The time when I forcibly slept with my friend's sister!

The atmosphere around the table where the five individuals, including Riku and Yui, sat, was anything but comfortable.

After Riku arrived and the general conversation went on, it didn’t take long before the other three girls got to know about the fact that Yui was no longer single.

However, that wasn’t the reason why the air around the group seemed so out of place…rather it was something the pink-haired girl sitting on Kaori’s right, asked which made the others entirely speechless.

“Rumors?”

Riku couldn’t help but frown slightly as he asked the same girl who just blurted something like ‘If Yui-san is dating Riku-senpai, then what about those rumors…’

It was given that Riku would be worried about things that may hurt Yui in school, after all, not today but someday it would become apparent that they are dating.

The pink head, whose name Kaori called out to be Sana, ducked her head and shifted uncomfortably in her seat, because of the pressure she was feeling from Yui’s gaze.

Yui remained silent, however, if not for her Senpai, she may have said something really rude at that moment.

Yui wasn’t unaware of the numerous rumors spread almost every month about her, which even included that she has multiple sugar mommies and such. Although, Yui did her investigation to know who this pest was…nothing came out.

However, the fact that her Senpai wore such a profound expression signified that he was unaware of those rumors…and it would have stayed like that, if not for a certain idiot.

Sana fidgeted in her seat, seemingly hesitant whether she should say this or not, but in the end, she had no other option than to confess,

“I heard…that, Yui-san is dating…Kazuto-kun…someone even posted your pictures on the group some days ago…”

A heavy feeling overshadowed her heart as Yui turned her head in Riku’s direction instantly. She recently cleared the misunderstanding relating to Kazuto…and now this.

On the other hand, Riku remained neutral throughout the confession as he looked at Sana without any definite expression on his face.

“Is that so? Well, I met Ichihara-kun recently and from how he seemed, I think he is pretty clear about his relationship with Yui, no?” As she found her Senpai looking her way, she instantly affirmed with a shake of her head and added,

“Yeah, we are merely just classmates, nothing more. I am sure those rumors are just nothing but a bad joke.” Yui laughed it off, however, she looked so out of place that her best friend could no longer watch this scene unfold.

“We are leaving, sorry for troubling you.” Kaori’s expression wasn’t bright and the way she pulled the pink head away, it was clear as day, that she was going to have a ‘nice’ chat with her friend.

‘I am sorry Yui…’ Sighing to herself, Kaori left the two alone.

“Alright then, let’s continue?” Riku offered the cold coffee to his partner and decided to finish the work. It was already turning dark outside so he thought to buy something to eat for her. But unfortunately, the library doesn’t allow anything besides beverages.

“Senpai…” Hearing her anxious tone, Riku turned to look at her…only to get startled upon witnessing her downcast look and how apprehensive she seemed.

“Are you upset?”

“…”

…well, Riku would be lying to say that he didn’t understand what she meant. However, he didn’t want to elevate her anxiety which ushered him to draw closer to her and take her hand in his hold.

“What are you so nervous about?” Yui didn’t respond, which made him sigh.

Using his free hand to cup her cheek, Riku made her look at him before he continued, “We already had a conversation about it, Yui. I would have never confessed my love to you if I didn’t have any trust in you. So please, don’t let such rumors bother you.”

“It’s not me, Senpai. I have heard numerous things about me all my life and I don’t care about them at all. It’s just…” Realizing her reason for concern, Riku filled in the words she left unspoken.

“That I would doubt you and all, huh?” Riku’s question was met by just a downcast gaze, nothing more.

Riku wanted to flick her for such an un-Yui-like behavior. She is the type of girl who voices out all her thoughts without stressing over the consequences. She is that illumination in his life that helped Riku understand his own worth.

Yet…he wasn’t able to make her realize, how important she was in his life. Not like he could blame her for this…after all, they got tied by this knot of dating just a few days ago.

“Yui look at me…” Holding her face in his palm, he continued, “If I really get mad at you at some point in life or feel like you have betrayed me, then don’t just sit like this, alright? You have to find me and make me understand what is right. And it would be the same for me as well, alright?”

At that time, when she heard him, Yui didn’t know that the opportunity to do as her Senpai said, would arrive this soon…

*****

After exiting the library both of them decided to have lunch in a nearby restaurant where Ichinose was already waiting for them.

Yui’s assignment was still pending, almost ten percent, which she said she would finish in no time after returning home.

The restaurant Ichinose gave the address of, wasn’t too expensive but the food there was extremely delicious and worth the cost.

Most of the seats were occupied, except for the table positioned in the middle row, which had only one seat acquired.

Yui and Riku walked to the table wordlessly, before their eyes landed on the familiar person sitting silently while twirling the straw in his drink.

They took the seats opposite Ichinose, however, even their presence or the sound of a chair moving didn’t break his daze for some reason.

Riku turned toward Yui and found her looking back at him, with the same uncertain expression.

Riku didn’t think much about it and slowly shook Ichinose’s shoulder, “Ichi?”

Ichinose didn’t seem to be surprised or anything, rather he just took a deep breath and shared the very thought revolving inside his head,

“Why women are so complicated?”