I Was Cheated on by My Girlfriend but My Devilish Junior Now Yearns for Me - Chapter 102

Chapter 102   Reina’s Request

“Did you properly accept Mayu-chan’s mock relationship proposal?”

On the way back from the club, Reina asked while holding two taiyaki in her hands. She handed me one filled with custard, and I gratefully accepted it.

“Taiyaki with custard is the best.”

“Traditionally, it’s red bean paste, but custard is popular too. You can’t eat red bean paste, right, Yuuta?”

Reina added, “Even though it’s so delicious,” before taking a small bite of her taiyaki.

It’s not that I can’t eat red bean paste, but if I’m spending my money, I’d much rather go for custard. The blend of the dough and the Western-style sweetness is just perfect. Taiyaki is deceptively deep, with so many ways to enjoy it.

As I was about to elaborate on this, Reina gently placed her palm against my mouth.

“Stop. You’re going off-topic again.”

“Mmph…”

It was only then I realized I’d derailed the conversation. In my head, I was crafting a response, but it seems I’d gotten lost in thought.

Once the sweetness of the custard had mostly faded from my mouth, I finally spoke.

“I’d rather turn her down, but do I really have to go along with her request?”

Since being asked for this mock relationship, I’d focused on club activities for the time being. Shinohara wasn’t here right now because I claimed we had a reservation at a place we’d planned to visit together. If Shinohara were present, any discussion about this would either stall or take a bizarre turn.

At first, Shinohara had resisted, but the magic of the word “reservation” ultimately won her over, and she ended up participating in the club activity, mingling and bonding with everyone there. The club members welcomed her warmly, a testament to her exceptional social skills.

Unlike Ayaka, who navigates the world with calculated charm, Shinohara’s warmth and friendliness are completely natural. That genuineness is both her strength and her weakness. Among all the people I’ve met so far, no one quite compares to someone like her. Even after a few months of knowing her, her presence still feels fresh.

Reina seemed to be thinking along the same lines and smiled softly. “It’s amazing how quickly Mayu-chan gets along with everyone.”

“Having someone as genuine as her look up to you is definitely a treasure,” Reina added.

Reluctantly, I nodded in agreement. It annoyed me to admit it, but Shinohara’s presence was undeniably significant to me. From the moment I got to know her, I started feeling grateful for her companionship. That’s why I bought her a wallet as a thank-you gift, even though it was a considerable expense.

At the time, the gratitude was purely for the way she’d helped me with everyday life. But recently, my appreciation for Shinohara has been changing subtly.

In other words—it’s turning into gratitude simply for having her by my side.

The thought of Shinohara lingers constantly in the corner of my mind.

It’s not just because we’ve grown close, it’s because I’ve caught glimpses of qualities in her that I don’t possess.

She expresses her feelings and thoughts honestly, through both words and actions. Despite her personality being so different from mine, she has an uncanny knack for adjusting to others. As a result, the time we spend together has blended seamlessly into my everyday life.

Perhaps it’s because I’ve never been this close to someone like Shinohara before, but I frequently find myself struck by a sense of freshness. Strangely, that feeling is comforting too.

“But she’s a lot of work, you know. She even charged straight at you before, Reina… Sorry about that.”

Reina chuckled softly. “Why are you the one apologizing, Yuuta?”

She smiled faintly before crumpling up the paper that had held her taiyaki.

“Like I said earlier, though, I was happy to see Mayu-chan standing up for you. She was really upset on your behalf.”

Reina began absentmindedly combing her fingers through her ash-gray hair, tucking it neatly behind her ear. The sunlight glinted off her left earring, making it sway gently.

“But maybe it’s part of a senior’s duty to apologize for what their junior does. I like that kind of dynamic,” she added wistfully.

“Really?”

Her tone carried a hint of envy, which caught me off guard. Reina was part of the archery club, and she’d been in a club during high school too. Surely, she must have had at least one or two juniors looking up to her.

“From how Shinohara acts around you, I’d say you’re the type who’s popular with younger people too. You’ve got this aura that your peers can’t really pull off.”

I meant it as a compliment, based on how well Reina got along with her juniors, but she shook her head.

“I’m not really the nurturing type. I try my best to dote on them, of course, but compatibility matters. Athletic clubs tend to favor lively seniors, you know?”

“Huh… I guess that makes sense.”

Hearing her perspective, I could see her point. Reina does seem more suited to cultural clubs than athletic ones. Even though archery technically counts as a sport, I’d always imagined it attracting quieter, more composed people. Perhaps her archery club wasn’t quite like that.

“…Actually, that was a lie. Forget what I just said.”

“Huh?”

“I admit it. I tried to make an excuse, pretending I had a reasonable explanation for not having any close juniors. I was just trying to save face.”

With that, Reina lightly tapped herself on the head. The gesture was so effortlessly cute that it might have made any nearby male students do a double take, but thankfully, no one was watching.

“If you hadn’t said that, I never would’ve guessed,” I admitted honestly. Reina responded with a small laugh.

“Maybe not. But I’ve decided something. I rushed into saying it earlier, but still… unless it’s something really extreme, I’ve decided to be honest about what I’m thinking when I talk to you, Yuuta.”

“I see.”

Reina is trying to change. Making a conscious effort to alter your behavior requires significant mental strength and doesn’t happen overnight. I understand how difficult that process is, and I should probably feel guilty that her resolve stems from something that happened between us.

And yet—

“Hey, Yuuta,” she called out.

“W-what?”

“You seem a little happy, don’t you?”

As she said that, Reina gently touched my cheek with her fingertip. Even though this could’ve been a moment for annoyance, she just smiled at me softly, as always.

“You’re pretty proactive, Reina.”

“That depends on the situation. For me, this is one of those ‘if not now, then when’ moments. Just like Mayu-chan.”

She spoke in a light tone, then continued.

“So, Yuuta, will you go along with Mayu-chan’s request and be her pretend boyfriend for two days?”

“Wait, how did we get back to that?”

Thrown off by the sudden return to the topic, I could only flounder as Reina chuckled softly.

“I’ve decided to take a gamble. You see, despite how I might seem, I’m very aware of where I stand. I probably have a good grasp of how much I mean to you right now, Yuuta.”

“What are you even saying? That’s kind of terrifying.”

“T-terrifying? That’s… a little hurtful, actually,” she said, her eyebrows drooping as she looked down, disheartened.

Panicking, I quickly shook my head.

“S-sorry, my bad. That wasn’t what I meant—I was just trying to cover up my embarrassment.”

Admitting that I’d been trying to hide my embarrassment was, in itself, incredibly embarrassing. But now wasn’t the time to worry about that. I needed to clear up the misunderstanding. Just as I tried to elaborate further, Reina lifted her face—and she was smiling, a truly radiant smile.

“I know, I get it. Sorry, I just couldn’t resist teasing you a little.”

“…Y-you little devil. Where’d you pick up a trick like that?”

“I just figured Mayu-chan would probably say something like this.”

––Honestly, she probably would. In fact, I’m almost certain I’ve had nearly identical exchanges with Shinohara before.

“So… you can actually plan that kind of thing out, huh?”

“Of course! Stuff like this is totally normal communication for girls. Although, if it’s not a one-on-one moment, it can be risky.”

“Risky how?”

“If other girls are around, they might gossip and call you manipulative or fake. These days, being the cool, straightforward type has better social standing.”

“And on top of that, guys might fall for you even if you’re not trying to make them.”

I added to Reina’s explanation.

With behavior like hers just now, it wouldn’t be strange for a guy to misinterpret it as romantic interest. From a detached perspective, it’s clear that’s not the case, but when you’re on the receiving end, it’s easy to jump to the convenient conclusion that “this must mean she has feelings for me.”

Flirty or mischievous behavior like that—whether intentional or not—can easily make a guy’s heart race. And if the person acting that way is someone like Shinohara or Reina, the effect is only amplified.

However, if the girl isn’t even aware of how she’s coming across, misunderstandings can lead to messy outcomes.

“Mayu-chan’s been through some tough experiences too, it seems,” Reina remarked.

“Did she tell you something?”

“Just bits and pieces. I didn’t press for details.”

“Yeah, that makes sense.”

Shinohara doesn’t talk much about her past.

I used to be the same way. Back then, I wouldn’t share anything about my past, and I didn’t think much about Shinohara’s reluctance to do so either. I figured she’d talk about it when she was ready—or not at all—and that was fine.

But now, I find myself wanting to know more about her.

She once told me how much she values the feeling of being trusted. Similarly, the root of my curiosity about her comes from the same place—I just want to understand her better.

I genuinely want to know more about Shinohara.

The person I know now is the Shinohara of the present, and her past doesn’t change that. Still, it’s also true that the person she is today has been shaped by her past. Because I like who she is now, I naturally want to learn about the experiences that made her this way.

I don’t say this out loud, since I don’t want her to feel burdened or uncomfortable, but that’s the honest truth of how I feel.

“This is a personal request from me. Please, listen to Mayu-chan’s request, okay?”

“I feel like it’s just some kind of joke, though. To take it seriou—”

“Hey!”

Reina lightly pinched my cheek. It didn’t hurt at all, but the soft sensation of her delicate fingertips lingered faintly.

“Ow—”

“Got it now?”

…Could someone really say something as wild as “go date another girl, even if it’s fake” with such a dazzling smile?

Her voice carried a confidence that I’d give in, even as her eyes glanced up at me, watching my reaction carefully.

“…Are you really okay with this?”

“I’m the one asking you, after all.”

No matter how I responded to this “fake relationship” idea, Shinohara was bound to show up at my place anyway. I had already planned to turn her down firmly when the time came.

Shinohara is the type who wouldn’t cross a line once it’s clearly drawn. That’s the very reason this odd connection between us exists at all—she knows how to navigate the boundaries between us.

“Yuuta-kun, I’m asking this as a favor.”

“Fine, fine, I get it.”

Resigned, I raised both hands in surrender.

A fake relationship—an idea that reeks of a lack of moral integrity. Even so, it’s not like anyone else will find out. And if it’s only for a short time, I doubt anything catastrophic will happen.

“So, Reina, what’s your gamble in all this?”

When I asked, she walked over to a trash bin by the side of the road and tossed her crumpled paper into it. I followed suit, discarding my trash as well.

“That’s a secret.”

Her answer came from her back, her voice bright and carefree.

But somewhere within that cheerful tone, I thought I could sense a different emotion mixed in.