CH 4

4 - Sign and glimpse

"I've never seen Rin-chan having lunch with a boy~" (Nana)

"It's the first time in fact. I was a little weak with men." (Rinka)

Kurumizaka-san sit next to Mizuki-san.

As expected, having two popular idols gathered in one place attracted a lot of attention from the people around.

I could hear them whispering to each other.

I didn't want to stand out, so I kept quiet and concentrated on keeping my presence to an absolute minimum.

"But You're not afraid with Ayanokouji-kun?" (Nana)

"I'm not... In fact, it's the opposite. This is the first time I've talked to him in real life, but we've known each other for a long time online." (Rinka)

"Hee~ ... oh, maybe this person is Kazu-kun!?" (Nana)

"He is." (Rinka)

"So that is it! Waaa, being able to talk to Kazu-kun in person is really exciting!" (Nana)

Kurumizaka-san, who was making her eyes glitter, expresses her joy as if she's in front of a celebrity.

......What kind of an online game nerd is appreciated by an idol?

Thinking so, I opened my mouth.

"You know me." (Kazuto)

"Yea. I've heard a lot about you from Rin-chan. You're a very attractive boy, aren't you?" (Nana)

"No, even if you ask me..." (Kazuto)

If I nodded here, it'll be really really embarrassing.

"Nana. Please don't bother Kazuto-kun too much." (Rinka)

"Eh? I want to hear more from Kazu-kun. I'm really curious about what Rin-chan looks like on the internet!" (Nana)

"It's not so different from real life." (Rinka)

Lie, it's totally different!

If anything, your personalities are complete opposites!

I think the Rin on the internet is more like Kurumizaka-san than Mizuki-san.

"How nice~. To have a boy that gets along with so well and even marry him in-game." (Nana)

"Nana talks with boys too, don't you?" (Rinka)

"I do, but it just a mere talk, though. I wonder if there's a boy who is close enough to be my friend." (Nana)

She said regretfully, and plopped down on the table.

If she wants to, she could easily build a reverse harem, let alone a friend.

"I wish I could have a friend like Kazu-kun." (Nana)

"It's difficult. There are many strange people on the internet as well as in the real world." (Rinka)

After saying that, Mizuki-san resumed eating.

Watching from the side, Kurumizaka-san spoke to me.

"I don't really know what to say right now,....... but I really thank you, Kazu-kun." (Nana)

"For what?" (Kazuto)

"For the fact that you've been supporting Rin-chan throughout the years. Rin-chan is fine now, but at one point I was so worried about her that she was pushing herself too hard......." (Nana)

So that was it.

No, if I thought back to the past, I could think of a few things.

Bad to say, but there was a time when Rin was emotionally unstable while online.

"Nana. Please stop talking about that in front of him... It's embarrassing." (Rinka)

Mizuki-san muttered as she dyed her cheeks red.

......She's so cute.

Why the hell is a girl's blush so attractive?

"Hey hey. Can I join the game next time? Ah,  Is it okay if I bother you...." (Nana)

"I don't mind. I mean, you've asked me before, haven't you?" (Rinka)

"T-that's... I've always had a scary image of online games, so I couldn't get myself into them......" (Nana)

"It's okay. Certainly there are some insolent people who don't follow etiquette, but not everyone is like that. Even if something happens, I and Kazuto-kun will protect you." (Rinka)

"Thank you Rin-chan! Then, what should I do first?" (Nana)

"I'll tell you what. First, open the official website from your computer and play the game――――." (Rinka)

As Mizuki-san explained matter-of-factly, Kurumizaka-san nodded her head in understanding.

I don't think it's possible, but are the three of us going to play online game together?

Two idols and me alone?

What should I do, I was so nervous that I feel like I'm going to cry just by imagining it.

"Hey, Rin-chan. I can't understand if you just saying it, so please come to my house and teach me." (Nana)

"I wonder where all my hard work of struggling to explain went..... Oh well, it'll be quicker that way." (Rinka)

"Ahaha, Sorry Rin-chan. But I'm looking forward to it now. I can't believe we, three of us can play together with that Kazu-kun." (Nana).

Which Kazu-kun is 'that Kazu-kun'?

I'm curious as to what kind of evaluation is actually being made between the two of them.

But I didn't have the guts to ask.

I mean, I couldn't even able to enter into their conversation.

"Rin-chan and Kazu-kun are very close friends on the Internet, aren't they?" (Nana)

"Yup yup, we are so close that the word "close" doesn't even begin to cover it." (Rinka)

"How nice. Then you guys can get along well in real life too, yes?" (Nana)

"Yup." (Rinka).

Mizuki-san nodded her head in satisfaction.

And she happily loosened her cheeks and continued her words.

"―――― From now on, we can stay together even in real life too." (Rinka)

....

..........?

What do you mean by that?

In the midst of my tilting my head, my eyes suddenly met with Kurumizaka-san's.

She also seemed to have a question mark above her head.

Mizuki-san, oblivious to us, proceeded to eat quietly.

In an instant, silence took over the place, and I remembered the hustle and bustle in the cafeteria to my ears.

"A-ah... I'll be off. because my friends are waiting for me in the classroom." (Nana)

Kurumizaka-san stood up with some awkwardness.

"That so. Then, see you again after school." (Rinka)

"Yeah. Let's do our best in today's lesson." (Nana)

Kurumizaka-san concluded with a smile and walked to the doorway of the cafeteria.

She looked back only once on the way, smiled lightly at us, and then left.

At that time, I had no clue what that smile meant.......

Nor did I have any idea.