My Childhood Friend, who became a National Idol, moved next door to my Run-down Apartment [Dropped] - Chapter 2 - Teaching the kouhai

“So, why are you trying to follow me all the way to my apartment?”

It was early evening, after I had finished my classes at the university.

Walking behind me as I headed back to my apartment was Sena.

With light and bouncy steps, she resembled a small animal, full of energy. She looked proud as she said, “Hehe~ If I leave you alone, you’ll end up eating cup noodles every day, Senpai. Kagari is really good at cooking, so I thought I’d treat you to something made by me!”

“Oh, I see. Well, that’s nice. So, what’s your ulterior motive?”

“The thing is, I have two failing grades left to avoid repeating the year for the exams next term. Senpai, I really want you to help me study again… Last year, I failed in all the general education subjects, and now I’m out of options.”

The smile that had been there just a moment ago vanished as quickly as a withering flower. Well, if it’s about failing and repeating the year, it’s no laughing matter.

Despite being a specialized university for music, one couldn’t simply disregard general education courses. In terms of music-related subjects, Sena was outstanding, but her performance in general education was catastrophically poor — a typical pattern for her.

We were complete opposites in that regard.

Last year, I did help Sena with her studies during the second term, but I never expected to take care of her for two terms in a row.

Nevertheless, Sena had become like a little sister to me in college. Even if she repeated a year, I would be genuinely concerned.

I guess I’ll have to go along with Sena’s give-and-take suggestion.

After finishing a casual shopping at the supermarket, we arrived at the front of a dilapidated apartment building, which was forty years old.

There was no elevator, just steep stairs, and only a few years ago, they finally installed an automatic lock system. The recent decrease in residents was leading to rumors about the building being torn down soon.

“Be careful on the stairs.”

“I always think this place feels like THE Apartment! Okay, here we go!”

[TL/N : I know it sounds weird, but that’s how it was in the raws]

“Since I can’t rely on money from home, it’s best to find a cheap place that I can afford through part-time work,” Sena said, wrapping her words with a smile.

Though she tried to put it gently, the truth was that it was a rundown apartment building.

And she continued, “Recently, there have been more vacant rooms, and the landlord seems to be considering demolition, but I hope they can wait until I graduate.”

“Or you can come to my apartment. I’ll leave a room vacant for you.”

“It’s your place, after all!”

We exchanged such banter, as usual.

Sena handed me all the shopping bags, then nonchalantly took out the key from my pocket, as if she was at her own place.

But then, she suddenly froze in motion as she turned around.

Sena then gave a slight bow and said, “Hello there…”

The person she was addressing was…?

It seems like the person was a woman.

She kept tilting her head multiple times as if she was pondering hard on what to answer.

She was wearing a deep blue knitted cap, large black sunglasses, and a white mask that covered her small face entirely.

She looked incredibly suspicious. When I focused on my memory I remembered that there were movers here just a while ago.

Could she be a new tenant? Well, there haven’t been many neighbors whom I can rely on, so she’s a bit unusual.

“Are you our new neighbor? Senpai, she’s here!”

“Hey, could you help me with these shopping bags…”

She doesn’t seem to care that I’m carrying four bags in both hands…

“……!?”

As I reached the top of the stairs, the woman and I made eye contact.

However, her behavior is clearly strange.

“Here, take this to the fridge, Sena.”

“Alright, I got it.”

“And this is for the living room.”

“Un…”

The way we passed items back and forth was like a bucket relay, and the woman was watching it all intently.

Her legs were trembling, and she looked like a newborn fawn.

“… A… gi–gi–…. A girlfriend…?”

I noticed that her voice was trembling through the mask.

“She is… his… yes, that’s right, haha, that’s right…! I—I apologize!”

“No, she’s not my gi—”

With a forceful slam, the woman quickly closed the door and entered her own room.

“…She’s not my girlfriend”

The words I murmured vanished into thin air.

However, It felt like I’ve heard those words somewhere before, and at the same time, I haven’t…?

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TL : Zenon#4120