each other, alright?”

“Nn… Sorry, Akaishi.”

“Yeah… I was wrong too.”

Why was he apologizing and reconciling with a girl he had no interest in getting along with?

It made no sense, but Akaishi apologized honestly.

He wouldn’t do something foolish like sparking new conflict.

“Alright, let’s go pay! Kyouko, you go.”

“Got it.”

Sakurai put his hands on Hachiya’s shoulders, urging her to go first, and Akaishi followed behind, watching them leave.

After paying, the three left the restaurant. Sakurai stretched widely, Hachiya gazed at him, and Akaishi idly counted passing cars.

“Well, let’s head home!”

Sakurai started walking toward the high school’s nearest station, Hachiya beside him, while Akaishi trailed behind, counting cars alone.

Akaishi thought.

About the causes and reasons for everything that happened today.

With his hyper-critical perspective, Akaishi was deeply fed up with Sakurai’s actions today.

His conflict with Hachiya was something only they should resolve. Despite their mutual dislike, an outsider forcibly intervening to mediate was exactly what Akaishi hated most.

His motto was that outsiders shouldn’t meddle in others’ affairs, and Sakurai’s actions were, in short, “meddlesome.”

Akaishi had urged Hachiya to look into her name’s meaning but hadn’t forced her.

However, Sakurai’s actions were vastly different.

Pretending to be just while acting hypocritically, caring only about his own satisfaction regardless of what the parties involved felt—that was Akaishi’s impression.

If both parties wanted reconciliation, mediating might not be mere self-satisfaction, but in this case, Akaishi didn’t want it, and neither did Hachiya.

Why did Sakurai intrude so much into others’ affairs? Akaishi sighed, looking at Sakurai’s back.

Even now, Sakurai was chatting affectionately with Hachiya, who repeatedly touched and hit his shoulder.

Today, Sakurai’s womanizing had thoroughly exasperated Akaishi.

Sakurai didn’t mediate out of hypocrisy; he did it because Hachiya—a girl—was involved, showing unrequested hypocrisy.

Perhaps Sakurai wanted to talk with Hachiya alone, but Akaishi wondered if he’d act this way with any girl, not just her.

There was no proof.

Instead of letting Akaishi and Hachiya argue or bond, Sakurai focused solely on talking with Hachiya.

There wasn’t a shred of consideration for Akaishi, just an act to fulfill his own desires.

Because he only cared about girls.

Akaishi let out a heavy sigh.

In the end, he was just a puppet used to satisfy Sakurai’s desires.

As Hachiya and Sakurai continued their affectionate exchange before him, Sakurai suddenly stopped.