I Just Wanted a Girlfriend, But Now I Have Three Fiancées! …Even Though I Don’t Remember Proposing to Any of Them - Chapter 06: I Drank Coffee… and Saw My Life Flash Before My Eyes

Chapter 06: I Drank Coffee… and Saw My Life Flash Before My Eyes

A promise made back in elementary school shouldn’t really count, right?

I mean—I didn’t even remember it.

“If only I could actually say that out loud…”

I flopped onto the couch with a tired groan.

There was no way I could ever say something like that.

Just remembering Luna’s tear-streaked face from earlier made my stomach twist.

It was already 6:00 PM.

The sun had almost completely set, and the sky outside was growing darker by the minute.

“This is all my fault anyway…”

I knew exactly why things ended up like this.

It was because of me.

…Or maybe it was the coffee?

“Wait—can just drinking coffee really change a relationship this much?!”

While I was lying there like a lifeless fish on the couch, my phone suddenly buzzed.

A call?

Who the heck could it be…?

I glanced at the screen—

Mitsuki’s name lit up.

“Hellooo! Is this Haru-senpai!?”

“Yeah, it’s me…”

“What do you want to eat tonight?”

“Huh?”

“I was thinking of coming over to cook again tonight! So, got any requests?”

“U-Uh… anything’s fine, really.”

“Okay~ I’ll just make something random then!”

And just like that, the call ended.

…Wait. Again tonight?

“She’s coming over again? I mean, I appreciate it, but still…!”

No—I’ve gotta say it.

Yeah. I have to.

I need to be honest with Mitsuki.

Sure, I can’t exactly tell her I don’t remember the whole “promise” with Luna, or that it was all because of some cursed coffee…

But still, I owe Mitsuki the truth.

It’s only been, what, a day and a half since we “started dating”?

That barely even counts, right?

If it’s just that much, maybe she’ll be okay with pretending it never happened…!

I mean—not like I’ve ever been in a relationship before, so what do I know…!!

With that clumsy determination in my chest, I got up from the couch and started straightening up the room—

Ding dong.

“…Huh?”

That was way too fast for Mitsuki.

No way she got here already…

Wait—did I order something online?

Still confused, I opened the door—

And standing there was Mei.

“…What’s up?”

A cold sweat trickled down my back.

She was still in her school uniform, holding two big eco bags in her arms.

Peeking out from the top were a bunch of fresh veggies—clearly just bought.

“You can’t cook, right?”

“…Well, yeah.”

“That’s why I came to cook for you.”

“W-Wait, you really don’t have to go out of your way—!”

Mitsuki was on her way over.

And now Mei was here.

I didn’t even want to imagine what would happen if they ran into each other.

I scrambled to explain myself like some suspicious guy about to get caught cheating.

“You probably have dinner at home, right, Mei…?”

“Nope.”

“Huh?”

“I already told my mom I’d be eating here.”

“…Oh. Cool…”

No—wait…!

Don’t give up…!

Don’t give up, me…!!

As long as I don’t give up, maybe—maybe—I can still survive this!!

“W-What about homework… or studying?”

“Already finished.”

Right… Mei’s actually smart.

“O-Okay, but… I mean, isn’t it kinda risky? Coming over to a guy’s place at night and all…”

“My mom and dad trust you, Haru. They said it’s totally fine.”

Dang it!!

This is what I get for always being the “good kid”!!

If I’d just gone full delinquent, this never would’ve happened!!!

But regrets only show up after the fact—if they came beforehand, they’d be called warnings.

Still flailing for an excuse, I glanced at Mei—

She let out a long sigh, looked like she was about to say something, hesitated a couple times…

Then, face bright red, she mumbled:

“…I-If you’ve got any, um, dirty magazines or whatever… you better hide them now. I-I’ll pretend not to notice, so…”

“I-I don’t have any of those…”

Seriously, who even buys that stuff on paper anymore?

My inner voice lobbed that snark into the void,

But with all options exhausted, I finally gave in and silently waved the white flag.

And let Mei into the house.

Welp. No turning back now. 

Guess I’d better text Mitsuki…

It’s the only way to stop those two from crossing paths.

“…Huh. You actually keep the place pretty clean.”

Mei stepped into the living room, casually glancing around.

“W-Well, yeah. I clean and stuff.”

“Where’s the fridge? I wanna put the groceries away first.”

I led her toward the kitchen—

But then she suddenly stopped and pointed at something sitting on the stove.

“…Do you cook, Haru?”

“Huh?”

“This.”

She gestured at the leftover miso soup Mitsuki had made for breakfast.

…Crap. I forgot to clean that up.

“O-Oh, yeah! I mean, I should at least know how to make miso soup by now, right?”

“Hm. I guess you’re more responsible than I thought.”

I blurted out that lie without thinking—

And immediately regretted it.

Pretty sure I just made things harder for myself.

Dripping with cold sweat, I scrambled to change the topic.

“S-So hey, remember Luna-chan? That transfer student from elementary school?”

“…Oh yeah. I vaguely remember someone like that.”

And just like that, Mei’s cheerful mood vanished.

Wait…

Did I just dodge one problem only to step on a landmine?

“W-What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. It’s just old stuff, so I barely remember. That’s all.”

“That’s all…?”

“I just think she’s the type who acts all helpless to make guys fall for her.”

Whoa. Harsh take.

I mean—Luna didn’t even fit in back then.

She definitely wasn’t going around flirting with guys…

Far as I knew, I was the only one who ever talked to her.

“Is there something about that?”

“Well… turns out she transferred back here.”

“I see.”

Her reply had that usual deadpan tone—

But her voice was colder than usual.

Like arctic wind cutting through your soul levels of cold.

“W-What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. So? What about it?”

“N-Nothing big… I just happened to run into her today…”

As I said that, Mei puffed out her chest just a little and declared:

“I see. Then you better tell her. That you and I are dating.”

“W-We don’t really have to tell her that, do we…?”

Crap. I messed up.

This was the worst possible topic to bring up.

I needed to change the subject. Fast.

As I scrambled for a safer conversation route—

Ding-dong.

“Uh—I-I’ll go get that real quick!”

I didn’t even wait for Mei’s reply.

I bolted to the door like my life depended on it.

“Aah, Haru-senpai! I’m here to cook dinner~!”

Click. The door opened—

And there stood my usual underclassman.

“…M-Mitsuki.”

“Huh? Senpai, you look super pale. Are you okay?”

And in that exact moment—

I knew.

Every part of me knew…

This was the beginning of the end.