When I Helped Out At My Classy Classmate's Family Home, They Started Going All Out To Close In On Me From Every Angle. - Chapter 24: Coincidence?— 5

Coincidence?— 5

“Let’s first find a bench to sit on, Tetsu-kun.”

“Yeah. That sounds good.”

We made our way through the courtyard, trying not to be aware of the couples lost in their own world.

After walking halfway through, we found a few vacant benches.

“How about this one?”

“I think it’s fine.”

“It also seems to be a good spot from a security standpoint.”

“Then, let’s go with this one.”

Ayame sat at the far right end of the bench, her cheeks blushing like autumn leaves, and patted the space next to her.

“G-go ahead, Tetsu-kun.”

“Huh!? I’m sitting next to you!? Not Mikae!?”

“Akanei-san said it herself, didn’t she? ‘Since our seats are next to each other, let’s deepen our bond.’”

“Well, she did say that, but… we’ve already deepened it, haven’t we!?”

“I want to deepen it even more!”

“Ayame-sama has gone this far in saying it. You wouldn’t want to embarrass the lady, would you, Kanda-san?”

“Ugh… fine, I get it!”

Pressed by the two of them, I reluctantly sat next to Ayame. Just having Ayame right next to me was enough to make my heart race, but being in this “couple’s spot” made my mind feel like it was about to boil over.

“Then, I’ll excuse myself as well.”

Following me, Mikae sat down.

Not on the bench where Ayame and I were sitting, but on the one next to it.

“Why there!?”

“Why, you ask?”

“The bench here is still empty!”

That’s right. Since Ayame had scooted over to the right, there was space on my left side.

I was already nervous enough, but if I were alone with Ayame, I wasn’t sure I could handle it. That’s why I really wanted Mikae to sit on this bench.

But Mikae shook her head.

“That won’t work. If I were to sit there, you’d have women on both sides of you, Kanda-san.”

“What’s wrong with that?”

“Even if you have no intention of it, being seen in such a situation could lead to others misunderstanding and thinking that you’re ‘surrounded by women.’”

I was taken aback by Mikae’s words.

“R-right! It would be like ‘having flowers in both hands’!”

“In the worst case, you might end up being labeled as a ‘woman’s enemy’ and could be looked at with disdain every day.”

“I’d be sad if people treated Tetsu-kun like the bad guy.”

“R-right, I see. I guess it can’t be helped then. Thanks for worrying about me, both of you.”

I thanked the two of them and sighed, relieved.

I had narrowly avoided being given a highly dishonorable nickname. I was grateful that Mikae had thought ahead and helped me out.

(Mikae, nice quick thinking!)

(You flatter me.)

“Hm? You two seem to be exchanging some sort of eye contact…”

“N-no, it’s nothing! More importantly, let’s eat!”

“Right. After all, lunch breaks are limited.”

Ayame and Mikae, who had exchanged glances, eagerly opened their bento boxes.

I felt like they had deflected the topic, but… no, it would be impolite to press further.

Pushing my doubts aside, I also opened my bento box.

Inside, there was a rolled omelette, spinach ohitashi, a stew of root vegetables and ganmodoki (deep-fried tofu), spicy stir-fried konnyaku, and braised pork belly.

Since Yuri-san had made Ayame’s bento as well, the contents were almost identical to mine, except that the braised pork belly was replaced with grilled cod marinated in saikyo miso.

“Let’s eat.”

They both said in unison, putting their hands together and taking their chopsticks.

Since it was made by the young proprietress of a high-end restaurant, each side dish in the bento was carefully prepared.

However, despite the effort Yuri-san had put into making it, I didn’t have the luxury to fully savor the meal.

After all, the couples around us were openly flirting without a care in the world.

I couldn’t relax at all. This delicious bento was being ruined.

Chewing on the rolled omelette, I couldn’t help but fidget uncomfortably.

Noticing my unease, Ayame looked at me with a worried expression.

“Are you okay, Tetsu-kun? You seem a little down…”

“Ah, sorry. I just can’t help but get distracted. You know, with everyone around us… and, well, you see…”

“I-I see… I’m nervous too…”

Ayame glanced at the couples who were cuddling, her cheeks turning red. Seeing her embarrassed expression made my heart race even more.

As the two of us fidgeted, Ayame suddenly raised her brows as if she had made up her mind.

“We can’t enjoy our meal like this. Let’s come up with a plan.”

“A plan? What kind of plan?”

I asked, and Ayame responded confidently.

“We’ll cuddle too.”

“Wha—!?”

Her statement soared way above my expectations, faster than a jet.