Chapter 79 - Our First Group Study

Things were improving between me and Reina after the conversation between us yesterday. She got a lot off her mind, but was later regretting telling me about those stuff. Though I know she was glad that I listened to her rant.

We also talked later over text and I slowly but steadily convinced her about the group study. This event was a really important factor in my progress.

The more she will see Gaisen and Kizhashi together, the more vulnerable she will become. Her current state of mind was way too messed up, even for her to comprehend. Also, the fact that she already loved someone makes it easier for me to manipulate her. 

Unrequited love is one of the most useless feelings an individual can feel. It is just the equivalent of saying that their love doesn't matter and is useless for the person on the receiving end. Like Chiaki's love, more like attraction for me was unrequited because I didn't need it.

As of today, it was the first group study we planned at Reina's place. After convincing her, I told Gaisen, and he forwarded the information to everyone in the group that included Tsumen, too.

As for our school, since there was only a week remaining before the exam, our attendance wasn't compulsory. We could either come to school and study, or we can stay at home and study. I usually spent the last week before the exam in my home. But considering the devil at my home, I don't think she'll let me study.

I was walking towards Reina's home as she had sent me the address last night. Gaisen and Kizhashi already knew her address, so they would come on their own. I was feeling a bit weird again since I was going over to a girl's house to study.

Events like this never happened to me, so it would still take me some time for me to get used to it. I was following the direction from my mobile and it seemed like the house in front of the one I was passing by was her's. 

I wasn't sure, so I called her instead of just knocking at their door and then finding out it was someone else's house. And then standing there with an awkward smile on our faces and sharing an eternity of awkward stare. That would be a really awful experience and I'll probably think about it every day until the day I die because of how cringey it would be.

She picked up the mobile and said in a soft tone, "Hello?" She sounds so different on the mobile.

"Yeah, which house is yours?" I asked.

"I gave you the address, didn't I?" She asked, being a bit dubious on the last part.

"You did, but I still want confirmation." I affirmed her doubt. There was a bit of silence between us, as I heard a sigh.

"Wait…" She said and the sound movement being made from the speaker could be heard. It felt like she was sitting somewhere and stood up from there and started walking.

"Ah, I can see you." After a few moments she said. I looked around on both sides to check which house she was peeking from.

"Look at me…" She said, I turned my head to the right side. "...yes the house on the right side. Look at the first floor window." She said, and I looked up towards the window of the house with grey walls and wooden window frames.

"Ah, that strange creature is you?" I said, as I could see her waving from behind the window.

"Shut the fuck up." She sighed.

"I…" Before I could say anything, she hung up the call. But I like that the interaction between us has returned to what it used to be. I put my mobile back in my pocket and walked towards the house.

The doorway was quite decorative with flowers on both sides. I pressed the doorbell and waited for someone to open the door. I could hear footsteps rushing towards the door. 

The door opened shortly, and Reina was standing behind it. Her hair was a bit messy compared to how it was at school and she was wearing a light orange-colored t-shirt with sleeves that reached till her forearms. Though the length of the t-shirt was long enough that it reached till her knees and underneath, she was wearing a black pants.

"Stop staring at me." She said with slight tints of red on her cheeks.

"I'm not staring at you." I replied with a plain tone.

"Oh…" She nodded with a confused look. It was one of those awkward moments when you say something to the other person and outright deny it.

"I'm analysing your exterior aesthetics." I replied with an approving nod.

"Can you like… shut the fuck up?" She smiled and said that sarcastically.

"Yes… my bad." I realised that my attempt to do whatever I was trying turned out pretty bad.

"Anyways… come in…" She said as she gestured with her other hand for me to step inside.

"Pardon for the intrusion." I stepped inside and she closed the door behind me. I took off my shoes and kept them near the doorway properly.

"Let's head upstairs…" She said pointing towards the stairs right in front of me. I just nodded and followed her upstairs. I noticed that most of the lights were turned off and the rooms were empty too. Her house was really silent. Is she home alone right now?

"So this is my room." She said as we turned around the corner from the stairs and she opened the door of her room. Her room was really organised and it had a really sweet smell. Kind of like she sprayed the room with lavender air freshener.

Well not that I was surprised to be honest because I was expecting a really clean room from her. And girls in general do have cleaner rooms than boys.

"Here, sit." She pointed towards the table in the middle of her room, as I could see that five cushions were kept around it. I kept my bag on the table and sat on the cushion that was next to her bed because I wanted something to lean my back on.

"Where are the others? As for Tsūmen, he will come a bit late." I asked her.

"Well, Koi called me and told me that she was on the way." She sat on the cushion on the right side of me and rested her chin on her left arm and looked at me.

"And Gaisen?" I asked.

"You ask him." She narrowed her eyes as if she didn't want to talk with him.

"Eh?"

"I won't call him." She said with a pout and averted her gazes from me.