I Was Cheated on by My Girlfriend but My Devilish Junior Now Yearns for Me - Chapter 32

Chapter 32   Valentines Party 3

After parting ways with Natsuki, I found myself surprisingly enjoying the party. By the time I had been paired with four people, including Natsuki, the organizer’s voice echoed through the hall.

“We’ll now take a short break. Restrooms are down the hallway to the right…”

“Oh man, it was just getting fun,” the girl I was talking to complained.

Though we were only chatting about small talk, I felt like this was the most engaging conversation I’d had all night. Of course, that could have just been my own wishful thinking, but it seemed I wasn’t mistaken. The girl pulled out a decorated package from her bag.

“Here, this is for you.”

“Huh? Really?”

Seeing my surprise, the girl laughed lightly, her earrings swaying as she did.

“Yep! I had fun talking to you. Judging by your reaction, this is your first chocolate today?”

“Yeah, first one. Everyone’s been having fun, but at the end of it, it’s always been just, ‘See ya!'”

“I get that. I think I know how everyone feels.”

She placed the package in my hand and stretched up a little.

“People don’t really dive into deeper conversations, you know? It’s fun, but it doesn’t feel like it’s going to go anywhere beyond that for most of them.”

“Wait, other guys actually try to get into deeper conversations?”

“Yeah, they do. You’re the first person I’ve met who only stuck to small talk.”

I was surprised, thinking small talk was the norm for meeting new people. But it made sense that at parties like this, people might intentionally bring up more personal topics to build a connection faster.

“I think I’m the same as you. I don’t really like diving into deep topics with someone I just met. So, it was a comfortable time for me.”

“Oh, uh, thanks.”

Feeling a little embarrassed, I became restless. The girl seemed to be waiting for me to say something more, but when she realized I wasn’t going to, she smiled softly.

“Let’s meet again sometime.”

“Yeah, sure.”

The girl disappeared back into the lively crowd.

As the break began, the once unified atmosphere in the hall became more scattered, with everyone doing their own thing. After confirming that the girl was no longer in sight, I stretched a little, just like she had. The chocolate in my hand gave me a strange sense of validation, like it confirmed my presence here. It was light, but undeniably real.

As I looked down to admire the wrapping, I suddenly heard a voice behind me.

“So, you got some chocolate, huh?”

Ayaka was watching the package with interest.

The contents of her paper bag had dwindled, likely because she had already given chocolates to all her partners.

“Yeah, that girl was the first to give me some. I’m really happy.”

“Hmm. But judging by what just happened, it seemed like you were expecting something even better.”

I tilted my head in confusion, not understanding what Ayaka was getting at. She gave me an exasperated look.

“You’re such an idiot. That was the moment to ask for her contact info.”

“Huh? Why?”

“Because the conversation was going well, wasn’t it? I wasn’t watching you two, so I don’t know the exact reason, but I could tell she was waiting for you to ask.”

Maybe that’s why there was a brief awkward pause before we said goodbye. I started to regret missing the opportunity, but what’s done is done. I tried to play it cool, saying, “It’s fine. These things are just fleeting encounters anyway.”

Ayaka saw right through my bluff and laughed. To cover my embarrassment, I changed the topic, asking, “How long is the break again?”

“Ten minutes, I think. Hey, do you want to step outside for a bit? There are too many people here.”

Before I could respond, Ayaka was already heading for the exit. It was typical of her not to wait for my answer.

I had no choice but to follow her. The hallway split in two directions, and the side without the restrooms was mostly empty. Leaning against the wall, I let out a yawn.

“Looks like you’re tired,” Ayaka remarked.

“Not really. Probably just sleepy.”

“I see. You know, you’re surprisingly good at talking to new people. I’ve thought that since high school.”

“Good? Nah, I’m just… normal. I talk, and sometimes the conversation gets interesting. Compared to you, though, I’m nowhere near as good.”

When I said that, Ayaka’s expression darkened.

“I’m not that good.”

“What do you mean? You’re always the center of attention.”

Wherever Ayaka was, there was always laughter. I figured if she could join a group of strangers and lighten the mood, it would make things easier for everyone.

But she shook her head.

“Sure, it might look like that. But I can’t talk as openly with others as I do with you. If you’re looking for a relationship, it’s easier to show your true self from the start. In that sense, I’m kind of jealous of how you can just be yourself and build connections from there.”

“I try to be upbeat with new people, too. I’m not as open with them as I am with you.”

“…Maybe. Well, I guess it’s just ‘the grass is always greener.'”

“Yeah, that’s it.”

I nodded in agreement with her words.

There’s no textbook for how to navigate life. I used to wish someone would teach it like they do with subjects in school, breaking it down into manageable parts. But the only lessons you get are from essays that most students would never think to read.

Still, I’ve learned a lot just from watching Ayaka.

Maybe the best way to pick up life skills is to absorb them from those around you.

“It’s a bit early, but should we head back? Ten minutes flies by.”

“Yeah, we can’t hear the host from here anyway.”

“I’m going to use the restroom first, so go ahead and enter without me. Oh, and take this bag of chocolates. Don’t drop it.”

Ayaka handed me the paper bag and headed toward the restroom.

As I re-entered the hall, the chatter of students greeted me. The dim lighting seemed designed to create a certain mood. About an hour had passed since the Valentine’s party started, with two more hours remaining on the schedule. There was still an hour left of the activity where participants form pairs and exchange chocolates, so I planned to stay at least until then.

I moved toward a better-lit area, which turned out to be the drink counter. I remembered the host mentioning that the entry ticket also served as a drink voucher. I tore off the voucher and handed it to the staff.

“What would you like from the menu?” the staff asked.

“Uh, a Screwdriver,” I said, ordering one of the few cocktail names I actually knew. A Screwdriver is a vodka-based cocktail mixed with orange juice. If it were gin-based, it would be called an Orange Blossom, but I couldn’t really tell the difference in taste yet.

I took the Screwdriver and sipped a bit to avoid spilling. The drink went down smoothly, and despite its easy taste, I’d heard it was known for its higher alcohol content, earning it the nickname “a ladies’ killer.” I wondered how many of the female university students here knew that, and as I looked around, I saw a few people already downing their drinks.

That’s when I spotted Motosaka. He had a glass in hand and was chatting up a girl, likely trying to flirt. The girl, smiling at his cheerful request, “Let’s exchange Line contacts,” was already pulling out her phone, looking pleased. It seemed like such a lighthearted approach was perfectly fine with someone you’ve just met.

As long as he didn’t act like he was at a Christmas party mixer, Motosaka seemed much better at handling people than I was. He probably had more chocolates than me too.

This Valentine’s party was turning out to be harsher than I expected. Since the men had to put their belongings in coin lockers, it was easy to tell how many chocolates each guy had received. During the break, the people still chatting and having fun usually had multiple chocolates. I’d heard before that women are instinctively drawn to men who are popular, and seeing this in person made me want to nod in agreement.

As I was thinking about this, Natsuki came into view. She had already given away her chocolates to someone, as her hands were empty. She was chatting casually with a girl whose back seemed vaguely familiar to me.

No, I recognized her the moment I saw her. I just couldn’t believe it at first.

When Natsuki noticed me, she whispered something to the girl. The girl approached me, her expression a mix of hesitation and a smile.

“Yuuta… you’re here.”

It was my second encounter with Reina Aisaka since we broke up.