I Was Oblivious to the Subtle ‘Yandere’ Side of My Nonchalant Sex Friend Gyaru - Chapter 18-19

Chapter 18: 

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“…Idiot.”

Day after day, no matter how many times I came to see him, nothing changed. No matter how many times we pressed our bodies together, I couldn’t tell whether our hearts were getting closer or drifting farther apart.

How long are we going to keep doing this? How long can we even stay like this?

“…Good night.”

I murmured the words with my back still turned to him, but all I could hear was his quiet breathing. I felt a small sense of relief and a small sense of disappointment, too.

Clutching the keychain he’d given me, I closed my eyes.

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“…Mm.”

When I woke up, it was still dim outside, but Kurenai was no longer beside me.

When did she leave? She hadn’t seemed in a good mood yesterday. No matter the reason, maybe it really was bad of me to make her wait without saying anything.

Next time I should let her know in advance… But then again, the problem was her contact information. I had to ask for her contact information first. Would she even give it to me? She seemed like she’d hate that kind of thing.

“…Huh?”

As my eyes adjusted to the darkness, I noticed something on the desk. Sitting there was a sandwich wrapped in plastic wrap on a plate. Beside it was a single piece of paper.

『Thanks for the keychain.』

Those few words were written in neat handwriting.

“…She didn’t have to do something like this.”

Scratching my head to wake myself up, I picked up the sandwich and took a bite.

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“Morning, Minato! Look, look, isn’t this cute?”

It was morning. As soon as I got to the classroom, Yumekawa came rushing over to show me the keychain hanging from her bag.

“That’s the one I got yesterday.”

“Jeez, your reaction is so dull. Hey, Minato, what did you do with yours?”

“…Nothing. I’m not gonna put it on anything.”

“Ehh? But it’s so cute! Well, I guess you don’t really seem like you’re into romance or love anyway.”

“What’s that supposed to have to do with the keychain?”

“Huh, you don’t know? They say if you have Lover Rabbits goods, there’s a charm that helps you get together with the person you like—it’s all the rage nowadays!”

“I don’t care how popular it is, I’ve never heard of that.”

I wouldn’t have even known the name if the manager hadn’t told me. Still, it probably was true that it was trending. When I looked more closely, I noticed several classmates’ bags hanging beside their desks also had rabbit keychains or buttons on them.

If charms like that actually worked, nobody would struggle with love.

I thought in exasperation as I quickly took my seat. Then, for some reason, Asou-san’s face floated into my mind.

“Morning.”

Just then, Kurenai came into the classroom. Of course, the first one to call out to her was Yumekawa.

“Morning, Yuzu! Oh wow, Yuzu, you’ve got one too!”

Startled by Yumekawa’s loud voice, I looked over at Kurenai and saw a keychain hanging from her bag. It was the same rabbit keychain I had given her yesterday.

So she did like it, but if she was wearing it, then maybe that meant she also had someone she liked…

“What’s with you, Arisu? It’s just a keychain, I can wear one if I want.”

“Hehe~ I’ve got the same one too! So, Yuzu, is there someone you’re interested in?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Eh? You really don’t know? That’s weird.. It’s super popular right now.”

Kurenai looked a little exasperated at Yumekawa, tilting her head in confusion, and quietly took her seat.

Well, that figures.

I couldn’t imagine Kurenai actually believing in charms or anything like that, and as for love… I wondered if she even cared about it. 

Someone like Yumekawa having a crush wouldn’t be surprising, but… Someone Kurenai liked, huh. If she ever found someone like that… What would happen to us? Would she just naturally stop coming over to my place?

…Well, it’s probably pointless to even think about it.

Besides, if I asked her, she’d probably just say something like, “What’s that supposed to mean, gross.” She’d probably come over again today. And like always, we’d hold each other, and once it was over, she’d leave. 

That was fine by me. For now, that was enough…

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Chapter 19: 

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“Ah, Aoyama-kun.”

It was lunchtime. After buying bread at the school store as usual, I was wandering around looking for a quiet spot when I ran into Asou-san.

“Hello.”

“You’re as cool as ever. By the way, you’ve got work today, right?”

“Yeah, I do. Did something happen again?”

“Nope, nothing since then. I haven’t even gotten a message. I guess he gave up.”

She chuckled softly, taking out her phone, and I caught sight of a familiar strap hanging from it.

“…You like that kind of stuff too, Asou-san?”

“Huh, you know about Lover Rabbits, Aoyama-kun?”

“Are you that surprised I know?”

“Well, you’ve always got that ‘I have zero interest in cute stuff’ look on your face.”

“What kind of look is that? I just know because people around me were talking about it.”

“Ah, that makes sense. I only have it because a friend recommended it, but honestly, I’m not a big fan of the design.”

“I get that. I don’t see what’s cute about it at all.”

“Right? We’re really on the same wavelength about these things.”

She giggled, flicking the strap with her finger.

“See you after school.”

She said before heading off toward the second-year building.

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It was right after school. Just as always, Kurenai was about to leave the classroom ahead of everyone when a male classmate called out to stop her.

“Hey, Kurenai. Do you have time after school today?”

He looked nervous, his eyes locked on her seriously. If I remembered right, he was Yoshioka from the tennis club.

“What is it?”

“Ah, um… Do you… Have a boyfriend or anything?”

Even as Kurenai gave him a cold look, Yoshioka forced out his question, and the class buzzed with whispers.

“I don’t. Why?”

“…Then, would you go out with me? I’ve liked you for a long time.”

His sudden confession was followed by a chorus of “Ooooh!” from the classmates. But that excited atmosphere ended just as quickly.

“I’m not interested.”

Leaving only those words behind, Kurenai swiftly left the classroom. Everyone awkwardly avoided the stunned Yoshioka as they scattered from the room.

Shoulders slumped, Yoshioka eventually trudged out, too. After watching the entire scene unfold, I slowly left the classroom myself.

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“Ah.”

When I got home, Kurenai was already standing outside the apartment, which was unusual of her.

“…Good job today.”

“I came straight home today though.”

“I don’t feel like I was kept waiting or anything either.”

Even as she said that, Kurenai still looked a little irritated.

“Well, come on in. I’ve got my part-time job today.”

“You’re working with that Asou person again?”

“Yeah, I’m usually on the same shift as her.”

“I see.”

Once inside, Kurenai headed straight for the bed. She plopped down hard, and the keychain hanging from her bag swayed back and forth. She flicked it with her finger, just like Asou-san had done at lunch, but looked kind of bored as she did.

“…Were you close with Yoshioka?”

I found myself asking.

“Jealous again?”

“It’s not that… Well, I guess you could call it jealousy.”

There was a feeling I couldn’t shake somewhere deep down. It was probably the selfish desire to think of Kurenai as mine alone. Because of that, I’d felt uneasy watching that confession today.

If Kurenai had accepted it… It would be a lie to say that thought hadn’t scared me.

“You don’t like your sex friend becoming someone else’s property?”

“…I know it’s selfish. But yeah, maybe that’s it.”

“Hmph.”

She flicked the keychain one more time. Then Kurenai slipped off her outer garment smoothly.

“I don’t need a shower today.”

Hearing her say that, and seeing her looking up at me with those eyes, made my heart pound harder than usual. As she was just starting to undress, I gently pushed her down onto the bed.

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