My Cool and Straightforward Girlfriend Won't Let Me Sleep Today Either - Chapter 8
Episode 8: My 4th Year Girlfriend Says She’s Not Jealous But Is Actually Jealous
Four hours have passed since we arrived at the seminar house where we’ll be staying for the seminar camp.
We’re all exhausted from the tough lectures delivered by the professor, and to top it off, there’s apparently a test tomorrow to assess our understanding.
But for now, the lectures are over for the day, and it’s time to relax and have some fun.
We’ve gathered at the barbecue area within the seminar house.
“Should we place the charcoal further?”
“If it’s too far from the fire, it’ll end up undercooked, so it’s just right.”
“Does anyone need anything to drink?”
The girls seem to be having a good time chatting away.
Meanwhile, the guys…
“Hey, is the meat cooked yet?”
“I’ll take any pieces that look like they’re done.”
“Where’s the barbecue sauce?”
…are quite impatient.
“I could use a little help…”
Having lost at rock-paper-scissors, I’ve been on grill duty, cooking meat and vegetables the whole time.
Standing in front of the barbecue grill for so long, sweat has been pouring down my face incessantly.
Sweat beads form on my forehead and trickle down my face as if caressing it.
Wearing gloves and holding tongs, I have to frequently flip the meat and vegetables because the heat is too high, leaving me no time to wipe the sweat away.
Perhaps taking pity on me, Mitsuki-san, the flashy blonde girl in the girls’ group, approached me.
“Aww, poor thing. Are they threatening you to cook the meat?”
“It’s not bullying. I just lost at rock-paper-scissors.”
“Oh no, that’s a disaster.”
“But, you could at least lend a hand a bit…”
“Well, hang in there. Let me help with that sweat.”
Using the towel I had around my neck, Mitsuki-san wipes the sweat dripping down my face.
Then, she scolds the guys who have been munching on other dishes while the meat cooks.
“Hey, come on, even if it was decided by rock-paper-scissors, don’t let Minato-kun do everything!”
“…Yeah, you’re right. We’ve been a bit too much.”
“Yeah, that’s right.”
After being scolded by Mitsuki-san, the guys gather around the barbecue grill that I’m managing, as if they volunteered to help.
You guys… You definitely wouldn’t have come if Mitsuki-san hadn’t told you to…
“Since the heat is still high, it’s important to flip them frequently.”
Saying this, one of the guys approaches me and takes over the tongs.
And with that, I successfully step away from the grill for the first time in dozens of minutes.
“Phew, Mitsuki-san, where are the drinks again?”
“I bought them from that vending machine over there.”
Mitsuki-san points to a vending machine located a little away from the barbecue area.
Ah, she buys them from there.
I reach for my wallet in my pocket… Wait, I left my wallet in the room.
“Could you lend me some change?”
“Well, I guess I have to…”
Mitsuki-san takes out two 100 yen coins from her purse and lends them to me.
I thank her and head to the vending machine to buy drinks.
※
After going to buy drinks and returning…
“Don’t you guys have any leftovers for me?”
On the grill, only charred vegetable fragments remain.
“…I left some for you, didn’t I?”
“I saved some for Minato, and I took just the right amount.”
“Geez, who was it?”
By the time you’re a university student, you should know the difference between right and wrong.
No one laughed it off, trying to cover up the fact that my portion was gone.
Probably, someone assumed there was extra and helped themselves.
Not wanting to create an awkward atmosphere by searching for the culprit, I inform those around me.
“Well, it can’t be helped.”
I’ve already given up, so there’s no need to hunt for the culprit.
Then, Mitsuki-san, who had come to the guys’ area from the girls’ area to enjoy some food and drinks, approached me.
“I heard that someone ate all your share? That’s too bad, Minato-kun was working the hardest. So, here’s a share for you!”
A piece of meat on a skewer touches my lips.
It would be rude to refuse at this point, so I take a bite of the meat skewer she’s offering.
Moreover, what she offered me was slightly more expensive meat that the professor had bought as an extra.
The flavor of the meat juices and richness spread throughout my mouth.
Ah, this is a level of taste that makes you want to search for the culprit who ate my portion.
“Thank you.”
I thank Mitsuki-san for giving me the meat.
I notice that Natsuki is looking at me.
Mitsuki-san also notices and, with a similar expression, informs me with a wry smile.
“Oh no~, was it bad for a boy who has a girlfriend? Well, good luck with your excuses, boy!”
I’m sorry? Mitsuki-san says apologetically and leaves my side.
And, in her place, as if to take her spot…
“You seem to be having a lot of fun.”
Natsuki says with a serious expression.
“I’m sorry. I was really careless…”
It’s not often that you feel a little uncomfortable seeing your partner being close with someone else.
I honestly apologize to Natsuki.
“Hmm… I’m not really angry.”
“Oh, you’re not angry?”
“…Do you want me to be angry?”
“No, it’s not like that…”
As I hesitate to respond, Natsuki picks up a piece of charred vegetable that had been avoiding the heat at the corner of the grill with her chopsticks.
What is she planning to do?
“Here, say ‘ahh’.”
She presses the charred vegetable against my lips.
“Are you still angry?”
“No, I’m not. Come on, eat it.”
“Sorry about that.”
“As I said I’m not angry. Come on, say ‘ahh’.”
She insists that she’s not angry as she tries to make me eat the charred vegetable.
Ugh, it was my carelessness, so Natsuki did nothing wrong.
I steeled myself, I put the completely charred vegetable, which doesn’t resemble anything edible, into my mouth.
It’s bitter, just plain bitter, and doesn’t taste anything like vegetables.
With tears in my eyes, I glanced at Natsuki, who made me eat it.
“Hehe, you really ate it.”
Natsuki shows a suspicious smile.
The same face she had when she was punishing me in my school uniform, reveling in it.
Could it be that she fed me the charred vegetable because she wanted to see me suffer, even though she’s not actually angry!?
No, no, my girlfriend isn’t the type to be overflowing with sadism…
But still, it’s too bitter to swallow…
Unable to swallow the charcoal-like vegetable in my mouth, I notice Natsuki handing me tissues with an apologetic expression.
“I can’t let someone eat something that might cause health problems. I’m really sorry.”
“No, don’t worry about it. It was my fault.”
That’s right, it’s my fault for fooling around with another girl in front of my girlfriend.
If I were to say something like that, Natsuki would come up with something outrageous without batting an eye.
When I laugh, thinking she’s joking in the mood, Natsuki whispers something to me as she leaves.
“Even if you tell me to stop, I won’t stop punishing you.”
“W-Was that a joke?”
I tremble as I speak.
After all, even when she was punishing me in my school uniform, it was quite intense.
“……”
Ignoring my confused question, Natsuki returns to the girls’ group.