I Was Cheated on by My Girlfriend but My Devilish Junior Now Yearns for Me - Chapter 64

Chapter 64   Relationship with the Little Devil

After finishing the ramen, I headed straight home. Yet, for some reason, Shinohara was lying on the floor in front of me. She was getting comfortable, as usual, so I couldn’t help but ask her.

“Why did you follow me?”

“How mean!”

Shinohara closed the manga she was about to read with a snap.

“Didn’t you already have plans with Natsuki? Normally, you’d go to her place, right?”

“I can have dinner with Natsuki-san anytime.”

“You can come to my place anytime, too.”

At this, Shinohara wagged her finger at me.

“You don’t get it, Senpai. Today is a once-in-a-lifetime day! It’s only natural to want to spend such a precious day satisfying my desires.”

“Huh, I see.”

“Don’t brush it off!”

She flailed her arms and legs in protest, so I handed her a vegetable juice I grabbed from the fridge. I took a sip from my own straw, letting the drink slide down my throat. After eating such unhealthy food, I could feel the nutrients soaking into my body, and I let out a small sigh of relief.

“Senpai’s place is always so nice.”

“You think so?”

It’s fine for the two of us to hang out, but it’s not a very spacious room. Once I start working, I want to rent a one-bedroom apartment, even if I’m living alone. Since I like spending time at home, this room doesn’t exactly meet my expectations.

“Yes, it’s clean too.”

“That’s thanks to you.”

“True. But there’s an even better reason.”

“What’s that?”

Shinohara lay on her back, then turned her face toward me.

“Because you’re relaxing in the same space with me, Senpai!”

… If I took words like this seriously, it would never end. My relationship with Shinohara was different from my relationship with Ayaka. With Shinohara, our dynamic was maintained by me not taking her words too seriously. It’s a peculiar relationship. Normally, I’d just let comments like this slide.

But after realizing earlier that Natsuki didn’t seem to like me, hearing such a kind, affectionate statement felt especially heartwarming.

—I really am spoiled.

“Thanks for everything, as always.”

“…What’s up, Senpai?”

Shinohara sat up and placed the manga on the bed. Just as I was about to tell her to put back what she took from the bookshelf, she seemed to sense something and spoke first.

“Let me say one thing.”

“Hm?”

“I enjoy spending time with you more.”

“…Yeah, you already mentioned that’s why you came over.”

“You looked like you were feeling down, so I said it again! Don’t give me such a calm response, say something with more emotion!”

Shinohara walked over to the fridge, grumbling about how I’m always so calm. She’d chosen to spend time with me instead of with Natsuki because she found it more enjoyable. The fact that she was here now proved that was her honest feeling. And so, I couldn’t help but wonder—what exactly made Shinohara like me?

She peered into the fridge, sighed loudly when she saw it was empty, and I set aside my thoughts for a moment to respond.

“Don’t sigh. It can’t be helped.”

“Can’t be helped, huh?”

When Shinohara wasn’t around, I usually lived off convenience store meals and instant ramen. I knew full well that cooking for myself would be better for both my health and my wallet, but lately, I just couldn’t find the motivation. Living alone makes you appreciate your parents—and anyone who helps with chores—even more.

“But Senpai, if you had stocked up a bit while I wasn’t around, I could’ve made you a late-night snack in times like these.”

“…Seriously? I should’ve bought something. Well, there’s ice cream in the freezer.”

“I’m good, I’d get cold.”

She declined and lay back on a cushion, resting her head in a way that showed just how comfortable she was around me. As much as I didn’t want to admit it, I found her relaxed demeanor kind of endearing.

“Senpai, how about I come over and make you breakfast tomorrow?”

“Can I really ask you to do that?”

“Of course! I’d love to eat breakfast with you!”

The smile Shinohara showed me was one she hadn’t even shown Natsuki—completely carefree. Her words openly expressed affection, but when directed at me, I couldn’t accept them straightforwardly. Instead, I retreated into pointless thoughts that led nowhere.

Being around this junior, I realized something:

—It takes a certain capacity to properly accept someone’s affection.

I lack that capacity, which is probably why Shinohara feels comfortable enough to relax at my place without worry.

“…Pathetic.”

“Huh? Do you need a reason to want to eat breakfast?”

“That’s not what I meant!”

“Well, muttering ‘pathetic’ out of nowhere doesn’t exactly help me understand!”

“S-sorry, you’re right.”

Apologizing for her perfectly valid point, I found myself lost in thought again. With Ayaka, there had been specific moments, ‘triggers,’ that deepened our relationship. Because of those events, my bond with her made sense to me, and I felt truly comfortable with it.

But with Shinohara, there hadn’t been any such moments. There was no dramatic event that cemented us as close friends, nor any romantic confession. She simply grew attached to me, and here we are—so close, yet I don’t understand why.

Maybe that’s why I feel confused.

I know these thoughts are pointless and trivial, yet I can’t help but wonder:

—Why does she always choose to spend time with me?

“Shinohara, you’re pretty close with Natsuki, huh?”

“Yeah, we got along really well at work.”

“Do you know why you two are close?”

Shinohara tilted her head, clearly not understanding the intent behind my question.

“Do you really need a reason to be close to someone?”

“…Normally, I wouldn’t think about it either. But when it’s someone you’re especially close with, sometimes you do.”

I avoided specifying that I was talking about her. Shinohara thought for a moment before replying.

“Hmm. As for why I’m close with Natsuki… I guess it’s because she’s cute?”

“Huh?”

“…Why are you looking at me like I’ve lost my mind?”

Shinohara gave me a flat look before sitting cross-legged on the floor. She swayed her body back and forth, gazing up at the low ceiling.

“You know, Natsuki was a bit on edge today, more than usual.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. There were times at our part-time job when, if we got a flood of customers, Natsuki would get tense. She wouldn’t say anything, but you could tell she was annoyed with the other workers for being slow. It was never verbal, but since I was close to her, I could sense it.”

“I see…”

“Honestly, I don’t like people who get emotional like that.”

“Wha!?”

A weird sound slipped out of me. She didn’t even sugarcoat it by saying she ‘wasn’t fond’ of them—she outright said she disliked it. Shinohara noticed my reaction and hurriedly waved her hands.

“Oh, don’t get me wrong. I just don’t like emotional people, but that doesn’t mean I dislike Natsuki. It’s more like, if a stranger acted like that, I wouldn’t want anything to do with them.”

“Then why are you close with Natsuki?”

“I only realized she was like that after we got close. Don’t you have people like that too, where once you’ve become friends, even the parts you don’t like about them become kind of amusing?”

…Now that I think about it, maybe I do. Shinohara is a perfect example of this. Normally, I don’t like people barging into my private space like my home. I hate having my routine or pace disrupted by others—it’s hard for me to tolerate. But with Shinohara, it doesn’t really bother me.

As she said, once you’re close, you learn about those sides of a person. The depth of our relationship broke down the barriers I had built. And once I started accepting it, maintaining that relationship became easy.

My current relationship with Shinohara proves her point.

“…Yeah, that makes sense.”

When I responded, Shinohara nodded, satisfied.

“I like to stay close with people I’ve grown fond of.”

“What about Motosaka?”

I teased her with the question, and she pouted.

“That’s different—he betrayed me first. I’m not so naive as to stay loyal to someone like that.”

“Malice for malice. A straightforward, yet somehow elusive personality.”

“I have something I’d like to ask too, if that’s okay?”

Her tone was casual, like she just remembered something, and I replied with a short, “Hm?”

“Do you like Ayaka-senpai?”

“Pfft!”

I couldn’t help but spit out my drink at the sudden question. Shinohara jumped up in surprise.

“Wha-!? You seriously like her!?”

“N-no! Sure, we’re close, but it’s not like that—it’s not romantic!”

“But… if that’s the case, Senpai, you’re kind of weird, you know? Because Ayaka-senpai is super beautiful. Honestly, there aren’t many people who can top her in looks.”

I couldn’t argue with that. Even though we’ve been together since high school, there are still moments where she catches me off guard. If there’s a guy out there who doesn’t get flustered by her occasional displays of femininity, I’d like to meet him. Ayaka’s beauty is undeniable, so all I could do was nod along to Shinohara’s words.

“Yeah, maybe.”

“…Well, I’m cuter, though!”

“Why are you competing!?”

“It annoys me that you’re acknowledging how great Ayaka-senpai is!”

Shinohara turned her head away with a pout and crossed her arms. It was clear from today’s encounter that her relationship with Ayaka hadn’t improved at all. Even if I asked for the reason, Shinohara probably wouldn’t say anything. Ayaka had also mentioned she would explain eventually, but she hadn’t shown any signs of doing so yet.

…Well, there’s no need to rush it.

Even if the two of them don’t get along, it doesn’t really affect my relationship with either of them.

“So, leaving Ayaka-senpai aside, what was it that you were trying to say, Senpai?”

I hesitated for a moment before shaking my head.

“…I don’t know.”

Asking why she’s so close to me—it was just a passing thought, nothing more.

When I brushed it off, Shinohara responded with a wry smile.

“What’s with that?”

As I watched her lie down again, I had a vague thought: if I had put my curiosity into words and asked her what I really wanted to know, maybe our relationship would’ve changed just a little.