I Just Wanted a Girlfriend, But Now I Have Three Fiancées! …Even Though I Don’t Remember Proposing to Any of Them - Chapter 14: I Drank Coffee and Learned an Unexpected Secret About My Junior

Chapter 14: I Drank Coffee and Learned an Unexpected Secret About My Junior

“Haru-senpai, your hand’s really warm.”

“Yeah? I think it’s pretty normal though.”

“Nope. Definitely warm.”

The movie had ended, and while the rest of the crowd was getting up, Mitsuki was still holding my hand—smiling as she said that.

“Wanna head out too?”

“Yeah, we should. Don’t wanna be in the way.”

We’d held hands the entire movie.

And honestly?

It had been a total rollercoaster—just from how much I could feel through her grip.

At first, she held on all timid and shy…

But as the movie built up to the climax, she started squeezing tighter and tighter.

By the time the kiss scene hit, I thought I was gonna lose circulation.

They say eyes are the windows to the soul, but I swear—hands are just as expressive.

“Senpai, you hungry?”

“Hmm… guess it’s lunchtime already. Wanna grab something?”

“Yes! Let’s eat!”

With that bright smile of hers, Mitsuki tugged on my hand and started walking ahead—basically dragging me along behind her.

Now that I thought about it, she’d been leading the way this whole time.

As I looked at her from behind, I could tell—even from just her back—that she was really enjoying herself.

And yet…

I didn’t know if I should be happy about that or not.

Which kinda sucked.

“S-So hey, Mitsuki…”

“Yes?”

“Lunch is on me.”

“Huh? Where’s that coming from all of a sudden, Haru-senpai?”

“I mean… it just doesn’t feel right making a girl pay, y’know…”

To be honest, my dad gives me more allowance than a high schooler probably needs.

Maybe it’s because he feels bad for being away all the time for work…

Or maybe he’s just trying to look cool.

I’ve got no idea.

Either way, I get more than enough pocket money compared to most kids my age.

In other words—

I don’t even need a part-time job to have fun.

And since I’m not exactly the type to blow cash left and right, I’ve built up a decent little savings stash.

Even if it’s just a single date, going to the movies and grabbing lunch would probably hit a regular high schooler’s wallet pretty hard…

So I figured I’d at least offer.

But then—

“It’s totally fine, Senpai!”

“…You sure?”

“Yup! Because… I’m kind of a mini-influencer online.”

“…Huh?”

It was a term I’d never heard before, so I tilted my head a little.

“Hmm, well… you know how people post stuff on social media and get followers?”

“…I don’t use social media.”

The moment I said that, Mitsuki’s eyes went wide.

“Whaaa?! You don’t?!”

“…Nope.”

“So that’s why I could never find your account, Senpai…”

Mitsuki mumbled that under her breath, then quickly perked up and continued.

“B-But still, even you know what social media is, right, Senpai?”

“I mean, yeah, obviously.”

“Well, that’s where I make my money!”

“Huh, seriously? I didn’t know you could do that. How?”

“You know… I’m cute, right?”

“Yeah, true.”

When I nodded without thinking, Mitsuki’s face turned bright red—

And she jabbed me hard in the side.

“W-Why’d you agree with that?! You’re supposed to tease me or something!”

“I mean… you are cute, so…”

I hadn’t gotten much sleep, and the movie didn’t help either.

At this point, I didn’t have the brainpower to sugarcoat anything.

“B-Because I’m cute and all… companies reach out to me, asking stuff like, ‘Can you use our product in a post?’”

Still blushing, she said it like she was trying not to sound too proud…

But was definitely showing off just a little.

“So you get paid just by using the stuff?”

“Yup! It’s basically advertising.”

“That’s wild…”

It honestly felt like I’d just gotten a peek into a completely different world.

Can’t believe someone I personally know is doing that kind of job.

“So yeah! You really don’t need to worry about it, okay?”

“O-Oh… alright then. Got it.”

The moment I nodded, Mitsuki suddenly stopped walking.

“This place has really good lunch! I’ve been wanting to come here for a while!”

“Wow, you know some fancy spots, huh.”

“I did a lot of research!”

Apparently, Mitsuki had made a reservation ahead of time.

As soon as we walked in, she gave her name to the staff, and we were promptly shown to our seats.

“…You’re really prepared, huh.”

“Well yeah—this is my first date with you, Senpai. I didn’t want anything to go wrong.”

She smiled so sweetly when she said that, and I swear—my stomach twisted with guilt.

“R-Right. First date and all…”

This first date she was putting so much thought into…

And I’d already decided I was going to come clean about the whole coffee thing.

Yeah. I’d made up my mind.

“Someday, when we’re married, I wanna eat lunch on our anniversary and look back on today. Wouldn’t that be so romantic?”

“…Yeah.”

…Maybe I could wait.

Maybe I didn’t have to tell her today.

But no. That’d just be running away.

Delaying the inevitable.

I had to tell her.

She might get mad.

No—she’d probably be hurt.

“Haru-senpai.”

“Hm?”

“I just wanted to say your name.”

She flashed me a cheeky little grin that totally caught me off guard.

“H-Hey, stuff like that’s off-limits.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s too cute.”

“…”

Mitsuki blinked like she hadn’t expected that answer at all.
She just stared at me for a moment—then quickly pulled herself together and smiled again.

“…M-Mou! Haru-senpai, you totally think calling me cute is gonna make me happy, don’t you!”

“N-No, that’s not it…”

“You’re saying it way too much today! You never say it normally!”

“You want me to say it more often?”

I tossed the question back without thinking, and the second I did—

her expression twisted like, “Ah—crap.”

Then, slowly… she nodded.

“O-Of course I do… I wanna hear it.”

“Okay, then I’ll make sure to say it from now on.”

“N-No! Don’t! Don’t say it!”

“Which is it?!”

“Because… because Haru-senpai never says stuff like that! That’s why it means so much when you do! Your ‘cute’ is super rare and valuable!”

“…Huh?”

“So if you just go tossing it around like candy, the value drops! Inflation! No—deflation! It’s a cuteness deflation crisis!!”

…I have no idea what she’s talking about anymore.

“Well, uh… if you say so…”

“B-But! On special days like today, I do want you to say it!”

“…Alright.”

I nodded at her earnest little request…

But part of me couldn’t help wondering—

Was that her way of saying there’d be more “special days” like this in the future?

That thought honestly gave me chills.