Chapter 50

“Ayato-kun, you’re really tall. Are you doing any sports?”

“Whoah!? Eh, ah, um… Y-Yes, the baseball club!”

“Is that so! I’m in the volleyball club!”

“Th-That’s amazing…!”

A corner of the cafeteria crowded with students.

The two large people across from me were enjoying a student-like conversation while eating large portions of food.

The tall, small-animal-type handsome guy was still nervous and stiff, but thanks to a shared topic and realizing the other person seemed harmless to him, he looked like he was gradually opening up.

It was truly a page of youth straight out of a storybook.

“…………”

“…………”

“…………”

“…………”

In stark contrast to the sparkling athletic club duo, the literary club members remained silent.

Nervousness.

Wasn’t that word the most appropriate?

The cause was under the table.

This situation where Yuzu senpai’s left hand was resting on my thigh.

What is this? What on earth is this?????

What is this left hand, Yuzu senpai?

“What’s wrong, Kakeru? You’re barely eating your food.”

Ayato, having regained his composure, spoke to me normally.

“True that. Are you not feeling well, Kakeru-kun?”

“N-No, I’m totally fine! Whoa, this food is delicious!”

“Oh, that’s a great appetite!”

“Were you always that kind of character…?”

Can you blame me, I’m desperately trying to distract you here!

It would be a disaster if anyone found out that Yuzu senpai had her hand resting on my thigh under the table!

It has zero taste at all!

No, obviously nobody could enjoy a meal in a situation like this!

“What kind of food do you like here, Ayato-kun?”

“…The Shinme Special, I guess.”

“It’s cheap and comes in a huge portion, after all. Gotta fuel that growth spurt.”

“H-Himeno senpai, aren’t you big too…”

They’re the only ones enjoying themselves!

Good for you, Ayato, you’re increasing the number of girls you can talk to normally!

“Mhph…”

Yuzu senpai spoke.

Or rather, she groaned.

In the direction of Yuzu senpai’s gaze, Hime-chin senpai and Ayato were happily eating together.

“Jeez! Ayato-kun, you gotta grow even bigger, you know?”

“Whoaah!? H-Himeno senpai!?”

Perhaps because she mentioned height, Ayato started getting his head petted by Hime-chin senpai.

Well, not quite petted, more like ruffled, or playfully roughhoused.

…From an outsider’s perspective, the two of them just looked like they had started getting all cozy.

Eh, isn’t that a bit too much sudden physical contact…?

“Mhmhph…”

Meanwhile, the focal point Yuzu senpai’s cheeks were puffed out with her mouth stuffed full of food.

Cute.

“Mhph.”

Then she glanced over at me.

“!?”

Seemingly not expecting our eyes to meet, she quickly looked away.

Cute.

“S-Senpai… By any chance, are you feeling jealous?”

“Hi, hihahufehooo!?”

I’m sorry for suddenly talking to you in a whisper.

Mumbling and cute.

I think she said, “No way, though,” but with a mouthful of food.

“If senpai wants… I can do it anytime, you know.”

“Eh!? Ah, no…”

I didn’t miss her eyes sparkling for a split second.

Cute.

“I think it’s fine if it’s natural. Look, Hime-chin senpai used first name from the very beginning, too.”

“Ugh… B-But…”

Her gaze darted around, but the corners of her mouth were relaxed.

Cute.

“H-Himeno senpai, seriously, please cut me some slack!”

“Ahaha, sorry, sorry—”

And the two of them were still roughhousing.

What on earth were they doing in the cafeteria?

“…Ah.”

Seeing that, Yuzu senpai leaned forward toward me as if she had found an opening.

With her left hand still resting on my right thigh, she placed her right hand against my ear and brought her mouth close…

“…Do it a lot later, okay…?”

Those sweet words pierced straight through my brain.

“I-I’ll endure with just this for now…”

With that, Yuzu senpai returned to her original position.

“Huh? Kakeru, your face looks kind of red? Are you really okay, man?”

“Yuzu-yuzu too. You feeling alright?”

“N-No… Ah, I just got embarrassed seeing Ayato getting along so well with Hime-chin senpai…”

“Y-Yeah… I-It’s like, Hime-chin and the kouhai are getting along so well…”

A desperate excuse born of struggle.

“W-Whaaaat!? It-It’s nothing like that!”

“Jeez, I told you it’s not like that—”

Still, we were able to laugh it off and let it slide.

“…………”

“…………”

Until the meal ended, Yuzu senpai’s hand stayed right on my thigh.