My childhood friend got me drunk and did it with me. I think it felt really good, so I continued being with her as well. ...Yandere? what is that? - Chapter 20

Chapter 20: Miyuki’s Watchful Eyes

[Natsume’s POV]

The rest of dinner went by without any more suspiciously pointed questions, but I wasn’t naïve.

Miyuki was up to something.

She had that glint in her eyes—the one that meant she was gathering information, planning something. I had seen her use that same look in business discussions, negotiations, and even casual conversations where she somehow managed to manipulate the outcome in her favor.

And now… she was using it on me.

That was never a good sign.

After dinner, I offered to help with the dishes, but she waved me off.

“I cooked, so you just relax,” she said with a smile.

I narrowed my eyes slightly. “You’re being too nice.”

She laughed. “You make it sound like I’m plotting your downfall. Don’t worry too much.”

I didn’t answer.

Because honestly? I wasn’t sure if she wasn’t.

[Living Room]

After cleaning up, Miyuki joined me in the living room, plopping down on the couch next to me. She had a cup of tea in her hands, cradling it gently as she sipped.

I was scrolling through some work emails when she suddenly spoke.

“You never answered my question properly.”

I blinked, looking up. “Which one?”

She gave me a look.

“You know which one.”

I sighed, rubbing the bridge of my nose. “Miyuki, there’s nothing between Reina and me.”

“Yet,” she murmured.

I groaned. “Miyuki—”

She placed her cup down, shifting slightly to face me.

“Natsume,” she said, her tone softer now, but still carrying that weight of seriousness. “You’re not the type to notice these things, but… Reina is acting differently around you. I can see it.”

I frowned. “Differently how? And how can you see it?”

Miyuki tilted her head. “She’s flustered. Easily rattled. And trust me, that woman does not get rattled easily. I have my contacts.”

I opened my mouth to argue—

Then paused.

Because…

Okay, maybe she had a point.

Reina had been reacting oddly lately.

The way she got flustered when we talked about things outside of work.

The way she had practically run out of the room the other day after realizing I was older than her.

The way she sometimes avoided looking at me when we weren’t discussing business.

…

No.

No, no, no.

I shook my head. “You’re reading too much into it.”

Miyuki’s lips become irked slightly, as if she found my denial abnormal. “Am I?”

“Yes.”

She hummed, unconvinced.

I sighed. “Even if hypothetically Reina saw me as something more than a subordinate, that doesn’t mean anything. She’s my boss.”

Miyuki leaned in slightly, resting her chin on her palm. “So? If she start liking you for real, wouldn’t that be a problem? Just so you know, a girl’s love is heavy.”

I blinked.

The question caught me off guard.

“I…”

I hesitated.

Because the truth was—I hadn’t thought about it.

Reina had always been my superior, the person pushing me to do better, the woman who had recruited me into this company with her sheer presence and capability.

But beyond that?

I had never considered what it would mean if she saw me as something else.

Or if she saw me as something else.

Miyuki watched my expression carefully, and then—

She smiled.

A knowing smile.

“You’re thinking about it now, aren’t you?”

I scowled. “Shut up.”

She laughed, leaning back against the couch.

“You’re fun to mess with, Natsume. However,”

I groaned, rubbing my temples. “You are plotting something, aren’t you?”

Miyuki only sipped her tea, looking pleased with the outcome.

[The Next Morning]

When I arrived at work the next day, I was determined to not let Miyuki’s words mess with my head.

Reina was my boss. That was it.

There was no reason for me to suddenly start analyzing everything she did.

Absolutely none.

So, naturally—

The first thing I saw when I entered the office was Reina looking flustered over something.

She was standing near her desk, adjusting her collar slightly, her cheeks faintly pink.

My brain immediately supplied Miyuki’s voice.

“She’s flustered. Easily rattled. And trust me, that woman does not get rattled easily.”

…

Damn it.

I shook my head, pushing the thought away.

“Morning,” I greeted, walking toward my desk.

Reina stiffened slightly, then turned to face me.

“O-Oh. Morning, Natsume.”

I paused.

…Why did she sound weird?

I glanced at her. “You okay?”

She cleared her throat, nodding quickly. “Yes! Fine! Perfectly fine!”

…

Suspicious.

Very suspicious.

I narrowed my eyes slightly. “You sure?”

“Yes,” she said quickly. Then she turned to grab some files. “We have a meeting in ten minutes. Be ready.”

And with that, she walked off, leaving me standing there.

I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck.

This was all Miyuki’s fault.

I hadn’t noticed anything weird before.

But now?

Now I couldn’t stop noticing.

And I had the strangest feeling…

That this was exactly what Miyuki was talking about.