CH 40

Chapter 40 School cafeteria Gracie Storm (Part 2)

“Huh? Isshiki-kun!

I turned around to see Kazumi Kano, Touko-senpai’s best friend.

With me are Mina, a second-year economics student from the same club, and Ayaka, a first-year student, who were also at the girls’ party the other day.

“Oh, Kazumi-san.”

I exchanged greetings with them, but I hadn’t made any plans to meet her today.

It was a bit unexpected that she approached me.

“Can I sit here? I’ve been looking for a seat.”

This seat was originally a table for four.

If we bring in one of the empty chairs, we can seat five people comfortably.

“Here you go.”

I said, shifting my chair closer to Karen.

In this case, I had no choice.

I looked to the side and saw that Karen didn’t seem to be particularly interested.

“Karen, I’m sorry for interrupting your time together~”

It was Mina who said that.

“I don’t mind, Karen and the others will be done eating soon.”

Mina laughed at Karen’s curt reply.

“But I met Isshiki-kun at the right place. I’ve been looking for you.”

“You were looking for me? What do you want?”

“I was wondering if you could help me with that ‘programming assignment’ I was telling you about.”

Mina said, and Kazumi nodded beside her.

“You’re talking about that? Yes, understand. Let me know what the assignment is and I’ll make it up.”

“So, can you give me your email address, Isshiki-kun? It’s hard to ask in a group email.”

Then Kazumi also said.

“I could have given you Isshiki-kun’s contact information, but I didn’t want to. But I thought it would be bad manners to give it without his permission.”

“That’s right, we didn’t exchange contact information the other day. Well then.”

I exchanged email addresses and SNS IDs with both Mina and Ayaka.

Karen looked at it with a sideways glance.

Mina-san held up her phone and said.

“Can I share your contact information with Manami and Yuri? Those girls were there, too.”

“Yeah, sure. I promised them that I would do the assignment for the program.”

“I’ll let them know.”

Ayaka, also a freshman, looked at Karen.

“It’s kind of awkward to ask for her boyfriend’s contact information in front of her. But it’s better than sneaking around behind her back, right?”

Karen looked uninterested.

“I’ll be fine. I know that Karen is the only one for you, Yuu-kun. I don’t really care about it.”

The three of them looked at each other.

You’re right. I’m not sure what to do, but I’m sure you’ll do fine.

“Karen is lucky, too. Karen is lucky to have such a kind and devoted boyfriend like Isshiki-kun.”

She poked me in the thigh under the table.

It was Karen.

I looked at her and her eyes said, “Let’s go.

As for me, I’d rather be with them than with Karen, but I had no choice.

“Well, we’ve finished eating, so we’d better get going.”

I said and stood up with the tray in my hand.

Karen stood up with him.

“Oh, Isshiki, you’re leaving already?”

I can’t help it. I’ll see you next time.

I’m sorry, but I’ll be in touch. I’ll call you.”

I lightly bade them farewell and left.

Karen walked ahead on her own.

Before leaving my seat, I looked at Touko-senpai’s table, and my eyes met hers for a moment.

But there was no sign of anything in particular.

I returned the dishes to the return slot and walked out of the cafeteria.

“What was that? You just barged in on us when we were alone.”

Karen said as if she was venting her pent up frustration.

“Well, I ran into him the other day at an all-you-can-eat sweets place. I met her by chance at an all-you-can-eat sweets restaurant the other day, and she asked me to help her with an assignment for a programming class.”

“What’s that? Isn’t that presumptuous?”

Karen was clearly unhappy.

“Well, we’re in the same circle. We might have to ask you to do something for us, so I thought we should help out if we can.”

“Yu, don’t be too flirtatious with girls! It’s embarrassing!

…… I don’t want to hear it from you alone. ……

I swallowed those words hard.

“I’m sorry. I just thought that if I didn’t get along with the girls, Karen might feel uncomfortable.”

Then Karen looked down and said.

“Karen, don’t like those kinds of gatherings of women. They are jealous and insidious,……, and they pull each other’s legs and lick each other’s wounds.”

I see.”

I just listened to Karen’s words and ignored them.

“That’s why Karen is more comfortable with male friends, because they’re crisp and there’s no insidiousness. They’re also very open-minded.”

…… What the hell is this guy talking about? You just want to be surrounded by men and be pampered. ……

I was stupid enough to not see it coming.

Karen suddenly turned in front of me and stopped.

What?”

“Yuu-kun, don’t ever cheat on your girlfriend, okay? You must take care of Karen alone!”

Karen said as if to remind me.

I see. So you’re saying I shouldn’t cheat on you.

So you’re saying that it’s okay for you to have an affair?

I really can’t follow her selfish thinking anymore.

X-Day is less than a month away.

Until then, you can keep blowing your own fever. Bitch!