CH 78

Act 3 - The School Festival

20-1 New Semester

Plucking the strings with my fingers, I make a sound.

It's a lively melody with a resonating bass, but just before the chorus ends, the sound disappears as soon as my fingers stop.

"......I can't concentrate at all." (Rintaro)

Seeing me choking up at the "couple" part, Mia giggles again in amusement.

Phew, I guess I'm finally getting back on the right track now.

I follow Mia's lead.

Eventually, we arrive at a large game center in front of the train station, where there is a lot of noise.

"A game center, huh?" (Rintaro)

"Yes. To be honest, I've never been to one by myself, nor have I been with Rei or Kanon, so I was a bit curious about it. Are you familiar with this place?" (Mia)

"No, I've only been here a few times." (Rintaro)

"Is that so?" (Mia)

"I'm not good with big noises...... see, there are all kinds of sound effects and music mixed in, right? That's why I never came here voluntarily." (Rintaro)

I've never been in those places because I'm underage, but I am not comfortable with places like pachinko parlors and such, more so than at a game center.

Maybe that's why I'm less interested in such places.

"Ah ....., then maybe you're not very interested in...... it?" (Mia)

"I'm not. It's not like I'm allergic to it, nor hate it. As long as it's with you, I'll go anywhere today." (Rintaro)

"......If so, then I'll take your word for it." (Mia)

Mia looks a little apologetic as she makes her way into the game center.

That was a mistake, I reflect to myself.

I feel bad for both Mia and the game center for showing a lack of enthusiasm in front of the store when we got there.

If I was going to tell her that I wasn't good at it, I should have said so more clearly.

On top of that, if I could have said I didn't want to go there, I would have been able to go to another place without getting into a strange situation――――.

I release my hand from the strings and lean back against the couch.

It has already been three days since I went on a date with Mia.

Our agreement was to spend time as temporary lovers until Rei returns.

And that agreement ends today.

Originally, Rei's absence was estimated to be about a week, but it seems that her work finished smoothly, and she will be coming back this evening.

Since that date, if asked if I had done anything special with Mia, I would answer no.

At most, I just helped her with her summer homework, if it counted?

Honestly, I'm glad that I didn't have to do anything more embarrassing than that.

However――――

(Why do I...... feel so awkward?)

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Until yesterday, I was with Mia, and from today, I will be with Rei. I feel a sense of guilt, as if I'm switching between women, and with that thought my mood is not good.

(And, why do I have to be so restless?)

That's right. It's not like I'm dating anyone, so I should just think of it as hanging out with a friend.

――――Even if I convince myself with that, my heart is still clouded.

"......Are you okay?"

"Whoa!?" (Rintaro)

A voice suddenly sounds next to my ear, and I turn around with a surprised voice.

Standing there is Rei, with a surprised expression just like mine. She blinks a few times while looking at me.

"Sorry, I didn't expect you to be so surprised like that." (Rei)

"W-when... did you come back?" (Rintaro)

"Just now. I opened the door and came in normally. Then I realized that Rintaro didn't notice me at all, so I decided to call out to you." (Rei)

"Ah...... sorry. I was lost in thought." (Rintaro)

I stand up and gesture for Rei to sit on the couch instead, then head towards the kitchen.

"You have...... a point. Then I'll think of something else." (Rei)

"Hey, I feel like you're gaining more rights to casually make me listen to what you say, aren't you?" (Rintaro)

"It's just your imagination." (Rei)

"That's unreasonable......" (Rintaro)

What a lass, she leaves no room for carelessness or vulnerability.

(Well, it's fine.)

It seems I still can't resist Rei's pleas after all.

And by being asked like this, the guilt I felt before fades away.

I have to admit that, even my own mind is simple.

"Are you going to take a break from work for a while?" (Rintaro)

"Yup. I have a lot of free time in my schedule. Since students must be struggling with summer vacation assignments, I was given extra time off." (Rei)

"And what about your idol activities? Are you taking a break too?" (Rintaro)

"Something like that." (Rei)

So, from today onwards, I'll be able to cook for Rei almost every day.

"Hmm... Since work has settled down, I'll make a feast today." (Rintaro)

"Is that okay?" (Rei)

"Thanks to your hard work, I can live in this apartment, so doing this is no sweat." (Rintaro)

I knew Rei would come back, so I bought the ingredients properly.

This should be enough to make a slightly luxurious meal.

"I'm thinking of making iced coffee, do you want some?" (Rintaro)

"Yes, I want some. It was really hot when I came back." (Rei)

"Alright, wait a moment." (Rintaro)

Unlike making regular coffee, when making iced coffee, you need to consider the amount of ice and brew the coffee stronger.

However, the process itself doesn't change much.

Just use more beans and make it with the same amount of water as usual.

Put ice in a glass and pour the strong and hot coffee over it.

When the ice melts, it will be the perfect strength.

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"I've added coffee creamer and gomme syrup. Let me know if it feels off and I'll adjust it." (Rintaro)

"Thank you." (Rei)

Rei takes the glass from me and sips the coffee with the straw I prepared.

"Mmm, taste good. It's just right." (Rei)

"I see. Then I'll make it with the same recipe next time." (Rintaro)

"It's because you're so proficient like this that I can't leave you, Rintaro." (Rei)

"You're exaggerating." (Rintaro)

Feeling somewhat content, I also sit on the sofa and sip the iced coffee.

The cold coffee flows into my stomach, calming down my restless thoughts.

"You finished work pretty quickly, didn't you?" (Rintaro)

"Yeah. It was a shoot for a small commercial to be aired on video sites and such, but the required length suddenly became shorter, so we finished in about half the time." (Rei)

"I see......" (Rintaro)

"Hey, Rintaro?" (Rei)

"W-what?" (Rintaro)

"Is it true that you went on a date with Mia?" (Rei)

――――Suddenly, my sweat bursts out.

I feel a sensation as if all the moisture in my body has evaporated, and my throat becomes suddenly dry.

(No, wait, this is strange, isn't it?)

Right. Why do I have to react like a cheating husband who got caught?

I haven't done anything wrong.

Yea, I'll go with that feeling.

"Ah, well, yeah. She wanted to know what it feels like to be a lover for her next job, so I cooperated." (Rintaro)

Hmm, it sounds like I'm making excuses, doesn't it? This is troublesome.

"By the way, how do you know about that?" (Rintaro)

"Mia was flaunting it in front of me." (Rei)

Rei shows me her smartphone screen with a perpetually displeased expression.

On it, there was a photo of me and Mia making heart signs with our hands in the photo box.

Seeing it again like this, it's truly embarrassing from the bottom of my heart.

"......That's unfair. I want to go on a date with Rintaro too." (Rei)

"Well, umm... haven't we done that a few times already?" (Rintaro)

"That's true. But I want more." (Rei)

Rei leans forward, and our faces come close together.

A slightly different scent is tickling my nostrils, maybe it's because she used a different shampoo than usual while she was out.

Even if I try not to be conscious of it at this distance, my heart starts pounding.

"I...... I understand. I'll go along with what you want to do next time." (Rintaro)

"Really?" (Rei)

"Yeah. We can go out together again, or if there's something else you want to do, that's fine too." (Rintaro)

"Then, I want us to go around the school festival together." (Rei)

The school festival, huh?

I start thinking with a calm head again.

I release my hand from the strings and lean back against the couch.

It has already been three days since I went on a date with Mia.

Our agreement was to spend time as temporary lovers until Rei returns.

And that agreement ends today.

Originally, Rei's absence was estimated to be about a week, but it seems that her work finished smoothly, and she will be coming back this evening.

Since that date, if asked if I had done anything special with Mia, I would answer no.

At most, I just helped her with her summer homework, if it counted?

Honestly, I'm glad that I didn't have to do anything more embarrassing than that.

However――――

(Why do I...... feel so awkward?)

Until yesterday, I was with Mia, and from today, I will be with Rei. I feel a sense of guilt, as if I'm switching between women, and with that thought my mood is not good.

(And, why do I have to be so restless?)

That's right. It's not like I'm dating anyone, so I should just think of it as hanging out with a friend.

――――Even if I convince myself with that, my heart is still clouded.

"No... that wouldn't do, right?" (Rintaro)

"Why?" (Rei)

"Going around the school together like that would be like inviting suspicion. It's practically suicidal." (Rintaro)

Even if I try to push it by using the excuse of being relatives, it still feels unnatural to enjoy the cultural festival together.

Even if most people were convinced, it would still be troublesome if some doubted it.

"You have...... a point. Then I'll think of something else." (Rei)

"Hey, I feel like you're gaining more rights to casually make me listen to what you say, aren't you?" (Rintaro)

"It's just your imagination." (Rei)

"That's unreasonable......" (Rintaro)

What a lass, she leaves no room for carelessness or vulnerability.

(Well, it's fine.)

It seems I still can't resist Rei's pleas after all.

And by being asked like this, the guilt I felt before fades away.

I have to admit that, even my own mind is simple.

"Are you going to take a break from work for a while?" (Rintaro)

"Yup. I have a lot of free time in my schedule. Since students must be struggling with summer vacation assignments, I was given extra time off." (Rei)

"And what about your idol activities? Are you taking a break too?" (Rintaro)

"Something like that." (Rei)

So, from today onwards, I'll be able to cook for Rei almost every day.

"Hmm... Since work has settled down, I'll make a feast today." (Rintaro)

"Is that okay?" (Rei)

"Thanks to your hard work, I can live in this apartment, so doing this is no sweat." (Rintaro)

Seeing me choking up at the "couple" part, Mia giggles again in amusement.

Phew, I guess I'm finally getting back on the right track now.

I follow Mia's lead.

Eventually, we arrive at a large game center in front of the train station, where there is a lot of noise.

"A game center, huh?" (Rintaro)

"Yes. To be honest, I've never been to one by myself, nor have I been with Rei or Kanon, so I was a bit curious about it. Are you familiar with this place?" (Mia)

"No, I've only been here a few times." (Rintaro)

"Is that so?" (Mia)

"I'm not good with big noises...... see, there are all kinds of sound effects and music mixed in, right? That's why I never came here voluntarily." (Rintaro)

I've never been in those places because I'm underage, but I am not comfortable with places like pachinko parlors and such, more so than at a game center.

Maybe that's why I'm less interested in such places.

"Ah ....., then maybe you're not very interested in...... it?" (Mia)

"I'm not. It's not like I'm allergic to it, nor hate it. As long as it's with you, I'll go anywhere today." (Rintaro)

"......If so, then I'll take your word for it." (Mia)

Mia looks a little apologetic as she makes her way into the game center.

That was a mistake, I reflect to myself.

I feel bad for both Mia and the game center for showing a lack of enthusiasm in front of the store when we got there.

If I was going to tell her that I wasn't good at it, I should have said so more clearly.

On top of that, if I could have said I didn't want to go there, I would have been able to go to another place without getting into a strange situation――――.

I knew Rei would come back, so I bought the ingredients properly.

This should be enough to make a slightly luxurious meal.

"By the way, what do you want to have?" (Rintaro)

"Then, I want a hamburg steak?" (Rei)

"Okay, leave it to me." (Rintaro)

I pick up an apron and say so in a slightly cool manner.