I Got Cheated On, so I Thought I’d Cheat Back and Went to a Group Date, I Ran Into a Classmate Who Used to Boss Me Around and Now We’re Living Together - Chapter 38

In early August, Iijima’s shadow had completely disappeared from our lives.

According to Rogiku-san, Iijima had been pushed into quitting his job. Because of that, he now had to run around just to survive, while also dealing with his injuries and the problems with his wife and kids. He clearly had no time or energy left to bother with us anymore.

At last, I finally felt like I was free from all those chains that had been tying me down.

It started with Rinne’s cheating, then my reunion with Nene-san, the fights with Rinne, and finally the trouble with Iijima.

One thing after another had kept dragging me down, but now I was certain that it was all finally over.

Even Mishiro-san, who had been suffering from workplace harassment, was able to return to her creative work thanks to Rogiku-san’s support. It seemed she could now live her life normally again, which was a relief.

With those thoughts in mind, I found myself one afternoon heading to the apartment where Umi lived. The reason? To help her with her manuscript. Apparently, she had gotten into Comiket with her circle. She still had time before the deadline, but the manuscript wasn’t finished. She begged me, “Please, this is a once-in-a-lifetime request! You have to help me!” So, I had no choice but to show up.

And it wasn’t just me. Mishiro-san was there too. Thanks to Rogiku-san’s introduction, she and Umi had quickly become friends.

“I’m sorry for making you help me out.”

“It’s fine. Work like this can actually be fun sometimes.”

I wasn’t skilled with manga at all, so there wasn’t much I could actually do. Still, being involved in something like this stirred up my own creative spirit. I really needed to get back to writing my novel.

“But still… Tokitou-san’s drawing something so naughty…”

Mishiro-san was blushing hard as she carefully inked the analog manuscript.

She was shy by nature, so she probably wasn’t good with that kind of thing. Her pretty half-foreign face, framed by semi-long blonde hair, was all flustered.

“Well, yeah. I’ve already decided I’m going to make my way through the erotic route. Mishiro-san, I think you’d be better off drawing proper shonen manga. Oh, and by the way, that c○ck you’re inking right now? That’s based on Sousuke.”

“―What!?”

What the hell is she saying right now…!?

“S-Shiraki-kun and Tokitou-san are like that!?”

“No, no, no…!”

I quickly denied it in a panic.

“It’s just that I gave her some reference material. We don’t have that kind of special relationship.”

“E-even giving that kind of reference, I still think that’s a very special relationship…”

Well… she wasn’t completely wrong. While I was thinking that, she turned her gaze toward Umi.

“…So, Tokitou-san, do you also not see Shiraki-kun in any special way?”

“Eh? T-that’s… well, yeah… I don’t feel anything special for Sousuke at a―ahh!”

…For some reason, Umi suddenly panicked and knocked over the ink. Luckily, it only tipped without spilling, but she still needed to be more careful.

“So, does Shiraki-kun live alone?”

As the sun was beginning to set, we finished most of the work and left Umi’s place. Now, Mishiro-san and I were waiting together at the train platform, chatting about nothing in particular.

“No, I live with someone. You’ve already met Nene-san.”

“Eh? Then does that mean the one you’re really dating is Machida-san!?”

“N-no, I’m not dating her…”

This girl really liked to drag every conversation toward romance… Probably because she preferred romantic comedy stories. Her brain must be wired that way.

“Hmm, so Machida-san isn’t your girlfriend either… Then that means Shiraki-kun is single right now?”

“…Yeah.”

“I see…”

Mishiro-san put a hand under her chin.

…She’s clearly thinking about something.

“In that case, would you go out with me?”

“Eh?”

“A-ah! I didn’t mean it like that, I’m sorry…”

Mishiro-san fanned her red face in a panic.

“What I meant was… kind of like how you gave Tokitou-san reference material,  I was hoping you could give me some too.”

“Huh? Wait… Mishiro-san’s saying you want pictures of my c○ck too?”

“Ah, t–that’s not what I meant. W-what I meant was more like going on a practice date with me!”

Ah…

“I-I’m embarrassed to admit this, but… I’ve never once been in a relationship with a boy. Because I’m so shy, it just never happened. I love writing romantic-comedy, but since I have no real experience, people often say that my art is good, but my story is a mess.”

…Honestly, now I was curious about what kind of romantic comedy she actually drew.

“So I was thinking that if I could at least try a pretend date with someone… I might be able to learn something. But finding that kind of partner isn’t easy…”

“…I see.”

In short, she wanted experience for the sake of learning. Unlike Umi, who had erotic motives, this was a much more wholesome request.

“Well, if you don’t mind me, I don’t see a problem.”

“Eh… really?”

“Yeah. If there’s something I can do to help, I’m glad to.”

Since I’d already gotten involved in her harassment problem, it would feel a bit cold to just leave things after helping once and never again.

“Thank you so much… Then, how about tomorrow?”

“That’s sudden.”

But, Umi didn’t need my help anymore for her manuscript, and I didn’t have any particular plans myself.

“Alright. Tomorrow works.”

After that, we decided on a place and time to meet up. With that settled, we said goodbye for the day.

◇

“―Wait, you’re going on a date with Mishiro-san!?”

“Just to be clear, it’s only a pretend date. She needs reference material for her manga, so we’re going out for that.”

Later that evening.

While enjoying Nene-san’s homemade cooking, I told her about my plans for tomorrow.

“Hmp… Even if it’s pretend, it still sounds like you’re gonna have fun. Meanwhile, I’ll be stuck training from morning till night.”

Nene-san was basically working full shifts at Maltvono every day during summer break as she looked at me with half-lidded and accusing eyes.

Hmm… maybe it sounded like I was bragging to her.

“…I’m sorry, Nene-san. I didn’t mean it to come off that way.”

“I know, it’s fine… I’m not mad or anything.”

Her cheeks puffed up like a meat bun as she said that, but was she really not mad…?

“Well, whatever. Just make sure you’re useful as a reference for her…”

“Y-yeah… By the way, Nene-san gets a proper day off, right?”

“Of course… Actually, tomorrow’s one of them. I’m planning to take about two days off each week.”

“Oh, I see. Then make sure you rest well tomorrow.”

After all the trouble with Iijima, her schedule had gotten packed without much of a break. I really hoped she could rest properly whenever she got the chance.

“Anyway, I’ll be heading out with Mishiro-san to help her with her reference.”

“…Okay.”

And with that, I decided to go to bed early to prepare for tomorrow.

◇

~side: Nene~

(…I’ll follow him.)

Lying in bed before sleep, Nene secretly made up her mind.