Chapter 39 School cafeteria Gracie Storm (Part 1)

The school cafeteria was quite crowded at lunch time.

I took my fried horse mackerel set meal and took a seat at the table where Karen was waiting.

There are two cafeterias at this university, but this first cafeteria has a regular long table in the center and a circular table for four only by the window.

And those who are in couples usually monopolize this circular table.

Karen is obsessed with securing this table for couples, and she always comes early to secure this position in the cafeteria.

I sat on the right side of the table, 90 degrees from Karen.

We used to sit side by side, but since I found out about Karen’s affair, I seem to have developed a habit of keeping my distance.

Karen brought her lunch box that her mother made for her.

It’s been our rule since the beginning of our relationship that we eat lunch together on Fridays.

The reason for this is so that we can decide where to go on weekends, but now this rule is just a pain.

However, I was strictly ordered by Touko-senpai, “Never change the way you have been dating! A woman can sense the other person’s state of mind with the slightest change”, so we are still eating together like this.

From another point of view, Karen is having an affair on Mondays or Thursdays, so it’s a good way to find out what’s going on.

Not more than three minutes into the meal, Karen was looking ahead with a resentful expression.

I knew why she was so unhappy.

But I pretended not to notice it, and silently carried the fried horse mackerel set meal to my mouth.

“Totally …….”

As soon as Karen said that, she let out a deliberate “haaaa” sigh.

This was a sign that she wanted me to “you need to take care of me. This is a sign to me.

…… I can’t help it, I have to deal with it. ……

“What’s wrong with you, Karen?”

There’s nothing wrong with that, and I know why Karen is unhappy, but I’ll listen to her like a boyfriend.

“That thing, that thing.”

Karen squatted down at the table five tables in front of me so that only I could see her.

There sat Touko-senpai and Kamokura.

She had made lunches for the two of them and was offering one of them to Kamokura.

“Kamokura-senpai and Touko-senpai?”

“Yes!”

Karen replied with a snort.

“Are you crazy, Touko-senpai? Don’t you think it’s foolish to be making out in a cafeteria like this? Don’t you think it’s unseemly?”

With a smile on her face, Touko-senpai unfolded her homemade lunch box and offered it to Kamokura.

Kamokura also looks happy.

But it didn’t look like they were flirting with each other.

Normally, I would have said, “It’s fine, they’re in a relationship,” but I think I should agree with Karen here.

“That’s right.”

“Don’t you think so too, Yuu-kun? The cafeteria is a place to eat, so don’t be flirting like that!”

Karen seemed to be quite unhappy.

“If you bring your own lunch, you don’t need to come to the cafeteria! We can just eat in an empty classroom or somewhere alone. It’ll free up some seats. You have to think about other people’s problems!”

I suppressed the urge to retort, “I’m eating lunch too.

“That’s right. Why don’t you eat in the classroom?”

I would give my heartless consent.

Besides, this cafeteria allows students to bring their own food.

There’s no rule that says you can’t bring in lunch boxes or food that you’ve bought elsewhere.

In fact, in addition to Karen and Touko senpai, many other students have brought in their own food.

“The two of them have been eating lunch together a lot lately, haven’t they?”

“That’s right. Yes, I see them often.”

For the time being, I just gave them a proper buzz.

When I turn my gaze to the two people in front of me, they seem to be really enjoying talking and eating their lunch.

They’re eating their lunches while talking really happily. ……

When I think about it, my heart starts to flutter.

Even if you know that this is “Touko-senpai’s plan”, you can still go to ……

……

“What are some of the things boys like to have girls do for them?”

Touko senpai asked me on the phone.

It was about ten days ago.

“Is there something wrong?”

I asked her back.

“I thought I’d do something to make Tetsuya feel better, something that would make him happy.”

Touko-senpai answered.

So far, Touko-senpai and Kamokura are a couple that is doing well on the surface.

On the other hand, Kamokura has been having regular affairs with Karen.

As far as the situation is concerned, Kamokura’s main target is still Toko-senpai.

Karen is in the position of “a convenient woman to call when he can’t meet with Touko-senpai”.

But Karen herself doesn’t seem to be aware of this fact.

“Something to make a man happy, you mean?”

To put it bluntly, all I could think of at the time was something vulgar.

It’s a gift, isn’t it?”

At any rate, I said the obvious.

“But spending money on someone who is cheating on you is still a bit of a peeve.”

“Then, if you don’t want to spend money, maybe a hand-knitted scarf.”

“We”re going to go over X-Day now. Besides, remembering Tetsuya now, I don’t feel like going to all that trouble.”

“If that’s the case, the only thing I can think of is bento.”

Touko-senpai is silent for a while on the other end of the phone.

“I thought about packing a bento, ……, but I’m not much of a cook.”

I thought Touko-senpai would be great at housework, but she’s not good at cooking?

But I had an idea.

“Don’t worry. These days, you can get all your lunches from frozen foods.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, and you just take it out of the bag and put it in the lunch box. You don’t even have to microwave it.”

When I don’t have money, I ask my mother to make my lunch for me.

However, when she is busy, she also makes her own lunch, but she just packs rice and frozen food in the lunch box and that’s it.

“It also has a wide menu that includes everything from hamburgers, omelets and pork cutlets to side dishes. And it takes less than five minutes to make one.”

“Oh, really? Then I can do it! Thanks, that’s good to know.”

Because of this, Touko-senpai decided to make Kamokura a lunch box once or twice a week and eat it with her.

Since Touko-senpai has never done such a thing since they started dating, Kamokura seems to be quite happy about it.

Whatever.

“You’re finally becoming aware of yourself as my wife, Touko.”

He said something like that.

……

“Karen, used to think that Touko-senpai was kind. But I guess I’ve become disillusioned!”

Karen said as she pushed her face up.

“That’s right. It’s different from the image of Touko-senpai until now.”

All I’ve been saying is, “Yes, you’re right,” but I’m not interested in talking to her anymore.

“There’s no point in doing something like that just to please a man! Touko-senpai has no pride, does she?”

I felt inwardly unsettled by this statement.

Is Karen thinking that she has won over Touko-senpai by having an affair with Kamokura?

I’m sure you’ll be able to understand why I’ve been so impressed with your work. …… For a man, there’s a difference between a real girlfriend and an unfaithful one, like the difference between heaven and earth, the moon and the spoon, or even the sun and the green turtle! ……