The Story of a Man Who Vowed to Not Let Any Man Come Between Yuri, Only to Find Himself Caught in Between Them - Chapter 25: What She Wanted

Chapter 25: What She Wanted

“Well then, I’m going ahead of you today!”

“Huh?”

“Yeah. See you later.”

Right after school, Mai said that and ran off. Today, the three of us have a part-time job at the department store as usual, but Mai seemed to be looking forward to something, with a skip in her step as she quickly disappeared.

“What’s up with her?”

“Who knows.”

As I looked at Yuka with a puzzled expression, she smiled knowingly, implying that she knew something that I didn’t. Although I was curious about what it could be, I decided to wait until we met up to ask her.

“Sakuya-kun, shall we take it slow?”

“Sure, we have plenty of time.”

I couldn’t help but think about Mai, wondering if she had gone straight to the department store without making any detours. Even if we went there now, we still had ample time before our shift started. It was strange how I suddenly became so preoccupied with this when it hadn’t bothered me at all last week.

“Are you curious?”

“…Huh?”

Yuka placed her hand on my shoulder and looked straight at me, making me jump. I was definitely curious, but I felt hesitant to ask.

“I’m glad. I’m happy that you care about her like that.”

“…Is that so?”

“Yes. But I don’t intend to worry you at all… So Sakuya-kun, you don’t have to be anxious or troubled about anything. Because what she’s trying to do is—”

“Minase-san.”

As I anticipated Yuka’s response, a male voice interrupted us from behind. I turned around to find a handsome senior gazing at Yuka.

“Minase-san, good thing you’re still here.”

“What is it?”

…Yuka’s voice lost its inflection.

The once pleasant atmosphere faded, and I sensed a hint of annoyance in Yuka’s mood. My narrow-mindedness may have made me feel a tad superior to her, who was vastly different from me.

“Just a little bit of time. I won’t take too long…so.“

I see, it seems he wanted to confess to Yuka. Although he didn’t explicitly state his intentions, judging from his embarrassed behavior, I’m almost certain that’s what it is.

“I’m sorry, but I have work to do now. I’ve been working part-time with someone I like, Mai and I.”

“Eh?”

The senior was frozen with his mouth hanging open. Yuka grabbed my hand and started walking, and I followed her. The senior remained silent.

As we changed our indoor shoes to outdoor shoes, Yuka laughed a little.

“I didn’t say who my partner is, but I think it’s pretty obvious now.”

“You were pretty straightforward.”

“This is for the better. So, How do you feel? The person I like.”

“… that, can I be honest?”

“Yeah.”

“It made me happy.”

“Ufufu♪”

There’s no one who wouldn’t be happy to be told that they’re loved…but as soon as I thought I felt happy about it, something similar to impatience came over me. I was really troubled about what I want to do, and what I should do, in the end.

(What’s even scarier is… Yuka and Mai are trying to dismiss even this worry of mine. It feels like they’re unilaterally constructing the path I should take to accept the end of this worry, and I can’t escape from them.)

Oh, Lord of Yuri… what should I do?

Even on our way to work, Yuka and I talked so much that even insignificant private talk became lively.

“Sakuya-kun, how do you feel? Is talking to us fun?”

“Of course it’s fun… yeah, it’s really fun.”

“Yay!”

They get so happy with that response, it makes me even happier… These girls seem to be pressing all the right buttons for me, seriously.

After that, I went to work with Yuka, but Mai was nowhere to be found.

“Oh, Sakuya, and Minase-san also arrived.”

“Yo.”

“Hello.”

Now, where did Mai go?

Yuka kept giggling next to me, and the old man put his hand on my shoulder and said,

“Aizawa-san also has a cute, childish side… I never thought she’d love Tsukki this much.”

“Huh?”

“Well then, I’ll be leaving. You two, and Aizawa-san, please take care of work.”

The old man said that and left the meeting room, but what was he talking about when there’s no sign of Mai anywhere?

“Mai… where is she… huh?”

As I heard a faint rustling sound, I turned my head in that direction. To my surprise, I saw the Tsukki costume that I was planning to wear. It seemed impossible that it was there.

“… I can’t believe such a stupid thing—”

I casually grabbed Tsukki’s head while pretending nothing was happening.

Then…

“Ya-ho~, Sakuya-kun!”

“…”

I put Tsukki’s head back where it belonged.

After rubbing my eyes for a moment, I lifted his head once again.

“Ya-ho~, Sakuya-kun♪”

“…”

And then, Mai appeared.

She was sweating on her forehead, perhaps feeling a bit hot, but her smile seemed oddly sexy and satisfied, so I quickly looked away.

“I, um, really wanted to try it on at least once♪”

“So that’s why you were in a hurry, thinking you could wear it if you got there early, this silly girl.”

“Oh, really?”

But… even though I clean it regularly, there’s probably still a bit of my scent on it. I wonder what she’ll think of that?

“…I-it’s amazing in here, so much… ah, no… this…!!”

“H-hey!?”

Mai suddenly shuddered in front of me.

I was surprised and Yuka whispered something to me, which caused me to turn bright red in embarrassment.

After that, I put on the mascot costume that Mai had just worn to start my part-time job. However, I couldn’t shake off the feeling of unease,… or rather, I couldn’t figure out why the area around my crotch was wet.