I’m an Introvert, but After Taking Care of the School’s Most Beautiful Girl Who Lives in an Apartment When She Was Sick, She Became Attached to Me and Started Inviting Me Over to Her Place! - Chapter 78

Chapter 78

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After school. On his way home from school, Sorato was, as usual, at Kaon’s house.

However, a strange deviation had crept into that routine today, which had recently become habitual. There was enough empty space between them on the sofa to fit another person, and the familiar sweet, syrupy conversation they always shared was nowhere to be heard. Instead, the only sound echoing through the room was the television.

“……….”

“Um… Kaon?”

“…What.”

When Sorato cautiously spoke to her, as if testing her mood, she did respond—at least minimally. But the moment Sorato tried to peer into her face, she immediately turned away again with a sharp “hmph,” refusing to meet his eyes.

She’s absolutely sulking…

Her tone was sharp, but rather than sounding angry, it felt more like she was lonely. Even without seeing her, Sorato could easily picture Kaon’s expression. Her brows must be knitted together in a pout. As for why Kaon had ended up like this, Sorato had several ideas come to mind. No, far too many. It all traced back to several hours earlier—

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“Hey, hey! Are you dating Natsuki-san, Sorato-kun?!”

“No, we’re not dating. We’re just friends.”

“Then, then! From today on, can I call you ‘Sorato-kun’ too, Suzuya-kun~?”

“Huh? Ah, sure. You can call me whatever you like…”

“By the way, didn’t your bangs get, like, really long?!”

“They did grow out…”

“I was wondering what kind of face you had, but you’re super handsome! I’m so jealous~!”

“No, no, I don’t really have the kind of looks people compliment that much…”

“Honestly, you’re kind of my type! So, hey, wanna exchange contact information?!”

“…Uh, sure, I guess.”

It was just before lunch break ended. In the classroom, where one ordeal had passed, several girls had gathered around Sorato. Just as he’d feared, there were those who suspected he was deeply involved with Kaon, those who closed the distance with alarming speed, and those who naturally steered the conversation into casual chatter before trying to exchange contact information.

The way they’re closing in is insane… I’ve never even talked to them before, and suddenly we’re already on first-name basis… girls are scary.

Sorato did his best to play it cool and act normal while dealing with them, but inside, he was in complete turmoil. And then…

“Th-that… is… mine, though???????????? (super quiet)”

From the very back of the classroom by the window, a presence radiating an overwhelming spiritual pressure muttered those words. Only those who knew the situation could understand it. A single girl stood there, forcing a pasted-on smile while her clenched fists betrayed the anger seeping through.

With a look fierce enough to suggest she might leap into the crowd of girls surrounding Sorato at any moment, Kaon was driven to the brink of explosion by the frustration of having agreed not to make their relationship public, combined with her intense jealousy.

“Wow, he’s super popular.”

“Kaon, calm down.”

“Why did Sorato suddenly get so popular?”

“Hmm… I wonder. He fixed his hair, and people started noticing him more. Maybe these girls were just waiting for a chance to talk to him.”

Nearby, their usual friends, who were watching the situation like it had nothing to do with them, murmured casually. Kaede stayed glued to Kaon’s side, but it seemed she was having a hard time calming the storm raging inside her. She was like a feral dog gone wild.

“Sorato-kun is even acting all smiley…!”

“…Well, it looks like Sorato’s just going along with it because he has to, so it should be fine, right?”

“Yeah, yeah, worrying’s probably pointless. There’s no way a guy who’s not used to girls like him could handle being surrounded like that without panicking.”

Tenma and Kohaku tried to subtly back Sorato up in an effort to cool Kaon’s jealousy, but it didn’t seem to have much effect.

“Hyu~! Sorato-kun, you womanizer~!”

“Saki, don’t stir the pot.”

Amid all this, Saki teased from the sidelines like it was none of her business. To prevent things from getting even more troublesome, Kaede stepped on the brakes, and Saki obediently puffed out her cheeks and replied, “Okaaay…”

“…But wow, Kaon-chan, you really love Sorato-kun more than I thought. Have you liked him for a long time?”

“Yeah. Since a little before the amusement park, I think.”

“Guh…!”

When Kaon smoothly answered Saki’s question, Kohaku who happened to be standing to her right, clutched his chest and collapsed for some reason.

“Hiiragi-san, maybe don’t ask questions that naturally stab Kohaku like that.”

“Huh? Oh, right! Kohaku-kun liked Kaon-chan too, didn’t he?!”

“Guhhaaaa…! Don’t say that so loudly, you idiot…!”

His still-fresh old wound was mercilessly gouged open, and Kohaku, having finally taken the finishing blow, leaned his weight onto Tenma and melted down like a slime. Still, it seemed that Kohaku’s unfulfilled feelings had properly reached Kaon. The fact that the two of them were still able to maintain the same kind of relationship even after she and Sorato started dating could be called his greatest stroke of luck.

“—Hmph! I don’t care about Sorato-kun anymore!”

Kaon had apparently reached her limit. Instead of storming over to reclaim him directly, she sharply turned her gaze away. She then returned to her seat and slumped forward onto her desk, wearing a thoroughly sulky expression.

“Is this what you call a lovers’ quarrel?”

“Sorato-kun didn’t really do anything wrong, though~”

“I kinda get how Natsuki-san feels, being jealous and all.”

“It’s pretty rare to see Kaon sulk like that.”

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And now, the story returned to the present…

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