Cafeteria Jealousy Storm!

“Oh? Isshiki-kun!”

Hearing my name, I turned around to find Kazumi Kano, Toko-senpai’s best friend. She was with Mina, the second-year Economics student, and Ayaka, the freshman, both of whom had been at the girls’ meetup the other day.

“Ah, Kazumi-san.”

I exchanged greetings, though I hadn’t made any plans to meet her today. Being called out like that was a bit of a surprise.

“Can we sit here? There weren’t any open seats, so we were looking for a spot.”

This was originally a four-person table. If we just brought over one extra chair, five of us could sit comfortably.

“Oh, go ahead.”

I shifted my chair closer to Karen’s. Under the circumstances, it was the only natural thing to do. Glancing sideways, Karen looked entirely uninterested.

“Sorry for interrupting your time together, Karen~,” Mina said.

“It’s fine. We’re almost finished eating anyway,” Karen replied curtly. Mina gave a wry smile at the blunt response.

“Actually, it’s perfect timing seeing you, Isshiki-kun. I was looking for you.”

“Me? What for?”

“Remember that ‘programming assignment’ we talked about the other day? I was wondering if I could ask for your help with that.”

Next to Mina, Kazumi-san nodded in agreement.

“Oh, that? Sure. Just let me know what the assignment is and I’ll put it together for you.”

“So, could you give me your email address? It’s a bit awkward to ask for help in the group chat.”

Kazumi-san chimed in then. “I could have just given them your contact info, but I figured it’s bad manners to share someone’s details without their permission.”

“True, we didn’t actually exchange info the other day. Here you go.”

I exchanged email addresses and social media IDs with both Mina and Ayaka. Karen watched this out of the corner of her eye. Mina held up her phone and asked:

“Is it okay if I give your contact info to Manami and Yuri too? They were there that day as well.”

“Yeah, that’s fine. I promised I’d help with the programming assignments, after all.”

“Okay, I’ll let them know.”

Ayaka, who was in the same year as me, looked over at Karen.

“It feels a bit awkward asking a guy for his contact info right in front of his girlfriend. But I guess it’s better than doing it behind her back, right?”

Karen replied with an air of indifference.

“It’s fine. I know Yu-kun only has eyes for me. I’m not worried at all~.”

The three girls exchanged glances.

“That’s true. Even when we met the other day, Isshiki-kun declared himself that he was ‘Karen’s boyfriend.’”

“You’re lucky, Karen. Having a kind and devoted boyfriend like Isshiki-kun.”

Suddenly, I felt a nudge against my thigh under the table. It was Karen. Her eyes were clearly saying, Let’s get out of here. Personally, I found the girls’ company much more tolerable than hers, but I had no choice.

“Well, we’re done eating, so we’ll be going now.”

I stood up, picking up my tray. Karen stood up with me.

“Oh, leaving already, Isshiki-kun?”

“Can’t be helped. See you later, then.”

“Sorry to dump this on you, but I’m counting on you for that assignment! I’ll be in touch.”

I gave them a light bow and walked away. Karen walked ahead of me. Before leaving the area, I glanced at Toko-senpai’s table and our eyes met for a split second. She gave no sign. I returned my tray to the collection point and exited the cafeteria.

“What was that just now? Barging in while we’re together like that.”

Karen spat the words out as if releasing pent-up frustration.

“I just happened to run into them at that sweets buffet place the other day. They mentioned they had a programming class and asked if I could help if they got an assignment.”

“What? How brazen can you get?” Karen was clearly displeased.

“Well, we’re in the same circle. I figured I might need to ask them for a favor someday, so it’s better to help out when I can.”

“Yu-kun, don’t go acting all flirtatious with other girls! It’s embarrassing!”

…You’re the last person I want to hear that from.

I swallowed the words.

“I’m sorry. I just thought if I didn’t get along with the other girls, it might make things awkward for you, Karen.”

Karen looked down and muttered:

“I hate those kinds of girl groups. They’re so jealous and insidious… dragging each other down while pretending to comfort one another.”

“I see.”

I listened to her words with total detachment.

“That’s why I prefer hanging out with guys. It’s more straightforward—no backstabbing. I have a pretty dry personality myself, after all.”

…What are you even saying? You just want to be surrounded by guys who fawn over you…

Of course, I was the idiot who didn’t see through it before. Suddenly, Karen stepped in front of me and stopped.

“What?”

“Yu-kun, you absolutely must not cheat, okay? Make sure you cherish only me!”
She said it as if to drive the point home.

I see. “I” must not cheat. Which implies that for her, cheating is perfectly okay? I seriously cannot keep up with her self-centered logic anymore.

There’s less than a month left until X-Day. Go ahead and blow all the selfish hot air you want until then. You bitch!