I Want a Girlfriend who Won’t Betray Me - Chapter 10

Quick Recovery

When we arrive at the cafeteria,

“Shinonome, we’ll go ahead and grab a seat.”

Koiwai-san has a bag of bento for two in her hands.  I see, so that’s how it is. I decide to get the karaage set meal again.

Then, I walk over to the table where the two of them are sitting.

“Kanbayashi, am I intruding?”

“Not at all. Karen’s happy about it too, right?”

“Yeah, I’m happy to be able to eat with the most handsome guy in school.”

“By the way, Shinonome, what about Kisaragi-san?”

“Ah, I won’t be eating with her anymore. She’ll probably have lunch with Goto or someone else.”

“I see.”

“Ah, so that’s how it is.”

What exactly do these two just come to an understanding about?

“Well, those two have been together since middle school, so it can’t be helped. Shinonome, if you’re looking for a girlfriend, should I introduce you to one of Karen’s friends?”

“Yeah, yeah, if it’s you, Shinonome-kun, I bet no one will even remember the word ‘no’.”

“I’ll just take that as a kind gesture.”

“Alright, if you ever change your mind, just let me know.”

After that, we excitedly talk about the cultural festival and the afterparty. Though, it’s really embarrassing for me.

Before I knew it, for some reason, there are a lot of girls gathered around us. Why?

After finishing lunch with those two, I figure I shouldn’t keep getting in their way, so I stand up and leave early. As I’m heading to the side of the cafeteria, I see Kisaragi-san eating with Goto.

If I had known from the beginning, I wouldn’t have let myself get my hopes up.

The afternoon classes have ended. Once the bell rings, I put my bag over my shoulder and stand up from my seat.

As I’m about to leave the classroom—

“Wakana, let’s go home.”

It seems that Goto has come to pick up Wakana. He glances at me briefly before walking over to her side.

“I see. So that’s how it is.”

“The childhood friend has left him out of the picture.”

“Well, it’s never really possible from the start.”

The three girls are whispering among themselves again.

Say whatever you want.

I go to the school entrance, where Yatsugashira-san is waiting.

“Shinonome-kun, shall we head home?”

“Yeah.”

I feel a few glances from people around us, but I ignore them and leave the school building.

I walk to the station with Yatsugashira-san and go to a nearby family restaurant.

We both order drinks from the self-serve bar.

“I’m so happy. I finally get to talk to you, Shinonome-kun. Back in middle school, we were in different classes. Then, you went to the US just after three months. I never even had a chance to talk to you. Back then, you only had your eyes for Kisaragi-san, right?”

“Well, I guess that’s true.”

“But you know, even back then, you were really popular among the girls because you’re so handsome, Shinonome-kun. But, as they say, rumors only last seventy-five days, and people gradually start to forget about you. Meeting you again at this school is nothing short of a miracle.”

“How many people from that middle school came to this high school?”

“From that middle school? Let’s see, probably not even thirty. This school is pretty tough to get into.”

I see. That makes sense.

“Hey, do you have a girlfriend over there?”

“I was still in middle school when I moved to the US, you know? I was in a completely unfamiliar place. Just keeping up with the classes was tough enough, I didn’t have time for that.”

At that moment, a certain American girl comes to mind, but that’s all in the past now.

Yatsugashira-san keeps asking me about my life over there. But before I knew it, it’s already almost 6 PM.

“It’s getting late. Should we head back now?”

“Eh, it’s already this late?”

Yatsugashira-san checks the time on her phone as she says so.

“I got so caught up in the conversation. Hey, I want to talk with you more, Shinonome-kun. Can we be friends?”

“I don’t mind being friends at all.”

“Really? Then, can we go watch a movie together next time?”

“We might still need some time to get there.”

“Yeah, you’re right. Then, how about we meet more often at school or here?”

“No, school is a bit much.”

“Eh, well, I guess there’s no other way. Then, let’s meet outside little by little.”

“Yeah, let’s do that.”

After that, I meet with Yatsugashira-san about once a week here to talk. Sometimes, we’d pretend to run into each other and chat in the cafeteria.

Thanks to that, I feel like I’m able to move on from Wakana and forget about her much faster.