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 4

The next day. She told me I didn’t really have to go with her, but I still decided to tag along when Machida-san went to pick up the rest of her stuff. The shared house she lived in was about to be torn down, and when we went inside, it was already almost empty. The other tenants had already left.

“I rented this place because of school. And now, just three months later, this happens. Talk about bad luck.”

While Machida-san was packing her things in her room, I heard her mumbling like that.

“Well, I guess it evens out since I was lucky enough to get picked up by Shiraki… But, are you really okay with me staying at your place?”

“…Do you have some worries about it?”

“It’s not exactly worries… but, what if you make up with your girlfriend? Then I’d just be in the way, right? I don’t know what kind of girl she is, but maybe she’ll apologize and try to get back together with you.”

“Even if she apologizes, I’m not getting back with her… I can’t.”

I saw her sleeping with another guy right in front of me. No way I’d want to patch things up after that. I’m not some hopeless fool who can just forgive everything.

“Don’t worry. You can stay.”

After that, she finished packing, and we went back to my apartment by train. In the afternoon, we both had classes at different universities.

When I walked into my lecture hall, Rinne wasn’t there again today. That was actually a relief. Seeing her would just be awkward. If she wants to disappear on her own, that’s perfect for me.

Does thinking like that make me a bad person? Should a boyfriend forgive a little cheating? …No. If being a boyfriend means I have to put up with that, then I never want to be one again. What’s there to forgive about a girl who cheats after just two months of dating? That’s ridiculous.

With those thoughts, I finished all my lectures and headed home. While the train rocked back and forth,

[I just finished class and got to the station near your place. But now I realize I don’t have a key, so I’ll wait in front of the station.]

My phone buzzed with a LINE message.

Oh… maybe I should give Machida-san a spare key.

Speaking of keys, I once gave Rinne one because I was so happy she was my first girlfriend. That was stupid. Thanks to that, she used my room for cheating. I never even got that spare back from her. What should I do about that? It’s just a copy, so it’s not like I have to get it back, but leaving it with her feels wrong. Then again, I don’t feel like chasing her down for it either. If she ever shows up at school again, I’ll just ask for it then.

As I was thinking about that, my train arrived at my stop. When I got to the station plaza, I spotted Machida-san waiting there. I noticed something surprising. I didn’t feel that stomach pain anymore. Maybe I was finally getting used to all of this. Since this morning, I’ve been feeling okay.

After we met up, we stopped by a locksmith near the station to make a spare key. Of course, it was for Machida-san.

“…Are you sure? You’re giving me a spare key?”

“It’s fine. Our schedules won’t always match, and I don’t want to make Machida-san wait outside every time.”

“But I used to boss you around back then… aren’t you being too trusting?”

“That goes for Machida-san, too. If I still held a grudge, I could’ve done something bad when I invited you into my room last night, and yet you still came along without hesitation, right?”

“That’s, well…”

“You trusted that I wouldn’t do something like that?”

“Pretty much… you didn’t give off that kind of vibe.”

“Same here. Machida-san didn’t give off any bad vibe either, that’s why I invited you in, and now I’m giving you this key.”

Maybe I am too trusting, but the truth is, I’ve never once thought of Machida-san as dangerous. Not even back in middle school. She was actually the one who noticed I was getting picked on and said, “Do you want to stick with me and run errands? Might be easier that way.” Because of Machida-san, I ended up as part of her little group and avoided worse bullying.

Still, I hated that version of myself. I hated being the weak guy who let himself be treated like some girl’s gofer. It became a scar in my past, something I wanted to forget. That’s why letting her stay at my place now feels different. This time, I want to be in control. Not to make her my servant, but to face her on my own terms.

“So just take the spare key without worrying. I don’t know if it’s right to say I trust Machida-san, but at the very least, I don’t think you’re a bad person.”

“Thank you… In that case, I should give something back.”

“Give back?”

“Yeah. You’re letting me stay here, and you’re helping me so much. Plus, I owe you back then, too. So, how about I cook for us from now on?”

“Machida-san can… actually cook?”

“Sort of. I work part-time at a restaurant. It was an actual one and not a family diner. I’m in the kitchen.”

“I see…”

Come to think of it, I’ve never eaten home-cooked food from a girl before. Rinne was never the type to cook. Whenever she got hungry, she’d just say, “Let’s order delivery.” Or we’d go out to eat, and I was the one paying. It always stung my wallet.

“Then… Can I leave the kitchen to you?”

“Yep. Let’s go shopping after this.”

Once the spare key was ready, I handed it to Machida-san. Then we stopped by a supermarket on the way back. Since she was the one staying over, Machida-san said she’d cover the grocery costs. I offered to split, but she shut me down right away.