CH 23

“So what am I supposed to do? Should I just act like Kaede’s boyfriend?”

After parting ways with Sakuramiya-sensei, I decided to check my future plans with Kaede.

“Eh? Umm, yeah. From now on I will treat Mi-kun as my boyfriend, so you also have to treat me as your girlfriend.”

“Alright.”

When I accepted her request, Kaede’s cheeks flushed in a Vermillion shade.

But I raised my index finger and gave her one piece of advice.

“But you shouldn’t entangle your arms with mine.”

“Eh, why?”

“Because it stands out. You should be a little more aware of your surroundings.”

“Well, ugh…”

It seems that she finally noticed that we were garnering attention from our surroundings, seeing this Kaede flinched and left her clutch on me.

I was relieved to feel my left arm finally, as blood started to rush in it properly and it started regaining its usual color. As a compensation I held her right hand so that her mood does not go down.

“Well, if it’s just holding hands then it won’t gather any unwanted attention.”

“… Un, I understand.”

“Do you want me to stop, if you’re too embarrased?”

“No, please don’t stop. It’s fine as it is.”

“So where shall we head over to now?”

“I’ll leave that up to you.”

“Wait, aren’t you the one who came up with this idea?”

“You’re my boyfriend now, so you have to take the lead on dates.”

Kaede seems to have a really biased opinions when this world is making a fuss about gender equality between men and women. And I certainly think that there is no rule that a boyfriend should take lead on a date.

I let out a small sigh as I scratched my forehead with my fingers. No, wait. I can still decide where to go, which is somehow convenient for me.

And then the edges of mouth raised in a smirk while thinking of a mischievous date location came to my mind.

“Well then, let’s go to the library and read books…”

“Rejected.”

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Apparently I had to accompany Kaede on a proper cultural festival date.

I accepted without thinking, but it might have been a mistake.

As I was feeling a heavy weight on my shoulders and it slumped slightly down. I suddenly saw a man coming from in front of me and it was none other than Hanamura-sensei.

Normally, I would not have bothered to call out to him, but this was a really good timing.

It seems that the benefit of taking on the role of Kaede’s boyfriend had come around quickly.

“Hey Kaede, I want you to introduce you to someone as my girlfriend, is it alright with you?”

“Eh? Introduction?”

“All you have to do is to stay by my side. Is it okay?”

“Well, it’s fine, but…”

Kaede was taken aback by my sudden request, but before she could have said anything else I dragged her with me to where Hanamura-sensei was.

“Hello, Hanamura-sensei.”

“Ah, Segawa. I will tell you in advance, don’t try to sell something forcefully to me.”

“Don’t worry it’s not like that. I’m on a date with my girlfriend at the school festival, so I thought I’d show off to Hanamura-sensei.”

“Girlfriend?!… Segawa, did you have a girlfriend?”

“Yeah, How is it? My girlfriend is pretty cute, isn’t she?”

I finally introduced Kaede as my girlfriend, who was currently looking down with a blush on her face.

In response, Hanamura-sensei looks alternatively between me and Kaede, and then sighed in relief.

“Don’t say that so shamelessly, do you want to brag about your girlfriend to me?”

That was my intention from the start.

It doesn’t really matters if you brag about your girlfriend to a teacher or not.

However, Hanamura-sensei’s case is different.

He doubts the actual relationship between me and Sakuramiya-sensei. That’s why I came up with this idea so that he would stop suspecting me and with this I would be able to avoid future troubles.

It doesn’t help to brag to a teacher that you’re dating your girlfriend.

But in the case of Hanamura-sensei, it’s different.

Hanamura-sensei is at least a little suspicious of the relationship between me and Sakuramiya-sensei. That’s why I thought it would be effective to say that I have a girlfriend here.

It’s better to dispell any kind of suspicion right from the start before it blooms.

In fact, Hanamura-sensei seemed rather happy after finding out that I have a girlfriend, although still pretending to be uninterested in it.

“Well then, please do your best in making your rounds, Hanamura-sensei.”

“Haha, you don’t have to worry about it.”

And as we quickly fulfilled the purpose of meeting with him, we parted our ways.

Kaede had question marks over her head the whole time, but she didn’t get involved in the conversation anytime at all.

Well then, let’s start our cultural festival date with Kaede.

I relaxed my shoulders and thought about what I should do from now on.

Suddenly someone called out to us, when we were standing alone in the corner of the corridor.

“… Huh, are you on a date with your girlfriend?”

And the owner of the voice was someone I didn’t know.

I suddenly felt distrustful from the from the astringent voice that is not at all pleasant to hear. But as the voice was clearly pointing toward me, so I quietly turned around.

There he was, a nearly elderly man with a scruffy beard. Strangely he had a kind and gentle face.

He looked eeringly familiar… well, I don’t really know anyone who is elderly other than my relatives. However, he was a man with a somehow familiar atmosphere.

“Umm, do you want anything from us?”

While still staring at me with beautiful black eyes, he said in a gingerly tone

“Oops, I’m sorry. I have a strange habit of saying whatever comes up in my mindmind right away.”

“… Well then, please excuse us.”

I’m not really good with strangers.

Shaking my head slightly I turned around and pulled Kaede along with me, but suddenly he grabbed my shoulders in a jerk.

“… You are Segawa Minato-kun, right?”

“Eh? That’s right… but how did you know my name.”

When he called me out by my name my heart beat increased rapidly, and my body went tense due to nervousness.

And towards me, who was crouching down he showed a gentle smile.

“Oh, I haven’t introduced myself yet. My name is Soji Sakuramiya.”

“Eh, Sakuramiya?”

“I have heard a lot about you from Yumi, Minato-kun.”

No way, it’s a lie, isn’t it?

My thoughts instantly cleared up.

I understood my current situation with only one word, and my body started sweating.

Why is Sakuramiya-sensei’s father here… isn’t the timing just too bad?!

I smiled awkwardly and gently removed my hand from Kaede. Then, I turned to face Sakuramiya-sensei’s father.

“Well…”

“I’d like to hear more about it from you, but first of all, are you having an affair with someone else who is not Yumi?”

Ahhh. What should I do? I’m so scared?!!

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TL & ED : Zenon #4120