I Was Oblivious to the Subtle ‘Yandere’ Side of My Nonchalant Sex Friend Gyaru - Chapter 20-21

Chapter 20: 

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“Haa…”

“Oh my, it’s rare to hear you sigh.”

I was at work with Asou-san. While spacing out in the quiet restaurant, what floated through my mind was Kurenai.

She’d been unusually assertive today. I’d been more eager than usual myself, but… Today was especially intense. Maybe I was still caught up in the afterglow, because I couldn’t get her out of my head.

“It’s not something I’d call a problem, really.”

“But you did have something on your mind, right? Could it be…It’s about the girl you were with the other day?”

“You mean Yumekawa? There’s nothing going on between us.”

“Judging from how you word it, then that means there’s someone else.”

“…There isn’t.”

I felt like I could tell Asou-san anything. But in the end, I swallowed my words, deciding it was better not to. Asou-san herself had suffered because a guy she liked treated her like a sex friend. It would be wildly inappropriate to talk to her about my own situation with a sex friend.

After all, I was doing exactly the same thing as that guy. Even if I tried to pretend I was pure, what I was doing was worse than any random womanizer. And yet here I was, feeling jealous—what a joke.

“Hmph. You could talk to me, you know.”

“I’m telling you, there’s nothing.”

“Is that so? Well then, will you walk me home again today? If you don’t have a girlfriend, there’s no problem, right?”

“Even if I did have one, this and that are entirely different matters. If something happened to you, it’d be bad.”

“You’re worried about me.”

“Well, it’d be a problem if you couldn’t come to work.”

“…I see.”

Looking unamused, she headed into the kitchen. After that, the restaurant stayed quiet as usual, but working while wondering if Asou-san’s ex might show up was exhausting. In the end, he never came, and we safely finished our shift. The two of us left the shop together.

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“Thanks again for everything.”

As we walked down the night road after leaving the shop, Asou-san murmured as she stretched.

“It’s nothing, really.”

“But you go out of your way to walk me home.”

“It’s good exercise. Gotta stay active or I’ll get sluggish.”

“See? This is what I’m talking about.”

“What do you mean?”

“Hmm… I’m talking about this.”

She looked at the strap dangling from her bag and muttered.

“Hey-”

As I tilted my head, wondering what she meant, her apartment came into view.

“…Someone’s there.”

I was the first to notice the figure ahead. I couldn’t tell who it was at first, but from the look on Asou-san’s face, she knew immediately.

“Masaya…”

It was the first time I’d heard that name. But when I focused my eyes on that figure, I recognized who it was right away. It was the college student who’d come to our shop before.

Asou-san’s ex-boyfriend.

“Mariko!”

As soon as he spotted us, he hurried over with a panicked look on his face.

“Mariko, come on, stop being mad. That girl forced her way over, it wasn’t what you think—”

He was so focused on Asou-san he didn’t even seem to see me, who was standing in front of her. He desperately made excuses while Asou-san, shoulders trembling, looked back at him with steely eyes.

“…It’s fine already. I’m not angry anymore.”

“R-really? Then—”

“I don’t even want to be angry. Once you lose interest, you realize just how little it matters.”

“W-what’s that supposed to mean? Are you serious right now?”

“Do you honestly think I still like you, Masaya? That’s impossible. I want to move on. Please, let this be the end.”

She spoke firmly, pushing him away with her words. The man then shot me a vicious glare.

“You, you’re the guy from the shop the other day. So you really are screwing around with Mariko!”

His eyes looked at me like I’d killed his family. There was no reasoning with him. But getting dragged into their drama over a false accusation wasn’t something I could stand for.

So I opened my mouth to tell him I wasn’t in a relationship with Asou-san, but then I caught sight of Asou-san beside me.

“Please, stop it, Masaya… Aoyama-kun has nothing to do with this. Just stop already…”

Her voice was barely a whisper, choked with tears, but he didn’t hear her. Her voice didn’t reach him.

“So you’re defending this guy? Fine. I get it. I’ll come here every day until you change your mind. You better be ready.”

Those selfish, thoughtless words…

That was when I snapped.

“Hey, you.”

“Huh? A high school kid thinks he can—gah!”

I grabbed him by the collar and squeezed hard around his neck.

“If you make Asou-san cry again—”

“G-gah… S-stop…”

“If you come near her again, I’ll personally make sure your life as a student ends.”

“I-I get it… Please… Let me go…”

He was a total stranger to me, but I’d never felt angrier in my life. I’d been ready to actually choke him to death.

“Aoyama-kun! Please stop!”

Asou-san’s desperate cry snapped me out of it, and I let him go.

“Cough… cough…”

The man collapsed on the ground, hacking and gasping. He looked up at me in terror.

“P-please… I won’t bother you again… Just spare me!”

He scurried away, shaking.

“Aoyama-kun, are you okay?”

“I’m sorry… I didn’t know what else to do.”

“No, it’s my fault. I’m sorry for putting you through that.”

As I looked at her tear-streaked face, twisted with confusion, I felt my heart ache.

“But maybe now he’ll leave you alone for good.”

“…Aoyama-kun, thank you. I always end up being the one you help.”

“It was nothing, really.”

“Hey… Won’t you come inside? You know, as thanks… I’ve got snacks, or…”

“No, I’m going home.”

I gave a small bow to the apologetic Asou-san and walked slowly away. I hadn’t learned a thing. Nothing had changed since back then.

I stuck my nose where it didn’t belong, thinking I was doing the right thing. And in the end, I only solved things with violence, making everything worse. Because of that, I’d lost what mattered most in life.

People really don’t change.

I had no right to lecture that guy earlier. As those bitter regrets swirled through my head, I walked alone through the quiet night streets, heading home.

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Chapter 21: 

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I had already secured a recommendation to a prestigious school for high school. I was expected to have a bright future ahead of me.

What happened in the shadows to some substitute who had never even played in a game had nothing to do with me. It wasn’t like he asked me for help. I didn’t help him expecting any kind of reward. The guys who bullied him hadn’t done me any harm, either.

So there was absolutely no reason for me to get involved. And yet, because I did something unnecessary—

My arm…

“…Another dream about that time, huh.”

Morning. I woke up, haunted by a dream that reminded me of the past. As I looked at my slightly numb right hand, I shook my head as if trying to clear away the hazy memories.

Really, what am I even trying to do?

After losing sight of my dreams for the future, I ended up in this unfamiliar town. I was leaning on Kurenai every day to fill the emptiness in my heart, trying to act like a good guy to those around me, pretending I could actually help, getting hurt for no reason.

And then… Would I end up dumping these wounds onto Kurenai again?

What a selfish guy I am.

“Hm?”

A LINE message came. From Asou-san?

『I’m really sorry about yesterday. I was wavering because of him, but I’ve decided to talk to the police. I don’t want to cause you any more trouble, Aoyama-kun.』

As soon as I finished reading, I put my phone down. I had no idea what kind of reply to send in this mood. It was still a bit early, but… I might as well head to school.

They say the early bird catches the worm, right? Man, something good better happen for once.

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“Mornin’, Minato! Huh, your eyes don’t look as dead today.”

“This is how they always look.”

“Fufu~ Well, fair enough. Hey, so about today…”

“I’ve got work.”

“Geez, I haven’t even said anything yet! Listen, do you always bring a bento for lunch?”

“No, usually I just grab some bread.”

“I knew it! Okay, so, I’ve got a little favor to ask. Remember how I was the only one who failed that cooking practical? I’ve got to do a makeup lesson after school, and I want to practice by making a bunch of stuff.”

“I can’t cook, though.”

“You’re just the taste tester. Another friend is helping me with the cooking part.”

I let out a sigh, amazed at how she never ran out of favors to ask.

“Well, if it’s just tasting.”

If it meant I’d save on lunch money, it wasn’t a bad deal. And this time it wasn’t some messy situation involving a guy, so there shouldn’t be a problem.

Little did I know that letting my guard down like that would bring even more complications.

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Lunch break came. I headed to the home economics room with an empty stomach.

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